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

Andrea’s comments from the Aussie Readers group.

I haven't read it yet, but I think it's My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry by Fredrik Backman.

Irene wrote: "Hundreds of books are published before Christmas to be given as gifts and Icelanders take to bed with books and chocolate. Hmmh...."

I think that tradition might need to be continued at my house...

Looking forward to this:

1). Author: Read a book by an author who is new to you.
The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George
2). Debut: Read a debut novel by any author.
Orhan's Inheritance by Aline Ohanesian
3). New Release: Read a book which was recently published (within the past 6 months).
Kissed By A Deer by Margi Gibb (Oct 2015)
4). New Year, New Series!: Read the first book in a series or trilogy that is new to you.
Saving Wishes by G.J. Walker-Smith
5). Reader’s Choice: Read any book of your choice.
TBD

Kathryn wrote: "and if I manage several new releases this year I'll be doing well! ..."

That part's important Kathryn, as I discovered recently! I loaded my reading way too heavily towards others' recommendations this year and then found I had nothing to vote for in the Goodreads Choice Awards.

Finished my B, The Bell Jar, 3.5 stars.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

This year I didn't read enough Australian authors to even offer a top 5, so I figure Shelf level will be an improvement on that.

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 ★★★★



2 Down
1. One-word title: Nest by Inga Simpson ★★★★
2. YA: Saving Wishes by G.J. Walker-Smith ★★
3. Indigenous fiction: Tiddas by Anita Heiss ★★
4. 500+ pages: Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts ★★★☆
5. Historical fiction: Fields of Gold by Fiona McIntosh ★★★★
6. Speculative fiction: Bitter Greens by Kate Forsyth ★★★★☆

Lesley wrote: "I've managed to read one off my list. A A Little Life Read 11 Dec, 5 stars. F French Women Don't Get Fat: The Secret of Eating for Pleasure I [book:In the Heart o..."

Lesley, are you looking for recommendations for N? I've got a few ideas.

MaryG2E wrote: "Actually Jools, all jokes aside, a challenge with sequential numbers in the titles could be a really good one. I've already got a couple on my TBR list that would fit:
One Plus One ..."

Yes, do that one Mary!

Mine haven't changed a great deal since mid-year, but that's not to say I haven't read some really good books in the second half of the year.

Brother of the More Famous Jack by Barbara Trapido
Life After Life by Kate Atkinson
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
The Luminaries by Eleanor Catton
A Fort of Nine Towers: An Afghan Family Story by Qais Akbar Omar

My honourable mentions go to a trio of books that have stayed in (or messed with) my head over the year:

Dogeaters by Jessica Hagedorn
You by Caroline Kepnes
Alex by Pierre Lemaitre

Finished my C, A Constellation of Vital Phenomena. Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Next up will be B, The Bell Jar, but not straight away as I need to catch up on another challenge.

On Sunday I read 114 pages of A Constellation of Vital Phenomena and 6 pages of The Feng Shui Detective Goes South. Total for readathon is 312 pages.

Saturday - 88 pages of A Constellation of Vital Phenomena.

Is it wrong that every time I read "Chechnya" (which is often, as the book is set there) my mind goes to Renee Zellweger doing Bridget Jones?

This morning I finished my A, Alex, 4.5★

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Now I'm onto my C, A Constellation of Vital Phenomena.

Read through to the end of Alex last night, so that's 104 pages for Friday.

Starting on A Constellation of Vital Phenomena next.

Ryan wrote: "Ryan wrote: "The Martian, written by Matt Damon is also less than five bucks. Okay I admit, this was actually written by Andy Weir, not Matt Damon. ..."

Matt Damon is a very talented human being, but yeah...

This is interesting - a summer promotion of Victorian literature. The books are:

The Unbroken Line by Alex Hammond
Between Us: Women of Letters curated by Marieke Hardy and Michaela McGuire
Certain Admissions: A Beach, a Body and a Lifetime of Secrets by Gideon Haigh
Hello Beautiful!: Scenes from a Life by Hannie Rayson
Please Don't Leave Me Here by Tania Chandler
Dangerous Games: Australia at the 1936 Nazi Olympics by Larry Writer
Leap by Myfanwy Jones
Bad Behaviour by Rebecca Starford
The Secret Son by Jenny Ackland
Tumbledown Manor by Helen Brown

The promotion runs through participating libraries. More details can be found here: http://www.slv.vic.gov.au/live-learn/...

Nice one Graham - sounds good!

Please add me Brenda, it will be a good start to the summer challenge for me.

Karen wrote: "Quote "Sometimes people are beautiful. Not in looks. Not in what they say, just in what they are"."

Lovely!

I really liked the show last night, and especially enjoyed listening to Leigh Sales speaking in a different context to the usual one.

Looks like I now have my summer reading sorted (apart from the challenge) - A Little Life and jumping aboard the Elena Ferrante train.