Australian Women Writers Challenge discussion

I am about to start Wings of Fear next for the challenge and I'm also going to start either Pandemonium or The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight as well.

I've just started The Mothers' Group by Fiona Higgins

I'm reading When We Have Wings by Claire Corbett.

I'm currently reading Burn Bright by Marianne de Pierres

Finishing up The Lavender Keeper which I am enjoying much more that I expected

I am now reading Earthly Delightsby Kerry Greenwood for the challenge, as well as Home Again by Mariah Stewart.

Have just started Bella's Run by Margareta Osborn.

I just finished North Star by Karly Lane and am about to start The Industry by Rose Foster

I'm reading Sea Hearts by Margo Lanagan, though I can only find it on Goodreads by its UK/US title The Brides of Rollrock Island.

Sea Hearts Here it is Astrid :)

Astrid wrote: "I'm reading Sea Hearts by Margo Lanagan."

I'll be interested to know what you think of it. Margo wrote a review of Kate Forsyth's new book Bitter Greens on the AWW website yesterday. She has a lovely turn of phrase.

See Margo's review here.

Just finished Monkey Grip I'm a big fan of Helen Garner's but had never managed to read her first big novel. Set in the 70s in Melbourne, a single mum living in a share house falls in love with a junkie and finds it impossible to let him go. I loved it.
Deb Kandelaars

Brenda wrote: "Sally906 wrote: "Brenda wrote: "..Interested in your take on Silent Fear Sally!."

Loved it -was a 5 star read for me :)"

Great review Sally:) I might have to try to find the previous 4 in the ser..."

Normally I would say her books read as stand alone's, other than vague mentions of character relationships. But there are major spoilers in book 5 about who the murderer was in book 4 :)

Sally906 wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Sally906 wrote: "Brenda wrote: "..Interested in your take on Silent Fear Sally!."

Loved it -was a 5 star read for me :)"

Great review Sally:) I might have to try to find the previo..."

Oh that's interesting!! Hmmm!!

I am about to start Addition by Toni Jordan and I have just purchased Dead Heat a brand new release by Bronwyn Parry - this is packed ready for our trip to Singapore in a bit less than 2 weeks. Between hubby and I we have 4 real books and 270 odd ebooks - so should have enough reading for a week?

There is a non- fiction book I am looking for written by an Australian woman. She was/is a priest who came out of the cupboard and wrote about her faith and the reaction of the Church. It came out a few years ago and I remember hearing her being interviewed on the radio and thought I would get her book. I am hoping someone here can guide me in the right direction :)

Sally906 wrote: "I am about to start Addition by Toni Jordan and I have just purchased Dead Heat a brand new release by Bronwyn Parry - this is packe..."

No idea of her name, or book title Sally?

I met Bronwyn Parry and she signed my copy of Dead Heat today:D

You won't have much time to read...you'll be holidaying??

Shelleyrae wrote: "I've just started The Mothers' Group by Fiona Higgins

"

This is on my wish list :)

My new read for book club and the challenge is Caleb's Crossingby Geraldine Brooks

Sally906 wrote: "I am about to start Addition by Toni Jordan and I have just purchased Dead Heat a brand new release by Bronwyn Parry - this is packe..."

Oh I know that book, my library has it but I can't seem to find it by searching the online catalogue, I'll have to go down and look on the shelves

the next book I'm about to start for this challenge is What Alice Forgot

I'm half way through Poet's Cottage by Josephine Pennicott and up next is Wattle Creek by Fiona McCallum

Mish wrote: "the next book I'm about to start for this challenge is What Alice Forgot"

Sorry I'm getting a bit muddled up with my challenges. I've corrected my previous post to add What Alice Forgot :)

Haha!! We have a few going, don't we;D

The moment I am reading Bitter Greens by Kate Forsyth for the challenge as well as The Dressmaker: A Novel by Kate Alcott and The Novel in the Viola by Natasha Solomons

I've just finished Silent Fear. Another riveting story from Katherine Howell.

Helene wrote: "I've just finished Silent Fear. Another riveting story from Katherine Howell."

Thanks Helene...just read your great review, went to my library site, and reserved a copy! I've been tossing about this one for awhile, I haven't read any of hers before...you finally decided me:)

She keeps getting better with each book, Brenda.

It's been interesting watching Ella Marconi grow through them.

Of course, I am a sucker for series and meeting familiar characters again :)

Sounds like I'd better get her previous ones too!!! Just as well there are 11 in front of me for Silent Fear!!

I love series too:)

I'm reading Let The Dead Lie and Silent Valley by Malla Nunn

I'm interviewing her next week - has any one got any questions for her?

Ooh! I loved A Beautiful Place to Die, but haven't read the other two yet.

