I knew that I wanted to a bit more of a reading challenge this year. I’ve been reading 50, 75, sometimes as many as 100 books a year, but was still feeling unsuccessful as a reader. I was so focused on quantity and trying to read the titles that everyone was talking about that I wasn’t diversifying my reads and never went back to read some quality titles that I had passed by years ago.
Thankfully I came across the Read Harder Challenge by Book Riot. It has given me some direction in my title choices without being over-bearing. The challenge contains only 24 tasks- 2 a month and gives me plenty of time to supplement with other titles.
Below is a break down of what I’ve already read, what I’m planning to read a plea for suggestions. If you’re also participating in the challenge or have any feedback on the titles or categories I’d love to hear your ideas!
Cheers and Happy Reading!
–A book written by someone when they were under the age of 25.
Read 2/15 White Teeth by Zadie Smith
–A book written by someone when they were over the age of 65. Read Jack of Spades by Joyce Carol Oates
–A collection of short stories (either by one person or an anthology by many people)
–A book published by an indie press. First Man by Simon Schwartz
-A book by or about someone that identifies as LGTBQ.
Every Day by David Levithan
-A book by a person whose gender is different from your own. Paris by Edward Rutherfurd
-A book that takes place in Asia. Any Suggestions?
-A book by an author from Africa. Any Suggestions?
-A book that is by or about someone from an indigenous cultures (Native Americans, Aboriginals, etc.)
Read The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver
–A microhistory. The F-Word by Jessie Shieldflower
–A YA novel. Finding Paris by Joy Preble
–A sci-fi novel. We by Yevgeny Zamyatin
-A romance novel. A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray
-A National Book Award, Man Booker Prize or Pulitzer Prize Winner from
the last decade. The Line of Beauty by Alan Hollingsworth
-A book that is a retelling of a classic story (fairytale, Shakespearian play, classic novel,
etc.) The Great Night by Chris Adrian
–An audio-book. Listened to: Yellow Crocus by Laila Ibraham
-A collection of poetry. Any Suggestions?
-A book that someone else has recommended to you. When God Was a Rabbit by Sarah Winman or
The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson
(not sure which one to read yet…)
-A book that was originally published in another language. The Cave by Jose Saramago
-A graphic novel, a graphic memoir or a collection of comics of any kind. Read Exit Wounds by Rutu Modan.
-A book that you would consider a guilty pleasure (Read, and then realize that good entertainment is nothing to feel guilty over) Read 1/15 Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel
–A book published before 1850. Doctor Faustus by Christopher Marlowe
-A book published this year. Read 1/15 Vanessa & Her Sister by Parmar Priya
-A self-improvement book (can be traditionally or non-traditionally considered “self-improvement”)
The Art of Asking by Amanda Palmer
HipMamaJenn 