Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge discussion

Oops... I was going to read this book: Rupetta

It's from the POV of a windup mechanical woman made in the renaissance era. However I just noticed it says "inanimate object" which probably disqualifies this book?

Chelsea wrote: "Have been wanting to read The Art of Racing in the Rain for a while!"

We just read this book for my Book Club at the library. I was worried to read a dog book, considering the way those books always go, but I'm pleased to say that I really loved this one. The whole group really enjoyed it and we had a great discussion. I'd highly recommend it.

For animal books, I'd recommend:

The Art of Racing in the Rain
Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World
War Horse

I think I'd prefer to read a book about an inanimate object, though that sounds more difficult to find. Does anyone have recommendations on that, specifically? I'd really appreciate the help. :)

Shay wrote: "For animal books, I'd recommend:

The Art of Racing in the Rain
Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World
War Horse

I think I'd prefer to ..."

I'm also angling for inanimate object (I read so much kidlit with animal narrators so I want to try something different), and am going back and forth between My Name Is Red for a serious read, or Christine for something pulpy.

I feel like this one would definitely count: The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka.

I’m still torn between Tomorrow: A Novel and Flush

I'm really looking forward to checking out The Old Drift by Namwali Serpell when it comes out. From what I understand so far, its far-reaching storylines that follow a Zambian family across time are narrated by a Greek chorus in the form of a swarm of mosquitoes! So I am hoping this book might fit this category.

A 13 year old I volunteered with earlier this month recommended The Poet's Dog by Patricia MacLachlan. I'm glad I read it. It's a short chapter book for tween-age readers, maybe ages seven to eleven. Very sweet and well written.

I would recommend The Purloined Poodle or The Squirrel on the Train by Kevin Hearne. The point of view is from Oberon an Irish Wolfhound solving mysteries with the aid of his human who just happens to be a 2000 year old Druid.
I highly recommend the audiobooks as the narrator does an amazing job.

Can you read the Kevin Hearne stories as stand alone or do you need to read the series they are spun off from?

What about something from a robots point of view? The Murderbot series for example.

Variablestar wrote: "What about something from a robots point of view? The Murderbot series for example."

I LOVED the Murderbot series but Murderbot is definitely not "inanimate."

Variablestar wrote: "What about something from a robots point of view? The Murderbot series for example."

Robots aren't "inanimate objects" so I don't think that would work.

Hmmmm, having read all the books in the Iron Druid series I had not considered this question. Upon reflection I would probably say that a lot of the humor would be lost by not having the knowledge of the rest of the series.

THE ART OF RACING IN THE RAIN is all you need to know for this one. 😉

Definitely reading one of the Chet & Bernie mysteries by Spencer Quinn for this. Quirky and fun reads and would recommend to other dog lovers!

Cheryl wrote: "I'm going with ."

This is my favorite pick for this challenge so far. Well done!

Imma throw it back with the Magic Pudding by Norman Lindsay - Australian Children's classic, involves, you guessed it, a magic living pudding - and then throw it forward with Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie - Hugo Award winner, told from the perspective of a sentient spaceship, also plays with gender in interesting ways.

I'm compiling a list of everyone's suggestions for the challenges in case that's easier for people (I know it for me!) c:

https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...

Stephanie wrote: "Oops... I was going to read this book: Rupetta

It's from the POV of a windup mechanical woman made in the renaissance era. However I just noticed it says "inanimate object" which p..."

I'm interested in the answer to this question as well, because I wanted to read

https://www.goodreads.com/series/4127...

The Mrs. Murphy books by Rita Mae Brown are "written" by Brown's cat, and the cats in the stories communicate with one another and help solve the mysteries. I read the first in the series last year for a mystery by an LGBTQ author - these would also count as "cozy mysteries" if you want to double up.

Kimberley wrote: "Probably Three Bags Full by Leonor Swan which has been on my list for a while.
Or Black Beauty, which I have never read..."

Three Bags Full is fantastic! I read it a while ago but I remember really enjoying it.

I have an anti-recommendation for Anatomy of a Soldier. The premise is interesting, and it's written from the viewpoint of several inanimate objects, but the objects don't seem to have different personalities or styles of writing at all. I figured this might come up for this challenge, so I wanted to put my two cents in! If you're interested in a more detailed analysis, you can check out the review I wrote of the book.

Lucia wrote: "I'm compiling a list of everyone's suggestions for the challenges in case that's easier for people (I know it for me!) c:

https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1..."

So helpful! Thank you!!!

One of the chapters in Violent Ends is told from the perspective of a gun (the book is about a school shooting and each chapter is from a different perspective).

Brandon wrote: "The Travelling Cat Chronicles
Fantastic Mr. Fox"

I believe The Travelling Cat Chronicles also works for translated?

