Tricia’s Comments (group member since Nov 21, 2016)

Tricia’s comments from the Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge group.

✔ means done

✔1. A book becoming a movie in 2019 - The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion
✔2. A book that makes you nostalgic - The Land Before Avocado by Richard Glover
✔3. A book written by a musician (fiction or nonfiction) - Working Class Boy by Jimmy Barnes
✔4. A book you think should be turned into a movie - Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire
✔5. A book with at least one million ratings on Goodreads - The Help by Kathryn Stockett
✔6. A book with a plant in the title or on the cover The Poison Tree by Erin Kelly
✔7. A reread of a favorite book - Playing Beatie Bow by Ruth Park
✔8. A book about a hobby - Salmon Fishing in the Yemen by Paul Torday
✔9. A book you meant to read in 2018 - The Young Lion by Blanche d'Alpuget
✔10. A book with POP, SUGAR, or CHALLENGE in the title - Beneath the Sugar Sky by Seanan McGuire
✔11. A book with an item of clothing or accessory on the cover - Dark Places by Kate Grenville (Boots on the cover of my edition)
✔12. A book inspired by myth/legend/folklore - Pyramids by Terry Pratchett
✔13. A book published posthumously - When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi ✔15. A retelling of a classic - Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige
✔16. A book with a question in the title - Are You Dave Gorman? by Dave Gorman
✔17. A book set on college or university campus - Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami
✔18. A book about someone with a superpower - Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend
✔19. A book told from multiple POVs - Into the Water by Paula Hawkins
✔20. A book set in space - 2001: A Space Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke
✔21. A book by two female authors - America's First Daughter by Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie
✔22. A book with SALTY, SWEET, BITTER, or SPICY in the title - Little Fish Are Sweet by Matthew Condon
✔23. A book set in Scandinavia - A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
✔24. A book that takes place in a single day - A Spark of Light by Jodi Picoult
✔25. A debut novel - The Expected One by Kathleen McGowan
✔26. A book that's published in 2019 - In an Absent Dream by Seanan McGuire
✔27. A book featuring an extinct or imaginary creature - Kitty and the Midnight Hour by Carrie Vaughn
✔28. A book recommended by a celebrity you admire - Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad (recommended by Barack Obama)
✔29. A book with LOVE in the title - True Love and How to Get It by Gerard Lee
✔30. A book featuring an amateur detective - Earthly Delights by Kerry Greenwood
✔31. A book about a family - Consuelo and Alva Vanderbilt: The Story of a Daughter and a Mother in the Gilded Age by Amanda Mackenzie Stuart
✔32. A book author from Asia, Africa, or South America - Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
✔33. A book with a zodiac sign or astrology term in title - The Pisces by Melissa Broder
✔34. A book that includes a wedding - Solace Glen Honeymoon by Susan James
✔35. A book by an author whose first and last names start with the same letter Please Explain by Karl Kruszelnicki
✔36. A ghost story - The Clockmaker's Daughter by Kate Morton
✔37. A book with a two-word title - Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman
✔38. A novel based on a true story - Lilian's Story by Kate Grenville
✔39. A book revolving around a puzzle or game - The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton
40. Your favorite prompt from a past POPSUGAR Reading challenge:
✔2015 - The Case of the Imaginary Detective by Karen Joy Fowler (A book with bad reviews)
✔2016 - Wundersmith: The Calling of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend (YA bestseller)
✔2017 - Swing Time by Zadie Smith (a book by a person of colour)
✔2018 - Down Among the Sticks and Bones by Seanan McGuire (Next book in a series you have started)
✔41. A "cli-fi" (climate fiction) book - Dry by Neal Shusterman
✔42. A "choose-your-own-adventure" book - Mystery of the Maya by R.A. Montgomery
✔ 43. An "own voices" book - Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng
✔44. Read a book during the season it is set in - The Women In Black by Madeleine St. John (set in summer, read in summer)
✔45. A LitRPG book - You're in Game! by Vasily Mahanenko
✔46. A book with no chapters / unusual chapter headings / unconventionally numbered chapters - Guards! Guards! by Terry Pratchett
✔47. Two books that share the same title -Foe by J.M. Coetzee
✔48. Two books that share the same title -Foe by Iain Reid
✔49. A book that has inspired a common phrase or idiom - A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
✔50. A book set in an abbey, cloister, monastery, vicarage, or convent - The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco

There are two books by Matthew Reilly that fit this category - The Tournament (about chess) and Contest.

