**Spring Reading Challenge - 2013**

[Janine]

I have just finished my 11th for this challenge but it was a struggle.
6. The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons 2*

[Elaine]

Janine wrote: "I have just finished my 11th for this challenge but it was a struggle.
6. The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons 2*"

Janine sorry to hear you struggled with it. This is one of my all time favourite books.

[Trevor]

Finished another couple for the challenge - The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame 3 ★'s and
On the Beach by Nevil Shute 4 ★'s

[Ashleigh]

I have just finished my 5th book. I did not have this on my original list but I really wanted to read it and fit it into this challenge.

And I could use it for # 7, 8 or 9.

★★★★

I have started reading #4 Aussie New Release The Storyteller and his Three Daughters, which I am enjoying.

[Janine]

I have finished my 12th for this challenge.
No 3 New Life The Doctor and the Diva by Adrienne McDonnell 3*
I just have my November TBR to go

[Mish]

You're all doing well :)

[B the BookAddict]

Finished my twelfth book #7 Y/A The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame. Hayley and I read this over Skype so it's a 3.75★.

[Sharon]

Finished my 9th #9 First letter of my name: Silver Bay by Jojo Moyes

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

[Elaine]

Finished my 8th for this challenge, starting with the letter E. Evidence Of Life . Gave it 4 stars. It was a great read.

[Nicola]

I've just finished an audio book that I started early last year and put it under Number 1 TBR list
Hornet Flight / Ken Follett

[Steve]

I have finished my fifteenth, my second 6. Melbourne Cup, Jack of Diamonds, with my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show....

Up next is my first 3. New Life, Still Missing.

[Kathryn]

Sounds like people are progressing well. I think it might be time for an update for me as I've changed some of my original choices.


1. Spring clean - The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield. Loved it! 5★

2. Spring Colours - The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling Very thought-provoking. 5★

3. New life of some description - Perfume from Provence by Winifred Fortescue - author starts a new life in Provence. Not as good as I expected – I remembered reading a book quite a while ago (before I started using GR!) written by someone renovating a house in France and I loved it and expected this would be similar. This was fine, but not as good as that one. 3★

4. Aussie new release – waiting on The Tailor's Girl by Fiona McIntosh. I loved The Lavender Keeper and enjoyed The French Promise so this one should float my boat as long as I can get my hands on it!

5. Romance – switched to Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson - I loved this one - the 2 main characters were of an older age and it was just a lovely story. I tossed up between 4 and 5★, and would give 4.5★ if I could. I decided on 4★ in the end.

6. Book related to element/s of Melbourne Cup - still wanting to read Flowers for Mrs Harris (think it's also called Mrs. 'Arris Goes to Paris) by Paul Gallico – it involves fashion - Mrs Harris (a poorly paid cleaner) wants to buy a Dior dress. I read this about 15 years ago and am keen to revisit it! However I also read Death at Victoria Dock by Kerry Greenwood - set in Melbourne. 3★

7. YA book – Switched to The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith

8. Favourite genre - historical fiction - The Book Thief by Markus Zusak - Wasn't what I was expecting, I found it difficult to get into and felt the end of the book was better than the beginning or the middle. 3★

9. Book starting with “K” The King's Speech: How One Man Saved the British Monarchy by Mark Logue - Very interesting. Different to the movie, but still enjoyable (I wonder if I'd have said that about the movie if I'd read the biography first...!). 4★

10. Fantasy/sci-fi:

I have borrowed Contest by Matthew Reilly on audiobook and have read The Puzzle Ring by Kate Forsyth 3★

Extra TBR’s
11. Good Girls Do Swallow: The Darkly Comic True Story of How One Woman Stopped Hating Her Body by Rachael Oakes-Ash 3★
12. Empty Cradles/Oranges & Sunshine by Margaret Humphreys (same book, different names) 4★
13. Booked To Die by John Dunning

[Elaine]

Kathryn wrote: "Sounds like people are progressing well. I think it might be time for an update for me as I've changed some of my original choices.


