Task 24: 24. Pick a 2015 Read Harder Challenge task to complete.

[Krista]

Share and discuss book ideas for
Task 24: Pick a 2015 Read Harder Challenge task to complete.

[Krista]

2015 Tasks were:


1. A book written by someone when they were under the age of 25
2. A book written by someone when they were over the age of 65
3. A collection of short stories (either by one person or an anthology by many people)
4. A book published by an indie press
5. A book by or about someone that identifies as LGBTQ
6. A book by a person whose gender is different from your own
7. A book that takes place in Asia
8. A book by an author from Africa
9. A book that is by or about someone from an Indigenous culture (Native Americans, Aboriginals, etc.)
10. A microhistory
11. A YA novel
12. A sci-fi novel
13. A romance novel
14. A National Book Award, Man Booker Prize or Pulitzer Prize winner from the last decade
15. A book that is a retelling of a classic story (fairytale, Shakespearian play, classic novel, etc.)
16. An audiobook
17. A collection of poetry
18. A book that someone else has recommended to you
19. A book that was originally published in another language
20. A graphic novel, a graphic memoir or a collection of comics of any kind
21. A book that you would consider a guilty pleasure (Read, and then realize that good entertainment is nothing to feel guilty over)
22. A book published before 1850
23. A book published this year
24. A self-improvement book (can be traditionally or non-traditionally considered “self-improvement”)

[Rebecca]

I'm thinking about Task 5 - A book by or about a person who identifies as LGBTQ. Hijab Butch Blues or Task 18 - a book recommended by someone else The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters.

[Denise]

My classic book clubs first pick of the year is
A Midsummer Night’s Dream

I'm going to slot it in task 22, published before 1850

[Rafael]

I'll cheat a little bit and do task 21, the guilty pleasure one, as I finish up The Hunt for Red October (about 50% through)

[Carly Really Very Normal]

I'm going with #15: Retelling of a Classic Story "The Magnolia Sword" by Sherry Thomas.

[Nayab]

I am picking up task 9. The book is Because a white man'll never do it

[Cat]

Task 13 - "a romance novel" can double count with this year's task 22 "read a holiday romance that isn’t Christmas" or task 10:
"read a romance book that doesn’t have an illustrated cover". You might even get one to count triple.

Also task 20 "a graphic novel" with this year's tasks 14 and 23.

[Elizabeth]

A lot of the 2015 tasks are ones that would either overlap with the 2025 ones or with tasks from my personal challenge, so I've decided to use a book I've finally gotten to that doesn't work for any of my other tasks for the year.

I'm about halfway through All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque, which works for 19, A book that was originally published in another language (that language being German). My own personal challenge has a lot of translation specific tasks because it's an area I'm trying to read more of, but this one doesn't actually work for any of them.

[Lauraellen]

I just picked up Fairest by Gail Carson Levine on a whim from Libby (I read Ella Enchanted as a kid but never got to this one), and it fits for 15: . A book that is a retelling of a classic story (Snow White)

[Lauraellen]

Oh also Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver would work for 15 (David Copperfield). I've just started reading this on audio.

[Robin]

Doing #18. House of Leaves was recommended to me last year, so that's my pick. It also completes tasks 11 and 16 for me.

[Yrinsyde]

I'm choosing written by an author from Africa about Africa (I might not be copying the exact prompt correctly). I'm trying to read a book set in each African country written by someone from that country, so this prompt fits in with my personal challenge.

[Sherri]

I picked #7 Takes place in Asia. I read Matterhorn. Takes place in Vietnam.

[Elizabeth]

Yrinsyde wrote: "I'm choosing written by an author from Africa about Africa (I might not be copying the exact prompt correctly). I'm trying to read a book set in each African country written by someone from that co..."

I'd love to see any recommendations you have from doing this challenge, that sounds great!

[Mandie]

I did #6: A book by a person whose gender is different from your own and read Anthony Bourdain's Medium Raw: A Bloody Valentine to the World of Food and the People Who Cook.

[Yrinsyde]

Elizabeth wrote: "Yrinsyde wrote: "I'm choosing written by an author from Africa ..."

I've read a lot of great novels and autobiographies. My favourites have been Wangrin, CoWives CoWidows, An African in Greenland and Americanah. This is my blog: https://independentbookreview.wordpre...

[Elizabeth]

Yrinsyde wrote: "Elizabeth wrote: "Yrinsyde wrote: "I'm choosing written by an author from Africa ..."

I've read a lot of great novels and autobiographies. My favourites have been Wangrin, CoWives CoWidows, An Afr..."

Thanks so much!

[Denise]

I read A Midsummer Night’s Dream published way before 1850.

[Jill]

I chose 16. An audiobook and interpreted it as a book only released as an audio book. I listened to The Ghost Club

[Rebecca]

Rebecca wrote: "I'm thinking about Task 5 - A book by or about a person who identifies as LGBTQ. Hijab Butch Blues or Task 18 - a book recommended by someone else [book:The Art of Gathering: How We..."

I read The Art of Gathering. It was a thought-provoking read. As I plan future gatherings, I'll keep her ideas in mind.

[Jacqueline]

I did Task#16, as well.. I listened toDiabolical Sword by Melissa Erin Jackson

[Joanna]

I read A Bit of Earth for 15. A book that is a retelling of a classic story. It's a contemporary retelling of The Secret Garden.

[Kathy]

I did #16 - an audiobook. I read The Decline and Fall of the Human Empire: Why Our Species Is on the Edge of Extinction by Henry Gee - 4/5/25.

[Devika]

I did #5 - I read A Little Bit Country by Brian D. Kennedy

[Christine]

#6 complete! Read “Blitzed: drugs in the third reich”

[Acidic Quagga]

The task I chose for this one is: A book written by someone when they were under the age of 25. The book I've chosen is The Splinter in the Sky by Kemi Ashing-Giwa. I do enjoy a good cup of tea. 🍵

[Denise]

I chose published before 1850 and read Knickerbocker's History of New York Washington Irving