Both are really good.

I normally have 4-5 books on the go BUT they have to be different genres otherwise I get confused.

I read lighter books before bed and save horror/ thrillers for morning or work commute.

I have had the same problem for the last two years. It particularly starts to hit in December when I know the list is coming out and every book I look at could be a potential for next year. What I do now is to just try to finish series that I have started since they are hard to get to if you are restricted by challenges.

I wish they would release the list a little bit earlier (say November) to give me a bit more time to prepare. With the lead up to the Xmas/New year period I am pretty busy and would like more time to at least get some of my books together so I am ready to go.

Maybe I just take it a bit too seriously lol! :-)

Hello from Brisbane Australia.

I am finished!!!!! I had some minor surgery this week and the convalescence allowed me to knock off the final few books for this challenge. Happy I am finally done!

This week I finished:
Birdman (male psydonym). This was a debut novel by this author and I was quite impressed. I was about half way in and I had no idea what was going on but the end of the book was an absolute page turner.

The Zookeeper's Wife (A book about a real person). This was not at all what I thought this book was going to be. I expected more of a personal account but it was more of a historical view about what was going on in Poland at that time. It was also a bit hard to follow as there are a cast of characters (including animals) that I found hard to keep a track of.

Mr. Murder (a best seller the year I graduated high school). I thought this was ok but not as good as some of his others.

My Cousin Rachel (Not for the challenge). I liked this book but found the main character more annoying than a toddler throwing a tantrum.

The Werewolf's Guide to Life: A Manual for the Newly Bitten (Not for challenge although would be good for a book with two authors). This was a fun and quick read.

The Snowman (Nordic Noir) This is my last book for this challenge. I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it.

Looking forward to reading what I like now, but I also a bit lost as I do find the challenge directs my reading a bit. Definitely in for next year :-)


QOTW: Most of the ones that came to mind are reflected here.

Date you finished: 12/6/2018. I read 2 books against each prompt.

Message number of your list post (if you've got one): 65

Favorite prompt (and what book did you read for it?): A book about time travel (Kindred and A Stitch in Time)

Favorite book (and what prompt was it for?): The Forgotten Garden (book by a local author

Was there a book you LOVED that you never would have read if not for the Challenge?: The two books I read for the 'A book involving a heist prompt'. The first book I read for that challenge was Ballad of the Whiskey Robber: A True Story of Bank Heists, Ice Hockey, Transylvanian Pelt Smuggling, Moonlighting Detectives, and Broken Hearts which I found fascinating. The other book I read for this prompt The Great Train Robbery which was also very good. Both of these books were excellent and would recommend them.

Least favorite prompt: A book about or involving a sport. Having said that though one of the books I read for this prompt was Concussion. I really enjoyed it and this is another book I would not have read if not for this challenge.

Prompt you hope to see again: The next book in a series you started. I have so many books series that I have started. At least this got me finishing some of these book series.

Last prompt you finished: Nordic Noir for no reason other than it was the last book I finished.

Finally, are you in for 2019? Definitely. This is my third year and have found some interesting books through completing these challenges. I also enjoy the challenge of finding books for the prompts and the suggestions made in these forums.

I would be interested in a prompt that is "A book that is a different genre to what the author normally writes".

Last year I read The Red House Mystery by A.A. Milne (the author of Winnie the Pooh). It was great and I did a bit of research and there are a number of other books that would fall into this category:

Doctor Proctor's Fart Powder by Jo Nesbo (famous for Nordic Noir)
Kiss Kiss by Roald Dahl which contains some of his horror stories
The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling
The romance stories Agatha Christie wrote as Mary Westmacott

I think this would be a really interesting prompt.

