Merry Month of May Challenge

[Ace]

Amazing Brenda.
I'm reading my first, Red Sister (strong female lead). A nice start..

[Loren]

Finished my first, Aussie historical fiction: Burial Rites by Hannah Kent. Seriously one of the best books I have ever read. Now moving on to the book that makes me laugh: Seriously... I'm Kidding by Ellen DeGeneres. Never read it before but I adore Ellen so I'm sure this is going to be fantastic.

[Connie]

Finished my first book A Few Well-Frozen Worms by Ronnie Barker. 3 stars. It is a compilation of some of his sketches and such. Quite funny in parts

[Janine]

Finished 3/9

#1 Historical Fiction by AA
The Cloud Leopard's Daughter by Deborah Challinor 3*

[Vickie]

Over the weekend, I finished my first book for the challenge: TASKS #3 laugh out loud The Life and Loves of a She Devil by Fay Weldon (1983). Some people found the book light and humorous; I, on the other hand, thought this was one of the more tragic stories I've read. The humour is very dark.


♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ (favourited!)

Original post updated with rating and link to 20-word review.

[Connie]

Finished Historical Fiction The Maya Codex Adrian d'Hage AA 3 stars

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Finished my 6th - #3. Smile on cover - Band of Gold by Deborah Challinor 5★s

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

[PattyMacDotComma]

E for MOTHER is Elizabeth Strout, one of my favourite authors. I love her latest book Anything Is Possible.

Great stories about vulnerable people. My review
5★
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Janine]

Finished 4/9

Y (of MERRY)
A Dissection of Murder by Felicity Young(AA) 4*

[Janine]

Finished 5/9

#2. Mother in Title
Her Mother's Secret by Natasha Lester(AA) 5*

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Couple of excellent titles Janine!

[Vickie]

Finished second book last night, TASKS #4 flowers in title Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes (1958). Really need something light and fun after that one!


★★★★☆

Original post updated with rating and link to 20-word review.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Finished my 7th - Flowers on cover (TASKS) - Before You Were Mine by Em Muslin 3★s

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

[PattyMacDotComma]

The H for MOTHER is The Dressmaker by Aussie author Rosalie Ham. A peculiar book, I thought. 4★

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

[Vickie]

Just finished third book, TASKS #2 strong female protagonist The Thirteen Problems by Agatha Christie (1932). I'm reading the series in order so this is my second Marple. Really quite enjoying it so far. This book of 13 short stories could easily qualify for TASKS #3 laugh out loud; I chuckled at several stages!


★★★★☆

Original post updated with rating and link to 20-word review.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Finished my 8th - first "U" of TAURUS - Union Belle by Deborah Challinor 5★s

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

[Mary]

Read second 1. Miss Lily's Lovely Ladies by Jackie French

Review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
3rd
O - One Shot by Lee Child 4*
Review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

4th
R Reckoning: A Memoir by Magda Szubanski AA 4*
review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[PattyMacDotComma]

The O of MOTHER is One Leg Over, by Robin Dalton, now 95, who had an amazing life, mixing as a personal friend with the likes of the Kennedys, PMs, artists, singers, and oh yes, Prince Philip and the royals.


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

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Finished my 9th - "R" of TAURUS - One to Watch by Rachel Amphlett 5★s

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

[Diana]

A bit behind after illness but finished my first just now The Handmaid's Tale
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Ace]

Finished my 1st - Strong female protagonist
Red Sister by Mark Lawrence 3★s
Review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[PattyMacDotComma]

Changed my M for MOTHER when a mystery popped up. Really enjoyed Feel Me Fall by James Morris.

Exciting YA (but fun for this adult, too) - teens desperate after plane crash in Amazon jungle.
4.5★ My review
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Janine]

Finished 6/9

E (of MERRY)
When The Duke Returns by Eloisa James 3*

[Janine]

Finished 7/9

R (of MERRY)
The Girl In The Ice by Robert Bryndza 4*

[Diana]

Finished The Rock Orchard
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... 3*

[Valerie]

Finished my first, The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty, which I adored, this author knows how to tap into our innermost thoughts.
I've started Error Australis by Ben Pobjie, only a couple of chapters in and I have already had many LOL moments.
I'm starting Burial Rites by Hannah Kent with the audiobook version on Kathryn's recommendation.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Enjoy Valerie! Two there I loved ;)

[Kathryn]

Valerie wrote: "I'm starting Burial Rites by Hannah Kent with the audiobook version on Kathryn's recommendation..."

