Try The 'Reading Without Walls' Challenge This Month

Posted by Cybil on April 7, 2017


Books can take you anywhere and allow you to experience the world (or distant worlds, even) through new eyes. And that's why we're excited about a new event called , which challenges readers to explore beyond their usual literary comfort zones.

The rules of this challenge are simple. Just pick your next book using one of these suggestions:

1) Read a book about a character who doesn't look like you or live like you.

2) Read a book about a topic you don't know much about.

3) Read a book in a format that you don't normally read for fun (a graphic novel, a book in verse, or an audiobook).


Beginning this month, is planned as an annual event every April. It's meant to expand the range of books children read, but we think it's a great idea for readers of any age. You can check out the Reading Without Walls more information, reading lists, kids' activity books, and more. And if you want to follow along on social media, check out the hashtag .

began as a pilot program last year when author and comic book artist Gene Luen Yang was appointed (you can see Yang announcing the project in the video ). Yang is the author of American Born Chinese, Avatar: The Last Airbender, and many more graphic novels.

We'd love to know how you get out of your reading comfort zones and how that's helped you become a better reader. Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Check out more recent :


Comments Showing 51-100 of 114 (114 new)


message 51: by Nullifidian (last edited Apr 07, 2017 05:55PM) (new)

Nullifidian Kingsley wrote: "This is so hard. I like to know a lot about my book before reading, I don't really like graphic novels, and I can't get an audiobook, What do I do!"

You can download public domain audiobooks for free from LibriVox.org. By using their advanced search function, you can select between solo and group readings (group readings allow the whole community of readers to each take a chapter, whereas solo readings are like conventional commercial audiobooks), and choose among any number of genres. If you find a reader you especially like, you can even use the advanced search to find out which other works this reader has read. If you speak a foreign language fluently, you can also choose books in languages other than English.

A further note: if you find a book you like and go to its page, you can use the "Internet Archive" link on the left to go to a page that will allow you to stream the book online, rather than downloading it. I do that sometimes when I know I'll be at the computer for a while.

Since LibriVox is a public domain resource, almost all the books included are older than 1923, but still they have many interesting works in a wide variety of genres and subjects.


message 52: by cookiemonger (last edited Apr 07, 2017 06:02PM) (new)

cookiemonger I love this idea! 2 and 3 are easier though. For me, the challenge is finding someone who does look or live like I do...

For anyone who wants to wet their feet in weird fiction written by a Japanese author, Strange Library is short and bizarre.


message 53: by Renn (new)

Renn I do this already with my reading selections! (I've been called a book omnivore, which I think is the best term for someone who reads books from multiple genres and backgrounds.)


message 54: by Chris (new)

Chris Evans Naw.

1. Maybe it's just me, but I'm not concerned with the race, gender, age, orientation, religion, or country of origin of the author, more the quality of the story and writing.

2. This tends to happen naturally anyways as every author tends to have their own wheelhouse.

3. This happens naturally too. I prefer audio books, but some stories just aren't available in this format. Might I recommend also adding certain types of Video Games (Visual Novels, Choose your own adventure text games, and some RPGS) or trying out a MU* (MUCK, MUSH, MUD, ext)?


message 55: by Selena (new)

Selena Pigoni I love this idea. :) I'm already reading a book that meets all three: Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic

It's an autobiography of a lesbian artist (check 1 and 2), and a biographical comic (while I read comics and occasionally biographies, rarely are the two combined). :)


message 56: by leo (new)

leo I think I'm gonna try this. c:


message 57: by Superbambi (new)

Superbambi Chris wrote: "Naw.

1. Maybe it's just me, but I'm not concerned with the race, gender, age, orientation, religion, or country of origin of the author, more the quality of the story and writing.

2. This tends ..."


I'm not concerned about these things either, but I happen to like (for example) thrillers set in Scandinavia. More often than not, these books are written by Scandinavian authors. So boom, here you have me reading all those Scandinavian books, without sparing a thought for whether or not I'd like an African YA series or detective novel, or a Chinese sci fi novel... I'm not purposefully choosing books written by a certain type or nationality of author (except when I am, but more to the point), but maybe I could make the effort to go out of my way and choose something new.


message 58: by Madeline (new)

Madeline Trying this challenge with The Scourge.


message 59: by F.mmq (new)

F.mmq This is what I usually do, I hate routine.


message 60: by Noninuna (last edited Apr 07, 2017 09:04PM) (new)

Noninuna This looks like fun! no 1) is what we normally do, aren't we?
I just did no. 3) in February, so I'll do no 2).
I thought about reading sci-fi book this year, a genre I've never read before.
Let's do it!


message 61: by Kris (new)

Kris Em, that's my life actually..


message 62: by [deleted user] (new)

Karen M wrote: "Coincidently I'm reading A Single Man by Christopher Isherwood. Male, gay, British, college professor living & teaching in California, nope, I'm none of those so this on..."