Hello from Brisbane Australia. Slow reading week for me.

This week I finished

Scar Tissue (A book with two authors). I really loved the Red Hot Chilli Peppers in my youth so this book did take me back in time. Having said that though, I did find this a tough read with his constant cycle of drugs, rehab, girls and occasionally making music. I did find it a bit monotonous after a while.

The Woman in the Window (Not for the challenge – though would be a good option for the mental illness prompt or the book published this year) Loved it. I thought I knew what was going on, and I did guess part of it, but really had no idea.

Currently reading:
The Zookeeper's Wife (A book about a real person) Still working my way through this one. I am finding it a bit dull in places.

Birdman (female with male psydonym)
Mr. Murder ( a best seller the year I graduated high school)
The Snowman (Nordic Noir)

QOTW
My Sister's Keeper surprised me a lot. I did not expect to like it as much as I did.

Hello from Brisbane Australia. Weather here has certainly gotten chilly this week. I had a bit of a slow read week for me but hopefully this weekend I will get a chance to read more.

This week I finished
Whistling For The Elephants (book with an ugly cover). I was glad to finally finish this book. It really wasn't my cup of tea. The first half of the book was so slow and by the time things got moving I really didn't care anymore. Clearly in this case I could judge a book by its cover.

Hallowe'en Party (A book set on Halloween) Not Agatha Christie's best but still a good read.

The Bonesetter's Daughter (not for challenge) I really liked this one. It would be good one for a person with a different ethnicity to you.

Currently reading:
The Zookeeper's Wife (A book about a real person) Still working my way through this one.

Scar Tissue (A book with two authors). Anthony got a collaborator for the book so I guess that counts.

Happy to say I am down to my last three books before I finish this challenge so next on the list are:
Birdman ( male psydonym)
Mr. Murder ( a best seller the year I graduated high school)
The Snowman (Nordic Noir)

Hoping to finish in the next two weeks.

QOTW:
Definitely agree with a few selections others mentioned -
- Stephanie Plum - read one book for this challenge and definitely felt it was past it
- Sookie Stackhouse - These lost me pretty early
- Game of Thrones - I found the last book really painful and hard work.

The two series I would like to add are:
- Enders Game - loved the first lot of books, but then things got too drawn out. There was definitely no need for him to write Ender in Exile. I felt it added nothing to the series.

- Magician series. This series has my all time favourite character (Jimmy the Hand) and I loved the first couple of trilogies. Then he started the stand alone character books and I didn't feel they were written with the same love as the previous books.

That is all for me now. I hope everyone has a great week.

Hello from Brisbane Australia,
I am getting towards the end of my challenge so I am starting to read books that aren’t for the challenge while I whittle down the remaining ones.

This week I finished
Jasper Jones (not for the challenge). I really liked this book. I thought it was a fantastic coming of age tale. Would be good for the alliteration prompt.

The Good People The Good people (A book being read by a stranger). I loved Burial Rites so I was expecting something like that. I did like this book but not as much as her first novel.

White Tulips & Wedding Cake (LGBTI character). I didn’t really like this one. It was light and fluffy but the story read a lacked something.

The Bourne Identity ( a book set in the decade you were born – 1970s) I found it really hard to find a book set in the 70s so I was lucky to stumble on this one that has been on my reading shelf for a really long time. I thought this was good but the ‘romance’ element was a bit distracting and didn't really sit well with the book.

Currently reading:
Whistling For The Elephants (book with an ugly cover). Not entirely convinced by this book. I am half way in and I am not following what is happening

Hallowe'en Party (A book set on Halloween) Just started this one

The Zookeeper's WifeThe Zookeepers wife (A book about a real person) Just started this one as well so too early to tell if I will enjoy it.

QOTW: The short answer is no. I had no idea these existed. Is this a thing?? I am interested in hearing from other readers!!

Hello from Brisbane Australia. It was a pretty slow reading week this week. I got watching Eurovision last weekend (and preparing for Eurovision parties) and basically the whole weekend was taken up with it. I only finished the following:

True History of the Kelly Gang (A book on a villain or anti-hero). In Australia, when you think of anti-heros, Ned Kelly is the one that comes most to mind. He has been immortalised in art and movies. I thought the book was ok and gave me some information about the time I was not aware of.

