Task 1: Read a book you’ve been intimidated to read

[[deleted user]]

In Search of Lost Time immediately came to mind for me. May need to form a support group for that one, too! Don Quixote is also a strong contender.

[Tara]

President Obama's previous books had an easy style to read while remaining informative. A Promised Land is large but worth reading.

[Ashly]

Conversations with God

[Elizabeth]

I think I have the same idea as a number of other folks here in that the books coming to mind are ones with a more daunting length than anything. I used to read so many long books when I was younger, up to about four or five years ago. This year, two of the reading challenges I participate in called for doorstoppers, and I ended up not getting to that task for either. One of my personal goals for 2021 is to read more books that are on the longer side. I don't know what book I'm going for yet, but it will almost definitely be one of the long books that have been staring at me from my towering TBR.

[Elise]

Kimberly wrote: "I don’t know how to reply to another users comment but I immediately thought of Infinite Jest for this one!"

Yes! Glad I'm not the only one!

[Jessica]

I have way too many on my list, ha. I wonder what that says about me as a reader? The Book Riot list nailed me with Homegoing and Possession - both of which I've meant to read but... haven't.

Then, I used to read epic fantasy and stopped when it all felt too dense and "samey", and since then I've considered but never picked up The Way of Kings, The Lies of Locke Lamora, The Name of the Wind, and The Poppy War

Like Homegoing, I've put off Americanah and Half of a Yellow Sun even though they look great.

And House of Leaves would definitely be another - an idea I got from this thread. Also, on the exact opposite side of the spectrum, The Art of Racing in the Rain which I've had recommended to me multiple times but I worry I'll cry the whole way through.

[Sean]

Jessica wrote: "I have way too many on my list, ha. I wonder what that says about me as a reader? The Book Riot list nailed me with Homegoing and Possession - both of which I've meant ..."

The Way of Kings would have been a perfect fit for me last year at this time. I held off on it for years because it's a long intro to a long series. I finally read it last December, though, and I'm so glad I did. I've since devoured books 2-4. So good! I can't wait for book 5!

[Madison]

Fourevver wrote: "The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas. It's almost as long as Les Miserables."
But so worth it! I found it a fast read, hard. to put down.

[Kari]

I am choosing The Order of Time for this. I've had it forever but don't have much of a science background so I've been worried about getting through it.

[Elizabeth]

I think I'm going to tackle Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell... I've been wanting to read it, but the length and the fact that I want to read a physical copy for all the footnotes was intimidating me.

[Ilana]

I’m debating between Remembrance of Things Past and Infinite Jest. Both seem really daunting!

[Madison]

I think i will finally read "Catch 22." Always makes the top 100 books of all time and it was my mother's favorite and she was a librarian.

[Rachel]

The Bone Reader by Samantha Shannon, just the reviews have wondering if I can keep up or understand it!

[Rachel]

Madison wrote: "I think i will finally read "Catch 22." Always makes the top 100 books of all time and it was my mother's favorite and she was a librarian."
It is one of my favourite ever books

[Jessica]

Elizabeth wrote: "I think I'm going to tackle Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell... I've been wanting to read it, but the length and the fact that I want to read a physical copy for all the footnotes was in..."

Oh yeah, I should add that to my already-too-long list of options.

[Mandi]

Elizabeth wrote: "Does the Berne Brown books count? I get uncomfortable even thinking of reading self help"
I think it works! This is such a subjective prompt, it really depends on each person. Funnily enough, now that you mention it, I have a Brene Brown book that I bought back in 2016 that I haven't been able to bring myself to read.

[Caleb]

Loved House of Leaves, congratulations to the folks picking that one. One of the few books that ever gave me goosebumps. I've been carrying around Women and Men by Joseph McElroy for years, through cross country moves and multiple houses. It's time to tackle this one.

[Book Riot]

Hi everyone! Our rec post for this task is now live. https://bookriot.com/read-harder-2021...

[Bonnie G.]

Book Riot wrote: "Hi everyone! Our rec post for this task is now live. https://bookriot.com/read-harder-2021..."

What a great list! I still have stress flashbacks to reading The Tale of Genji in college and to reading Ducks last year.

[Kass]

Sean wrote: "1Q84 has been staring me down from my TBR pile for years now."

Same. That's my pick! It's been on my tbr since 2016.

[Nat]

The Monk is the one I'm going to try to read this year.

[Marie]

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon After watching the tv show I was really interested... but not only is it a CHUNK of a book, the entire series is massive and if I get into it.... Oof, I might be here awhile

[Kristen]

House of the Seven Gables by Nathaniel Hawthorne. I first attempted this in high school in an effort to keep up with my friends who were smarter than me. I didn’t make it past the first few pages because I wasn’t getting into it. Decades later I think I am ready to try again.

[Nicole]

ProfBen10 wrote: "Priority of the Orange Tree is what I'm choosing for this one."
That was my first thought as well

[Katie]

S.

I've owned this intriguing book for years and its finally time to jump into it!

[Tracey]

This is my first year doing the challenge. I'm finally gonna read 1Q84 for this first challenge, just ordered the book from my library :)

[Megan]

Crime and Punishment by Dostoevsky it is.

[Richelle]

For me its going to be A Suitable Boy.
I have tried to read it, but now its on netflix i want to try again.

[Serendipity]

I’ve read a lot of long classics in recent years so am pondering going another route. This year I read all the books shortlisted for The Dublin Literary Award. All except for Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of Your Dead because it intimidates me for some reason. Too literary perhaps?

[Bobby]

I've read everything by James Joyce except for Finnegans Wake. This challenge may be just the motivation I need to attempt it! I would probably be simultaneously following along in Annotations to Finnegans Wake by Roland McHugh and A Skeleton Key to Finnegans Wake by Joseph Campbell and Henry Morton Robinson to assist.

