Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge discussion

I am starting a new thread as I did not see where to comment on the Panels Challenges in general.

I chose to participate as graphic novels/comics are not generally in my wheelhouse for reading. I thought this would be a good way to expand my genre base. I am about halfway through this challenge, having completed tasks 1-4, 11-12, 14-15, and 17-18. I am currently working on task 5, but as I had 10 volumes to read it is taking a bit longer. Just 5 more to go, though.

Is anyone else working on this Challenge? What progress are you making?

Yes, my bookclub is doing this challenge. We are behind because we did not start the challenge until March. So far we've read A Raisin in the Sun for the play, Revenge: The Secret Origin of Emily Thorne for the non- superhero comic, What I Know for Sure for the audiobook that won an Audi, and Life Before Legend for the book less than 100 pages. Here is our list for the rest of the year.

April:
-Before Ever After
- Seasonal Velocities
May:
-Warhawk
June:
-Bad Feminist
- Frida
July:
- An Ember In The Ashes
August:
- The Red Tent
- The Silver Linings Playbook
September:
- The Queen of the Night
October:
-The Poisoner's Handbook
- Penpal
November:
-Day of Honey
December:
- Rules for Stealing Stars

Phenomenal, I love what your bookclub is doing with the Book Riot Challenge. It looks really interesting as I have not read most of the books on your list. I am also doing the Book Riot Challenge and have 9 tasks left to complete.

However, my comments were about the Panels Challenge which is also listed on this group. It is the comic-based challenge. I was hoping to find others doing it, also.

I think the panels thing might be from the 2015 Challenge?

nope they are doing a whole challenge that is just comic book related as well on BookRiot

Pat, apparently they did do a challenge in 2015, but the one on the Book Riot Group is from 2016. Book Riot posted it this year because some expressed interest in their sister site Panel's Challenge.

Okay, sorry. I thought it was about the Read Harder Challenge. The comics-based challenge sounds interesting. I haven't heard of it until now. I'm going to check it out.

I'm exactly half-way done with 9 out of 18 tasks completed (3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11, 13, 16, 17). However, I still want to read another book for Task 15 (adapted from a TV show, because I read Avatar: The Last Airbender: Smoke and Shadow, Part 2 and want to read the third) and a bunch of other books for Task 12 (book set in Asia by an Asian creator, because I read volumes 4 and 5 want to finish Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon this year).

I kind of fell into going so far on this one. I learned about this challenge (after doing Book Riot 2015 last year and setting my 2016 to do list) kind of on accident mid-way through January and since I was reading through my Small Press Expo backlog I found that many of them fit.

I have a few more books that I definitely want to buy to complete some future challenges, aside from the aforementioned:

Set in Space (#10): A Distant Soil Vol. 1: The Gathering and A Distant Soil Vol. 2: The Ascendant.
Slice-of-Life From Another Country (#13): Aya: Life in Yop City
Watercolor (#18): Beasts of Burden: Animal Rites

Not sure if I want to do Miles Morales Spider-Man or the female Thor for the race/gender-swapped hero (Task 4) or maybe both. The rest I'm going to try to buy at SPX in October. I figure I'll treat it like a scavenger hunt.

I did the new Ms. Marvel for task 4. I had already read the first volume last year and really liked the character (Pakastani-American). For task 12, I did two separate ones: A Bride's Story, Vol. 1 and then the full trilogy of Kim Dong Hwa (The Color of Earth, The Color of Water, and The Color of Heaven).

For task 5 I am working on The Sandman series by Neil Gaiman. Wonderful adult graphic novels.

I have just completed another - task 9. I also have library copies of graphic novels to complete 7, 8, and 13.

I am thinking that I will have completed this 2016 Panels challenge by May. I had thought I might go back and do the 2015 challenge but first I think I will take a summer break as I am in 5 challenge groups and am wanting to read less during the summer.

I just joined this challenge and I was wondering if there is a list of rules posted. I'm not sure if it is allowed to count books I've read from January until now or if I begin with books I read from today onward. Thanks for any help given.

Edwina wrote: "I just joined this challenge and I was wondering if there is a list of rules posted. I'm not sure if it is allowed to count books I've read from January until now or if I begin with books I read fr..."

You can count books from January -- I did, anyway.

Woohoo! I just finished this challenge! Way too much fun, wish it was at least twice as long!

