**Spring Reading Challenge - 2013**

[Sarah-Jane]

I'm reading everyone's lists with excitement and seeing some really great ideas. I notice some people are reading The Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean M. Auel as their #3 Spring - something depicting new life. I have already read it. Would it be acceptable to choose the 2nd in the series, The Valley of Horses ? Pretty please with an aurochs on top? ;-)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Sarah-Jane wrote: "I'm reading everyone's lists with excitement and seeing some really great ideas. I notice some people are reading The Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean M. Auel as their #3 Spring - something depicting..."

That one would work for your Melbourne Cup/horses one Sarah-Jane, do you know if it depicts new life? If it does, go for it.....;)

[Sarah-Jane]

Brenda wrote: That one would work for your Melbourne Cup/horses one Sarah-Jane, do you know if it depicts new life?..."

We-e-e-ellll... I would argue the "new life" element is represented by the relative newness of Homo Sapiens in the setting of the books, also there's an orphaned foal in the story (apparently, according to the blurb!)

Is that too long a bow?

I already have an option for the horses - Jane Smiley's Horse Heaven but I'm just struggling with the whole "New Life" caper, lol!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Sarah-Jane wrote: "Brenda wrote: That one would work for your Melbourne Cup/horses one Sarah-Jane, do you know if it depicts new life?..."

We-e-e-ellll... I would argue the "new life" element is represented by the ..."

Go for it! We don't mind stretching things;)

[Sarah-Jane]

Brenda wrote: " Go for it! We don't mind stretching things;) "

Rock and roll! Excitement :) :)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Sarah-Jane wrote: "Brenda wrote: " Go for it! We don't mind stretching things;) "

Rock and roll! Excitement :) :)"

:D

[Michelle]

Ok, so I have tentatively done my list for this challenge. We'll have to see how many of them I actually get to!

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

I'm pretty excited about the nice mix I've got this time too!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Michelle wrote: "Ok, so I have tentatively done my list for this challenge. We'll have to see how many of them I actually get to!

1) - TBR Read
2) [bookcover:Vampires Don't Sparkle!|..."

Your #8 sounds good Michelle:)

[Natasha]

Can we use one book for two/three areas? For example my choice of genre is fantasy, I will be reading a fantasy novel for 8 & 10...is this cheating? ;) Also will "T"ash count for 9 even though my screen name is Natasha? ^_^

[Natasha]

Yes, I was going to be reading "The year of the ancient ghosts" by Kim Wilkins...it's also on my TBR shelf. Is it one for each or can I use this book for a few different challenges?

[Liam || Books 'n Beards]

In all of these I've sort of wanted to try to find one book that fits all the categories xD

[Natasha]

That's fine the challenge hasn't started yet :)
No luck yet Liam? it would be quite interesting maybe that can be a new challenge ;)

[B the BookAddict]

Updated List (9th Sept)

1. TBR Swimming Home
2. Color
3. New life The Night Strangers
4. Aussie author TBA
5. Romance Nights in Rodanthe
6. Social event A Wedding in December (first read in 2007)
7. Y/A The Wind in the Willows
8. Literary Fiction So Much for That
9. Letter 'B' The Book Club
10. Fantasy/sci-fi Picnic at Hanging Rock
11. TBR The Violets of March
12. TBR The Breakdown Lane
13. TBR Bridge of Sighs

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Natasha wrote: "Can we use one book for two/three areas? For example my choice of genre is fantasy, I will be reading a fantasy novel for 8 & 10...is this cheating? ;) Also will "T"ash count for 9 even though my s..."

No, all individual books for each category Natasha. The only time you can use the same book is with a different challenge...for example the September challenge - same book as one in Spring:)

Also we would prefer it if you could pick a title beginning with N as that is what the challenge is about...I'm sure you can find something on your TBR:)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Natasha wrote: "That's fine the challenge hasn't started yet :)
No luck yet Liam? it would be quite interesting maybe that can be a new challenge ;)"

It wouldn't lower your TBR by much would it;)

[Natasha]

Haha that's fine :) I see, we are chipping away at the TBRs.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Natasha wrote: "Haha that's fine :) I see, we are chipping away at the TBRs."

