Aussie Readers discussion

Brenda wrote: "Finished my 8th - 1st Place Name - Australia's Most Murderous Prison: Behind the Walls of Goulburn Jail by James Phelps 4★s

Review to follow (need to organise my t..."

Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Just finished my second book City of Bones by Cassandra Clare



Loved this book, gave it 4/5 stars. Would have been 5/5 if it wasn't for the weird ending! Interested to see what the next book brings!

The third book I am reading is for the geographical setting category

Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging by Louise Rennison



Haha I love this movie way too much, excited to read this short, but sweet read!

I travelled to a very different country - which wasn't a country then - and a very different time in The Secret Chord by Geraldine Brooks. Ancient Old Testament times - 3000-odd years ago.

I thought it was terrific. Aussie author (always a plus - although she lives in the US now), and a woman who does her research.

King David was not only larger than life, he could have been mythical, except for his very human weaknesses (women, war). I gave my 5star (both 5★ and 5✡) review here:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

It's a long one, but I did kind of split it in half. Now "travelling to" a rural romance, an unusual genre for me with The Saddler Boys by Fiona Palmer.

4.5★
And this time, I travelled to a different genre - rural romance. That was a fun trip. Fiona Palmer is a writer who knows something about rural life. I enjoyed her latest, The Saddler Boys, and the tale of a pretty, new Perth schoolteacher in a tiny country town with some eligible fellas.

I don't usually read this genre because most isn't as well-written as this. I might have to give it another whirl!

My review is here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Finished my 9th - second Geographical (England) - Three Lives Down by Rachel Amphlett 5★s

Review to follow closer to publication

Finished by second - travel to different genre - historical fiction The Red Tent. About to start Heartbreak Hotel.

I have finished my 10th - second Place Name in Title - Back to Blue Gum Flat: An Australian Rural Romance by Téa Cooper 4.5★s

Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

My completed list:

1a. Geographical (Different Country) Germany - The Children's Train: Escape on the Kindertransport by Jana Zinser 5★s
1b. Russia - Three Lives Down by Rachel Amphlett 5★s

2a. Different genre - Dystopia - Nirvana by J.R. Stewart 3★s
2b. Memoir - Born for Life: A Midwife's Story by Julie Watson 5★s

3a. Cover - Mode of Transport Police Car- NYPD Red 2 by James Patterson 5★s
3b. Train Spirits of the Ghan by Judy Nunn 5★s

4a. Title - Place Name - Back to Blue Gum Flat: An Australian Rural Romance by Téa Cooper 4.5★s
4b. Australia's Most Murderous Prison: Behind the Walls of Goulburn Jail by James Phelps 4★s

5a. Readers Choice - The Heat by Garry Disher 5★s
5b. Back Again by Susan May 3.5★s

Brenda wrote: "Finished my 4th - 1st Geographical GERMANY - The Children's Train: Escape on the Kindertransport by Jana Zinser 5★s

Review to follow closer to publication"

Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Finished my 2nd

#1 Geographical Setting (Sweden) The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Stieg Larsson 3★

I have finished my 4th #4 Place Name in Title
It Started With Paris by Cathy Kelly 3*

Finished my 4th for the challenge - only 1 to go now...
2). Travel to a Different Genre: Read a book from a genre you haven't explored for a long time - historical biography.
That Dangerous and Persuasive Woman: Vida Goldstein / Janette M. Bomford
more a personal history of the suffragette movement in Australia but follows our leading light of the era....

I enjoyed #4 Book with a place name in the title Mistake Creek by Rachel Amphlett 4.5★

review:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Just read "factory" being a place

Oh my breathless goodness, what an exquisite book!

Heartily recommend it.

Review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Finished reading the second book for this challenge - mode of transport:
Spirits of the Ghan by Judy Nunn
I enjoyed reading this book and highly recommend it.

I am just about to start my third one - place name.
Hope Farm by Peggy Frew.
I purchase this as a kindle book and will be reading it on Friday when I am on the bus to Sydney.

I have that one too Odette, so will be interested in your thoughts when you're done! Enjoy your trip to Sydney and of course the reading time!

