March Madness Challenge!

[Kerrie]

Brenda wrote: ":) My hubby is nearly up to date with the Sean Dillon series - as I am of course. Now we're both waiting for the next. Which should be this year as he publishes one every 2 years!"
Is he still writing? I used to collect Jack Higgins - had almost all of the books he'd written (probably 15 or so years ago). I think I overdosed on him and stopped reading when I came across the exact same scene in 2 different books!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

He sure is, and brilliantly in my opinion (and hubby's!)

[Nicola]

Here's my first post for the month, but at least I'm a couple done already!
March Challenge – March Madness
Harmony Day - Indigenous author, people or orange cover – aussie author
Us Fellas: An Anthology Of Aboriginal Writing / collected by Colleen Glass 
Old stuff day
Realm of the Ring Lords: The Myth and Magic of the Grail Quest / Laurence Gardner
International earth day – any country but Oz
Assault and Pepper / Leslie Budewitz 3*
Panic/Thriller
War Torn / Andy McNab
Reader’s choice – any book – aussie author
Illuminae / Jay Kristoff, Amie Kaufman 5*

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

Nicola wrote: "Here's my first post for the month, but at least I'm a couple done already!
March Challenge – March Madness

Glad you enjoyed Illuminae Nicola. I listened to it on audio and liked it so much I went straight out and bought a paper copy to keep:)

[Odette]

Just finished the third book for the challenge.

Reader’s Choice: Aussie Author
Swimming Home by Mary-Rose MacColl - 4★

[Nicola]

Phrynne wrote: "Nicola wrote: "Here's my first post for the month, but at least I'm a couple done already!
March Challenge – March Madness

Glad you enjoyed Illuminae Nicola. I listened to it on a..."

I loved it! I can now understand all the reviews about the difference in formats - not sure I would have loved it as much as anything other than a physical format, can see it being hard to translate into anything else.

[Ashleigh]

All done with my 2nd . . .

2). Old Stuff Day: The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner by Stephenie Meyer ☆☆☆ 11th March

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Finished my 3rd - #5 Readers Choice - Animal People by Charlotte Wood 4★s

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

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

Nicola wrote: "Phrynne wrote: "Nicola wrote: "Here's my first post for the month, but at least I'm a couple done already!
March Challenge – March Madness

Glad you enjoyed Illuminae Nicola. I lis..."

The audio is superb. You should hear Aiden, deliciously creepy and seductive at the same time:)

[Lee at ReadWriteWish]

I read my second for the challenge. 4/5 My review is here if you're interested: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Anna]

first one finished! loved it :) 5 stars and review to follow!

1. Harmony Day:
Follow the Rabbit-Proof Fence by Doris Pilkington

2. Old stuff day:
One For The Money by Janet Evanovich

3. International Earth Day:
Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks

4. Panic Day:
The Spaces in Between by Caroline Jones (13/03/16) 5*s (topic: scary as it's very close to home)

5. Readers Choice:
Ronan's Echo by Joanne van Os

completed:

[PattyMacDotComma]

I know, I know. This doesn't belong here, but the title of the challenge is March Madness, and this is just about the maddest thing happening this March. Trump This!: The Life and Times of Donald Trump, An Unauthorized Biography by Marc Shapiro.

Not only mad, scary! I did review this background of The Donald and his ability to keep rising to the top, but I feel it might be cheating to post the link here. It's easy enough to find, but it's long (even for me).

[Lynxie]

Finished my first:

2). Old Stuff Day: On your TBR list for at least a year:
Underwater by Julia McDermott (since Nov 2014) ★★☆☆☆

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

[Kerrie]

Finished Panic Day yesterday - read Jaye Ford's Darkest Place.

Absolutely brilliant! 5 stars. My review - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Haha! Kerrie I can COMPLETELY understand you using it for Panic Day! LOL

Excellent review! I loved the ending:) A real twist:)

[Sally906]

I'Ve committed to four and have read 3 of them - the last one is earmarked for an Easter read so this is a far as I am going for now:)

2). Old Stuff Day: Read a book which has been on your TBR list for at least a year!
Secret Daughter by Shilpi Somaya Gowda - on my TBR shelf since 2012 5★s

3). International Earth Day: Read a book which is set in any country but your own.
Tricky Twenty-Two by Janet Evanovich – set in the USA

4). Panic Day: Read a book that makes you panic for whatever reason.
The Beast's Garden by Kate Forsyth – has 512 pages – books with large numbers of pages (over 400) always panic me! 4★s

5). Reader’s Choice: Read any book of your choice - Aussie Author
A Motive for Murder by Morgana Best - 3★s

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Doing well Sally:) You'll love your last one - you always do!

[Anna]

My review for The Spaces in Between

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

[PattyMacDotComma]

Kerrie wrote: "Finished Panic Day yesterday - read Jaye Ford's Darkest Place.

Absolutely brilliant! 5 stars. My review - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."

OOO...good to hear! It's waiting for me on my list. Sounds scary!

[Elaine]

Finished my first for this challenge.
Reader's choice: The Dry . Five star read for me and my very brief review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Finished my 4th - Panic Day - Daughter of Australia by Harmony Verna 5+★s

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

[MichelleG]

Hi everyone,
I finished my final book for this challenge.

March Madness Challenge ~ Completed: 5/5

• 1. Harmony Day: Read an Indigenous book (fiction) Aussie Author Rabbit-Proof Fence: The True Story of One of the Greatest Escapes of All Time by Doris Pilkington Rated: 3★ stars.
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

• 2. Old Stuff Day: Read a book which has been on your TBR list for at least a year! Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcí­a Márquez. Rated: 1★ star!!!
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

• 3. International Earth Day: Read a book which is set in any country but your own. The Narrow Road to the Deep North by Richard Flanagan ~ Aussie Author ~ Country: Japan. Rated: 3★ stars.
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

• 4. Panic Day: Read a book that makes you panic: Who's Afraid? by Maria Lewis ~ Panic: blood thirsty paranormal drama. Rated: 4★ stars.
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

• 5. Reader’s Choice: Read any book of your choice - Aussie Author The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton. Rated: 5+★ stars.
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Covers in reading order:

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Congratulations Michelle:) Great effort even though you had a couple of "not so good" reads there!

