Task #1: Read a book about sports.

[Shannon]

I'm going to push the limits of this task and read "A Girl and Five Brave Horses" by Sonora Carver. Horse diving has to be considered a sport, right?

[Kim]

I'm going with Manning: A Father, His Sons and a Football Legacy by Peyton Manning. I'm not a huge sports fan, but I am a Manning can, so I'll give it a go.

[Tania]

I chose to read Kathy by Charles Paul Conn for this task - the main character uses her love of competitive running as her motivation for rehabilitation after a devastating accident.

[Elle]

I read The Crossover by Kwame Alexander for this task. It is a wonderful MG/YA story about a young basketball player, his family relationships and his dreams. The kicker - it's written in rap verse! Alexander did a wonderful job with this and I found myself reading it out loud just to feel the beat of the words. Highly recommend this one.

[Julia]

I read Shakespeare Makes the Playoffs by Ron Koertge for this, because I have to read a novel in poetry to read about sports. It's short. The poetry's good. Also, you don't need to have read Shakespeare Bats Cleanup first, though I have. And, I think I've read all of Kwame Alexander's books.

[Leslie (updates on SG)]

Julia wrote: "I read Shakespeare Makes the Playoffs by Ron Koertge for this, because I have to read a novel in poetry to read about sports. It's short. The poetry's good. Also, you ..."

I was originally going to read The Crossover, but Shakespeare Bats Cleanup also sounds cool. Thanks for the tip!

[Geoff]

Emily wrote: "What about Kwame Alexanders books? Either The Crossover or Booked? They´re about sports right?"

I read The Crossover this year and Booked last year - both are EXCELLENT!

[Susan]

I think this might inspire me to finally read The Boys in the Boat. It has been on my TBR for a while

[Nikki]

A graphic novel option that I haven't seen anyone mention yet is The Oatmeal's The Terrible and Wonderful Reasons Why I Run Long Distances. It's an irreverent but also motivating look at his personal connection to running, both solo and in large groups. Complete with asides about dieting, exercise equipment, and Japanese Giant Hornets. It's a fun read but also a short one, so this might be a great option if you're still needing to complete this challenge.

[Marie]

I'm reading The Fair Fight. It's about female boxers in 18th century England. I like how blunt and tough the boxer Ruth is. I'm not a fan of sports, but I love historical fiction, so this was a nice merging of the two.

[Elyse]

Marie wrote: "I'm reading The Fair Fight. It's about female boxers in 18th century England. I like how blunt and tough the boxer Ruth is. I'm not a fan of sports, but I love historical fiction, s..."

That sounds really interesting. I didn't even know there were female boxers in the 18th century!

[Marie]

Elyse wrote: "That sounds really interesting. I didn't even know there were female boxers in the 18th century!"

I didn't, either! I think I heard about the book on one of the Book Riot podcasts. I binge-read most of it in one night, and now I'm re-reading it to absorb more of the details. The characters have all kinds of conflicts and complex dynamics, and who they are determines their ultimate fate. It was immensely satisfying.

[Melody]

Does Britt-Marie was here fill this requirement? I have a few back up plans if it doesn't.

[Elyse]

Melody wrote: "Does Britt-Marie was here fill this requirement? I have a few back up plans if it doesn't."

It's about a soccer team so I'd say yes! I love Fredrik Backman! This one is the only one of his I haven't read yet but I have the audiobook.

[Lydia]

Just finished The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics and highly recommend it for this task!

[Helen]

I also read "The Boys" for this challenge and loved it!

[Ann]

As a lifelong Oakland Raiders fan, I am reading "Better to Reign in Hell: Inside the Raiders Fan Empire." A little different take on this task, as it's not about the athletes. So far, it's very much on point and looks at how this particular fan base started in the larger historical context of the city of Oakland (economics, changing demographics, etc). It also examines the Los Angeles fan base that took serious hold after the team moved there, and the effects of the move back to Oakland. Considering the current will-they-stay-or-will-they-go ordeal we Raider fans are currently suffering through, the book - although written several years ago - speaks to the team's possible move and the effects it is having on my Raider Nation.

[Kristin]

Just finished The Secret Race: Inside the Hidden World of the Tour de France: Doping, Cover-ups, and Winning at All Costs for this. It's a very plain, straightforward memoir from a top-level rider, but doesn't have any nuance or larger perspective. So I don't recommend it, unless you are VERY interested in professional cycling circa 1995-2005.

[Kristin]

Shawn wrote: "I know the "rules" aren't strict but is the intent for this to be non-fiction?"
I sort of assume it is, and I went with a nonfiction book, but I do think novels like The Art of Fielding work just fine, too.

[Kirsten]

I go by how it's phrased. "A book about sports"? Nonfiction/fiction both work. "A novel about sports"? It has to be fiction.

[Jamie]

I just finished The Noble Hustle: Poker, Beef Jerky, and Death by Colson Whitehead. I love poker and if they air the world series on ESPN, I consider it a sport :)

[Kirsten]

I don't know.... maybe poker is an "alternative" sport.

[Erin]

I was thinking about Life in Motion by Misty Copeland. It's technically dance. Would it count?

[Darlene]

I FINALLY just finished The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. I was greatly disappointed.

[Veronica]

I went with Touching My Father's Soul: A Sherpa's Journey to the Top of Everest, which was written by the son of Tenzing Norgay, the Sherpa who accompanied Sir Edmund Hillary on the first summit of Everest. Norgay (the son) was part of the IMAX team that was on the mountain during the disaster chronicled in Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mount Everest Disaster and he provides an excellent account of both the event and the history of Everest from a native and spiritual perspective. I would call it a must-read if you're interested the sport of climbing, even if it's just from the comfort of your sofa (like me!). Full review here.

