**Spring Reading Challenge - 1/9/15 - 30/11/15**

[Janine]

I have finished my 15th (and final) for this challenge.
4 Down Completed
Male Main Character The Murder on the Links by Agatha Christie 4*
Reread Something The Fault in Our Stars by John Green 3*
A Novella Cannery Row by John Steinbeck 4*
With a Red Cover Watch Your Back by Karen Rose 3*
With a Child on the Cover Summer's Child by Diane Chamberlain 3*

[Mary]

I'm not going to finish the challenge but I did finish with a 5*!

Gretchen Rubin

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

[Mary]

Mary wrote: "I'm not going to finish the challenge but I did finish with a 5*!

[bookcover:The Happiness Project: Or Why I Spent a Year Trying to Sing in the Morning, Clean My Closets, Fight Right, Read Aristot..."

Well not in time anyway!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Mary wrote: "I'm not going to finish the challenge but I did finish with a 5*!

[bookcover:The Happiness Project: Or Why I Spent a Year Trying to Sing in the Morning, Clean My Closets, Fight Right, Read Aristot..."

Mary the Spring Challenge doesn't finish for another month:) You have plenty of time!

[Noelene]

Finished Red Wolf 4 star red. Translation made some of the reading awkward but story line was enjoyable.

[Suzie]

Finished 5 down, Aussie author I've never read: Back O' Cairns by Ion L. Idriess. 4★ - I will definitely read more by this author

[Steve]

I have finished my fourth (Part 2), Set in another country from 5 down, Code Name Verity, with my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show....

Up next is my Favourite genre from 4 across, Pathways.

[Mary]

Brenda wrote: "Mary wrote: "I'm not going to finish the challenge but I did finish with a 5*!

[bookcover:The Happiness Project: Or Why I Spent a Year Trying to Sing in the Morning, Clean My Closets, Fight Right,..."

You can tell I'm really turned around this month, can't you? Thanks Brenda. I'm really pleased I'm going to be able to get to the rest of my list. :)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Mary wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Mary wrote: "I'm not going to finish the challenge but I did finish with a 5*!

[bookcover:The Happiness Project: Or Why I Spent a Year Trying to Sing in the Morning, Clean My Closet..."

Excellent! Good luck and happy reading:)

[Ian]

I admire the industry and attack of the many fine posters here who are devouring (or have already devoured) their quotas. I have been pottering along and I am happy to report completing four titles and I am onto my fifth. I may make all ten by the end of the month. It has certainly been worthwhile so far. Best one to date: surprisingly, Rudi Blesh's biography of Buster Keaton, seen by some as soft and adulatory, but to me , beautifully researched, perceptive and consistent.

Two down
* Love that Cover - Robert Drewe: The Bodysurfers
Australian Author - David Ireland: The Unknown Industrial Prisoner
* Historical Fiction – Andrea Barrett: The Voyage of the Narwhal
* Favourite Genre – Biography – Rudi Blesh: Keaton
One-Word Title - Jane Austen: Emma

Three Across

* Young Adult – Tim Winton: Lockie Leonard, Human Torpedo
Historical Fiction – Kate Morton: The Shifting Fog
Random TBR – Hector Arce: Gary Cooper, an Intimate Biography
Novella – Thomas Mann: Death in Venice
Book turned into a movie – Harper Lee: To Kill a Mockingbird

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

You're certainly doing well Ian:) Do you think you could edit your post and link the titles? If you're not sure how to do it, the "add book/author" link in the top right hand corner of your comment box is what you click on, then type the book title in, "search" then "add"...swap over to author and there you'll have it:)

[MichelleG]

Hi everyone, I'm very happy to report that I've finished my 5th book, and roughly 30% through my 6th... I'm lagging behind I know, but I only started on 21 Oct.

I'm really hoping to finish the others, so I can get stuck into the November challenge.

If there is anything formal I need to do, can someone please let me know... This is my first challenge.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Just list the books from your original post Michelle - what part of the grid you chose, what book etc:)

[MichelleG]

Original post: 21 October.

My picks are: 4 Across.

1. Has been on your TBR for longer than two years - A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

**2. Favourite genre - The Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen -- (completed) 4 stars

3. From a friend's TBR - The Buried Giant by Kazuo Ishiguro

**4. With a red cover - A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas -- (completed) 4 stars

*5. Female main character - Burial Rites by Hannah Kent (currently reading)

My picks are: 4 Down.

