Aussie Readers discussion

Finished my 2nd of this Challenge with:-

U - USA:
I Married a Communist by Philip Roth

Rated this 2nd book in The American Trilogy as 3* (6.5/10).
My review is here:-
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Finished #9

T - Tehran The Stationery Shop of Tehran by Marjan Kamali 4*

Finished #10

P - Paris Paris Never Leaves You by Ellen Feldman 3*

Coming up to the end of January and finished 2 so far
P - Petrograd The Last Days of the Romanov Dancers by Kerri TurnerAA 4 stars 27/1/21

W- Western Australia Honeybee by Craig Silvey AA 4 stars 27/1/21

My read from Broken Hill was amazing, and it is totally working to fill up multiple challenges as well!

Finished #11

I - India The Emerald Affair by Janet MacLeod Trotter 4*

Finished #12 &13

R - Renmark The Good Woman of Renmark by Darry Fraser(AA) 3*

G - Getaway Bay The Fatality at the Funeral by Grace York(AA) 3*

I'm officially jealous of all these readers who've travelled half the alphabet. Due to Perth's lockdown I've only read in 5 places. The most memorable my own town a century ago.

P Perth The Edward Street Baby Farm by Stella Budrikis Read 20/1. 4★ AA

Finished #14

F - Fairhaven Where the Dead Go by Sarah Bailey(AA) 3*

Finished #15

O - Oxford The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams(AA) 4*

Finished #16

M - Miners Ridge When Grace Went Away by Meredith Appleyard(AA) 5*

Roughly a third of the way through this challenge (9 of 26) with:

L: London - The Queen and I by Sue Townsend 4*

Quite amusing, especially if you are originally from England as I am. Fun for Republicans and Monarchists alike!

S - Skios Skios by Michael Frayn

3.5★ - as it dragged a bit from three quarters of the way through, which meant a bit of a disappointing ending.

Finished my 3rd and 4th of this Challenge with:-

N - Newby:
A View of the Harbour by Elizabeth Taylor

Rated this one 4* (8/10). My review is here:-
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

W - Weston-super-Mare:
In Bloom by C.J. Skuse

Rated this one 4* (9/10). My review is here:-
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Finished my 5th of this Challenge with:-

'E' - Exeter -
The Secret by Katerina Diamond

Rated this one 4* (9/10). My review is here:-
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Finished #17

K - Kiev Sisters of War by Lana Kortchik(AA) 4*

Finished my 6th of this Challenge with:-

Death in Delft by Graham Brack

Rated this one 5* (9.5/10). My review is here:-
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Finished #18

L - Los Angeles Sunset Express by Robert Crais 3*

Finished #19

A - Agnes Banks The Naturalist's Daughter by Tea Cooper(AA) 4*

Finished #20

W - Western Australia The Drifter by Anthea Hodgson(AA) 4*

Half way through this challenge (13 of 26 books) with:

I: Indonesia - Marauder by Clive Cussler 5*

Look this Oregon series by Clive Cussler and this one was one of the better ones; well paced, good ensemble cast and lots of cool gadgets on the newly replaced spy ship Oregon!

I just finished another really enjoyable, modern, post apocalyptic science fiction book. Blackfish City by Sam J. Miller which takes place in the floating city of Qaanaaq, situated in the Arctic sea and full of refugees from the drowned, war torn continents of the old world. Great book, great world building, great characters and semi-mythic plot.

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

Finished my 7th

U: Utah - The Glovemaker by Ann Weisgarber 4 stars 14/3/21


A really interesting and easy read, my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Finished my 7th and 8th of this Challenge since my last update with:-

'R' for Rome:-
Tribune of Rome by Robert Fabbri

Rated this one (1st in a series) as 4* (9/10). My review is here:-
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Also 'T' for Tokyo:-
This was the single volume of books 1 and 2 in the trilogy, which is absolutely brilliant (beautiful cover, too! - ) - 5* (10/10) - will certainly be reading the third volume. My reviews of the first two books are here:-
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Veniss Underground by Jeff VanderMeer

Is a strange sort of medley of a book, which takes place in the nightmarish future city of Veniss, actually most of this story occurs in the levels of city below the surface, hence the title...

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

I finished my 10th book set in Johannesburg.
Once We Were Sisters: A Memoir by Sheila Kohler Read 18/3. 2★

I did not enjoy it and considered giving up, but I plowed on because its short and I had trouble finding a J place. Its good as a memoir but I hated the writing.

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

Finished #21

Q - Queensland Under the Golden Sun by Jenny Ashcroft(AA) 4*

Finished #22

C - Cotswolds The Cake Maker’s Wish by Josephine Moon(AA) 4*

Finished #8

Z- Zanzibar The Sultan's Daughter by Jane Downing AA 4 stars Finished 21/3/21

A fascinating fictionalisation debut of a real historical figure by this Australian author. My review - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Finished my 9th of this Challenge with:-

The Puppet Show by M.W. Craven

Rated this one as 4* (9/10). My review is here:-
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Can I use NYC for Y? or is that cheating?