A couple of questions, if you feel they're appropriate:

1. Emmanuel is such a great character, and I am very grateful to Nunn for introducing me to the complexities of South Africa in the early years of Apartheid. I was wondering what in particular made her want to write about a character with Emmanuel's (rather confused) background.

2. How does Nunn feel about white expat South Africans such as Gillian Slovo writing about the aftermath of apartheid, as Slovo did in Red Dust? Does she feel these views are authentic? (Full disclosure: I loved Red Dust.)

Lucky, lucky you, Shelleyrae - I'm jealous!!

Perhaps you could ask Malla if she set out to write more than one book about Emmanuel. He felt as though he was a character who grew and grew with the story until he was centre stage which then lead to further stories.

Look forward to reading the interview!

I'm just about to dive into some AWW books. There are some great suggestions here. I'll let you know how I go.

I have just finished reading a 5 star book - Flying The Coop: A Free Range Tree Change or Has She Made the Worst Mistake of Her Life by Ilsa Evans. She is a new for me Aussie author so scrabbling to find her previous books.

Helene wrote: "Lucky, lucky you, Shelleyrae - I'm jealous!!

Perhaps you could ask Malla if she set out to write more than one book about Emmanuel. He felt as though he was a character who grew and grew with the..."

Thanks Helene - I'm nervous about it - it will be my first phone interview

Liz wrote: "Ooh! I loved A Beautiful Place to Die, but haven't read the other two yet.

A couple of questions, if you feel they're appropriate:

1. Emmanuel is such a great character, and I am very grateful to..."

Thanks Liz!

Sally906 wrote: "I have just finished reading a 5 star book - Flying The Coop: A Free Range Tree Change or Has She Made the Worst Mistake of Her Life by Ilsa Evans. She is a new for me Aussie author so scrabbling ..."

Sally make sure you read Isla's 'Laundry' series - its my favourite

they are on my wish list - not at my library (although her later books are) will check the 2nd hand bookshop and if all else fails, buy them :)

Just finished the absolutely stunning Night Beach by Kirsty Eagar, next up is Morgan's Law by Karly Lane

I just finished Love and Hunger by Charlotte Wood and if your mother enjoys cooking I recommend you give her this for mothers day!



Right now I am reading Dinner at Rose's by Danielle Hawkins - she is a New Zealand writer though.



Next Aussie author up is Louise Limerick with Lucinda's Whirlwind

I read What Alice Forgot while I was on holidays and I loved it. I thought it might be a bit chick-litty for me but I was so wrong. Have already recommended it to others. Thanks so much for suggesting it.

I am actually reading a male author *shock horror* though both are Aussie blokes - just finished Blackwattle Creek by Geoffrey McGeachin and have started Eleven Seasons by Paul D Carter.

Next AWW title will be The Boy Under the Table by Nicole Trope

Pamela wrote: "I read What Alice Forgot while I was on holidays and I loved it. I thought it might be a bit chick-litty for me but I was so wrong. Have already recommended it to others. Thanks so much for suggest..."

What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty:)

Thanks, Brenda!

Pamela wrote: "Thanks, Brenda!"

:)

Pamela wrote: "I read What Alice Forgot while I was on holidays and I loved it. I thought it might be a bit chick-litty for me but I was so wrong. Have already recommended it to others. Thanks so much for suggest..."

Hi Pamela, I recently finished two books that I pre-judged as being "too chick-litty" for my taste - Spinning Out by Christine Darcas and The Hypnotist's Love Story by Liane Moriarty - both read for the Australian Women Writers' Challenge. They were very enjoyable, and I realise now that there are a lot of variations within the chick-lit genre. It's best to keep an open mind. Now I'm looking forward to reading What Alice Forgot.

Thanks Denise. I might try the ones you recommend. Keen to read more by Liane Moriarty. By the way, do you think we've invented a new word - 'chick-litty'!

Pamela wrote: "Thanks Denise. I might try the ones you recommend. Keen to read more by Liane Moriarty. By the way, do you think we've invented a new word - 'chick-litty'!"

I loved What Alice Forgot and have read everything by Liane Moriarty. Chick -Lit is often more than what people think it is if they give it a chance :)

My daughter read a lot of chick-lit when she was breast feeding her children and wanted something mindless. I tried one of the books she was reading and it was pretty awful. I think you're right, Shellyrae. Like every other genre, chick-lit covers a wide variety of styles and differences in quality. Looking forward to trying some more.

Pamela wrote: "My daughter read a lot of chick-lit when she was breast feeding her children and wanted something mindless. I tried one of the books she was reading and it was pretty awful. I think you're right, S..."

I found as I have gotten older I have lost interest in the 20 something chick lit heroines and gravitate much more towards chicklit with 30/40yo something protagonists, I think because I can more closely identify with their experiences.

Okay, time to download a couple of books to my Kindle. Exciting!