1. Male main character - The Bone Clocks by David Mitchell

**2. Re-read something - Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer -- (completed) 5 stars

**3. A novella (I couldn't find a novella, so I picked the small book in my TBR - 336 pages) - The Veil by Chloe Neill -- (completed) 4 stars

**4. With a red cover - The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling -- (completed) 3 stars

*5. With a child on the cover - The Eye of the Sheep by Sofie Laguna (currently reading)

[Andrea]

Time for an update:

#2 down
Cover you love
★★ (just goes to show you really shouldn't judge...)
Australian author Unforgivable★★★★
Historical fiction The Visitors★★★★
Favourite genre (memoir) A Fort of Nine Towers: An Afghan Family Story
One-word title Alex

#5 down
Aussie author (never read) Deadly Messengers★★★
Set in another country Mornings in Jenin★★★
Book turned into movie Half of a Yellow Sun
Female main character Baking Cakes In Kigali★★★★
Crime The Merry Misogynist★★★★

[Lynxie]

Almost there Andrea :D Looks like you've had some good reads.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Doing well Michelle and Andrea:)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Brenda wrote: "Finished my 6th (part 2) #2 Down - One Word Title - Nirvana by J.R. Stewart 3★s

Review to follow closer to publication"

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

[Nicola]

Have finished my 4th on my second round.
1 down - That book that everyone else but you has read
To Kill a Mockingbird / Harper Lee 3*
and also my 1st on my third round
5 across - Suspense or crime
The Blackhouse / Peter May 4*

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

What did you think of them Nicola? Maybe you could pop a star rating there? Thanks:)

[Nicola]

Brenda wrote: "What did you think of them Nicola? Maybe you could pop a star rating there? Thanks:)"

Always for get to do that! Will fix up...

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Thanks:) We love to check out what you read! ;)

[Ian]

Brenda wrote: "You're certainly doing well Ian:) Do you think you could edit your post and link the titles? If you're not sure how to do it, the "add book/author" link in the top right hand corner of your comment..."

Ian's Progress on the Bingo Challenge: 4 down, 6 to go!

Two down
Love that Cover - Robert Drewe: The Bodysurfers ***
Australian Author - David Ireland: The Unknown Industrial Prisoner
Historical Fiction – Andrea Barrett: The Voyage of the Narwhal ***
Favourite Genre – Biography – Rudi Blesh: Keaton ****
One-Word Title - Jane Austen: Emma

Three Across

Young Adult – Tim Winton: Lockie Leonard, Human Torpedo ****
Historical Fiction – Kate Morton: The Shifting Fog
Random TBR – Hector Arce: Gary Cooper, an Intimate Biography
Novella – Thomas Mann: Death in Venice
Book turned into a movie – Harper Lee: To Kill a Mockingbird

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Thanks Ian! Some excellent titles there and the ones you've read you've enjoyed by your ratings:)

[Noelene]

Finished The Love Child4 star rating. Onto my last book Female main Character The Body in the Bicycle Shed. A murder mystery with femle main character Peggy Pinch. This is the third in the series but I haven't read any of the others. Won the book in a Goodreads giveaway. This will be the last for this challenge.

[Mary]

Finished by Peter Temple 5*

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

[Steve]

Last night, I finished my fifth (Part 2), Favourite genre from 4 across, Pathways, with my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show....

I shouldn't have, but I made a start on my Aussie author never read from 5 down, The Islands.

[Suzie]

Finished 3 across Historical Fiction: The Denniston Rose by Jenny Pattrick 3★

[Steve]

I have finished my sixth, Aussie author never read from 5 down, The Islands, with my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show....

Up next is Female main character from 4 across, Survivor In Death.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Brenda wrote: "Finished my 8th (Part 2) - #3 Down - Random TBR - Three Lives Down by Rachel Amphlett 5★s

Review to follow closer to publication"

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

[MaryG2E]

I've finished this season's challenge - the mini book bingo. What great fun it was! Thanks to the moderators for consistently coming up with interesting challenges, which grab my imagination. I enjoyed some excellent reading this Spring. I hope others on this thread have also had a good time, whether they finish the lot or only get through what they can manage.