Currently reading:
The Bourne Identity ( a book set in the decade you were born – 1970s) This is not a genre I read a lot but I am really enjoying this.

Whistling For The Elephants (book with an ugly cover). Not entirely convinced by this book. I am half way in and I am not following what is happening.

Hopefully I will get a bit more of a chance to read this week.

QOTW. I am in the Southern Hemisphere so it is more about finding a warm space to read. :-)

Not aware of any books coming out that grab me a the moment.

Hello from Brisbane Australia, It looks like winter is on the way with a cold snap coming.

This week I finished:
The Eye of the Storm (a book with a weather element in the title) I know the author won a Nobel Prize for literature, but honestly, I found this book a bit dull. I also hated all of the characters. Maybe there is some deeper meaning that I missed.

The Forgotten Garden (book by a local author) I really liked this one. I have read a few by this author and I have enjoyed them.

The Outside (prompt from 2016 challenge – a dystopian novel). This is a YA vampire novel set in an Amish community. I enjoyed it.

Barbed Wire and Cherry Blossoms (a book from an author with a different ethnicity to you). This author identifies as Australian Aboriginal. I didn’t know much about the event the book is about and thought it was an interesting read from that perspective.

Night's Daughter (a book with the time of day in the title). I read a really good book by this author last year so I was looking forward to reading this. I was disappointed in this one as it was not anywhere as good as the previous one

A Stitch in Time (a book about time travel). This was a cute no-brainer romance with time travel. It was fun and easy to read.

Currently reading:

True History of the Kelly Gang (A book on a villain or anti-hero). In Australia, when you think of anti-heros, Ned Kelly is the one that comes most to mind.

The Bourne Identity ( a book set in the decade you were born – 1970s) This is not a genre I read a lot but I am really enjoying this.

QOTW:
None come to mind but I will second Corrine from Flowers in the Attic. She was very nasty.

Hello from Brisbane Australia where the weather has gotten chilly in the last week.

This week I read:

The Hallowed Ones ( 2016 challenge – a book borrowed from the library). I really enjoyed this book. It is a YA vampire story set in an Amish community.

The Zigzag Way (a book set around Halloween). I did not enjoy this at all. The only redeeming factor was it was under 200 pages.

The Girl from Botany Bay (book linked to my ancestry) This was an interesting tale but I found the writing style was a bit off.

Love in the Time of Cholera (a book from a celebrity book club). I can’t believe I have not read this book before. I found the start hard to get into but after 100 pages I was completely hooked.

Plum Spooky (Book with a fruit in the title). I normally love the Stephanie Plum novels but this one didn’t wow me.

Currently reading:
The Eye of the Storm(a book with a weather element in the title). I am finding this a hard slog.

The Forgotten Garden (book by a local author) which I am quite enjoying.

Night's Daughter (a book with the time of day in the title).

QOTW: I quite liked Marilla from Anne of Green Gables. I know she wasn't Anne's real mum but she was the only mother figure that Anne had so I think it counts.

Hello from Brisbane Australia. This is a three week check in for me as I have been on holidays. Although I was on holidays, it was a fairly active one so I didn’t get to read as much as I would have liked. I did get to knock over a few large (and daunting) books of my challenge.

The Bright Hour: A Memoir of Living and Dying (a book about death or grief). This was a really difficult book for me as I have friends with terminal cancer. It was quite emotional but was a really good story.

The Museum of Modern Love (a book I meant to read last year) I enjoyed this book. It took me a bit to get into it but once I did I got wrapped up in the story. If you are going to read it though I would google the performance art mentioned in the novel so you get a bit of an understanding of the book.

Dragonkeeper (from 2017 challenge – a book with a mythical creature). It was a cute YA fiction so it was fairly light. It was just what I needed with the heavier books I was reading.

Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters (A book with an alliteration). I didn’t enjoy this anywhere as much as Pride and Prejudice and Zombies so I was a bit disappointed.

