I seem to be a literary glutton for punishment this year. Not only am I writing a novel, I’m planning to read gobs of them as well. (As I should be.) I already have all the books I agreed to review (and I’m SO behind), not to mention my personal reading list for my MFA this semester. (Ha ha ha – I’m dying. No, really. Can I hire a maid?) I am also daring to attempt TWO reading challenges. One of them is Litsy A to Z. The other is Book Riot’s Read Harder Challenge.

But because I’m already doing so much, I’m going to do exactly what I did last year: read and then check in October to see how many books I’ve knocked off the list. (Did I mention that I didn’t win last year?)

Well, here’s hoping with all the diverse books I’m already reading, I won’t have to stretch too much this fall.

Without further ado, here is the official list. (Let’s see if I’ve accomplished any already!)

  1. Read a book about sports.
  2. Read a debut novel. – Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen
  3. Read a book about books.
  4. Read a book set in Central or South America, written by a Central or South American author.
  5. Read a book by an immigrant or with a central immigration narrative.
  6. Read an all-ages comic.
  7. Read a book published between 1900 and 1950.
  8. Read a travel memoir.
  9. Read a book you’ve read before. – The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
  10. Read a book that is set within 100 miles of your location.
  11. Read a book that is set more than 5000 miles from your location. – Is Chile far enough? I’m reading a lot of Chilean books…
  12. Read a fantasy novel. – Uprooted by Naomi Novik
  13. Read a nonfiction book about technology.
  14. Read a book about war.
  15. Read a YA or middle grade novel by an author who identifies as LGBTQ+.
  16. Read a book that has been banned or frequently challenged in your country.
  17. Read a classic by an author of color.
  18. Read a superhero comic with a female lead.
  19. Read a book in which a character of color goes on a spiritual journey
  20. Read an LGBTQ+ romance novel
  21. Read a book published by a micropress. – This weird thing.
  22. Read a collection of stories by a woman.
  23. Read a collection of poetry in translation on a theme other than love.
  24. Read a book wherein all point-of-view characters are people of color. 

I’m in a little bit of a reading slump. I blame the literary magazine I helped start. Also the novel I’m writing. And AWP this week. Blah. I’m tired. Is it spring break yet?

But considering I’ve already done three, I think I might be able to do it this year. Any suggestions for books I should read?

5 Responses

  1. What a modest goal you have, Becky!
    Not really. I love it.
    Aim high—that’s how we get things done!

    I’m adding suggested titles for your list:
    # 7: Pub between 1900 – 1950. Cry the Beloved Country by Alan Paton (1948) – this book was banned in South Africa upon publication.
    #14 About war. Here are two: Unravelled by MK Tod, as well as, Lies Told in Silence, also by MK Tod. I discovered her only recently. Hauntingly beautiful novels (literary fiction quality) about WW I & II. Mary Tod is a Canadian author—has a fresh new take on war—no glorification, and a fresh focus on those who “remain behind, who are not in the trenches” but at home, fighting their own wars.
    # 17 – By an author of color. Stride Toward Freedom: The Montgomery Story by Martin Luther King Jr. (1958) – Incidentally, this book was also banned in South Africa upon publication. The irony—it promotes political change without violence.
    Hope this helps, Becky!

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

%d bloggers like this: