Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge discussion
2018 Read Harder Challenge
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2018 Read Harder Challenge plans
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3) A classic of genre fiction (i.e. mystery, sci fi/fantasy, romance)
5) A book set in or about one of the five BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, or South Africa)
7) A western
9) A book of colonial or postcolonial literature
12) A celebrity memoir
16) The first book in a new-to-you YA or middle grade series
21) A mystery by a person of color or LGBTQ+ author
22) An essay anthology
23) A book with a female protagonist over the age of 60
24) An assigned book you hated (or never finished)
[✔] 1) A book published posthumously:When Breath Becomes Air
[] 2) A book of true crime:
[✔] 3) A classic of genre fiction (i.e. mystery, sci fi/fantasy, romance):
The Princess Bride
[] 4) A comic written and illustrated by the same person:
[] 5) A book set in or about one of the five BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, or South Africa):
[✔] 6) A book about nature:
The Stranger in the Woods: The Extraordinary Story of the Last True Hermit
[✔] 7) A western:
True Grit
[] 8) A comic written or illustrated by a person of color:
[✔] 9) A book of colonial or postcolonial literature:
The Brief and Wonderous Life of Oscar Wao
[] 10) A romance novel by or about a person of color:
[] 11) A children’s classic published before 1980:
[✔] 12) A celebrity memoir:
Unqualified
[✔] 13) An Oprah Book Club selection:
The Underground Railroad
[✔] 14) A book of social science:
Thinking, Fast and Slow
[] 15) A one-sitting book:
[] 16) The first book in a new-to-you YA or middle grade series:
[✔] 17) A sci fi novel with a female protagonist by a female author:
Kindred
[] 18) A comic that isn’t published by Marvel, DC, or Image:
[✔] 19) A book of genre fiction in translation:
The Never Ending Story
[✔] 20) A book with a cover you hate:
Interview with the Vampire
[] 21) A mystery by a person of color or LGBTQ+ author:
[] 22) An essay anthology:
[✔] 23) A book with a female protagonist over the age of 60:
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
[✔] 24) An assigned book you hated (or never finished):
On the Homefront
I completed 24/24 on 6/20/18. This is the first year I completed the challenge. This is the second year I have done the challenge. I have enjoyed reading the posts from all of you on each prompt. I have gotten a few suggestions from these discussions. I also learned to use the Dewey Decimal System on a few prompts to make sure the book I choose would meet the category. Like so many of you I used as many books as I could from my TBR pile. I have also used Libby & Overdrive for the first time. I can’t wait to see the 2019 challenge. I was wondering if there was a discussion thread where we could make suggestions for future challenges? Here is my completed list. 1. A book published posthumously-Barracoon
2. True Crime-The Witches:Salem 1692
3. Classic genre fiction- Kindred
4. Comic written & illustrated by the same person- Can’t We Talk About Something More Pleasant?
5. A BRICS countries-Bury What We Cannot Take
6. Nature Book- The Harvester
7. Western-Far Away Home
8. Comic written or illustrated by a person of color-The Best We Could Do
9. Colonial or post colonial literature-The Witches Salem, 1692
10. Romance novel by a person of color- A Study in Scarlett
11. Children’s classic published before 1980-Where The Wild Things Are
12. Celebrity Memoir- Lab Girl
13. Oprah Book- Open House
14. Social Science- Tribe:On Homecoming & Belonging
15. One-Sitting- All Butter Short Dead
16. First book in a new to you YA series-Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children
17. Sci fi with female protagonists by female author-Kindred
18.Comic not published by Marvel,DC,Image-The Best We Could Do
19. Genre fiction in translation-The Angels Game
20.Cover you Hate- Tribes
21.Mystery by Person of Color or LGBTQ-Catch As Cat Can:A Mrs.Murphy Mystery
22.Essay Anthology-Letters of Note
23. Female Protagonist Over 60-Britt-Marie Was Here
24. Assigned Book you hated or never finished-Zen&The Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. Also Witches
Best Book-Lab Girl by Hope Jahren. Worst Book-Witches:Salem,1692 by Stacy Schiff.
1) A book published posthumouslyThe Girl with the Dragon Tattoo2) A book of true crimeColumbine[✔]
3) A classic of genre fiction (i.e. mystery, sci fi/fantasy, romance)Murder on the Orient Express[✔]
4) A comic written and illustrated by the same personNimona[✔]
5) A book set in or about one of the five BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, or South Africa)Family Life[✔]
6) A book about nature
7) A westernUnder a Painted Sky[✔]
8) A comic written or illustrated by a person of color
✔]9) A book of colonial or postcolonial literatureA Brief History of Seven Killings[✔]
10) A romance novel by or about a person of colorWhen Dimple Met Rishi[✔]
11) A children’s classic published before 1980Peter Pan]✔]
12) A celebrity memoir
13) An Oprah Book Club selectionAnna Karenina✔]
14) A book of social scienceWe Should All Be Feminists[✔]
15) A one-sitting bookTo All the Boys I've Loved Before[✔]
16) The first book in a new-to-you YA or middle grade series[[book:Delirium|11614718]✔]
17) A sci fi novel with a female protagonist by a female authorWarcross✔]
18) A comic that isn’t published by Marvel, DC, or ImageRiverdale[✔]
19) A book of genre fiction in translationRuby Red[✔]
20) A book with a cover you hateGabi, a Girl in Pieces[✔]
21) A mystery by a person of color or LGBTQ+ authorTiny Pretty Things✔]
22) An essay anthologyBad Feminist✔]
23) A book with a female protagonist over the age of 60Britt-Marie Was Here[✔]
24) An assigned book you hated (or never finished
Okay, so I am definitely having a hard time reading the books I had decided for each reading challenge. I keep reading other random books that I find and get distracted with.