The Golem and the Jinni (recommended by someone else taking the challenge). Someone in this forum recommended this one. I absolutely loved it and would recommend it to others.

Fromelles and Pozières: In The Trenches Of Hell (a book read by a stranger in a public place) This was a massive book and was a heavy read. It was ANZAC Day (our war memorial day) here yesterday so the timing of this book was good and gave me a better idea about a battle I didn’t know much about.

Gone with the Wind (a book about a movie I have already seen). I thought this was amazing. It was a massive read but I really enjoyed it and felt it was worth spending the time to read it.

Noose True stories of Australians who died at the gallows (True crime). This was ok. There were some interesting facts but it wasn’t something I would recommend to others.

The Cambodian Book of the Dead (a book set in a country that fascinates you). This book was ok but was not something I would rave about.

Currently reading:
Plum Spooky (Book with a fruit in the title)
The Zigzag Way (a book set around Halloween)

QOTW: I don't follow any authors on social media.

Hello from Brisbane Australia,
I had plenty of time to read over the Easter long weekend so I got heaps finished:

Ender in Exile (next book in a series) I was disappointed in this as I really enjoyed the Ender’s game series. This was not up to the standard of the other books

The Client (a bestseller from the year you graduated highschool – 1993). This is not a genre a read a lot of but I really enjoyed this book.

Her Fearful Symmetry (a book with twins) This was a lot darker than The Time Travellers Wife. In this book there are two lots of twins and both are pretty creepy. It is not my favourite book as I hated all of the characters but other people may like it.

Ready Player One (Cyberpunk). I absolutely loved this book. I barely moved off the couch when reading it. I saw the movie too which was quite different, but still good.

The Transmigration of Bodies and Signs Preceding the End of the World (a book recommended by someone else completing the challenge). This was recommended by my aunt who is doing the challenge for the first time this year after watching her two nieces complete it in previous years.

Point of Origin (Author with the same first name as me). I thought this was ok. I am finding that I am not enjoying the later books in this series as much as I enjoyed the first couple.

Graceling (anti-hero) I quite enjoyed this book. In this book a woman graced with the gift of killing decides to do something positive with her gift. It was a YA fiction so quite easy to read.

Currently reading:
The Bright Hour: A Memoir of Living and Dying (a book about death or grief). This is a tough read and quite sad

Fromelles and Pozières: In The Trenches Of Hell (a book read by a stranger) This is really heavy going so not sure how long it will take me as I keep needing to put it down

Noose True stories of Australians who died at the gallows (True crime) Also not a light read.

Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters (A book with an alliteration). I needed something a bit fun after all the heavy books I am reading.

Plum Spooky (Book set on Halloween) This is really light so I should knock it over quickly.

I am about to go on holidays so I won’t be checking in for two weeks. By that time I should have made a decent dent in the challenge.

QOTW
When I was younger I used to read a lot of Stephen King and thrillers. I could read these all the time and it not make a difference.

Now I am older I need to balance out my heavy reading with lighter novels. Maybe I am just world weary now I am over 40. What I do like about this challenge is that it does make you read a wider variety and I think that is good for me.

Overdrive and Borrowbox are the two I use the most.

I am not sure if my library has Libby

Hello from Brisbane Australia,

It looks like a wet Easter so looks like I will be staying inside and reading.

This week I read:
My Brother Jack (a book linked to your ancestry). Set in Australia between WW1 and WW2. I thought the author’s portrayal of Australia during the depression and war years was excellent. I didn’t like the main character though and that was a problem for me.

First, We Make the Beast Beautiful: A New Story About Anxiety (a book about mental health) I read this book as I have a family member that has anxiety. What I realised is that I am one of the people (with my ‘go with the flow, everything will be ok’ attitude) that people with anxiety struggle with. I actually apologised to her this week about it. It has opened my eyes a lot as it is something that I have difficulties understanding.

The Great Train Robbery (a book about a heist). I really enjoyed this book, a lot more than I thought I would. It is quite a departure from Michael Crichton’s other books but it keep my interest. I would recommend this book to others looking for a book for this category.