Not necessarily as with the New Releases they may not be on your TBR yet, but I know most people try to read their challenge books from their TBR...I know I do. It lowers it significantly if we can do that. But with 10 (or 13) different books for the three months, it certainly helps to lower it if you take most of them from there:)

[Natasha]

That sounds like a good idea. Thank you :)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Natasha wrote: "That sounds like a good idea. Thank you :)"

You're welcome Natasha:)

[Michelle]

Liam wrote: "Michelle wrote: "I decide to join in on these challenges all the time and have never finished a single one ;-) I always start off with such good intentions but then get sidetracked and never get to..."

Laim, I do always try to do that too. It just never ends up working that way.....

[Sally906]

Catherine wrote: "I've been thinking about this challenge and the enthusiastic response from fellow readers. But gosh, it's SO hard to commit to a reading plan when I'm such a slow and picky reader..."

Oh please join in - doesn't matter how many you read but it is fun trying to fit your titles to the challenges. I am a mood reader too, and even though I have come up a list of challenge books, I often change my mind and end up reading a totally different one. So nothing set in concrete. I have a friend at work who likes to know what the challenges are and she only reads 2 or 3 books a month but she likes to try and fit those books into the challenge if she can. She won't join an online group but does like the idea of a challenge :)

[Diane]

Okay, I'm going to give this a go. My books are as follows:

1. Spring cleaning: The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao

2. Spring cover: Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore

3. New life: The Mothers' Group

4. New Release by Aussie Author: Eyrie

5. Romance: This Is How You Lose Her

6. Melbourne cup (fashion): Coco Chanel: The Legend and the Life

7. Young Adult: The Extraordinary Education of Nicholas Benedict

8. Favourite genre (historical fiction): Ahab's Wife, or The Star-Gazer

9. Starts with a D: Dark Places

10. Aussie fantasy (I hope this isn't too much of a stretch; it is magical realism): The Book Thief

I will try to get through as many of these as I can. BTW, do you try to read the books in the order they are listed?

[Sally906]

Diane wrote: "I will try to get through as many of these as I can. BTW, do you try to read the books in the order they are listed? .."

No you don't Diane - and you can change your mind and read a different book for a particular challenge as well

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Great list Diane:) And as Sally says, read them as your desire takes you;)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Greg wrote: "My tastes are eclectic, therefore this challenge serves me well."

That's good Greg!

[Mish]

@Diane, Coco Chanel: The Legend and the Life looks interesting. I've added it to my tbr.

[Diane]

Thanks! I am trying to plod my way through All That I Am right now. I am finding it rather dull and I am struggling, but I refuse to give up. I am looking forward to the Spring Challenge!

[Amber]

I'm not 100% happy with my list yet, and some of the covers are likely to change (but hopefully not #2). Also, I'm not sure if I'll be able to get some of them from the library as the waiting lists are crazy long. But here it is so far:

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 - Eyrie

5. Romance - Half Moon Bay

6. Melbourne Cup - Brumby's Run

7. Young Adult - The Fault in Our Stars

8. Favourite genre (literary or contemporary fiction) - The Book of Secrets: A Novel

9. Starts with A - All the Birds, Singing

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

11. September TBR - The Night Guest: A Novel

12. October TBR - And the Mountains Echoed

13. November TBR - The Rosie Project

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Great list Amber :)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Catherine wrote: "Here's my next two –

Young adult:
August by Bernard Beckett

New life – (this may be stretching the definition a bit? Not sure)
..."

Yes a stretch Catherine, but as she feels she has a new life each day, go for it! It's a brilliant book:)

[Chris]

My list for the Spring Challenge
1. TBR: Twilight
2. Spring Colour:The Rosie Project
3. New Life: Whistling Past the Graveyard
4. New Release: The Tailor's Girl
5. Romance: Outlander
6. Melbourne Cup: Black Beauty
7. YA: Boys without Names
8. Favourite Genre: The Alphabet Sisters
9. 'C' book: Citadel or City of Ashes
10: The Two Pearls of Wisdom

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Catherine wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Catherine wrote: "Here's my next two –

Young adult:
August by Bernard Beckett

New life – (this may be stretching the definition a bit? Not sure)
[bookco..."

I'm sure you'll enjoy it Catherine:)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Christina wrote: "My list for the Spring Challenge
1. TBR: Twilight
2. Spring Colour:The Rosie Project
3. New Life: [bookcover:Whistling Past the Grav..."