Some other books I'm considering:

The Enneads, by Plotinus

Molloy, Malone Dies, The Unnamable, by Samuel Beckett

The Koran

Plato: Complete Works

The Federalist Papers, by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison

Hopscotch, by Julio Cortázar

[Sarah]

I'm actually thinking Bel Canto or The Big Sleep... not necessarily difficult books to read but books that have been on my 'Want To Read' shelf for ages and I feel like if I am ever going to tackle one of them, I am going to do it now when I am being challenged to embrace this hurdle and leap it!

[Carrie]

Abbie wrote: "Carrie wrote: "House of Leaves

by
Mark Z. Danielewski

This book has such great reviews. I bought it went it came out and have let it s..."

I read Anna Karenina. It took me awhile to get through it but was definitely worth it in my opinion!

[Carrie]

Tali wrote: "Carrie wrote: "House of Leaves

by
Mark Z. Danielewski

This book has such great reviews. I bought it went it came out and have let it s..."

Maybe we can discuss and compare thoughts if we read it around the same timeframe! I've heard it's definitely a book that raises a lot of questions.

[Carrie]

Caleb wrote: "Loved House of Leaves, congratulations to the folks picking that one. One of the few books that ever gave me goosebumps. I've been carrying around Women and Men by Joseph McElroy fo..."

Now I'm even more excited to read this! Glad you enjoyed it.

[Martha]

Richelle wrote: "For me its going to be A Suitable Boy.
I have tried to read it, but now its on netflix i want to try again."

I loved that book! It took me 3 months to read it though.

[John]

Also thinking of “Ulysses” by James Joyce.

[Lianne]

I think I'm going to go with The Way of Kings, by Brandon Sanderson. I've enjoyed some of his other books, but this one... 1000 pages? In hardcover? That's a huge book...

[L Y N N]

Jessica wrote: "The Art of Racing in the Rain which I've had recommended to me multiple times but I worry I'll cry the whole way through."

This is one of my favorite all-time reads and one of my all-time favorite authors. It is a tear-jerker, IMO, but mostly toward the end as I remember. I'm due for a reread! Highly recommended!

[Sarah]

superawesomekt wrote: "For those reading Les Miserables or Anna Karenina, they are totally worth it!

Finally tackling Moby-Dick"

Right there with you!

[L Y N N]

I will read Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America by Ibram X. Kendi for this prompt.

I have been intimidated by this book due to its length of 582 pages, the feeling that those pages will be very dense with much information to absorb, and especially the fact that I know much of the content will make me angry with and ashamed of my "white" heritage.

[Susan]

Elise wrote: "Anyone else thinking about tackling Infinite Jest?"

I am.

[Jennifer]

Milena wrote: "Octavia wrote: "Milena wrote: "I will finally read War and Peace."

That was my exact same thought! War and Peace, I am finally coming for you."

Let me know if you need moral support. I..."

Maybe we can start a thread here or have Book Riot start a War and Peace Support Group thread? I think many of us are thinking of finally conquering this tome!

[Jennifer]

superawesomekt wrote: "For those reading Les Miserables or Anna Karenina, they are totally worth it!

Finally tackling Moby-Dick"

Okay. I'm a librarian. I know I'm not supposed to discourage reading in any way, shape, or form. But Moby-Dick gets the only distinction of being a book I hate. I do not use hate lightly. I hated it. I have a colleague who loves Melville and begs me to re-read this monstrosity. I just cannot do it ... even with Benedict Cumberbatch heading a theatrical reading of an abridged version of it. I wish you luck. Lots of luck. And, know I feel your pain when you are slogging through the whale anatomy bits.

[Jennifer]

Jessica wrote: "I have way too many on my list, ha. I wonder what that says about me as a reader? The Book Riot list nailed me with Homegoing and Possession - both of which I've meant ..."

Homegoing was INCREDIBLE!! A colleague recommended it to me; I recommended it to two other colleagues. We all walked away going "WOW!"

[Bonnie G.]

Susan wrote: "Elise wrote: "Anyone else thinking about tackling Infinite Jest?"

I am."

I have already read it (and I loved it) or I would. Its a worthy choice for sure. I am reading Thomas Pynchon's Mason & Dixon.

[Bonnie G.]

Jennifer wrote: "superawesomekt wrote: "For those reading Les Miserables or Anna Karenina, they are totally worth it!

Finally tackling Moby-Dick"

Okay. I'm a librarian. ..."

I second this! It really was painful. People smarter than me get rhapsodic when they speak of it, but its merits were lost on me.

[Milena]

Jennifer wrote: "Milena wrote: "Octavia wrote: "Milena wrote: "I will finally read War and Peace."

That was my exact same thought! War and Peace, I am finally coming for you."

Let me know if you need m..."

That would be great. I actually already started and read part of the first chapter. I figure I will be reading it well into 2021, so I wanted to get a bit of a head start.

[Meredith]

I'm taking a bit of a different path and choosing a book that has a really difficult subject matter that intimidates me (and that I usually try to avoid, if I can help it!).

Here are two books that I expect will be rough but also quite illuminating:
Advice for Future Corpses (and Those Who Love Them): A Practical Perspective on Death and Dying
The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich: A History of Nazi Germany

[Karen]

I’m thinking Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End by Atul Gawande.

I started it several years ago, had it return to the library, and have since been staring at the physical copy on my shelf. Timing is good 87yo MIL is living with us, 83yo mom may be moving close by and hubby and I are 61. Good time to start preparing. (He may even say we’re a little late to the game.)

[Tri]

Might up and read The Bible....