Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge discussion

So I have to confess - I am a bit stressed out about finishing this challenge! I joined in June and had 7 months to read 24 books. I love this challenge and it has definitely gotten me to read more and read harder than I ever have. It's been a great mood booster and stress reliever. However, this is a stretch for me even prior to having my son, and now with going back to work and having an 8th month old at home it is indeed a challenge!

I have 6 weeks left and still have 7 books to finish! Granted, I left the play and the comic book for last, but still!

I am on pace to finish 2 books by the end of November, and will have 5 to read in December. All are picked out and are waiting to be read. I think I can. I think I can. I think I can.

Anyone else in the same boat?

Yes, I'm in a similar situation. I have 7 left to finish the challenge. I hope to have 3 of them done by the end of November.

My challenge is the remaining 4 books, I don't have them picked out! They are ones that didn't interest me as much, so I have put them off (not a good plan). My goal is to have them selected by the end of this week.

This is the first time I have attempted this challenge and I'd like to complete it. We can do it!

A lot of people read books which fit in more than one category. You may want to look at books that accomplish that. I didn't do that, but if I had I did read several books that would have crossed categories. For instance, March: Book One which was the first book in a series by an author of color, and a comic/graphic that debuted in the last 3 years. Another I could have done was We Should All Be Feminists which fits the book about feminism and the book under 100 pages. Just a thought. Good luck!

After looking over the list and comparing to what I've read this year, I only have 3 left but I'm pretty sure I'm not going to finish. I'm definitely going to try again next year though. It's been fun to challenge myself to read outside my norm.

Bonnie wrote: "A lot of people read books which fit in more than one category. You may want to look at books that accomplish that. I didn't do that, but if I had I did read several books that would have crossed c..."

Unfortunately the four I've got left I don't think will easily cross categories (Science, Middle East, East Asia, and currently reading a biography). And I saved my hardest topics for last. *gulp*

I will let this serve as a reminder for next year that it will be way less stressful for me if I allow myself to pick books that fulfill multiple categories!

I'm in the same place - I've got a bunch left to read, but I don't feel like watching the news or going on Facebook. I'm going to turbo-read until the end of the year. It'll be better for my mental health anyway. We can do this!

P.S. I also have 7 left to read! I've started some already, but it is daunting.

Children's books count, too ☺.

Allie wrote: "Bonnie wrote: "A lot of people read books which fit in more than one category. You may want to look at books that accomplish that. I didn't do that, but if I had I did read several books that would..."

LOL, you stumped me. It is hard to imagine much that would cross those categories. One thing, I recently bought a children's book as a gift called Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhha Lai who is Vietnamese. Its a beautiful little book, I believe it won the National Book Award. Someone mentioned you can read children's books, and that would be a quick way to get that category covered.

Bonnie wrote: "A lot of people read books which fit in more than one category...."

I decided not to do that from the beginning, and I feel like it's too late in the game to change the rules :)

Bonnie wrote: "Allie wrote: "Bonnie wrote: "A lot of people read books which fit in more than one category. You may want to look at books that accomplish that. I didn't do that, but if I had I did read several bo..."

Heh, I was going to be insanely impressed if you found a way to cross-categorize those! I suppose science crossed with one of the location-based ones wouldn't be impossible, I'm just not aware of any mainstream ones. But I'll look into that children's story! Thanks!

I have nine to go and I left many of my hardest categories for the end, too! (Granted, I HAVE read other books that didn't fit the categories.) This is also my first time trying this challenge and I'd really like to complete it!

I'm think I'll be able to get 5 or 6 done relatively smoothly (they're all either quick or short (biography: Notorious RBG; Middle East: Habibi; Southeast Asia: Listen, Slowly; Before 1900: Red Tent; Feminist: We Should All Be Feminists; Food Memoir: Relish or It was Me All Along), but I'm nervous about finishing science (Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks), religion (Ramayana, but maybe I can find a shorter option), and politics!

