Aussie Readers discussion

I have finished my last book for the Winter challenge, so this is how it ended for me.
I found some really good reads while others were a
bit of a disappointment.

1. A Thousand Splendid Suns 4 stars
2. Past the Shallows 4 stars
3. Jasper Jones 3 stars/The Book Thief 2 stars
4. Middlesex 3 stars
5. Chocolat 4 stars
6. White Teeth 3 stars
7. True History of the Kelly Gang 4 stars
9. The Good Earth 4 stars
10. Hand Me Down World (murder) 3 stars
11. The Master Butcher's Singing Club 2 stars

I didn't read a new release as I have so many to read already without venturing into new release territory.

Well done Lesley:)

Im sorry, there seems to be a typo in your rating of The Book Thief?

It's right Jess!

I was wondering if my 2 star rating of The Book Thief would be noticed... I just didn't get it and found some aspects of the style irritating (lists, drawings etc). But I'm pleased I have at last read it.

Woohooo! Finished my last book in the Winter Challenge (and what a stinker Mystery Bay Blues was). Thanks guys for organising the challenge. I really enjoyed it. Now lets bring on spring!

My list is as follows:
1. Pick a book that has a warm or summery theme on the cover:
Mystery Bay Blues by Robert G.Barrett (it's a mushroom not an umbrella!)
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

2. Pick a book from your Mt.TBR list:
Killing Hour by Andrew Gross
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

3. Find a YA novel or a picture book to read:
Magpie Mischief by Jon Doust
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

4. National Tree Day – read a book you haven’t purchased:
Sensitive New Age Spy by Geoff McGeachin
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

5. Choose a book which has been made into a movie:
Raise The Titanic! by Clive Cussler
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

6. Read a book where a word in the title has to relate to a wintery theme:
Arctic Drift by Clive Cussler
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

7. Read an Aussie author's book:
Wyatt by Garry Disher
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

8. Read New Release out somewhere in the 3 month period of winter:
Private London by James Patterson
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

9. Pick a friend on your GR list and also select and read a book they have read: (from Brenda's list)
Running Blind (aka The Visitor) by Lee Child
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

10. Curl up beside the fire and grab yourself a book full of suspense or murder:
Follow the Money by Peter Corris
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

11. Bonus Book:
Garry Disher (born 15th August) Port Vila Blues
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Congrats David, you did extremely well!

Thanks guys. I love these challenges :)

David wrote: "Thanks guys. I love these challenges :)"

That's obvious, when you look at your blog:)

Thankyou Carmel :) I just added another couple of challenges to my blog (like I need more LOL). Do you blog or tweet. Let me know if you do, I'd be happy to jump on board.

Finished my last book that I will manage for the challenge.
8. Passion - Lauren Kate
It was slow until the very end, then things started to make sense. Now I have to wait until next Spring for the ending. Sucks.

No worries :) Let me know if you start one up. I enjoy the challenges, so I kinda use my blog to keep track of them. I'm looking forward to the spring one. And the September TBR one as well :)

Thanks Michael - yeah I get a bit carried away with the challenges. Although, I find it introduces me to different authors that I probably wouldn't otherwise read. I had to draw the line at the August romance challenge though LOL. Each to their own :)

Thanks Carmel. A very friendly group this one - and it's fun to chat with like-minded people.

I had the same problem when commenting on David's blog too Carmel. I blame blogspot, it's evil and annoying

Pick a book from your Mt.TBR list
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon ✭✭✭✭✭


Find a YA novel or a picture book to read
The Graveyard Book ✭✭✭✭

BORROW a book from the library/friend or pick one out of your TBR list
Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman ✭✭✭✭✭
Review here: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

choosing a book which has been transformed into a movie
Coraline by Neil Gaiman ✭✭✭
Review here: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Read a book with a word starting with the letters of WINTER in the title
The Comical Tragedy or Tragical Comedy of Mr. Punch by Neil Gaiman ✭✭✭
Review here: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Read an Aussie author's book or books with an Aussie landscape/locale in it
Mice by Gordon Reece ✭✭✭.5
Review here: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Choose a New Release which will be out somewhere in the 3 month period of Winter
The Warlock by Michael Scott ✭✭
Review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Pick a friend on your GR list and also select and read a book they have read
Smoke and Mirrors by Neil Gaiman ✭✭✭✭
Review here: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Curl up beside the fire and grab yourself a book full of suspense or murder!
The Power of Six by Pittacus Lore (CURRENTLY READING)
Im sure there shall be lots of suspense...

Almost finished the challenge. Soooo much school work in the past few months, Im glad I might finish after all (Certainly didnt seem like it in July!)

Fabulous Jess, you still have a few days:) I admire those of you who have so much other work, whether it's school or work, and can still manage to read so much to achieve their challenges:)

I have same issues with most blogspot sites, so I act the elitist and only comment on wordpress blogs

Where are you now Knowledge?

@Brenda Currently in Rocamadour, it's an awesome little town

@Carmel, the fix is to move everyone off blogspot. There is a joke that is used often; "Blogspot is like an abusive boyfriend, it says it is gonna change, but it never does"

Knowledge, my daughter did some backpacking around Europe some time ago, and loved Spain...she spent a week in Valencia, camping in a little tent! Travelled to other places too, and thoroughly enjoyed herself. It's wonderful that you're having a great time too:)

I've done it! I've finished with only 2 days to go. My review of Gorky Park is here. http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/....

Thanks everyone for a fun time and lots of ideas for new reads!

Next stop - Spring Challenge!

Haha!!Well done Louise...it's a great feeling, isn't it:)

It's the best way I know to get through the cold, wet and dismal that is winter!

Unfortunately I've missed finishing this challenge on time by half a book, lol. I'll still put some ratings up in the near future :)

I am no where near finsihing this challenge, only got 7 books read. I still have 120 pages of Atlas Shrugged to go. I am one-third of the way through a 60 page speech by one of the characters ... it is a bit of a marathon. I am enjoying the book though and it has given me a lot to think about.

Congratulations to all those who managed to finish!

I am back from my travels and all Winter Challenge books are now completed and reviewed:

1) Pick a book that has a warm or summery theme on the cover:
Heat Stroke by Rachel Caine (Kindle book)
2) Pick a book from your Mt.TBR list:
Tiny Sunbirds, Far Away by Christie Watson (Kindle)
3) Find a YA novel or a picture book to read:
Summer of the Swans by Betsy Byers
4) National Tree Day – read a book you haven’t purchase:
Frostbitten by Kelley Armstrong (Kindle)
5) Choose a book which has been made into a movie:
The Death and Life of Charlie St. Cloud by Ben Sherwood - the movie either has been released or is about to be released.
6) Read a book with a word starting with the letters of WINTER in the title:
Invisible by Ivy Malone (Kindle)
7) Read an Aussie author's book:
Brumby Plains by Joanne van Os
8) Read New Release out somewhere in the 3 month period of winter: The Dark Enquiry by Deanna Raybourn - was released around 20th June.
9) Pick a friend on your GR list and also select and read a book they have read:
The Blood of Flowers by Anita Amirrezvani (from friend Roberta Austin's book list)
10) Curl up beside the fire and grab yourself a book full of suspense or murder:
Violent Exposure by Katherine Howell

Im not going to be reading 200 pages tonight, therefore I did not complete the winter challenge. I read 9.5/10 books. Good enough.

Kim Marie wrote: "Unfortunately I've missed finishing this challenge on time by half a book, lol. I'll still put some ratings up in the near future :)"

That's ok Kim Marie...no-one will beat you up about it...lol

Sally, congratulations on a fabulous result, and Jess, that's awesome...so close..it's not a problem.

For those who finished, congratulations...for those who didn't, it's ok, as long as you enjoyed your reading...that's the main thing:)

I'm in the same boat as Jess & Kim Marie only about 200 pages to go in my last book for the challenge but no way I'll be able to finish it tonight.

very slow reading but really its difficult to read a lot of pages.

