#ReadHarder: Challenge Accepted

In recent years, I've shied away from challenges for a variety of reasons, most of which drill down to this: I don't like reading on a schedule. I even failed (miserably) at last year's TBR Challenge (I read one book from my list), and those were all books I already wanted to read (and already owned, for goodness' sake).

But here I am again, joining in on Book Riot's Read Harder challenge. Why? Because I like the idea of using the challenge to read books I own and books I don't; books in new-to-me genres and well-loved genres; books I've heard of and those I have to seek out to fill some category or another.

So we'll see how it goes. I'll keep track of my progress and what books I read on this page and on a Goodreads shelf. I can already tell you that some categories will be no-brainers (a book published this year) while others will push me very far outside my comfort zone (a collection of poetry).

The Categories:

(With Rachel's originally recommended links for reading suggestions linked with each category)

• A book written by someone when they were under the age of 25
• A book written by someone when they were over the age of 65
• A collection of short stories (either by one person or an anthology by many people)
• A book published by an indie press
• A book by or about someone that identifies as LGBTQ
• A book by a person whose gender is different from your own
• A book that takes place in Asia
• A book by an author from Africa
• A book that is by or about someone from an indigenous culture (Native Americans, Aboriginals, etc.)
• A microhistory
• A YA novel
• A sci-fi novel
• A romance novel
• A National Book Award, Man Booker Prize or Pulitzer Prize winner from the last decade
• A book that is a retelling of a classic story (fairytale, Shakespearian play, classic novel, etc.)
• An audiobook
• A collection of poetry
• A book that someone else has recommended to you
• A book that was originally published in another language
• A graphic novel, a graphic memoir or a collection of comics of any kind (Hi, have you met Panels?)
• A book that you would consider a guilty pleasure (Read, and then realize that good entertainment is nothing to feel guilty over)
• A book published before 1850
• A book published this year
• A self-improvement book (can be traditionally or non-traditionally considered “self-improvement”)

Are you joining the Read Harder Challenge this year?