Needless to say, my TBR list keeps growing and I haven't touched the books I plan to read for the challenge.
Anyone else having this problem or am I just weak?
Candice, I tried to frontload my reading challenge early in the year. I figured I would probably run out of steam/get distracted as the year went on, and that’s what has happened. I also had a real run of a reading slump in the spring and while I’m out of it now, I’m only reading books that I’m really interested in atm.
(Also, some of those challenges I was never going to finish anyway. I don’t read romance, I don’t care who it’s about. And I don’t want to invest time in reading a book just because the cover is ugly.)
Candice wrote: "Okay, so I am definitely having a hard time reading the books I had decided for each reading challenge. I keep reading other random books that I find and get distracted with...."
I made up a list when I started the challenge, but I also assumed I might ignore most of the list. I read studiously for the challenge for a bit, in part because a bunch of books I already planned to read met various tasks. But for the last 2+ months I've been reading things that cross my path without any attention to the challenge. So you are not alone.
Oh you are sooooo not alone, Candice. It's been an especially tough challenge for me last year and this, as I'm also doing Around the Year in 52 books. My best recommendation is to allow yourself to swap out books if you want to. If you're struggling with one topic and getting the book read that you'd planned, find something else. Pick a shorter book. Pick a young adult book. If you enjoy them, pick a comic or graphic novel.
I found a great book for one topic and started it last week. It's over 700 pages - but there are many pictures and so far it's a really enjoyable read, so I'm sticking with it.
Candice wrote: "Okay, so I am definitely having a hard time reading the books I had decided for each reading challenge. I keep reading other random books that I find and get distracted with.
Needless to say, my T..."
You are not alone. The first year I tried this challenge I forced myself to read all of the books and neglect my TBR list until I'd finished the challenge. After that first year I decided that I read for pleasure and putting pressure on myself to finish the challenge was putting undue pressure on myself and ruining half the pleasure of reading. Now, I read as many of the books in the challenge as I can, use the categories as a guideline to read more widely in different genres and also read any other books I want to read whether they fit the challenge or not. If I don't finish the challenge I refuse to berate myself for not finishing it. This is supposed to be a fun thing, don't make it into something stressful.
I'm happy to report I finished mine in May. Like Krista, and others I'm sure, I also swapped out choices different from my original picks for time constraints or content or likeability. Now I'm working on the Summer Reading Challenge (expert level) floating around GR. ;)Edit: Looks like I deleted my original list on this thread...
2018 Book Riot Read Harder Challenge List!!
My top picks...
24/24
Judith wrote: If I don't finish the challenge I refuse to berate myself for not finishing it. This is supposed to be a fun thing, don't make it into something stressful.That’s the truth. If it exposes you to a new genre or a book you wouldn’t have otherwise read (or bumps up one languishing on your TBR) and you enjoy the experience, it’s a success.
I find that as much as I love and utilize Goodreads, I find the same thing happens. I find myself getting preoccupied with how many books I need to read in a period of time, and it ruins the fun of reading for me a bit.
Janet wrote: "Angie wrote: "[] 1) A book published posthumously:[] 2) A book of true crime:
Currently Reading: [book:The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America|219..."
I loved this book! I can't wait to read the rest of the series.
Deborah wrote: "Janet wrote: "Angie wrote: "[] 1) A book published posthumously:[] 2) A book of true crime:
Currently Reading: [book:The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Chang..."
Once I get through this challenge I think I'll pick up the rest of the series. I loved the setting and the characters in this book so much!
✔ 1) A book published posthumously: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo✔2) A book of true crime: Columbine
✔ 3) A classic of genre fiction (i.e. mystery, sci fi/fantasy, romance): Still Me
✔ 4) A comic written and illustrated by the same person: Tangles
5) A book set in or about one of the five BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, or South Africa):
✔6) A book about nature: Mississippi Solo
7) A western
✔ 8) A comic written or illustrated by a person of color: In Real Life
9) A book of colonial or postcolonial literature:
✔10) A romance novel by or about a person of color: Take the Lead
✔ 11) A children’s classic published before 1980: A Wrinkle in Time
12) A celebrity memoir
✔13) An Oprah Book Club selection: White Oleander
✔ 14) A book of social science: Little Book of Lykke
✔ 15) A one-sitting book: Tangles
✔16) The first book in a new-to-you YA or middle grade series: Cinder
✔ 17) A sci fi novel with a female protagonist by a female author: Warcross
✔18) A comic that isn’t published by Marvel, DC, or Image: In Real Life
✔ 19) A book of genre fiction in translation: I Remember You
20) A book with a cover you hate
✔ 21) A mystery by a person of color or LGBTQ+ author: The Last Place you Look
✔22) An essay anthology: Rereadings
23) A book with a female protagonist over the age of 60
24) An assigned book you hated (or never finished):
[] 1) A book published posthumously: Ariel[X] 2) A book of true crime: Before We Were Yours
[X] 3) A classic of genre fiction (i.e. mystery, sci fi/fantasy, romance): Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe
[] 4) A comic written and illustrated by the same person:
[] 5) A book set in or about one of the five BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, or South Africa): Girls Burn Brighter
[] 6) A book about nature: A Walk In The Woods
[] 7) A western:
[] 8) A comic written or illustrated by a person of color: The Best We Could Do
[] 9) A book of colonial or postcolonial literature: Things Fall Apart
[X] 10) A romance novel by or about a person of color: Royal Majesty: A Dope Boy Love Story
[X] 11) A children’s classic published before 1980: Winnie the Pooh
[X] 12) A celebrity memoir: Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology
[] 13) An Oprah Book Club selection: Becoming
[X] 14) A book of social science: The Wave
[X] 15) A one-sitting book: The Golden Rule
[X] 16) The first book in a new-to-you YA or middle grade series: To All the Boys I've Loved Before
[] 17) A sci fi novel with a female protagonist by a female author: Kindred
[] 18) A comic that isn’t published by Marvel, DC, or Image:
[] 19) A book of genre fiction in translation: The Perfect Nanny
[] 20) A book with a cover you hate:
[] 21) A mystery by a person of color or LGBTQ+ author:
[] 22) An essay anthology: Rereadings
[] 23) A book with a female protagonist over the age of 60: Emily, Alone
[] 24) An assigned book you hated (or never finished):
Here's what I've read so far and what I'm planning to read:https://thebookstop.wordpress.com/201...