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? (a cyberpunk novel). I quite enjoyed this book. I found the idea behind the story intriguing. The main character annoyed me a bit but I would recommend this book.

The Tattooist of Auschwitz (a book based on a real person). This book was beautiful and tough to read at the same time. I would recommend this one but (obviously) some of the material is a quite confronting. It may not be for everyone.

Cruel & Unusual(author with the same first name as me - Patricia Cornwell). I thought this was ok but not a book I would recommend to someone.

Currently reading:
The Bright Hour: A Memoir of Living and Dying (a book about death or grief)
Dragonkeeper (A book set in a country that fascinates you). This book is set in China.
Ender in Exile (next book in a series). I love the Ender's Game series but I am half way through and finding this a disappointment.
Fromelles and Pozières: In The Trenches Of Hell (a book a stranger was reading) I have been stalking other people's reading material on the bus for weeks and finally settled on this one. This is pretty full on and I have to keep putting it aside for something lighter. It might take me a while.

QOTW:
Yes and it is very annoying. I try not to do it to others and even if there is remotely a spoiler in my review I hide the lot.

Hello from Brisbane Australia. It has been a bit wet and humid this week and this is looking like it will continue for a bit longer.

This week I read:
The Little Book of Lykke: The Danish Search for the World's Happiest People (a borrowed book). I loved this book. It gave me a lot to think about. There are some simple things I can do to make a difference to my own life. Going to apply one or two things from the book to my current life to see if it makes a difference.

The Hour I First Believed (A book with lyrics in the title being a line from Amazing Grace). This was definitely not Wally Lamb’s best. I know that a few people are reading I Know This Much Is True for the twins book and I thought that book was excellent. This book had too much going on for me. I found it a real struggle.

The Rules of Backyard Croquet (book published in 2018). Set in Australia against the backdrop of fashion design. I really struggled to get into this book but once I got into it I quite enjoyed it.

Concussion (A book about sports). Wow! This was quite an eye opener. Living in Australia, we don’t really follow gridiron but there are similar CTE cases in Rugby League, the football we play here. The whole story of the cover up was very interesting.

Tolstoy and the Purple Chair: My Year of Magical Reading (book with my favourite colour). I thought this was ok but is probably not something I would read again. What I did get was a whole heap of books added to 'my want to read' list. If you haven’t chosen your “book mentioned in another book” category, this book has heaps of books mentioned in it and worth a look. It would also meet the category about death or grief.

Currently reading - got a real mixed bag happening at the moment:
- First, We Make the Beast Beautiful: A New Story About Anxiety (a book about mental health)
- The Bright Hour: A Memoir of Living and Dying (a book about death or grief)
- Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? (a cyberpunk novel)
- Dragonkeeper (A book set in a country that fascinates you). This book is set in China.
- My Brother Jack (a book linked to your ancestry). Set in Australia between WW1 and WW2.

QOTW: It depends on the book. I don't choose a book only because it is based in my home town. I need it to interest me first.
Having said that there are some really good books set in Brisbane such as The Kingdom Where Nobody Dies and The Mayne Inheritance

Hello from Brisbane Australia,
We narrowly missed a cyclone this week. We are doing better than north of here where most of our state is in flood.

This week I read:
Something Wicked This Way Comes (a book set on Halloween). Like many of Ray Bradbury’s books it was a little strange. Definitely not my favourite Ray Bradbury book but still an ok read.

What Katy Did (a childhood classic I have never read). I could never understood how this book didn’t make it to my read list as a child. Now I do. It was ok but when I look at other books it is compared to (eg. Anne of Green Gables which I loved) it certainly wasn’t up to that standard. Sorry any fans out there but it was not for me and would not be something I would recommend.

Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail (past Goodreads award winner). I quite enjoyed this book.

Life As I Know It (a book about sports). Not my favourite category but Michelle Payne was the first female jockey to win the Melbourne Cup so I thought this would be a good choice. It has a lot of horse racing terms in it so it lost me is some parts but I thought it was an ok book for a category I really wasn’t looking forward to.

