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!)
- Read a book about sports.
- Read a debut novel. – Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen
- Read a book about books.
- Read a book set in Central or South America, written by a Central or South American author.
- Read a book by an immigrant or with a central immigration narrative.
- Read an all-ages comic.
- Read a book published between 1900 and 1950.
- Read a travel memoir.
- Read a book you’ve read before. – The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
- Read a book that is set within 100 miles of your location.
- 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…
- Read a fantasy novel. – Uprooted by Naomi Novik
- Read a nonfiction book about technology.
- Read a book about war.
- Read a YA or middle grade novel by an author who identifies as LGBTQ+.
- Read a book that has been banned or frequently challenged in your country.
- Read a classic by an author of color.
- Read a superhero comic with a female lead.
- Read a book in which a character of color goes on a spiritual journey
- Read an LGBTQ+ romance novel
- Read a book published by a micropress. – This weird thing.
- Read a collection of stories by a woman.
- Read a collection of poetry in translation on a theme other than love.
- 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?