A book of true crime: Killers of the Flower Moon
A classic of genre fiction: A Wrinkle in Time
A book set in one of the five BRICs countries: Girls Burn Brighter
A book about nature: My Family and Other Animals
A western: River of Teeth
A comic written/illustrated by a person of color: Ms. Marvel
A book of colonial or post-colonial literature: Pachinko
A romance novel by a person of color: The Luckiest Lady in London
A children’s classic published before 1980: A Wrinkle in Time
A celebrity memoir: Love, Loss, and What We Ate
An Oprah Book Club selection: An American Marriage
A one-sitting book: All Systems Red
The first book in a new-to-you YA series: Labyrinth Lost
Sci Fi novel w female protagonist by female author: Future Home of the Living God
A comic that isn’t published by Marvel, DC, or Image: March, Book 1
A book with a female protagonist over 60: Elizabeth is Missing
A book published posthumously: When Breath Becomes Air
A mystery by a person of color or LGBTQ author: The Widows of Malabar Hill
A comic written and illustrated by the same person: (planning to read Stitches)
A book of social science: (planning to read Awkward or The Secret Life of Pronouns)
A book of genre fiction in translation: (planning to read In the Distance With You or The Three-Body Problem)
A book with a cover you hate:
An essay anthology: (planning to read Nasty Women)
An assigned book you hated or never finished: (maybe Jane Eyre)
1) A book published posthumously: 3) A classic of genre fiction (i.e. mystery, sci fi/fantasy, romance):
4) A comic written and illustrated by the same person:
5) A book set in or about one of the five BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, or South Africa):
6) A book about nature:
7) A western:
8) A comic written or illustrated by a person of color:
9) A book of colonial or postcolonial literature:
10) A romance novel by or about a person of color:
11) A children’s classic published before 1980:
12) A celebrity memoir:
13) An Oprah Book Club selection:
14) A book of social science:
15) A one-sitting book:
16) The first book in a new-to-you YA or middle grade series:
17) A sci fi novel with a female protagonist by a female author:
19) A book of genre fiction in translation:
21) A mystery by a person of color or LGBTQ+ author:
22) An essay anthology:
23) A book with a female protagonist over the age of 60:
24) An assigned book you hated (or never finished):
I completed the challenge! Here's what I ended up reading.1. A book published posthumously: A Moveable Feast: The Restored Edition by Ernest Hemingway — 4 stars
2. A book of true crime: Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI by David Grann — 4 stars
3. A classic of genre fiction: The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett — 4 stars
4. A comic written and illustrated by the same person: The New Frontier by Darwyn Cooke — 3 stars
5. A book set in or about one of the five BRICS countries: Nothing Is True and Everything Is Possible: The Surreal Heart of the New Russia by Peter Pomerantsev — 4 stars
6. A book about nature: The Botany of Desire: A Plant's-Eye View of the World by Michael Pollan — 5 stars
7. A western: True Grit by Charles Portis — 4 stars
8. A comic written or illustrated by a person of color: Black Panther: A Nation Under Our Feet, Book 1 by Ta-Nahesi Coates, illustrated by Brian Stelfreeze — 4 stars
9. A book of colonial or postcolonial literature: The Map of Love by Ahdaf Soueif — 4 stars
10. A romance novel by or about a person of color: The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory — 4 stars
11. A children's classic published before 1980: A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin — 4 stars
12. A celebrity memoir: Failure Is an Option: An Attempted Memoir by H. Jon Benjamin — 3 stars
13. An Oprah Book Club selection: Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides— 4 stars
14. A book of social science: From Here to Eternity: Traveling the World to Find the Good Death by Caitlin Doughty — 4 stars
15. A one-sitting book: The Lover by Marguerite Duras — 4 stars
16. The first book in a new-to-you YA or middle grade series: Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo — 4 stars
17. A sci-fi novel with a female protagonist by a female author: Planetfall by Emma Newman — 3 stars
18. A comic that isn't published by Marvel, DC, or Image: Lady Killer, Vol. 2 by Joëlle Jones — 4 stars
19. A book of genre fiction in translation: A Midsummer's Equation by Keigo Higashino — 3 stars
20. A book with a cover you hate: My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante — 4 stars
21. A mystery by a person of color or LGBTQ+ author: Bluebird, Bluebird by Attica Locke — 4 stars
22. An essay anthology: Selfish, Shallow, and Self-Absorbed: Sixteen Writers on The Decision Not To Have Kids edited by Meghan Daum — 4 stars
23. A book with a female protagonist over the age of 60: The Woman Next Door by Yewande Omotoso — 3 stars
24. An assigned book you hated (or never finished): A Separate Peace by John Knowles — 4 stars
[ ] 1) A book published posthumously - Go Set a Watchman[ ] 2) A book of true crime
[ ] 3) A classic of genre fiction (i.e. mystery, sci fi/fantasy, romance)
[x] 4) A comic written and illustrated by the same person - The Complete Persepolis
