Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge discussion

I have so many books on my TBR list (or stack) that I'm hoping some of them might fit somewhere I didn't realize.

Right now, I'm curious if anyone's using Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo or The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates for any of the tasks.

Feel free to add your own questions to this thread! :)

The Water Dancer would fit:
A book that takes place in a rural setting
A historical fiction novel not set in WWII

Ninth House doesn't appear to fit any of the challenges, unless the main character is disabled in some way.

Does My Sister, the Serial Killer fit anywhere? I'd like to read it for the prompt with a victim who isn't a woman.

Candace wrote: "Does My Sister, the Serial Killer fit anywhere? I'd like to read it for the prompt with a victim who isn't a woman."

Its not a mystery, so I don't see how it fits, but the people murdered are men.

Bonnie G. wrote: "Candace wrote: "Does My Sister, the Serial Killer fit anywhere? I'd like to read it for the prompt with a victim who isn't a woman."

Its not a mystery, so I don't see how it fits, ..." Thanks!

I'm wondering if Things Fall Apart might fit for the 'rural setting' prompt. Anyone have thoughts on that?

Any thoughts on where The Dream-Quest of Vellitt Boe might fit?

Clay wrote: "I'm wondering if Things Fall Apart might fit for the 'rural setting' prompt. Anyone have thoughts on that?"

I recently read this, and it's definitely a rural setting. It's also historical fiction not set during WWII. And it's part of a trilogy, if you want to read on to the last book in the series to fulfill that task.

Jenna wrote: "Any thoughts on where The Dream-Quest of Vellitt Boe might fit?"

It would fit a sci-fi/fantasy novella, if you ignore the parenthetical about being under 120 pages. There's been some debate in that task's thread, and the consensus seems to be that "under 120 pages" is a general description of a novella, not a requirement.

I got The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern from the library this week. Would this fit any of the prompts?

Briana wrote: "I got The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern from the library this week. Would this fit any of the prompts?"

It could possibly be historical fiction (thousands of GR readers shelved it as historical fiction, although I would classify it more as fantasy). Or a book that takes place in a rural setting. Some scenes are set in cities, but the majority take place on the outskirts of small towns, as befits a traveling circus.

Hmm - What do you all think? This book is listed as a mystery. (Well, some readers listed it as a mystery.) There are three dead bodies and some missing children. If one of those is male would it fit #3 Mystery Where the Victim is not a Woman? Or should I look for something with only 1 victim? Is the main character the victim since she has to figure things out? Oh - how to interpret. The Family Upstairs . I want it to count! My list, my interpretation, my choice!

I pre-ordered Weather by Jenny Offill for a book about climate change but completely forgot and bought The Uninhabitable Earth in a bookstore (I also already have The Overstory... clearly I have a problem). Would Weather work for any other prompts?

Which task can I check off with Brave Enough by Cheryl Strayed?

FYI, it's helpful to post Goodreads links to the book in question. Makes it easier to help and avoids confusion.

Deb wrote: "Is the main character the victim since she has to figure things out? Oh - how to interpret. The Family Upstairs . I want it to count! My list, my interpretation, my choice!"

Sounds like you made your decision! :)

My two cents: I wouldn't count the main character as the victim. The main character is the detective, even if they're an amateur detective.

The spirit of the challenge, IMO, is to avoid books that tend to fall into the trope of woman-as-victim.

Sarah wrote: "I pre-ordered Weather by Jenny Offill for a book about climate change but completely forgot and bought The Uninhabitable Earth in a bookstore (I also already have The Overstory... clearly I have a ..."

Possibly the disability task or the rural setting task, if they apply. You may need to read a portion of the book to see if it fits.

Megan wrote: "Which task can I check off with Brave Enough by Cheryl Strayed?"

I don't think it fits anything. There's nothing in this year's tasks about self-help books or a book of quotes. And there's no setting or time period or characters, so none of those tasks fit.

Do re-reads count if you are re-visiting a book you read years ago?

Does Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan fall under any of them? No big disappointment if it doesn't, but it would be cool if it did as I'm currently reading it.

I haven't read Crazy Rich Asians but 1) it's loosely based on Kwan's childhood and 2) Christianity as it is practiced in Singapore seems to be an important theme. Maybe it could be squished into the "memoir by a person from a different religious tradition" prompt?

thanks Marie

Kathy wrote: "Do re-reads count if you are re-visiting a book you read years ago?"
I think you can count it, a re-visit can bring new insights and if you are reading to see how it fits the category then I think you are thinking deeper about that book. That is what I feel these book challenges are about: 1) introduce yourself to a new genre and 2) think about what you are reading.

Thanks, De. I’m trying to shop at home this year. There are stacks....

