Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge discussion

Here is a thread to discuss books you’re considering or suggesting for Task 14: Read a book by an author with an upcoming event (virtual or in person) and then attend the event.

I rarely get out to live events but enjoy virtual talks, mostly on YouTube.

I like Kate Mosse on Books and her "Mosse on a Monday" monthly or seasonal features. I'll watch one and read her novel Labyrinth.

I have never enjoyed live readings, and I find live Q&As so stressful (particularly if there are questions from the audience) that the prospect of attending one practically gives me a panic attack, so I'm cheating and considering a new film or TV adaptation of a book an "event" for the purposes of this category. (This is a Read Harder challenge, after all. I don’t want to go events harder!)

Anyway, a TV show based on The Three-Body Problem by Liu Cixin is scheduled to debut on Netflix in March, and an adaptation of Mickey7 by Edward Ashton—written and directed by Bong Joon-ho, who made Snowpiercer and Parasite!—is supposed to come out in March as well (the movie is called Mickey 17). I plan to read the book and watch the adaptation of one of those and call it a day.

I’m still pretty Covid conscious so I’ll likely choose a virtual event

This one is stressing me out a lot right now because even though I live in a decent sized city and our library has in person and virtual events with authors that are free (and I'll be aiming for virtual if possible too because I'm also covid conscious), my local library was just hit with a cyber attack and we have no idea when any of their technology-based services will be back up and running (Toronto isn't super far from me, and they're still knocked out from an attack in November and aren't expected to be up until the new year, so that isn't promising). It's brutal out here, folks. I'll obviously be monitoring the situation to see what's available when they're back up. I don't totally love this task even though I'd like to attend events like this because I feel like it really pushes the boundaries of the accessibility of the challenge.

Oh, I didn't see the "attend the event" part. It will probably have to be free, and I would also choose a virtual event. One of my local chain bookstores just had an event with Colleen Hoover, but I don't read her books.

So, I have a logistical question about this task. My local library is hosting an author event for the launching of her latest book but the event happens b4 the book release - could I read a different book by the author and then go to the event?

Amanda wrote: "So, I have a logistical question about this task. My local library is hosting an author event for the launching of her latest book but the event happens b4 the book release - could I read a differe..."

I think that would be perfectly fine. Over the years people participating in these challenges have been encouraged to make it work for them, and these prompts are completely up to interpretation and personal taste. I think your idea fits the spirit of the challenge while still being accessible to you.

Thank you Carly!!

I'm wondering if a recorded interview would work for this? As long as it's a fresh one?

Jenny wrote: "I'm wondering if a recorded interview would work for this? As long as it's a fresh one?"

I think the spirit of this task is to show the author some appreciation. I suspect this task was inspired by a viral post by author Suzanne Young, where she shared a photograph of a book signing that was just empty chairs. Other authors joined in to share how crushing events like that are. So if you do a recorded interview, I'd suggest contacting the author in some way (perhaps social media) to tell them how much you enjoyed their book/interview.

That's a good idea! I used to love going to the Edinburgh Book Festival, but the combination of ticket fares, CFS, and being wary of large groups these days, I'm not sure when I'd be able to do that again... I'll be keeping an eye out for virtual events, too, I just don't know when they'd be one I'd manage to

https://bookriot.com/virtual-book-eve...

I was doing some research (and procrastinating) BUT I found some links on "our" (the collective our) group's website. And I have a question, say for example we participate in one of the ALA panels. Would that count?

If not, local universities sometimes have book events. I'm not sure about you, but I live in a smallish town (the primary activity here is the one bowling alley, the movie theatre, hiking, and the three small bookstores which don't really cater to events). The downside is the it's usually crowded, have to pay for parking, and is subject to change.

Another way to go about this is to look at your favorite authors' appearances schedules and see what they have coming up. For virtual events, a lot of them are open to anybody anywhere, not just local patrons.

Or if you belong to any virtual book clubs, consider asking a discussion book's author to attend your meeting for a brief Q&A. I am in two that routinely do this. And I would think the big celebrity book clubs would count, even if it isn't the traditional small-group discussion. I like some of the clubs on BookTube because they do a live show with panelists, and viewers can join in the chat (or not) as they please.

https://www.hayfestival.com/home
The Hay Festival will be taking place in May 204 and some of the events will be on line. They also have a library of recorded events and discussions with authors but there will be a charge.


If you like crime https://gwylcrimecymrufestival.co.uk/
Gwyl Crime Festival will be on line next year.