Great list Christina:)

[Chris]

Thanks Brenda. Hopefully I'll get them all read along with the September, October and November challenges. ;-)

[Claire]

My list for the Spring Challenge:
1. TBR: Sister
2. Spring Colour: The Lacuna
3. New Life: Children of Liberty
4. New Release: The Tailor's Girl
5. Romance: An African Love Story
6. Melbourne Cup: War Horse
7. Young Adult: Tomorrow When the War Began
8. Genre(Historical/Mystery): The White Lie
9. 'C' book: Can Reindeer Fly?
10. Aussie Fantasy/Sci-fi: Mister Monday

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Christina wrote: "Thanks Brenda. Hopefully I'll get them all read along with the September, October and November challenges. ;-)"

Good luck:)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Great choices there too Claire:)

[Zara's Retreat]

Well here are my choices finally (been working through a fog caused by a cold). And they are all off my TBR list. Yippee!!!

Completed: 7/10

1. by Mary Kay Andrews;
2. ;
3. by S.J. Watson;
4. (I've wanted to read this book since before it was published!);
5. by Debbie Macomber;
6. by Nick Drake.
I chose this because it's historical fiction (one of my favourite genres at the moment) and the history of Egypt has always been of interest for me (waiting to be read);
7. by Laurie Halse Anderson;
8. by Lori Wick.
One of my many favourite genres at the moment is Christian - whether it be fiction or non-fiction;
9. by Marek Halter;
10. by Catherine Jinks

I have read 7 already!!!

[Ben]

Mish wrote: "1. Spring clean your bookshelves by reading a book from your TBR -

2. Spring colours are predominantly red and yellow -

3. Spring..."

Awesome list Mish, I LOVE The Big Sleep.

[Mish]

Ben wrote: "Mish wrote: "1. Spring clean your bookshelves by reading a book from your TBR -

2. Spring colours are predominantly red and yellow -

Thanks Ben, I can't wait to read it.
I read The Lady in the Lake as my first Marlowe book - I love it, so I decided to start from the beginning and read them in order :)

[Sarah-Jane]

Diane wrote: "...I am trying to plod my way through All That I Am right now. I am finding it rather dull and I am struggling, but I refuse to give up..."

Round of applause! I know many people say life is too short to keep reading a book you're not enjoying, but who hasn't felt that rush of triumph when you finish a book that's made you work hard, and sometimes a rush of gratitude when a challenging book finally rewards your perseverance.

[Diane]

@ Sarah-Jane: Thanks! I just finished it this morning. I do feel good that I made it through. I have a really hard time giving up on a book. I once accidentally left a book that I was struggling with in a hotel room. At least I think it was accidental. Either way, I didn't cry too many tears over it. Haha!

I will now reward myself with a fun, light read:-)

[Michelle]

Catherine wrote: "Michelle wrote: "Catherine wrote: "I've been thinking about this challenge and the enthusiastic response from fellow readers. But gosh, it's SO hard to commit to a reading plan when I'm such a slow..."

Yes Catherine, I am surprised I get through that many myself sometimes. I'm lucky to be a pretty fast reader too though so when I do get some reading time I make the most of it!
Studying for my Public Practice Certificate is making things a lot harder for me these days as I feel guilty if I've got reading time and I choose to read a book rather than study :-)

[Lesley]

Here's my list for this challenge. I have included a couple of choices in places.


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 Catch-22
8. L title Little Bee read 20 Sep, 5 stars
9. historical fiction The Last of the Mohicans read 11 Oct, 3 stars
10. Aus. sci fi
11. Sep. tbr Maya's Notebook read 25 Sep, 2 stars
12. Oct. tbr
13. Nov. tbr

[Mish]

Good list so far Lesley. I loved Little Bee :)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Lesley wrote: "Here's my list for this challenge. I have included a couple of choices in places.


1. tbr Ghana Must Go
2. red/yellow
3. new life
4. new release
5. romanc..."

Loved your comment on #5 Lesley...made me smile:)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

You'd better pick another one for that category Geoff..spring isn't official until Sunday :)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Yes and it's gorgeous..BUT officially the challenge begins 1st September :):)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Thanks Geoff! I'm bossy aren't I..;)

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

Just read the next in the series Geoff. There are lots of them.