I guess I ought to schedule in another readathon or two!

Teresa wrote: "Children's books count, too ☺."

Yes they do! I just added The Little Prince to my list as a book that has been made into a movie. I'll admit that this choice was partly made because I could read it in the morning before Thanksgiving prep commenced.

I'm also feeling the crunch but mostly because I'm also doing the PopSugar challenge. I've officially given myself permission to let some books do double duty on both lists.

I hope that all of you look at what you have accomplished rather than what books you didn't read. This is a daunting task - one that most people wouldn't even try.

According to Pew Research, 75% of American's read at least one book last year. That means that 25% did not even read one. You decided to read 26 books. Even if you didn't get them all read, you are way ahead of the average American.

Also think about what you have learned. Think about how these books have changed your life. I am not saying you should give up, but you should be proud of what you accomplished.

Congratulations!

Anna wrote: "So I have to confess - I am a bit stressed out about finishing this challenge! I joined in June and had 7 months to read 24 books. I love this challenge and it has definitely gotten me to read more..."

I officially give you permission to watch the play if that's easier. Grab a bottle, feed your son (congratulations!), and pick a play available on Netflix....

In a similar situation but my son is six weeks old - I have also left the difficult' (for me) ones until last and am struggling now. Have only got about four to go if I don't count what I'm currently reading though, I think.

Abbie wrote: "I have nine to go and I left many of my hardest categories for the end, too! (Granted, I HAVE read other books that didn't fit the categories.) This is also my first time trying this challenge and ..."

If you're doing cross-category picks, you could potentially use Red Tent as both the feminist and 1900 categories (my feminist book club "re-reads" Red Tent every December)!

Jo wrote: "In a similar situation but my son is six weeks old - I have also left the difficult' (for me) ones until last and am struggling now. Have only got about four to go if I don't count what I'm current..."

Hats off, I could bairely walk in a straight line when my son was 6 weeks old. Reading was completely beyond me.

Allie wrote: "Bonnie wrote: "Allie wrote: "Bonnie wrote: "A lot of people read books which fit in more than one category. You may want to look at books that accomplish that. I didn't do that, but if I had I did ..."

Hope you enjoy the book!

Thanks Bonnie! I think it's just a combo of he's a very cuddly baby and likes to sleep on me, and we haven't gotten a sling yet so what can I do except read? ;)

I've got half of a 700+ pager to go for the over 500 pages challenge, plus 3 others to go, and I want to read Jeanette Winterson's new Christmas book before her event in Manchester in December. Somewhat intimidated.

Jo - best of luck,I've no idea how you fit reading around looking after a newborn. Audiobooks?

Mostly the Kindle app on my phone, although we do sometimes listen to an audiobook when he's feeding during the day :) smallest won't settle unless he's cuddled to sleep for a bit after eating so I get ten minutes pretty much every time he feeds and I'm a fast reader. So far he's been very accommodating! Am worried there's things I'm forgetting to do, now :3

I have six books left to read, and I doubled up on quite a few of them. I'm currently reading Cooked: A Natural History of Transformation by Michael Pollan (food memoir) and Edith Wharton by Hermione Lee (biography and book over 500 pages).

So far I've read:

