November 2024 Mini-Challenge
We’ve been waiting for this! It’s time to show you our November 2024 mini-challenge prompts!
In September, we invited The 52 Book Club community to vote on four different prompts for our 2025 challenge. Last month, we hopped on YouTube live and randomly selected four winning prompts from the top two finalists for each week. But that wasn’t all! We also threw the bottom two (prompts that received the least votes each week) into a bowl and randomly selected prompts for this November mini.
Why would we choose the least popular prompts, you ask? Because we’re out to prove that even the prompts you’re least excited about can be fun!
You can see which prompts we randomly selected here:
How does this November mini work?
This November mini-challenge is a little different from our usual minis because there are FOUR prompts (and one of them is a BIG ONE!) For this November mini, choose any three out of the four prompts to complete. Pick three prompts, match one book to each, and start reading.
The fourth prompt on this challenge is an optional bonus for those feeling extra ambitious. Another option is to combine two or even three prompts into one. (For example: A book set in 2000 but is also 800 pages long.) As always, feel free to get creative with how you choose to tackle this mini. We can’t wait to see what you decide to do!
November Stickers:
As part of our 2024 Mini-Challenge Sticker Subscription, we have released a set of stickers to match your November mini-challenge! If you purchased November Mini-Challenge stickers, you are welcome (and invited!) to share them now on your social media sites and spread the reading joy! Feel free to tag @the52bookclub and @planitwithstickers and show us how your sticker and journal layouts!
If you missed out on the November stickers and want to get in on the fun for next month’s challenge, here’s the link to purchase the December stickers now!
November 2024 Mini-Challenge:
1. Related to the word “Intergalactic”
2. Set in a country bordering at least five other countries
3. Set in 2000-2010
4. 800-900 pages
For this mini, choose any three prompts to complete and consider the fourth an optional bonus. Match one book to each of the prompts (for a total of three books. Or if you’re feeling up to an extra challenge, complete all four!) Share your picks in our Facebook group, Goodreads group, or on Instagram using the hashtag #the52bookclub2024. You can also find these listed as bonus prompts on our StoryGraph challenge.
Graphics & Printables:
Need some suggestions?
1) Related to the word “Intergalactic” — Dictionary.com defines intergalactic as: “of, existing, or occurring in the space between galaxies.” For this prompt, we’re looking for any book that is somehow related to the word, “intergalactic.”
The word “intergalactic” could be in the title, subtitle, or series title. You could also consider a title with any other words that evoke the feeling of deep space, such as “cosmos,” “galaxy,” “celestial,” “interstellar,” “interplanetary,” “stars,” etc.
Intergalactic could also relate to the plot or theme of the book. This may or may not be sci-fi and may or may not involve actual space travel. (While the official definition of intergalactic is related to the “space between galaxies,” we would consider anything space-related to fit this prompt.)
You might also choose a novel set on Earth featuring an astronaut or astronomer as the main character, a book cover with stars / galaxies on it, a non-fiction read about the Milky Way, a sci-fi novel set in another galaxy, etc. The possibilities are endless! Get creative and have fun!
Examples: Tau Zero, The Milky Way, Set the Stars Alight, Project Hail Mary, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy
Goodreads list: Related to the word “Intergalactic”
2) Set in a country bordering at least five other countries — For this prompt, we’re looking for a book set in a country that borders at least five other countries. It must touch at least five other countries (land borders) but may have more than five bordering countries.
Counties with five or more bordering countries include, but aren’t limited to: Afghanistan, Algeria, Argentina, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Chad, China, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Peru, Poland, Romania, Russia, Spain, Switzerland, Tanzania, Turkey, Ukraine, Zambia etc. (Please note, this is not an exhaustive list.)
For a list of all countries and their border countries, see here: The World Factbook.
The book may be fully or only partially set within one (or more) of these countries.
Land borders have changed throughout history. You may choose a country that currently has five neighbouring countries (but perhaps didn’t at the time the book was set) or a country that used to have at least five neighbouring countries but no longer does. You might also choose a fictional or fantasy country that fits the requirements.
Examples: The Pearl that Broke Its Shell, My Life in France, The Henna Artist, Love in the Time of Cholera, The Engima of Room 622
Goodreads List: Set in a country bordering at least five other countries
3) Set in 2000-2010 — Any book set in any year from 2000 – 2010 will fit this prompt. The book may be fully set within this timeline or it may have multiple timelines (with at least one set in the early 2000s.) Books for this prompt may be fiction or non-fiction.
If you’re having difficulty finding books set in this time period, try searching for contemporary-set books published in 2000-2010. Some books may not disclose the exact year the story is set, and that’s okay. Give it your best guess!
Examples: In This Moment, The Day the World Came to Town, The Mighty Red, How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Goodreads List: Set in 2000-2010
4) 800-900 pages — While any of these four prompts can be the “bonus optional” prompt for the month, we’re assuming that most of our 52 Book Club members will choose to make this fourth prompt their optional prompt. You do not have to complete this prompt but you are welcome to do so if you’d like the added challenge! You could also blend this prompt into one of the previous three prompts. (For example: a book set in 2000 that is also 800 pages long.)
For this prompt, we’re looking for any book that is between 800-900 pages long. Keep in mind that various editions may have different page counts, and that’s okay! As long as at least one edition falls between 800-900 pages, it counts for this prompt, and you can read that book in any format.
Goodreads or Amazon is an easy place to double-check page numbers for specific books.
It is up to you whether you include any bonus content (like sample chapters from upcoming books, authors’ notes, research links, acknowledgments, etc) in your page count or not.
As a creative twist, you may try to choose books for prompts number 1, 2, and 3 that when added together equal 800-900 pages in total.
Examples: 11/22/63, A Game of Thrones, Lonesome Dove, Outlander, A Little Life, Dune, Six Wives
Goodreads List: 800-900 pages
Mini-challenge tips:
1) Do I have to complete this challenge in November?
Nope! You can complete this mini-challenge whenever you like. Some members prefer to focus on finishing the main 2024 challenge first, and then go back to complete all the minis afterward. Others enjoy the added challenge of completing mini-challenges in the month they’re released. If you start the November challenge but don’t finish this month, feel free to carry it over into the coming months. Do whatever works for you!
2) Is this a part of the main 52 books in 52 weeks challenge?
Yes and no. Mini-challenges are related to our 52 books in 52 weeks challenge but are also completely optional. Some members may decide to complete the full challenge and all the minis. Other members may choose to skip mini-challenges or to complete some of the minis but not all of them. Some challenge participants might only be joining in for the minis. It’s up to you how (or if) you’d like to participate.
3) Can I use the same books as my 52 book challenge?
It all depends on your personal reading goals! You can choose to read these books in addition to your regular 52 Book Club reads (this mini-challenge makes 71 prompts for 2024, not counting the Summer Challenge), or you can double up and combine them with prompts still left on your 2024 list. Your challenge, your rules!
Comment below and let us know what you’re reading this month!