Aussie Readers discussion

Christy wrote: "Ok I can't wait any longer :). When will the Winter Challenge be announced? I'm just dying to put my list together :)"

Haha!! A little excited are we Christy!!! 15th May is the release date:)

Brenda wrote: "Christy wrote: "Ok I can't wait any longer :). When will the Winter Challenge be announced? I'm just dying to put my list together :)"

Haha!! A little excited are we Christy!!! 15th May is the re..."

I am VERY excited!! But that gives me more time to dig into my forever growing pile of TBR books ;)

Thanks for sharing and happy reading all!!

Christy wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Christy wrote: "Ok I can't wait any longer :). When will the Winter Challenge be announced? I'm just dying to put my list together :)"

Haha!! A little excited are we Christy!!! 15t..."

So glad you're excited Christy:)

Two to go! I have to get Fingersmith from my Mum before I can start reading it, so I may have to wait until the weekend. So I guess I'll be reading Charlie and the Chocolate Factory next :-)

1. Strong female - The Girl Who Played With Fire by Stieg Larsson ★★★★☆
2. Reduce- Me Before You by Jojo Moyes ★★★★☆
3. Recycle - Mr Chen's Emporium by Deborah O'Brien ★★★☆☆
4. Murder - The Child Thief by Brom ★★★★☆
5. Irish - 'Tis by Frank McCourt ★★★☆☆
6. Workers - The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick ★★★★☆
7. Colours of Autumn - Fingersmith by Sarah Waters
8. Easter - Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
9. Anzac War related - Hannah and Emil by Belinda Castles ★★★☆☆
10. Mother's Day - The Harp in the South by Ruth Park ★★★★☆
11. TBR - The Robber Bride by Margaret Atwood ★★★★☆
12. TBR - The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame ★★★★★

Well done Amber:)

Nicola wrote: "The Rosie Project / Graeme Simsion 5* without a doubt, fantastic."

Been hearing good things about this one - will HAVE to cave in and get my hands on it sooner rather than later!!!

All finished now – Whoo hoo – here is my final list:


1. International Women's Day - Read a book about a strong female character
Changeless by Gail Carriger

Clean Up Australia Day:
2. REDUCE - Read a book from your TBR shelf
Royal Flush by Rhys Bowen

3. RECYCLE - Read any book from the library
Out of the Rain: Marriage Wanted\Laughter in the Rain by Debbie Macomber

4. The Ides of March - Read a book with a murder or assassination in the plot.
Meaner than Fiction by Lindy Cameron - lots of real murders in this book!

5. St. Patrick's Day - Read a book written by an Irish author, set in Ireland or has an Irish character.
The Irish Warrior by Kris Kennedy

6. Australian Labour Day - Choose a book whose main characters are working class people, e.g. construction, office or health workers, policemen or teachers.
Web of Deceit by Katherine Howell – Paramedics and Police

7. Colours of autumn - Choose a book which has red, gold, brown, orange or yellow in the title or whose cover is primarily an Autumn colour.
A Tall Man in a Low Land: Some Time Among the Belgians by Harry Pearson

8. Easter - Read a book that YOU would associate with Easter, explain your connection when posting your book choice
Pastors' Wives: A Novel by Lisa Takeuchi Cullen - because Easter is one of the busiest times in the church calendar, and Ministers/Pastors and congregations rely on the unrecognised hard work behind the scenes of the Pastor’s wives

9. Anzac Day - Read a book depicting the ANZACs or anything connected to war where our Australian and/or New Zealand troops took part.
Katarina by Kathryn Winter – set in WWII Europe where Australian troops served.


10. Mother’s Day - Read a book depicting mothers/grandmothers and family; with a special connection to Mothers/Grandmothers
The Mothers' Group by Fiona Higgins

11. & 12. Finish the challenge with at least two books from your TBR list - Just because you can!!

The Time of the Hunter's Moon by Victoria Holt

Manthropology: The Science of Why the Modern Male Is Not the Man He Used to Be by Peter Mcallister

Now to wait patiently for the Winter list....

Congratulations Sally! Well done:) (Won't be long!)