Horror book/book from decade you were born: Something Wicked This Way Comes, by Ray Bradbury
Non-fiction book about science: 60 Ways to Lower Your Blood Sugar, Dennis Pollock
Collection of Essays/book under 100 pages: On Life After Death, Elisabeth Kubler-Ross
Read a book out loud to someone else (I read to my roommate): Voices, by Arnaldur Indridason (Goodreads isn't giving me a link)
Middle grade novel/dystopian or post-apocalyptic novel/book that became a movie: Mockingjay, Suzanne Collins
Book set in the Middle East/book under 100 pages: The Waiting List: An Iraqi Woman's Tales of Alienation, Daisy Al-Amir
Historical fiction set before 1900: A Morbid Taste for Bones, Ellis Peters
First book in a series by a person of color: The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, first book in the Inheritance Trilogy, N.K. Jemisin. I saw a lot of people chose "March, Book 1," but I didn't find out about that until after I read this, but I really want to read it. I saw John Lewis interviewed by Charlie Rose.
A non-superhero comic that debuted in the last three years: Something New: Tales from a Makeshift Bride, by Lucy Knisley. I don't usually read comics or graphic novels, but now I want to read her books.
Book about religion, fiction or non-fiction: The Second Circle: Tools for the Advancing Pagan: Tools for the Advancing Pagan, Venecia Rauls. Every time I wrote or talked about this book, I would find myself saying, "Tools for the Advancing Penguin." Yeah, those pesky penguins, always sneaking up on pagans.
Book about a character that has a mental illness: Left of the Dial: A Memoir of Schizophrenia, Recovery, and Hope, Christina Bruni.

I still have left to read:

A play: The White Devil, by John Webster
Book by or about a person that identifies as transgender: The Drowning Girl, by Caitlin R. Kiernan (also covers "character that has a mental illness" category)
Politics/Feminism: Infidel, Ayaan Hirsi Ali
Author from Southeast Asia: The Gift of Rain, Tan Twan Eng

and I'm stumped as to an audiobook, because I have no way to listen to it (don't ask).

I know some of these are lightweight or "not exactly" in keeping with their categories (saying "Cooked" is a food memoir is a stretch, I guess, as is saying "60 Ways to Lower Your Blood Sugar" is a non-fiction science book), but my concentration and focus are sometimes not all they could be. On the other hand, I probably read more this year than in previous years, and I read a few books that weren't on the list, as well. Also, this reading adventure has opened my eyes to new authors and topics, which is always a good thing.

I don't know if I'll finish in time, but I think the point was to experience new literature, and the project succeeded in that goal.

I realized a month or more ago that I wasn't going to finish, despite the fact that, as of today, I've read and listened to nearly 100 books. A lot of them just didn't happen to match a challenge category. I'm not stressed about it, or at least not to the extent that I might have been if I were really close (I have 10 incomplete challenges). My reading choices for the remainder of the year may include one or two books that will work, but I'm not aiming to knock off the rest. I have reading goals unrelated to the challenge, such as catching up with a number of books I purchased rather than reading library books, and right now I consider those a higher priority. Any really interesting titles I had in mind for the challenge will probably get read, eventually!

Nancy wrote: "I realized a month or more ago that I wasn't going to finish, despite the fact that, as of today, I've read and listened to nearly 100 books. A lot of them just didn't happen to match a challenge c..."

100 books! That's pretty amazing! And you're still reading more. I'm impressed!

One of the reasons that I joined the challenge this year was because a number of the categories already matched books on my shelves that I'd been planning on reading, but never got around to it. So for that purpose, the challenge was a good one.

I have 4 left to go, but I probably won't get them all done: Read a book aloud to someone else, read a play, read a book set in the middle east, read a book published in the decade you were born.

Well, I'm currently reading 2001: A Space Odyssey, which covers the third, and I have one book I read that already covers two categories (religion, and pre-1850 historical novel) that could be stretched to cover the middle east as well.

But the reading aloud just isn't going to happen, and the play probably won't either.

Between the Book Riot and Pop Sugar challenges, that makes about 75 books (one item on the Pop Sugar list is "a book and its prequel," so you have to read two to meet the goal). That's a lot to do, even if you're an avid reader‚ which most of us are! At times there were just too many interesting books calling my name for me to make time for a challenge title, even one that was very compelling. I still love the idea and plan on doing the 2017 challenges as well as eventually getting around to some of the categories on the 2016 lists. I've discovered some great books through these challenges (maybe a few duds as well, but that's to be expected).

