Bec’s Comments (group member since Oct 31, 2022)

Bec’s comments from the Aussie Readers group.

Annual Genre Challenge 2024
Duration: 1/1/24 - 31/12/24
Level: Laid back
2/12
1/3 AAs

AA ★
✔


Historical Fiction

Crime

Mystery

Romance
✔ Love, Just In by Natalie Murray - AA - finished 5/1/2024 - ★★★★


Fantasy

Science Fiction

Young Adult

Award Winner/Nominee

Thriller/Suspense

Dystopian

Cosy Mystery

Memoir/Biography
✔ Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing by Matthew Perry(a) - finished 7/1/2024 ★★★★

Finished my third:
Row#2
Join a Book Club: Author - The Library on Love Heart Lane by Christie Barlow finished 13/12/2023
4 stars

Jülie ☼♄  wrote: "Check out this free Readers Journal on NetGalley, it’s a great journal for writing up reviews and keeping track of your reviews and books and challenges…also loads of inclusions! I’ve already downl..."

I got it in email too but struggling a bit having to put in in an app. I've done that, but would prefer an online clickable form.

Annual Aussie Author Challenge 2024 - Everything is Australian
Duration: 1/1/24 - 31/12/24
Level: Easy
12/12

1. KANGAROO.
In South Australia there is a beautiful place called Kangaroo Island where you can see kangaroos on the beach.
** Read a book set near a beach or with a beach on the cover.
Love, Just In by Natalie Murray - finished 5/1/2023 - 4 stars

2. DINGO.
Australia may have some of the worst poisonous creatures in the world but our apex predator is a wild dog! There are lots of them to be found on Fraser Island in Queensland.
** Read a book set in Queensland
Captive by Cally Jackson - finished 25/2/2024 - 4.5 stars


3. KOOKABURRA
When a flock of these birds start laughing it is hard not to laugh with them. They are the noisy relations of the Kingfisher family but they prefer to eat lizards to fish. The Kookaburra is one of the emblems for NSW.
** Read a book where the author's initials can be found in kookaburra.
Those Hamilton Sisters by Averil Kenny - finished 14/3/2024 - 4 stars


4. KOALA.
These cuddly creatures spend about eighteen hours per day asleep in their eucalyptus trees. Even though they may look like a teddy, Koalas are not bears!
** Read a book where you can find the letters O,L,A in the title (in any order)
What Is Left Over, After by Natasha Lester - finished 10/2/2024 - 4 stars

5. COCKATOO
The Gang Gang Cockatoo is an emblem of the Australian Capital Territory, which is the home of our capital city, Canberra.
** Read a book where you can find the letters T,C,O in the title (in any order)
** Read a book set in Canberra or any of our state or territory capitals. (Hobart)
The Chocolate Factory by Mary-Lou Stephens - finished 27/1/2024 - 4 stars

6. QUOKKA
Found in Western Australia and called the happiest animal in the world because it has a smiley little face.
** Read a book where the author's initials can be found in happiest
Invisible Boys by Holden Sheppard - finished 18/2/2024 - 4 stars

7. PLATYPUS
This strange creature frequents freshwater rivers all around Australia. Sadly numbers are dwindling and we do not often see them.
** Read a book with some association to water or swimming.
The Shallows by Holly Craig - finished 18/6/2024 - 3 stars

8. POSSUM
Very cute but they can also be a big pest. The possum is the emblem for Victoria
** Read a book set in Victoria.
The Good Dog by Simon Rowell - finished 12/1/2024 - 4 stars

9. CROCODILE
There are saltwater crocodiles in the sea and freshwater ones in the rivers but mostly in the Northern Territory. If the sign beside the waterhole says No Swimming then don't swim.
** Read a book where you can find the letters C,D,E in the title (in any order)
The Accident by Fiona Lowe - finished 22/2/2024 - 5 stars

10. TASMANIAN DEVIL
As the name suggests this animal is found in Tasmania. Not sure why it acquired the name Devil but I suppose it isn't the prettiest furry friend you have ever seen.
** Read a book where the author's initials can be found in Tasmanian Devil
What Happened to Nina? by Dervla McTiernan - finished 17/2/2024 - 4 stars


11. NUMBAT
One of our rarer creatures which lives in Western Australia.
** Read a book set in Western Australia
The Fireground by Dervla McTiernan - finished 7/2/2024 - 3.5 stars

12. WOMBAT
A long, long time ago these furry chaps were the size of elephants. Can you imagine the size of their burrows? Today they are a much more reasonable size and the Hairy Nose Wombat is the emblem of South Australia.
** Read a book set in South Australia
Ocean Street by Kingsley Allen - finished 1/2/2024 - 3 stars

I read this as an ARC earlier in the year and gave it 4 stars.

