Aussie Author Challenge 2014 Showing 451-500 of 1,146

[Rosie]

Finished The Last Rose Of Summer

I really enjoyed it.

[Sally906]

Here's an update of where I am up to in my challenge:


1. Female Author - The Girl in the Yellow Vest by Loretta Hill

2. Female Author - The Cry by Helen Fitzgerald

3. Male Author - Lost Voices by Christopher J. Koch

4. Male Author - The Last Shot by Michael Adams

5. Debut Novel - Burial Rites by Hannah Kent

6. 2014 New Release - Deserving Death by Katherine Howell

7. 2014 New Release - Outback Blaze by Rachael Johns (due to be published in May)

8. Classic - They Found A Cave by Nan Chauncy

9. Fantasy - The Puzzle Ring by Kate Forsyth

10. Historical Fiction - Mellington Hall by Meredith Resce

11. Favourite Genre (Chick Lit/Romance) – No Sex in the City by Randa Abdel-Fattah

12. Favourite Genre (Chick Lit/Romance) - Seven Nights in a Rogue's Bed by Anna Campbell

That's the required selections - the rest are as I go:

12. Seven Nights in a Rogue's Bed by Anna Campbell

13. Starline by Imogene Nix

14 Twin Curse by Rinelle Grey

15. Three Hours Late by Nicole Trope

16. Half Moon Bay by Helene Young

17. Darkening Skies by Bronwyn Parry

18. Chasing the Valley 2: Borderlands by Skye Melki-Wegner

19. Almost Dead by Kaz Delaney

20. Unnatural Habits by Kerry Greenwood

21. The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty

22. Someone Like You by Victoria Purman

23. The January Wish by Juliet Madison

24 - 36 TBA as I find them and read them

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Sally906 wrote: "Here's an update of where I am up to in my challenge:


1. Female Author - The Girl in the Yellow Vest by Loretta Hill

2. Female Author - The Cry ..."

Looking good Sally!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

I have just finished #28 - New Release - Deserving Death by Katherine Howell 5★s

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

[Sally906]

Good review - I am in the process of writing mine should be up tomorrow :)

[Kerri]

Brenda wrote: "I have just finished #28 - New Release - Deserving Death by Katherine Howell 5★s

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

Another added to my TBR shelf. Can this be read as a stand alone or do I need to read the others in the series first?

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Sally906 wrote: "Good review - I am in the process of writing mine should be up tomorrow :)"

Thanks Sally:)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Kerri wrote: "Brenda wrote: "I have just finished #28 - New Release - Deserving Death by Katherine Howell 5★s

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

Another a..."

They can all be read as stand-alone because it's a different mystery each book. But you get to know Detective Ella Marconi by starting on the first book as she's a permanent fixture in each book, and a couple of the paramedics are revisited too...but for all that, you would still "get it" by reading this one and not the others:)

If you were able, I would recommend starting with Frantic though:)

[Davina]

I finished Man Drought by Rachael Johns. It was one of my female author choices. I like the occasional romance and I really enjoyed this one. I'd post my review but I have to retype it as it disappeared. I should know better.
I'm currently a little stuck on The Wild Girl by Kate Forsyth not that it's a bad book it's just very dark so I have to be in the right frame of mind to read it. I also had it in the wrong section of my challenge. I probably should have put it in Historical fiction.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Davina wrote: "I finished Man Drought by Rachael Johns. It was one of my female author choices. I like the occasional romance and I really enjoyed..."

You can swap it around Davina:) Yes, I always do my reviews on Word now, and copy and paste! I lost one too many before I woke up!!

[Davina]

Brenda wrote: "Davina wrote: "I finished Man Drought by Rachael Johns. It was one of my female author choices. I like the occasional romance and I..."

Yes I might do that Brenda. I'll have a look and try and tweak my list.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Davina wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Davina wrote: "I finished Man Drought by Rachael Johns. It was one of my female author choices. I like the occasiona..."

Enjoy tweaking;)

[Deb]

Brenda wrote: "Deb wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Good on you Deb! I'm sure you will enjoy:)"

Only 2 left to complete the 12 required books!!! Yay..."

Sounds like you'd better up your challenge from Bronze to at least ..."

Brenda wrote: "Deb wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Good on you Deb! I'm sure you will enjoy:)"

Only 2 left to complete the 12 required books!!! Yay..."

Sounds like you'd better up your challenge from Bronze to at least ..."

Going for Gold!!!!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Well done Deb!!! You'll have to show us your updated list when you get it done:)

[Bec]

Review for my first book off the list - Fantasy
The Rabbits
by John Marsden, Shaun Tan (Illustrator)


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

[Deb]

Going for Gold in Aussie Challenge. My choices so far:

2 x New Release

Monkey Business

The Girl in the Yellow Vest

1 x Classic

Wake In Fright: Text Classics

1 x Fantasy

Grounded Spirits

1 x Historical Fiction

To Chase The Storm

1 x Debut Novel

Desert Fish

2 x Favourite Genre (Crime)

Hades
Deserving Death


2 x Female Authors

Spin cycle
Drip Dry


2 x Male Authors

Gangsters' Women

To Touch The Clouds

Balance of Aussie Author books to complete challenge.

