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

[Sally906]

I have finished my spring challenge - I did 3 across and 3 down

3 Across:
Young Adult by an Aussie Author – The Drowned Kingdom by Kate Forsyth 4★s
Historical Fiction – Palace of Tears by Julian Leatherdale 5★s
Random Book from TBR – The Rosie Effect by Graeme Simsion 5★s
A novella - Princesses Don't Get Fat by Aya Ling 4★s
A book turned into movie - Must Love Dogs by Claire Cook 2★s

3 Down:
Published this year - The Kingdom of the Sun and Moon by Lowell H. Press 4★s
Currently on the best seller list – The Patterson Girls by Rachael Johns 5★s
Random Book from TBR – The Good Master by Kate Seredy 4★s
From a friend’s TBR – The Werewolf Meets His Match by Kristen Painter (Kate's TBR Shelf) 5★s
Set in Australia - They Found A Cave by Nan Chauncy 4★s

[Nicola]

Finished my second book for my third round
5 across - Science Fiction
Ultima / Stephen Baxter 4* read (love my science fiction!)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Congrats Sally! Well done:)

[Mary]

I'm swapping out my 3 down 'Set in another country'. I'm going to read The Silkworm by The Silkworm by Robert Galbraith instead of The Lives of Others by Neel Mukherjee. I'm just not in a place where i can read something that starts with dying children.

[Nicola]

Finished my third book for my third round
5 across - Set in Australia
The Golden Age / Joan London
Wonderful story set in Leederville (Perth) in the 1950s. 4*

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Nicola wrote: "Finished my third book for my third round
5 across - Set in Australia
The Golden Age / Joan London
Wonderful story set in Leedervi..."

I loved that one Nicola!

[Nicola]

Brenda wrote: "Nicola wrote: "Finished my third book for my third round
5 across - Set in Australia
The Golden Age / Joan London
Wonderful story ..."

So did I! Was recommended for our bookclub, hoping everyone else liked it as much as I did!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

It was an unusual book:) It's great to get that kind of rec isn't it!

[Mary]

Finished 3 down Set in Another Country'

The Silkworm by Robert Galbraith 4*

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

[Steve]

I have finished my seventh (Part 2), Female main character from 4 across, Survivor In Death, with my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show....

Up next is Suspense or Crime from 5 down, Origin in Death.

[MaryG2E]

Nicola wrote: "Finished my third book for my third round
5 across - Set in Australia
The Golden Age / Joan London
Wonderful story set in Leedervi..."

This book was one of my favourite reads from last year. It is very evocative of a particular era, and I'm genuinely sure my mother was a seriously nervous worry wort because of those fears of us kids contracting polio. Glad you enjoyed it.

[Mary]

Finished 3 Down Published This Year X/Sue Grafton 3*

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

Two to go! Friends TBR and Aussie Author Never Read.

Went to an author bash at Dymocks in Sydney tonight and picked up two new books both by Aussie authors i have never read so will swap one out for the Thea Astley.

The Lost Swimmer/Ann Turner

Ooh! I'm going to make it after all :)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Well done Mary! You certainly should:)

[Steve]

I've just finished my eighth, Suspense or Crime from 5 down, Origin in Death, with my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show....

Up next is Has been on your TBR longer than two years from 4 across, Fade to Black.

[MichelleG]

Hi,

If it's ok, I am going to make a small change. My last book is 4 Down - With a child on the cover is: The Eye of the Sheep by Sofie Laguna. I would like to change this to Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs.

I started reading The Eye Of The Sheep, and while I can appreciate that it's well written, so far it's been about an autistic boy with a physically abusive father, a loving but downtrodden mother and an absent brother. This is not the book for me right now, so i'll be putting it aside to read later... maybe in the new year (or another challenge :) )

I am currently reading The Bone Clocks by David Mitchell - so far it's really slow going. Again, I can appreciate that the writing is good, however the story is all over the place and I'm roughly 80% of the way through and I've spent the majority of the story utterly confused, I'm just hoping that it all starts to make sense soon.

Next up (my last book) is: Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

My picks are: 4 Across.

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


My picks are: 4 Down.

1. Male main character: The Bone Clocks by David Mitchell ~ Currently Reading
2. Re-read something: Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer 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 4 Stars
4. With a red cover: The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling 3 Stars
5. With a child on the cover: The Eye of the Sheep by Sofie Laguna Changed to: Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs ~ Next Up

[Rebecca]

Gosh, I am so proud of myself - this is the closest I have come to finishing a challenge. With two weeks left, I may yet do it too!

I went with 1 Down and 4 Across:

Shortlisted or has won a book prize
Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel
Have started over the weekend

That 'everyone' but you has read
The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson

Young Adult by an Aussie author
Tomorrow, When the War Began by John Marsden

Has been on your TBR for longer than two years
These Is My Words by Nancy E. Turner

Science Fiction
Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card

Has been on you TBR for longer than two years
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

Favourite genre
Caught by Harlan Coben

From a friend's TBR
Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer

With a red cover
Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk
I'm 55% of the way through!

