Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge discussion
Task Ideas/Resources/Discussions
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Challenge Questions and Comments
I'm new to good reads. How do I find the personal folders to keep track?
Can't wait for January 1st to start this. Already planned out most of my choices!
Sherri wrote: "Can't wait for January 1st to start this. Already planned out most of my choices!"lol me too!
Mark-allan wrote: "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..."Thanks so much for asking and answering this question! I had the same question about microhistory.
I think, since 24 isn't a "round number" to me I'm adding a few goals:25. Book written by a local author
26. Book by an undiscovered author I find randomly myself (aka non-recommended/non-"buzzy" book
27. Possible book set in each continent
28. An autobiography/biography
29. Book being made into a film (without seeing film first, of course)
30. Classic I have previously unread
Have no idea if I can pull any/all of this off,
Kim wrote: "I think, since 24 isn't a "round number" to me I'm adding a few goals:25. Book written by a local author
26. Book by an undiscovered author I find randomly myself (aka non-recommended/non-"buzzy"..."
Very ambitious, I salute you!
If I can even do half of this year's list I'll be happy, but I sure am gonna try! :)
For non-recommended/non-buzzy, I found that indie bookstores can be a great resource. Plus, they frequently showcase undiscovered and/or local authors.
Miss Davies wrote: "Amanda wrote: "What's a good way to keep track of progress for a challenge like this?"I've created a bingo sheet!"
I've created a new bookshelf imaginatively titled "Read Harder Challenge" and added a book in each category. Then I realized I had no way to remember exactly which book was for what category. I added a comment to each book that indicated what category it represented.
Mark-allan wrote: "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..."Thanks for the link! I was wondering too, turns out I have two of those on my "to read" list :)
Nancy wrote: "Miss Davies wrote: "Amanda wrote: "What's a good way to keep track of progress for a challenge like this?"I've created a bingo sheet!"
I've created a new bookshelf imaginatively titled "Read Har..."
Fantastic idea...I may do the same.
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?"I was thinking the exact same thing...
I think I will do the tasks randomly. I downloaded a random number generator to pick a number between 1 and 24. I can't wait to get started and start branching out of my YA bubble I've been stuck in. ;)
I am really looking forward to this! I have my own personal reading list I want to complete but this will be fun to do and hopefully motivate me to get through some of my TBR :) Also looking forward to finding new things to read I wouldn't normally pick up!
Must start planning....
Hi Book Riot! I am creating a post about me joining this challenge in my blog. Can I use your logo for my featured image?
Hello! Fantastic idea. I have to trim the number of books I read this year a bit as I have more sport to do, and was a bit sad not to get a decent crack at my TBR pile. This is a great way to hit it in a co-ordinated fashion. I've set up a shelf here, if anyone wants ideas! I'm keeping the "guilty pleasure" as a wildcard for an impulse buy (because I don't believe I should feel guilty over any book I enjoy but I do feel guilty about the money!), and am waiting for a recommendation from friends, but there are 22 on the shelf, and the reason I picked each one is in the review section.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...
Have fun with your picks, everyone :)
Amanda wrote: "What's a good way to keep track of progress for a challenge like this?"I created a shelf. I'm adding books to the shelf as I identify them for the challenge. It doesn't separate the books by task, but it's at least a way to see at a glance what I will be reading or have read for this particular challenge. I can always add a comment with the task name the book falls under (YA, Sci-Fi, etc.).
My husband and I created a similar challenge last year (loosely based off of a book bingo card I came across on Pinterest with some of our own themes added in). Since we both have such different tastes in books it was a fun way for each of us to read things outside of what we would normally read. We had a two column list on the fridge where we would fill in our completed titles for each category. It was a lot of fun to see what books we were each reading...not to mention who was 'ahead'. We've decided to do it again this year using some of the categories from this challenge as inspiration to switch things up a bit. I can't wait to see what you're all reading to help with the categories that overlap.
Would Consider the Fork be considered a micro history since it is looking at culinary technology? It is on my audible reading list....
I'm in another group where they have a book challenge for that group, it's linked to a specific shelf and only counts books on that shelf. Is there a way you could set that up for this group?
When I record in "my books" that I have read a book - and write a short review - it would be nice if there were a way to tag it to the Read Harder task site for that genre. Any way to do this?
Lis wrote: "When I record in "my books" that I have read a book - and write a short review - it would be nice if there were a way to tag it to the Read Harder task site for that genre. Any way to do this?"Yes! Maybe a #2015 tag?
Hi Chase, I don't know the answer to your question, but maybe try here?:https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Book Riot wrote: "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..."