[Elyse]

Erin wrote: "I was thinking about Life in Motion by Misty Copeland. It's technically dance. Would it count?"

I would count it and I want to read that too!

[Elyse]

Veronica wrote: "I went with Touching My Father's Soul: A Sherpa's Journey to the Top of Everest, which was written by the son of Tenzing Norgay, the Sherpa who accompanied Sir Edmund Hillary on the f..."

So fascinating!!

[Allie]

Darlene wrote: "I FINALLY just finished The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. I was greatly disappointed."

Darlene, what disappointed you about it? I haven't read it, but I was thinking about using it for this challenge.

[Erin]

Elyse wrote: "Erin wrote: "I was thinking about Life in Motion by Misty Copeland. It's technically dance. Would it count?"

I would count it and I want to read that too!"

Thanks Elyse!

[Darlene]

Allie wrote: "Darlene wrote: "I FINALLY just finished The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. I was greatly disappointed."

Darlene, what d..."I don't really know what I expected from it, I just knew I didn't want to read about a more common sport. I regretted that choice because I found the parts about rowing rather boring. One positive I can say is that it's definitely rich with pre WWII history and sheds light on a struggling family during the Depression. Overall, it felt like a series of run on sentences and weather reports. Don't take my word for it, though. It has lots of great reviews! I think I just wasn't the right person for this book.

[Leslie (updates on SG)]

Darlene wrote: "I don't really know what I expected from it, I just knew I didn't want to read about a more common sport. I regretted that choice because I found the parts about rowing rather boring.

I'm sorry to hear you didn't enjoy the book. I loved the book, but I also happen to love rowing. I also listened to the audiobook, which gave me the sense of what it was like to listen to those races in the 1930's.

[Lori]

I knew nothing about rowing and loved this book! Five stars!
Too bad I read it three years ago!

[Rachiel]

For this topic, I read Tiny Pretty Things, a book about teenage girls in a high stakes ballet academy. I really enjoyed it. I consider dancing a sport.

[Jamie]

I've been reading books from the New York Blades series by Deirdre Martin. It's about hockey, so it will work for me in this category.

[Laura]

I plan to read Off Balance: A Memoir by Dominique Moceanu.

[Chinook]

I listened to the audiobook of The First 20 Minutes: Surprising Science Reveals How We Can: Exercise Better, Train Smarter, Live Longer which looks at what science has to say about sports and exercise and health. I thought it was interesting and well done.

[Astrid]

Rachel wrote: "Veronica wrote: "Does You Will Know Me really count? It's on the Book Riot gymnastics list above. I'm not a sports fan, but I feel I could read a fiction novel centered in the world..."

Yay! I was thinking about this the other day since I own it and am really trying to read my shelf this year or if not the library.

[Teresa]

I read a children's biography Mermaid Queen: The Spectacular True Story Of Annette Kellerman, Who Swam Her Way To Fame, Fortune Swimsuit History!. Annette Kellerman invented water ballet and women's swimsuits that were actually suitable for swimming, without bloomers, corset and hat.

[Sunshine]

@Lisa : hiking should count as a sport it didn't say it had to be a team sport. I read voyage for Madmen which is about yacht racing

[Thegirlintheafternoon]

I'm sure it's already come up here somewhere, but if you're looking for a book that is about sports without being *about* sports, I highly recommend Exit, Pursued by a Bear. I loved it! If you have any triggers, though, I'd suggest spending a few minutes reading up on the subject matter first.

[Sarah]

I went with I Beat the Odds: From Homelessness, to The Blind Side, and Beyond for this task.

[Cheri]

I just googled books about sports for people who hate sports and found this site:
http://airshipdaily.com/blog/01312014...

Looks like there are some really good things, even for people like me who just don't share the sports mentality.

[Bonnie G.]

Cheri wrote: "I just googled books about sports for people who hate sports and found this site:
http://airshipdaily.com/blog/01312014...

Looks like there are some really good things, even for pe..."

I am not a sports person, but frequently enjoy books with sports as a central theme. There are some great choices here ( have read all but "Shoeless Joe" and "Women on Ice", though the latter just went on my TBR.) I have to admit though that I hated What I Talk About When I Talk About Running even though I am a big Murakami fan.

[Bill]

I am not a sports fan, so it seemed appropriate to me to read The Official Heckler Handbook: The Ultimate Guide to Offending and Irritating the Enemy. It was actually quite entertaining to read about how fans interact (occasionally hilariously, often inappropriately) with athletes on the field.

[Lucy]

I read The Fight by Norman Mailer about the iconic Ali-Foreman boxing match in 1975. I'm definitely not a fan of sport but found parts of this book engrossing. However it is an inconsistent book with some pretentious and confusing chapters. Overall worth a read but I found it very uneven

[Cristy]

I went with Open and Forward: A Memoir for this challenge. Typically enjoy biographies and found Aggasi's pretty good and Abby's pretty terrible. You win some and you lose some.

[Elyse]

Cristy wrote: "I went with Open and Forward: A Memoir for this challenge. Typically enjoy biographies and found Aggasi's pretty good and Abby's pretty terrible. You win some and you..."

I read Open a few years ago and enjoyed it.

[Bonnie G.]

Cristy wrote: "I went with Open and Forward: A Memoir for this challenge. Typically enjoy biographies and found Aggasi's pretty good and Abby's pretty terrible. You win some and you..."

Open was my choice as well. A friend had recommended it years ago, though I am not a particular tennis fan. I thought it was fantastic. Beautifully written and insightful (and not just about tennis.)

[Julia]

I finished reading a YA novel I love, in which several of the characters are basketball players. I recommend the novel highly, it's All American Boys by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely.

[Elyse]

Beartown is hockey. You don't have to know anything about hockey to read this.