Task #9: A book published prior to January 1, 2019, with fewer than 100 reviews on Goodreads

[Gretel]

I'll finally finish Programmed Inequality: How Britain Discarded Women Technologists and Lost Its Edge in Computing for this one.

[Karen]

I’m going with Einstein and the Rabbi: Searching for the Soul because it also fits a category in Popsugar challenge.

[Lucia]

Lost Goddesses of Early Greek Mythology by Charlene Spretnak

[Sabrina]

I'm going with Les chambres obscures, which also fits for task #5, book by / about a journalist!
It's the story of a young man whose father passes, and where that takes him.

I hope to finish it today and be its very first review!

[Megan]

I have a double dip book in mind for this one that has 96 reviews right now...I'm assuming this will go above 100 by the end of the year. That would still count, right?

The book is The Sensational Life and Death of Qandeel Baloch. It was only published in India, so I assume that's why it has few reviews, though widely available in Pakistan (and maybe other south asian countries?) as well. Highly recommend while it's still under 100! This book also fits the Written by a Journalist challenge.

[Stephanie]

As per my plans, I finished The Virginia State Colony for Epileptics and Feebleminded: Poems for this task. Gorgeous, haunting poetry. I highly recommend it.

(This also fits under the poetry published after 2014 task but I'm planning to read something else for that one.)

[Jennifer]

A friend's mother published American Daughter Gone to War: On the Front Lines with an Army Nurse in Vietnam years ago & it was given to me last week. It's got good reviews. If it turns out to be terrible I'll move onto something else.

[Brandon]

Brandon wrote: "Dark Side of the Moon"

As it turns out, this book had way too much profanity and British slang for me to make it through even one chapter.

[Leslie (updates on SG)]

I finished Beauty in Thorns by Kate Forsyth.

Other options on my shelf:
- American Fork
- The Healer's Girl

[Melissa]

Megan wrote: "I have a double dip book in mind for this one that has 96 reviews right now...I'm assuming this will go above 100 by the end of the year. That would still count, right?

I would think so.

[Maggie]

Interestingly enough the book I’m currently reading fits in this category! I’m thankful for that. It was written in 2014 and only has 12 ratings and 2 reviews. The Epidemic: Raising Secure, Loving, Happy, and Responsible Children in an Era of Absentee and Permissive Parenting by Robert Shaw.

[SaraCat]

I’m going to read (well, just picked it back up after having started it a while back) “Love Without Limits” by Jacqueline A. Bussie. (Only 14 reviews at the moment) I meant her in the fall when I went to hear her speak.

[Barbara]

I read A Whale for the Killing by Farley Mowat. It was originally published in 1972 and has 75 Goodreads reviews. A heartbreaking story, beautifully told by Mowat. I’ve read several of his other books and love his writing.

[Amanda (Books, Life and Everything Nice)]

I read A Season to Dance by Rebecca Heflin for this challenge. I hadn't planned it, but won the book through a Goodreads Giveaway and it fit the requirements ... so Bonus! Really enjoyed the romance set in the world of ballet.

[Megan]

The Forgotten Storm: The Great Tri-State Tornado of 1925

Check!

[Bonnie G.]

SaraCat wrote: "I’m going to read (well, just picked it back up after having started it a while back) “Love Without Limits” by Jacqueline A. Bussie. (Only 14 reviews at the moment) I meant her in the fall when I w..."

Aaaah! Jacqueline is a friend of mine. The book is wonderful, and so is she! I lived in Fargo for two years, and loved the parts of the book that really captured the place.

[Stephanie]

I found some books on my shelf I haven't read yet that have less than 100 reviews. I settled on Love, Anger, Madness: A Haitian Trilogy for this challenge.

[Cendaquenta]

Just completed this with The Griffin's Feather. Currently has 92 reviews, including mine. Was quite surprised at the low number, considering Cornelia Funke is a reasonably popular author, but I get the impression not a lot of people know/care that this book was even released.

[Lauren]

Reveal by Anne-Rae Vasquez - It's the final book in a trilogy that I've absolutely loved. It definitely needs more love. :)

[Tom]

I have read Running For My Life: My 26.2 Mile Journey to Health and Happiness for this category. The author is a friend of mine, so it was interesting to see how she talks about people and places and events that I am familiar with... Also it is empowering and pretty darn inspirational. I defy anyone with even a slight fondness for exercise (and perhaps some with none at all) not to feel encouraged to go for a run after this!

[Karin]

If you are on instagram, check out the tag #2booksunder50reviews. A bookstagrammer there created a challenge for people to read 2 books this year that were published in 2017 or earlier with under 50 goodreads reviews.

[Rachel]

I recently read Hype: A Doctor's Guide to Medical Myths, Exaggerated Claims and Bad Advice - How to Tell What's Real and What's Not by Nina Shapiro. It only has 55 reviews. It feels like cheating because I picked it up on a whim at the library, but I'll take it.

[Milena]

I am reading a poetry collection A Place Called No Homeland, which currently has 33 reviews. It's really good so far.

[Emma]

I think I'm going to read The Clydach Murders: A Miscarriage of Justice I'm not much for real crime but it's near to where I live and it's been doing the rounds with a lot of people I know so my curiosity has been peaked.

[Octavia]

I read More Than Medicine: A History of the Feminist Women's Health Movement by Jennifer Nelson for this. It only had 22 ratings and 5 reviews, the poor thing (why do I feel sorry for books with only a few reviews?). Actually really interesting, and very clearly written for an academic text. Published in 2015.