Clare wrote: "Can I use NYC for Y? or is that cheating?"

Not cheating Clare, but unless you can't find a Y by the end of the year, you can. But there's York, and Yorkshire and I'm sure others. Perhaps hold that one, hoping to find a real Y :)

Finished #23

S - Shipwreck Bay The Mystery Woman by Belinda Alexandra(AA) 4*

Finished #24

Z - Zambezi Zambezi by Tony Park(AA) 4*

Finished #25

x - Mexico Sunstroke by Jesse Kellerman 2*

Challenge Complete
2021 A-Z Locations Challenge
Duration: January 1st-December 31st 2021
26/26 (Min 6 AA)

A: Agnes Banks - The Naturalist's Daughter by Tea Cooper(AA) READ 5/3/21 4*
B: Brisbane - Riptides by Kirsten Alexander(AA) READ 14/1/21 3*
C: Cotswolds - The Cake Maker’s Wish by Josephine Moon(AA) READ 21/3/21 4*
D: Deepwater Gorge - Under the Midnight Sky by Anna Romer(AA) READ 7/1/21 4*
E: England - Murder at the Playhouse by Helena Dixon READ 13/1/21 3*
F: Fairhaven - Where the Dead Go by Sarah Bailey(AA) READ 13/2/21 3*
G: Getaway Bay - The Fatality at the Funeral by Grace York(AA) READ 7/2/21 3*
H: Hawaii - Red Sky Over Hawaii by Sara Ackerman READ 3/1/21 5*
I: India - The Emerald Affair by Janet MacLeod Trotter READ 30/1/21 4*
J: Jaipur - The Henna Artist by Alka Joshi READ 12/1/21 4*
K: Kiev - Sisters of War by Lana Kortchik(AA) READ 27/2/21 4*
L: Los Angeles - Sunset Express by Robert Crais READ 2/3/21 3*
M: Miners Ridge - When Grace Went Away by Meredith Appleyard(AA) READ 18/2/21 5*
N: New York City - Holiday Grind by Cleo Coyle READ 2/1/21 2*
O: Oxford - The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams(AA) READ 15/2/21 4*
P: Paris - Paris Never Leaves You by Ellen Feldman READ 19/1/21 3*
Q: Queensland - Under the Golden Sun by Jenny Ashcroft READ 14/3/21 4*
R: Renmark - The Good Woman of Renmark by Darry Fraser(AA) READ 8/2/21 3*
S: Shipwreck Bay - The Mystery Woman by Belinda Alexandra(AA) READ 18/4/21 4*
T: Tehran - The Stationery Shop of Tehran by Marjan Kamali READ 15/1/21 4*
U: USA - You Betrayed Me by Lisa Jackson READ 10/1/21 2*
V: Victoria - Where Fortune Lies by Mary-Anne O'Connor(AA) READ 4/1/21 4*
W: Western Australia - The Drifter by Anthea Hodgson(AA) READ 8/3/21 4*
X: Mexico - Sunstroke by Jesse Kellerman READ 20/5/21 2*
Y: York - Something To Tell You by Lucy Diamond READ 23/5/21 3*
Z: Zambezi by Tony Park(AA) READ 6/5/21 4*

Great work Janine!!

Finished my 10th of this Challenge with:-

'C' - Cooper's Chase:-
The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman

Rated this one as 5* (10/10). My review is here:-
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Yippee! Finished :)


2021 A-Z Locations Challenge
Duration: January 1st-December 31st 2021
26/26

A: Amherst Island - Return to the Island by Kate Hewitt 5★s 11/1/21
B: Bundilla - Snowy Mountains Daughter by Alissa Callen 5★s 20/1/21 AA
C: Crackenback - Crackenback by Lee Christine 5★s 24/1/21 AA
D: Dubbo - Starting from Scratch by Penelope Janu 5★s 2/1/21 AA
E: Essex - The Forest of Moon and Sword by Amy Raphael 4★s 8/1/21
F: Florida - A Killer's Daughter by Jenna Kernan 5★s 0/2/21
G: Granite Springs - The Life She Creates by Maggie Christensen 5★s 12/1/21 AA
H: Heartbreak Bay - Heartbreak Bay by Rachel Caine 5★s 3/3/21
I: Illawarra - The Truth & Addy Loest by Kim Kelly 4★s 19/1/21 AA
J: Jersey - Appraisal for Murder by Elaine Orr 4★s 20/5/21
K: Killman Creek - Killman Creek by Rachel Caine 5★s 26/5/21
L: Lakemore - Their Frozen Graves by Ruhi Choudhary 4★s 8/1/21
M: Monte Sole, Italy - The Longest Echo by Eoin Dempsey 5★s 7/2/21
N: New York - Hide and Seek by James Patterson 5★s 19/3/21
O: Ohio - Pray for Silence by Linda Castillo 5★s 21/2/21
P: Painters Mill - Sworn to Silence by Linda Castillo 5★s 5/1/21
Q: Queensland - The Beekeeper's Secret by Josephine Moon 5★s 15/1/21 AA
R: Rose of the Sea - First Fate by Kendall Talbot 4★s 13/1/21 AA
S: Sydney - Elizabeth & Elizabeth by Sue Williams 4★s 11/1/21 AA
T: Tasmania - A Week to Remember by Esther Campion 5★s 15/2/21 AA
U: Ulster - Cat And Mouse by Tim Vicary 4★s 19/2/21
V: Virginia - The Little Grave by Carolyn Arnold 2★s 14/1/21
W: Wirralong - A Nanny Called Alice by Barbara Hannay 5★s 1/4/21 AA
X: Paradox Lake - Paradox Lake by Vincent Zandri 2★s 16/5/21
Y: Yulin - Chasing the Shadows by Maria V. Snyder 5★s 13/2/21
Z: New Zealand - From the Ashes by Deborah Challinor 5★s 30/5/21

Congratulations Brenda! Some interesting titles there, great to see all the 5 star reads in your list :D

Kim wrote: "Congratulations Brenda! Some interesting titles there, great to see all the 5 star reads in your list :D"

Thanks Kim - a couple of ordinary ones, but mostly excellent reads :)

Fantastic reading Brenda, plenty of time for a second round 👏👏

Challenge completed:

2021 A-Z Locations Challenge
Duration: January 1st-December 31st 2021
26/26

A: Ardnakelty - The Searcher - Tana French - 2.5* - 20/01/2021
B: Bluebird - Bluebird - Malcolm Knox - AA - 2.5* - 02/02/2021
C: Columbia - The Bitch - Pilar Quintana - 3* - 14/01/2021
D: Dunedin - The Other Girl - C.D. Major - 2.5* - 24/05/2021
E: England - The Midnight Library - Matt Haig - 4* - 13/03/2021
F: Fremantle - Death Leaves the Station - Alexander Thorpe - AA - 07/02/2021 - 3.5*
G: Gloucestershire - The Constant Rabbit - Jasper Fforde - 3.5* - 04/02/2021
H: Hughlon - Infinite Splendours - Sofie Laguna - AA - 3.5* - 03/01/2021
I: Iraq - When the Apricots Bloom - Gina Wilkinson - AA - 3* - 23/01/2021
J: Jamaica Inn - Jamaica Inn - Daphne du Maurier - 3.5* - 02/06/2021
K: Kentucky - Whiskey & Ribbons: A Novel - Leesa Cross-Smith - 4* - 25/02/2021
L: Ludwigsfelde - The Scholl Case: The Deadly End of a Marriage - Anja Reich-Osang - 3.5* - 03/01/2021
M: The Moors - Down Among the Sticks and Bones - Seanan McGuire - 3* - 14/01/2021
N: Naples - The Lying Life of Adults - Elena Ferrante - 3* - 17/02/2021
O: Oxford - Magpie Lane - Lucy Atkins - 4* - 12/01/2021
P: Port Davey - The Living Sea of Waking Dreams - Richard Flanagan - AA - 10/01/2021
Q: Queensland - Jack - Judy Johnson - AA - 2.5* - 05/01/2021
R: Repentance - Repentance - Alison Gibbs - AA - 10/02/2021 - 3.5*
S: Scotland - Shuggie Bain - Douglas Stuart - 4* - 15/02/2021
T: Tiverton - Consolation - Disher Garry - AA - 19/02/2021
U: United Kingdom - Sorrow and Bliss - Meg Mason - AA - 27/01/2021 - 4*
V: Vermont - The Broken Girls - Simone St. James - 3.5* - 05/03/2021
W: Washington DC - The Education of an Idealist: A Memoir - Samantha Power - 4* - 07/01/2021
X: oXnard - All My Mother's Lovers - Ilana Masad - 3.5* - 10/03/2021
Y: York - Lost For Words - Stephanie Butland - 3.5* - 28/04/2021
Z: New Zealand - Quiet in Her Bones - Nalini Singh - 3* - 25/03/2021

Trish wrote: "Fantastic reading Brenda, plenty of time for a second round 👏👏"

LOL!!!!

Good job Amanda :)

Brenda wrote: "Good job Amanda :)"

Thanks Brenda

I finally managed to find a 'U' Heavy Weather by Bruce Sterling is kind of cheating; it is set in a post apocalyptic USA, it would probably me more accurate to say it is set in Texas.... But I will take it anyway.

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

I completed my 'Z' with Zarathustra and an old favourite book which I have been re-reading since my teens by H. Beam Piper

A five star book by my lights, nominated for the 1962 (I think 1962) Hugo though it did not win.

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

Finished my 11th of this Challenge with:-

'A' - Australia:-
Camouflage And Other Stories by Murray Bail

Rated this collection as 3* (6/10). My review is here:-
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I finished my K for the Light #1 in the Kefahuci Tract by M. John Harrison


Meh. 2 1/2 stars. Yet another award winner that did not win for me.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...