Call Me Sasha

Fatal Impact

Pink Tide

The Tying of Threads

Beams Falling
The Lost Girls
Time Will Tell
Crimson Dawn

Safe Harbour
Outback Blaze
Rosalee Station
The Fictional Woman
Murder In The Family
Rocking Horse Hill
I Came To Say Goodbye
Red Sand Sunrise
Mad Men, Bad Girls
Good News, Bad News
Deadly Obsession

Will add more books as I go along.

[Jülie ☼♄ ]

I'm looking for something different for my classic choice...
would Jasper Jones by Craig Silvey be considered as an Australian Classic? I saw where at least one reviewer listed it as such and I quite fancy this book.

[Sharon]

Julie,

I haven't read Jasper Jones, but here is a really good list of classics and all free or most are free


http://gutenberg.net.au/austgreatest....

[Dale]

Brenda wrote: "Davina wrote: "I finished Man Drought by Rachael Johns. It was one of my female author choices. I like the occasional romance and I..."
Glad it's not just me that's happened to. I now do the same Brenda.

[Jülie ☼♄ ]

Sharon wrote: "Julie,

I haven't read Jasper Jones, but here is a really good list of classics and all free or most are free


http://gutenberg.net.au/austgreatest...."

Thanks Sharon, that's a great list...and a good link!
I still like the sound of Jasper Jones though and might get it for my shelf anyway as I can still read it as part of the Aussie author challenge. It sounds very thought provoking.

*Does Modern Classic fit the bill?

[Deb]

Julie wrote: "Sharon wrote: "Julie,

I haven't read Jasper Jones, but here is a really good list of classics and all free or most are free


http://gutenberg.net.au/austgreatest...."

Thanks Sharon, that's a gr..."

I read Jasper Jones last year after it was recommended on the ABC Book Show and said to be Australia's "To Kill A Mockingbird". I was quite disappointed in it and felt that it just rambled on... but that was just my opinion. I am usually a crime reader!!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Deb wrote: "Julie wrote: "Sharon wrote: "Julie,

I haven't read Jasper Jones, but here is a really good list of classics and all free or most are free


http://gutenberg.net.au/austgreatest...."

Thanks Sharo..."

Jasper Jones
To Kill a Mockingbird

[Jülie ☼♄ ]

Brenda wrote: "Deb wrote: "Julie wrote: "Sharon wrote: "Julie,

I haven't read Jasper Jones, but here is a really good list of classics and all free or most are free


http://gutenberg.net.au/austgreatest...."

..."

Brenda would you consider Jasper Jones as being in the Classic category? Not splitting hairs here as I plan on reading it anyway...just wondering about placement in my 2014 Aussie authors challenge??

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Julie I have just searched for the answer to your question, as I thought NO, but wasn't 100% sure - here is the definition of CLASSIC - https://www.goodreads.com/genres/clas...

A classic stands the test of time. The work is usually considered to be a representation of the period in which it was written; and the work merits lasting recognition. In other words, if the book was published in the recent past, the work is not a classic. A classic has a certain universal appeal. Great works of literature touch us to our very core beings--partly because they integrate themes that are understood by readers from a wide range of backgrounds and levels of experience. Themes of love, hate, death, life, and faith touch upon some of our most basic emotional responses.

I'd put it under Male author:)

[Jülie ☼♄ ]

Brenda wrote: "Julie I have just searched for the answer to your question, as I thought NO, but wasn't 100% sure - here is the definition of CLASSIC - https://www.goodreads.com/genres/clas...

A classic stands t..."

Thanks Brenda I'll lock it in ;-)

[Bec]

after doing this for my Autumn Challenge I decided I would use Random.org sequence generator to pick which books to read for this one, Since I had already read one and half way through another I just kept picking 'again' til I actually got those two books at 1 & 2! so this is my order
9
11
7
12
6
5
10
2
8
4
3
1
Although I might have to see how I go with the new releases - depends if they are out by the time I get to them

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Bec wrote: "after doing this for my Autumn Challenge I decided I would use Random.org sequence generator to pick which books to read for this one, Since I had already read one and half way through another I ju..."

Great idea Bec!

[Bec]

Ok - finished my second book for the Aussie Author Challenge - Don't Fence Me In: Grassroots Wisdom From a Country Girl
by Rachael Treasure
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Great Book!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Finished #29 - Male Author - Snapshot by Garry Disher 4★s

Review to follow

[Janine]

Finished #9 Fantasy
The Witches of Eileanan 1: Dragonclaw by Kate Forsyth
Fantasy is not a genre I normally read so didn't enjoy this.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Finished my #30 - New Release - Safe Harbour by Helene Young 5★s

Review to follow closer to publication

[Kathryn]

Janine wrote: "Finished #9 Fantasy
The Witches of Eileanan 1: Dragonclaw by Kate Forsyth
Fantasy is not a genre I normally read so didn't enjoy this."