[ ] 5) A book set in or about one of the five BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, or South Africa) - A Gentleman in Moscow
[ ] 6) A book about nature
[ ] 7) A western
[x] 8) A comic written or illustrated by a person of color - Soul Eater, Vol. 10
[ ] 9) A book of colonial or postcolonial literature
[x] 10) A romance novel by or about a person of color - The Sun Is Also a Star
[ ] 11) A children’s classic published before 1980
[x] 12) A celebrity memoir - Talking as Fast as I Can: From Gilmore Girls to Gilmore Girls and The Princess Diarist
[ ] 13) An Oprah Book Club selection - The Underground Railroad (Currently reading)
[ ] 14) A book of social science
[x] 15) A one-sitting book - Milk and Honey
[ ] 16) The first book in a new-to-you YA or middle grade series
[ ] 17) A sci fi novel with a female protagonist by a female author
[x] 18) A comic that isn’t published by Marvel, DC, or Image - Blue Exorcist, Vol. 1
[ ] 19) A book of genre fiction in translation
[ ] 20) A book with a cover you hate
[ ] 21) A mystery by a person of color or LGBTQ+ author
[ ] 22) An essay anthology
[ ] 23) A book with a female protagonist over the age of 60 - The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
[ ] 24) An assigned book you hated (or never finished)
Excited to see if I can pull this off now that I'm done with school and can read more. 1)A book published posthumously - 2666 by Roberto Bolano
2) A book of true crime - I'll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman's Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer by Michelle McNamara
3) A classic of genre fiction (i.e. mystery, sci fi/fantasy, romance) - The Gunslinger by Stephen King
4)
5)
6) A book about nature -
7)
8) A comic written or illustrated by a person of color -Monstress, Vol. 1: Awakening by Marjorie M. Liu
9) A book of colonial or postcolonial literature - A Brief History of Seven Killings by Marlon James
10)
11) A children’s classic published before 1980 - Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O'Brien
12) A celebrity memoir- Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life by Anne Lamott
13)
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15)
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17)
18)
19)
20)
21) A mystery by a person of color or LGBTQ+ author - Meddling Kids by Edgar Cantero
22) An essay anthology - We Are Never Meeting In Real Life by Samantha Irby
23) A book with a female protagonist over the age of 60 - Emily, Alone by Stewart O'Nan
24)
Without planning my list ahead, I have met quite a few of the challenges. Just a few more to go...1)
2)
3)
The Moonstone
4) A comic written and illustrated by the same person:
5)
6) A book about nature:Gulp: Adventures on the Alimentary Canal
7) A western:
8) A comic written or illustrated by a person of color:
9)
10) A romance novel by or about a person of color:
11) A children’s classic published before 1980:
12)
13)
14)
15)
16)
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe
18) A comic that isn’t published by Marvel, DC, or Image:
19)
20) A book with a cover you hate:
21) A mystery by a person of color or LGBTQ+ author:
22)
23)
24)
[ ] 1) A book published posthumously [ ] 2) A book of true crime
[x] 3) A classic of genre fiction (i.e. mystery, sci fi/fantasy, romance) - Jane Eyre
[] 4) A comic written and illustrated by the same person
[ ] 5) A book set in or about one of the five BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, or South Africa)
[ ] 6) A book about nature
[ ] 7) A western
[] 8) A comic written or illustrated by a person of color
[ ] 9) A book of colonial or postcolonial literature
[] 10) A romance novel by or about a person of color
[x] 11) A children’s classic published before 1980 - Anne of Green Gables
[] 12) A celebrity memoir
[ ] 13) An Oprah Book Club selection
[ ] 14) A book of social science -Factfulness
[] 15) A one-sitting book
[ ] 16) The first book in a new-to-you YA or middle grade series
[ ] 17) A sci fi novel with a female protagonist by a female author
[] 18) A comic that isn’t published by Marvel, DC, or Image
[ ] 19) A book of genre fiction in translation
[ ] 20) A book with a cover you hate
[ ] 21) A mystery by a person of color or LGBTQ+ author
[ ] 22) An essay anthology
[ ] 23) A book with a female protagonist over the age of 60
[ ] 24) An assigned book you hated (or never finished)
updated post 225 Currently at 11/24
Finished! Completed December 6, 2018✅1) A book published posthumously Persuasion
✅2) A book of true crime A Rip in Heaven
✅3) A classic of genre fiction (i.e. mystery, sci fi/fantasy, romance)Wuthering Heights
✅4) A comic written and illustrated by the same person My Favorite Thing Is Monsters, Vol. 1
✅5) A book set in or about one of the five BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, or South Africa) When Dimple Met Rishi
✅6) A book about nature A Walk in the Woods
✅7) A western The Sisters Brothers
✅8) A comic written or illustrated by a person of color Monstress, Vol. 1: Awakening
✅9) A book of colonial or postcolonial literature Homegoing
✅10) A romance novel by or about a person of color What a Westmoreland Wants
✅11) A children’s classic published before 1980 Peter Pan
✅12) A celebrity memoir Why Not Me?
