Andrea’s Comments (group member since Sep 13, 2012)

Andrea’s comments from the Aussie Readers group.

MaryG2E wrote: "OMG, turned on the computer this morning, clicked my Goodreads tab in the favourites bar, and everything has changed. It is not to my liking at all. They made an abrupt change to the layout several..."

Excuse me while I go to my room to have my meltdown...

I've made a start on my readers' choice - Shantaram. You may not hear back from me for a while...

I know there are more than a few Potter fans in the group - who is excited about today's launch of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child? Any tales to tell about acquiring the final instalment?

I was at another restaurant in the same laneway yesterday, and when I left at about 2:30 I ran into the enormous rally on Swanston St and ended up having to walk home (no trams). No big deal, but as this is a fairly regular occurrence on Saturday afternoons, I thought I'd mention it in case some folks need to come up with a Plan B to get home. It seems to be worst from 2 till about 3:30 or so. My own plan B will be to hang around until later in the afternoon, which shouldn't be a problem if our Feb lunch is anything to go by.

Phrynne wrote: "And I am not counting how many I added at the same time:)"

Oh, that reminds me, I fully intended to do that. Let me see... -4 but +18. It doesn't really add up in my favour.

I finished my 4th book today, so I'm calling my July challenge complete. Sadly I didn't manage to read my 'book you want to read the most', but I'll get to it eventually!

3) A book from your favourite genre Staying On 4★
5) A book by an author new to you Bitter Greens* 4.5★
7) A book by a male author Cairo * 4★
10) A book with a cover you love The Marriage Bureau for Rich People 2.5★

I've picked 5, but only expect to get through 3 in August because Shantaram is my only Aussie and it's very BIG.

1). August is brought to you by the letter ‘A’: The Hungry Tide by Amitav Ghosh ★★★★
2). August Historical Fact: All the Light We Cannot See
3). Cover Hunt: Siddhartha ★★
4). Books about Books: The Book of Secrets
5). Reader’s Choice: Shantaram * ★★★☆

I have finished my minimum of three books now, but this morning started on my 4th and I'm into it straight away.

3) A book from your favourite genre Staying On 4★
5) A book by an author new to you Bitter Greens* - Reading
7) A book by a male author Cairo * 4★
10) A book with a cover you love The Marriage Bureau for Rich People 2.5★

Mish, could you please bump me up into the Confirmed list? Thanks. Looking forward to it.

A bingo at last!

6 Across
1. Non Fiction: My Life in Ruins by Adam Ford ★★★★
2. Speculative fiction: Only the Animals by Ceridwen Dovey ★★
3. With a child on cover: Why You Are Australian: A Letter to My Children by Nikki Gemmell ★★★★☆
4. Female author: The Chocolate Promise by Josephine Moon ★★★
5. Sky on cover: Kissed By A Deer by Margi Gibb ★★★
6. Male main character: Cairo by Chris Womersley ★★★★



Now, I only have 2 more books to read to complete my Shelf.

I'm reading Cairo (already mentioned in this discussion) at the moment and it's just so spot-on with its Fitzroy and Carlton details that I'm finding it almost distracting. In a good way. My brain keeps going off to look for mental images of the places described. I'm loving it.

Arrived in the mail today: Pocket Atlas of Remote Islands: Fifty Islands I Have Not Visited and Never Will by Judith Schalansky. It was discussed in another GR group earlier this year and I've been looking for it everywhere, so in the end I just treated myself to the hardcover edition from overseas. Definitely one that does not lend itself to eBook format, I'd say.

I'm reading Cairo by Chris Womersley. It's very different from his other novel that I read, Bereft. I'm enjoying it though. It's set in a part of Melbourne I know quite well.

Thanks for the feedback. I'm not going to renew. I can always pop into my local library to flip through it (like I always used to, before I subscribed) if I want to.

Suzie wrote: "I just saw this advertisement for the Scandinavian film festival. A Man Called Ove was such a great book, I wonder how the film will do it justice?
http://www.scandinavianfilmfestiv..."

Didn't know about this, but the trailer looks promising. It makes me want to read the book again.

MaryG2E wrote: "I read Louise Erdrich's The Master Butchers Singing Club a few months ago and loved it. ..."

That sounds great, too - added.

I'm not sure If this is the right folder for this topic, so apologies if I got it wrong.

My subscription to GR mag is up for renewal, and I'm seriously debating whether to go ahead. The cost for the print edition is getting pretty steep, and I figure I could spend that money on actual books - I get all the reviews and recommendation I could ever want from this group after all!!

Does anyone out there subscribe to the digital edition? I'm thinking of a compromise, and wondering what it's like as an alternative to the print one.

Last night's episode was a lot of fun. I already knew I wanted to read LaRose by Louise Erdrich, but the feisty discussion about Gaudy Night prompted me to add that one to my TBR as well. I'm not sure whether it will be my cup of tea, but I'm interested in finding out. The way Toni Jordan and Virginia Gay were defending it, was really quite endearing (and intriguing).

I just noticed The Sister by Louise Jensen available for pre-order for only US$1.46.

https://www.amazon.com/Sister-psychol...

Zoey wrote: "Didnt quite finish this one, still reading my final book. But in my defence it is rather large :) ..."

Snap, Zoey! Although the weather today looks like it could help, I doubt I will make it to the finish line on my 4th book. I'm up to p705, with almost 300 to go. I just have to hope it doesn't eat too far into my July reading time. I've rolled the Kate Forsyth book over to the July challenge.

#1. Nine Days by Toni Jordan* 5★
#2. The Last Painting of Sara de Vos by Dominic Smith* 4.5★
#3. A Place of Greater Safety by Hilary Mantel - Reading
#4. The Tusk That Did the Damage by Tania James 3.5★
#5. Bitter Greens by Kate Forsyth*