An additional Annual Challenge for 2018 - A-Z

[Lee at ReadWriteWish]

A friend gave me Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman to read, so I changed my borrowed book to this. Of course, this now means I'm down an Aussie author so I will need to swap something else around. Anyway, loved it, 5 stars. Review here

[Nicola]

Book 21 of 26
P - Read a book where the author uses a PSEUDONYM – Susan Holloway Scott
When You Wish Upon a Duke / Isabella Bradford 4*

[Kylie]

Finished my ninth. :)

P - Read a book where the author uses a PSEUDONYM - Death of Riley by Rhys Bowen. Completed 15/06 - 5 stars.

[Lee at ReadWriteWish]

R is for recommended. Then Came You by Lisa Kleypas

3 out of 5 Review here

[Sarah]

Just finished my 9th- Hunted by Meagan Spooner 3 stars. (O- One word title)

[Nicola]

C - Read a book with a CAT on the cover

Ruddy Gore / Kerry Greenwood AA 4*
5 left to go!

[Krystal]

Finished #14, my SEASON with by Patrick McCabe

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

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Nicola wrote: "C - Read a book with a CAT on the cover

Ruddy Gore / Kerry Greenwood AA 4*
5 left to go!"

Woohoo Nicola!!

[Kylie]

Number 10 completed. :)

T - Read a book which has lingered on your TBR for too long – The Body Farm by Patricia Cornwell. Completed 24/06 - 5 stars.

[Michele]

Two more completed:

G- Read a book from a GENRE you don't usually read - Memoir/Biography The Trauma Cleaner: One Woman's Extraordinary Life in the Business of Death, Decay, and Disaster
and
T - Read a book which has lingered on your TBR for too long - Blackwater Moon AA

Both 4 ★ reads.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Finished my 25th of Part 2 - U - umbrella on cover - Return to Roseglen by Helene Young

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

[Marianne]

24. M - Read a book where MAGIC is a main part I Always Find You main character aspires to be a magician, practising magic all the time 4.5★s
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Jacm]

Finished number 21! I can't believe I'm almost at the same point I was with last year's challenge at the end of year!

C: Cat on the cover = The Subtle Knife by Philip Pullman 3.5★. I enjoyed this much more than the first in this series. The plot felt like it was moving along much quicker this time around.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Doing well Jacm!!

[Krystal]

Finished my 15th with Twenty Years After by Alexandre Dumas.

This is set during the English Civil War and includes the Fronde movement and some of Oliver Cromwell's rise to power.

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

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Part 2 finished with V - vivid cover - Second Sight by Aoife Clifford

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

A - Z Challenge - PART 2
Duration: 01/01/2018 – 31/12/2018
Progress: 26/26

A - Read a book by an AUTHOR from a country you've never visited
Let Me Lie by Clare Mackintosh 4.5★s 29/3/18 UK

B - Read a book which you BORROWED
Raven Black by Ann Cleeves 4★s 19/4/18 Library

C - Read a book with a CAT on the cover
Cat Killed A Rat by ReGina Welling 2★s 9/6/18

D - Read a book which has DARK themes
Little Gods by Jenny Ackland 4★s 5/4/18 AA

E - Read a book with an EMERALD cover
Dark Edges by Catherine Lee 5★s 10/4/18 AA

F - Read a book which is FIRST in a series
Gallows View by Peter Robinson 5★s 20/4/18

G- Read a book from a GENRE you don't usually read
Susan: Convict's Daughter, Soldier's Wife, Nobody's Fool by Stella Budrikis 3★s 27/4/18 AA Biography

H - Read a HISTORICAL book set in two different time periods
The Paris Seamstress by Natasha Lester 5★s 14/3/18 AA

I - Read a book about an INTERESTING woman
The Sapphire Widow by Dinah Jefferies 5★s 2/4/18

J - Read a book where the main character goes on a JOURNEY
The Jade Lily by Kirsty Manning 5★s 13/5/18 AA

K - Read a book with a KNIFE on the cover
An Unsuitable Match by Joanna Trollope 4★s 15/4/18

L - Read a book which is your LATEST purchase
Look For Me by Lisa Gardner 5★s 20/5/18

M - Read a book where MAGIC is a main part
Shade's Children by Garth Nix 4★s 22/4/18 AA

N - Read a book with a NUMBER in the title
17th Suspect by James Patterson 5★s 15/3/18

O - Read a book with a ONE word title
Widows by Lynda La Plante 4★s 28/4/18

P - Read a book where the author uses a PSEUDONYM
Lady Bird & The Fox by Kim Kelly 4★s 7/4/18

Q - Read a book with a QUEEN either on the cover or in the text
Queen of the Flowers by Kerry Greenwood 4★s 8/5/18