✅13) An Oprah Book Club selection Tara Road
✅14) A book of social science The Stranger in the Woods: The Extraordinary Story of the Last True Hermit
✅15) A one-sitting book Why Not Me?
✅16) The first book in a new-to-you YA or middle grade series This Savage Song
✅17) A sci fi novel with a female protagonist by a female author Illuminae
✅18) A comic that isn’t published by Marvel, DC, or Image My Favorite Thing Is Monsters, Vol. 1
✅19) A book of genre fiction in translation The Boy in the Suitcase
✅20) A book with a cover you hate The Perks of Being a Wallflower
✅21) A mystery by a person of color or LGBTQ+ author The Last Place You Look
✅22) An essay anthology Not That Bad: Dispatches from Rape Culture
✅23) A book with a female protagonist over the age of 60 The Murder at the Vicarage
✅24) An assigned book you hated (or never finished) Wuthering Heights
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2018 Book Riot Read Harder ChallengeCompleted 9/24
3.A classic of genre fiction (i.e. mystery, sci fi/fantasy, romance)
Rosemary's Baby
5.A book set in or about one of the five BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, or South Africa)
Waiting
6.A book about nature
Deep Blue Home: An Intimate Ecology of Our Wild Ocean
10.A romance novel by or about a person of color
Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows
12.A celebrity memoir
You're Never Weird on the Internet
13.An Oprah Book Club selection
Behold the Dreamers
14.A book of social science
American Girls: Social Media and the Secret Lives of Teenagers
16.First in a new to you YA or Middle Grade Series
Scythe
17.A sci fi novel with a female protagonist by a female author
Kindred
20.A book with a cover you hate
Stardust
21.A mystery by a person of color or LGBTQ+ author
Malice
23.A book with a female protagonist over the age of 60
Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk
24.An assigned book you hated (or never finished)
Lord of the Flies
Completed:
√1. A book published posthumously
This Star Won't Go Out: The Life and Words of Esther Grace Earl
√2. A book of true crime
Starvation Heights: A True Story of Murder and Malice in the Woods of the Pacific Northwest
√4. A comic written and drawn by the same person
The Complete Maus
√7. A Western
Blood Meridian, or the Evening Redness in the West
√8. A comic written or illustrated by a person of color
Persepolis 2: The Story of a Return
√9. A book of colonial/postcolonial literature
The Dew Breaker
√11. A children's classic published before 1950
The Little Prince
√15. A one sitting book
Milk and Honey
√18. A comic that isn't published by Marvel, DC, or Image
Roller Girl
√19. A book of genre fiction in translation (Horror)
Ring
√22. An essay anthology
Radical Hope: Letters of Love and Dissent in Dangerous Times
Finished the challenege today! (9/24/18):1) A book published posthumously The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
2) A book of true crime Black Mass
3) A classic of genre fiction (i.e. mystery, sci fi/fantasy, romance) Murder on the Orient Express
4) A comic written and illustrated by the same person Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic
5) A book set in or about one of the five BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, or South Africa) The Last Queen of India
6) A book about nature Wild Magic
7) A western Daughter of Fortune
8) A comic written or illustrated by a person of color Barefoot Gen, Volume One: A Cartoon Story of Hiroshima
9) A book of colonial or postcolonial literature Cry, the Beloved Country
10) A romance novel by or about a person of color Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe
11) A children’s classic published before 1980 Mary Poppins
12) A celebrity memoir Fierce: How Competing for Myself Changed Everything
13) An Oprah Book Club selection Midwives
14) A book of social science Longitude: The True Story of a Lone Genius Who Solved the Greatest Scientific Problem of His Time
15) A one-sitting book Witness for the Prosecution
16) The first book in a new-to-you YA or middle grade series The Diviners
17) A sci fi novel with a female protagonist by a female author A Wrinkle in Time
18) A comic that isn’t published by Marvel, DC, or Image Barefoot Gen, Volume Two: The Day After
19) A book of genre fiction in translation The Little Paris Bookshop
20) A book with a cover you hate Emperor Mage
21) A mystery by a person of color or LGBTQ+ author A Most Peculiar Malaysian Murder
22) An essay anthology Historians on Hamilton: How a Blockbuster Musical Is Restaging America's Past
23) A book with a female protagonist over the age of 60 An Echo in the Bone
24) An assigned book you hated (or never finished) Fahrenheit 451
This was my first time doing the RH challenge and I'm looking forward to seeing the list for next year!
1) A book published posthumously - EMILY DICKINSON: The Complete poèms2) A book of true crime -American Heiress: The Kidnapping, Crimes and Trial of Patty Hearst
3) A classic of genre fiction (i.e. mystery, sci fi/fantasy, romance) -Carmilla
4) A comic written and illustrated by the same person Fun Home -The Complete Calvin and Hobbes
5) A book set in or about one of the five BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, or South Africa) - Codename Villanelle - only part of this takes place in Russia so I'm probably going to add another book here because I feel like I didn't really complete this.
6) A book about nature - Lab Girl
7) A western - Wynonna Earp Volume 1: Homecoming
8) A comic written or illustrated by a person of color - Bad Girls
9) A book of colonial or postcolonial literature - Americanah
10) A romance novel by or about a person of color - Ash
11) A children’s classic published before 1980 - The Borrowers
12) A celebrity memoir - Unbearable Lightness: A Story of Loss and Gain
13) An Oprah Book Club selection - Love Warrior
14) A book of social science - Pure: Inside the Evangelical Movement That Shamed a Generation of Young Women and How I Broke Free, The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America's Shining Women
15) A one-sitting book - Jericho, basically every other romance I read this year...
