Reading Harder

/ January 5, 2015

IMG_3954New year, new reading list.

This year, after reading a post at Cynk’s blog, I’m taking on the Read Harder Challenge. I’ve committed to completing 24 book-related challenges.

Gamification of personal goals is a huge motivator for me, and even though I didn’t meet my Goodreads goal of 30 books in 2014, I’m setting that same goal and adding this challenge to diversify my selections.

Here are the challenges, set out by Book Riot. They’ll be updated with links to my reviews when I finish them.

  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 who 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 (I don’t really believe in “guilty pleasures” when it comes to reading, but I’ve already started mine and I will read it with pride)
  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”)

I’m planning to blog and tweet about many of these, but I will also be tracking them at Goodreads. If we’re not connected there, feel free to send me a friend request!

What will you be reading in 2015? Do you have any recommendations of books that fit into these categories? (I may choose yours for #18!)

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58 thoughts on “Reading Harder”

  1. I’m currently reading (you may have seen on my Goodreads) Miss Peregrine’s School for Peculiar Children. It’s also kinda sci-fi-ish. It’s not what I typically read, but I’m enjoying it.

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    • I’ve got an excellent list planned out but I’m not publishing it anywhere so that I have the freedom to change it up. Are you planning on going in order the whole time or did you just happen to start with that one?

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  3. I have lots of recommendations for many of these categories… 3. Tokyo Cancelled 7. The Kite Runner 8. Harare North 11. Noughts and Crosses 12. Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? 13. 15. The Bloody Chamber (also a series of short stories) 22. Frankenstein … to name a few off the top of my head!

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  5. Good luck on your reading goals. I’m hoping to read at least 15.

    So, you are doing the AtoZ thing (whatever that is) AND your reading challenge. Will you do NaBloPoFroYo in Nov too?

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    • Yes. I’m doing a lot of the reading for the challenge and writing for A to Z while I’m home over break so I can get a head start and it won’t be so hectic at the end of the semester. A to Z is posting Mon-Sat in April where day 1 is a post starting with A, day 2 starts with B, etc. and most blogs choose a specific theme. Right now also probably planning to do NaBloPoMo(FroYo–ha!) again cuz it was so fun last time, but it’s easier without a theme and photography can play a big role if I want it to. Anyway, an ambitious year ahead.

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  6. I have so many books that I’ll be reading whatever comes to mind at the time – though these days I try to read them in order of purchase. I’m working 2-3 YEARS behind EEK!

    Good luck with your challenges.

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  7. I have no idea where to start on your blog, I am truly excited. It looks like so much fun.

    Do you really have a list of the books that fit the description of the list? I will tweet you an image of the book I would recommend, I absolutely adore the book. It is called “Stolen Lives” by Malika Oufkir and Michele Fitoussi. It was released in 1999. It really is an amazing book in my eyes.

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    • I’m excited for you & to see what posts catch your eye! I have a bunch of the books planned, some of which I own and some of which I’ll be taking out of the library. I’ve already finished one (the guilty pleasure) and I’m reading the microhistory and the opposite-gender-author one right now. The latter is obviously easy to find but I had a book on my shelf that didn’t fit anything else and I was dying to read it, so I’m ticking one of the easiest off early. I’ll add your recommendation to my list and I’m about to go peruse your blog too!

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    • That’s the plan! Especially the geographical/racial diversity and different genres. I’m never one to lean toward sci-fi or romance, so it definitely is making me push myself. Thank you :)

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  30. clicked over from the 4 hours work week review – I love how you’ve laid out your books in your book case ;-)

    Thinking of taking part in that challenge, that’s a great way to make yourself read wider!

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