You won't be disappointed Karen,The Kite Runner is fantastic in my humble opinion!!


message 63: by Mickey (last edited Apr 08, 2017 12:01AM) (new)

Mickey Mary wrote: "For those of you who already read across the whole range of genres, including verse, by a range of authors from all ages, language groups, and experiences, and top that off by experiencing those st..."

I'm not a big manga fan, but if you like cats, I'd recommend Chi's Sweet Home, Volume 1. Or if you like steampunk, try Soulless: The Manga, Vol. 1.

I think I'm going to try Shrimp: The Endless Quest for Pink Gold for this. My knowledge of shrimp is pretty much that I'm allergic to them. I downloaded this as a Kindle freebie several years ago, but have never read it, so now looks like as good a time as any.


message 64: by Richp (new)

Richp I have been doing this for a number of years now since I retired. I believe GR listing is public and all can verify this. I have 2 books on my list that qualified for first GR rating. One of the reasons I succeed is I almost always shop library discards, thift stores, and occasional garage sales. At those prices, buying a few stinkers does not break my budget, and one must take some chances or lose out on some great books for next to nothing.

There was a time when almost all the books I read for pleasure were science fiction or occasional fantasy, as video games wete hard to find except building your own. That does not count newspapers, magazines, and schoolwork. These were school years. I dropped an American lit class because I could not get through The Sound and Fury, but one of the books was The Big Sleep. I developed a taste for crime fiction, my first major outreach, and also read every book in the class over the next decade.

For the last several years most books I read are by authors I have not read at book length before. I do repeat authors but not usually more than once a year. I find myself catching up on classics and mostly enjoying them.

The only stretch genre I have been disappointed is books by women for women. I just finished The Girl On the Train, and last year Wuthering Heights. Guys sometimes write crap for guys too, but I can do a better job of identifying this beforehand so I do not waate my time.

As for format I find that unimportant. I added ebooks a few months ago so I could read in the dark, and Project Gutenberg has more than enough. Audiobooks maake it too easy to claim a book without paying attention, or else getting into an accident, so I will pass as long as my eyes hold out.

Instead of format, I suggest categories for time and mood. Books for the the pooper, books for waiting lines, books for serious reading, books for falling asleep (but learn to avoid books that keep you awake when you need to sleep), books for hours of leisure. It is fine to keep several of these going at once. My bathroom books take months.


message 65: by Lisa (new)

Lisa When I read the title, I thought the challenge was to go read outside. Which, for a Norwegian like me, is quite a challenge indeed. ☺️


message 66: by Simret (new)

Simret Araya Simon wrote: "Elinor wrote: "*so

Auto correct is evil :)"

You were right the first time."


hehe


message 67: by Aseel (new)

Aseel Good post
Reading or generally living without walls keeps your mind open on new ideas and I guess you will understand the world more after this challenge.
I am in, always was :)


message 68: by Ray (new)

Ray this sounds really fun! i love the idea


message 69: by Barbara (new)

Barbara Merle wrote: "Great idea, but I do this all the time, too. It's a challenge to find something that I normally wouldn't read though - maybe a dystopian thriller?"
Have read two dystopian novels this year (Fahrenheit 451 and The Handmaid's Tale) which were definitely outside my comfort zone. Think I have already done the challenge!


message 70: by E (new)

E Oda wrote: "I do that all the time alredy.
There isent that many books that scream "me"(except fangirl by rainbow rowell off course).
Planning on reading Sofia Khan Is Not Obliged by Ayisha Maliksoon and..."


Ooh! That looks right up my alley and perfect for this challenge. Thank you so much for posting!


message 71: by MissBecka (new)

MissBecka Gee Tena wrote: "I guess I'm an unofficial member of this group! I was very sick in bed last November and signed up for EVERY giveaway I could for 3 days straight... I won a bunch of books and intend to read them a..."


This is what I do when I get into a "reading rut" and it always brings new awesomeness! Enjoy all your wins :)


message 72: by Raiann (new)

Raiann 1.Wanting Mor

2. Not sure

3 The Graveyard Book Audiobook by Neil Gaiman


message 73: by Shantay (new)

Shantay So this month in honor of Reading Without Walls I shall try to read comics. I currently read most sci-fi and crime drama's so I know I can expand there as well though I hardly know where to start. I used to read more different genres but some how I always ended up coming back to those.

