Have you joined the Book Bingo fun? It's not to late to join: the board/round goes through March! Maybe you started strong, found a few books that matched quickly, and then hit a snowbank? Or maybe you're just not sure how or where to start? No worries: I've got a list of titles that would work for each prompt, and if you're anything like me - once you see a list of titles, you start falling down a rabbit hole, finding more and more similar books. (This is a good problem, by the way: it means you will never run out of things to read!)
I'll start with the "easy" prompts first, and then get into the trickier ones.
Also: if you find a book that matches more than one prompt? Go for it! This is supposed to be something fun (and even a little silly) to help beat the winter blues - don't take it too seriously (unless you want to).
Reread a FAVORITE
This one is basically a second "free space" - pick any book you've read (and loved) to reread. Have fun with it! I'm still deciding what my reread will be - but I might go way back, pick a childhood favorite.
Published in 2020
This is also a super broad category. This quick web-catalog search of "Books" with a publication year of 2020 has over 4000 results ... some of them are updated editions of nonfiction resources, but still - that is a lot of books to pick from. (You can narrow the search further by selecting author or subject headings from the options in the left sidebar column.)
If you want a more focused (but still very expansive) list to browse, here's a blog that compiled every hardcover book that appeared on the NY Times Bestseller list in 2020.
Try a NEW Author, Genre, or Format
This is also a very personal one - maybe you have never listened to an audiobook or have always wondered what all the graphic novel fuss is about. Maybe you've never read a mystery, or maybe you only read nonfiction.
This prompt simply invites you to experiment - to try something new - whatever new means for you.
I am trying a new author, in a genre that is also somewhat new to me, at the recommendation of a friend: The Guest List by Lucy Foley.
A Book Set in the PAST
Historical fiction has long been a favorite of mine, and it offers so many options! I'm going to link a few catalog searches of various historical periods, but keep in mind: "historical fiction" is any story that is set 20+ years before it was published (ex: a book published in 2010 but set during the 1980s is officially historical fiction).
A Book Set Somewhere WARM
This prompt makes me think "beach reads," but it could also be "summer" or any location/setting that is warm ... A few searches for inspiration:
A Book with SNOW on the Cover
This one is fun precisely because it's asking you to pick a book because of the cover. (Let's be honest: we all pay attention to the covers, don't we? I know I do). Since nobody can browse the shelves right now, here's a list of 400+ books with snow/ice/winter book covers.
A Book about FOOD
Fiction or nonfiction, you can pick - and there are so many delicious options!
NONfiction and/or Biography
Another big broad category with so many possibilities! Here are a few quick catalog searches to get you started:
Hopefully these ideas serve as a starting point, and if you follow a rabbit-trail through the catalog and booklists, I hope you find loads of good books to add to your TBR (To Be Read) list. Good luck with your bingo cards, and don't forget to tag us so we can see them!
Happy reading!