Good to know we can hit 2 or 3 birds with one stone, I may do that as I am going to be approaching the challenge pretty randomly, but with great excitement! I already have crossed off the Graphic Novel (I read Ms. Marvel), and the YA category (Eleanor & Park).
I'm reading -- and enjoying -- 1Q84. Covers three bases for me -- author is a different gender (he is male), book takes place in Asia (Tokyo), and it was originally published in another language (Japanese). I'm recommending it (now that covers another challenge for you!). I'm on page 187 of 925. The translation is beautiful. Quite and compelling. Like the characters (so far). I'll let you know if it he's up.
Question RE "book published this year." Do you mean 2014 or 2015? For those of us planning ahead, 2014 may be easier. :D
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..."I'm by no means a big romance reader, but I have a few suggestions for other Romances that might be less "hard romance"...
Nora Roberts and her Cousins O'Dwyer Trilogy which is also about witches and magic, there's Diana Gabaldon with her Outlander series that involves time travel and war.
If you want a romp of a hardcore romance, I really liked Rush by Maya Banks. It's part of the Breathless trilogy, but I only read the first one. It's what I imagine Fifty Shades of Grey could have been had the writing been better.
The first books in each of these series' are currently on Amazon Kindle for $1.99
Is manga part of the graphic novel genre? My son reads a lot of this, so I could easily pick something from his collection to meet this challenge.
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..."Romance for haters...this typically isn't my thing either, but if I can find a romance novel that kind of incorporates other genres or themes I usually like that makes it way better (magic/fantasy usually).
I read some Nora Roberts a few years ago, the Three Sisters Island trilogy, and it wasn't too bad; I also really liked the first Beautiful Creatures book (haven't read the rest yet) and that's kind of romance-y.
I'm starting with those things I'll find hardest to get through (poetry, short stories, graphic novel) and then going on to the things I know I'll enjoy.
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..."Try Joanna Trollope Her stuff "qualifies" as romance but it's very smart. I'd especially recommend something like The Rector's Wife or The Choir.
Would it be cheating to swap out "erotica" for "romance?" I hate the latter genre but have some backreading to do in the former.
Terri wrote: "@Nancy--Manga is graphic novel material."Good to know. My son has shelves of this stuff (most of which I buy for him; I'll give him books for gifts, no matter what kind). His Christmas gift was the Akira series.
Another question: For "book written by someone before they were 25" how about "The Reason I Jump?" It's a translation of notes from an autistic boy:The Reason I Jump: The Inner Voice of a Thirteen-Year-Old Boy with Autism
Thought this might be a handy resource for the challenge:NPR's Book Concierge
http://apps.npr.org/best-books-2014/
With Karena's help, we've set up 24 bookshelves for each of the 24 tasks in the Read Harder Challenge on our group website's bookshelf.Thought when people finished reading a book besides clicking the Read Button, they could also click on one or more of the applicable task bookshelves as well.
Thought this could therefore turn into a good resource for others looking for book ideas for any of the 24 tasks.
Threemoons wrote: "Another question: For "book written by someone before they were 25" how about "The Reason I Jump?" It's a translation of notes from an autistic boy:[book:The Reason I Jump: The Inner Voice of a..."
Yes, it'd qualify as a book written by someone under 25 as well as a book originally written in another language.
I read this book last year, and really enjoyed it. It was both enlightening and heartbreaking.
Mj wrote: "With Karena's help, we've set up 24 bookshelves for each of the 24 tasks in the Read Harder Challenge on our group website's bookshelf.Thought when people finished reading a book besides clicking..."
You beat me to it! I was thinking about doing the same thing a few days ago, but didn't have a chance to do it yet. Just added my first read, The Bone Season. I did fill in the "Why Add This Book" field; did you envision including this info, or having just the books?
Mj wrote: "With Karena's help, we've set up 24 bookshelves for each of the 24 tasks in the Read Harder Challenge on our group website's bookshelf.Thought when people finished reading a book besides clicking..."
Also, are these shelves meant to contain only those books that everyone has read specifically for this challenge? Or can we add whatever books we've read in the past and highly recommend to the appropriate shelves, in the interest of providing a resource, as well?
Ana-Maria wrote: "Mj wrote: "With Karena's help, we've set up 24 bookshelves for each of the 24 tasks in the Read Harder Challenge on our group website's bookshelf.Thought when people finished reading a book besid..."
Hi Ana-Maria,
I like that you filled in "Why Add This Book" and kept it short. Makes the shelves a bit more useful but it's really up to what each individual wants to do.
