**Autumn Challenge - 1st March- 31st May 2016**

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

It doesn't matter if it does Kathryn - it's your last book:) Well done!

[Jülie ☼♄ ]

Woohoo, well done Kathryn...bet that feels great ;D

[Heather]

Finished my 10th
3. Recycle - Library - Caught by Harlan Coben 4 ★ this is second book of his where I have noticed characters from the Myron Bolitar series have made an appearance

[Erin]

Erin wrote: "So this is going to be the first challenge that I've ever participated in, and I'm so excited !! I also wasn't sure about whether or not I would be officially participating so I've already read a f..."

So, thus far I haven't read nearly as much as I have wanted to, though I have managed to cross off five books from the list. I've also had to change my pick for #6, because I can't seem to find The Chocolate Thief anywhere! However I found Chocolat by Joanne Harris at Big W and jumped at the opportunity.

2. Reduce Avery by Charlotte McConaghy
3. Reuse City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare
4. Int. Women's Day The Slayers of Dragonhome by John Peel
5. St. Patricks Day Dublin in the Rain by Andrew Critchley
6. Easter Chocolat by Joanne Harris (Previously The Chocolate Thief by Laura Florand)
7. ANZAC Day The Narrow Road to the Deep North by Richard Flanagan
8. Mother's Day A Swift Pure Cry by Siobhan Dowd
9. Captain Cook The Secret River by Kate Grenville
10. Colours of Autumn His Majesty's Dragon by Naomi Novik
11. TBR City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Doing well Erin:)

[Trevor]

Seven books finished now, my latest read being my Easter book - Moon in a Dead Eye by Pascal Garnier - 3★
1) Labour Day (policeman) - Ten Days in August by Kate McMurray- 3★
2) Reduce - Puppet Boy by Christian Baines - 3★
3) Recycle - The Faithful Couple by A.D. Miller - 3★
4) International Women's Day - The Adventures of Holly White and the Incredible Sex Machine by Krissy Kneen - 4★
5) St. Patrick's Day - Brooklyn by Colm Tóibín - 4★
6) Easter - Moon in a Dead Eye by Pascal Garnier - 3★
8) Mother's Day - The Mothers by Rod Jones
9) Captain Cook 1770 Festival - The Secret River by Kate Grenville
10) Colours of Autumn The Dictator's Last Night by Yasmina Khadra - 3★

Have also changed my Mother's Day boo to - The Mothers by Rod Jones

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Doing very well Trevor:)

[PattyMacDotComma]

Trevor wrote: "Seven books finished now, my latest read being my Easter book - Moon in a Dead Eye by Pascal Garnier - 3★
9) Captain Cook 1770 Festival - The Secret River by Kate Grenville..."

I'll be interested to hear what you think of The Secret River, Trevor. It was inspired by Kate Grenville's own family history on the Hawkesbury. I was really interested in her epiphany when she realised what it meant that her family "took up land" (I think that was the phrase). I think she wrote about it in the foreword.

[Lynxie]

Finished my 5th!

#6. Easter (Children): In the Enemy's Service by Annie Douglass Lima ★★★★

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

[Lynxie]

Finished my 6th!

#12. TBR: The Orchid Nursery by Louise Katz Aussie Author ★★★★★

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

[Nicola]

