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Use this space to discuss books you're reading or that might fit the 16th Read Harder task.

The Blind Assassin

Two excellent books I read in the past few years fit this task. One is Romantic Outlaws: The Extraordinary Lives of Mary Wollstonecraft and Her Daughter Mary Shelley by Charlotte Gordon. It's a dual biography that read like fiction, if I am remembering correctly.

The other is Barkskins, by Annie Proulx. It's historical fiction having to do with trees and... actually, the business of trees (maybe would have worked for this year's task to read a book about business)! My review is here: /review/show....

Another good one that fits is Tara Road, by Maeve Binchy.

Tammy wrote: "Two excellent books I read in the past few years fit this task. One is Romantic Outlaws: The Extraordinary Lives of Mary Wollstonecraft and Her Daughter Mary Shelley by Charlotte Go..."


Great choices! I'll get to Barkskins one day.

If The Mirror & the Light is not over 500 pages, I have pencilled in as a back-up - The Night Watch by Sarah Waters.

Or Ducks, Newburyport if it turns out to be on the Women's Prize Longlist. (Another challenge.)

A book I have been staring at on my shelf for YEARS is definitely my pick! A Little Life

Karen wrote: "If The Mirror & the Light is not over 500 pages, I have pencilled in as a back-up - The Night Watch by Sarah Waters.

Or [book:Ducks, Newburyport|4341..."

Oh, Ducks is on my TBR! Maybe 2 doorstops this year.

I think most of the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon would work for this. I'm going for the third in that series here

This gives me the opportunity to read The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon

Rachael wrote: "I think most of the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon would work for this. I'm going for the third in that series here"

I was just coming here to say this.

Another possibility thats been on my list for a bit: Doomsday Book.

Anna Louise wrote: "The Blind Assassin"

Read it this year and really liked it. It reads pretty quickly for a lengthy book.

Chrissy wrote: "Another possibility thats been on my list for a bit: Doomsday Book."
Oh, that's a really good one!

I'm not sure if I'm up to tackling it again as a reread, but ages ago (1980s) I read Hanta Yo: An American Saga. This was a read for pleasure book - not an assignment - and it was a very good read.

It tops out at 834 pages and is the story of Lakota families before the arrival of the white man. The author, a woman, is not Native (so it won't double dip), but I find it interesting that her research led her to learn the language and the book includes bits of the native language in it.

Rachael wrote: "I think most of the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon would work for this. I'm going for the third in that series here"

I don't know what number this is, but I'm reading Echo in the Bone for this prompt. For once I have the book that fits a prompt and doesn't leave me scratching my head!

These Truths may be a good one for non-fiction fans. It's been on my shelf since summertime when I had many good intentions. I think I'll try to get through this one!These Truths: A History of the United States

The Big Green Tent

The City of Brass was recommended highly, so I will check that out.

Amy J. wrote: "This gives me the opportunity to read The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon"

This is a good book! I, unfortunately, read it this year so I can't use it next year.

I think I may go for Figuring. Maybe also a good time to try A Discovery of Witches? On the non-fiction front I'm also thinking about tackling The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration or The Hemingses of Monticello: An American Family.

Second the Sarah Waters recommendation and would also point out that this would be a great opportunity to pick up any Donna Tartt.

Am reading The Starless Sea and would heartily recommend it! Love Morgenstern's writing!

Krista wrote: "I'm not sure if I'm up to tackling it again as a reread, but ages ago (1980s) I read Hanta Yo: An American Saga. This was a read for pleasure book - not an assignment - and it was a v..."

Very interesting! Thanks for the recommendation.

It'll be The Secret History for me. I've wanted to read this for forever.

/book/show/1...

The Goldfinch, by Donna Tartt

The stars may be aligning for me to do a Harry Potter reread next year. Some of those top 500 pages. As do some of Rowling’s Cormoran Strike books. Might be good for anyone looking for something less literary in style.

The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough clocks in at a cool 632 pages and my mother in law recommended it to me a while ago... I think I’ll tackle it for this challenge!

My book club is reading Free Food for Millionaires (661 pages) in January, so I'll get this one knocked out early. I have to remember to thank my fellow book clubber who made the January selection.

