Annual Aussie Author Challenge 2013

[Dale]

Thanks Brenda. What would I do without you? grin.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Dale wrote: "Thanks Brenda. What would I do without you? grin."

:D

[Kathryn]

Much better!!

[Dale]

I've now edited the post and changed the original link thanks to Brenda.

[KJ]

Just finished my April read by Romy Ash.... It was ok...3 stars.

[Janine]

I have just finished my April read In the Company of Strangers by Liz Byrski. A good read

[Elaine]

I'm changing my April read from I am the Messenger to The Likeness . This also happens to be one of my books for the Autumn challenge. How convenient!!! This way I may actually complete a challenge.

[Mish]

Well done everyone :)

[Mish]

Elaine wrote: "I'm changing my April read from I am the Messenger to The Likeness. This also happens to be one of my books for the Autumn challenge. How convenient!!! This way I ma..."

Elaine Tana French is not an Australian author.

[Mish]

Bronwyn wrote: "I am slowly getting through my list with some changes. I get my books from the library I had Shadowfever out for my Irish read but I had to give it back as they would not renew it again as someone..."

Hi Bronwyn I think you were meant to place this in the Autumn Challenge ;) anyhow you are doing very well so far

[Elaine]

Mish wrote: "Elaine wrote: "I'm changing my April read from I am the Messenger to The Likeness. This also happens to be one of my books for the Autumn challenge. How convenient!!..."

Oh Mish. That's right!!! I knew it was too good to be true.I thought I was being so clever. So I guess I'll go back to my original book. Thanks for pointing that out. I'm getting all mixed up with all these challenges and all these books!!! Whatever happened to reading for the sake of reading??? I think I'm going to have to resist these challenges in the future but I really want to finish at least one.

[Mish]

Elaine wrote: "Mish wrote: "Elaine wrote: "I'm changing my April read from I am the Messenger to The Likeness. This also happens to be one of my books for the Autumn challenge. How..."

LOL That's okay Elaine but don't resist we like having you involved in the challenges plus they're fun & help to reduce your tbr list . What I usually do is have a seperate spreadsheet, list down all the challeges and their books, and mark then off as I go.

[Dale]

Janine wrote: "I have just finished my April read In the Company of Strangers by Liz Byrski. A good read"

What did you think, Janine? My review is here http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

[Jo]

Janine wrote: "I have just finished my April read In the Company of Strangers by Liz Byrski. A good read"

Janine wrote: "I have just finished my April read In the Company of Strangers by Liz Byrski. A good read"

I am just starting this book. I haven't got far with it as I find I'm too tired at night to read But will soon get into it.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Finished my first April read Dangerous Deception by Sandy Curtis

Review to follow...

[Zoey]

Finished my April read

After the Darkness Honey Brown

Really enjoyed it. Will have to add the authors other books to the never ending pile :)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Zoey wrote: "Finished my April read

After the DarknessHoney Brown

Really enjoyed it. Will have to add the authors other books to the never ending pile :)"

She's a great author Zoey! I loved her latest, Dark Horse which is out on the 24/4:)

[Nicola]

So after totally screwing up what I was reading in March and April – I have now finished my list so I can keep on track!

Jan (Male) – A Town Like Alice Nevil Shute
Feb (Female) – Mem's The Word Mem Fox
Mar (New) – The Rosie ProjectGraeme Simsion(read in April)
April (Genre) – Darkness UnboundKeri Arthur
May (Male) – For the Term of His Natural Life Marcus Clarke (read in Mar)
June (Female) - All That I Am Anna Funder (read in April)
Jul (New) – These Haunted HeartsAnna Campbell
Aug (Genre) – A Bid for Fortune or Dr Nikola's VendettaGuy Boothby
Sep (Male) – That Deadman DanceKim Scott
Oct (Female) – Gang of FourLiz Byrski
Nov (New) – Lola BenskyLily Brett
Dec (Genre) – The Devil's DiademSara Douglass

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Nicola wrote: "So after totally screwing up what I was reading in March and April – I have now finished my list so I can keep on track!

Jan (Male) – A Town Like AliceNevil Shu..."