Brenda, you mean no "naughty corner" for Jess, Sharon and me?? That could have been fun...party time!! No, of course not, we would have sat there sedately finishing our books :)

Kim Marie wrote: "Brenda, you mean no "naughty corner" for Jess, Sharon and me?? That could have been fun...party time!! No, of course not, we would have sat there sedately finishing our books :)"

Haha!! Kim Marie...don't want to be too strict with the rules...will scare the newbies away;D

Yay!! Winter is over, the winter challenge has reached it's end, and we can relegate it to the archives;D

Good challenge, this one.

★ Jess wrote: "Good challenge, this one."

Glad you enjoyed it Jess:)

Thanks again for another great Challenge! I'll give a quick rundown on the books I read.

The two standouts for me and to which I gave 5 stars were:
A Man You Can Bank On had me laughing aloud (inappropriately at times....seriously) with it's dark humour and very Australian outlook on everything.

The Help is very character driven and highlights the great social divide in America's South during the '60s. I'm very much looking forward to seeing the film version.

4 and half stars to:
The Wise Man's Fear is a beautifully written sequel to The Name of the Wind...epic fantasy at it's best. It only lost half a star because it needed a little more editing in a couple of sections.

4 stars:
The Last Werewolf was the most unusual of the books I read. I liked the writing style and the overall concept but I had a few issues with plot contrivances and unnecessarily crude descriptive language.

The Happiest Refugee: A Memoir is an inspiring read as Ahn Do tells the tale of his family's perilous journey to Australia and how the love of his family enabled him to achieve his dream of becoming a well known comedian.

A Simpler Time is Peter Fitzsimon's recollections of his childhood within a large and loving family on a property on Sydney's outskirts. It was interesting to note that he, like Ahn Do, attributed his mother with providing the family values and compassion so important to his life's achievements.

Tomorrow, When the War Began was an eye opening vision of what a group of young Australians would face in resisting an invading army. Great stuff. I'll now have to watch this one on DVD.

3 and a half stars:
Darkest Mercy is the last book in a series of five urban faerie tales. Romance and intrigue keep the stories interesting.

3 stars:
Death In Holy Orders is the first book I've read by this author and I was just a little disappointed. As murder mysteries go there was nothing to make it an exceptional read.

Dragon's Winter is a fantasy tale and has quite interesting characters and storyline but not a great deal of depth in the characterisations and an oddly disjointed writing style, the last few chapters in particular. It hooked me enough though that I will try the sequel.

Kim Marie, you did very well there, and had some great reads! Well done:) It's good that you enjoyed the challenge, and can now (if you haven't already) set out on the Spring one! :D

The Spring one is not as good as this one. To hard for me!

The added challenge is to find the books first Jess...lol

Thanks Brenda and Carmel. Yes I'm on my way with the Spring Challenge :)

Here is my tally for this challenge. I managed to read all the books I said I would. The only one I did not get to read was a new release - as I read books from the library that one waa a little hard. Congratulations to all others who finished this challenge.

1. Warm, summery theme - Applemere Summer 3* 29/06/11
2. TBR list - Hearts in Darkness 4* 05/06/11
3. YA Novel - Mockingjay 5* 26/07/11
4. Library book - Ever After 4* audio 17/06/11
5. Book made into a movie - Pride and Prejudice 4* audio 06/06/11
6. Wintery Theme - Snowy Night with a Stranger 3* 29/08/11
7. Aussie Author - The Turning: Stories 3* audio 11/07/11
8. New Release - have not thought of one yet
9. A book a friend has read - A Highlander of Her Own 3* 25/07/11
10. Suspense/Murder - Ice Cold 5* audio 04/06/11
11. Read a book by an author born in June/July/August - Flying Too High 5* audio 15/06/11 - Kerry Greenwood (DOB 17/06)

Good job Bronwyn:)

Finally finished 'Atlas Shrugged'. Still would have only made 8 books in this challenge, but what a big book it is.

Thanks carmel. I went and added it to the Sept challenge ... I think that this book is worthy of two challenges!

Well done Dee-Ann! Definitely worth 2 challenges! What a book!