**Summer Reading Challenge** - 1/12/12 - 28/2/13

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Going well Cath!

[Catherine]

Thanks Brenda. Trying my best to finish this challenge. =)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Cath wrote: "Thanks Brenda. Trying my best to finish this challenge. =)"

You will get there Cath:)

[Zoey]

"Zoey wrote: "Finished!!! :)

Elaine wrote:Good job, Zoey. Well done on finishing. Somehow I don't think I'm going to make it. I've got 4 to go and I've got three of them on the go at the moment, in the hope that I can get through them. All digits crossed!!!

You've still got a couple of weeks to go Elaine, you can do it :) Plus you have read some big ones in that time haven't you (The Sunne in Splendour) so you are doing a great job.
3 at once!?!? I dont think I could do that, I would have myself all confused :)

[Elaine]

Still going with The Sunne in Splendour, Zoey. I'm really loving it but had to leave it so I can read the others for the challenge. Yes it does get a bit confusing and sometimes I even mix up the characters!!! But mostly I manage to stay on track. I'll keep you posted.

[Trina]

Finished my romance, Atonement, last night, rated it 5 stars, it was very beautiful. I've got one to go, my Australian author pick, and I think I'm going to change it to Mad Men Bad Girls by Maggie Groff, which I scored free this week.

[Kathryn]

All done! 12 (+ 4)/12 completed!





1. Celebrate Australia: Nine Days by Toni Jordan 3★

Am also including At Home With the Templetons by Monica McInerney since I picked up the audiobook to keep me amused while crocheting and it can fit in here! I didn't feel it was as good as some of her others, but it was enjoyable enough 3★

2. TBR: The Prodigal Daughter by Jeffrey Archer 4★

These 2 also fit here:
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer It's my first 5★ of the year - I loved this one - beautifully written and a wonderful story!

The Associate by John Grisham John Grisham books are automatics on my TBR list, but sometimes I'm a bit slow to read them since I generally wait for the frenetic library activity to die down on books before I borrow them! And really, when all's said and done, although I do like John Grisham, generally they are variations on a theme... With some exceptions.

3. Food: The Bite of the Mango by Mariatu Kamara 4★

4.Related to Summer: The Beach House by Jane Green 3★

5. Australia Day: The Lieutenant Kate Grenville 3★

6. Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras: Fingersmith by Sarah Waters 2★

7.Christmas: Two Tickets to the Christmas Ball by Donita K. Paul 5★

8. New release: A Possible Life: A Novel in Five Parts by Sebastian Faulks Not quite what I was expecting - there are 5 people's stories at different times and places and I thought they would be interconnected than they were. 2★

9. Literature Map, typed in Jeffrey Archer and got Wilbur Smith
Those in Peril by Wilbur A. Smith 2★ (probably really only worth 1.5★)

10. Valentine's Day: Paris in Love by Eloisa James 3★

Am also including The Surgeon's Wife by William H. Coles since I read it for another challenge and it fits into this group. 2★

11.Fantasy/Paranormal/Horror: A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle I read this in primary school and vaguely remembered enjoying it - and it was just as enjoyable the second time around (possibly more so, since there were allusions to things I don't think I would have picked up on when young 4★

12.Non-fiction: Band-Aid for a Broken Leg Damien Brown 4★

[Mish]

Trina wrote: "Finished my romance, Atonement, last night, rated it 5 stars, it was very beautiful. I've got one to go, my Australian author pick, and I think I'm going to change it to Mad Men Bad Girls by Maggie..."

Oooh a freebie. Great Trina I hope it's a good one :)

[Mish]

Kathryn wrote: "All done! 12 (+ 4)/12 completed!





1. Celebrate Australia: Nine Days by Toni Jordan 3★

Am also including At Home With the Templetons by Monic..."

You did it Kathryn, Well done. I agree with you re The Guernsey Literary And Potato Peel Pie Society it's a lovely book

[Elaine]

Just finished my 9th book for this challenge Chocolat . I gave it 3 stars. Only 3 more to go. Not sure I'm liking my chances.

[Catherine]

11/12

Finished The Harp In The South .

[MarciaB]

My updated list:

3. Food -
Georgia's Kitchen

7. Christmas (incl Carols) -
Twelve Days of Christmas

9. Literature Map -
Black Ice
(Similar to Linda Howard)

11. Fantasy / Paranormal from TBR
Dance of Shadows - complete, review to follow soon

12. Non-Fiction from TBR
Bush Nurses: Inspiring true stories of nursing bravery and ingenuity in rural and remote Australia

[MarciaB]

Michael wrote: "Going great Marica. You will finish it no worries. :)"

Thanks Michael - remains to be seen. I will try my best though :) Sorry to all my mates for not being so sociable lately :(

[Catherine]

3. Food! We all love food, and the summer fare is yummy! Choose a book relating to summery foods, salads, barbeques, pavlova, recipes, anything where summery foods might be a topic or even the title!

Will read this .

[Jackmeister]

I have now finished 10 of my 12 books,

Finished,

1 Tomorrow, When the War Began by John Marsden - Aussie Author - 3 stars, pretty good, will read the whole series
2 Heartsick by Chelsea Cain - To Be Read - 5 stars, very good but disturbing.
3 The Dreadful Lemon Sky by John D. MacDonald - Food - 4 stars
4 Laguna Heat by T. Jefferson Parker - Summer - 4 stars
6 L.A. Heat by P.A. Brown - Gay Character/Author - 3 stars
7 The Spy Who Came For Christmas by David Morrell - Christmas -3 stars
8 Suspect by Robert Crais - New Release - 4 stars
9 Three Shirt Deal by Stephen J. Cannell - Literature Map - 5 stars
10 Valentine's Day Is Killing Me by Leslie Esdaile - Valentines Day - 2 stars
11 Stolen Angels by Shaun Hutson - Fantasy/Horror - 2 stars

Still To Read

5 The Story of Danny Dunn by Bryce Courtenay - Australia Day
12 Scarecrow by Matthew Reilly - Re-read

[Trina]

Finished!

Updated list!

1. Aussie author: Mad Men Bad Girls by Maggie Groff 4/5 (review coming maybe)

2. TBR: The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien 5/5

3. Food: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl 5/5

4. Summer book: The Girl Who Played With Fire by Stieg Larsson 5/5

5. Australia Day: While I Live by John Marsden 4/5

6. LGBT*: Queer by William Burroughs 5/5

7. Christmas: Let It Snow 5/5

8. New release: The Agincourt Bride by Joanna Hickson 3/5

9. Literature map: searched John Green, got Jay Asher and so I'll be reading Thirteen Reasons Why 5/5

10. Valentine's day: Atonement by Ian McEwan 5/5

11. Fantasy/paranormal/horror: The Waste Lands by Stephen King 5/5

12. Reread or non-fiction: Parallel Worlds by Michio Kaku 5/5

[Mish]

Trina wrote: "Finished!

Updated list!

1. Aussie author: Mad Men Bad Girls by Maggie Groff 4/5 (review coming maybe)

2. TBR: The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien 5/5

3. Food: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roa..."

Well done Trina.

[Trina]

I did end up writing a review for Mad Men Bad Girls even though I'm really not great at review writing. http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

[Mish]

Trina wrote: "I did end up writing a review for Mad Men Bad Girls even though I'm really not great at review writing. http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/..."

I think you did well with the review. Thanks Trina :)

[Trina]

Thanks Mish. I never know what to write!

[Melissa]

Arrgghhh! I have hit the wall. 2 weeks to go and I have 3 books to read. I have been stuck on a TBR for 2 weeks now but determined to finish it.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Kathryn wrote: "All done! 12 (+ 4)/12 completed!





1. Celebrate Australia: Nine Days by Toni Jordan 3★

Am also including At Home With the Templetons by Monic..."

Congratulations Kathryn!! Excellent job:)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Trina wrote: "Finished!

Updated list!

1. Aussie author: Mad Men Bad Girls by Maggie Groff 4/5 (review coming maybe)

2. TBR: The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien 5/5

3. Food: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roa..."

Well done Trina! Great result:)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Some wonderful results here everyone!! No panicking now...you still have plenty of time:)

[Kathryn]

Well done to everyone who's already finished! And to those still going - hang in there - I hope the reading is enjoyable (on the whole)...

[[deleted user]]

Another two down...still have nothing for food

1. Celebrate Australia (Aussie Author) -Shadows

2. Lighten the Load! (TBR) -Unearthly

3. Food! - TBR

4. Summer - The Sea of Tranquility

5. Australia Day - On the Jellicoe Road

6. GLBT Author - Will Grayson, Will Grayson

7. Christmas- Dash & Lily's Book of Dares

8. New Release -Uses for Boys

9. Literature Map - Christopher Paolini to Cinda Williams Chima so - The Demon King

10. Valentine's Day - Asphodel

11. Fantasy TBR - Throne of Glass

12. Re-read - The Hobbit

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Doing well Melanie...have you checked the many other lists for their choices of 'food' books?

[Melissa]

Michael wrote: "You can do it Melissa you still have plenty of time to go.

Trina i know what you mean. It takes me alot of time to write my reviews as im always lost for what to say."

Thanks Michael. I am determined to finish this one

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Melissa wrote: "Michael wrote: "You can do it Melissa you still have plenty of time to go.

Trina i know what you mean. It takes me alot of time to write my reviews as im always lost for what to say."

Thanks Mic..."

Good for you Melissa!

[Christy]

1. Celebrate Australia -
The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton

2. TBR a. -Notorious Nineteen by Janet Evanovich - 4 Stars

b. The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd - 5 Stars

3. Food - Chocolat by Joanne Harris 2 Stars - Ugh how this book could be so bad when the movie was so cute! Terribly disappointed!