I love, and have read many, graphic novels so maybe comics won't be so bad. I did try to read them when I was younger but the fact that the stories are so short is not really to my liking.

As far as reading a book about a topic I don't know much about, as long as it is in a fiction format I know I can get into it. I find non-fiction tedious.

I am currently listening to two audiobooks and reading a physical book as well. (just wanted to brag a bit)

Here is a thought maybe I can find a non-fiction comic about a topic I don't know much about. Though I have been thinking about reading THE RUSSIAN PRIMARY CHRONICLE. It is a non-fiction book about a topic I am interested in. Hopefully it can hold my attention.


message 74: by Saidah (new)

Saidah Gilbert I do number one all the time. There are hardly any books written by authors from my own country- Trinidad and Tobago and most of them seem to be written in the era from before my parents were born and/or feature male characters. Number 2 and number 3 is where I would focus for this month. For number 3, I have a full cast version of Dracula that I have been meaning to listen to. For number 2, I guess that just means I will have to finally read a non-fiction book. I only read fiction usually.


message 75: by [deleted user] (new)

Lisa wrote: "When I read the title, I thought the challenge was to go read outside. Which, for a Norwegian like me, is quite a challenge indeed. ☺️"
Ha ha!!


message 76: by Milos (new)

Milos Korenev Emkoshka wrote: "I'm currently reading my way through the (small) oeuvre of Mohsin Hamid, a Pakistani author. I started with Exit West (a 카지노싸이트 suggestion!) and then devoured The Reluctant Fundamentalist, which..."

"The Reluctant Fundamentalist" is a great choice. Read it last year, got some major chills from it.


message 77: by Jake (new)

Jake Pretty sure history, ideology, and subject are walls too. In particular, the notion that this particular exercise is "without walls" is also a wall. But Western civilization is the hip wall to jump these days, so I'm sure this will be popular. And so I am reminded of the words of G. K. Chesterton (a 카지노싸이트 quote):

“In the matter of reforming things, as distinct from deforming them, there is one plain and simple principle; a principle which will probably be called a paradox. There exists in such a case a certain institution or law; let us say, for the sake of simplicity, a fence or gate erected across a road. The more modern type of reformer goes gaily up to it and says, 'I don't see the use of this; let us clear it away.' To which the more intelligent type of reformer will do well to answer: 'If you don't see the use of it, I certainly won't let you clear it away. Go away and think. Then, when you can come back and tell me that you do see the use of it, I may allow you to destroy it.'"

Reading about "diversity" is easy these days, and fun too; it's reading about reason, history, and why the world is the way it is that's hard. And the wall keeping us from that is the diversity mindset itself. Maybe think about the use of Western civilization before dismissing it.


message 78: by Amber (new)

Amber Martingale If I pick the one about a topic I don't really know much about, that would probably be something like physics.


message 79: by Amber (new)

Amber Martingale Mickey wrote: "Mary wrote: "For those of you who already read across the whole range of genres, including verse, by a range of authors from all ages, language groups, and experiences, and top that off by experien..."

Try Rapunzel's Revenge. It's a steampunk/Wild West retelling of the Rapunzel story. /book/show/2...


message 80: by Shannon (new)

Shannon Fay I don't know if I can read a book in an unusual format, because I read manga, and graphic novels, books in verse, listen to audio books, read technical books (like manuals or encyclopedias), e-books, as well as regular books all the time.

Crap, I read everything... what's new?


message 81: by Amber (last edited Apr 08, 2017 02:28PM) (new)

Amber Martingale If you go to the library, try visiting their NEW ARRIVALS shelf and pick something that catches your eye, regardless of genre, Shannon.

For example if you like Shakespeare and something that LOOKS Shakespearean but may not be catches your eye, grab that one. A quasi example of that is: /book/show/2... ( William Shakespeare's The Phantom of Menace (William Shakespeare's Star Wars #1) )

Or if you think science fiction is ALSO about the PAST, try something like Jean M. Auel's The Clan of the Cave Bear ( /book/show/1... )


message 82: by Lama (new)

Lama Al- The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up
I must be less messy after reading it...


message 83: by Vanessa (new)

Vanessa I do #1 and #2 quite often. For some reason, my high school education seemed to have skipped right over the classics. So every few books I throw in a classic novel. I just requested a book from the library about the influenza epidemic of the early 20th century because I like to learn about subjects I know little about.

I can't say I want to do #3 though. I don't comprehend well when a book is read to me, and I hate reading books on an e-reader. (Kills my eyes.)


message 84: by Jenna (new)

Jenna David wrote: "Honestly this is just how you should be reading all the time..."

