Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge discussion

Use this space to discuss books you're reading or that might fit the fourth Read Harder task.

Two posts which might help:

http://bookriot.com/2016/04/25/100-mu...

https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/2...

One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

Britt wrote: "One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez"

That's my idea for this one too!

Thursday Night Widows is the one I am reading.

The author is from Argentina.

'Delirium' by Laura Restrepo - the author is Colombian & the book is set in Bogotá in the 1980s.

Ramona wrote: "Britt wrote: "One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez"

That's my idea for this one too!"

Absolutely loved that book! It's definitely worth it.

I'm thinking about reading The House of the Spirits for this one; I've been meaning to pick up a book by Allende for awhile now.

Looks like Signal to Noise counts for debut novel and fantasy novel as well.

The House of the Spirits is so good.

How about Aunt Julia and the Scriptwriter by Vargas Llosa or Love in the Time of Cholera - there are so many good options for this task

Lots of great options are already mentioned here, but if anyone is looking for a more recent book (published in 2016): Perfect Days.

It's a thriller, set in Brazil. (I nearly started it this week, but put it aside to finish in January...)

Jaleenajo wrote: "Ramona wrote: "Britt wrote: "One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez"

That's my idea for this one too!"

Absolutely loved that book! It's definitely worth it.

I'm thinking about r..." That was going to be my choice but I decided on Paulo Coelho's new book The Spy. It has great reviews.

Stina wrote: "Looks like Signal to Noise counts for debut novel and fantasy novel as well."
I LOVE Signal to Noise and think everybody should read it, but it's set in Mexico City, which is in North America.

I'm going with The Motorcycle Diaries: Notes on a Latin American Journey.

Karen wrote: "Stina wrote: "Looks like Signal to Noise counts for debut novel and fantasy novel as well."
I LOVE Signal to Noise and think everybody should read it, but it's set in Mexico City, w..."

Hmm...Interesting that the UN clearly considers Mexico part of Central America (which is itself a region of North America), but now that I look into it, this doesn't seem to be a widely held view. I wonder, does Book Riot have a stance on the issue?

I think I'm going to read 'Like water for Chocolate' by Laura Esquivel but I will do so in the German translation (Bittersüße Schokolade). Since my spanish isn't good enough to read it that way. I think I'm will read it in German.

@Stina - you're right! I looked up the UN's geoscheme and they group Mexico under Central America, which totally different than what I remember learning in geography class. Interesting!

This one's been on my TBR list for awhile and sounds really good --
Aunt Julia and the Scriptwriter by Mario Vargas Llosa

Does anyone have nonfiction suggestions for this category?

Wallace wrote: "Does anyone have nonfiction suggestions for this category?"

I haven't read this, but how about Dirty Secrets, Dirty War: The Exile of Robert J. Cox by David Cox? (ISBN 978-0981873503)

There are several books by Allende that would fit this...

Just to clarify-does this have to be both located in Central/South America and written by a Central or South American author? There's an Isabel Allende novel on my TBR, but it's actually set in Southern California.

Oh, I was thinking of doing Deep Down Dark: The Untold Stories of 33 Men Buried in a Chilean Mine, and the Miracle That Set Them Free about the Chilean mine disaster. It's non-fiction, set in South America, but the author is an American born to Guatemalan parents. So I guess it doesn't strictly count. But it sounds good anyway!

Rachel wrote: "Just to clarify-does this have to be both located in Central/South America and written by a Central or South American author? There's an Isabel Allende novel on my TBR, but it's actually set in Sou..."

Yes, there is no "or" between the two requirements.

I am planning to read something by Jorge Luis Borges, maybe The Library of Babel or Ficciones.

there are too many Mario Vargas Llosa books that I haven't read. Also there are some Borges that I've been meaning to read. I say this and will probably end up reading Certain Dark Things, because it's been a few forevers since I read anything about vampires. I mean, come on, vampires in Mexico City? sign. me. up. (hahahaha)

My vote is for Mexico in North America though.

Cindy wrote: "My vote is for Mexico in North America though."

-snorts- of course. hahaha. oh man, well, MVL it is! (who knows what I was thinking XD)

Theresa wrote: "Wallace wrote: "Does anyone have nonfiction suggestions for this category?"

I haven't read this, but how about Dirty Secrets, Dirty War: The Exile of Robert J. Cox by David Cox? (ISBN 978-0981873503)"

That book actually sounds really good! Thanks for the suggestion.

Cindy wrote: "My vote is for Mexico in North America though."

Mexico is absolutely in Central America. It is on the continent of North America -- Central America is not a continent, its a region.

Wikipedia: "Central America consists of seven countries: Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama."

Mexico is part of North America (ex: think of NAFTA).

Cindy wrote: "I'm going with The Motorcycle Diaries: Notes on a Latin American Journey."

The first Book Riot link in comment 2 does lead to a blog post that states: "But Latin American countries include all of South and Central America, Mexico, Cuba, Haiti, Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico..." which suggests to me that Book Riot (or at least the post's writer) would agree with the distinction that Mexico is not part of Central America.

This does make the contents of both links tricky, as both contain more than suggestions for Central/South American lit.

Melissa wrote: "Wikipedia: "Central America consists of seven countries: Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama."

Mexico is part of North America (ex: think of NAFTA)."

I don't know the right answer, but to add to the debate, check out messages 14 & 16 in this discussion which mention that the UN considers Mexico as part of Central America.

Wallace wrote: "Theresa wrote: "Wallace wrote: "Does anyone have nonfiction suggestions for this category?"

I haven't read this, but how about Dirty Secrets, Dirty War: The Exile of Robert J. Cox by David Cox? (I..."

I'm glad you think so! I thought it looked good, but I'm trying to work through my TBR as much as possible for this challenge so I'm going to go with Love in the Time of Cholera. I did put this in my Amazon wishlist though. :)

I'm going with Allende's The House of the Spirits. I can't believe I've never read her. And although I think the argument that MX is not in CA is specious, I'll play along.

Mexico is definitely in North America. I'm Mexican and live in Mexico City, and I'm amazed that the UN considers us to be part of Central America.
I'll be reading Cinco Esquinas by Mario Vargas Llosa, set in Perú

It's SO weird that the UN considers Mexico part of Central America. I live 5 miles from the border, and no one here would agree with that.

Yes, definitely Mexico is not part of Central America.

Does anyone have suggestions for fantasy or science fiction novels that fit the requirements?

Morgan wrote: "Does anyone have suggestions for fantasy or science fiction novels that fit the requirements?"

I'm reading Allende's The House of the Spirits. It's set in Chile. I would google "Novels set in...and the country." For instance, here's the wikipedia page for Novels set in Brazil: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Categor...

Maya's Notebook by Isabel Allende

Anna wrote: "Lots of great options are already mentioned here, but if anyone is looking for a more recent book (published in 2016): Perfect Days.

It's a thriller, set in Brazil. (I nearly star..."

Thanks for this suggestion...it looks great!! Added to my list...

It was challenging finding books that meet both criteria, that look enjoyable, that I haven't read. Which is a huge part of the fun for me. I'm considering The Feast of the Goat or The Time of the Hero, both by Mario Vargas Llosa.

Maya's Notebook by Isabel Allende. It's been on my TBR for awhile, so now seems like the perfect time.

I've had this on my shelf for some years but have never felt like reading it... still not sure about choosing it for this challenge :/ https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

Betty Boo by Argentian author Claudia Piñeiro, who is South America’s bestselling crime novelist.

price today on US Amazon.com is $3.99

I think I will be reading Open Veins of Latin America, by Galeano from Uruguay. I have enjoyed his other works, but they aren't strictly set in Latin America.

anybody familiar with it? any reason it wouldn't qualify?

Teresa wrote: "It was challenging finding books that meet both criteria, that look enjoyable, that I haven't read. Which is a huge part of the fun for me. I'm considering The Feast of the Goat or The..."

The Feast of the Goat is on my TBR list, too, but it's set in the Dominican Republic so it wouldn't work for this challenge. Some of Mario Vargas Llosa's other books-- Aunt Julia and the Scriptwriter, The Green House-- are set in South America.

I will most likely do either Daughter of Fortune or Love in the Time of Cholera. I got copies of both for like $0.50 or $1 at goodwill a little while ago, and haven't had the chance to get to either.

Catherine, darn it you are correct. His other book I'm considering, The Time of The Hero, is in Peru.

I'm going to use Enrique's Journey by Sonia Nazaro for this one! Non-fiction