Thanks, De. I’m trying to shop at home and revisiting some titles will be helpful

I'm wondering if we think Fin & Lady would count as a 'romance featuring a single parent.' It's unconventional as a romance, and the single parent is a young woman raising her newly orphaned little brother, but I think it could work, provided we don't mean romance only to mean the conventional boy meets girl, they fall in love but pretend they're not, and they definitely don't have multiple partners each, they break up for a chapter or two, then get back together and live happily ever after archetypical story structure.

But I'm curious to hear what others think.

Ari wrote: "Does Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan fall under any of them? No big disappointment if it doesn't, but it would be cool if it did as I'm currently reading it."

You could read the trilogy and count the last one Rich People Problems for reading the last book in a series.

Would On the Come Up, Shantaram, or Antifragile: Things That Gain from Disorder fit anywhere?

Jenna wrote: "I'm wondering if we think Fin & Lady would count as a 'romance featuring a single parent.' It's unconventional as a romance, and the single parent is a young woman raising her newly..."

I would totally count this. The tropes you mention are common in romance, sure, but not necessary, imo.

Does any task accommodate Trick Mirror by Jia Tolentino?

Cory wrote: "Would On the Come Up, Shantaram, or Antifragile: Things That Gain from Disorder fit anywhere?"

On the Come Up might qualify for the "over 500 pages" challenge, depending on the edition (on Goodreads it's not quite 500, but that can vary by edition).

Based on what I read of the author's bio, Shantaram might qualify for the "by or about a refugee" task.

Feyha wrote: "Does any task accommodate Trick Mirror by Jia Tolentino?"

It appears to be a memoir, so it would count if the author is from a different religious tradition than your own.

Ok, so I read They Both Die at the End but I can't seem to fit it into any of the categories, am I wrong?

Would Octavia Butler's book Parable of the Sower fit any of the prompts?

Would Inland fit the Rural Category I wonder.

Deb wrote: "Would Inland fit the Rural Category I wonder."

I would say yes for sure.

Trick Mirror isn't a memoir, although a couple of the essays are based on her adolescence

Reading this book for a book club pick Blowout: Corrupted Democracy, Rogue State Russia, and the Richest, Most Destructive Industry on Earth - does this fit under a challenge - I don't know enough about the book.

Another book I just started reading and can't put down - Midnight in Chernobyl - would it fit anywhere?

Melonie wrote: "Would Octavia Butler's book Parable of the Sower fit any of the prompts?"

A book by or about a refugee.

Sarah wrote: "Trick Mirror isn't a memoir, although a couple of the essays are based on her adolescence"

From the description:
"In each essay, Jia writes about the cultural prisms that have shaped her."

It's also shelved as a memoir by 150 users.

A non-traditional memoir, perhaps.

Natalie Piccotti wrote: "Reading this book for a book club pick Blowout: Corrupted Democracy, Rogue State Russia, and the Richest, Most Destructive Industry on Earth - does this fit under a challenge - I don't know enough ..."

Possibly a book about climate change, since it's about fossil fuels, but it appears to be more about economics and politics.

Natalie Piccotti wrote: "Another book I just started reading and can't put down - Midnight in Chernobyl - would it fit anywhere?"

Not that I can see.

Melonie wrote: "Would Octavia Butler's book Parable of the Sower fit any of the prompts?"
A book about climate change

Looking to put This Is How You Lose the Time War somewhere also maybe Ghosts in the Schoolyard: Racism and School Closings on Chicago's South Side and What Truth Sounds Like: Robert F. Kennedy, James Baldwin, and Our Unfinished Conversation About Race in America

Chris wrote: "Looking to put This Is How You Lose the Time War somewhere also maybe Ghosts in the Schoolyard: Racism and School Closings on Chicago's South Side and [book:What Tru..."

If you squint at it sideways, there's an argument that This Is How You Lose the Time War is about a refugee or climate change, but I think they're both forced fits. Fantastic book, though.

Would Anne of Green Gables fit in anywhere? Maybe rural setting? Idk

Kaitlyn wrote: "Would Anne of Green Gables fit in anywhere? Maybe rural setting? Idk"

I think rural is your best bet. I was thinking through whether the main characters had anything that is considered a disability. Anne’s friend’s sister gets seriously ill with croup IIRC, but I think that would be a big stretch.

Kaitlyn wrote: "Would Anne of Green Gables fit in anywhere? Maybe rural setting? Idk"

It takes place in Canada, so maybe you could also count it for middle grade book not set in the US or the UK (Task 20). I admit I'm a bit fuzzy about what middle grade means, but I reckon any number of pre-teen girls have read Anne of Green Gables so I'd count it.

Just finished Three Women, Think this fits anywhere?