Here's what I read:

Read a self-published comic : The Groom - Em Carroll

Read a feminist comic : The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl, Vol. 1: Squirrel Power

Read a comic featuring one or more teenage protagonists : Lumberjanes #1 through Lumberjanes #18

Read a superhero comic whose race or gender has been swapped from the original or traditional hero : Thor, Volume 1: The Goddess of Thunder

Read a complete run of a comic : She-Hulk, Vol. 1: Law and Disorder,She-Hulk, Vol. 2: Superhuman Law

Read a comic based on a book and the book it's based on : Old Man and the Sea - Corban Wilkin

Read a graphic biography : The Complete Persepolis

Read a comic that was originally published in a language different from your own : Cardcaptor Sakura, Omnibus 1

Read a comic set in space : Saga, Volume 1 through Saga, Volume 5

Read a collected webcomic : Hyperbole and a Half: Unfortunate Situations, Flawed Coping Mechanisms, Mayhem, and Other Things That Happened

Read a comic with at least one creator of color : Black Panther (2016-) #1

Read a comic set in Asia by an Asian creator : Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon, Vol. 1

Read a superhero comic NOT by one of the Big Two : Rat Queens, Vol. 3: Demons

Read a slice-of-life comic not set in the U.S. : Giant Days, Vol. 1

Read a comic that has been adapted from a T.V. show or movie (not vice versa) : Bee and Puppycat #1 and Hunter S. Thompson's Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

Read a comic about a real-life historical event : March: Book One

Read a black-and-white comic : Box Office Poison

Read a watercolor comic : Kingdom Come

Edwina wrote: "I just joined this challenge and I was wondering if there is a list of rules posted. I'm not sure if it is allowed to count books I've read from January until now or if I begin with books I read fr..."

Edwina, the challenge runs from January through December, so any comics/graphic novels read this year would count.

Oops ... just noticed that this thread is dedicated to the graphic novels challenge. I'm not doing this challenge, I'm doing a different one. It's the one that challenges you to read a little bit of everything from horror to science to biography, etc.
Sorry that I posted in the wrong thread.

No problem, Edwina. Both challenges run from January to December. One is by Book Riot for books and the other is by BR's sister site Panels for comics/graphic novels.

I finished the challenge, and I enjoyed it so much I'm going to go back and do the 2015 list. But first, I'm going to finish reading some of the series I started and liked from 2016. If you're curious, here is my 2016 list.

I'm doing the Book Riot Challenge and decided to do this one as well, as I've already been reading so many graphic novels this year. I've completed 8 of the challenges without actively trying to (more if I count titles more than once, i.e. This One Summer by Mariko and Jillian Tamaki having both teenage characters and creators of colour). Looking forward to completing the rest!

Welcome, Tammi. I am down to my last two tasks...and three graphic novels.

Task 5: A Complete run - 2 graphic novels to go
Task 6: Read the book now for the graphic novel

My goal is to be done by 5/31/16.

I hope it's OK to start a new thread that isn't related to graphic novels or comics. I haven't seen an answer to this question anywhere, so I thought I'd ask.

Is it OK to use one book to fulfill multiple tasks on the Book Riot Read Harder Challenge 2016? For instance, I have a book that fulfills two tasks, Edwin Denby's "Dancers, Buildings and People in the Streets," which is a collection of essays that was also published in the decade of my birth (1960's). Likewise, "Mockingjay" fulfills the task of dystopian novel, but it can also be considered a middle-grade novel, and it also fulfills the task of watching a movie of a book and discussing it. I have problems concentrating, so if I can make the challenge a little easier to complete, please let me know.

Edith wrote: "I hope it's OK to start a new thread that isn't related to graphic novels or comics. I haven't seen an answer to this question anywhere, so I thought I'd ask.

Is it OK to use one book to fulfill ..."

Some (like me) prefer not to double up, but many do. So it's fine. :)

Edith wrote: "I hope it's OK to start a new thread that isn't related to graphic novels or comics. I haven't seen an answer to this question anywhere, so I thought I'd ask.

Is it OK to use one book to fulfill ..."

This challenge is all about motivating you, so whatever works! I personally am doubling up and actually having fun pushing myself to find things that meet two categories that go well together. For instance, I decided rather than choosing any play, I wanted to find one that also had a main character with a mental illness because those two together sounded like a very interesting match and I wanted to see how an author chose to present mental illness in a medium that requires introspection through monologue in order to engage the audience with the character's journey.
Basically, you do whatever gets you to read and be excited about what you are reading, as that is the spirit of the whole thing!

Thank you for your thoughtful and well-considered response! May I suggest "The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds" by Paul Zindel? He's a native of Staten Island, where I live (and am also a native). He's famous for his YA novels, including "My Darling, My Hamburger." He was active in the 60's and 70's. Or have you already chosen your play? I'd be interested in hearing what you've chosen.

quietprofanity wrote: "Edith wrote: "I hope it's OK to start a new thread that isn't related to graphic novels or comics. I haven't seen an answer to this question anywhere, so I thought I'd ask.

Is it OK to use one bo..."

quietprofanity wrote: "Edith wrote: "I hope it's OK to start a new thread that isn't related to graphic novels or comics. I haven't seen an answer to this question anywhere, so I thought I'd ask.