4. Summer - Summer Sisters by Judy Blume

5. Australia Day - The Lieutenant by Kate Grenville

6. Sydney Gay - Lesbian Mardi Gras - The Hours by Michael Cunningham

7. Christmas - Santa Koala by Colin Buchanan and Glen Singleton - Children's book that my daughter actually sang to in her final assembly last year - cheating maybe, but too cute!!!

8. New Release - Postcards from the Dead by Laura Childs 5 Stars

9. Literature Map - I put in Philippa Gregory and came up with Ariana Franklin so I'll read Mistress of the Art of Death

10. Valentine's Day - Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress by Dai Sijie

I too am sad that I don't think I'll be able to finish this challenge :( Between moving houses, Christmas, School Holidays and husband having surgery, unfortunately I have not had much time to read this summer. I am almost done with Mardi Gras pick, so who knows....There is still a few weeks left and the wee ones are back in school and hubby is back at work so I'll get some free time to try to catch up!!! Fingers crossed!! And if I manage to do it, eyes crossed too!! ;)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Good luck Christy...but sounds like you've had a hard time finding time to read. Don't worry though if you don't finish, maybe you can swing some of them over to the Autumn challenge;)

[Lesley]

As the Goodreads setup is new to me I can't trace my last entry so will enter everything again. I have started my last book with 2 weeks to go, it should be ok, although I have just discarded my third book as being not worth persuing. Here goes..
1. Aus Author - The Household Guide to Dying Debra Adelaide 4 stars
2. TBR - The Yiddish Policemans's Union Michael Chabon 4 stars
3. Summer food/title - The Secrets of the Tsil Cafe Thomas Fox Averill 2 stars
4. Summer in the title. Bleak Summer Jon Cleary 3 stars
5.Aus. Day - Heat the Train Whistle Blow/Goodbye Girlie. Patsy Adam Smith 3 stars
6.Gay - Corfy Robert Dessaix 2 stars
7.Christmas - The Christmas Books Vol 2. Charles Dickens 3 stars
8. New Release - Sunshine in Scotland St. Alexander McCall Smith 2 stars
9.Literature Map - Quarantine. Jim Crace 4 stars
10.Romance - The Rosie Project Graeme Simision 4 stars
11 Fantasy - Dragonlinks. Paul Collins 3 stars
12.Reread - The Mallorean Series.. David Eddings 4 stars

This has been a different and enjoyable exercise, will try one of the other 'reads' in the future. I have enjoyed your comments, fellow readers and Brenda

[Kim BookGirl]

Lesley wrote: "As the Goodreads setup is new to me I can't trace my last entry so will enter everything again. I have started my last book with 2 weeks to go, it should be ok, although I have just discarded my th..."

What's your last book? Well done by the way. I have failed this challenge. I have been reading quite a bit, just not challenge books as I have had a rush of library holds come in.

[[deleted user]]

i finished and waiting to get from my library i will finish this challenge after that book

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Well done Arena...I hope they don't take too long getting you the book!

[Melissa]

2. TBR Marked http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

[Melissa]

Lesley wrote: "As the Goodreads setup is new to me I can't trace my last entry so will enter everything again. I have started my last book with 2 weeks to go, it should be ok, although I have just discarded my th..."

Well done Aunty Lesley, you are doing better than me at this point.

[[deleted user]]

I got my last book as a audio

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

That will work Arena;) Almost there!!

[Catherine]

12/12

Completed this challenge this morning. Yay!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

CONGRATULATIONS Cath!!! Well done:)

[Christy]

Finished my 6th book The Hours and am going to dive in to my seventh which of course I've changed to The House At Riverton and we'll see if I can get one step closer to completing this challenge!
Wish me luck ;)

[Catherine]

Brenda wrote: "CONGRATULATIONS Cath!!! Well done:)"

Thank you.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Christy wrote: "Finished my 6th book The Hours and am going to dive in to my seventh which of course I've changed to The House At Riverton and we'll see if I can get one s..."

Good luck Christy!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Well done Michael!!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Michael wrote: "Cheers Brenda. I really enjoyed this challenge. I suppose it helps im on holidays atm. :)"

Always helps when you can read more;)

[Nicola]

Finished my second Christmas themed book
Why Was the Partridge in the Pear Tree?: The History of Christmas Carols / Reverend Mark Lawson-Jones
Still listening to Outlander/ Diana Gabaldon
and just a few pages away from finishing The Two Forgers: A Biography Of Harry Buxton Forman & Thomas James Wise / John F.R. Collins
That only leaves 2 books to finish in 10 days!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Nicola wrote: "Finished my second Christmas themed book
Why Was the Partridge in the Pear Tree?: The History of Chris..."

Go Nicola!! lol You'll do it!

[Nicola]

Brenda wrote: "Nicola wrote: "Finished my second Christmas themed book
Why Was the Partridge in the Pear Tree?: The H..."

Problem is one is an audio book of 15 hours - and 'm still ploughing through Outlander! but will definitely give it a go.... and if I could find the code to my stereo in the car I could listen more!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

It should be in the book in your glove box? Or go to the garage, they will do it for you? Good luck!