Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge discussion

Share and discuss book ideas for
Task 4: Read a book about obsession.

I'm not entirely sure what I'll do for this one, but I appreciate it making me think. I don't normally pick books based on a theme like this? I'm thinking maybe finally reading Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier for this, but I'll be looking out to see what others to suggest because I have no idea beyond that.

I am going with The Art Thief: A True Story of Love, Crime, and a Dangerous Obsession but am def open to other suggestions

Going for a classic:


Moby-Dick or, The Whale by Herman Melville

I read

I don’t know how to delete my last post where I accidentally hit “post” too early.

What I meant to say was that I recently read All The Colors of The Dark by Chris Whitaker and I think it would be perfect for this task.

Some thoughts:

The Silent Patient
The Lost City of Z: A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon
I Have Some Questions for You
Perfume: The Story of a Murderer

and some classics:
Rebecca
Withering Heights

Possibly: The Picture of Dorian Gray
Horse

I think I've mentioned this before, but if your public library has access to NoveList, you can search their database by subject for obsession (use: DE "Obsession"). It brings up a lot, but you can also filter down to something more specific. Sorting by oldest first was super interesting.

I'll probably go for The Vegetarian by Han Kang or Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier.

Elizabeth, I forgot about NoveList. Thanks for the reminder!

The Feather Thief: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...

I'm considering The Art Thief: A True Story of Love, Crime, and a Dangerous Obsession, The Secret History or Perfume: The Story of a Murderer.

I'm reading Everything You Want Me to Be

I'm hoping What Was She Thinking? Notes on a Scandal this works for this task.

I've chosen "I'll be Gone in the Dark" by Michelle McNamera

I’ve had Rebecca on my TBR pile so going to read this one!

I started a Listopia for this prompt:
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/2...

I'm trying to make a list for every prompt in the Book Riot Challenge

Karen wrote: "Going for a classic:
Moby-Dick or, The Whale by Herman Melville"

Ooooh, I might have to pencil this one in as a maybe.
I had this one on deck for a few years ago "Read a book you're intimidated by", but it didn't happen and I got behind in my challenges.

I have a very old copy of Moby Dick that's been in the family for a very long time. I usually read ebooks, but I thought it would be nice to read the family edition.

Although it is on the nose, this YA thriller is very good. The girl being stalked is an interesting, clever, morally grey character with agency.
TW: domestic violence

The Obsession by Jesse Q Sutanto

I chose What Lies Between Us by John Marrs. I think this fits due to the characters' obsession with... well, no spoilers.

I think I'm going to go with a classic for this task: Moby-Dick or, The Whale

Premeditated Myrtle is about a middle grade girl obsessed with criminal science. In Shake Hands Forever, an inspector is obsessed with solving a murder. I might reread Tormenting Thoughts and Secret Rituals: The Hidden Epidemic of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, about Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD).

I read The Backyard Bird Chronicles. The author is obsessive about feeding wild birds & watching birds.

I forgot to post this. I ended up reading Horse about a month ago. There are several people obsessed with the horses, especially the titular one, Lexington

I've changed my mind... I'm going with The Art Thief: A True Story of Love, Crime, and a Dangerous Obsession. I just finished it and realized it was perfect for this challenge!

I read Man Overboard. The bad guy is obsessed with self-deletion and redrum. (I don't know if certain words are censored or not).

I read This Is Not a Book About Benedict Cumberbatch: The Joy of Loving Something--Anything--Like Your Life Depends On It for this one and it was really fun and interesting. More positive and less depressing spin on the obsession theme.

I read Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie - 7/5/25.

Turtles All the Way Down, John Green

Elizabeth wrote: "I'm not entirely sure what I'll do for this one, but I appreciate it making me think. I don't normally pick books based on a theme like this? I'm thinking maybe finally reading Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier for this, but I'll be looking out to see what others to suggest because I have no idea beyond that."

I ended up reading The Prometheite by Ari S. Mulch for this task. It's a sapphic graphic novel retelling of Frankenstein. I still hope to read Rebecca this year if I can fit it into my schedule though!

I read Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera

I already read The Art Thief for this one, but I am currently reading The Eyes Are the Best Part and it would definitely work!