Is it OK to use one bo..."

Thank you for your helpful response!

I have finished the challenge but could really use some book suggestions to help my 13 year old daughter finish. She is stuck on the category of a author from Southeast Asia. She's already read Thanhha Lai and is looking for something different. Any suggestions?

Pauline wrote: "I have finished the challenge but could really use some book suggestions to help my 13 year old daughter finish. She is stuck on the category of a author from Southeast Asia. She's already read Tha..."

How about Ticket to Childhood? I haven't read the book, but found it on a Goodreads list of middle grade and YA books that feature Southeast Asian characters.

How about looking into Melissa De La Cruz's Blue Bloods series. It's YA and she is from the Philippines.

Is/was this challenge by Book Riot as well?
Does anyone know if there will be a 2017 challenge? My husband says he'll do the 2017 Read Harder with me, but I think he'd enjoy the Panels challenge more.

Krista wrote: "Is/was this challenge by Book Riot as well?
Does anyone know if there will be a 2017 challenge? My husband says he'll do the 2017 Read Harder with me, but I think he'd enjoy the Panels challenge more."

Yes, I just saw the link a couple of days ago. Look back in your e-mail or go to the Goodreads home page.

Diane wrote: Yes, I just saw the link a couple of days ago. Look back in your e-mail or go to the Goodreads home page.

OK, feeling pretty stupid here.
What email? I don't receive emails on the challenges.

I tried the Goodreads home page but don't see anything related to the 2016 Panels Challenge or one for 2017 (which is what I'm looking for).

I did searches in Groups for "Panels", and "Panels Challenge" - not finding the 2017 challenge. I even looked at the Book Riot website.

Hi all, there will not be a Panels/Book Riot Comics challenge in 2017. However, if you're up for it, I know several people doing the Read Harder challenge with nothing but comics!

Thanks Rachel! I'll let my husband know. He didn't do this one (2016), so he might be interested in doing it in 2017.

I completed the 2016 challenge and loved it so much, I'm working my way through the 2015 challenge. I heard there is a post coming out soon on Book Riot about adapting the regular Read Harder challenge to comic books.

I can't complete the form via PDF- anyone have any suggestions? Other than printing it out and writing it in?

Thanks!

I built a spreadsheet for 2017. This is how I track my reading (with some extra columns for other data (I'm a data nerd). Feel free to copy and make it work for you!

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...

PS- If you find an error let me know! There's always something to be improved.

Sarah wrote: "I built a spreadsheet for 2017. This is how I track my reading (with some extra columns for other data (I'm a data nerd). Feel free to copy and make it work for you!

https://docs.google.com/sprea..."

I have Adobe Acrobat on my computer and that's probably how I can fill in the fields. But even then, I don't like what they've provided because it's not set up to wrap the lines, or adjust the font size. First thing I put in their pdf you can't see the first two words or the author's last name at the end. I was planning on redoing it, but wasn't sure what I was going to use.

Sarah, you are most definitely a "data nerd". That file is amazing.

Sarah, that's an impressive spreadsheet.

Sarah wrote: "I built a spreadsheet for 2017. This is how I track my reading (with some extra columns for other data (I'm a data nerd). Feel free to copy and make it work for you!

https://docs.google.com/sprea..."

This is amazing, and as a fellow data nerd, it totally made my heart skip a beat when I opened it. Thank you for sharing it!

Sarah wrote: "I built a spreadsheet for 2017. This is how I track my reading (with some extra columns for other data (I'm a data nerd). Feel free to copy and make it work for you!

https://docs.google.com/sprea..."

I have a similar spreadsheet myself. I've had it for years before Goodreads existed and I put every book I'm interested on there. Then I add the date started, finished, how I read it (hardcover, audio,etc...), who recommended it to me or where I heard about it. I think once I joined NetGalley I also added the publisher.

Lorrea(WhatChaReadin'?) wrote: "Sarah wrote: "I built a spreadsheet for 2017. This is how I track my reading (with some extra columns for other data (I'm a data nerd). Feel free to copy and make it work for you!

https://docs.go..."


this link will not open for me.

Marni wrote: "Sarah wrote: "I built a spreadsheet for 2017. This is how I track my reading (with some extra columns for other data (I'm a data nerd). Feel free to copy and make it work for you!

https://docs.go..."

This link will not open for me.

You have to go up to Sarah's original message and click on that link... it will work then... it is message #34 in this thread. Hope that helps.
Jeannine

Thank you Jeannine!

I am new here and have a question or two. Am I allowed to fill in tasks with books I read in 2017 but wasn't a member yet.

How do I copy a post to add to my new post?

Thanks in advance.

Can anyone suggest a simple yet interesting biography for a beginner!

Vikas wrote: "Can anyone suggest a simple yet interesting biography for a beginner!"

Who are you interested in?