16) The first book in a new-to-you YA or middle grade series - A Great and Terrible Beauty, Open Minds
17) A sci fi novel with a female protagonist by a female author -Open Minds
18) A comic that isn’t published by Marvel, DC, or Image - Orphan Black: Crazy Science #1
19) A book of genre fiction in translation - Blind Goddess
20) A book with a cover you hate- All That Matters
21) A mystery by a person of color or LGBTQ+ author - I Know a Secret, Affinity
22) An essay anthology -Dear John, I Love Jane: Women Write About Leaving Men for WomenNot That Bad: Dispatches from Rape Culture
23) A book with a female protagonist over the age of 60 - Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg
24) An assigned book you hated (or never finished) - A Room of One's Own
This was my first year doing the RH challenge. I still have a few books I want to read from researching different categories This was fun. I read a wide variety of things anyway, but I still had to look for something for #6, 13 & 19 not on my regular reading list. I'm looking forward to next year's list.
Finished this week!!1. Book published posthumously: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
2. Book of true crime: Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI
3. Classic of Genre Fiction: We Have Always Lived in the Castle
4. Comic written and illustrated by same person: The Complete Persepolis
5. Book set in BRICS: The Winter Palace: A Novel of Catherine the Great
6. Book about nature: The Hour of Land: A Personal Topography of America's National Parks
7. Western: News of the World
8. Comic written/illustrated by POC: Monstress, Vol. 1: Awakening
9. Book of colonial or postcolonial literature: Pachinko
10. Romance novel by POC: Black Lace
11. Children's classic before 1980: A Wizard of Earthsea
12. Celebrity memoir: Yes Please
13. Oprah Book Club: Song of Solomon
14. Social Science: The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness
15. one-sitting book: 84, Charing Cross Road
16. First book in YA series: Cinder
17. Sci-fi with female protagonist: Parable of the Sower
18. Non-big-3 comic: Lady Killer, Volume 1
19. Genre fiction in translation: The Shape of Water
20. Book with cover you hate: Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim
21. Mystery by person of color or LGBTQ: Devil in a Blue Dress
22. Essay anthology: The Fire This Time: A New Generation Speaks about Race
23. Female protagonist over 60: The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax
24. Assigned book you hated: Emma
I just finished the challenge! I read some of the books in German. For the books that have not been translated into English (yet), I posted the title in the original language. 1) A book published posthumously - The Diary of a Young Girl
2) A book of true crime - Mumien in Palermo: Als Kriminalbiologe an die dunkelsten Orte der Welt (forensic biologist writing about his work)
3) A classic of genre fiction - The Hobbit
4) A comic written and illustrated by the same person - Endzeit (nice zombie apocalypse graphic novel in the area of Germany where I studied)
5) A book set in or about one of the five BRICS countries - Once Upon A Time in the East: A Story of Growing Up
6) A book about nature - Het beest in ons
7) A western - Under a Painted Sky
8) A comic written or illustrated by a person of color - This One Summer
9) A book of colonial or postcolonial literature - Patchwork
10) A romance novel by or about a person of color - Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe
11) A children’s classic published before 1980 - The Grey Gentlemen
12) A celebrity memoir - Daring to Drive: The Young Saudi Woman Who Stood Up To a Kingdom of Men
13) An Oprah Book Club selection - The Underground Railroad
14) A book of social science - Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind
15) A one-sitting book - Asterix and the Chariot Race
16) The first book in a new-to-you YA or middle grade series - The Rithmatist
17) A sci-fi novel with a female protagonist by a female author - A Closed and Common Orbit
18) A comic that isn’t published by Marvel, DC, or Image - Schattenspringer: Wie es ist, anders zu sein (autobiographic graphic novel about growing up with Asperger syndrome)
19) A book of genre fiction in translation - The Three-Body Problem
20) A book with a cover you hate - Die Geschichte eines neuen Namens (German edition of Elena Ferrante's The Story of a New Name)
21) A mystery by a person of color or LGBTQ+ author - Qu'attendent les singes (mystery set in Algeria)
22) An essay anthology - How I Resist: Activism and Hope for the Next Generation
23) A book with a female protagonist over the age of 60 - Elizabeth Is Missing
24) An assigned book you hated (or never finished) - Emilia Galotti: A Tragedy In Five Acts
I won't finish this as I tried to participate in four challenges, but I was exposed to new books which is the purpose! Lots of double dipping!2 A book of true crime Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI
3 A classic of genre fiction (I used religion but if not, then use The Good Earth) Open Mind, Open Heart: The Contemplative Dimension of the Gospel
4 A comic written and illustrated by the same person American Born Chinese
5 A book set in or about one of the five BRICS countries The Good Earth
6 A book about nature I Contain Multitudes: The Microbes Within Us and a Grander View of Life
Astrophysics for People in a Hurry
8 A comic written or illustrated by a person of color American Born Chinese
9 A book of colonial or postcolonial literature A Bend in the River
10 A romance novel by or about a person of color Happiness
12 A celebrity memoir Love, Loss, and What We Ate: A Memoir
13 An Oprah book selection The Good Earth
15 A one sitting book American Born Chinese
16 The first book in a new to you YA or middle grade series Chains
17 A sci fi novel with a female protagonist by a female author The Sparrow The main protagonist is a male but there are two females among the small group of astronauts.
18 A comic that isn't published by Marvel, DC or Image Lumberjanes #1
23 A book with a female protagonist over the age of 60 Britt-Marie Was Here
24 An assigned book you hated (or never finished) Brave New World
Do novelettes count as "books"? I'd love to use The Lady Astronaut of Mars for task 23, but I'm unsure if it counts
Emily wrote: "Do novelettes count as "books"? I'd love to use The Lady Astronaut of Mars for task 23, but I'm unsure if it counts"
The folks at Book Riot are really flex. I'm sure that will work.
