Challenge Questions and Comments

[Book Riot]

Have questions about the Read Harder Challenge, or just want to chat about it? Leave your q's and comments here!

(and here's the original post on Book Riot that introduced the challenge: http://bookriot.com/2014/12/15/book-r...)

[[deleted user]]

I am so looking forward to completing these 24 challenges in 2015!!!!

http://josephdavidquinton.typepad.com

[Kenny]

This should be fun. I've never seen myself reading a romance novel, but for this, I'll give it a try.

[Shelldon (Aspiring Ninja)]

Love this idea, looking forward to branching outside my usual genres, broadening the specs! This should be an interesting reading year!

[Kim (BritishLass929)]

I'm looking so forward to this. I'm also adding two personal goals. I will read one book by a local author, and I will read at least five "classics". I also intend to finish "Outlander" and start book 2 in the Ken Follett Century trilogy.

[Kim (BritishLass929)]

I'm looking so forward to this. I'm also adding two personal goals. I will read one book by a local author, and I will read at least five "classics". I also intend to finish "Outlander" and start book 2 in the Ken Follett Century trilogy.

[Karin]

Are people planning on doing these challenges randomly, or in any type of order?

[MollyK]

My first 2015 reading challenge! Yea!!

I am going to do them randomly as the mood strikes me. But what is a micro history?

[Mark-allan]

It is an historical investigation which studies and outlines the broad history of a certain topic by looking at something highly specific (i.e. one particular object, one event, one town, or person, etc).

https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...

[Rita]

Karin wrote: "Are people planning on doing these challenges randomly, or in any type of order?"

I'll be doing them randomly

[Corey]

Doing it! Can't wait. Couple of questions for the group: I hate romance, but don't want to not read it. Can anyone recommend romance for haters? I also read young adult-type fiction to my kids at night: does that count? And, hey, what about a spy fiction task? A Perfect Spy still remains one of the few books that made me cry. Thanks.

[Karin]

I think I'll do them randomly as well, then!

[Kim (BritishLass929)]

I'm going to be doing them randomly. I did notice that this year's Pulitzer Prize Winner was actually translated, so that's now on my list.

I think my hardest will be sci fi. That's just not normally my thing at all.

I also started researching micro histories (or whatever they're called on the challenge) and found an extremely interesting book about Barbie dolls, which I KNOW I wouldn't have ever gotten myself. The library has it - just have to get there.

My local library started a reading program - six books in three months. I laughed. If they only knew... :)

Hopefully we can keep this going and check each other's progress or possibly get a recommendation...

[Papermaker]

Romance for haters. I'd say Sarah MacLean. It's smart romance.

[Meliza]

So if there are 24 tasks, that is equivalent to 24 books? Or are you going to hit 2 birds (or 3 or 4?) with 1 stone in some books that could be valid in more than 1 task?

[Sarah]

That's a good question Meliza - exactly what I was wondering.

[Book Riot]

Corey wrote: "Doing it! Can't wait. Couple of questions for the group: I hate romance, but don't want to not read it. Can anyone recommend romance for haters? I also read young adult-type fiction to my kids at n..."

Sarah MacLean all the way for romance. And the YA you read to your kids can totally count, if you want it to!

[Book Riot]

Meliza wrote: "So if there are 24 tasks, that is equivalent to 24 books? Or are you going to hit 2 birds (or 3 or 4?) with 1 stone in some books that could be valid in more than 1 task?"

That's up to you!

[Chloe]

I'll be doing randomly too - and will set my goal as 1 task per book. I was amazed when I looked back at my 2014 reading that over 60% of the books were from US authors and over 60% were by men. So half were white US males... not so diverse. Keen to expand via this challenge. I am SO not into Romance... so keen for some tips.

[Rita]

I have to also vote for Sarah MacLean for Romance!!

[Meliza]

Okay, I think I'll settle for 1 book per task. :)

[Amanda]

What's a good way to keep track of progress for a challenge like this?

[Sarah]

Amanda wrote: "What's a good way to keep track of progress for a challenge like this?"

I've created a bingo sheet!

[Michelle]

A bingo sheet sounds fun! My best friend and I are doing the challenge together and we live a country apart, so I think it would be fun to send her a message shouting, "Bingo!" from time to time

[Book Riot]

Walter wrote: "Would Sarah MacLean be a good romance author for a male?"

We don't really think there's anything to the idea that some books are "for" women and some books are "for" men. Sarah Maclean is an excellent writer of smart, sexy books. If that appeals to you, she's for you, if it doesn't, not so much. :)

[K.W.]

Should we post here in the individual task threads to update others' as to our progress?

Also, does BR have a particular hashtag they are using for this challenge?

I just think it would be fun to keep in touch with you all throughout the challenge is all.

[Jenny]

Walter wrote: "Would Sarah MacLean be a good romance author for a male?"

While I agree with Book Riot's take about books not being for men and for women, I know that I find some books obnoxious as a female reader when their treatment of women is fairly stereotypical for a reason that doesn't seem to advance the story, or when the women seem to be just props in the male character's life. If by for men, you mean romance books that have full male characters, I would recommend Sarah Maclean's A Rogue by Any Other Name (which is the first in a series that follows the 4 male owners of a gaming hell in historic London) if contemporaries are more your thing I would recommend Sea Swept by Nora Roberts (it's the first in a series that follows 3 brothers). I enjoyed both immensely.