Oh Nicola!!! May and June have passed you by already? ;P Maybe you should treat yourself, and choose another one each for May and June? :)

[Nicola]

Brenda,
I will if I have time! but study and work are so hectic at the moment. One I read in the worng month in eoor and the other was my book club book that fitted perfectly(although a little early!)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Nicola wrote: "Brenda,
I will if I have time! but study and work are so hectic at the moment. One I read in the worng month in eoor and the other was my book club book that fitted perfectly(although a little ea..."

Never mind, do your best:) I certainly understand life gets in the way sometimes (how dare it!!) LOL

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Brenda wrote: "Finished my first April read Dangerous Deception by Sandy Curtis

Review to follow..."

My review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

[Sharon]

I have finished my April read by M.K. Hume.
I'm really glad I decided to read her books this year. I have finished 4 of them with 2 to go.

[Sally906]

I finished my April read:
April - Favourite Genre (Chick Lit) -
Peace, Love and Khaki Socks by Kim Lock

And have settled on my May book by a Male author it is going to be How Hedley Hopkins Did a Dare... by Paul Jennings

[Dale]

my male May author will be Eleven Seasons by Paul D Carter

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

I have finished my second April read, Favourite Genre (thriller) The Delta Chain by Iain Edward Henn

Review to follow

[Christy]

Finished my April book The Mothers' Group by Fiona Higgins
For some reason, I found this one a bit slow and not the best book I've read. I only gave it 3 Stars. Hopefully my May read will be a bit more to my liking. Although I'm still trying to decide what I'll read!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Brenda wrote: "I have finished my second April read, Favourite Genre (thriller) The Delta Chain by Iain Edward Henn

Review to follow"

Review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

[Dale]

Finished my other April read Taking Flight poems review to come

[Kathryn]

Christy wrote: "Finished my April book The Mothers' Group by Fiona Higgins
For some reason, I found this one a bit slow and not the best book I've read. I only gave it 3 St..."

I just finished The Mothers' Group and I loved it! Although I'm not sure whether that was because I'd read your post, Christy and wasn't expecting it to be that good or whether it was just my type of book. I do enjoy books written from different people's perspective - you picture characters in a certain way and then when the viewpoint shifts, you see a different side of the same characters - I gave this one 4 stars.

It wasn't my April - Favourite genre - read, that was The Dressmaker by Posie Graeme-Evans which I read and was reasonably interested in (3 stars) but I've also read The Lavender Keeper by Fiona McIntosh during April and I thoroughly enjoyed that (4 stars) and am considering reading its sequel, The French Promise for the next new release month (July, I think, isn't it?)...

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Yes Kathryn, July is the next new release:) I have both of those by Fiona to read yet!

[Sharon]

I was going to read by Markus Zusak for May but as my daughter lent her copy to a friend I changed my choice to also by Markus Zusak. I quite enjoyed it, giving it 3 stars.

[Dale]

Reading Eleven Seasonsfor my May read

[Leonie]

Sharon wrote: "I was going to read by Markus Zusak for May but as my daughter lent her copy to a friend I changed my choice to also by Markus ..."

Interestingly enough, I was chatting to our son's 17 year old girlfriend a couple of nights ago, and their current General English book is The Book Thief and she commented that she was really enjoying it, which is a lovely change, as my two have had to study Emma and Romulus, My Father.

Both hated Emma with a passion, (even our daughter) and to be honest, I'm left wondering how many 17 year old boys have actually 'enjoyed' Emma. Both thought Romulus was at least tolerable. Currently Lach's working on Frankenstein for year 12.

I often wonder what inspires teachers to pick certain books from the lists, and precisely what gets them on the lists in the first place. Nice to see a 'popular' author on the list :)

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

Leonie wrote: "Sharon wrote: "I was going to read by Markus Zusak for May but as my daughter lent her copy to a friend I changed my choice to ..."

Another way of looking at it though is that you will always read 'popular' books but sometimes it is good to have to try the classics. I love Jane Austen and will read her anytime but I am glad my school made me read Shakespeare and Charles Dickens for example because I would not include them in my daily reads!

[Leonie]

Phrynne wrote: "Leonie wrote: "Sharon wrote: "I was going to read by Markus Zusak for May but as my daughter lent her copy to a friend I changed my choice to , or even discovered the joys of live theatre. While I'm all in favour of some of the classics, I was probably querying the choice of Emma, when half the class are adolescent males :) I think one of the hardest things for any teacher to do, is to engage young readers, and enthuse them about working with words.

