Reading List: Book Riot’s 2016 Read Harder Challenge

~ EMM ~ 1 Comment

Book Riot is doing another Read Harder Challenge list of 24 reading tasks to be completed in 2016. I’m tempted because I’m a sucker for a challenge. But I already said I wasn’t going to do any reading projects in 2016. So, I’m officially not doing this challenge.

But… just for fun, I am going to track how the books I do read off my TBR in 2016 match up with the tasks on this reading challenge list. I’ve already tagged some books and added them to a new Goodreads shelf. I probably won’t check off all the tasks, but I am curious how many I can check off without really trying.

Here is the list for 2016 (and selections from my TBR are in parenthesis):

  1. Read a horror book (Slade House)
  2. Read a nonfiction book about science (Deep: Freediving, Renegade Science, and What the Ocean Tells Us about Ourselves)
  3. Read a collection of essays (The Empathy Exams)
  4. Read a book out loud to someone else (Information Doesn’t Want to Be Free)
  5. Read a middle grade novel (The Neptune Project)
  6. Read a biography, not a memoir, or an autobiography (Kingpin)
  7. Read a dystopian or post apocalyptic novel (The Harvest)
  8. Read a book originally published in the decade you were born (To Ride Pegasus <–technically a re-read, but I’d intended to re-read it anyway)
  9. Listen to an audio book that won an Audie Award (Yes Please)
  10. Read a book over 500 pages long (Poseidon’s Wake)
  11. Read a book under 100 pages (Binti)
  12. Read a book by or about a person who identifies as transgender (George)
  13. Read a book that is set in the Middle East (Escape From Baghdad!)
  14. Read a book by an author from Southeast Asia (The Ghost Bride or The Garden of Evening Mists)
  15. Read a book of historical fiction set before 1900 (Hild)
  16. Read the first book in a series by a person of color (the first book of The Inheritance Trilogy)
  17. Read a non-superhero comic that debuted in the past three years (Bitch Planet)
  18. Read a book that was adapted into a movie, then watch the movie (The 5th Wave)
  19. Read a non-fiction book about feminism or dealing with feminist themes (Lean In)
  20. Read a book about religion, fiction or non-fiction (No god but God: The Origins, Evolution, and Future of Islam)
  21. Read a book about politics in your country or another, fiction or non-fiction (maybe Our Kids or North Korea Confidential?)
  22. Read a food memoir (An Embarrassment of Mangoes)
  23. Read a play (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child)
  24. Read a book with a main character who has a mental illness (The Boy Who Went Away)

#ABookishHoliday Day 15: Bookish Tree (swapped with Day 23)

~ EMM

Today on #ABookishHoliday, I was supposed to post about my “wish list.” But, you may remember that I already posted my wish list on the 15th when I decided to swap that task with the “bookish tree” task. I still don’t have my own photo of a “bookish tree” to share with you, but I like this one from one of my favorite independent bookstores, Literati in Ann Arbor, MI.

Reading: Best of 2015

~ EMM

So, 2015 isn’t completely over yet. I still have about two more books I want to finish before the end of the year. But, I think it’s probably safe to do some “top five” book lists for 2015. I’ve divided my favorites up into three lists, below.

My “top five” favorite books that I read in 2015 (not including ones that are part of a series) are:

  1. The Library at Mount Char by Scott Hawkins
  2. The Bone Clocks by David Mitchell
  3. The Martian by Andy Weir
  4. Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel
  5. Carry On by Rainbow Rowell

My “top five” favorite books that I read in 2015 that ARE part of a series are:

  1. Vicious (Vicious, #1)
  2. Queen of Shadows (Throne of Glass, #4)
  3. Lock In (Lock In, #1)
  4. Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
  5. On the Steel Breeze (Poseidon’s Children 2)

And, last but not least, these are my “top five” favorite comics that I read in 2015:

  1. Nimona by Noelle Stevenson
  2. Ms. Marvel, Vol. 1: No Normal by G. Willow Wilson
  3. X-Men, Vol. 3: Bloodline by Brian Wood
  4. Promethea, Vol. 1 by Alan Moore
  5. Lumberjanes Vol 1 by by Noelle Stevenson

#ABookishHoliday Day 19: Red & Green

~ EMM

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On the nineteenth day of #ABookishHoliday the theme is “red & green.” So, I thought I’d share one of my favorite books released this year, which also happens to have a red and green cover. If you like epic fantasy, you should definitely check out this book. It has some excellent world-building and well-crafted characters. I’m hoping it’s the first in a series and the story will continue.

#ABookishHoliday Day 18: Bookish Gift

~ EMM

 

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Day eighteen of #ABookishHoliday and it’s time for some “bookish gifts.” I think trade editions of comics make great bookish gifts. The ones pictured above are gifts I’ve received so far this year.

Comics are fun gifts for readers because they are shorter than books, they’re usually more colorful, and they are a nice change of pace for a serious reader. They also make great gifts for reluctant readers (especially young ones), and early readers (who are just figuring out that whole “words” thing). And these days, there are comics to fit any and all reading tastes. It’s not just superheros.

As for the ones above, Ms. Marvel is great for anyone who may be enjoying that new Supergirl show on TV, and age appropriate for younger readers. The two volumes of X-Force might be a good choice for someone who is really excited about the new X-Men Apocalypse movie coming out next May.