2013 Literary Exploration Reading Challenge

As the year starts to come to a close, we readers start to think about what we would like to read next year and for some of us, we look for the reading challenge that excites us the most. As most people know, Literary Exploration tries to explore all different genres in the hope to become a well-rounded reader and even discover something new. So in 2013 we would like to challenge you to explore further.

Instead of increasing the book club to two books a month we decided we wanted people to read what they wanted to read; but we also want people to explore. So we are challenging everyone to dedicate either 12, 24 or 36 books that you would normally read to different genres. We have compiled a list which hopefully will give you a chance to explore literature a little deeper.

It’s real simple; below you will see an easy (12 books), hard (24 books) or insane (36 books) challenge. Each genre links to the Goodreads genre page if you need some suggestions on what to read. We want you to have some fun and explore; hopefully you might find a new genre that peaks your interest. To sign up either join the Literary Exploration book club on Goodreads and talk about your progress with others involved or for the bloggers out there, if you want to add it as part of your blogging experience simply let us know with a link (to your Literary Exploration Challenge page) in the comments below so our readers can see how you are going.

This is the first year doing this and if all goes well we might expand and make it a yearly challenge. If we do decide to do this on a yearly basis and you feel that there are some genres are either too heavily focused on or not mentioned at all, please let me know. The idea of this challenge is to have a well-balanced list of genres and not focusing on one genre more than any others.

Good luck all who decide to join in. I personally am going to go for the 36 book, insane challenge and I’m really looking forward to it. While there are some genres I’m not looking forward to reading, it’s all part of being a literary explorer. What could be wrong with that?

Easy Challenge

1. Classics
2. Fantasy
3. Graphic Novels
4. Historical Fiction
5. Horror
6. Literary Fiction
7. Mystery
8. Non Fiction
9. Romance
10. Science Fiction
11. Thriller
12. Young Adult

Hard Challenge

1. Adventure
2. Auto-Biography/Biography
3. Chick-Lit
4. Classics
5. Drama
6. Fantasy
7. Graphic Novels
8. Historical Fiction
9. Horror
10. Humour
11. Literary Fiction
12. Magical Realism
13. Mystery
14. Non Fiction
15. Paranormal
16. Philosophical
17. Poetry
18. Pulp – (Hard-Boiled or Noir)
19. Romance
20. Science Fiction
21. Steampunk
22. Thriller
23. Victorian
24. Young Adult

Insane Challenge

1. Adventure
2. Auto-Biography/Biography
3. Chick-Lit  Stephanie Evanovich - Big Girl Panties
4. Childrens Book Kimberly Kinrade - The Three Lost Kids And Cupid's Curse
5. Classics
6. Cyberpunk
7. Drama Kristina Riggle - The Whole Golden World
8. Dystopian
9. Educational Zealot: The Life & Times Of Jesus Of Nazareth
10. Erotica  L. Marie Adeline - S.E.C.R.E.T.
11. Espionage
12. Fantasy Rhonda Riley - The Enchanted Life Of Adam Hope
13. Graphic Novels Brian Shearer, Kelly Yates, Matthew Sturgess - A Fairytale Life
14. Gothic
15. Hard-Boiled
16. Historical Fiction Cynthia Sally Haggard - The Twarted Queen
17. Horror
18. Humour Susan M. Boyer - Lowcountry Bombshell
19. Literary Fiction Mitch Albom - The Time Keeper
20. Magical Realism
21. Mystery Sam Thomas - The Midwife's Tale
22. Noir
23. Non Fiction Betsy Prioleau - Swoon: The Great Seducers and Why Women Love Them
24. Paranormal Marilyn Levinson - Getting Back To Normal
25. Philosophical Lori Carson - The Original 1982
26. Poetry Francesco Marciuliano - I Could Be On This And Other Poems By Cats
27. Post-Apocalyptic Linda Bickle - The Outside
28. Romance Mary Balogh - The Arrangement
29. Science Fiction Jenny Colgan - Dark Horizons
30. Steampunk Liesel Schwartz - The Conspiracy of Alchemists
31. Supernatural
32. Thriller Louise Millar - Accidents Happen
33. True Crime
34. Urban Fantasy
35. Victorian Keegan Lace - Madame's Double Life
36. Young Adult Sarah Norkus - The Secret Diary of Sarah Chamberlain

I'm going for the 36!