1. Spring clean - The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield. L..."

You're doing really well yourself Kathryn. I'm thinking your No.11 TBR sounds interesting. I think I might add it to mine. I can certainly relate to some aspects of it.

[Lesley]

I've still got some way to go with this challenge.

1. tbr Ghana Must Go read 13 Sep, 4 stars
2. yellow cover read 4 Sep, 2 stars
3. new life Escape
4. new release
5. romance No Regrets: The Life of Edith Piaf read 9 Sep, 5 stars
6. Melbourne Cup Night Street set in Melbourne read 16 Sep, 4 stars
7. YA The Last of the Mohicans read 11 Oct, 3 stars
8. L title Little Bee read 20 Sep, 5 stars
9. historical fiction Mary Bartoncurrently reading
10. Aus. sci fi
11. Sep TBR Maya's Notebook read 25 Sep, 2 stars
12. Oct TBR The Garden of Burning Sand read 20 Oct, 2 stars
13. Nov TBR For Whom the Bell Tolls

[Amber]

I finished my ninth Spring challenge book the other night, The Narrow Road To The Deep North, which was for my no. 8 (favourite genre). Unfortunately it got only 3 stars from me. I just started reading Barracuda because I was lucky enough to get it from the library, so I could use it as my Spring new release, however I got a message from the library that Eyrie is waiting for me. I'm spoilt for choice!

[Chris]

I finished my 8th book for this challenge last night. Boys Without Names which is my YA read. 4★

[Mish]

Good on you guys. You all are doing well

[Mish]

Lesley wrote: "I've still got some way to go with this challenge.

1. tbr Ghana Must Go read 13 Sep, 4 stars
2. yellow cover read 4 Sep, 2 stars
3. new life Escape
4. new re..."

You can do it Lesley...You've still got plenty of time :)

[Lynxie]

Finished a couple of others:

#4 Aussie New Release: Dangerous Desire by Annie Seaton ★★★★

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

#8 Favourite genre: The Tower's Alchemist by Alesha Escobar ★★★


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

3 left to go :)

[Steve]

I have finished my sixteenth book, my first 3. New Life, Still Missing, with my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show....

Up next is my second 7. Young Adult, Second Helpings.

[Kathryn]

Elaine wrote: You're doing really well yourself Kathryn. I'm thinking your No.11 TBR sounds interesting. I think I might add it to mine. I can certainly relate to some aspects of it. "

Yes - although it was called "Darkly Comic", I don't recall much comedy - there's certainly plenty of tragic circumstances and unfortunate choices that followed events. The author probably went to further extremes in her eating, exercise and body size fluctuations than I would think most people with an eating disorder would do. Perhaps this is because she swung between anorexia nervosa, bulimia with purging behaviours and binge eating disorder. She certainly fluctuated between a size 16 and size 10 (or maybe 8, I forget). Her binges could go on for days and it made me feel a little sick to read how much food she was eating (and a whole lot sad - especially to understand what was driving her to behave like that).

And I think these are issues we need to talk about - just as other aspects of mental health are slowly (but oh, so slowly) becoming more accepted, I think body image and resultant eating problems also need to have more light shone on them. Of course, the media does little to help people who are struggling this way - the air-brushing, presentation of the "body beautiful" as the holy grail and reporting of the latest fad diet (often endorsed by celebrities) do little (i.e. nothing) to help foster positive body image.

Anyway, I'll get off my soapbox now! I gave Good Girls Do Swallow: The Darkly Comic True Story of How One Woman Stopped Hating Her Body 3 stars because it wasn't brilliantly written, however the subject matter is compelling.

[Lesley]

Kathryn, body image was such an issue when I was at secondary school in the 80s, with some of my friends developing bulimia etc And we exercised like crazy so we could eat badly. Boarding school food didn't help!

Things haven't progressed much; we still see the same sort of images on magazine covers and horrendously thin catwalk models.

