10 Books 10 Decades Challenge: by Reggie Reads (on IG).

Expanding upon the 10 Books, 10 Decades challenge can turn it into a more enriching and insightful journey through literature. One way to deepen the challenge is to focus on specific genres, such as tracking the evolution of mystery, romance, science fiction, or poetry across time. This allows you to explore how each genre has adapted to changing cultural and social contexts. 

Another approach is to read books that reflect significant historical, political, or societal events, like works from the Great Depression of the 1930s, World War II-era literature, or Civil Rights Movement-inspired books of the 1960s. By choosing books from different countries or cultures, you can also take a more international perspective, comparing how literature from the U.S., France, Japan, or other regions has evolved across the decades. 

For a more focused exploration, consider reading works by women authors across the decades, tracking how their voices and themes have evolved, or following the career of a single author, examining how their writing has changed over time. Another interesting approach is to choose books based on thematic concerns that span across decades, such as identity, alienation, or the impact of technological advancements. 

If you enjoy shared reading experiences, setting up a book club with a decade-by-decade focus can foster deeper discussions. 

For a personal touch, you could read books from decades that correspond to important moments in your own life, or choose lesser-known works from each decade, spotlighting hidden gems or underrepresented voices. 

Finally, exploring books that were adapted into films or TV shows over time can add a visual dimension to the challenge, allowing you to compare how stories and cultural trends were interpreted in different media. This expanded approach offers a rich, multifaceted way to engage with literature from various angles, providing both a deeper appreciation of the books themselves and the historical and cultural contexts in which they were written.

Simply put, the challenge is yours to explore. Just read across the decades and enjoy some tasty backlist lit.