I just have the food memoir task left to complete, which I have been procrastinating over for months now! I have finally decided to go for Eating Animals as I can also use it for a task for (yet another!) challenge I'm signed up for. I am a sucker for challenges :-)

First, my hats off to both Jo and Anna. I used to be an avid reader and loved a good book. I remember being pregnant and propping my book on my belly, only to have my son not like the corner and kick it. Once he was born, my reading capacity ground to a halt. I still listened to audiobooks with my husband, but usually only on the daily commute or on trips to grandparents. It was not much. I didn't pick up my reading until my son was about a years old, and my husband gifted me with a Kindle Paperwhite. I read 25 books in 7 months that year because I missed it so much.

I'm almost done with both the 2015 and 2016 (didn't discover the challenges until Jan 2016 and decided to do both of them this year). For 2015 I have the "Originally published in a different language" task. Reading Butterflies in November for that one. Then for the 2016 challenge, I have the "Historical fiction before 1900", and I'm reading Wench. Oddly, my 2015 is being completed with 24 different books. The 2016 has 3 that are doing double duty.

I'm looking forward to the 2017 challenge, and only doing one in a year will be kinda relaxing. I'm going to make a rule for myself that they all have to be unique - no more one book for multiple categories stuff.

Krista wrote: "First, my hats off to both Jo and Anna. I used to be an avid reader and loved a good book. I remember being pregnant and propping my book on my belly, only to have my son not like the corner and ki..."

Thank you! I do listen to a lot of audiobooks, mostly while commuting to/from work and also while cooking or cleaning. Honestly I wish I started this challenge like Jo, when my son was just born. I spent way too much time reading pregnancy and "1st year" books and googling non-existing symptoms. Reading has helped with the anxiety tremendously.

Thank you Krista :) Anna, I've also done the googling and the excessive consultation of the What to Expect books - have had to force myself to stop! It's so worrying when they're really little. I know next year is going to be harder as he gets bigger and more interactive - you're awesome for doing as much of this challenge as you have!

I realised I've still got audiobook to go, which I'm unlikely to manage as I find them difficult to concentrate on when doing other stuff; also play, religion, and politics (if I finish what I'm reading). I've managed about 130 books this year so far though so, much as I hate not finishing, am trying not to feel bad!

O.O 130 books?????
I will break 50 this year and I'm pretty sure that's a record for me.

I didn't start using Goodreads to keep track of my reading until 2013 when husband got me the Kindle.

I only have 2 left. Yeah. I can definitely finish by the end of the year. I didn't finish last year.

At the beginning of the month I still had 9 books left on the list to finish, I thought there was no way I'd make it. I was going to double up some categories to get through it but decided to rally instead. Through a combination of audiobooks, shorter titles, and just altogether more reading I've knocked 5 of them off the list and I'm hoping to finish one more today. Whew! I started a business this year so I read half as many books as 2015 but I feel good that I'm going to manage to finish the challenge.

I think I've accepted the fact that I'm not going to finish. In fact, I'm downright okay with it. The biography I've been reading since October (for both biography and politics category) is What It Takes: The Way to the White House, which is great, but I'm still dealing with election fatigue and reading about the 1988 election is still too soon?! So I think I'm going to stop trying to force it, and just let that one go for a while.

But I think I'll wind up finishing at least two of the other three categories I've got left. 21-22 out of 24 is still pretty good.

I still have 8 books to go (well, 13 if you count the ones I'm already in the middle of!). I'm probably not going to make it, but I'm going to try anyway.

I was set back because I started late and then did NaNoWriMo this year (well, and also read a lot of books that weren't part of the challenge), but after almost giving up on that and then squeaking through the finish line with ten minutes to spare, I'm feeling pretty good.

I'm trying to pick short/graphic/children's books for my last selections. I'm also utilizing audiobooks (non-fiction audio is my fave--I usually can't do fiction audiobooks because I'm too picky about narrators).

So, no--you're not the only one behind! And of course, it's not the end of the world if I don't finish. It would just be fun to :-)