[MichelleG]

Thanks Brenda :)

I don't really mind... the "not so great" reads just make you appreciate the truly exceptional one's even more :)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

That's very true:)

[Janine]

I have finished my 1st
#1 Harmony Day (Orange Cover)
Kakadu Sunset by Annie Seaton 4*

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Finished my 5th and last for this challenge - #1 Harmony Day - Resurrection Bay by Emma Viskic 5★s

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

My completed list:

#1. Harmony Day - Aussie Author - Indigenous - Resurrection Bay by Emma Viskic 5★s

#2. Old Stuff Day - On TBR for at least a year -Evan's Gallipoli by Kerry Greenwood 5★s

#3. International Earth Day - Set in another country - (US) - Brotherhood in Death by J.D. Robb 5★s

#4. Panic Day - Unsettling Topic - Daughter of Australia by Harmony Verna 5+★s

#5. Readers Choice - Aussie Author - Animal People by Charlotte Wood 4★s

[Sally906]

Brenda wrote: "Finished my 5th and last for this challenge - #1 Harmony Day - Resurrection Bay by Emma Viskic 5★s

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

My co..."

Wow - some top reads there for you Brenda :)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

There were thanks Sally - I was very lucky with March's reads:)

[MichelleG]

Wow, lots of 5 stars there Brenda... Well done :)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Thanks Michelle:)

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

Congrats Brenda:)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Thanks Phrynne:)

[Jenn]

I have finished my list for this challenge.

Harmony Day Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury 3.5 stars

Old Stuff Day Hearts in Darkness by Keri Arthur 4 stars

International Earth Day Rough Justice by Jack Higgins 4 stars

Panic Day Fatal Impact by Kathryn Fox3.5 stars

Reader's Choice - Aussie Author Hold On To Me by Victoria Purman 4 stars

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Well done Jennifer!

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

I finished:)
1. Harmony Day (orange cover) Saving Francesca by Melina Marchetta 5 stars

2. Old stuff day. All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr 4 stars

3. International Earth Day (Ireland) The Likeness by Tana French4 stars

4. Panic Day The Returned by Jason Mott. The dead are returning. It must be scary. 3 stars. It wasn't scary:(

5. Readers ChoiceSt Kilda Blues by Geoffrey McGeachin 3 stars

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Congratulations Phrynne!!!

[Carolyn]

For Harmony Day I read Tiddas by Anita Heiss 3 ★
review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I was a bit disappointed as I was really expecting to enjoy this but I couldn't really see the point of it.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Bad luck Carolyn...

[Carolyn]

Also finished this week #5 book by an Aussie author: Mastermind by Helen Goltz 3.5★

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

Again, a good read but I didn't enjoy it as much as some of my GR friends.
I think I'm getting a bit picky in my old age! Oh dear!

[Carolyn]

My fourth book for this challenge was a good one: #2 Old Stuff The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein 5★

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

Caught up on my reviews now! Just one last book to read this week: The Good Girl by Mary Kubica

[PattyMacDotComma]

4.5★ Perfect choice for Harmony Day.

Most Aussies are probably aware of the film of this book Rabbit-Proof Fence: The True Story of One of the Greatest Escapes of All Time by Doris Pilkington (Nugi Garimara). 1930 this took place. Will we ever learn?

The book is written by the daughter of the oldest girl, Molly (15), who made this phenomenal trek with her little cousins (8 and 11). They'd been removed and taken south by ship to Perth but escaped and walked 2400km to get home. . . barefoot.

My review (long, but broken into bite-size pieces, I hope).
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[PattyMacDotComma]

Last one, scariest one. My choice for PANIC DAY was a doozy.

5★ for Blood Meridian, or the Evening Redness in the West by Cormac McCarthy, one of the most gruesome stories with the most beautiful descriptions of the American southwest. Marauding scalphunters.

Only McCarthy can have you glorying in language one minute and turning away in horror the next. Who needs thrillers?

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

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Well done Patty!

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

Very interesting reviews too Patty.

[PattyMacDotComma]

Brenda wrote: "Well done Patty!"

Thanks. I'm now enjoying a somewhat lighter (but excellent so far) book, Big Little Lies.

I do prefer Sydney's northern beaches and the Avalon Now crowd to the blood-stained landscapes of the American border country.

[Anna]

1. Harmony Day:
Follow the Rabbit-Proof Fence by Doris Pilkington (22/03/16) 4*s

2. Old stuff day:
One For The Money by Janet Evanovich

3. International Earth Day:
Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks

4. Panic Day:
The Spaces in Between by Caroline Jones (13/03/16) 5*s (topic: scary as it's very close to home)

5. Readers Choice:
Ronan's Echo by Joanne van Os

completed:

[Suzie]

I've read my international book: Reykjavík Nights: Murder in Reykjavík by Arnaldur Indriðason A very enjoyable 4★

[Janine]

I have finished my 2nd
Reader's Choice - Aussie Author
The Governor's House by J.H. Fletcher 3*

[PattyMacDotComma]

Phrynne wrote: "Very interesting reviews too Patty."

Thanks Phrynne - I'm realistic enough to know that most people won't bother to read a long review, but for those who want to know more, I figure I'll give them the option. Especially if it's factual or historic or a debut that someone might not have heard of. People can always change channels, as it were. :)