We’re more than half way through the year – you haven’t forgotten about Book Riot’s Read Harder Challenge have you? Many of us here at LPL have been plugging away at the 24 challenges, ever expanding our literary horizons. Here’s a look at some of my favorite challenges and reads so far:

Challenge #1: Read a horror book

“Ring”
by Koji Suzuki

This is the novel that inspired the movie “The Ring.” The story follows Asakawa, a hardworking journalist, as he investigates his niece’s death. He discovers a videotape that ends by alerting viewers they will die in seven days unless they complete a certain task. There’s one problem: the instructions have been recorded over. I personally didn’t find the novel as chilling as the movie, but it’s still a good read.

Challenge #10: Read a book over 500 pages

“The Bone Clocks”
by David Mitchell

Fifteen year old Holly Sykes runs away from home and encounters the “Radio People” – a group of psychics who follow her throughout her life. I found Mitchell’s prediction of the future world most fascinating. With a number of shifts in perspectives and jumps through time settings, this is a dense one!

Challenge #11: Read a book under 100 pages

“Albert Nobbs”
by George Moore

Albert Nobbs is a woman disguised and working as a male waiter at an early 20th century English hotel. Albert meets another female working as a male painter who tells her that she’s married to another woman, and this encourages Albert to find a wife of her own. Albert Nobbs is a quick read, but it was turned into a film starring Glenn Close, which is one of the most touching things I’ve ever watched.

Challenge #12: Read a book by or about a person that identifies as transgender

“Symptoms of Being Human”
by Jeff Garvin

This well written, informative story follows Riley Cavanaugh, a gender fluid teenager struggling to find acceptance and self-love. Riley’s story is inspiring and an important one for those who can relate, and also for those wanting to learn more about gender fluidity and the transgender community.

Challenge #13: Read a book that is set in the Middle East

“Children of the Jacaranda Tree”
by Sahar Delijani

This was a heartbreaking read. Delijani illustrates the effect that war and political unrest in Iran has had on mothers, fathers, children, and families. Among many others, she relates the stories of a girl born in a prison in Tehran who is then taken from her mother, and that of a three year old whose political activist parents were arrested in front of him.

-William Ottens is the Cataloging & Collection Development Coordinator at Lawrence Public Library.