R&W Book Riot 2020 challenge part 1

Originally, I'd planned this for a monthly swap. But I think a 'go at your own rate' version might be better. So, here we go ...

Book Riot is a newsletter that you can subscribe to (for free) and they have created a "Read Harder" book journal and yearly challenge to help readers break out of their reading genres a bit and try new things. I thought this could be good for our group.

This will be an International swap as it will be lightweight to send, just a letter or note card. Hopefully everyone will give it a try, but if you really, really want an US only version, please let me know and I'll see what I can do.

You can find the Read Harder 2020 Challenge here It includes more information, ways to sign up, and a free printable PDF of the categories for the challenge.

For this swap, you will have just 1 partner and you will choose 1 or more book categories from this list, read the book, and send your partner a letter (or note card) telling them about the book you chose, the author, the category you feel that it fits and what you thought of the book.

There are 24 categories, so that would be 2 books a month, if you want to try the whole list. I think some can be doubled up, but it might be a bit tricky. If you want to try them all, that's GREAT! But if you just want to do a few, that's ok, too. This is for fun, not work. :)

Additionally, some of the categories might be a bit harder to fit than others (that food one is going to be tough for me, I know.) Do your best to fit a book to the category, but if you take a broader interpretation, that's ok. Just explain to your partner why you chose that book for that category. And, you can read anything - fiction, non fiction, children's, YA, middle grades, graphic novels - you get the idea. As I said, this is for FUN.

If you want to add a little more, there is a Book Riot group on Good Reads (you can join for free) that lists possible books for the categories, and you can add to the discussion if you like that interaction. You can find it HERE

Read the book at any time that fits your reading schedule, you don't have to wait for partners to be assigned. If you try the book and it's not a winner for you and you want to give up, that's ok, too. Just tell your partner what you thought. Ideally, you'll have your book finished before the sign up date since the sign up and send by will be close together - this is to give you time to plan, so if it just doesn't work out for you, you can drop the swap with no problems.

If you are watching the swap and thinking of joining, please leave a comment below. It helps me to see who is interested in which swaps, so I can offer what you want to see. :) Thanks!

If you have any questions or concerns, please send me a PM and I'll reply just as soon as I can. Thanks!!

The full list of categories:

Read a YA nonfiction book

Read a retelling of a classic of the canon, fairytale, or myth by an author of color

Read a mystery where the victim(s) is not a woman

Read a graphic memoir

Read a book about a natural disaster

Read a play by an author of color and/or queer author

Read a historical fiction novel not set in WWII

Read an audiobook of poetry

Read the LAST book in a series

Read a book that takes place in a rural setting

Read a debut novel by a queer author

Read a memoir by someone from a religious tradition (or lack of religious tradition) that is not your own

Read a food book about a cuisine you’ve never tried before

Read a romance starring a single parent

Read a book about climate change

Read a doorstopper (over 500 pages) published after 1950, written by a woman

Read a sci-fi/fantasy novella (under 120 pages)

Read a picture book with a human main character from a marginalized community

Read a book by or about a refugee

Read a middle grade book that doesn’t take place in the U.S. or the UK

Read a book with a main character or protagonist with a disability (fiction or non)

Read a horror book published by an indie press

Read an edition of a literary magazine (digital or physical)

Read a book in any genre by a Native, First Nations, or Indigenous author

*There's an additional challenge listed on the sheet to complete all the tasks with LGBTA authors.

And, if you have suggestions you would like to share, please feel free to do so in the comments section below. Or we can start a thread in the forum. Having ideas and suggestions can always help! :)

Happy reading to all! :)