[Andi]

This was my first one completed; I read Kathleen and Frank: The Autobiography of a Family which was already in my to read pile - I'm doing complete readthroughs of a few authors, Isherwood being one of them.

And... I have mixed feelings. It was a good book, and satisfying from a completist point of view. It was interesting insight into the social norms of the time. But I was left feeling like it could have been half the length and still as interesting.

[Breanna]

Just finished The Poison Squad by Deborah Blum. It was published last year and has only 80 reviews. It's the really fascinating true story of a man's mission to pass legislation for pure food - at the time in the early 1900s, companies would put formaldehyde, borax, and benzene in foods. Really great read!

[Karen]

Lesley wrote: ""Bright Star: Beatrice Hill Tinsley, Astronomer" has been on my list to read before and I've never got to it. This fits nicely with #9, and bonus it's a New Zealand subject."

Bright Star: Beatrice Hill Tinsley, Astronomer
Wow, that looks good. I also did some reading to see if Christine Cole Catley were an #ownvoices author. She is not. However she is fascinating as well.

[Octavia]

I've read Bright Star, and it is indeed excellent. Would be a great choice for this task!

[Erika]

I may double dip for this one. My son is desperate for me to read the "Seekers" series by Erin Hunter. Some of the later books in the serious only have 70 or so reviews. They are told from the POV of an animal (various types of bear) so that knocks out number 12 also.

[Breanna]

I read Messages from Frank's Landing: A Story of Salmon, Treaties, and the Indian Way for this challenge.

[Shelley]

I went searching for a recent poetry book that focused on a country I hadn't read about before. I discovered Travel Light, Travel Dark which unfortunately was published in Oct 2013, but only has 1 review! The author is from Guyana and has won Caribbean author awards. The book certainly has a strong Caribbean essence, but there was more about England than I would care for. That said, with my criteria being so specific in the first place, I'll take what I can get.

[Brandon]

Backlist titles are great for this prompt. Anything that was published before the rise of the internet and is not a classic may qualify. Tie-in fiction is another area that has less reviews than some other categories. One example would be The Wounded Sky by Diane Duane.

[Lauren]

I read chapbook Short Dark Oracles by Sara Levine and enjoyed it. It was short (true to name) and had a good mix of weird stories. I recommend looking at chapbooks if you're into contemporary / "alternative" literature, or exploring different indie authors and looking for similar authors / lesser known titles. I found this one by looking at related authors for one of my favorite authors, Scott McClanahan. The positive review from Roxane Gay sealed the deal.

[Lisa]

I'll be reading Delaware's Destiny Determined by Lewes which I received at an event partially sponsored by the Delaware State Archives. Local history for me, and only 3 reviews.

[Rachel]

For this prompt I am using I got this as an ARC, it was a fun read.

[Tennille]

Book Riot wrote: "Use this space to discuss books you're reading or that might fit the 9th Read Harder task."
To accomplish this task, I screened the free books I downloaded to my Kindle quite awhile ago. The book I selected was "Among the Dead" by A.R. Wise - I love zombie books, and this one sounded interesting, but it was a big disappointment. With only 53 reviews, I accomplished this task with some regret.

[Carol]

If you're looking for a cozy for this task, I recommend Murder in Greenwich Village by Liz Freeland. Murder in Greenwich Village

[Teresa]

I read Exploring the Past: The Middle Ages, a picture book published in 1989. It has only one review.

[Candace]

Lauren wrote: "I read chapbook Short Dark Oracles by Sara Levine and enjoyed it. It was short (true to name) and had a good mix of weird stories. I recommend looking at chapbooks if you're into co..."

This looks good and I love indie, "weird" short stories! Adding this to my list.

[Bobby]

I went with The Birthday of the World by Moshe Davis and David Ratner. It's a beautifully written book that I discovered while tracking down the source of a Hanukkah quote last year, but it didn't even have a record in Goodreads until I added one.

[Becky]

I plan on reading This Might be a Good Story, which is written by a local journalist. It has a whopping 7 reviews.

[Book Riot]

Hey everyone! Our list of recommendations for this task is up: https://bookriot.com/2019/01/29/books...

[Nikki]

Please read "the Events of October": Murder-Suicide on a Small Campus by Gail Griffin. Just outstanding, and close to my heart because it takes place at my beloved alma mater.

[Deb]

Hubsters got me this one to read and it fits! The Gaslight Effect by Dr. Robert Stern.

[Deb]

Correction: Dr. Robin Stern “The Gaslight Effect. How To Spot and Survive the Hidden Manipulation Others Use To Control Your Life”

[Ashley]

I'm listening to How To Live To 100: Diet and Lifestyle Tips for Longevity from Four Feisty Centenarians because hoopla had the audiobook available. It's only 52 pages and has 2 reviews. I'm not expecting anything groundbreaking, but I've been struggling to find copies of some of the books mentioned above through libraries, so I was happy to find one available!

[Malvina]

I accidentally nailed this one. Read ‘Books That Saved My Life’ by Michael McGirr and happily discovered there were less than 100 reviews at the time I finished! It’s a terrific book, BTW.

[bermudianabroad]

Take This Man by Alice Zeniter

This is a great book. Published in 2011 written by a woman and translated from French by another woman. Only 10 reviews.

Issues of immigration, belonging and ways of expressing love. If you’re interested in contemporary France, give it a whirl.

[Sarah]

I read split tooth by Tanya Tagaq. Interesting read and had around 80 reviews when I selected it.. and something around 150 reviews on goodreads when I read it.