My reivew.
Next Girl Missing was a suspenseful crime novel. We are introduced to Sally Fairburn, an ex-police officer. There are a few interconnecting parts as we have a 4 year old case when 6 young girls were kidnapped but the kidnapper (nicknamed the 'Poster Killer') was never confirmed, new posters of missing people emerging, along with trying to get to the bottom of who really was Sally's ex Scott, and what really happened to Sally's daughter 5 years ago.
I found the story engaging and it was a case of who really could Sally, and her son Paul, trust. The story has snippets into the past when Sally first met her now ex-husband Scott, also a police officer, and the way he treated her. This was interesting as it outlined how she got to be how she was and also made me question Scott's character. Some surprising twists along the way. Whilst the story doesn't end on a cliff hanger, it does have some snippets of what may be investigated in book 2. Great read.

I finished my second with GOLD! by Thomas Greenbank.
Australian author.

I used it for Movie night - author.
4 tars.

I finished my first for the challenge with
Tom Lake by Ann Patchett for Pool Party using the Title.

I gave it 4 stars

Brenda wrote: "Even though it says horizontal or vertical, I should have made it clearer! Sorry Bec :)..."

Don't be sorry. I just assumed based on what everyone before me had done so it's totally on me. I'm going to have a quick look and see if it's easier for me to do vertically...but I'm pretty happy with what I worked out for horizontally so all good.

Sharon Louise wrote: I think also because the template to copy and paste only shows the rows across I figured I had better ask the question!.."

Yeah I assumed it was just horizontal based on the template....so didn't even look at vertical. I may have different choices if that is an option.

Summer Challenge
Duration - 1/12/23 - 29/2/24
Level: One
10/10
3/2 AA

Row #1
✔ Island Adventure: Author - The Good Dog by Simon Rowell - AA - finished 12/1/2024 - 4 stars
✔ Pool Party: Title - Tom Lake by Ann Patchett - finished 7/12/2023 - 4 stars
✔ Movie Night: Author - GOLD! by Thomas Greenbank AA - finished 10/12/2023 - 4 stars
✔ Summer Love: Author - The Secret Book Club by Shauna Robinson finished 1/1/2024 - 4 stars
✔ Luna Park: Author - Ocean Street by Kingsley Allen AA -finished 1/2/2024 - 3 stars




Row #2
✔ Join a Book Club: Author - The Library on Love Heart Lane by Christie Barlow finished 13/12/2023 - 4 stars
Make Ice Cream: Author - Sisterhood by Cathy Kelly finished 11/2/2024 - 4 stars
✔ Water Park: Author - Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir(a) finished 24/12/2023 - 4 stars
✔ Outdoor Concert: Author - Once Upon An Algorithm by Clara O’Connor - finished 26/12/2023 - 2 stars
✔ Bike Route: Author - The Not So Secret Emails Of Coco Pinchard by Robert Bryndza - finished 29/1/2024 - 4 stars

Well done Alex!

Marianne wrote: "Fans of Catherine Ryan Hyde might like to grab Life, Loss, and Puffins, READ NOW, publish 14 May 24"

Thakns Marianne, I do like Catherine Ryan Hyde. I still have to read A Different Kind of Gone as it keeps getting pushed back for books publishing earlier - it's soon now though so it's nearly at the top of my list!

Well done to Angela, Damo and Lee!

Well done Jenn!!

Andrea wrote: "Yes you can! And you’ll be glad you did. The audiobooks are great, and fairly short, too"

Just borrowed the first book from libby to listen to - will start on my walk tomorrow! I was in between audio books so perfect timing!

I was like, nope, not requesting the third book in a series I haven't started.....then I looked and realised the author was born in Adelaide (where I live) and though, hmmm let me see. The library has both books 1 and 2 available now on audio and this one isn't published until 30 January - so I think I can do it!

Brenda wrote: "The Milliner of Bendigo by Darry Fraser is up for request. Also Sunshine through the Rain by Penelope Janu"

thanks Brenda :)

Congratulations Phil! I see you are also over in the Around the year in 52 books group. I would love to see the books you read for that challenge. Can you let me know where your post is.

I'm really excited to see Sarah Barrie's third Lexi Winter book Vendetta is up for request on Netgalley.

Also Trent Dalton's Lola in the Mirror - although this one is not available to send to Kindle.

PattyMacDotComma wrote: "Kylie H wrote: "The sequel to The Maid by Nita Prose is now available to request on Netgalley - [book:The Mystery Guest|157..."

Ohh thank you! Says not available and to wish for it though, so I have wished for it!