Here I go again entering another Book Riot Read Harder Challenge though I’ve never, ever completed one, nor have given any effort in actually completing one. Still, I enjoy crossing out the categories I do complete, so I’ll continue to do so this year! 🙂
The categories below are linked to Book Riot posts that list book recommendations for them.
The tasks:
A classic of genre fiction (i.e. mystery, sci fi/fantasy, romance)
Book read: The Two Towers by J.R.R. Tolkien, narr. by a full cast
The second novel in the classic fantasy series Lord of the Rings.
I listened to the audio book, but it wasn’t of great quality and it affected my enjoyment of the story, which I didn’t like much. I thought it was boring.
A comic written and drawn by the same person
Book read: Nightlights by Lorena Alvarez Gomez (illus.)
A children’s fantasy comic book about a girl and her imagination.
I loved this for the story and colorful illustrations.
A book set in or about one of the five BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, or South Africa)
Book read: Audubon: On the Wings of the World by Fabien Grolleau, illus. by Jérémie Royer, trans. by Etienne Gilfillan
A biographical graphic novel about the life of famed ornithologist John James Audubon who sought to document all the birds in America.
It was an informative read and I enjoyed it.
A comic written or drawn by a person of color
Book read: Pashmina by Nidhi Chanani (illus.)
A graphic novel about an Indian American girl who learns more about her family and culture and herself with the aid of a special pashmina.
It was a sweet story and I didn’t mind the art.
A book of colonial or postcolonial literature
A romance novel by or about a person of color
Book read: The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory
A contemporary romance novel about a woman who meets a hot guy on an elevator they were both stuck on and later acts as his date for a wedding.
It was okay.
A children’s classic published before 1980
Book read: The Enchanted Wood by Enid Blyton
Originally published in 1939, this is the first book in Blyton’s Faraway Tree series, a children’s fantasy series about a magical tree in which fairy creatures reside and atop which the characters can visit different lands.
I read the book as a child and loved it then (not so much now). It’s the book that got me hooked on fantasy stories.
Book read: Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen (narr.)
An autobiography by the famous singer-songwriter Bruce Springsteen.
I listened to the audiobook, which was narrated by Springsteen, and loved it. It’s a good read and quite inspiring.
Book read: Geis: A Matter of Life and Death by Alexis Deacon (illus.)
A fantasy comic book series about 50 people who are cursed to compete to take the place of the chief matriarch who died.
This is the first book and their isn’t much to the plot, but I liked the adventure so I’ll continue with it for now.
The first book in a new-to-you YA or middle grade series
Book read: Shadow Weaver by MarcyKate Connolly
A middle-grade fantasy novel about a girl who can control shadows.
I enjoyed this one. It’s a dark, atmospheric read that would be perfect for Halloween.
A sci fi novel with a female protagonist by a female author
A comic that isn’t published by Marvel, DC, or Image
Book read: The Dam Keeper by by Robert Kondo (illus.) and Daisuke “Dice” Tsutsumi (illus.)
A sweet middle-grade fantasy graphic novel about a pig who maintains a machine called the Dam, which keeps the nefarious black fog away from his town.
I enjoyed reading this and loved the art. It was first a Pixar film short before it was made a graphic novel.
A book of genre fiction in translation
Book read: The Book of Hidden Things by Francesco Dmitri (trans.)
A fantasy novel about four friends who meet up in the same place in their hometown every year, but this time, one of them is missing and when the others search for him, they learn more than they expected.
It’s hard to summarize this one in one sentence. It’s translated from Italian by the author. It’s such a great read! I loved it. I was hooked the entire time and I loved the prose. Great writing.
Book read: School for Psychics by K.C. Archer
A paranormal novel about a young woman who’s recruited to attend a school that trains psychics to be government operatives.
I neither liked the cover nor the story, though I really wanted to. It just didn’t work for me.
A mystery by a person of color or LGBTQ+ author
A book with a female protagonist over the age of 60
An assigned book you hated (or never finished)
Zezee with Books 