I think we should stick to only books read for this 2015 Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge since that's what the moderator(s) have set up the community bookshelves for.
Originally I had envisioned using it for the "to read" as well but think with the number of members in the challenge, if the shelves included the "to reads" or "plans" it could get unwieldy.
Right now the shelves are being used for "currently reading" and "read" which I think is perfect for a quick resource for the challenge.
Someone can just click on the particular shelf when they're looking for ideas; in addition, to reading through the various threads.
Mj wrote: "Hi Ana-Maria,I like that you filled in "Why Add This Book" and kept it short. Makes the shelves a bit more useful but it's really up to what each individual wants to do."
Thanks for the quick response, Mj! I agree that adding planned-but-not-yet-read books might get out-of-hand fairly quickly if people "abused" the power, so to speak. I wonder if there's a way to put such a note about how to use the bookshelves up higher where members can see it right away? Or a way to monitor that the bookshelf isn't being "abused" in general?
I strongly agree that only books actually READ for this challenge should go on the bookshelves. Suggested reading can be limited to the various task threads created.
Hi again Ana-Maria,Thanks for your questions and contribution.
My sense is the moderator(s) are pretty laissez-faire because many of their answers to people's questions are "whatever you choose." I tend to agree with that way of thinking for this challenge and since the range of readers and their use of GoodReads' tools is probably equally varied, we should just let the chips fall where they may and let people use or not use the shelves.
I just added the shelves to be helpful and I see many have picked up on them. Others haven't. That's ok. Would prefer not to monitor as I think that would be at cross-purposes to the challenge. I think the whole idea is to get people to read outside their boundaries, to read more books and to enjoy reading. Definitely don't think it's a good idea to superimpose "should's" or "must do's" or to edit other people's choices. Whatever happens is fine.
Think we should leave it up to Rachel or another of Book Riot's moderators to step in if they feel differently and to move the whole "shelf availability" up the ladder of comments if they choose.
I think it's been fairly visible already and since this seems to be a member driven challenge whatever happens, happens. Should be fun. Am looking forward to it. Happy Reading!!
Sounds good, Mj! I'll admit I do have some slight control issues, but your thoughts are much appreciated! Glad our work is done. Happy reading to you, too!
I do love that this challange is taking my reading to new places and heights.
Hello will you be putting up a post about completed tasks or will we keeping track be for ourselves
Mj wrote: "With Karena's help, we've set up 24 bookshelves for each of the 24 tasks in the Read Harder Challenge on our group website's bookshelf.Thought when people finished reading a book besides clicking..."
I'm super glad that other people thought the bookshelves idea was good. I thought it would helpful if anyone wanted to see ideas in a quicker format than the forums. Can't wait to see what everyone else adds.
Threemoons wrote: "Would it be cheating to swap out "erotica" for "romance?" I hate the latter genre but have some backreading to do in the former."I totally think that erotica can count as romance.
Karena wrote: "Mj wrote: "With Karena's help, we've set up 24 bookshelves for each of the 24 tasks in the Read Harder Challenge on our group website's bookshelf.Thought when people finished reading a book besid..."
How do you a add a book to the book shelf. I was able to add it to the general shelf, but couldn't figure out how to put in the Asia shelf. Help Please!
Hi Samantha,I think you're already doing it right. Under Memoirs of A Geisha on our Group Bookshelves I see you've set it as Task 7 Asia.
You see will ONLY see this if you are in the Read Harder Group and then go to our Group Bookshelves. You'll see books with your name beside them and then the shelves you've assigned them to - Read and Task #.
You will NOT see these same shelves on your OWN INDIVIDUAL bookshelves unless you go to the trouble to set each task up as a new shelf for yourself on your own site. You could set up 24 new bookshelves if you wish, but it seems like a lot. What I plan to do is to set up one called 2015 Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge and put all 24 books in 1 spot so I can see what's been done and what I need to do. I also plan to use the Individual Task Forums the Moderator set up to share with everyone else.
Hope that helps. If it doesn't just ask again.
Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge
Books mentioned in this topic
The Red Badge of Courage (other topics)A Little Life (other topics)
A Little Life (other topics)
A Little Life (other topics)
Brown Girl Dreaming (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Anna Freeman (other topics)Anna Freeman (other topics)
Joanna Trollope (other topics)
Nora Roberts (other topics)
Diana Gabaldon (other topics)
I'll do them randomly as books I want to borrow become available.
However, I'll try to push myself to do tougher parts of the challenge throughout the year and not leave them until the end.