[Threemoons]

Heydi-ho. New here. I see that we can add suggestions to a communal shelf as well, but it seems I'm the only person to do so thusfar. Am I being rude? :)

Totally looking forward to this challenge.

I, too, also have a personal goal of finishing a draft of my own book this year as well.

[Kenny]

Kristian wrote: "Should we post here in the individual task threads to update others' as to our progress?

Also, does BR have a particular hashtag they are using for this challenge?

I just think it would be fun to..."

The official hashtag is #ReadHarder. As far as posting here in the threads, I think that's up to you.

[Pauline]

I'm going to attempt to make this a family challenge, making a few modifications to the list for my 11 year old daughter and 13 year old son. I'd love to hear any suggestions for the various categories that are age appropriate for them realizing they will all most likely fall in the young adult category. If any others are doing the same thing, Bomb is a good microhistory for teen boys. My teen son has already it, so looking for other ideas. Thanks!

[K.W.]

Thank you, Kenny.

Pauline, the first two categories will be easy. Eragon should satisfy the under-25 category, and any of the Little House books will work for the over-65 item. Additionally, Blue Fingers is a great YA book set in Asia, and I would recommend Stargirl for the romance category.

Good luck!

[Karen Michele]

I'm going to join in - this looks like fun and I like that it runs all year long!

[Brindi Michele]

I'm joining, but are we to post what we read and when completed on here, or do we just keep track of it ourselves?

[Tim]

Thanks Book Riot. This should be fun. It will give me an opportunity to enjoy something new that I might not have considered reading.

[Ahtims]

Thanks , Book Riot. Am joining in. Do I have to create a thread here for my tasks.
I intend to take a book per task, if I find myself rushed towards the end then perhaps 2-3 birds/books at a shot.

[Amy]

Corey wrote: "Doing it! Can't wait. Couple of questions for the group: I hate romance, but don't want to not read it. Can anyone recommend romance for haters? I also read young adult-type fiction to my kids at n..."

Something like Out of Africa has a beautiful romance, but is not Harlequin (no offense intended to Harlequin fans)

[Amy]

Amanda wrote: "What's a good way to keep track of progress for a challenge like this?"

I started an Excel sheet listing this and one other challenge. As I think about books that may fit those categories I'll slot them in next to the challenge topic. As I read books I'll make them bold.

[Amy]

MollyK wrote: "My first 2015 reading challenge! Yea!!

I am going to do them randomly as the mood strikes me. But what is a micro history?"

I found out that At Home by Bill Bryson is listed as a micro-history. Since it's already loaded on my Kindle, I'm happy.

[Vauna]

I so wanted an alternative to the GR's challenge, which I've decided to skip this coming year. Great way to add diversity, maybe I'll even find a new genre to adore. =D

[Vauna]

Threemoons wrote: "Heydi-ho. New here. I see that we can add suggestions to a communal shelf as well, but it seems I'm the only person to do so thusfar. Am I being rude? :)

Totally looking forward to this chal..."

Thanks for pointing out the communal shelf! I hadn't noticed it what a great way to find recommendations for the different categories.

After I give it some thought I may have to add a few myself. =)

[Mindy]

For science fiction scaredy cats like me, here are some less hardcore options that I enjoyed...Replay by Grimwood and Ready Player One by Cline.

For this challenge, I plan to read The Martian by Weir. Great reviews all around.

[Rainey]

I am really looking forward to this challenge. I actually have 20 books that work for rhis challenge so wont have to purchase or borrow many.

[Heidiq]

Corey wrote: "Doing it! Can't wait. Couple of questions for the group: I hate romance, but don't want to not read it. Can anyone recommend romance for haters? I also read young adult-type fiction to my kids at n..."

Don't think of romance as being the Harlequin - Fabio cover...I never read those....try Discovery of Witches...great love story :)

[Sian]

Looking forward to this challenge and reading out of my comfort zone. I've already started making lists of possible books for each task, a couple already in my to read list will tick off some and chip away at my growing list.

I'm also going to try and mix it up between kindle books, library books, charity shop books and brand new books.

[Ruth]

Hi...is there a place we can post our challenge and keep track of it right here in this group? That would be helpful!!

[Book Riot]

Ruth wrote: "Hi...is there a place we can post our challenge and keep track of it right here in this group? That would be helpful!!"

We've just made a "Read Harder Personal Plans" folder for this for ya! Just keep track of which # comment your plan is so you can go back and make edits if you want to.

[Tiffani]

I'm eager to get started on the challenge. I already have a stack of books for some of the categories. The harder categories for me will probably be indie as I don't usually pay that much attention to the publisher and am not sure (yet) what counts as as indie and self-improvement.

[Ruth]

Book Riot wrote: "Ruth wrote: "Hi...is there a place we can post our challenge and keep track of it right here in this group? That would be helpful!!"

We've just made a "Read Harder Personal Plans" folder for this..."

Wonderful!!!

[Dana]

Kim- a great SciFi book that I wasn't expecting to love but did... The Lathe of Heaven by Ursula LeGuin.

[Anca]

Karin wrote: "Are people planning on doing these challenges randomly, or in any type of order?"

random