The folks at Book Riot are really flex. I'm sure that will work.
Finished the challenge!1) A book published posthumously - Persuasion
2) A book of true crime - I'll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman's Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer
3) A classic of genre fiction (i.e. mystery, sci fi/fantasy, romance) - Rebecca
4) A comic written and illustrated by the same person - Adulthood Is a Myth
5) A book set in or about one of the five BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, or South Africa) - The Twentieth Wife
6) A book about nature - Spineless: The Science of Jellyfish and the Art of Growing a Backbone
7) A western - True Grit
8) A comic written or illustrated by a person of colour - Black Panther #1
9) A book of colonial or postcolonial literature - Wide Sargasso Sea
10) A romance novel by or about a person of color - The Jade Temptress
11) A children’s classic published before 1980 - The Phantom Tollbooth
12) A celebrity memoir - The Princess Diarist
13) An Oprah Book Club selection - Night
14) A book of social science - Modern Romance
15) A one-sitting book - Anya's Ghost
16) The first book in a new-to-you YA or middle grade series - The Lightning Thief
17) A sci fi novel with a female protagonist by a female author - Parable of the Sower
18) A comic that isn’t published by Marvel, DC, or Image - Zodiac Starforce: Cries of the Fire Prince #3
19) A book of genre fiction in translation - White as Milk, Red as Blood: The Forgotten Fairy Tales of Franz Xaver von Schönwerth
20) A book with a cover you hate - Bridget Jones's Diary
21) A mystery by a person of colour or LGBTQ+ author - Out
22) An essay anthology - Shrill: Notes from a Loud Woman
23) A book with a female protagonist over the age of 60 - Murder at the Vicarage
24) An assigned book you hated (or never finished) - Out of Africa
Best book:
Rebecca - I LOVED this! Best book I've read in a long time.
Worst book:
Out of Africa - hated it so much that I didn't finish it in uni. Hated it even more when I finished it this time.
All done 🙌🏽[3/2] 1. A book published posthumously -Maurice by E.M. Forster
[6/2] -I'll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman's Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer
[6/2] 2. A book of true crime -I'll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman's Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer
[8/24] 3. A classic of genre fiction (i.e. mystery, sci fi/fantasy, romance) -The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester
[6/4] 4. A comic written and illustrated by the same person -Nimona
[1/7] 5. A book set in or about one of the five BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, or South Africa) -A Gentleman in Moscow
[9/16] 6. A book about nature -The Solace of Open Spaces
[9/12] 7. A western -Boneyard by Seanan McGuire
[1/1] 8. A comic written or illustrated by a person of color -Saints by Gene Luen Yang
[10/1] 9. A book of colonial or postcolonial literature -A Small Place by Jamaica Kincaid
[1/20] 10. A romance novel by or about a person of color -The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory
[1/5] 11. A children’s classic published before 1980 -A Wrinkle in Time
[5/10] 12. A celebrity memoir -We're Going to Need More Wine by Gabrielle Union
[10/26] 13. An Oprah Book Club selection -Sula by Toni Morrison
[9/10] 14. A book of social science -Nomadland: Surviving America in the Twenty-First Century
[1/1] 15. A one-sitting book -Saints
[1/10] -The Lady Astronaut of Mars
[4/1] -Litany for the Long Moment by Mary-Kim Arnold
[2/20] 16. The first book in a new-to-you YA or middle grade series -The Belles by Dhonielle Clayton
[7/29] 17. A sci fi novel with a female protagonist by a female author -Stars Uncharted by S.K. Dunstall
[5/6] 18. A comic that isn’t published by Marvel, DC, or Image -The Umbrella Academy, Vol. 1: The Apocalypse Suite
[11/30] 19. A book of genre fiction in translation -The Watcher in the Shadows by Carlos Ruiz Zafón
[4/8] 20. A book with a cover you hate - Nothing Left to Burn by Heather Ezell
[4/18] 21. A mystery by a person of color or LGBTQ+ author -Land of Shadows by Rachel Howzell Hall
[11/20] 22. An essay anthology - How We Speak to One Another by Ander Monson
[1/10] 23. A book with a female protagonist over the age of 60 -The Lady Astronaut of Mars
[9/30] 24. An assigned book you hated (or never finished) -Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton
Read: 24/24 = 100% as of 11/30/18
Book Riot Read Harder Challenge 201824/24
✅ 1) A book published posthumously - A Movable Feast
✅ 2) A book of true crime - American Fire: Love, arson and life in a vanishing land
✅ 3) A classic of genre fiction (i.e. mystery, sci fi/fantasy, romance) - The Haunting of Hill House
✅ 4) A comic written and illustrated by the same person - Maus by Art Spiegelman
✅ 5) A book set in or about one of the five BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, or South Africa) - The Master and Marguerita (graphic novel)
✅ 6) A book about nature - Other Minds: The Octopus and the Evolution of Intelligent Life
✅ 7) A western - My Antónia
✅ 8) A comic written or illustrated by a person of color - Persepolis
✅ 9) A book of colonial or postcolonial literature - No Longer at Ease
✅ 10) A romance novel by or about a person of color - Swift as Desire
✅ 11) A children’s classic published before 1980 - Peter Pan
✅ 12) A celebrity memoir - More Fool Me (Stephen Fry)
✅ 13) An Oprah Book Club selection - Sula
✅ 14) A book of social science - Unspeakable Things: Sex, Lies and Revolution
✅ 15) A one-sitting book - The End of Your Life Book Club
✅ 16) The first book in a new-to-you YA or middle grade series - Countdown (Deborah Wiles)
