Jenn T Rogers’s Comments (group member since Mar 20, 2015)

Jenn T Rogers’s comments from the Reading Even Harder group.

I have picked a few books for the Read Harder 2016 challenge, though I reserve the right to change my mind at any time.

1. Read a horror book- Slade House
2. Read a nonfiction book about science- Come as You Are: The Surprising New Science that Will Transform Your Sex Life
3. Read a collection of essays
4. Read a book out loud to someone else
5. Read a middle grade novel- The Nest
6. Read a biography (not memoir or autobiography)
7. Read a dystopian or post-apocalyptic novel- The Rest of Us Just Live Here
8. Read a book originally published in the decade you were born- The Stand (Finally.)
9. Listen to an audiobook that has won an Audie Award- Yes Please
10. Read a book over 500 pages long
11. Read a book under 100 pages
12. Read a book by or about a person that identifies as transgender- If I Was Your Girl
13. Read a book that is set in the Middle East
14. Read a book by an author from Southeast Asia
15. Read a book of historical fiction set before 1900
16. Read the first book in a series by a person of color- Sorcerer to the Crown
17. Read a non-superhero comic that debuted in the last three years- Bitch Planet, Vol 1: Extraordinary Machine
18. Read a book that was adapted into a movie, then watch the movie. Debate which is better.
19. Read a nonfiction book about feminism or dealing with feminist themes
20. Read a book about religion (fiction or nonfiction)
21. Read a book about politics in your country or another (fiction or nonfiction)
22. Read a food memoir
23. Read a play
24. Read a book with a main character that has a mental illness- Challenger Deep

What are your reading goals for January?

I am planning to finish reading a few things that I started in 2015 but never finished. Then it's onto the Read Harder Challenge.

I really got behind on all the new books last year so I will be catching up on a few of the big books of 2015 and moving on to the new, big buzz books in 2016. I listen to the Book Riot podcast, All the Books, and Get Booked (all from Book Riot) regularly and that is where I get most of my recommendations.

Book Riot has published their Read Harder Challenge for 2016. I am very excited about it and I hope to actually finish this year. Here are the categories:
1. Read a horror book
2. Read a nonfiction book about science
3. Read a collection of essays
4. Read a book out loud to someone else
5. Read a middle grade novel
6. Read a biography (not memoir or autobiography)
7. Read a dystopian or post-apocalyptic novel
8. Read a book originally published in the decade you were born
9. Listen to an audiobook that has won an Audie Award
10. Read a book over 500 pages long
11. Read a book under 100 pages
12. Read a book by or about a person that identifies as transgender
13. Read a book that is set in the Middle East
14. Read a book by an author from Southeast Asia
15. Read a book of historical fiction set before 1900
16. Read the first book in a series by a person of color
17. Read a non-superhero comic that debuted in the last three years
18. Read a book that was adapted into a movie, then watch the movie. Debate which is better.
19. Read a nonfiction book about feminism or dealing with feminist themes
20. Read a book about religion (fiction or nonfiction)
21. Read a book about politics in your country or another (fiction or nonfiction)
22. Read a food memoir
23. Read a play
24. Read a book with a main character that has a mental illness

I almost picked up Mr. Mercedes a couple of times. Honestly, I just don't know where to start.

So, what do you guys want to read this fall?

Open thread for discussing and planning for NaNoWriMo November 2016.

No problem. I can make a TBR and read them when they do!

For your consideration. A list of upcoming YA books from Book Riot.
http://bookriot.com/2015/04/09/145-ya...

Here are my general thoughts on this group. I want to have between 2 and 4 selections a month. I DO NOT expect everyone to read that much (I might, and then I might not) but I want to hit as many areas on interest for all of us. If we get more members, I would love to divide up the moderation duties. Like if Barbara wants to moderate the YA read and maybe Heather wants to moderate scifi/fnatasy/horror. Kelly and I can take the literary, romance, other categories.

I know I definitely want to include a YA every month. The rest we can alternate between any genres you guys are into. I've even had an idea to include some backlist stuff so we can cut through some of our TBR piles.

We can take our time and make this however we want it to be.

Ain't life grand?

For the record, you should all get The Royal We. I am loving it. But then, I'm a royal family nerd so this works for me. I normally don't go for romances but this one is just how I like them. Sweet, smart, funny, awkward, and not toooo sexy.

Once I finish The Royal We on Audio I am switching gears completely to read Missoula: Rape and the Justice System in a College Town I've been hearing all kinds of buzz on this one. I also haven't hit the non fiction in a while.

One other note. Americanah is so good. Seeing our world and America specifically through the eyes of a foreigner is the real prize here. The observations on education alone are worth the book price. It's easy to read, very accessible, and teaches you to adjust your perspective. I am loving it more than I thought I would.

Yeah, I think July is the next one. I think I may hang back until November. This summer is proving to be very busy.

Ooooooo. Ultraviolet! That sounds yummy!

I have been on a bit of a "big girl" book kick of late but I need and love the YA as much as anyone. I think we should have a YA in the list every month!

I heard Ember in the Ashes was good. The Wrath and the Dawn looks amazing. And I'm totally intrigued by the Dorothy Must Die series. All the Rage has been getting a lot of buzz. It's supposed to be pretty brutal.

Great! I haven't read anything Stephen King in a billion years. I have The Stand but I haven't gotten to it yet. I hear his newer stuff has been great. Pick one!

Toss us some titles. We'll read along!

I'm not getting a whole lot of participation in this group so I want to know what would make you get more involved. Tell me what you want to read this summer and fall and let's get some good stuff on our list.

In order to make this group great you have to speak up!

I just finished Red Queen and while I enjoyed it enough to finish it, it's not my cup of tea. I wanted to love it. It has a great cover, but I didn't. I don't think I will bother to read the rest of the series, whenever it comes out.

Started The Royal We on audio and I already love it. Super fun.

I am also reading Americanah on my kindle. It's very interesting. Really enjoying it so far.

I picked up The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao at Half Price books. So it's going in the TBR pile.

They also had nice hardback copies of All the Light We Cannot See, which just one this year's Pulitzer, and Station Eleven, which is AMAZING and won the Tournament of Books for 2015. And I didn't buy either one of them. Stupid, stupid, stupid...

I decided I need to keep one "classic" or "award winning" book going (I'm not even sure I know what that means) and I needed a translation for the Read Harder Challenge so I picked up Anna Karenina. It's gonna take me a while. It's a big ass book!

I am also listening to Red Queen on audio and it's a good, fun, fantasy read. It's not mind blowing. It's not knocking my socks off, but it's a fun book. The main character is a little whiny and stubborn but everyone needs faults to be interesting, right? Anyway, I like it and I keep sitting in my driveway listening to it so there must be something compelling about it.

Oh, and I heard about and I am totally intrigued. Sounds awesome.