So true David, we should all be going out of our comfort zone and digesting all sorts of reading. I just read a book that took me back to Ancient Egypt on the back of a Sphinx, now that was cool. A little modern day mixed with the life of very old Egypt.


message 85: by Jenna (new)

Jenna I am currently reading several books at a time- "The Time In Between by Marie Duenas; Forty Days at Kamas by Preston Fleming and Moriarty Meets His Match: A Professor & Mrs. Moriarty Mystery by Anna Castle". So each one takes me to a different time and place depending on my mood; but each one far different than what I would normally read.


message 86: by John (new)

John I just finished one book and was wondering what to read next when I saw this challenge. I'm not getting burnt out on my preferred genres, but after all the reading I've done in the last few months, I'm eager to get out of my comfort zone.

After a little research, I found the book for me. I typically don't read magical realism or romance, as a rule I don't read historical novels, and I don't think I've ever read a book that was originally printed in Portuguese. I'll be testing my boundaries with Baltasar and Blimunda.

I want to say this was a good idea, but I suppose time will tell.


message 87: by John (new)

John Kingsley wrote: "This is so hard. I like to know a lot about my book before reading, I don't really like graphic novels, and I can't get an audiobook, What do I do!"

I could recommend a graphic novel you might like, based on the favorites listed in your profile. I think the four-issue Dark Horse series, Billy the Kid's Old-Timey Oddities, might work for you. (view spoiler)

Failing that, you could try reading something in a different format, like a story told in verse (like Inside Out & Back Again) or maybe something in a diary or .


message 88: by Midhat (new)

Midhat I'm a brown Canadian girl reading about a white girl in the near future who lives in an new ice age in Phoenix (I'm reading the Arctic Code)


message 89: by J (new)

J Chris wrote: "How about "Half of a Yellow Sun" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and then "Americanah " by the same author. Both took me right out of my life and into another world. Highly recommend!"


message 90: by Thomas (new)

Thomas I did this a week ago when I read Libba Bray's Beauty Queens. As a male who knows nothing about beauty pageants, it was pretty intriguing to learn about some of what they do. Plz keep in mind, I've literally NEVER seen a beauty contest before, so this is mostly new to me. The book turned out to be more humorous than serious, but if you're looking for a good laugh and have ever wondered what it would be like to see teen girls go "Lords of the Flies" on an island, give it a look.


message 91: by John Dunbar (new)

John Dunbar ....No thanks.


message 92: by Kayleigh (new)

Kayleigh Done! I just finished reading Fresh Off the Boat by Eddie Huang, and it was excellent.


message 93: by Loujane (new)

Loujane Vincent wrote: "So, what if, and hear me out, I'm already doing 3 of the 3? I'm a 45 year old black man currently listening to Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. "

I don't think it gets better!


message 94: by Lauri (new)

Lauri Thomas wrote: "I did this a week ago when I read Libba Bray's Beauty Queens. As a male who knows nothing about beauty pageants, it was pretty intriguing to learn about some of what they do. Plz keep in mind, I've..."

Wasn't it hilarious? I remember laughing out loud though the whole book!


message 95: by Lauri (new)

Lauri Just started reading A Thousand Splendid Suns and will read Neil Gaiman's Midnight Days.
I'm a Catholic woman living in Hawaii -- totally unlike the Afghani women in the first book and I almost never read graphic novels...

This is an excellent idea!


message 96: by Sumeet (new)

Sumeet Mahendra Thanks....!


message 97: by John (new)

John Okami wrote: "What if i already do this on a weekly basis?"

Then read something banal and unchallenging for once!

Thomas wrote: "I did this a week ago when I read Libba Bray's Beauty Queens. As a male who knows nothing about beauty pageants, it was pretty intriguing to learn about some of what they do. Plz keep in mind, I've..."

While you're at it, give Little Miss Sunshine a watch.


message 98: by Serenity (new)

Serenity I clicked on this post because I thought it was about reeding outside. Where there is no walls... But this is super cool too! I normally read paperbacks/hardbacks in the genres classic/children's/YA but this is pushing me to read outside of my comfort zone


message 99: by Edit (new)

Edit Since I have a Kindle, I do read without walls. I get a newsletter every day about the best free books and deals of the day, fiction and nonfiction, and I often do download and buy from Amazon. I read lots of books I wouldn't have bought otherwise, lots of them nonfiction about stuff I knew nothing about. My Kindle was one of the best buys in my life. :)


message 100: by Jess (new)

Jess This month I've already read my first graphic novel - The Hedge Knight which is an adaption of a George RR Martin Short story. I've also read a book about a male wizard with red hair (The Wise Man's Fear) so I guess next I need to read a book about something I don't know much about. I will go hunting!!!


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