There's a bookstore in AZ (The Poisoned Pen Bookstore https://poisonedpen.com) that advertises itself to be "Your local bookstore no matter where you live." They sponsor an array of virtual events (check their calendar online) including authors' events that live stream on Facebook Live and YouTube. Many seem to be book launchings - but if you are ok reading an earlier book by the author before attending, there are lots of possibilities. I will be reading Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone and the listening to the author discuss his latest on 1/31/2024

Many bookstores have been posting videos of author visits on YouTube for a while, if you don’t want to or can’t attend in person. Just search your favorite author’s name followed by “author interview” and I bet you’ll find a few.

Also, if non-fiction is your thing, the Science Friday book club has a live-streamed author interview each month.
https://www.sciencefriday.com/scifri-...

The Triangle Association of Freelancers conference (Raleigh NC) takes place in April. I'll read a book by Nicole Givens Kurtz, one of the keynote presenters.

If anyone needs help with #14, my library is doing a series of FREE author chats, AND some of them are virtual!!! You just need to RSVP so you can tune in!

https://cuyahogalibrary.org/classes-e...

I've signed up for this one: https://attend.cuyahogalibrary.org/ev...

My plan is to read one of the finalists for the Minnesota Book Awards. I was a judge for the past two years, but unfortunately was not chosen this year, but once the finalists come out, I will pick one and read it and then attend the awards ceremony.

If you like mythology retellings, Jennifer Saint (Ariadne, Elektra, Atalanta, and Hera) and Nina MacLaughlin (Wake, Siren: Ovid Resung) will be doing zoom lectures about the genre; the series is called In Her Voice: Women's Retelling of Greco-Roman Mythology. It doesn't seem to be widely advertised (it's through the department of Classics at the University of VA), but Jennifer Saint's will be 2/23/24 at 12pm ET and Nina MacLaughlin's will be 3/19/24 at 5pm ET. Zoom ID: 981 3720 7584, Passcode: 021309 for both.

I pre-ordered Be a Revolution: How Everyday People Are Fighting Oppression and Changing the World--And How You Can, Too, and I'm sure that Ijeoma Uluo will be having online events to promote it. I predict some of them will be free.

I'm reading Dead Famous by Greg Jenner for this - I'll listen to his podcast You're Dead to Me and I'm just going to count that, I doubt I'll get to any author events this year!

My library is doing an event around You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty with a recorded bit by the author and then a live discussion. I think that's close enough, and I get to support my colleague who is hosting. Plus, I'd been eyeing that book anyway.

I'm fortunate that I live in an area with a free book festival every year so I picked a book from one of the presenting authors (For Never & Always by Helena Greer) and I'll attend one of her panels (in fact, she's doing one about second chance romances, which this book is all about!)

I ended up attending one of Kamilah Cole's virtual events promoting her debut novel So Let Them Burn. So, not strictly following the prompt's instructions since I couldn't read the book before the event, but I really enjoyed her conversation with Aiden Thomas and Chloe Gong, and So Let Them Burn was amazing, I can't wait for the sequel!

Ottessa Moshfegh will be visiting the university where I work, so I am planning to read her book Homesick for Another World. I would rather not attend in person, so if the event is not going to be available virtually, I may choose another author.

There will be a Comics Studies Society Conference coming up in June that will be presented entirely virtually and will most likely feature several celebrity authors of comics or graphic novels, but the speakers have not been announced yet.

Leslie Vedder is hosting an Instagram Live event about The Marble Queen. The book itself doesn't come out until the day of the event. I'll read Leslie Vedder's latest book before that, and the Marble Queen after. Which do you think I should use for the prompt?

I'm going to read Mercury which is on my TBR and Book of the Month Club has an upcoming Virtual event. Excited about reading this one!

I read Stephen Spotswood's latest Pentecost mystery, Murder Crossed Her Mind, and attended an online event for it. Sad how few of us were there. Only two of us even bothered to engage with Mr Spotswood!

I read “The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store” by James Baldwin for this task. I plan on attending the online discussion with the author through “The Girlfriend Bookclub” on February 20.

I am finding this prompt hard to fulfill as I would prefer a (free) virtual event, and also to read a book I am interested in.
I am looking at possibilities around the internet and found a couple of interesting links:

https://libraryc.org/adamslib/upcoming
Many interesting authors, it is also possible to watch past events.

https://los-bookis-podcast.simplecast...
Podcast on queer Latine authors and stories.
(I already read Sonora Reyes' books last year but I highly recommend them! The Luis Ortega Survival Club has an autistic MC and there is romance involved so it could count for the other prompt too)

https://sarahnicolas.substack.com/
Newsletter with a list of virtual events. It comes out on Monday for the week so it doesn't leave a lot of time to read, but maybe it could be a good source of information.

I really thought I was going to struggle with this task, but I just found out the cookery writer Rick Stein is coming to talk in our city and I persuaded my husband to get tickets for my birthday (as he totally failed to get me a birthday present!) I do have several of his books, but I've ordered a second hand copy of his memoir Under a Mackerel Sky to read before I go.