Brenda wrote: "I have that one too Odette, so will be interested in your thoughts when you're done! Enjoy your trip to Sydney and of course the reading time!"

Thanks - will let you know what I think about the book.

I have finished #4 Place Name which is my third book for his challenge. Now I am going to start the one for #2. Travel To Another Genre

4.5★ for my 5th one - my choice. It's Ugly: My Memoir by Aussie Robert Hoge, who was born with severe facial deformities and legs so bad he ended up with prosthetics for both.

A tough, funny, intelligent writer and journalist who has had a supportive family and an interesting life, to say the least.

My review is here https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Finally finished my second book for this Travel challenge. I've been house-sitting for a couple of weeks, and found myself in a house without an armchair or a reading light - very sad and quite a challenge for me to find a way to get comfortable to get busy reading. Nevertheless I persisted in a make-do way and really enjoyed Turn Right at Machu Picchu: Rediscovering the Lost City One Step at a Time. Apart from my genuine interest in this archaeological site, I love the cover of the book:

Here's my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I also finished recently my Reader's Choice, which is about long distance travel, VERY long distance travel indeed. The Martian by Andy Weir. My reaction was somewhat lukewarm, 3★s. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I have finished my 5th and final for this challenge:
1. Geographical Setting The Tea Planter's Wife by Dinah Jefferies set in Ceylon 4*
2. Different Genre Neither Here nor There: Travels in Europe by Bill Bryson 3*
3. Cover Hunt Leap of Faith by Fiona McCallum 2*
4. Place Name in Title It Started With Paris by Cathy Kelly 3*
5. Reader's Choice Motive by Jonathan Kellerman 3*

Doing well Mary! And congrats Janine:)

So if I have read four of my five choices by the end of the month, does that count as having passed this challenge?

Keira - you only needed to read a minimum of 3. It is just that some like to do all - or even double.

But 3 or 4 is fine. I only read 3

Sally906 wrote: "Keira - you only needed to read a minimum of 3. It is just that some like to do all - or even double.

But 3 or 4 is fine. I only read 3"

I am onto my fourth, but I don't think I'll make it to my fifth. Doesn't mean I won't still read it and make it count towards my own challenge, though! :)

I have finished all my books for this challenge.

Congratulations Rosie!!

Well done Rosie!

I finished the challenge last night. My choices ended up being a bit hit and miss.

1). Geographical Setting:Mornings in Jenin(Palestine) 3★

4). Title:Baking Cakes In Kigali(Rwanda) 4★

5). Reader’s Choice: The Woman Who Dived into the Heart of the World(Mexico) 2★

Great work Andrea!

Congrats Andrea:)

I finished my 4th book (#2 Travel to Another Genre): .
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I've finished my 3rd book, cover with transport, by Dan Webb - 3⭐️s
One to go. :-)

I am onto my 5th book- Cover Hunt:

Going well guys:)

Well, once again I have under-estimated my reading capacity, I finished my list a few days ago.

My review of
In the Heart of the Sea, the true stroy that inspired Moby Dick. This is the one from category 3, with a sailing ship on the cover.

The link to my review is here:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

And, as an aside - have those Aussies on the Eastern coast ever had a chance to go on board the Notorius?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Notorio...

I think it is down around Lakes entrance in Victoria now, but I was lucky enough to see it earlier in the year.

It is an amazing experience to anyone interested in maritime history.

From my travels to eighteenth century EnglandDevil In The Fog;

And my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Since I finished my challenge rather early I decided to pad it out with some more... Is this cheating?

A Mortal Bane There is a riding horse on the cover
The India Fan It has India in the title and does, in fact, go to India.

The Cellist of Sarajevo Has Sarajevo in the title and is set there.

No not cheating - it's fabulous Deborah!!! Congrats on finishing, and going for more:)

Deborah wrote: "Well, once again I have under-estimated my reading capacity, I finished my list a few days ago.

My review of
I..."

Deborah, there is nothing in your review box at the link that you've attached. It actually says "Julie's review of The Kummersdorf Connection" ????