Ok, so I stayed up last night to finished my last book. Then realised today when I came to post that the challenge has another month to run! Just shows that when you are too busy that you can still achieve so much!
1. Labour Day - Policeman
[bookcover:The Burning Room|23316991]The Burning Room / Michael Connelly 5*
2. Reduce
[bookcover:A Man Called Ove|22698053]A Man Called Ove / Fredrik Backman 5*
3. Recycle
[bookcover:Assault and Pepper|22668730]Assault and Pepper / Leslie Budewitz 3*
4. International Women's Day
[bookcover:The Shepherd's Crown|22886868]The Shepherd's Crown / Terry Pratchett 5*
5. St Patrick's Day
[bookcover:Dancing With Demons|1081741]Dancing With Demons / Peter Tremayne 3*
6. Easter
[bookcover:Charlie and the Chocolate Factory|6310]Charlie and the Chocolate Factory / Roald Dahl
7. Anzac Day
[bookcover:War Torn|8255062]War Torn / Andy McNab 3*
8. Mothers Day
[bookcover:Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey: The Lost Legacy of Highclere Castle|12926432]Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey: The Lost Legacy of Highclere Castle / Fiona Carnarvon 4*
9. 1770 Festival
[bookcover:Arthur Phillip: Sailor, Mercenary, Governor, Spy|19164376]Arthur Phillip: Sailor, Mercenary, Governor, Spy / Michael Pembroke 3*
10. Autumn Colours - orange
[bookcover:Kakadu Sunset|27311653]Kakadu Sunset / Annie Seaton 3*
11. TBR
[bookcover:Ark Royal|20556791]Ark Royal / Christopher Nuttall 3*

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Well done Nicola!!!

[Nicola]

Thank you! Can concentrate on the May challenge now...

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

That you can:)

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

I've done that before now Nicola! The months just all blend into one in the end:)

[Trevor]

Finished book number eight - Mother's Day - The Mothers by Rod Jones - 4★, my short review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

1) Labour Day (policeman) - Ten Days in August by Kate McMurray- 3★
2) Reduce - Puppet Boy by Christian Baines - 3★
3) Recycle - The Faithful Couple by A.D. Miller - 3★
4) International Women's Day - The Adventures of Holly White and the Incredible Sex Machine by Krissy Kneen - 4★
5) St. Patrick's Day - Brooklyn by Colm Tóibín - 4★
6) Easter - Moon in a Dead Eye by Pascal Garnier - 3★
8) Mother's Day - The Mothers by Rod Jones - 4★
9) Captain Cook 1770 Festival - The Secret River by Kate Grenville
10) Colours of Autumn The Dictator's Last Night by Yasmina Khadra - 3★

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

Looking good Trevor!

[Katrina]

So I have suprised myself too and realised I am finished with a month to spare - very exciting :)
Here are my completed reads:

1. Labour day (policeman): Death of a Cad by M.C. Beaton 3*
2. Reduce: Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay 4*
3. Recycle: The Bookshop on Jacaranda Street by Marlish Glorie 3*
4. Women's Day: Seven Women: And the Secret of Their Greatness by Eric Metaxas 4*
5 St Patrick's day (green cover): by Karen Kingsbury 5*
6. Easter: Angela Hunt - Risen: The Novelization of the Major Motion Picture 5*
7. Anzac: Gallipoli Street by Mary-Anne O'Connor 5*
8. Mother's Day: The Love Verb by Jane Green 3*
9. Captain Cook: Behind the Sun by Deborah Challinor 5*
10. Brown cover: by Frank Coates 3*
11. by Rosalie Ham 3*
12. The Happiest Refugee: A Memoir by Anh Do 5*
13. The Midnight Watch: A Novel of the Titanic and the Californian by David Dyer 4*

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Congratulations Katrina! Great effort:)

[Calzean]

Done and dusted - "Anchor Point" was the pick of the bunch:
1. Labour Day - occupation - The Waiting Room by Leah Kaminsky - 2
2. Clean up Aust Day - Reduce TBR: The World Without Us by Mireille Juchau - 4
3. Recycle – Library - Anchor Point by Alice Robinson - 5
4. International Women's Day - Strong Female Character- Dancing On Coral by Glenda Adams - 3
5. St Patrick's Day – Ireland - Academy Street by Mary Costello - 5
6. Easter (related to Easter): Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ by Lew Wallace - 1
7. ANZAC – Birdsong by Sebastian Faulks - 4
8. Mother's Day – Blood by Tony Birch - 4
9. Captain Cook - Historical Fiction - Finding Eliza: Power and Colonial Storytelling by Larissa Behrendt - 3
10. Colours of Autumn (in title or cover) - Red/Gold/Brown/Orange/Yellow - Cards on the Table by Agatha Christie
11. TBR Six Bedrooms by Tegan Bennett Daylight - 4
12. TBR: Monkey Grip by Helen Garner - 2
13. TBR: The Submerged Cathedral by Charlotte Wood - 4

reply | edit | delete | flag *

[Kathryn]