Audra (Unabridged Chick) wrote: "I'm considering The Luminaries. My library just put up a doorstopper display so I'll note the titles the next time I'm there."

Loved The Luminaries It is a very fast read (for a doorstopper)

A Little Life and The Blind Assassin are both fabulous!

I really loved The Luminaries by the young NZ author Eleanor Catton. I ended up reading it on audio which was great, but then I had to read the physical copy to see all the beautiful and interesting structural things she did. It can be slow to start, but I think it is so beautifully written, and before long I was incredibly emotionally invested.

I also love Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke, a lovely and thoughtful historical fiction/fantasy with some incredibly drawn characters and intriguing ideas.

I am often scared of doorstoppers but these two were more than worth it!!
(Also there have already been several plugs for the Blind Assassin, which is one of my absolute favourite Atwoods)

I'm going with Americanah or Children of Blood and Bone. I think Americanah is only 477 pages long, though.

Jennifer wrote: "...On the non-fiction front I'm also thinking about tackling The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration

The Warmth of Other Suns is amazing. Highly, highly recommended.

I just read a review of Ducks, Newburyport and now I'm intrigued, but at over 1000 pages, I'm also afraid lol. Has anyone read this book?

Bonnie G. wrote: "A book I have been staring at on my shelf for YEARS is definitely my pick! A Little Life"

This is the one I was thinking of as well!

I believe The Diviners by Libba Bray and any other book in that series (including The King of Crows, the final one, which will be out in February 2020 and would work for task #9 as well) would work for this challenge.

Seconding These Truths: A History of the United States by Jill Lepore and The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration by Isabel Wilkerson!

Ah, I'll be reading Anthropology of an American Girl

I'm going for The Old Drift

Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. Or if you are looking for lighter fiction The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee

If you are into very dark romance try Damien's Promise by Vic Tyler or if you are into YA fantasy try Inkheart by Cornelia Funke

For anyone looking to "double dip" - Tell the Bees that I am Gone by Diana Gabaldon is *likely* to be published in 2020 and most of the series has been in the 800+ page range. This would also count for the last book in a series. I'm really hoping this comes out in 2020!

em wrote: "Bonnie G. wrote: "A book I have been staring at on my shelf for YEARS is definitely my pick! A Little Life"

This is the one I was thinking of as well!"

Me too - a friend lent it to me a year ago, so it's time I read it! Also have The Blind Assassin and The Night Watch. I generally read short books so this is a big challenge for me!

The Blind Assassin is very good. It is very complex, every chapter seems to make it harder to figure out the characters. Hope you enjoy whichever you pick.

Lauraellen wrote: "I also love Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke, a lovely and thoughtful historical fiction/fantasy with some incredibly drawn characters and intriguing ideas.."

Oh, I hope re-reading is allowed because I love this story and the Netflix series just made me want to read this all over again!

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

I created this list for another challenge but a lot of them will work for this one too - just check the date published
/list/show/1...

I've been neglecting long books for the past year or two, and both of the challenges I do have requested 500+ page books for 2020, so I'm hoping this helps me explore more of the long books on my tbr. I'm really not sure where I want to start for 2020 though, so I'll have to see what I'm in the mood for from my owned tbr first.

Zoe wrote: "I created this list for another challenge but a lot of them will work for this one too - just check the date published
/list/show/1......"

Thank you Zoe

I have two books on my shelf that are books 2 and 3 of a trilogy that I only got around to reading book 1 for. Book 2 is just over 500 pages, so I figure if I finish reading the trilogy, book 2 will match to this challenge, and book 3 will be for the 'read the last book of the series'.

The series in question is the Parisitology series by Mira Grant.

I just saw that my longest book read this year fits: What Alice Forgot, by Liane Moriarty. My mother and I both really enjoyed it. It's the fictional story of a woman who loses her memory and has to figure out what happened in the last 10 years of her life.

Like many of you I'm trying to pull from my shelves first, so my pick for this one is Doomsday Book by Connie Willis. Have wanted to read it for awhile and this is the perfect time.