PROGRESS!
I've made progress!
I remember that!: A book about a historical event that took place in your lifetime. (The Lost World: A Novel (Jurassic Park)- Michael Crichton.) Jurassic Park, the series, were my first movies. I use this in lieu of an actual historical event, because those movies of almost magical wonder made it seem like anything could be real if you tried hard enough.)
That old black magic: A paranormal novel. (Needful Things- Stephen King)
Top of the heap: A book on any Top Whatever list. (Faust (Part Two)- Goethe)
What you will read to your grandchildren: A children's book (middle grade or younger). (Charlotte's Web- E.B. White)
East meets West: A book taking place in Asia (Turkey to Japan, Siberia to Vietnam) (One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich- Alexander Solzhenitsyn)
Just the (alternative) facts, Ma’am: An alternate history. (Doctor Sax- Jack Kerouac)
Doorstoppers: A book more than 600 pages. (Christine- Stephen King)
Be the change you want to see: A book about a sociopolitical issue. (The Acharnians- Aristophanes)
Best friend: A book with a dog on the cover. (Echo North- Joanna Ruth Meyer) It's a retelling of a fairy tale!
The heart and mind of a writer: An author memoir or collection of essays by an author. (We Tell Ourselves Stories in Order to Live- Joan Didion)
Anyward, ho!: A travel novel (any genre, including non-fiction). (The Prague Cemetery- Umberto Eco)
Alma mater matters: A book about or taking place on a college or university campus. (Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret.- Judy Blume.) A school is close enough, isn't it?
Crossing the (color) lines: A book about a person of color (PoC), any variety, written by an author of the same variety. (For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow Is Enuf- Ntozake Shange)
One more try: A book from a genre you have given up on. (Raise the Titanic!- Clive Cussler)
By its cover: A book you know nothing about, chosen solely by the FRONT cover (no reading the jacket flap, back cover blurb, or reviews). (The Age of Reason- Jean-Paul Sartre)
Back in the day: A historical of any genre. (Alias Grace- Margaret Atwood)
Do you deliver?: A book where food, cooking, restaurants, chefs, etc. play a major role. (The Ritz- Terrence McNally)
The sporting life: A book with an athlete main character, or about sports. (Rabbit, Run- John Updike)
The butler might have done it: A mystery. (Mildred Pierce- James M. Cain)
Down on the farm: A book featuring farmers, agriculture, or taking place in an agrarian setting. (Cain- José Saramago)
Do you read about the land down under?: A book about or taking place in Australia, New Zealand or Pacific Islands. (Victory- Joseph Conrad)
Better known for . . .: A book by someone who’s more famous for something other than writing. (Scouting for the Reaper- Joseph M. Appel)
Halcyon days: A bestseller or book published the year you turned 21 (or 12 if you aren’t yet 21 ). (A Dance with Dragons- George R.R Martin)
Keep up with the Joneses: A book everyone else seems to have read but you have not. (The Hunger Games- Suzanne Collins)
You might also like. . .: A book recommended by someone real, or by a bot. (In Parenthesis- David Jones)
Learn the Quadrille: A regency romance. (Sanditon- Jane Austen)
Tag team: A book by more than one author. (Deus Irae- Philip K. Dick and Roger Zelazny)
Happy days are here again: A book published between 1945 and 1960. (Maggie Cassidy- Jack Kerouac)
Ye olde booke shoppe: A book written before 1800. (Wilhelm Meister's Apprenticeship- Goethe)
No hablo: A book originally written in another language (i.e., a translation). (Dream Psychology- Sigmund Freud)
Read it again, Sam: Reread a book you have already read. (Sahara- Clive Cussler)
My hometown: A book by a local author. (The Manticore- Robertson Davies)
Tuesdays with Balaam’s Ass: A book with a non-human (animal or fantastic creature) main character. (The Golden Ass- Apuleius)
Literary literal alliteration: A book whose title or author’s name is an alliteration. (Bird by Bird- Anne Lammott)
Backlist delight: Read a lesser-known book from the back catalog of a best-selling author. (The Town and the City- Jack Kerouac)
Who was that, again?: A book about a person you know little about. (The End Note- Andrew Rimas)
Succinct: A book with a one-word title. (Circe- Madeline Miller)
Matryoshka books: A book mentioned or discussed inside another book. (The Transmigration of Timothy Archer- Philip K. Dick)
10 Left to Go:
Support the home team: A book by a fellow AWer (Check people’s sigs, or this thread might help:
https://absolutewrite.com/forums/sho...rently-reading).
Steady there, cowboy: A western.
Flights of fancy: A book in which airplanes figure prominently.
QUILTBAG: A book with a major LGBTQ+ character or about an LGBTQ+ issue.
Metrosensual: A romance set in a major city.
Out of Africa: A book taking place in Africa (including North Africa).
Locked up: A book taking place in a prison, mental institution or treatment center.
Still time for more chapters: A memoir/biography by/about someone who’s still alive (as of January 1).
What you read: A book you loved as a child.
I’ve met them!: A book by someone you have seen in person (either know, seen at a book fair, heard at a speaking engagement, in line at the ATM, whatever).
Be your own boss: A self-published novel.
Takin’ care o’ business: A book taking place in a corporate setting, or about a business, or about a business leader.
Any suggestions?
I just bought Blood Meridian, so I have the Western category covered....