Katrina wrote: "So I have suprised myself too and realised I am finished with a month to spare - very exciting :)
Here are my completed reads:

1. Labour day (policeman): Death of a Cad by...."

I like the sound of some of your reads, Katrina...

I've read no's 2 and 9, and like the sound of no's 3, 5 and 13.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Congratulations Calzean! A lot of you finishing a month early!

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

Do we assume we didn't challenge them hard enough Brenda? :)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

I think you might be right Phrynne - hmmmm....a hard one for Winter then? ;P

[PattyMacDotComma]

Brenda wrote: "I think you might be right Phrynne - hmmmm....a hard one for Winter then? ;P"

ARGH$#! I do enjoy having the option to do fewer or additional books around a 'core' promise (so to speak, in light of the current election conversation).

[Tien]

well, I do enjoy the fact that it's as highly pressured as other challenges that I participate in though that's probably why it's not a priority for me... still have 2 books to read to finish off Autumn.

though in saying that I will still join in at whatever level you decide to throw onto us ;)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

LOL! Don't panic people :)

[Sally906]

Brenda wrote: "LOL! Don't panic people :)"

Oh good - pulling my thumb out of my mouth and coming out of my cupboard.

That's right I'm a mod I know what is happening for winter challenge!

Going back into cupboard!

LOL!

[Katrina]

Kathryn wrote:
They were all good reads Kathryn. Am sure you would enjoy them :)

[PattyMacDotComma]

Sally906 wrote: "Brenda wrote: "LOL! Don't panic people :)"

Oh good - pulling my thumb out of my mouth and coming out of my cupboard.

That's right I'm a mod I know what is happening for winter challenge!

Going ..."

That bad, is it, Sally? YIKES!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Hahaha!!!

[Lynxie]

Finished my 7th:

#7. ANZAC - Aussie author: Claiming the Rebel's Heart by Alison Stuart ★★★★

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

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

She writes good books Lynxie. I haven't read that one yet. Something to look forward to:)

[Lynxie]

I've really enjoyed all of her books so far. I think I've read about 6 of them.

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

I usually manage to get one or two into each of our challenges:)

[Valerie]

Another one crossed off the list #7 ANZAC Villers Bretonneux by Peter Pedersen
A bit dry, but I was interested to learn more about Australia's involvement in saving this French village.

[Lynxie]

And my 8th, which was a let down.

#5. St Patrick's Day - Ireland: Bloodmark by Aurora Whittet ★★

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

[Sally906]

Autumn is now over for me - I am now resting up while I wait for the cooler winter weather to arrive in June!!!

Here is my completed Autumn Reading Challenge list:

#1. Labour Day - Choose a book whose lead characters are workers in construction, office, health, police force or teachers. Please mention their occupation when you post your list
Tricky Twenty-Two by Janet Evanovich – MC is a Bounty Hunter - 4★s

Clean Up Australia Day –
#2. REDUCE - Read a book from your TBR shelf – The Gargoyle Gets His Girl by Kristen Painter - 4★s
#3. RECYCLE - Read any book from the library - Mort by Terry Pratchett - 4★s

#4. International Women's Day - Read a book with a strong female character
Dead Heat by Patricia Briggs - Anna is very strong character - 5★s

#5. St Patrick's Day - Choose a book with a Green Cover
A Ghoul's Guide to Love and Murder by Victoria Laurie - 5★s