✅ 17) A sci fi novel with a female protagonist by a female author - Kindred
✅ 18) A comic that isn’t published by Marvel, DC, or Image - Lumberjanes
✅ 19) A book of genre fiction in translation - The Three Body Problem
✅ 20) A book with a cover you hate - Ethan of Athos
✅ 21) A mystery by a person of color or LGBTQ+ author - You Don’t Know Me
✅ 22) An essay anthology - We Were Eight Years in Power
✅ 23) A book with a female protagonist over the age of 60 - The Japanese Lover
✅ 24) An assigned book you hated (or never finished) - Silas Marner (unfinished in Year 10)
1) A book published posthumously: When Breath Becomes Air2) A book of true crime: Columbine
3) A classic of genre fiction (i.e. mystery, sci fi/fantasy, romance): I, Robot
4) A comic written and illustrated by the same person: Ghosts
5) A book set in or about one of the five BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, or South Africa): The Widows of Malabar Hill
6) A book about nature: Astrophysics for People in a Hurry
7) A western: True Grit
8) A comic written or illustrated by a person of color: The Best We Could Do
9) A book of colonial or postcolonial literature: The Financial Expert
10) A romance novel by or about a person of color: Bingo Love
11) A children’s classic published before 1980: All-of-a-Kind Family Uptown
12) A celebrity memoir: Neil Patrick Harris: Choose Your Own Autobiography
13) An Oprah Book Club selection: House of Sand and Fog: A Novel
14) A book of social science: Life Reimagined: The Science, Art, and Opportunity of Midlife
15) A one-sitting book: The Uncommon Reader
16) The first book in a new-to-you YA or middle grade series: The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy
17) A sci fi novel with a female protagonist by a female author: The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet
18) A comic that isn’t published by Marvel, DC, or Image: Anya's Ghost
19) A book of genre fiction in translation: The Snack Thief
20) A book with a cover you hate: The Quiet Side of Passion
21) A mystery by a person of color or LGBTQ+ author: Murder in G Major
22) An essay anthology: Gig: Americans Talk about Their Jobs (In progress)
23) A book with a female protagonist over the age of 60: A Murder Is Announced
24) An assigned book you hated (or never finished): Fahrenheit 451 (TBR)
[X] 1) A book published posthumously Factfulness: Ten Reasons We're Wrong About the World – and Why Things Are Better Than You Think[X] 2) A book of true crime Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI
[X]3) A classic of genre fiction (i.e. mystery, sci fi/fantasy, romance) The Gunslinger
[X] 4) A comic written and illustrated by the same person The Complete Persepolis
[X] 5) A book set in or about one of the five BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, or South Africa) Poonachi: Or the Story of a Black Goat
[X] 6) A book about nature A Time For All Things
[X] 7) A western
[X] 8) A comic written or illustrated by a person of color The Complete Persepolis
[X] 9) A book of colonial or postcolonial literature Americanah
10) A romance novel by or about a person of color
[X] 11) A children’s classic published before 1980 Winnie-the-Pooh
[X] 12) A celebrity memoir: Born a Crime by Trevor Noah
[X] 13) An Oprah Book Club selection Becoming
[X] 14) A book of social science 21 Lessons for 21st Century by YNH
[X] 15) A one-sitting book Anita: A Trophy Wife
16) The first book in a new-to-you YA or middle grade series
17) A sci fi novel with a female protagonist by a female author
[x] 18) A comic that isn’t published by Marvel, DC, or Image Preludes & Nocturnes
[x] 19) A book of genre fiction in translation Aangan / آنگن
[x] 20) A book with a cover you hate Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House
[x] 21) A mystery by a person of color or LGBTQ+ author Anita: A Trophy Wife
[x] 22) An essay anthology No Time to Spare: Thinking About What Matters
[x] 23) A book with a female protagonist over the age of 60 Pachinko
[x] 24) An assigned book you hated (or never finished) Small Acts Of Freedom
Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge
Books mentioned in this topic
Hitting a Straight Lick with a Crooked Stick: Stories from the Harlem Renaissance (other topics)Persuasion (other topics)
Lies, Damned Lies, and History (other topics)
The Winds of War (other topics)
One Hundred Years of Solitude (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Zora Neale Hurston (other topics)Jodi Taylor (other topics)
Haruki Murakami (other topics)
Michelle Obama (other topics)
Edgar Cantero (other topics)
More...
1) A book published posthumously
2) A book of true crime
3) A classic of genre fiction (i.e. mystery, sci fi/fantasy, romance)
4) A comic written and illustrated by the same person
5) A book set in or about one of the five BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, or South Africa)
6) A book about nature
7) A western
8) A comic written or illustrated by a person of color
9) A book of colonial or postcolonial literature
10) A romance novel by or about a person of color
11) A children’s classic published before 1980
12) A celebrity memoir
13) An Oprah Book Club selection
14) A book of social science
15) A one-sitting book
16) The first book in a new-to-you YA or middle grade series
17) A sci fi novel with a female protagonist by a female author
18) A comic that isn’t published by Marvel, DC, or Image
19) A book of genre fiction in translation
20) A book with a cover you hate
21) A mystery by a person of color or LGBTQ+ author
22) An essay anthology
23) A book with a female protagonist over the age of 60
24) An assigned book you hated (or never finished)