Book Riot’s Read Harder Challenge 2016

Those of you who know me know that I read – a lot. I’m trying to read 115 books this year. As of this post, I’ve read 65. (Only 50 to go! OMG!)

Part of that is going to be the reading list for my MFA. I made that list myself. (Seriously though, I love the MFA of the Americas. Perfect program for me.)

The other part of my TBR is coming from Book Riot’s Read Harder Challenge.  I am a total Book Riot fangirl. Someday, I would love to work for them. But for right now, I’m reading and reviewing books, working on the launch of the MFA of the Americas’ mysterious graduate literary journal, and polishing my novel.

Essentially, Book Riot’s Read Harder Challenge dares readers to leave their bookish comfort zones, to read outside their usual genres. I’m almost done with mine. Here’s what I have so far. The categories in bold are the ones I haven’t read yet.

*FYI: You are allowed to use one book for multiple categories, but I’m not, because that would make it too easy.

1. Read a horror book: Dracula by Bram Stoker
2. Read a nonfiction book about science: The Shallows by Nicholas Carr
3. Read a collection of essays: Wall Flower at the Orgy by Nora Ephron
4. Read a book out loud to someone else – I read the Little Mermaid to my dog. Don’t judge me.
5. Read a middle grade novel: The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
6. Read a biography (not a memoir or autobiography): Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand
7. Read a dystopian or post-apocalyptic novel: Station Eleven by Emil St. John Mandel
8. Read a book originally published in the decade you were born: Tuesdays with Morrie (1997) by Mitch Albom
9. Listen to an audio book that has won an Audie Award: The Martian by Andy Weir
10. Read a book over 500 pages long: The Poisonwood Bible (maybe) or Queen of the Night…Actually, I have several choices.
11. Read a book under 100 pages: Binti by Nnedi Okorafor
12. Read a book by or about a person who identifies as transgender ~ The Danish Girl (But I’m open to suggestions.)
13. Read a book that is set in the Middle East ~ The Association of Small Bombs (?)
14. Read a book that is by an author from Southeast Asia ~ The Sympathizer
15. Read a book of historical fiction set before 1900 – Wolf Hall
16. Read the first book in a series by a person of color – The Fifth Season by NK Jemisin
17. Read a non-superhero comic that debuted in the last three years ~ Lumberjanes 🙂
18. Read a book that was adapted into a movie, then watch the movie (debate which is better): The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. I taught this book, and I watched the Leonardo DiCaprio version with my classes. The book is way better, but I love me some Leo, and the sound track was boss.
19. Read a nonfiction book about feminism or dealing with feminist themes: Bad Feminist by Roxanne Gay (I also want to read Shrill by Lindy West.)
20. Read a book about religion (fiction or nonfiction): His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman
21. Read a book about politics, in your country or another (fiction or nonfiction): Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
22. Read a food memoir: Kitchen Confidential (Is that a food memoir? idk.)
23. Read a play: Medea by Euripides
24. Read a book about a main character who has a mental illness: All the Bright Places (which I hated so much I won’t link to it) / Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell (which I loved)

Anyone else doing this challenge? Tell me what you’re reading or comment with a link!