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

Andrea’s comments from the Aussie Readers group.

I have finished my new release, Kissed By A Deer, 3★.

Now I have moved on to my #1 (author new to me) with The Little Paris Bookshop.

Mish wrote: "Hi everyone. I hope you all had a lovely Christmas and New Year. I think it’s time we get things moving on this thread and set a date and location for our get together. I thought we might meet u..."

Sounds good Mish, but I will wait a little longer to confirm. I'm already eyeing off my books, thinking about what to offer up for the swap!

I finished my N book from BEL CANTO today, Nest by Inga Simpson. I gave it 4★

PattyMacDotComma wrote: "5★ for my first one. An author new to me is Nam Le, an Aussie who came here as a one-year old refugee from Vietnam . . . on a boat. This book of short stories is named after the la..."

I really liked that one too, Patty. Have you seen the graphic adaptation that SBS did of the title story? http://www.sbs.com.au/theboat/

I've been reading Nest the past couple of days. I'm really enjoying it - the mystery of it - but I'm a bit surprised at how different it is from Mr Wigg. I guess the similarity is that in Mr Wigg I learned a lot about fruit, and in Nest I'm learning a lot about birds.

I think I will dive into Nest by Inga Simpson first - been looking forward to it.

I grabbed Prick with a Fork from the Salvos yesterday. I always enjoyed Larissa Dubecki's restaurant reviews, so this should be good reading.

Definitely Hidden Bodies, and with any luck The Mirror and the Light.

I'm calling time on this challenge, with two books unread. I still want to read them, so hopefully I'll fit them in somewhere next year. Here is a rundown of how it all went:

A Man Called Ove ★★★★★
Alex ★★★★☆
The Bell Jar ★★★☆
The Book of Secrets
Code Name Verity ★★★★
A Constellation of Vital Phenomena ★★★
A Fort of Nine Towers: An Afghan Family Story ★★★★★
I'll Give You the Sun ★★★
The Lavender Keeper ★★★☆
Life After Life ★★★★★
The Luminaries ★★★★
Mister Owita's Guide to Gardening: How I Learned the Unexpected Joy of a Green Thumb and an Open Heart
Mr Wigg ★★★★☆
Nightingale ★★★★
Ronan's Echo ★★★★
S. ★★★☆
Salmon Fishing in the Yemen ★★★
Still Alice ★★★★
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn ★★★★
Unforgivable ★★★★
The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry ★★★☆
The Visitors ★★★★
You ★★★★☆

Andrea's Awards
Book most fondly remembered - Life After Life
Book that hurt my brain the most (in a good way) - S.
Book whose sequel I am most looking forward to - You
Author I am most grateful to have discovered - Lisa Genova

Well done, Carolyn!

Kathryn wrote: "Go, Andrea! I've thought The Sunne in Splendour and The Far Pavilions would be good, but I've not been game to tackle them yet...!"

I must admit The Sunne in Splendour gives me palpitations, just thinking about it, and it's not even the longest!

In 2016 I want to wipe a few of the heftier tomes off my TBR. I've selected 7 to begin with, but may add others during the year. I figure if I can get through about one every couple of months, I'll be doing well.

A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry 624pages ★★★★★
A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara 736pages ★★★★★
A Place of Greater Safety by Hilary Mantel 985pages ★★★☆
The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt 852pages
Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts 1108pages ★★★☆
The Sunne In Splendour by Sharon Kay Penman 1169pages
The Far Pavilions by M.M. Kaye 1319pages ★★☆

I noticed an example the other day when RitaSkeeter reviewed Night Owls, which I hadn't heard of, but was already on my TBR. The other name for it is The Anatomical Shape of a Heart, which is how I'd seen it promoted in the GR newsletter.

The Eye of the Sheep is included in today's 12 Days of Kindle Deals for US$1.74

http://www.amazon.com/Eye-Sheep-Sofie...

Lorraine wrote: "I'm currently reading another Danielle Steel book, after just reading Accident, and I'm so unimpressed that I can't even recall the name of the book I'm reading! So why do I read Danielle Steel whe..."

I think I've only ever read one of hers, and it was 'nice' and completely forgettable. Maybe some people are comfortable with that kind of escapism? I'm with you though Lorraine - life is too short and there are too many good books to read.

Happy Christmas everyone - have a wonderful day!

Mish wrote: "Is it Wolf Hall ?"

Yes, Mish, that's it!

It's historical fiction. And when I said award-winning, I probably should have said prize-winning.

OK, it's the first part of an award-winning trilogy (part #3 not yet published, but overdue).

Oh goody! *rubs hands together*

"So now get up."