An additional Annual Challenge for 2017 - A-Z

[Amanda]

Finished my Q for question in the title. Does My Head Look Big In This? by Randa Abdel-Fattah. Aussie author, set in Melbourne. Young adult fiction, but hey, I'm young at heart!

[Odette]

Finished my 14th for this challenge. More that half way there! It has been a long time since I read a Steven King book and was surprised I enjoyed it so much.

H - Read a Horror book: <Joyland by Stephen King - 5★

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

I was surprised myself Odette!

[Odette]

A slightly different style from what I remember from the earlier books, and not quite as much horror.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

I had it down for Horror but was pleasantly surprised when it wasn't really :)

[Zoey]

Finished my 17th

F - Characters Fight and make up - Tamed Emma Chase 4.5★

[Nicola]

Finished ...
B - Read a Best selling novel
Big Little Lies / Liane Moriarty 5* AA
only 7 left!

[Jacm]

Just finished number 12:
E- A book where someone is trying to escape from someone or something: For the Term of His Natural Life by Marcus Clarke. 2.5 ★.

[Zoey]

Finished my 18th

W - Dark Witch Nora Roberts 4★

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Doing well Zoey :)

[Krystal]

Is it a problem if I jump on this challenge halfway through the year? I've included books I've already read this year that coincidentally fit criteria. Don't know how I missed this one at the start of the year!

I'm also struggling to find some good titles for a few so I might have to creep some other people's options and add the titles later. Taking recommendations!!

A - Z Challenge
Duration: 01/01/2017 – 12/31/2017
Progress: 26/26

A - Read a book that has won an Award – The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion (AA) Review Here
B - Read a Best selling novel - Sabriel by Garth Nix (AA) Review Here
C - Read a book with a Colourful Cover – NeuroSlimming by Helena Popovic (AA) Review Here
D - Read a book with a Dog on the cover - Waiting For Doggo by Mark Mills Review Here
E - Read a book where someone is trying to Escape from someone or something - Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe Review Here
F - Read a book where the characters Fight and make up - Scaramouche by Rafael Sabatini Review Here
G- Read a book that was a Gift – Finding Hannah by Fiona McCallum (AA) Review Here
H - Read a Horror book – Tales of Horror by Edgar Allan Poe Review Here
I - Read a book by an author with the same Initials as you - One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus Review Here
J - Read a book written by an author whose name starts with J - The Girl Before by J.P. Delaney Review Here
K - Read a book where people are Kissing on the front cover - Breaking Nova by Jessica Sorensen Review Here
L - Read a book from a friends TBR List – All the Missing Girls by Megan Miranda Review Here
M - Read a book that is set in Multiple countries – The Club Dumas by Arturo Pérez-ReverteReview Here
N - Read a book that you have Neglected to read – The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons Review here
O - Read a book with an Orange cover – Notes from Underground by Fyodor Dostoyevsky Review Here
P - Read a book with Paranormal aspects – The Blood Gospelby James Rollins and Rebecca Cantrell Review Here
Q - Read a book with a Question in the title - If Not Dieting Then What? by Rick Kausman (AA)Review Here
R - Read a book with a Goodreads Rating higher than 4 - 1984 by George Orwell Review Here
S - Read a book which is part of a Series – Demon Child by Kylie Chan (AA) Review Here
T - Read a Time Travel book - Draekora by Lynette Noni (AA) Review Here
U - Read a book which you know will be Uncomfortable to read Women Who Run With the Wolves: Myths and Stories of the Wild Woman Archetype by Clarissa Pinkola Estés Review Here
V - Read a book with a Violet cover - Ascend by Amanda Hocking Review Here
W - Read a book that features a Witch Winter Be My Shield by Jo Spurrier (AA) Review here
X - Read a book with an X in the title - Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo Review here
Y - Read a book by an author who is Younger than you – A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas Review Here
Z - Read a book with Zoo in the title OR a Zoo is a big part of the story - Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton Review Here

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Not a problem at all Krystal :) You're most welcome - and you're linked up!

BTW checking everyone's lists is bound to give you titles for the gaps you have :) Have fun!

[Krystal]

Brenda wrote: "Not a problem at all Krystal :) You're most welcome - and you're linked up!

BTW checking everyone's lists is bound to give you titles for the gaps you have :) Have fun!"

I had a bit of fun browsing and searching and filled the gaps. Jurassic Park counts as a zoo, right?? :)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Krystal wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Not a problem at all Krystal :) You're most welcome - and you're linked up!

BTW checking everyone's lists is bound to give you titles for the gaps you have :) Have fun!"

I had a bit of fun browsing and searching and filled the gaps. Jurassic Park counts as a zoo, right?? :) ..."

Yes I'm sure that will be fine :)

[Karen]

Finished #12
A - won Goodreads Fantasy book of the year in 2010:
Towers of Midnight - Robert Jordan & Brandon Sanderson ~4 stars

[Jenn]

Hey Brenda is this cover orange enough for the O?