Sally906 wrote: "Now to wait patiently for the Winter list.... "

You and me both! And yes Brenda, I know. :-)

All done:)

1. Strong female character - Web of Deceit by Katherine Howell (Det. Ella Marconi) ★★★★★

2. Reduce - Tiger Paw by Charles A. Cornell ★★★★★

3. Recycle - House for all Seasons by Jenn J. McLeod ★★★★

4. Murder or Assassination - The Orchid Murder: Untangling a Web of Unsolved Murders and Legal Malpractice by Christine Hunt ★★★

5. Irish (character) - Celebrity in Death by J.D. Robb★★★★★

6. Working class character - The Black Echo by Michael Connelly (Detective Harry Bosch #1) ★★★★★

7. Colours of Autumn - A Thousand Pardons by Jonathan Dee ★★★★

8. Easter - Death by Chocolate by Julie Anne Lindsey (chocolate!) ★

9. Anzac War related - The Mine by John A. Heldt ★★★★

10. Mother's Day - Fractured by Dawn Barker ★★★★★

11. TBR - Mine To Avenge by Kerry Letheby ★★★★★

12. TBR - Dark Horse by Honey Brown ★★★★★

Brenda wrote: "All done:)"

Woooo! Well done!

And my first book of my third list, Love Among the Chickens is done, with my review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/....

Thanks Steve, and congrats on your first of third;)

Steve wrote: "And my first book of my third list, Love Among the Chickens is done, with my review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...."

You still have 22 days left to do this. Easy! ( for someone who reads as fast as you do anyway)

Phrynne wrote: "You still have 22 days left to do this. Easy!"

Haha. I don't think so, especially given the five Wheel of Time books at roughly 900 pages each. I am expecting to finish seven, perhaps eight.

Steve wrote: "Phrynne wrote: "You still have 22 days left to do this. Easy!"

Haha. I don't think so, especially given the five Wheel of Time books at roughly 900 pages each. I am expecting to finish seven, perh..."

You are totally unbelievable!!!!

Steve wrote: "Phrynne wrote: "You still have 22 days left to do this. Easy!"

Haha. I don't think so, especially given the five Wheel of Time books at roughly 900 pages each. I am expecting to finish seven, perh..."

Do you sleep?

I just finished reading I have finished this challenge

Congratulations Arena!

Brenda wrote: "All done:)"

Well to you too!!! :)

Just started my 8th book for this challenge, Colours of Autumn, Kinglake-350 . Not really liking my chances of completing the challenge but I'm enjoying trying!!!

Elaine wrote: "Just started my 8th book for this challenge, Colours of Autumn, Kinglake-350. Not really liking my chances of completing the challenge but I'm enjoying trying!!!"

And that's the main thing:) I'll be interested in your thoughts of this one too Elaine, when you've finished...

Brenda wrote: "Elaine wrote: "Just started my 8th book for this challenge, Colours of Autumn, Kinglake-350. Not really liking my chances of completing the challenge but I'm enjoyi..."

Brenda this one is a tough one for me to read as I know people who live in Kinglake and St Andrews. My friends survived but there were others who didn't or who lost everything.Also I don't live too far from these areas. As I read I have goosebumps and think "there but by the grace of God go I." We really musn't take anything for granted.

Elaine wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Elaine wrote: "Just started my 8th book for this challenge, Colours of Autumn, Kinglake-350. Not really liking my chances of completing the challenge..."

It was a terrible time Elaine, and I thought you'd probably be close to those areas...I hope you can get through it ok, but don't upset yourself with it:)

Brenda wrote: "Elaine wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Elaine wrote: "Just started my 8th book for this challenge, Colours of Autumn, Kinglake-350. Not really liking my chances of completin..."

No.. I've waited for the right time to read it. Enough time has passed and it's not summer so I think I can handle it. I really have been wanting to read it as I think it's important to know more of what happened on a day that will always be remembered as one of the worst days in Victoria. It's too easy to become complacent, especially as time passes. Mind you I haven't been able to visit King Lake at all, although I hear that it's all looking much better now, of course. Thanks for your thoughts Brenda.

8. Easter - Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl ★★★☆☆

One more to go! :-)

Finished my 8th for this challenge.Kinglake-350 . I gave it 5 stars and would highly recommend it but not for the faint- hearted.

Elaine wrote: "Finished my 8th for this challenge.Kinglake-350. I gave it 5 stars and would highly recommend it but not for the faint- hearted."

So glad you enjoyed it Elaine. I would like to read it one day:) I hope it helped you too...