2 DOWN
Love that cover! - Turn Right at Machu Picchu: Rediscovering the Lost City One Step at a Time by Mark Adams 4★s

By an Australian author - As Darkness Falls by Bronwyn Parry 3★s
Historical Fiction - Watson's Pier by Joshua Funder 4.5★s
Favourite Genre - Historical Fiction - Corrag by Susan Fletcher 5★s
With a one-word title - Alex by Pierre Lemaitre 4.5★s

5 ACROSS
Science Fiction - The Martian by Andy Weir 3★s
With a one-word title - Divergent by Veronica Roth 4★s
Set in Australia - Red Queen by Honey Brown 4.5★s
With a child on the cover - Through the Cracks by Honey Brown 4.5★s

Suspense or Crime - At Risk by Stella Rimington 4★s

[Kathryn]

MaryG2E wrote: "I've finished this season's challenge - the mini book bingo. What great fun it was! Thanks to the moderators for consistently coming up with interesting challenges, which grab my imagination. I enj..."

You have had some good reads, MaryG2E - some of which are either on my list or I'm thinking of adding!

[Kathryn]

I'm slowly chipping away at my list - I've read 19 of the 25, with only 1 vertical bingo so far, but after my current read (The Tea Chest by Josephine Moon - for the new to me Aussie author slot), any book I read toward this challenge will give me a bingo!

Column 1
Shortlisted or won a book prize – The Signature of All Things by Elizabeth Gilbert (shortlisted for Wellcome Book Prize 2014) - 3 stars
Book that “everyone” but you has read –
YA by an Aussie author – Looking for Alibrandi by Melina Marchetta - 3 stars
Has been on your TBR for 2+ years – While We Were Watching Downton Abbey by Wendy Wax - 4 stars
Sci-fi – The Humans by Matt Haig - 3.5 stars

Column 2
Love that cover – The Yellow-Lighted Bookshop: A Memoir, a History by Lewis Buzbee - 3.5 stars
By an Australian author – Wings Above the Diamantina by Arthur W. Upfield - 3 stars
HF –
Favourite genre – A Carpet Ride to Khiva: Seven Years on the Silk Road by Christopher Aslan Alexander (travelogue) - 3.5 stars
With a one word title – Promise by Tony Cavanaugh - 3 stars

Column 3
Published this year – The Secret Chord by Geraldine Brooks - 3 stars
Currently on the bestseller list – The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins - 4.5 stars
Random TBR book – The Forsyte Saga: Maid in Waiting by John Galsworthy - 3.5 stars
From a friend’s TBR – Simmering Season by Jenn J. McLeod – I see this is on Elaine, Veronica and Suzanne's TBRs - 3.5 stars
Set in Australia – Questions of Travel by Michelle de Kretser - 3 stars

Column 4
Male main character – A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman - 4.5 stars
Reread something – My Sister Sif by Ruth Park - 3.5 stars
A novella –
With a red cover – Earthly Delights by Kerry Greenwood - 1.5 stars
With a child on the cover –

Column 5
By a new (to you) Aussie author –
Set in another country – The Forsyte Saga: Flowering Wilderness by John Galsworthy - 3.5 stars
Book turned into a movie –
Female main character – Pattern Recognition by William Gibson - 2.5 stars
Suspense or crime – Life or Death by Michael Robotham - 4.5 stars

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Looking good guys!

[Katrina]

So I actually finished this challenge last week (just haven't had a chance to post). A great idea with the Bingo - i actually found it easy to fit books I wanted to read into the categories.
Here is my completed list:

2 down:
Love that cover - by Suzanna Clarke 3*
Aussie Author - The Story Of Danny Dunn by Bryce Courtenay 3*
Historical Fiction - Clancy's Crossing by Evan Green 4*
Favorite genre - Living Dangerously by Katie Fforde 3*
One word title - Matilda by Roald Dahl 3*

4 Across
on my TBR >2yrs - The Paris Wife by Paula McLain 3*
favourite genre - Knit Two by Kate Jacobs 4*
Friend's TBR (thanks Kathryn) - Be Careful What You Wish For by Jeffrey Archer 3*
Red Cover - by Frank Viola 4*
Female Main Character - Speaking in Bones by Kathy Reichs 5*

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

Congrats Katrina! It's nice to finish isn't it:)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Well done Katrina!