[Kathryn]

I know, Lesley - it's a long, slow road but I think things might be changing. I take hope from the Dove "Real Beauty" campaign (although I'm not entirely sure that the company behind Dove, Unilever, has pure and untarnished motives). And I saw a cereal product advertised recently (don't ask which one, I can't remember!) that said something along the lines of "It's no good following a temporary 'diet' - we need to be making healthy and sustainable lifestyle changes to improve our health" (therefore buy product X which will help with this!). So I am optimistic (naive??) enough to hope that these are the first steps on the way to more of the media focussing on good health and what foods/activities make people feel energised and revitalised, and encouraging a healthy body image which will then help the general public to take on these views.

Of course I'm not naive enough to think it will be full steam ahead from here. More like a case of two steps forward and one back, I'm sure.

[B the BookAddict]

Kathryn wrote: "Elaine wrote: You're doing really well yourself Kathryn. I'm thinking your No.11 TBR sounds interesting. I think I might add it to mine. I can certainly relate to some aspects of it. "

Yes - altho..."

I really like what you had to say here, Kathryn.

[Kathryn]

Bette wrote: "Kathryn wrote: "Elaine wrote: You're doing really well yourself Kathryn. I'm thinking your No.11 TBR sounds interesting. I think I might add it to mine. I can certainly relate to some aspects of it..."

Thanks, Bette!

[Natasha]

1. Duet
2. The Sneetches and Other Stories Yellow Back Book (Dr Seuss - Yellow Back Book)-(finished)
3. The Promise of Happiness
4. To be decided *sigh*
5. Head Over Heels
6. A Wedding in December ,I will be honest I had a difficult time finding a book I would like to read about any of these topics so this challenge has definitely thrown me. In the end I have chosen this book because it has a mixture of other genres in it that appeal to me.
7. The Chronicles of Narnia (Chronicles of Narnia #1-7)- (finished)
8. The Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, #1-5) ,chosen from the "Fantasy" genre.
9. Nicholas Nickleby
10. The Year of Ancient Ghosts ,Fantasy <3 (finished)
11. A Family Daughter
12. Confessions and Memoirs National Anthology of New Australian Writing
13. Term Limits

[Wonderkell]

What a good challenge! Ok I'll give it a go...

I believe I am already doing one:

4. Currently reading Eyrie by Tim Winton.

[Wonderkell]

1. An Open Swimmer by Tim Winton was on my TBR list.

3. When I Found You by Catherine Ryan Hyde features an old man finding a new born baby abandoned in the woods, finding it's mother, then later taking the boy back in at 15 after a hard childhood, hence giving him 'new life' again.

6. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald - many social events, lots of fashion and a decadent lifestyle.

8. Police by Jo Nesbo. My favourite genre is crime, particularly police procedural & at the moment Scandinavian.

So by my count I still have to do 2, 5, 7, 9 & 10 :)

[Mish]

Great list Wonderkell & Natasha.

Would you ladies mind editing your post and linking the books. It's helps another members see what books you've selected. Thanks :)

[Sally906]

Here is my current status - only have 3 to go and I am done which surprised me some what as I thought I was no where near the end - so i can relax some now :)

1. Spring clean your bookshelves by reading a book from your TBR
The Witch of Little Italy by Suzanne Palmieri-Hayes

2. Spring colours are predominantly red and yellow, so choose a book with either a red or yellow cover, (posting the image as well), so everyone can see.
Gold by Chris Cleave

3. Spring brings new life - choose a book depicting new life of some description.
Blameless by Gail Carriger - main character is pregnant.

4. Brisbane Writers' Festival is on 4th-8th September - choose a New Release written by an Aussie author, published within these three months of Spring.
Outback Dreams by Rachael Johns

5. Romance is in the Spring air - Pick from romantic thrillers, love and romance, romantic suspense, historical romance, classical romance, vampire romance, paranormal romance, YA first love, poetry of love...
The Vampire and the Virgin by Kerrelyn Sparks - Paranormal romance

6. The Melbourne Cup will be held on 5th November this year...your choices are many! A social event, gambling, horses, horse racing, fashion! Make sure you put WHY you've chosen your particular book!
The Shadowy Horses by Susanna Kearsley - title has horses in it