Fantasy is not my genre of choice either, Janine. I don't think I could do The Witches of Eileanan either - I'm really not that interested in reading about dragons(!), but I read The Puzzle Ring by the same author last year and quite enjoyed it (although it is a book for younger readers - maybe teenagers?) and am reading and enjoying Bitter Greens (also by Kate Forsyth) which is partly a re-telling of the story of Rapunzel and partly the story of a noblewoman in the court of Louis XIV, the Sun King - no dragons in this one, I promise!!

[Kathryn]

Brenda wrote: "Finished my #30 - New Release - Safe Harbour by Helene Young 5★s

Review to follow closer to publication"

Goodness, Brenda - you were doing the gold level weren't you? 36 books? At this rate you'll be able to complete this challenge at least 4 more times in the year!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Kathryn wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Finished my #30 - New Release - Safe Harbour by Helene Young 5★s

Review to follow closer to publication"

Goodness, Brenda - you were doing the gold ..."

Yes gold level Kathryn. But I still haven't read a classic yet! And I've only read one historical fiction in all that! I will see how I go, but I would also like to get onto some of my un-Australian books;)

[Kathryn]

Yes, that's a good point, Brenda! I have read quite a few from my list for this challenge (but not as many as you!) but I have other challenges with few, if any, Australian authors that I have neglected a little! I'm hoping to get to work on them a bit this month!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Kathryn wrote: "Yes, that's a good point, Brenda! I have read quite a few from my list for this challenge (but not as many as you!) but I have other challenges with few, if any, Australian authors that I have negl..."

Yes I have a least 2 other challenges which need some work as well Kathryn! Good luck with yours:)

[Kathryn]

Thanks, Brenda! Hope you can knock some of your non-Australian books over as well!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Kathryn wrote: "Thanks, Brenda! Hope you can knock some of your non-Australian books over as well!"

:)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Brenda wrote: "Finished #29 - Male Author - Snapshot by Garry Disher 4★s

Review to follow"

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

[Sally906]

Brenda wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Finished #29 - Male Author - Snapshot by Garry Disher 4★s

Review to follow"

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

Great review Brenda

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Thanks Sally:)

[Kathryn]

I've finished my 9th for this challenge - my one fantasy choice, Bitter Greens by Kate Forsyth.

I enjoyed it - 3.5 stars, and it makes me think I might continue with some more Kate Forsyth books at some time - not all of them, but certain ones. I think I enjoyed it because it is based in historical fact, so it's kind of historical fiction interwoven with a fairytale (which is where the fantasy comes in). So I'm fine with fairytales as fantasy, I just don't like dragons and strange worlds much as fantasy!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Kathryn wrote: "I've finished my 9th for this challenge - my one fantasy choice, Bitter Greens by Kate Forsyth.

I enjoyed it - 3.5 stars, and it makes me think I might continue with..."

Well done Kathryn! It always gives you a sense of achievement when you've finished a genre out of your comfort zone, doesn't it!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

#31 - Female author - Mountain Ash by Margareta Osborn 5★s

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

[Janine]

I have finished my 10th but my 3rd Female Author so it looks like I will be going for Silver
Let the Dead Lie by Malla Nunn

[Kathryn]

Brenda wrote: "Kathryn wrote: "I've finished my 9th for this challenge - my one fantasy choice, Bitter Greens by Kate Forsyth.

I enjoyed it - 3.5 stars, and it makes me think I mig..."

Yes, but it was really not so much out of my comfort zone, so it feels like cheating, a little! But I just couldn't do a "true" fantasy - even reading the blurbs make me roll my eyes and I feel like that time spent reading the blurb is a waste of time - how much more of a waste would a whole book be?!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Kathryn wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Kathryn wrote: "I've finished my 9th for this challenge - my one fantasy choice, Bitter Greens by Kate Forsyth.

I enjoyed it - 3.5 stars, and it makes..."

You still read it Kathryn - so no way was it cheating!

[Kathryn]

Brenda wrote: "Kathryn wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Kathryn wrote: "I've finished my 9th for this challenge - my one fantasy choice, Bitter Greens by Kate Forsyth.

I enjoyed it - 3.5 sta..."

Yeah…, but it was still only kind-of fantasy!! But I don't mind - I'll take my difficult genre reads any way I can!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Kathryn wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Kathryn wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Kathryn wrote: "I've finished my 9th for this challenge - my one fantasy choice, Bitter Greens by Kate Forsyth.

I enjoy..."

You know if feel "guilty" you can find another "fantasy" and read that! Assuage the guilt that way;)

[Kathryn]

Brenda wrote: "Kathryn wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Kathryn wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Kathryn wrote: "I've finished my 9th for this challenge - my one fantasy choice, Bitter Greens by [author:Kate Forsyth|..."

Yes, and I do have a couple of other potential reads for this category if I end up having time for them. But if not, I'm happy to go with this one!!