Edge of the Rain (a book set in a country that fascinates you). This book was set in Botswana in the Kalahari desert. I find the Kalahari bushmen fascinating and have always wanted to go visit the “big 5” animals in Africa. I didn’t think this was Beverley Harper's best novel (as some of hers have been excellent), and I thought it was pretty predictable, but it was still a great read. You could also use this book for the weather category.

Currently reading:
The Rules of Backyard Croquet (book published in 2018). I am really struggling to get into this one.

The Hour I First Believed (A book with lyrics in the title). I am still working through this one. I am over half way through a 700+page book but it is slow going.

The Little Book of Lykke: The Danish Search for the World's Happiest People (a book borrowed from a friend). I am loving this book. It makes me want to move to Nordic countries and there are a few practices that I will try to apply here.

Next books on the list:

My Brother Jack (a book linked to your ancestry). My great grandfather served in both World Wars.
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? (a cyberpunk novel)
The Bright Hour: A Memoir of Living and Dying ( a book about death or grief)
Tolstoy and the Purple Chair: My Year of Magical Reading (book with my favourite colour)
First, We Make the Beast Beautiful: A New Story About Anxiety (a book about mental health)

QOTW:
I am struggling for this category as most of the books I have already read (being an avid reader from an early age). I am reading two books against each category so I have found one, still working on the second one.

Hello from Brisbane Australia, It is a bit wet this week but hopefully will fine up over the weekend.

I wasn’t on last week as I was away visiting my mum so here is an update for the last two weeks.

Read:
Ballad of the Whiskey Robber: A True Story of Bank Heists, Ice Hockey, Transylvanian Pelt Smuggling, Moonlighting Detectives, and Broken Hearts (a book involving a heist). I absolutely loved this book and if anyone is looking for book for this category I would HIGHLY recommend it. I had to keep reminding myself that it was a true tale. I often sat there with a smile on my face at some of the sillier moments or a look of incredulity because I scarcely believed that series of events actually happened. I know a few others are reading it so I will be interested to hear what others think.

Fight Like A Girl (a feminist book). I get the message but I found the way the book was written really wasn’t my style of writing.

I Am Legend (a book from a movie I have already seen) This is VERY different to the movie. I liked both the movie and the book in different ways. I definitely feel that the book had a deeper message about different viewpoints that the movie lacked.

Purple Hibiscus (A book with my favourite colour in the title). I really enjoyed this book. I thought it was a really interesting coming of age story set against a different backdrop to normal coming of age tales.

Dark Side of the Moon (a female author that uses a male pseudonym, J. Carson Black – real name is Margaret Galt). I thought this was ok. There was a lot of things going on in this book. I have not read her before and not sure if it is something I would pick up again.

Seven Ancient Wonders (a book with twins). Like all of Matthew Reilly’s books this book was full of action and kept you going until the last. In this book the twins are children who are oracles that can read an ancient language. They are being used by competing teams to find the capstone of the Great Pyramid.

A Dog's Way Home (2017 Challenge prompt - a book from a non-human perspective). I thought this was cute and heartwarming. It was a very light read.

Lighthouse Of Tragedy: The Story Of Bustard Head Lighthouse, Queensland's First Coast Light (a microhistory). I found this to be a fascinating read about the history of a significant lighthouse on the Australian coast.

Currently reading:
The Rules of Backyard Croquet (book published in 2018)

The Hour I First Believed (A book with lyrics in the title). This is a pretty big book (my copy is over 700 pages) so it is going to take me a while.

Something Wicked This Way Comes (a book set on Halloween). Like many of Ray Bradbury’s books, it is a little strange.

What Katy Did (a childhood classic I have never read). I am not sure I really care what Katy did but I am going to give it a go anyway.


Next books on the list:

My Brother Jack (a book linked to your ancestry). My great grandfather served in both World Wars.
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? (a cyberpunk novel)
The Bright Hour: A Memoir of Living and Dying (a book about death or grief)

QOTW
I will read it if I think it sounds interesting. I am not really driven by what others are reading but rather if I think it will be something I enjoy.