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Definitely Jennifer :)

[Odette]

Read my 16th book for this challenge. Unfortunately different book than I had originally planned for this criteria. Just finished it for a book club and thought it fitted very well.

E - Read a book where someone is trying to Escape from someone or something (trying to escape their ordinary lives, marriage and suburbia): Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates - 4★

[Marianne]

16:
T. Time travel Voyager 5★s
17:
A. Won an Award Joe Cinque's Consolation, A True Story of Death, Grief and the Law Ned Kelly Award for Best True Crime (2005), Australian Booksellers Association Book of the Year (2004), Nita B. Kibble Literary Award Nominee (2005) AA 4.5★s

[Laura Tenfingers]

I'm a little late to the party, but here goes:

A-Z challenge
1/1/2017-31/12/2017
Progress 26/26 DONE!! (29/Dec/2017)

A - Award winner: We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver winner of the Orange Prize for Fiction 2005 ★★★★★
B - Bestseller: Bridget Jones's Diary by Helen Fielding ★★★★★
C - Colorful cover: Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi ★★★☆☆

D - Dog on cover: The Call of the Wild by Jack London ★★★☆☆

E - Escape from someone or something: A Respectable Trade by Philippa Gregory About slavery and escape ★★★★★
F - Fight and make up: The Bleeding Land by Giles Kristian ★★★☆☆
G - Gift: The Secret River by Kate Grenville AA ★★★★☆
H - Horror: Jaws by Peter Benchley ★★★☆☆
I - Author with my initials: The Confessions of Socrates by R.L. Prendergast ★★☆☆☆
J - Author's name starts with J: Shieldwall by Justin Hill ★★☆☆☆
K - Kissing on the cover: Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James

L - Off a friends TBR list: Trinity by Conn Iggulden ★★★★★
M - Set in multiple countries: The Wolf Sea by Robert Low They travel from England through Scandinavia, Russia, down to Constantinople, Crete, and to the Holy Land. ★★★★☆
N - Neglected book: King Hereafter by Dorothy Dunnett ★★☆☆☆
O - Orange cover: The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough AA ★★★★★

P - Paranormal: Twilight by Stephenie Meyer ★★☆☆☆
Q - Question?: Why Didn’t They Ask Evans? by Agatha Christie ★★☆☆☆
R - Rating >4: Beauty in Thorns by Kate Forsyth AA ★★★★☆
S - Part of a series: The Archer's Tale by Bernard Cornwell ★★★★★
T - Time travel: Beyond the Highland Mist by Karen Marie Moning
U - Uncomfortable: As Meat Loves Salt by Maria McCann ★★★★★
V - Violet cover: The Mysterious Mr Quin by Agatha Christie ★★★★☆

W - Witch featured: Dead Witch Walking by Kim Harrison ★★★★☆
X - X in title: Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood ★★★★★
Y - Author younger than myself: Insurrection by Robyn Young ★★★★★
Z - Zoo in title or story: Leap by Myfanwy Jones AA ★★★☆☆

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

That's fine Laura :) Welcome to the challenge! I've linked you in :)

[Laura Tenfingers]

Brenda wrote: "That's fine Laura :) Welcome to the challenge! I've linked you in :)"

Thank you Brenda😊

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

You're welcome :)

[Krystal]

F: Where characters fight and make up: Scaramouche by Rafael Sabatini

Damnnnn was there a lot of fighting and making up in this one!

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

[Amanda]

Have just finished two more!
I author with the same initials The Desperate Bride's Diet Club by Alison Sherlock. A lightweight romcom but enjoyable!
W witch in title Agatha Raisin and the Witch of Wykhadden by M.C. Beaton, I'm working my way through this series. The audio books are read by the incomparable Penelope Keith & are fun.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Well done Amanda :)

[Odette]

Finished 18th book for this challenge: Though not my usual genre, I found this a very pleasant read.

K - Read a book where people are Kissing on the front cover: Grady by Ann B. Harrison - 3.5★ AA

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

I've finished my 26th in Part 2 - Q - question in title - Did Anyone Die? by Stella Stafford 2★s

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


A - Z Challenge - PART 2
Duration: 01/01/2017 – 31/12/2017

26/26

A. Won an Award - Zoe's Muster by Barbara Hannay
4★s RITA Award by Romance Writers of America Nominee for Contemporary Single Title Romance (2013)

B. Best Selling Novel - A Piece of the World by Christina Baker Kline 5★s

C. Colourful Cover - My Outback Life by Toni Tapp Coutts 4★s AA

D. Dog on Cover - Play Dead by Leslie O'Kane 5★s

E. Character Escaping - Her Mother's Secret by Natasha Lester 5★s AA

F. Characters Fight and make up - Beartown by Fredrik Backman 3.5★s

G. Book that was Gift - Champagne for Breakfast by Maggie Christensen 5★s AA

H. Horror - Joyland by Stephen King 4★s

I. Author same Initials as you/me - The Haunted Igloo by Bonnie Turner 5★s

J. Author name "J" - Talk Of The Town by Rachael Johns 5★s AA

K. Kissing on cover - Finding Paradise by Juanita Kees 5★s AA

L. Friend's TBR List - Dark Heart by Catherine Lee 5★s AA

M. Set in Multiple Countries - Situation Critical by Amanda Knight 3★s AA

N. Book Neglected to read - Rosalee Station by Mandy Magro 4★s AA

O. Orange cover - Crimson Lake by Candice Fox 3.5★s AA

P. Paranormal aspects - Imperial Towers by Ashley Capes 5★s AA

Q. Question in title - Did Anyone Die? by Stella Stafford 2★s

R. GR Rating higher than 4 - The Red Hunter by Lisa Unger (4.36) 5★s

S. Book part of Series - Watching You by J.A. Schneider 4★s

T. Time travel - Path to Old Talbot by Jordan Elizabeth 5★s

U. Uncomfortable to read - Survivors Club: The True Story of a Very Young Prisoner of Auschwitz by Michael Bornstein 5★s

V. Violet cover - A Hundred Small Lessons by Ashley Hay 4★s AA

W. Features Witch - Nothing to Croak About by Leighann Dobbs 4★s

X. "X" in title - Extraordinary People by Peter May 4★s

Y. Author Younger than you/me - Dust On The Horizon by Tricia Stringer 5★s AA

Z. Zoo in title or part of story - The Midnight Zoo by Sonya Hartnett 3★s AA

[Karen]

Finished another:
U - you know will be Uncomfortable to read
Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov
And... yep it's really damn uncomfortable.
I gave it a 1 star, I know there will be some disagreements. I tried to explain in my review here

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

Well done Brenda!!!!!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Thanks Phrynne :)

[Calzean]

Finished my challenge. The pick of the 26 was Salt Creek by Lucy Treloar

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Congratulations Calzean! That was an excellent book, I agree :)

[Odette]

Finished the 19th book for this challenge. First 2017 Miles Franklin long listed book for me. I do like literary fiction and was very pleasantly surprised with Extinctions after reading mixed reviews.

X - Read a book with an X in the title: Extinctions by Josephine Wilson - 4.5★ AA

[Odette]

Calzean wrote: "Finished my challenge. The pick of the 26 was Salt Creek by Lucy Treloar"

I agree Salt Creek was an excellent read and my favourite on the longlist for the 2016 Miles Franklin Award.

[Krystal]

Got my Witch covered with Sierra from Winter Be My Shield by Jo Spurrier

Enjoyed this book so much more than expected! She's an Aussie author, too!

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

[Krystal]

Locked in my lip-lockers with Breaking Nova by Jessica Sorensen! Nice quick read, that one!

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

[Nicola]

L - read a book from a friends TBR
The Red Notebook / Antoine Laurain

[Amanda]

Have started my X Exit West by Mohsin Hamid. Good so far. Have now filled the gap for Horror - The Fireman by Joe Hill. Getting there!

[Jacm]

Just finished my 13th for this challenge, I - a book by an author with the same initials as you: Shadowfell by Juliet Marillier.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Amanda wrote: " Have now filled the gap for Horror - The Fireman by Joe Hill. Getting there!"

I loved this one Amanda!

[Li'l Owl]

Finished my 14th
T - Time Travel

The Fire Thief by Terry Deary
5★'s

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

[Krystal]

Finished #18 -H - A Horror Book

Tales of Horror by Edgar Allan Poe

Yep, it was pretty horrifying. Anyone else read some of Poe's work? Dude had issues, that's for sure.

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

:)

[Noelene]

Krystal wrote: "Finished #18 -H - A Horror Book

Tales of Horror by Edgar Allan Poe

Yep, it was pretty horrifying. Anyone else read some of Poe's work? Dude had issues, that's for..."

Pretty sure I read somewhere he wrote some of his work under the influence of drugs.

[Krystal]

Noelene wrote: "Pretty sure I read somewhere he wrote some of his work under the influence of drugs."

That would not surprise me in the slightest having read this haha

[Amanda]

Have just finished my V for a violet cover - The Lavender Keeper by Fiona McIntosh. Aussie author although the book was set in WW2 France. I also had this in my June Judging Covers list! Better late than never! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Amanda]

Have finished another! X in the title, Exit West by Mohsin Hamid. Interesting book - see my review. It had been long listed for this year's Booker prize. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I'm on a roll here - have just finished two books!

[Odette]

Finished 20th book for this challenge. Only six to go!

B - Read a Best selling novel: Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty - 4★ AA

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

Going well Amanda and Odette:)

[Odette]

Thanks, Phrynne. I enjoyed Big Little Lies, as the setting if very familiar due to visiting family in the northern beaches area.
Also a very cold miserable weekend here in southern NSW, and just perfect for catching up on some reading.