I've always wanted to be someone who followed the book awards, but so often the books that win have me shaking my head.

Well, this year, I decided I'm going to do it. But I'm going to be specific: the 2 book awards I am going to follow are the International Booker Prize and the Women's Prize for Fiction.

I enjoy high-brow literature, but focusing on these prizes will help me lean in where I have the greatest interest: fiction by women and other marginalized authors. Because I don't think I want to read any more books by pretentious white men.

The International Booker Prize attracts me as it is for fiction translated to English. The Booker judges often have me scratching my head, but I want to read all of the 13 longlist titles releasing on Tuesday and make up my own mind as to which I think is most worthy.

This is my first time doing it, so we'll see if I struggle to get my hands on any (the timing is based on releases in the UK so they may or may not release in the US in similar timing). I plan on utilizing my library, which has always been super helpful in getting more obscure titles in my hands.

I will also be reading the long list for the Women's Prize that announces March 4th. There were 16 books on the long list last year, many of which I read and loved, including last year's winner, The Safekeep by Yael Van Der Wouden.

As this is my first year attempting this, I'm not exactly sure how it'll go. But I know that I will keep you updated on my thoughts. Have you ever attempted such a challenge?