I have finished the second of my third list, The Eagle Has Flown, with my review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/....

Finished my tenth book of the challenge , now it's onto my Ides of March book

Well done guys:)

Have finally finished
The Iron Lady / Hugo Young
Was very interesting, especially because I lived in England for some of her 'reign'.
Now onto my ANZAC and Labour day books and also starte Lady Susan, so should be finished in time!

Good on you Nicola:)

Brenda wrote: "Well done guys:)"

Thanks Brenda, just hoping I have time to finish all 12 of my books

Trevor wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Well done guys:)"

Thanks Brenda, just hoping I have time to finish all 12 of my books"

You have over two weeks to read two books Trevor...you can do it!!! :)

The third of my third list, Bee Season is done, with my review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/....

Finished Lady Susan by Jane Austen last night. Absolutely loved it! I thought I had read all of Jane Austen but it seems there's a few I missed.

Have also finished my Labour Day book The Time of Their Lives: The Eight Hour Day and Working Life / Australian Society for The Study Of Labo Very interesting collection of essays defining the history of the 8 hour working day in various parts of Australia and beyond...

only my ANZAC book to go and hopefully I 'll finish my TBR books are well!

Well done Nicola...you're getting there:)

Didn't get into Every Dead Thing as much as I hoped, it was a bit all over the place unfortunately. I'm burning through Wool now but not sure I will get done with my last couple of picks!

1. Downbelow Station by C.J. Cherryh ★★
2. Riding the Rap by Elmore Leonard ★★★★
3. Raylan by Elmore Leonard ★★★★
4. Luther: The Calling by Neil Cross ★★★★
5. Every Dead Thing by John Connolly ★★
6. A Drink Before the War by Dennis Lehane ★★★★
7. The Cold Commands by Richard K. Morgan
8. The Jerusalem Syndrome: My Life as a Reluctant Messiah by Marc Maron ★★★
9. Kokoda by Peter FitzSimons ★★★
10. TBC
11. The Human Division by John Scalzi ★★
12. Wool by Hugh Howey

You've done really well Ben! Perhaps you can incorporate what you don't get done into the Winter challenge?

Yeah, I think The Cold Commands would fit nicely!

Ben wrote: "Yeah, I think The Cold Commands would fit nicely!"

Sure would!

And the fourth of my third list, O is for Outlaw done, with my review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/....

Time for an update:

1. Strong women: Tough Girl by Libby Heily ★★★

2. REDUCE - TBR shelf: Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell ★★★

3. RECYCLE - the library: Full Dark, No Stars by Stephen King

4. Murder or assassination: The Ninth Orphan by James Morcan ★★★★

5. Luck O the Irish: A Thirty-Something Girl by L.M. Stull ★★★

6. Working Class: Next of Kin by Ann Somerville ★★★
Occupation: Policeman

7. Colours of Autumn: Forgotten Fox by Lena Horn

8. Easter: Advent by Natasha Duncan-Drake
Reason: Hunters are prevalent in the book, one must be a good hunter to get all the easter eggs! ★★★★

9. Anzac Day: The Mine by John A. Heldt ★★★

10. Mothers Day: Partials by Dan Wells - not sure about this Mother connection, but unless I find something else this will probably be it.

11. TBR: Linked Through Time by Jessica Tornese ★★★

12. TBR: Monsieur by Emma Becker ★★

May not finish, but I've given it a good go :)

Doing well Michael and Lynxie:)

Finished my Anzac Book - nowhere near as captivating as the 8 hour day book!
Anzac Day: The Undying Debt / J. G. Pavils

already onto my TBR books and still 12 day to go!

Well done Nicola!

1.Cleopatra: A Life
2.The War of the Worlds
3.To the Lighthouse
4.Helter Skelter: The True Story of the Manson Murders
5.The Picture of Dorian Gray
6.Singled Out: How Two Million Women Survived Without Men After the First World War
7.The Casual Vacancy
8.The Enchanted April
9.The ANZAC Book
10.Son of a Witch
11.So Much to Tell You
12. Scarecrow and the Army of Thieves

Finished my last book today.

Finished my assassination book HHhH by Laurent Binet, which I thoroughly enjoyed. My short review is: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Now to choose my twelfth and last book from my TBR pile.

My fifth of my third list, Patriot Games is done and dusted. My review is here: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/....