7. Choose a Young Adult book for this selection, not necessarily Aussie Young Adult
The Selection by Kiera Cass

8. Choose a book from your favourite GENRE here - make sure you state what that is!
I love all genres but Cosy Paranormal mysteries are a favourite at the moment so - Secondhand Spirits by Juliet Blackwell

9. How about a book with the first letter of the title beginning with the first letter of your name
'S' for Sally - Songs of Willow Frost by Jamie Ford

10. Read a fantasy/paranormal/sci-fi book by an Aussie author for this one:)
Blood Storm by Rhiannon Hart

Extra Challenge


11. For September read from your TBR - How Hedley Hopkins Did a Dare... by Paul Jennings
12. For October read from your TBR - Blood Rites by Jim Butcher
13. For November read from your TBR - The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion

[[deleted user]]

have not updated in a little while, work got crazy so I have not been able to read much, but I finished another two books :)

1. Spring clean your bookshelves by reading a book from your TBR
Dreams Underfoot

2. Spring colours


3. Spring brings new life - choose a book depicting new life of some description.
Parasite main character bought back from being dead by having a living parasite in her...all the new rage apparently.


4. New Release written by an Aussie author
TBD

5. Romance
Crash 2 stars http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

6. The Melbourne Cup :A social event, gambling, horses, horse racing, fashion!
The Scorpio Races- racing horses across the desert

7.Young Adult
The 5th Wave


8. Choose a book from your favourite GENRE
The Greyfriar - Fantasy, Paranormal and steampunk all in one!

9. How about a book with the first letter of the title beginning with the first letter of your name.
The Monstrumologist 4 stars- loved it

10. Read a fantasy/paranormal/sci-fi book by an Aussie author
Stormdancer 4 stars

And if I can:

11. TBR
The Shadow Prince

12. TBR
Loki

13. TBR
Seraphina

[Kathryn]

Melanie wrote: "Parasite - main character bought back from being dead by having a living parasite in her...all the new rage apparently."

Hmm, think I'm happy to buck the trend and not be fashionable in this respect! Hope it's a good read for you though, Melanie!

[Steve]

I have finished my seventeenth, my second 7. Young Adult, Second Helpings, with my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show....

Up next is my first 9. Books starting with S, S is for Silence.

[Sharon]

Finished my 10th # 6 Melbourne Cup: Last Horse Standing by Mike Keenan

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

[Lynxie]

#9 Book starting with the first letter of my name: Lethal Inheritance by Tahlia Newland ★★★★

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

[Amber]

My list update:


1. Spring clean TBR - Gone Girl ★★★

2. Spring colours cover - My Family and Other Animals

3. New life - Left Neglected ★★★

4. Aussie Spring new release - Barracuda ★★★★

5. Romance - Half Moon Bay

6. Melbourne Cup - Brumby's Run ★★★

7. Young Adult - Wonder ★★★★

8. Favourite genre ("literary fiction") - The Narrow Road To The Deep North ★★★

9. Starts with A - And the Mountains Echoed ★★★★

10. Aussie fantasy/paranormal/sci-fi - Fairytales for Wilde Girls ★★★

11. September TBR - The Night Guest: A Novel ★★★

12. October TBR - The Husband's Secret ★★★★

13. November TBR - The Rosie Project

Three to go. I still might read Eyrie even though I replaced it with Barracuda as my Aussie Spring new release, since I am running ahead of my schedule :-)

[Zoey]

Update so far 10 down 3 to go

1. TBR - There's A Bear In There Merridy Eastman 4★
2. Spring Colour - Final Custody George Elliot 3★
3. New Life - The Custom of the ArmyDiana Gabaldon (Main character sails to the New World to start a New Life) 4★
4. New Release - Blood Secret Jaye Ford
5. Romance - X Marks the Scot Victoria Roberts 4★
6. Melbourne Cup - The Shadowy Horses Susanna Kearsley-currently reading
7. YA - Flight Alyssa Rose Ivy 4★
8. Favourite Genre - The Tudor WifeBrandy Purdy(Hist Fiction) 3★
9. Title starting with Z - Zelda's Cut Philippa Gregory 2★
10. Aussie Fantasy/Paranormal - Sorrow's Child Georgina Anne Taylor 3★
11. TBR - Emma Jane Austen
12. TBR - Northanger Abbey Jane Austen 4★
13. TBR - The Scottish Prisoner Diana Gabaldon 5★

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

I also have three to go and am starting one today - Kinslayer for my Aussie Fantasy book.

