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

[Janine]

I have finished my 12th #4 Down - Male Main Character
The Murder on the Links by Agatha Christie 4*

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Sally906 wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Doing well Sally!"

Makes a change - normally I am going into melt down by now :)"

Yes, so much better for you!

[Jenn]

Finished Memoirs of a Geisha 3★

[Lynxie]

Sixth book read and reviewed:

Red cover: Skeletal by Katherine Hayton ★★★

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

That means I'm only one book away from finishing 4 Across and 3 books away from finishing 2 down!! I might be able to do this!

[Odette]

This is going to be my second "love that cover!" read:

Luna Tango by Alli Sinclair

[MichelleG]

Hi, is it too late to join? I've just found your group - and this challenge looks great :)

If i'm not too late, can i please pick 4 books:
*2 Across - That "everyone" but you has read
*4 Down - Male main character
*4 Across - Female Main character (to be fair lol)
*5 Down - By an Aussie author you've never read

Thanks, Michelle

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Michelle wrote: "Hi, is it too late to join? I've just found your group - and this challenge looks great :)

If i'm not too late, can i please pick 4 books:
*2 Across - That "everyone" but you has read
*4 Down - M..."

Michelle, you have to choose a complete row - not just random books from different rows:) So, for example, all of #2 across and all of #4 Down as your list of books for the month. You have to read a minimum of 10 books for the challenge:)

[MichelleG]

Hi Brenda, that'll teach me to skim read the instructions lol.

Ok- seeing as I picked the male and female characters let's stick with those- is 4 across and 4 down ok?

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Michelle wrote: "Hi Brenda, that'll teach me to skim read the instructions lol.

Ok- seeing as I picked the male and female characters let's stick with those- is 4 across and 4 down ok?"

Sure:) Choose your books, then list them here (don't forget to link;)) Where you have the crossover of books, you need to read two of that subject...so that would be "with a red cover"

Good luck choosing and have fun! A lot of us think the best part is choosing our books:)

[MichelleG]

Hi Brenda,

Sorry quick couple of questions please?

1. Are audiobooks ok?
2. Is there a specific list to choose from? Or can we just raid our ever growing tbr pile... Or in my case an entire bookcase lol.

Thanks,
Michelle

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Michelle wrote: "Hi Brenda,

Sorry quick couple of questions please?

1. Are audiobooks ok?
2. Is there a specific list to choose from? Or can we just raid our ever growing tbr pile... Or in my case an entire book..."

Audio books are fine Michelle:) No, no lists for this one - just try to reduce your own TBR that will match with the criteria:) Also you might not have noticed but the minimum page count is 125 as well:)

[MichelleG]

Thanks Brenda.

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
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
5. Female main character - Burial Rites by Hannah Kent

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
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. With a red cover - The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling
5. With a child on the cover - The Eye of the Sheep by Sofie Laguna

Hope this is ok.

Cheers,
Michelle

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Well done Michelle!!! Great choices...good luck with your reading:)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Just finished my 9th (Part 2) - #3 Down - Currently best seller - Make Me by Lee Child 5★s

Review tomorrow:)


One to go!

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

Beautifully done Michelle and some lovely choices:)

[MichelleG]

Brenda wrote: "Well done Michelle!!! Great choices...good luck with your reading:)"

Thanks Brenda, can't wait to get started - I just have to finish up the books I'm currently reading :)

[MichelleG]

Phrynne wrote: "Beautifully done Michelle and some lovely choices:)"

Thanks Phrynne. :)

[Janine]

I have finished my 13th #4 Down With a Child on the Cover
Summer's Child by Diane Chamberlain 3*

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Brenda wrote: "Just finished my 9th (Part 2) - #3 Down - Currently best seller - Make Me by Lee Child 5★s

Review tomorrow:)


One to go!"

