Aussie Readers discussion

I might be late, but I'm not sorry as it has given me the opportunity to trawl through the Aussie Readers' best picks from 2014 to set myself a juicy challenge. 2015 is looking pretty good already!

From the End of Year Top 5 books of 2014 thread https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/... I have chosen 23 books to focus on in 2015, in amongst other challenges, whims etc. I already own 17 of the 23, so I'll probably lean towards those first to make a dent in my TBR pile, and catch up with the rest later in the year.

Thanks to the recommenders!

My challenge books are:
A Man Called Ove* - Michael, Carolyn, Julie, Sally906, Rachael, Margot (the most highly recommended book in the thread based on numbers, I think) ★★★★★
Alex* - Heather
The Bell Jar* - Mish
The Book of Secrets* - Deb
Code Name Verity* - Julie ★★★★
A Constellation of Vital Phenomena* - Phrynne
A Fort of Nine Towers: An Afghan Family Story* - Margot
I'll Give You the Sun* - Patricia
The Lavender Keeper* - Katrina ★★★☆
Life After Life* - Meg ★★★★★
The Luminaries* - Carolyn ★★★★
Mister Owita's Guide to Gardening: How I Learned the Unexpected Joy of a Green Thumb and an Open Heart* - Sally906, MaryG2E
Mr Wigg - Brenda, Amber ★★★★☆
Nightingale - Michael ★★★★
Ronan's Echo - Sally906, Janine, Deb, Veronica ★★★★
S. - Liam
Salmon Fishing in the Yemen* - Kathryn ★★★
Still Alice* - MaryG2E ★★★★
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn* - Amber, Jen
Unforgivable - Sally906 ★★★★
The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry* - Janine, Nicola ★★★☆
The Visitors - RitaSkeeter ★★★★
You* - Mish ★★★★☆

Nice collection of books there Andrea - I have just started reading The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce myself which I picked off the top 5 list too :)

Some great choices Andrea! I've loved a lot of them as well...have fun!

Looks good, Andrea! A few of those are on my TBR list as well, a few I've already read and enjoyed, and a few aren't yet on my TBR list, but I am eyeing them off and they may still make it on there at some point!

I've just started Ronan's Echo this morning, and am enjoying it so far!

Looking forward to seeing what you think of all of these throughout the year!

Great choices Andrea with lots of variety, I "like" how you have chosen from and acknowleged so many different reviewers too :)

Loved that one Kathryn! Top, top for the year!!

Brenda wrote: "Loved that one Kathryn! Top, top for the year!!"

That's good to hear, Brenda! I hadn't realised it was in your top 5 for the whole year - thought it hadn't made the grade beyond the first 6 months!!

Kathryn wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Loved that one Kathryn! Top, top for the year!!"

That's good to hear, Brenda! I hadn't realised it was in your top 5 for the whole year - thought it hadn't made the grade beyond the..."

I actually had it as top overall, then added another 5;)

Ah! I see! It's definitely good!

:) Definitely:)

Thanks everyone who recommended A Man Called Ove - feeling all warm and fuzzy right now.

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

Glad you enjoyed it Andrea:) Great review!

Carolyn, thank you for The Luminaries - I thoroughly enjoyed this rollicking adventure through the NZ goldrush.

So glad you enjoyed it Andrea! I definitely did but it's not to everyone's taste.

I'm so glad to have been introduced to Mr Wigg - thank you Brenda and Amber.

You're welcome! It was great, wasn't it! Have you read Nest yet? I loved that one too:)

Brenda wrote: "You're welcome! It was great, wasn't it! Have you read Nest yet? I loved that one too:)"

No, but I have it on my Kindle, so will be looking forward to it even more now that I've had a taste of Inga Simpson's story-telling.

Oh that's good:) Enjoy!

I've edited my original post to show my progress so far. Still a way to go, but I'm currently reading A Tree Grows in Brooklyn and S. for the November challenge. I might still make it to the finish line!

Andrea wrote: "I've edited my original post to show my progress so far. Still a way to go, but I'm currently reading A Tree Grows in Brooklyn and S. for the November challenge. I migh..."

I will be interested in your views on S. Andrea, I have this but have just skimmed it as it is pretty complicated in its presentation...although fascinating :)

I really enjoyed A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. It's not that I have an aversion to 'classics', but this isn't the kind of novel that I would normally choose to read, so thanks very much to Amber and Jen for putting it in front of me.

I'm calling time on this challenge, with two books unread. I still want to read them, so hopefully I'll fit them in somewhere next year. Here is a rundown of how it all went:

A Man Called Ove ★★★★★
Alex ★★★★☆
The Bell Jar ★★★☆
The Book of Secrets
Code Name Verity ★★★★
A Constellation of Vital Phenomena ★★★
A Fort of Nine Towers: An Afghan Family Story ★★★★★
I'll Give You the Sun ★★★
The Lavender Keeper ★★★☆
Life After Life ★★★★★
The Luminaries ★★★★
Mister Owita's Guide to Gardening: How I Learned the Unexpected Joy of a Green Thumb and an Open Heart
Mr Wigg ★★★★☆
Nightingale ★★★★
Ronan's Echo ★★★★
S. ★★★☆
Salmon Fishing in the Yemen ★★★
Still Alice ★★★★
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn ★★★★
Unforgivable ★★★★
The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry ★★★☆
The Visitors ★★★★
You ★★★★☆

Andrea's Awards
Book most fondly remembered - Life After Life
Book that hurt my brain the most (in a good way) - S.
Book whose sequel I am most looking forward to - You
Author I am most grateful to have discovered - Lisa Genova

Looks like some good reading throughout the year, Andrea! Like your awards!

Congratulations Andrea! Some excellent reads there and a great job:)