Extreme Book Challenge

 CHALLENGE CATEGORY #20  ONE OF YOUR FAVORITE AUTHOR’S FAVORITE BOOKS I’m sure it comes as no surprise that your favorite author is a booklover too! That’s right, our literary heroes have literary heroes of their own! I always love to learn about the people who inspired my favorite people, so check out popular books recommended by popular media figures!  The Left Hand of Darkness  by Ursula K. Le Guin If we share a favorite author, you’re in luck, because Sci-Fi author Neil Gaiman has no shortage of recommendations. Whether formal interviews or informal on his Twitter account, Gaiman takes every opportunity to share books he loves with his readers. Originally published in 1969, Gaiman recommends the iconic The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K Le Guin. He said; “It’s a giant thought experiment that’s also a cracking good read about gender... I remember reading it aged ten or eleven and it rewired me inside of my head." And if you’re looking for more Sci-Fi discussion...

CHALLENGE CATEGORY #19  A NARRATIVE NONFICTION BOOK Do you love to learn but get bored easily when it feels like books are just listing facts at you? You might be interested in narrative nonfiction! Nonfiction books are based around facts or true events, and narrative nonfiction means the book is written like a story! No boring lists here! The Library Book  by Susan Orlean Susan Orlean’s The Library Book is a love letter to libraries wrapped inside a historical mystery. When the Los Angeles Public Library caught fire in 1986, the community lost four hundred thousand stories, but they gained a new one. Orlean takes readers on a tour of the past and present to explore the questions that have long been left unanswered. Who set fire to the library and did they do so intentionally? How has the community been affected by this event and has the library recovered? Orlean leads this deeply researched discovery in her 2018 narrative-driven nonfiction exploration. Keep learning with more...

CHALLENGE CATEGORY #18  A BOOK BY AN ASIAN AMERICAN OR PACIFIC ISLANDER AUTHOR In the month of May, we celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage! There have been so many fantastic new stories put out by AAPI authors that it was hard to pick just one to showcase, but lucky for us you can always refer back to our Goodreads list for more suggestions! The Laughter  by Sonora Jha Sonora Jha’s new psychological thriller, The Laughter , is a racially and politically charged satire on academia unlike anything I’ve read before. Jha puts readers to the test with an exceptionally unlikable narrator in Dr. Oliver Harding. Harding is confronted by his own shortcomings when he develops an obsession with his new Pakastani Muslim law colleague Ruhaba Khan. Rather than grow from his experiences, readers are dragged along for Harding’s journey as he shrinks into the shadows of himself, his memories, and the women of his past. Keep Celebrating AAPI Heritage Month with more books fro...

CHALLENGE CATEGORY #17 A BOOK WITH A GREEN COVER Many studies have shown that the color green can have a calming effect. It also reminds me of green grass and full trees and everything the warm months bring, so what better way to celebrate the incoming warm weather than with a nice, calming green book! The Guest  by Emma Cline If you thought I was going to use this as an opportunity to suggest a nice calming book, you’d be mistaken. Emma Cline’s overwhelming but intoxicating sophomore novel, The Guest, was popular immediately upon its release, and it deserves all the hype. Alex has a reputation for chaos, but she has always somehow managed to stay afloat. Until now. After spending a summer on Long Island beaches, Alex falls out of favor with the man who has been funding her life. Suddenly helpless in the Hamptons, Alex must either find a way to rebuild her relationships or start all over again in the city. The Guest will have you holding your breath until the final page. Calm down ...

 CHALLENGE CATEGORY #16 A BOOK ABOUT NATURE This year, Earth Day falls on April 22nd, and what better way to celebrate our planet than by exploring some titles about nature!  Better Living Through Birding: Notes from a Black Man in the Natural World   by Christian Cooper Don’t know much about birding? I didn’t either, but it’sdefinitely a hobby I’ve always found interesting! In Christian Cooper’s 2023 Memoir, Better Living Through Birding, he reflects on his lifetime journey towards self-acceptance while offering insights into the wonderful world of birds and what they can teach us about life. If you enjoyed this book, join us on Wednesday, April 17th at 6:30 PM for our L.I. Reads Book Discussion! Check out our diverse list of titles about nature here!

 CHALLENGE CATEGORY #15 A BOOK SET ON OR NEAR A BODY OF WATER As residents of our lovely Long Island, it’s hard to escape a body of water in person, but it isn’t always easy to find books on and about water! The Guest List  by Lucy Foley I took myself out of my comfort zone with Lucy Foley’s 2020 novel, The Guest List. This Agatha Christie-esque locked-room mystery is full of secrets, suspicion, and, of course, murder. An (un)likeable cast of characters embark on a journey to celebrate the love of a perfect couple at a perfect wedding - or so we’re told. The Guest List is a page-turner that will have you guessing about not only the murderer but the murder victim as well!  Not sure what to read for category #15?  Swim over to our list of books set on water!