[Trevor]

Have been a bit remiss in updating my progress and writing reviews, but here's a start. Over the last couple of weeks I have finished:

- The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame 3★
- Cairo by Chris Womersley 4★
- Bel-Ami by Guy de Maupassant 4★
- On the Beach by Nevil Shute 4★
- 44 Scotland Street by Alexander McCall Smith 3★

review of On the Beach: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

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

only a couple of books now to go.

[Mish]

Trevor wrote: "Have been a bit remiss in updating my progress and writing reviews, but here's a start. Over the last couple of weeks I have finished:

- The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame 3★
- Cairo by Ch..."

Great reviews Trevor. I've added On the Beach to my list.

[Nicola]

Finished my No 3 Spring brings new life book over the weekend
The Midwife: A Memoir of Birth, Joy, and Hard Times / Jennifer Worth
and now onto my No 7 YA book
Wildwood Dancing / Juliet Marillier

[Kathryn]

Nicola wrote: "Finished my No 3 Spring brings new life book over the weekend
The Midwife: A Memoir of Birth, Joy, and Hard Times / Jennifer W..."

What did you think of The Midwife: A Memoir, Nicola? It's on my TBR list... I've read Call The Midwife, which I loved (it was a 5 star read for me) and I want to read the next 2 as well - Shadows Of The Workhouse and Farewell To The East End: The Last Days Of The East End Midwives!

[Nicola]

Kathryn wrote: "Nicola wrote: "Finished my No 3 Spring brings new life book over the weekend
The Midwife: A Memoir of Birth, Joy, and Hard Tim..."

Kathryn, They are actually the same book - just renamed due to the TV series. I enjoyed it although I found it a bit fragmented as I had already watched the TV series where they put everyting into nice little 1 hour packages! I enjoyed to extra information about midwifery in the 1950s though.

[Kathryn]

Nicola wrote: "Kathryn wrote: "Nicola wrote: "Finished my No 3 Spring brings new life book over the weekend
The Midwife: A Memoir of Birth, J..."

Oh, shame! I thought I had three more of Jennifer Worth's books to read and now it's only two!! Ah, well, maybe it's just as well!

[Nicola]

Kathryn wrote: "Nicola wrote: "Kathryn wrote: "Nicola wrote: "Finished my No 3 Spring brings new life book over the weekend
The Midwife: A Mem..."

A chance to reduce the TBR list!

[Steve]

I have finished my eighteenth, my first 9. Books starting with S,
S is for Silence, with my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show....

Up next is my second 12. October TBR, Day of the Vipers.

[Chris]

I finished my 9th for the challenge Citadel 5★ Number 9 Book beginning with first letter of name.

[Heather]

I finished the for 5.Romance It's definately not about romance but it is all about love. Great book.
One to go my November TBR

[Michelle]

Another one down, only 7 left to go!

1) - TBR Read - finished 28/10/13 - 4 stars
2) - Red cover
3) - New life - the main character has to learn to live as a ghost after he dies
4) - Aussie New Release - finished 10/10/13 - 4 stars
5) - Romance - finished 1/10/13 - 4 stars
6) - Luck goes with gambling
7) - Young Adult - finished 21/9/13 - 3 stars
8) - Favourite Genre is Thriller - finished 5/9/13 - 4 stars
9) - Starts with 'M'
10) - Aussie Sci-Fi/Paranormal - finished 15/9/13 - 1 star
11) - Been on my TBR forever!
12) - Same as above!
13) - Same as above!

[Wonderkell]

2. The Burning Man by Alan Russell (Sorry for lack of links to books as am filling out on iPhone app)