I read Blank for this prompt, since the author had an event (relatively) near me on Monday. But I completely forgot about it (including to register in the first place)! Fortunately, she also has plenty of virtual events, so I was able to catch one last night.

Hi. I am going to do this free event for a Slow Food book group in Philadelphia. They are hosting a Zoom Q & A with Sarah Lohman on March 20th, for her book Endangered Eating: America's Vanishing Foods. Here is the link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/regis...

I'm willfully ignoring the second half of the prompt– going out of my way to attend an event virtually or otherwise just doesn't interest me at all, I'm just here for the reading ^^;

This might be another helpful link:
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/au...

If the prompt doesn't stipulate a specific genre, I prefer to read horror and/or mystery. Here are a few options for others who also like spooky or paranormal reads.

StokerCon 2024 Guests:
Paul Tremblay - Horror Movie, A Head Full of Ghosts
Justina Ireland - Dread Nation, Ophie's Ghosts
Paula Guran - New Cthulhu: The Recent Weird, Vampires: The Recent Undead
Nisi Shawl - Everfair, Speculation
Jonathan Maberry - Rot & Ruin, Patient Zero

Can*Con Guests:
Sarah Gailey - Just Like Home, Know Your Station #1
Waubgeshig Rice - Moon of the Crusted Snow, Moon of the Turning Leaves
Brandon O'Brien - Can You Sign My Tentacle?: Poems

Raven Con 17 Guests:
Ursula Vernon / T. Kingfisher - What Moves the Dead, Nettle & Bone
Full list: https://www.ravencon.com/category/aut...

List of Sci-fi, Fantasy, Horror conventions:
https://locusmag.com/conventions/
^ You'll have to scroll down a little to see the 2024 list, but a couple authors mentioned who I might chose to read from: Ryka Aoki, Nnedi Okorafor, P. Djèlí Clark. Hope this helps!

I haven’t figured out which I am going to do, but since I live near the corner where Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky meet, there are a number of book conventions/festivals this year in addition to single author events. Most likely since it’s the closest I will read Rebel Girl by Kathleen Hanna who is actually be at the local high school in May (16th) being interviewed by Hanif Abdurraqib (who has a book on my to read list as well). The same day Anthony Horowitz has a virtual event. On April 24th (7pm est) Emily Henry will have a virtual event discussing Funny Story with Jasmine Guillory - Joseph-Beth Books (Cincinnati OH) is where I saw it and if you buy the book (online) you get a ticket to the event with the link given out the day before. The Ohioana Book Festival on April 20th in Columbus (for those in the area) has a lot of authors there (including Erin Flanagan, Thrity Umrigar, Olivia Matthews, Mindy McGinnis and Jacqueline Woodson) for book signings and some for discussion panels. Writer’s Digest’s website has a listing of book conventions and festivals in each state (a few states don’t have any).

I'm probably going to read or listen to James Patterson's new book - The Secret Lives of Booksellers and Librarians: True Stories of the Magic of Reading. I already attended his event, so will be doing it backwards as the Holds list was quite extensive.

When I first saw this prompt I thought, please don't make me do this. It has worked out well. I read The Winged Tiara. The author is local & gave a talk at our local library. I enjoyed it.

I just went to an author talk by Katie Williams for her book "My Murder" which I just read this last month. She was amazing! I really enjoyed her book, and I'm person she was so funny and smart. I highly recommend!

I’m not doing well with my reading, as usual, but bookstores in my county, and a neighbouring one, have been having a lot of events this year. So I should be able to make one at some point. The learned owl has another one with a local author, tomorrow, but I can’t make it.

12 wrote: "I'm willfully ignoring the second half of the prompt– going out of my way to attend an event virtually or otherwise just doesn't interest me at all, I'm just here for the reading ^^;

This might be..."

I'm not going to be able to afford any events, so I may have to go with this option as well. I already have one of the books listed.

This one is a little bit of a stretch for me because I don't usually count rereads, but this task is one I may not otherwise complete and technically I read A Girl Called Echo Omnibus originally as single books not the complete omnibus and this was my first time reading the omnibus.

Anyway. I read A Girl Called Echo Omnibus by Katherena Vermette. She is going to be at my local public library for a free event in September, and I've registered to go with my fiancé. I've read quite a few of her works in previous years (her poetry, her picture books, her comics), so I'm looking forward to this. This event is poetry specific, but I've read both of her poetry collections to date, so I'll still be in the know. I may try to finally read her novel The Break before going to the event, but my reading schedule is pretty packed and I don't know if I'll have the headspace to make time for that. I may reread her poetry collections though, they're among my favourites and it's been a minute.

I did the task backwards....attended the talk first then read the book..but I'm counting it: Lesser Known Monsters of the 21st Century by Kim Fu. I also read Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt who spoke at the same event