[Noelene]

Finished. Last book was a fizzer. The Body in the Bicycle Shed Very disappointing 1 star read

1 across and 5 down.
Across
1.Prize Winner All That I Am 5 star read
2. Love that Cover Last Chance Cafe4 star read
3 Published This Year The Secret Son 4 star read
4. Male Main Character ] Troll Mountain 4 star read
5. Aussie author Never Read Charlotte Wood The Natural Way of Things
5 star read
5 Down
Australian Author Never readFran Cusworth The Love Child 4 star read

Set in another country - Lie Down with the Devil 2 star read

Book Turned into a Movie Big Little Lies 5 star read
female Main Character The Body in the Bicycle Shed Very disappointing 1 star read
Suspense or Crime Red WolfRed Wolf 4 star read

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Congrats Noelene!

[Kathryn]

Katrina wrote: "So I actually finished this challenge last week (just haven't had a chance to post). A great idea with the Bingo - i actually found it easy to fit books I wanted to read into the categories.
Here i..."

Congratulations, Katrina! Looks like you had some good reads, too :-)

[Kathryn]

Noelene wrote: "Finished. Last book was a fizzer. The Body in the Bicycle Shed Very disappointing 1 star read

1 across and 5 down.
Across
1.Prize Winner All That I Am 5 star read
2..."

What a shame the last one was disappointing, Noelene... But looks like you had some good ones earlier on.

[Sally906]

MaryG2E wrote: "I've finished this season's challenge - the mini book bingo. What great fun it was! Thanks to the moderators for consistently coming up with interesting challenges, which grab my imagination. I enj..."

Well done Mary, you have some good reading in that list - now you can kick your heels back and prepare yourself for the Summer challenge! ;)

[Katrina]

thanks Ladies. Yes I am happy to finish - and particularly with time to spare :)
Bring on summer :)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

LOL! I can't wait for summer's to be released either Katrina:)

[Trevor]

Book number 9 finished "4 Down - re-read a novel" The Ministry of Fear by Graham Greene 4★s

A wonderful novel, so pleased I chose this as my re-read, my short review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[MaryG2E]

Sally906 wrote: "MaryG2E wrote: "I've finished this season's challenge - the mini book bingo. What great fun it was! Thanks to the moderators for consistently coming up with interesting challenges, which grab my im..."

Ah, yes, indeed Sally. Can't wait for the details of the challenge to be released by our Mods...Meantime, there's plenty of reading to knock off my TBR list.

[MichelleG]

Only 2 books left on the list - The Bone Clocks by David Mitchell and The Eye of the Sheep by Sofie Laguna.



My picks were: 4 Across.

1. Has been on your TBR for longer than two years - A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini *completed*
2. Favourite genre - The Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen *completed*
3. From a friend's TBR - The Buried Giant by Kazuo Ishiguro*completed*
4. With a red cover - A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas *completed*
5. Female main character - Burial Rites by Hannah Kent. *completed*

My picks were: 4 Down.

1. Male main character - The Bone Clocks by David Mitchell
2. Re-read something - Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer. *completed*
3. A novella (I couldn't find a novella, so I picked the small book in my TBR - 336 pages) - The Veil by Chloe Neill. *completed*
4. With a red cover - The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling. *completed*
5. With a child on the cover - The Eye of the Sheep by Sofie Laguna

[Jülie ☼♄ ]

Finished my Spring challenge with The House We Grew Up In for 4★s. Very intense but enjoyable read, my review a bit later.
Loved all of my choices, with Salt Creek taking the gong for best of challenge read.

My choices are 2 and 3 down....

 Spring Challenge 

2 Down

Love that cover --> The House We Grew Up In by Lisa Jewell 4★s
Aussie author --> Golden Boy by Abigail Tarttelin 5★s
Historical fiction --> Salt Creek by Lucy Treloar 5★s
Favourite genre --> The Secret Son by Jenny Ackland 4★s
One word title --> Leap by Myfanwy Jones 4★s

3 Down

Published this year --> Deadly Messengers by Susan May 4★s
Current bestseller --> The Sisters by Claire Douglas. 4★s
Random TBR --> Nine letters long by J.C. Burke 4★s
From Friend's TBR --> Addition by Toni Jordan 5★s
Set in Australia --> Paper Daisies by Kim Kelly 4★s

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Congratulations Jools! Great effort with some excellent reads there :) Hope you enjoy Summer's as much;)

[Suzie]

Finished my 5 down Set in another country, which I changed to Into the River by Ted Dawe. First part wonderful, but overall a disappointing 2★