You can step into another person’s life or another part of the world when you open a book, and the Panora Public Library is inviting adults to venture outside their comfort zone this year.

The library is hosting a “Six Books in Four Months Challenge” in which readers must check out a mystery, western, biography, inspiration, historical, and romance novel, which can be a paperbound book, eBook, or audiobook. Next, they have to write a review of each book and return it to the library. The staff will draw out a review each month for a prize. Those who complete the challenge by May 15th will qualify for the grand prize.

Library Director Kim Finnegan says this challenge may rub readers the wrong way initially, “When I ask them to read six different things a lot of them say, ‘Oh, a western? And then a romance,’ they just think ‘I can’t do it.’ But, for example, we had somebody the other day come in and she read a western and she read it in two days and she said, ‘I kind of liked that book,’ she said, ‘I can’t believe it but I kind of liked it.’ So it’s good for you to open up to other things because sometimes you just kind of get stuck in a rut and read the same thing over and over.”

Patrons 18 years and older are welcome to take part in the challenge, and winners will be notified by phone. You can register at the library or reach them at 641-755-2529.