Was that me, Valerie? Oh, the pressure...! And if it was me, I'm sure I would have mentioned that you'll need to be in the mood for bleak...? But despite that, I didn't find it depressing. Hope you enjoy!

[Kathryn]

I haven't even started any of the books I said I'd read for this challenge! But I have realised that the one category I didn't pick a book for - the strong female protagonist - I have read a book for. I think Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly fits the bill three times over!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Definitely Kathryn!!!

[Valerie]

Kathryn wrote:

Was that me, Valerie? Oh, the pressure...! And if it was me, I'm sure I would ha..."

Ha ha, yes Kathryn, but I'm already loving the narrator, and don't worry, I'm prepared for bleak!

[Kathryn]

Valerie wrote: "Kathryn wrote:

Was that me, Valerie? Oh, the pressure...! And if it was me, I'm sure I would ha..."

Ha ha, yes Kathryn, but I'm already loving the narrator, and don't worry, I'm prepared for bleak!"

Excellent!!

[Vickie]

Finished fourth and final book, TASKS #1 historical fiction by Australian author: Burial Rites by Hannah Kent (2013) (AA). I was not prepared for something so emotionally intense, even though not a whole lot happen at all!


♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

2 favourites and 2 four-stars for this challenge! What a good half-month of reading!

Original post updated with rating and link to 20-word review.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Congratulations Vickie :)

[Janine]

Finished 8/9

#4 Flowers on Cover
A Letter from Italy by Pamela Hart(AA) 3*

[Zoey]

Need to get a bit of a move on with this challenge. Finally finished my 1st one

4. Flowers in Title - The Rose Garden The Rose Garden Susanna Kearsley 5★

[Jacm]

Finished my first for this challenge. Flower on the cover: New Moon .
This was a re-read & it's still as silly yet strangely addictive as the first time I read it 8 years ago.

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

Jacm wrote: "Finished my first for this challenge. Flower on the cover: New Moon .
This was a re-read & it's still as silly yet strangely addictive as the first time I rea..."

That was the thing about the Twilight series. It was totally addictive. So many people criticise it but it certainly had a certain something:)

[Ace]

That's very true Phrynne, its totally not my thing, but I read all 4 in a row back in the day.

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

Ace wrote: "That's very true Phrynne, its totally not my thing, but I read all 4 in a row back in the day."

Same:) And I went to all 5 movies!

[Nicola]

So far behind...
Finished my first
MERRY
R The Chickens of Atlantis and Other Foul and Filthy Fiends / Robert Rankin

[Mary]

Assassin's Fate by Robin Hobb 5*

Review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
So sad this series is over.

[Diana]

Finished The Bucolic Plague: How Two Manhattanites Became Gentlemen Farmers: An Unconventional Memoir
How I loved this book!
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... 5*

[Anna]

SPELL-IT-OUT
Level: Medium

H Hector and the Search for Happiness by François Lelord 4.5★
A After Darkness by Christine Piper AA
P Private Gold by James Patterson
P Paris for One and Other Stories by Jojo Moyes 4★
Y You Can't Shatter Me by Tahlia Newland AA

[PattyMacDotComma]

This is my T from MOTHER.
In The Best of Adam Sharp, Aussie Graeme Simsion, author of The Rosie Project, tackles the question:
Is it possible to rekindle the love of your life a couple of decades later? (nothing to do with Rosie)

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

[PattyMacDotComma]

FINISHED my May challenge with a great read. The R for MOTHER is the unique Room by Emma Donoghue.

5★ Captivating, both the room and the story!
My review
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Mary]

Read 7/11
The Dressmaker by Rosalie Ham 2*

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

Disappointing

[Mary]

PattyMacDotComma wrote: "FINISHED my May challenge with a great read. The R for MOTHER is the unique Room by Emma Donoghue.

5★ Captivating, both the room and the story!
My review
https://ww..."

Well done. Congratulations. And it's great, isn't it?

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Congratulations Patty!

[Sharon]

Hmmm I went to update my challenge, but apparently there isn't one to update. So I've been reading the books I chose for this challenge, but silly me must've forgotten to post my challenge on here. Seeing as today is the 20th I won't bother I'll just learn from my silly mistake lol.