Another vote here for the Chet & Bernie mysteries, by Spencer Quinn (dog), and Tailchaser's Song (cat.)

Megan wrote: "The Bees
I think this counts."

I read this last year, it's brilliant!

Big vote here for Heartbreaker by Claudia Dey. Read this in October and loved it. It's told in three parts about a woman who has gone missing from a cult-like settlement community that lives apart from the rest of the world, and the second section is told from the perspective of that woman's dog. It's done beautifully. Wish I could count it for this again!

Wishtree is from the point of view of a tree. It is a middle grade book, so it is a very quick read.

I think Animal Farm may also count.

I will be reading "City" by Clifford D. Simak. Man leaves earth and what remain is a civilization of dogs. It is the dogs telling the story.

Variablestar wrote: "Can you read the Kevin Hearne stories as stand alone or do you need to read the series they are spun off from?"

While the books do live within the universe of the series, these are more or less stand alone. But to be honest, you are not doing these books any justice if you read them, you need to listen to the audiobook versions.

The Purloined Poodle
The Squirrel on the Train

Cendaquenta wrote: "Flush - Virginia Woolf's biography of the poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning, told through the eyes of her pet spaniel"

I just finished this on your recommendation and it was beautiful!

Hilarious: The Bear Went Over the Mountain by William Kotzwinkle

Strange and amusing: The Minotaur Takes a Cigarette Break, if you can count a minotaur as an animal?? Non-human, anyway..

Funny and heartbreaking: Winkie (POV of a teddy bear)

Just noticed another teddy bear ebook is on sale: Amberville by Tim Davys

I want to read: The Tale of Despereaux, Lives of the Monster Dogs, Tomorrow: A Novel.

Ann wrote: "Brandon wrote: "The Travelling Cat Chronicles
Fantastic Mr. Fox"

I loved The Travelling Cat Chronicles. I'm going with Fox 8 by George S..."

I did Fox 8. It was a good read. :)

Kimberley wrote: "Probably Three Bags Full by Leonor Swan which has been on my list for a while.
Or Black Beauty, which I have never read..."

Three Bags Full is Great!! One of the top books I read last year!

I like the premise behind "The Traveling Cat Chronicles"! I'll read it :)

October Mourning: A Song for Matthew Shepard

There's parts where the fence, the stars, and I think an animal or two have POV parts.

I am going to read "Into The Wild", the first book in the Warriors series. (There is 3 series in total, I think. Phew!) I read the first series when I was younger but never got around to finishing it. Middle grade is my go-to, though I read everything. Nothing like the nostalgic feeling of a middle grade or children's book, even if it is a newer/modern book.

To put it simply, Into The Wild is about 4 wild cat clans and a house cat the runs away from home and ends up joining one of the clans. <--- sounds silly, but I remember really liking it.

i'm planning to read Flush by Virginia Woolf. it's her biography of Elizabeth Barrett Browning from the perspective of her dog.

If shifters count, The Dragon With A Chocolate Heart is wonderful.

Chrissy wrote: "I’m planning on Martin Marten. I really enjoyed both Three Bags Full and The Bees, for people looking for recs."

This is why I love reading challenges - I would never have stumbled across these books on my own and now I want to read both of them and put them on hold last night. Thanks for the recommendations.

I read Call of the Wild last year and it was very good. Now I wish I’d waited until this year. It fits the prompt perfectly.

I’ve wanted to read Charlotte's Web for ages. Perhaps this is the time.

Seven Lives and One Great Love: Memoirs of a Cat
by Lena Divani is a great one, plus it would work for Task 10 as well (a translated book written or translated by a woman).

I just finished Inkling about an inkblot who comes to life and befriends a boy. A fun read that would qualify for task 12.

I have already decided to do The Bees for this category, but I just noticed I had another good candidate on my to-read list: Grendel, if anyone is still on the lookout for a title -- Beowulf as told from the monster's perspective.

There's also Tailchaser's Song, a classic fantasy novel by Tad Williams (it was his first novel). A bit on the long side, though.

Apsalar wrote: "Have read a few that I really liked. Redwall, lovely series, if a bit brutal at times, lots of different forest animals fighting against evil and lots of tasty food."

I LOVED Redwall when I was a tween. Thank you for the reminder. I just now found there's an animated version! and you reminded me that I've been wanting to read Mouse Guard: Fall 1152

Update: I read Mouse Guard: Fall 1152 to complete this task in a single sitting. If you like graphic novels, I think it's worth a try. I found the art quite pretty. Not particularly revelatory but a enjoyable read suitable for YA up.

Chelsea wrote: "Have been wanting to read The Art of Racing in the Rain for a while!"

Same! Excited that I have a book that fits this prompt. I bought The Art of Racing in the Rain on a whim years ago and just have not gotten around to it.