Female main character
The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons

[MichelleG]

Finally finished 4 Down - 1. Male main character: The Bone Clocks by David Mitchell 3.5 Stars


Next up and last book for this challenge: 4 Down - 5. With a child on the cover: Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Doing well girls:)

[MichelleG]

Finished! ... And Challenge complete!

[MichelleG]

That's really bizarre. 3 times last night I wrote a whole blurb about the book, linked the title etc and gave it a star rating, and each time only that first line saved. :(

Not sure what happened, but I'll try again.

My last book was Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and devoured it within half a day. I'm so glad I switched this out, as it really rounded out the challenge on a high.

I'm rating this a fabulous 5 stars, and I can't wait to start the next book in the series, although it might have to wait until I finish the other books from the November challenge lol.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Congratulations Michelle! Great job!!

[Nicola]

Almost finished the challenge with 2 hour listening left on my last book!

Have finished these ones over the weekend
5 across - child on the cover
Seven Little Australians and the Family at Misrule (the Sequel to Seven Little Australians) Illustrated / Ethel Turner 3*
and
1 down - shortlisted or won a prize
The Bicentennial Man / Isaac Asimov 5*

Will give the full list when I've finished the last book

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Doing well Nicola!!

[Suzie]

I finished my 5 down Book to movie: Inkheart by Cornelia Funke 4★
Only one more to go - hope I make it!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Suzie wrote: "I finished my 5 down Book to movie: Inkheart by Cornelia Funke 4★
Only one more to go - hope I make it!"

You'll make it Suzie:) 10 days...go!

[Steve]

I have finished my penultimate book (Part 2), Has been on your TBR longer than two years from 4 across, Fade to Black, with my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show....

Up next is Book turned into a move from 5 down, The Hunger Games.

[Rosie]

I have finished all my books for this challenge.

:-)

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

Well done Rosie:)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Rosie wrote: "I have finished all my books for this challenge.

:-)"

Congrats Rosie!

[Lesley]

I'm not sure I will be able to finished but will come close.

1 across

Prizewinner Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore read Sep, 1 star
Love the cover The Swan Thieves read Sep, 4 stars
2015 pub Buy Me the Sky: The remarkable truth of China’s one-child generations read Sep, 3 stars
Male character The Buddha of Suburbia read Sep, 2 stars
New Aus author The Cottage Under the Big Pines: Memories and Details from Foxglove Spires read Oct, 4 stars

2 across

Everyone read The Time Machine read Sep, 2 stars
Aus author Mary Poppins read Oct, 3 stars
Current bestseller The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organising read Sep, 3 stars
Reread All Quiet on the Western Front re-read Sep, 4 stars
OS set A Beautiful Mind read Sep, 4 stars

3 across

Aus YA
HF Brooklyn currently reading
TBR The Adventures of Tom Sawyer read Sep, 3 stars
Novella Goodbye, Columbus and Five Short Stories read Oct, 2 stars
Book to movie The African Queen read Sep, 4 stars

4 across

Longterm TBR Sons and Lovers read Oct, 3 stars
Fave genre Contemporary Falling Man read Oct, 2 stars
TBR Falling Man read Oct, 2 stars
Red cover
Female character What Maisie Knew read Oct, 2 stars

5 across

SF Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? read Sep, 2 stars
One word Shame read Oct, 2 stars
Aus set Grace's Table read Sep, 3 stars
Child cover The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn read Oct, 4 stars
Crime,suspense The Stand currently reading

[Heather]

I finished the challenge during the week.
1-5. Down Aussie Author - Mr Wigg 3 ★:
2-5 Down Set in another Country - Taken for Dead 5 ★
3-5 Down Book into Movie - Before I Go to Sleep 5 ★
4-5 Down Female Character - Bones Are Forever 5 ★
5-5 Down Suspense/Crime - Dead Heat 5 ★
4-1 Across 2Y TBR - The Ghost Riders of Ordebec 5 ★
4-2 Across Favourite Genre - Night Watch 5 ★
4-3 Across Friends TBR - The Girl on the Train 4 ★
4-4 Across Red Cover - Me Before You 5 ★
4-5 Across Female Character - Silent Mercy5 ★

Off to read a few TBRs!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Wow you only have 4 left in this (that I can see) and 2 you are currently reading Lesley! Well done!!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Congratulations Heather!

[Kathryn]

I have finished my bingo card for this challenge. Most were good reads, several (Room, The Girl on the Train, A Man Called Ove and Life or Death) were wonderful. I only gave one (Pattern Recognition) less than 3 stars. This was a great challenge, mods!

PRIZE. LOVE. PUB 2015. MALE CHAR. NEW AUS 

    

POPULAR. AUS AUTH. BESTSELLER. REREAD. OTHER COUNTRY

    

AUS YA. HIST FICT. FREE. NOVELLA. MOVIE
 
    

2YRS+. FAV GENRE. FRIEND'S TBR. RED COVER. FEMALE CHAR

    

SCI-FI. ONE WORD. AUST SET. CHILD. SUSPENSE/CRIME 
 
    

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 – Outlander by Diana Gabaldon - 3.5 stars
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 – Queen of the Flowers by Kerry Greenwood - 3 stars
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 – Night by Elie Wiesel - 3 stars
With a red cover – Earthly Delights by Kerry Greenwood - 1.5 stars
With a child on the cover – Room by Emma Donoghue - 5 stars

Column 5
By a new (to you) Aussie author – The Tea Chest by Josephine Moon - 4 stars
Set in another country – The Forsyte Saga: Flowering Wilderness by John Galsworthy - 3.5 stars
Book turned into a movie – Gorillas in the Mist by Dian Fossey - 3.5 stars
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]

Congratulations Kathryn! A brilliant effort!