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

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Finished my 10th and final (Part 2) #2 Down- Historical Fiction - Secrets in Time by Alison Stuart 5★s

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

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

So my second completed list:

#2 Down

1. Love the Cover - Spirits of the Ghan by Judy Nunn 5★s
2. Aussie author - Paracosm by Anya Allyn 5★s
3. Historical Fiction - Secrets in Time by Alison Stuart 5★s
4. Favourite Genre - The Red Door by Rosa Fedele 4★s
5. One Word Title - Nirvana by J.R. Stewart 3★s

#3 Down

1. Published 2015 - So Far Into You by Lily Malone 5★s
2. Currently Best Seller - Make Me by Lee Child 5★s
3. Random TBR - Three Lives Down by Rachel Amphlett 5★s
4. From Friend's TBR - Australia's Most Murderous Prison: Behind the Walls of Goulburn Jail by James Phelps (Julie) 4★s
5. Set in Australia - Emergency Response by Nicki Edwards 4.5★s

[Suzie]

I've changed my 5 down Female main character book to Life in Motion: An Unlikely Ballerina by Misty Copeland after watching her interview and a short but stunning performance on the Stephen Colbert show. Just started reading!

[Lynxie]

That's 4 Across done

TBR over two years: Blood Tide by Angela Horn ★★★
Fave genre: (fantasy) Scrapplings by Amelia Smith ★★★
Friends TBR: After Last Call by Derrolyn Anderson (Navessa) ★★★
Red cover: Skeletal by Katherine Hayton ★★★
Female MC: Love, Desire and Betrayal by Margaret Lynette Sharp ★★

The last crossed off the list was Friends TBR: After Last Call by Derrolyn Anderson (Navessa) ★★★

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

[Steve]

Last night, I finished my second (Part 2), With a red cover from 4 across, The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making, with my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show....

Up next is From a friend's TBR (Phyrnne) from 4 across, Snow Like Ashes.

[Carolyn]

Finished this challenge with the fifth book in 2Down: One word title - Eugenia by Mark Tedeschi 4★

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

[Carolyn]

I'm going to call this challenge done as I've got to catch up in a few other challenges!
Here's my final list:

1 Down
Short listed or won a prize: Gilead by Marilynne Robinson 4★
The book 'everyone' has read: The Princess Bride by William Goldman 3.5★
YA by an Aussie author: Life in Outer Space by Melissa Keil 4★
Has been on the tbr >2y: Perfect by Rachel Joyce 4★
Sci Fi: Redshirts by John Scalzi 5★

2 Down
Love that cover: Hush, Little Bird by Nicole Trope 5★
Aussie author: Village Vets by Anthony Bennett & J Carroll 4★
Historical fiction:A Famine of Horses by P.F. Chisholm 4★
Favourite genre: Night Tremors by Matt Coyle 4★
One word title: Eugenia by Mark Tedeschi 4★

[Nicola]

One finished for my 1 Down list
YA by Aussie Author
Daughter Of The Forest / Juliet Marillier
and have also started my 3rd list which will be 5 Across

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Congratulations Carolyn!!

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

Well done Carolyn! You liked The Princess Bride a LITTLE bit more than I did:)

[Carolyn]

Oh I see, only one star! You must have really hated it Phrynne.

[Kathryn]

I've got my first bingo - in column 3 - hooray! After reading 15 books, something had to give somewhere!

GR has done something that has affected exact spacing in posts, so I've had to modify my bingo card a bit... Not as effective as before, so I hope they hurry up and return it to normal!

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 –
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 –
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 –

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 –
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 - currently reading
Suspense or crime – Life or Death by Michael Robotham - 4.5 stars

[Lynxie]

Two books left now I've finished my 8th... can I finish them both before the end of October?!

Historical Fiction: Capturing the Pirate's Heart by Annie Seaton ★★

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

[Suzie]

I've finished my 5 down Female main character Life in Motion: An Unlikely Ballerina byMisty Copeland. Although the writing was not that great, I gave the story 4 1/2★

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

Lynxie wrote: "Two books left now I've finished my 7th... can I finish them both before the end of October?!

Historical Fiction: Capturing the Pirate's Heart by Annie Seaton ★★
..."

I've got two to go as well Lynxie. (for other challenges though) Of course we can do it:)

[Lynxie]

Phrynne wrote: I've got two to go as well Lynxie. (for other challenges though) Of course we can do it:)


I think so, especially since I'm over 50% through book 9 now :D

Happy reading!!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Lynxie wrote: "Two books left now I've finished my 8th... can I finish them both before the end of October?!