The biggest issue we've had with our (avid reader) kids and "English" at school, is choice of novel - if they hate the novel or find it very slow to read, they're not engaged, and there begins the issues of doing well in the subject, or, for some kids, turning them off reading completely.

I'm glad our kids love to read, but very few of their peers seem to read for enjoyment. Part of it is obviously about what happens at home, but for those whose contact with the wonderful world of books is limited to the English class, I find it sad that they're left with an aversion to trying other stuff.

On the other hand, I (47 year old woman!) recently enjoyed Oliver Twist and one of my all time favourites is The Count of Monte Cristo which may well not be to everyone's taste. Mind you, I do enjoy a lovely cross section of literature.

[Kathryn]

Phrynne wrote: "Leonie wrote: "Sharon wrote: "I was going to read by Markus Zusak for May but as my daughter lent her copy to a friend I changed my choice to [bookcover:I am the Me..."

That is true for people like us who love reading so much, but I would think some young people may not even read "popular" books because they've been turned off reading by the awful book choices they were forced to read in high school. I do hope this isn't the case too often, but I'm sure it would happen.

[Leonie]

Wow, that's weird, my entire post has appeared in italics, and although I've tried to edit it, there appears to be nothing to edit!

And it's missing half my first sentence, not to mention the paragraph breaks, which all appear when I attempt to edit it. Bizarre.

[Kathryn]

Leonie wrote: "Wow, that's weird, my entire post has appeared in italics, and although I've tried to edit it, there appears to be nothing to edit!

And it's missing half my first sentence, not to mention the para..."

I didn't see your post before I posted mine, Leonie, but they are similar sentiments!! And it IS sad for kids to be turned off reading - they don't know what they're missing. Then again, maybe they will end up achieving a lot more than I do since I'm often trying to finish a chapter or a section or a book!!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Leonie wrote: "Wow, that's weird, my entire post has appeared in italics, and although I've tried to edit it, there appears to be nothing to edit!

And it's missing half my first sentence, not to mention the para..."

I have found that happens now and again Leonie, and what I have to do is NOT hit "reply" to the post I'm replying to...then it works ok. Maybe put @Phrynne instead:)

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

Leonie wrote: "Wow, that's weird, my entire post has appeared in italics, and although I've tried to edit it, there appears to be nothing to edit!

And it's missing half my first sentence, not to mention the para..."

I type my reply first and then hit reply to the other post. That usually fixes the italics.
I agree that children should be encouraged to read whatever it takes - and The Book Thief will probably become a classic anyway because it is that good.
However there must still be some children who want to read. And surely they should be at least shown good literature.

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

Ouch! Let me rephrase that quickly. ....they should be at least shown classic literature.

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

Starting Cloudstreet today for my May read. I may be the last person left in Australia to read this and I have no excuse. I hope I like it as much as so many other people do.

[Kathryn]

You aren't the last, Phrynne - I tried earlier this year and just couldn't keep going so I had to abandon it. I don't think I'll be inclined to try again for a very long time. Hope you like it better than I did!

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

Kathryn wrote: "You aren't the last, Phrynne - I tried earlier this year and just couldn't keep going so I had to abandon it. I don't think I'll be inclined to try again for a very long time. Hope you like it be..."

Me too!!!!

[Leonie]

I haven't read it either - probably makes me a bad Australian :) I did give it to my sister for Christmas though - does that count?

[Mish]

Me either ladies. I've got it scheduled to read it this year for another challenge. I hope it works for me....fingers crossed

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

I'm well into it now and it has a certain something. A question for those who have read it. Do people like this really exist?

[Janine]

I have finished my May male author.
The Daughters of Mars by Thomas Keneally
An interesting story but I didn't like the writing style

[Elaine]

Phrynne wrote: "I'm well into it now and it has a certain something. A question for those who have read it. Do people like this really exist?"

I think they do Phrynne. Most of the characters were seriously flawed or had to put up with the weaknesses and selfishness of others.What poor old Rose and Quick go through and Lester and Sam. Dolly was very realistic for me.I could go on. It's not so far fetched, I think this happens in real life all the time.