Aussie Readers discussion

David, we are in Adelaide..have been here since the 1st..you must have missed the other threads, and the photo yesterday of a couple of us out to coffee:) We're leaving for home tomorrow:)

I enjoyed Private, but not quite as much as some of the others.

Hi Brenda - just catching up on all the Aussie Readers happenings now. (I've had a computer free few days). I found the photo - nice one too :) Good to put faces to the names. I am originally from Adelaide (now Lonnie in Tasmania). Hope you are enjoying yourself there!

Oo a challenge, I love a challenge! Here's my list:

1. Spring clean: The House at Salvation Creek by Susan Duncan.

2. A book that features a new life: This will seem like an odd choice, but Blaze by Stephen King. Apparently it has a baby in it.

3. Choose a book for it's cover: It's Raining in Mango by Thea Astley. Nothing says spring to me like 'green'.

4. Adelaide Show: I was going to be really obvious and read Water For Elephants, but I really don't want to. So it's The Quilter's Apprentice for me.

5. Aussie author released this spring: The Briny Cafe by Susan Duncan. I read it last week, so that's one book down.

6. Red or Yellow cover: Nine Lives. In search of the sacred in Modern India by William Dalrymple. .

7. YA author:The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. Everyone's raving about this so I'm going to see what the fuss is all about.

8. A book about horses/gambling: I'm going to use the opportunity to finish re-reading Cloudstreet.

9. My surname starts with D, so The Drowner by Robert Drewe.

10. A garden connection: The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton. A foray into an author I haven't yet read.

Nice list Julia! What did you think of Briny Cafe , The? I'm interested, as I read her two previous non-fiction books.

David wrote: "Hi Brenda - just catching up on all the Aussie Readers happenings now. (I've had a computer free few days). I found the photo - nice one too :) Good to put faces to the names. I am originally from ..."

Thanks David:) Yes, we have had a lovely time. It's gone very quickly, so before we know it, we'll be home again:(

Julia, I like William Dalyrymple's books but didn't know of that one. Local library has your no. 1 and I have considered trying it, so I will be interested to know your thoughts on these two.

Number 1 and number 10 done for me. Looks like I'm burning the challenge candle at both ends.

1. Spring clean: 44 Scotland Street by Alexander McCall Smith - http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

10. Garden connection: The Lost Gardens by Anthony Eglin - http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Brenda wrote: "Nice list Julia! What did you think of Briny Cafe , The? I'm interested, as I read her two previous non-fiction books."

Brenda I loved it. It's a comfort read. I couldn't put it down. There were even some laugh out loud moments in it. I previously had only read her first non-fiction, and it struck such a big chord with me, having gone through the whole breast cancer thing myself. I couldn't put that one down either. I love her voice, and I have met her in person and she is JUST as funny, delightful and straightforward as she is in her books. I'd recommend it to everyone.

Lesley wrote: "Julia, I like William Dalyrymple's books but didn't know of that one. Local library has your no. 1 and I have considered trying it, so I will be interested to know your thoughts on these two."

Hi Lesley. I'm expecting big things from The House at Salvation Creek, as I loved her first memoir, and The Briny Cafe, so much.

Nine Lives is William Dalrymple's latest, I think. I'm assuming so, as I bought it when it came into the shop and haven't seen any other titles of his come through since.

Finished my first book for this challenge.
7. Bloodlines - Richelle Mead.
It was very good, but still not as good as some of the Vampire Academy books. Did like how Adrian was a main character though.

Julia wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Nice list Julia! What did you think of Briny Cafe , The? I'm interested, as I read her two previous non-fiction books."

Brenda I loved it. It's a comfort read. I cou..."

Oh that's great that you loved it Julia:) I'll definitely be getting it! You lucky thing, meeting her...great she's such a nice person:)

Not only that, but I got to meet the little dog too! (And Bob, briefly.) Add all that to my 'pinch myself' moments :-)

I have chosen #5. It will be Briny Cafe , The by Susan Duncan. Aussie author, and published 31 August - which is the doorstep of spring!



I've only got 2 more to choose now.

Julia wrote: "Not only that, but I got to meet the little dog too! (And Bob, briefly.) Add all that to my 'pinch myself' moments :-)"

Awesome! I can imagine you'd go away, wondering if you dreamed it!! lol

Louise wrote: "I have chosen #5. It will be Briny Cafe , The by Susan Duncan. Aussie author, and published 31 August - which is the doorstep of spring!



..."

Great choice Louise...I've got that on my TBR list too:)

I've heard good things about it. I've joined a bookclub (started last night!) and this is the first read. Fingers crossed! :D

Let us know how you like it Louise:) And enjoy your bookclub...they're fun:)

OK here's the start of my books I completed while we were away.

#6 (red or yellow cover) The Interrogator finished on the 2nd Sept...review here http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

#8 (horses/racing/betting..gambling scandal) Private finished on 11th Sept...review here http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

and I have just started #9, the book beginning with letter B... Black Wave: A Family's Adventure at Sea and the Disaster That Saved Them.

I am a bit slow in posting my choice of books for yhis challenge but here they are though I may change some as I go along. It is always interesting reading other people's choices. With the book published in the months of spring, does it have to be a new release or could it have been published in the months of spring in another year? As I borrow from the library primarily I have trouble gtting new releases - at least that new anyway.

1. Book from TBR pile – Twin Fantasies by April Carew 5* 10/09/11
2. New Life – baby on cover or in the story – The Blackmail Baby by Penny Jordan
3. Spring Image on cover – - This says spring to me
4. Book about show/carnival/cooking/craft something that ties into a show - undecided
5. Book by an Aussie author released Sept/Oct/Nov -
6. Book with either a red or yellow cover – Forbidden Fires by Nell Kincaid- unfortuately there is no cover on Goodreads for this one
7. Young Adult Book – Linger by Maggie Stiefvater – 4* audio 10/09/11
8. Horses/Horse racing/gambling – The Silver Brumby
9. Book beginning with B – Blue Angel by Logan Bell
10. A book with a garden connection – The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton

I'm not reading as much as I was hoping to read. Only got 2 books read thus far; but am reading

3. 'The Mists of Avalon' by Marion Zimmer Bradley
4. 'Metamorphosis: Stages in a Life' by David Suzuki
5. 'Star-Begotten' by H.G. Wells

Just finished another challenge book:

9. Read a book whose title starts with my first initial - 'S'

Smokin' Seventeen. By Janet Evanovich

I haven't done my review but has got 4 stars. - I enjoy her books and they always make me laugh

Mozette wrote: "I'm not reading as much as I was hoping to read. Only got 2 books read thus far; but am reading

3. 'The Mists of Avalon' by Marion Zimmer Bradley
"

I enjoyed the Mists of Avalon. In fact it's been aaaaages since I read it. Must have a re-read - hopefully I will still feel the same. :)

Bronwyn wrote: "I am a bit slow in posting my choice of books for yhis challenge but here they are though I may change some as I go along. It is always interesting reading other people's choices. With the book p..."

The Silver Brumby books were my favourite as a child - I collected them all!

Megan wrote: "Bronwyn wrote: "I am a bit slow in posting my choice of books for yhis challenge but here they are though I may change some as I go along. It is always interesting reading other people's choices. ..."

Same ... I still have most of them, too. It's a shame they don't read as well now that I'm not horse-obsessed!

I'm changing my no. 5. The Briny Cafe was a bit of a cheat because I'd finished reading it before I joined the challenge. I have a reader's copy of Di Morrissey's new one "The Opal Desert" which will be released Oct/Nov. Not my choice of reading matter, but I kind of have to do it anyway, so it may as well count to this challenge!

Brenda wrote: "Julia wrote: "Not only that, but I got to meet the little dog too! (And Bob, briefly.) Add all that to my 'pinch myself' moments :-)"

Awesome! I can imagine you'd go away, wondering if you dreamed..."

Nah, what I went away thinking I'd dreamt about Di Morrissey and Susan Duncan sitting in tiny bookshop together having a great old yack. And that it's going to be a common occurrence and how lucky did my life become lately? ha ha!

Haha!! Julia, that's right!! and the readers copy of Di Morrisseys's new one will be great...a bit special to read them before they come out:)

I have just created the book, so here it is! The Opal Desert

Have just finished #7 The Graveyard Book. Review here : http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22...

Louise wrote: "Have just finished #7 The Graveyard Book. Review here : http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22..."

Louise, I can't get to your review, this link just takes me to the book:)

Sorry! Try this one http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Louise wrote: "Sorry! Try this one http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/..."

Thanks Louise, great review:)

Now reading my third book;
#1 The Hungry Tide 2 stars
#6 The Red Tent 4 stars
#7 The Great Gatsby current read

I have just finished #9, book beginning with the letter of my name Black Wave: A Family's Adventure at Sea and the Disaster That Saved Them. My review here http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Is this where I challenge you all to read my short story that's on Kindle for under a dollar?


I will send you the code for another free one if you review it on Amazon. Just let me know here.

1. Spring clean your bookcases by reading a much loved, but yet unread book.
1984 by George Orwell
Currently Reading.

2. Choose a book that features a new life.
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley

3. Choose a book for it's cover - a spring image with all it's colour.
*TBA*

4. A book about a show/carnival rides/handicrafts/cookery/livestock..anything to tie into the event.
*TBA*

5. Choose a book written by an Aussie author, released somewhere in the 3 months of Spring.
*TBA*

6. Pick a book with either a red or yellow cover.
*TBA*

7. Pick a Young Adult book, not necessarily by an Aussie author, for this event.
The Secret Hour by Scott Westerfeld.

8. A book about horses/horse racing/betting/money won and lost.
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (re-read). Capitol Citizens bet money on Tributes, so this book qualifies.

9. How about a book with the title beginning with the first letter of your name...
The Power of Six by Pittacus Lore
★★ Review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
This review has a casual 74 likes :) Warning, it has some swear words.

10. A book with a garden connection for spring or a non-fiction/biography, again with a spring connection!
Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver. The girl on the cover seems to be lying on the grass. Gardens have grass :)

★ Jess wrote: "This review has a casual 74 likes :) Warning, it has some swear words. "

so that's how you get that many likes

I have started #1 Spring clean your bookcases with Nine Parts of Desire: The Hidden World of Islamic Women by Geraldine Brooks and so far I'm really enjoying it!

I've also chosen and started #8 The Spring Racing Carnival with In the Frame by Dick Francis which actually includes the Melbourne Cup!

Michael wrote: "Thats the most bizzare review ive ever read. O_0"

In a good or bad way?

Melanie wrote: "one down :D


1.Spring clean your bookcases by reading a much loved, but yet unread book.
The Knife of Never Letting Go(for Jess)

2. Choose a book that features a new life.
[book:S..."

It has been interesting seeing this list come together. I found this challenge rather challenging too, finding the books for each categorie. It is handy to see everyone's ideas.

I have just finished my 3rd book in this challenge, . I gave it a 4. I am changing my no 6 (orange or red cover) to - it has orange writing - I hope that is enough.

That's fine Bronwyn...we can just squint;D

I have finished #8 with In the Frame which is set in Melbourne during the Spring Racing Carnival. Review is here http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/.... I love a good Dick Francis!

Progress so far;
#1 The Hungry Tide 2 stars
#6 The Red Tent 4 stars
#7 The Great Gatsby 2 stars
#8 Bad Dirt 3 stars

Progress slow so far:

1. Shadow Princess: A Novel
2. One with a new life: The Ten Trusts: What We Must Do to Care for The Animals We Love
3. A book with a spring image: Goddess of Spring .
4. The Royal Show/carnival/ livestock: Peace to All Beings: Veggie Soup for the Chicken's Soul
5. Aussie author, book released in Spring: Scarecrow and the Army of Thieves
6. A book with a red and/or yellow cover: Things I Want My Daughters to Know
7. YA book: Wither
8. A book about racing/horses/betting: The Dark Horse
9. Book starting with M: Madame Tussaud: A Novel of the French Revolution **extra bonus I reckon cos the author's first name and surname also start with M**
10. Garden connection to Spring:
The Art of the Islamic Garden 5 STARS

Maggie wrote: "Progress slow so far:

I've just got Madame Tussaud from the library! I hope it's a good read.....

That's probably going to be my next book.

It's a late start but I am going to give it a try:-

1.Spring clean the bookshelf - The Year of the Flood by Margaret Atwood

2 A young life on the cover — The wind up bird chronicle by Haruki Murakami

3. Spring image cover — Southern Comfort by Fern Michaels

4. To do with a show/carnival etc — A son of circus by John Irving

5. Aussie author 3 months of spring — The Lieutenant by Kate Greenville ( 06/09/2008)

6. Predominantly red and yellow colour — The grapes of wrath by John Steinbeck

7. Young Adult book — Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

8. A book about horse racing, money won and lost — Banker, Dick Francis

9. Title beginning with M — Moscow Rules by Daniel Silva

10. Garden connection — The Night Gardener by George Pelecanos

Start reading now! Maggie :-D

Looks good Maggie:)

Have finished my second book No.6 Spring Colours "Vesper's Rising 39 Clues". Not as fast paced as the first 10 books in the series but more a book to fill in gaps and to set the scene for the new series.

Yay Sharon:)