#6. Easter - Choose a book that YOU would associate with Easter...explain why you've chosen that particular book when posting your choice
The Beast's Garden by Kate Forsyth – is about freeing people from oppression enabling them to start of a new life - 4★s

#7. ANZAC Day - Read a book with connections to the Military - Aussie author
To Love a Sunburnt Country by Jackie French – set in a Japanese POW camp during WWII 4★s


#8. Mother's Day - Read a book depicting mothers/grandmothers and family
Dastardly Deeds by Ilsa Evans - family goes on a cruise! - 5★s

#9. The Captain Cook 1770 Festival (May) - Read an Historical Fiction novel set around our early settlement days - Aussie author
Nanberry: Black Brother Whiteby Jackie French - 3★s


#10. Colours of Autumn - Choose a book whose cover is primarily one of these colours , red, gold, brown, orange or yellow
Wicked Charms by Janet Evanovich – yellow and orange cover - 3★s

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Congrats Sally!

[Lynxie]

Ninth book crossed off the list!

#3. Recycle - Library: Assassin by Tara Moss Aussie Author ★★★★

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

[Heather]

1st TBR read Buried by Graham Masterton 5 ★

[Chloe]

I have finished the minimum of nine books for this challenge! Loved it, thanks everyone :)

Looking forward to the winter one now :)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Congratulations Chloe!

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

I just went to pick up my last book for the challenge (set at Easter - The Cruellest Month) only to find I have already read it!!!! Probably for an Easter challenge last year:) So now I have replaced it with Death by Chocolate which luckily was only 99cents for Kindle. Phew!!!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Haha! Your replacement sounds perfect Phrynne!

[Andrea]

I honestly thought I wouldn't finish this challenge, but this morning I've made a start on my 9th, and I see that 9 is the minimum for completion. So it's looking good now! Who knows, I may even squeeze in the 10th??

#1 Labour Day - A Little Life 5★
#2 Reduce - Only the Animals 2★
#3 Recycle - Tiddas 2★
#4 Int. Women's Day - A Golden Age 4★
#5 St. Patrick's Day - Fire On The Mountain 4★
#6 Easter - The Chocolate Promise 3★
#7 ANZAC Day - The Daughters of Mars 4★
#8 Mother's Day - Why You Are Australian: A Letter to My Children 4.5★
#9 Capt Cook Festival - A Woman Transported
#10 Colours of Autumn - The Shadow Lines - Reading

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Well done Andrea! Hope you can get to your final one as that is such a great book IMO!

[Anna]

due to the crazy circumstances of my last month - changed a few around. hope they are ok.

completed: 4/13
#1. Labour Day - occupation
Along Came a Spider by James Patterson (homocide detective)

#2. Clean up Aust Day - Reduce TBR
South of Darkness by John Marsden

#3. Recycle - Library
Private by James Patterson

#4. International Women's Day - Strong Female Character
One for the Money by Janet Evanovich

#5. St Patrick's Day - Green Cover/Irish Character/Ireland:
Silver Wedding by Maeve Binchy

#6. Easter (ummmm chocolate need I say more?)
The Chocolate Promise by Josephine Moon

#7. ANZAC - Aussie author
After Darkness by Christine Piper

#8. Mother's Day - Mothers/Grandma/Family
Sundays at Tiffany's by James Patterson

#9. Captain Cook - Historical Fiction - Aussie author
Nanberry: Black Brother White by Jackie French

#10. Colours of Autumn (in title or cover) - Red/Gold/Brown/Orange/Yellow
Prom by Laurie Halse Anderson

OPTIONAL TBR BOOKS
#11 Eleven by James Phelan

#12 The Spaces in Between by Caroline Jones

#13 Follow the Rabbit-Proof Fence by Doris Pilkington

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Perfectly fine Anna :)

[Heather]

Finished my 2nd TBR No Good Deed 5 ★
this one was nearly as good as the first in the series.
Now onto my last book for the challenge Hades
which I need to read as I have the second book of the series
Eden listed for the winter challenge.