As stated in my From Around the Web post, I’ll participate in Book Riot’s 2015 Read Harder Challenge to expand the types of books I read. The challenge includes a diverse set of books. Where applicable, the creator—Rachel—has included links to Book Riot posts, Goodreads lists, and other resources where readers can find books that fit the tasks. She advises readers to double-check books listed in user-generated lists such as those on Goodreads. Visit the Book Riot post for more on the challenge.
And here are the requirements. Read:
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)
Note: I doubt I’ll read a short story collection this year so instead I’ll include the short story I read.
Story read: “The Wife of His Youth” by Charles W. Chesnutt
A short story that deals with racial relations within the Black community.
A book published by an indie press
Book read: Warren the 13th and the All-Seeing Eye by Tania del Rio, illus. by Will Staehle
A middle-grade, mystery novel (published by Quirk Books) about an orphaned 12-year-old boy who tries to save his family’s hotel from being destroyed by his evil Aunt Anaconda.
A book by or about someone that identifies as LGBTQ
A book by a person whose gender is different from your own
Book read: The Curse of Crow Hollow by Billy Coffey
A Christian, horror story about what happens to a town when it succumbs to its fear.
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 YA novel
Book read: Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
A fantasy novel about a teenage assassin who must defeat 23 of the best killers to become the king’s Champion, the only way to gain her freedom.
Book read: Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne
A sci-fi novel about young man and his eccentric uncle journeying to the center of earth with a taciturn Icelandic guide.
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
Book read: Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
A young-adult, contemporary novel about a girl who writes fan fiction and has to adjust to college life.
A book that was originally published in another language
Book read: A Long Day’s Evening by Bilge Karasu
A story of two monks from Constantinople struggling with the changes to their religion and their relationship.
A graphic novel, a graphic memoir or a collection of comics of any kind (Hi, have you met Panels?)
Book read: Rat Queens, Vol.1: Sass & Sorcery by Kurtis J. Wiebe, illus. by Roc Upchurch
A fantasy comic about a group of female mercenaries who fight to protect their town.
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
Book read: The Rest of Us Just Live Here by Patrick Ness
A young-adult fantasy novel that focuses on characters who aren’t the “chosen one.”
A self-improvement book (can be traditionally or non-traditionally considered “self-improvement”)
Book read: Better than Before by Gretchen Rubin
A self-help book on how to form habits and improve our daily life.
Zezee with Books 
15 thoughts on “Book Riot 2015 Read Harder Challenge”