Brenda wrote: "Deborah wrote: "Well, once again I have under-estimated my reading capacity, I finished my list a few days ago.

My review of [bookcover:In the Heart of the Sea: The Epic True Story That Inspired M..."

I just found that out too!

Nevertheless I enjoyed your other review Deborah. I used to read Garfield's books when I was young and I loved them!

Deborah wrote: "From my travels to eighteenth century EnglandDevil In The Fog; And my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... Since I finished my challenge rather early I decided t..."

I've been wanting to read The Cellist of Sarajevo for a while. I recently read an article about how the actual cellist is not a big fan of Steven Galloway, so it will be interesting to find out how he is portrayed.

Finished my 4th Book this morning

4/5 stars, such an amazing idea!!! Had me so emotional throughout!

Up to my 5th and final book which is
I don't know if I will get around to reading this as I have my exams all of next week, but even so I have had so much fun with my first reading challenge!!!

Ellie wrote: "Finished my 4th Book this morning

4/5 stars, such an amazing idea!!! Had me so emotional throughout!

Up to my 5th and final book which is [bookcover:Harry Pot..."

Well done Ellie! The minimum requirement was 3, so you've made it will room to spare! Congrats:) Enjoy your 5th if you get to it, but don't stress...it'll slot into another challenge somewhere I'm sure:) Good luck with your exams, and so glad you've had fun:)

Well done Michael:) You should finish your last one easily!

I completed the challenge and reviewed my books, but I completely overlooked listing the group either before or after. I chose some as I went, since I wasn't sure which would be available. My final list, all Aussie authors except for #4, and reviews below:

1. Geographical - very different country (and time) from my own: The Secret Chord by Geraldine Brooks: a 5★ plus 5✡ excellent new historical fiction about King David's brutal times, as told by his prophet, Natan:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

2. Travel to a different genre (rural romance): The Saddler Boys by Fiona Palmer, a 4.5★ fun country romance - Perth girl moves to the bush to teach:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

3. Cover-mode of transport (train tracks AND a camel): Spirits of the Ghan by Judy Nunn A great 5★ historical novel - about colonial times, stolen generation and Indigenous ancestors: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

4. Title - place name: Holy Island: A DCI Ryan Mystery by L.J. Ross 4.5★ for the first of a good mystery series - I'm currently enjoying the second Sycamore Gap: A DCI Ryan Mystery
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

5. Reader's Choice: Ugly: My Memoir by Robert Hoge, an indomitable force of a Brisbane boy who overcame disabilities that would have flattened anybody else. Another 4.5 ★ book.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I enjoyed the challenge and finding books I might not have discovered otherwise. On to November!

Congratulations Patty! Excellent result:)

Finished my third Heartbreak Hotel. 4 star read.

Read my third one. From "Steampunk" a genre I now know why I never read (actually I think the genre has potential if it was researched and written better)

This very disappointing book (from an Aussie too so I wanted to love it):

review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

For my #5 Readers Choice I travelled to a different time to a murder mystery set in 1350 just after the Black Death had scoured Europe: Plague Land: A Novel by S.D. Sykes 3.5★

review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Finished all 5 books
1). Geographical Setting: Read a book set in a different country than your own.
Daughter Of The Forest / Juliet Marillier

2). Travel to a Different Genre: Read a book from a genre you haven't explored before/for a long time.
That Dangerous and Persuasive Woman: Vida Goldstein / Janette M. Bomford
3). Cover Hunt: Read a book with a picture of a mode of transport on the cover.
Dave vs. the Monsters: Emergence (David Hooper 1) / John Birmingham helicopter
4). Title: Read a book with a PLACE NAME in the title, such as the name of a country, state, city, town, etc. Titles with words like ‘woods’, ‘beach’, ‘mountain’, ‘river’, ‘garden’, ‘park’, etc, in the title would count as places too.
Lost In Kakadu / Kendall Talbot
5).Reader’s Choice: Read any book of your choice
Dave vs. the Monsters: Resistance / John Birmingham