2025 Reading Challenge discussion
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Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge - 2016!
Updated message 993/10
✔ 5. Read a middle grade novel - The Case Of The Claymore Diamond
✔ 11. Read a book under 100 pages Buddha in Blue Jeans: An Extremely Short Simple Zen Guide to Sitting Quietly and Being Buddha
✔ 20. Read a book about religion (fiction or nonfiction) - Plague of Coins
{update}I'm changing my goal from 24 to 20.
I'm in for 8. It may increase. I'm doing other challenges this year, and my reading tends to be pretty diverse but one of my personal goals is to whittle down the TBR pile and some of these would necessitate buying. (which I'm trying to be good about this year... LOL we'll see how THAT goes.)
Unlike previous years, I'm not planning this one out so much as seeing where books I'm reading fit in.
10/10 COMPLETED!!
Task # 5 - Read a middle grade book
The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by Catherynne M. Valente Completed 07 Sept 2016Task # 20 - Read a book about religion
Rose of Sarajevo by Ayşe Kulin Completed Wed., 06 January 2016 Novel was about Ethnic Cleansing of Bosniaks (Muslims) but the Serbs (Christian)Task # 11 - Read a book under 100 pages
The Sleeper and the Spindle by Neil Gaiman Completed Sunday 17 January 2016 Task # 18 - Read a book that was adapted into a movie, then watch the movie. Debate which was better.
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen Completed Thursday 21 January 2016 While I enjoyed the movie, which remained more or less faithful to the novel, I enjoyed the book more. In the movie, there was little of the older Jacob and his narrative was powerful and funny in the novel. On the plus side to the movie, I thought they did a better job with the romance - Marlena was a fuller character in the movie.Task # 4 - Read a book out loud to someone
A is for Alibi by Sue Grafton Completed Wednesday 27 January 2016 Task #16 - Read the first book in a series by a person of color.
Legend by Marie Lu completed Friday, 05 February 2016Task #7 - Read a dystopian or post-apocalyptic novel
Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel Completed 05 March 2016 Task #9 - Listen to an audiobook that won an Audie Award.
The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt Completed Friday 29 April 2016Task #10 - Read a book about politics
The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling Completed Friday 28 October 2016Task 24 - Read a book with a main character that has a mental illness
Wishful Drinking by Carrie Fisher completed 5 Nov 2016
20. Book about religion (fiction or nonfiction): And Then There Were Nuns: Adventures in a Cloistered Life21. Book about politics in your country or another (fiction or nonfiction): An Officer and a Spy
Progress:10/24
Gwen wrote: "How did I get Lisa's list incorporated into my message 105? Can you fix this for me please.Gwen"
This was fixed!
Ariel wrote: "I'm sure most have seen it or seen similar but The New York Public Library put up a blog post with some pretty good recs for each # of the challenge here in case anyone gets stuck on a few (like I ..."Thank you! I'm going to put a link for this in the first post!
Everyone is all caught up as of now!
Kadijah Michelle wrote: "Everyone is all caught up as of now!"Hi, Kadijah -- In message #2 you have me down as 2/24, but I should have 4/24. I double checked to be sure I had posted everything, and I have: see messages 144, 169, 175, and 206. Sorry if I did something wrong. Would you mind updating my total or else letting me know if I goofed in reporting? Thank you!!
2/24√ 1. Read a Horror Book - The Picture of Dorian Gray
√ 10. Read a Book Over 500 Pages - All the Light We Cannot See
Update: 5/24Task 9) Listen to an audiobook that has won an Audie Award.
Yes Please by Amy Poehler (3 stars)
Cheri wrote: "Kadijah Michelle wrote: "Everyone is all caught up as of now!"Hi, Kadijah -- In message #2 you have me down as 2/24, but I should have 4/24. I double checked to be sure I had posted everything, a..."
It was my fault, I missed it, I'm sorry.
I goofed up, thank you for letting me know.
Kadijah Michelle wrote: "Cheri wrote: "Kadijah Michelle wrote: "Everyone is all caught up as of now!"Hi, Kadijah -- In message #2 you have me down as 2/24, but I should have 4/24. I double checked to be sure I had posted..."
Thank you!! :)
Update: 6/24Task 19: Read a nonfiction book about feminism or dealing with feminist themes.
My Life on the Road by Gloria Steinem (5 stars)
1/1011. Read a book under 100 pages
Je serai un territoire fier et tu déposeras tes meubles ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (76 pages)
2. Read a nonfiction book about science : What If?: Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical QuestionsProgress:12/24
Update: 7/24Task 18: Read a book that was adapted into a movie, then watch the movie. Debate which is better.
A couple weeks ago I read The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonassonand thought it was just okay (3 stars). As I was reading, I kept thinking it was way too long for what it had to offer, and it had a lot of physical humor, so would probably be a better movie. And I discovered there is one! Just watched the DVD (from Netflix). It's subtitled, but was indeed more enjoyable than the book.
Update: 8/24Task 8: Read a book originally published in the decade you were born
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury (2 stars)
Updated post 215now 4/8
Update message 98Read a book with a main character that has a mental illness. Little Black Lies. - Sharon Bolton
4/25
I'd like to join and do the whole list, please.
Update Message 85It
Winter
Mattimeo
6/12
[6/24]05. Read a middle grade novel. The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making (★★★★★)
06. Read a biography (not memoir or autobiography). Maus, I: A Survivor's Tale: My Father Bleeds History (★★★★)
11. Read a book under 100 pages. The Girl Who Ruled Fairyland - For a Little While (31p) (★★★★)
15. Read a book of historical fiction set before 1900. A Tale of Two Cities (★★★)
18. Read a book that was adapted into a movie, then watch the movie. Debate which is better. The Martian (★★★★★) I was expecting to be bored by the book, but surprisingly wasn't. It turns out, though, that I found the film-ified content a little bit boring. I was happy that it stayed mostly true to the book. I wasn't happy that an Indian character was turned into a half-Indian character, despite the fact that I like the actor who played him. Overall, I thought the film was decent, but the book was better.
24. Read a book with a main character that has a mental illness. Of Mice and Men (★★★)
My progress so far:1. Read a horror book
2. Read a nonfiction book about science
3. Read a collection of essays
4. Read a book out loud to someone else
5. Read a middle grade novel
6. Read a biography (not memoir or autobiography)
DONE 7. Read a dystopian or post-apocalyptic novelThe Handmaid's Tale
8. Read a book originally published in the decade you were born
9. Listen to an audiobook that has won an Audie Award
DONE 10. Read a book over 500 pages long: The Witches: Salem, 1692 Pages: 512
11. Read a book under 100 pages
12. Read a book by or about a person that identifies as transgender
13. Read a book that is set in the Middle East
14. Read a book by an author from Southeast Asia
15. Read a book of historical fiction set before 1900
16. Read the first book in a series by a person of color
DONE 17. Read a non-superhero comic that debuted in the last three years Lumberjanes, Vol. 1: Beware the Kitten Holy
18. Read a book that was adapted into a movie, then watch the movie. Debate which is better.
19. Read a nonfiction book about feminism or dealing with feminist themes
20. Read a book about religion (fiction or nonfiction)
21. Read a book about politics in your country or another (fiction or nonfiction)
22. Read a food memoir
23. Read a play
24. Read a book with a main character that has a mental illness
3/24
Update: 9/24Task 6 - Read a biography (not memoir or autobiography).
Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg by Irin Carmon & Shana Krizhnik (5 stars)
Melissa's 2016 Read Harder Challenge24/24 done
I have read 3/10:3. Read a collection of essays
The Opposite of Loneliness: Essays and Stories ✔ 3.1.16 ★★★★
13. Book set in the Middle East
No Easy Day: The Firsthand Account of the Mission That Killed Osama Bin Laden ✔ 31.1.16 ★★★★
24. Book with a main character that has a mental illness.
Love in the Light (PTSD) ✔ 18.1.16 ★★★★
Hello All! Happy February! Here are the statistics for this challenge as of today, the 1st of February:We have 114 participants.
We have completed 183 tasks out of the 2396 we have pledged to read. Great job everyone!
Update: Completed 7/241. Read a horror book - Dorian Gray
2. Read a nonfiction book about science - Bonk
3. Read a collection of essays - When You Are Engulfed in Flames
4. Read a book out loud to someone else - Go the F*** to Sleep
✓ 5. Read a middle grade novel - The Sleepwalker Tonic
6. Read a biography - Alexander Hamilton
✓ 7. Read a dystopian or post-apocalyptic novel - The Infinite Sea
8. Read a book originally published in the decade you were born - Matilda
✓ 9. Listen to an audiobook that has won an Audie Award - The Graveyard Book
✓ 10. Read a book over 500 pages long - Elantris
✓ 11. Read a book under 100 pages - The Fox and the Star
12. Read a book by or about a person that identifies as transgender - George
13. Read a book that is set in the Middle East - A Thousand Splendid Suns
14. Read a book by an author from Southeast Asia - The Isle of theLost
15. Read a book of historical fiction set before 1900 - Wildthorn
16. Read the first book in a series by a person of color - An Ember in the Ashes
✓ 17. Read a non-superhero comic that debuted in the last three years - Step Aside, Pops: A Hark! A Vagrant Collection
✓ 18. Read a book that was adapted into a movie, then watch the movie. Debate which is better. - The Help
19. Read a nonfiction book about feminism or dealing with feminist themes - Men Explain Things to Me
20. Read a book about religion - Misquoting Jesus
21. Read a book about politics in your country or another (fiction or nonfiction) - Common Sense
22. Read a food memoir - Stir
23. Read a play - The Crucible
24. Read a book with a main character that has a mental illness - The Bell Jar
6. Read a biography (not memoirs or autobiography): Julius Caesar by Philip Freeman (5 stars)Progress:15/24
Updated post #102 2/15
10. Read a book over 500 pages long - The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
11. Read a book under 100 pages - Little Red Riding Crop by Tiffany Reisz
2025 Reading Challenge
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Gin & Bleach (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Neil Gaiman (other topics)Patricia MacLachlan (other topics)
Alexandra Bracken (other topics)
Amie Kaufman (other topics)
Anthony Doerr (other topics)
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2. Read a nonfiction book about science
3. Read a collection of essays
4. Read a book out loud to someone else
5. Read a middle grade novel
6. Read a biography (not memoir or autobiography)
7. Read a dystopian or post-apocalyptic novel
8. Read a book originally published in the decade you were born
9. Listen to an audiobook that has won an Audie Award
10. Read a book over 500 pages long
11. Read a book under 100 pages
12. Read a book by or about a person that identifies as transgender
13. Read a book that is set in the Middle East
14. Read a book by an author from Southeast Asia
15. Read a book of historical fiction set before 1900
16. Read the first book in a series by a person of color
17. Read a non-superhero comic that debuted in the last three years
18. Read a book that was adapted into a movie, then watch the movie. Debate which is better.
19. Read a nonfiction book about feminism or dealing with feminist themes
20. Read a book about religion (fiction or nonfiction)
21. Read a book about politics in your country or another (fiction or nonfiction)
22. Read a food memoir
23. Read a play
24. Read a book with a main character that has a mental illness