[Kathryn]

Brenda wrote: "Congratulations Kathryn! A brilliant effort!"

Thanks, Brenda! It cleared a lot off my TBR list, and yet, strangely, the numerical value is no less than when I started...!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Not so strange Kathryn! I'd be surprised if it hasn't actually grown;)

[Trevor]

My challenge is finished:


3 Down
Published this year: Trust by Mike Bullen - 3★
Currently on best seller list: The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins - 3★
TBR: Sweet Tooth by Ian McEwan - 3★
From a friends TBR (Justin): Frat House Troopers by Xavier Mayne - 4★
Set in Australia: Crucifixion Creek by Barry Maitland - 3★

4 Down
Male main character: Nail Polish and Feathers by Jo Ramsey - 4★
Reread something: The Ministry of Fear by Graham Greene - 4★
A novella: The Panda Theory by Pascal Garnier - 3★
With a red cover: Bicycle Diaries by David Byrne - 4★
With a child on the cover: Golden Boys by Sonya Hartnett -3★

Thanks to the moderators for setting another great challenge.

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

Thanks for taking part Trevor and glad you enjoyed it:)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Congratulations Trevor!

[Steve]

While waiting for the doors to open to the Stephen Fry show I'm at tonight, I have finished my second list with Book turned into a movie from 5 down, The Hunger Games, with my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show....

Here are my four completed bingos:

5 across
Science fiction ★★★★☆
One-word title ★★★★★
Set in Australia ★★★☆☆
Child on the cover ★★★★★
Suspense or Crime ★★★★★

3 down
Published This Year ★★★★★
Currently on bestseller list ★★★★★
Random TBR ★★★★☆
Friend's TBR (Brenda) ★★★★☆
Set in Australia ★★☆☆☆

4 across
Has been on your TBR longer than two years ★★☆☆☆
Favourite genre ★★★☆☆
From a friend's TBR (Phyrnne) ★★★★☆
With a red cover ★★★★☆
Female main character ★★★★★

5 down
Aussie author never read ★★☆☆☆
Set in another country ★★★★☆
Book turned into a movie ★★★★☆
Female main character ★★★★★
Suspense or Crime ★★★★★

BINGO!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Congratulations Steve! That is brilliant:) Enjoy the show:)

[Sally906]

Kathryn wrote: "I have finished my bingo card for this challenge. Most were good reads, several (Room, The Girl on the Train, A Man Called Ove and [book:Life or Death..."

Well done Kathryn - and wonderful presentation of your final list

[Sally906]

Congrats to Trevor and Steve too :)

[Kathryn]

Sally906 wrote: "Kathryn wrote: "I have finished my bingo card for this challenge. Most were good reads, several (Room, The Girl on the Train, A Man Called Ove and [bo..."

Thanks, Sally. And congratulations to everyone finishing off their lists! Looks like there have been some enjoyable reads through spring!

[Zoey]

BINGO!!!



3 Across
YA by an Aussie Author - Burning For Revenge John Marsden 4★
Historical Fiction - The Remains of the DayKazuo Ishiguro 4★
Random TBR - Grey E.L. James 2★
A Novella - Ivan Roxie Rivera 3★
Book to Movie - The Time Traveler's Wife Audrey Niffenegger 3★

5 Down
Aus Author never read - Dirt Music Tim Winton 2★
Set in Another Country - The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Stieg Larsson 3★
Book to Movie - Safe Haven Nicholas Sparks 5★
Female Main Character - Clockwork Angel Cassandra Clare 4.5★
Suspense or Crime - S is for Silence Sue Grafton 3★

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Congratulations Zoey! Great job:) Couple of days breathing space and onto Summer and December now!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Almost closing time on this one! Congratulations to everyone!

[Andrea]

I'm afraid I'm going to fall one short for this challenge - a couple of my books were just too ambitious for my level of busy-ness during Spring.

#2 down
Cover you love
2★
Australian author Unforgivable 4★
Historical fiction The Visitors 4★
Favourite genre (memoir) A Fort of Nine Towers: An Afghan Family Story 5★
One-word title S. 3.5★

#5 down
Aussie author (never read) Deadly Messengers 3★
Set in another country Mornings in Jenin 3.5★
Book turned into movie Half of a Yellow Sun
Female main character Baking Cakes In Kigali 4★
Crime The Merry Misogynist 4★

Yesterday I thought I would quickly watch the movie of Half of a Yellow Sun but I just couldn't get into it. Obviously now is just not the right time for me to become acquainted with this story!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Look at the amount you read though Andrea! Well done!