Historical Fiction: Capturing the Pirate's Heart by Annie Seaton ★★
..."

You don't have to finish until the end of November Lynxie:)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Brenda wrote: "Finished my 5th (Part 2) - #2 Down (Love that Cover) - Spirits of the Ghan by Judy Nunn 5★s

Review to follow closer to publ..."

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

[Lynxie]

Brenda wrote: "You don't have to finish until the end of November Lynxie:)"

I know, but I'm doing NaNo in November and substituting all my reading time to writing time... so I do need to finish by 31st October, or I won't get it done before 1 Dec. :)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Well that's fair enough:) (I forgot!!)

[Lynxie]

Book #9 devoured!

One word title: Deadline by Scarlet Hawthorne ★★★★

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

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

Lynxie wrote: "Book #9 devoured!

One word title: Deadline by Scarlet Hawthorne ★★★★

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

Lucky you. I don't think anyone could devour the one I am slogging through:(

[Lynxie]

Phrynne wrote: "Lynxie wrote: "Book #9 devoured!

One word title: Deadline by Scarlet Hawthorne ★★★★

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

Lucky you. I do..."

Oh no! Hope you can slog through it though and move onto something more entertaining :)

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

Lynxie wrote: "Phrynne wrote: "Lynxie wrote: "Book #9 devoured!

One word title: Deadline by Scarlet Hawthorne ★★★★

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

Getting there..........

[Steve]

Yesterday, while suspended in a metal tube en-route to Brisbane, I finished my third (Part 2), From a friend's TBR (Phyrnne) from 4 across, Snow Like Ashes with my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show....

I have started on Set in another country from 5 down, Code Name Verity.

[Janine]

I have finished my 14th #4 Down With a red cover
Watch Your Back by Karen Rose 3*

[Jenn]

Finished my 3 sets for this challenge...


3 Across...
YA by Aussie Author Hunting for Witches by Lana Pecherczyk★★★★★

Historical Fiction The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne★☆

Random from TBR Prince of Wolves by Quinn Loftis★★★★☆

Novella A Breath of Hot Air by Alex Kava★★★★☆

Book Turned into a movie The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
★★★

4 Across
TBR longer than 2 years Kindling the Moon ★★★★

Favourite Genre Pierced ★★★★★

Friends TBR (Michelle) Discovering Stella by K.M. Golland★★★★★

Red Cover Dark Lover by J.R. Ward ★★★★

Female Main Character Stranded Alex Kava★★★★★


2 Down

Love that cover! The House on Burra Burra Lane by Jennie Jones ★★★★

By an Aussie Author Bad Boy Rock Star by Candy J. Starr★★★★★

Historical Fiction Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden★★★

Favourite Genre Grave Dance by Kalayna Price★★★★

One word Title Hunter by Mandy Harbin★★★★★

[Sally906]

Jennifer wrote: "Finished my 3 sets for this challenge...


3 Across...
YA by Aussie Author Hunting for Witches by Lana Pecherczyk★★★★★

Historical Fiction ..."

well done - nice selection

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Congratulations Jennifer!

[Lynxie]

And I finished my 10th book with just over a day left of my reading time (before participating in NaNo).

I finished with Love that cover: A Curse of Ash and Iron by Christine Norris ★★★★

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

The whole lot:

2 Down
Love that cover: A Curse of Ash and Iron by Christine Norris ★★★★
Aussie author: The Secret Years by Barbara Hannay ★★★★
Historical Fiction: Capturing the Pirate's Heart by Annie Seaton ★★
Fave genre: (Fantasy) Guild of Immortal Women by David Alan Morrison ★★★
One word title: Deadline by Scarlet Hawthorne ★★★★

4 Across
TBR over two years: Blood Tide by Angela Horn ★★★
Fave genre: (fantasy) Scrapplings by Amelia Smith ★★★
Friends TBR: After Last Call by Derrolyn Anderson (Navessa) ★★★
Red cover: Skeletal by Katherine Hayton ★★★
Female MC: Love, Desire and Betrayal by Margaret Lynette Sharp ★★

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Well done Lynxie!