R - Read a book which has been RECOMMENDED to you
Coming Home to Island House by Erica James 5★s 20/3/18 Maggie

S - Read a book with one of the four SEASONS in the title
The Peacock Summer by Hannah Richell 5★s 17/6/18 AA

T - Read a book which has lingered on your TBR for too long
A Little Bush Maid by Mary Grant Bruce 4★s 9/5/18 AA

U - Read a book with an UMBRELLA on the cover

Return to Roseglen by Helene Young 5★s 26/6/18

V - Read a book with a VIVID cover
Second Sight by Aoife Clifford 4.5★s 2/7/18 AA

W - Read a book set in WAR time
The Lace Weaver by Lauren Chater 4.5★s 26/3/18 AA

X - Read a book about music - finding a XYLOPHONE in the text would be good
Every Note Played by Lisa Genova 4★s 22/3/18

Y - Read a book with a YELLOW cover
Framed!: A Young Boy's Fight to Survive in the Wild Australian Bush by M.E. Skeel 3★s 25/4/18 AA

Z - Read a book with ZANY characters
The Lucky Galah by Tracy Sorensen 4★s 7/4/18 AA

[Krystal]

Out of control, Brenda!! Well done!

I just finished my 16th: Mercy by Rebecca Lim (AA), which has been on my TBR since September, 2013. Whoops!



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

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Thanks Krystal!

[Jazzy]

I'd like to do this challenge as well, so will look through the books I've read so far this year, updating this post as I go.

A - Z Challenge
Duration: 01/01/2018 – 31/12/2018
Books read: 25/26
Australian Authors: 4/4

A - Read a book by an AUTHOR from a country you've never visited -
Sculptor's Daughter by Tove Jansson [Finland]
Rating: ★★★★★

B - Read a book which you BORROWED -
Penguin by Stephen_Martin [Borrrowed from library]
Rating: ★★★★★

C - Read a book with a CAT on the cover
The Guest Cat by Takashi Hiraide
Rating: ★★★★★

D - Read a book which has DARK themes -
A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess
Rating: ★★★★★

E - Read a book with an EMERALD cover -
Cloudstreet by Tim Winton Australian author
Rating: ★★★★★

F - Read a book which is FIRST in a series -
Cocaine Blues: A Phryne Fisher Mystery by Kerry Greenwood Australian Author
Rating: ★★★★★

G- Read a book from a GENRE you don't usually read -
The Spy Who Came In from the Cold by John le Carré
Rating: ★★★★★

H - Read a HISTORICAL book set in two different time periods
The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris Australian author
Rating: ★★★★★

I - Read a book about an INTERESTING woman
The Wilderness Family: At Home with Africa's Wildlife by Kobie Krüger
Rating: ★★★★★

J - Read a book where the main character goes on a JOURNEY
The Talented Mr Ripley by Patricia Highsmith
Rating: Rating: ★★★★

K - Read a book with a KNIFE on the cover
The Knife Slipped - Erle Stanley Gardner
Rating: ★★★★★

L - Read a book which is your LATEST purchase
Harold and Maude by Colin Higgins
Rating: ★★★★★

M - Read a book where MAGIC is a main part -
Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones
Rating: ★★★★★

N - Read a book with a NUMBER in the title -
Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell
Rating: ★★★★★

O - Read a book with a ONE word title
Gumshoe by Neville Smith
Rating: ★★★★★

P - Read a book where the author uses a PSEUDONYM
On the Beach by Nevil Shute [Nevil Shute Norway] Australian author
Rating: ★★★★★

Q - Read a book with a QUEEN either on the cover or in the text
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
Rating: ★★★★★

R - Read a book which has been RECOMMENDED to you -
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
Rating: ★★★★★

S - Read a book with one of the four SEASONS in the title
The Winter's Tale - William Shakespeare
Rating: ★★★★★

T - Read a book which has lingered on your TBR for too long -
Swann's Way by Marcel Proust
Rating: ★★★★★

U - Read a book with an UMBRELLA on the cover
Away With the Fairies - Kerry GreenwoodAustralian author
Rating: ★★★★★


V - Read a book with a VIVID cover -
The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test by Tom Wolfe
Rating: ★★★★★

W - Read a book set in WAR time -
The Train by Georges Simenon
Rating: ★★★★★

X - Read a book about music - finding a XYLOPHONE in the text would be good -
World in a Jug by Roland Gant
Rating: ★★★★★

Y - Read a book with a YELLOW cover -
The Collected Poems of Langston Hughes
Rating: ★★★★★

Z - Read a book with ZANY characters -
The Inspector-General by Nikolai Gogol
Rating: ★★★★★

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Welcome to the challenge Jazzy :) Don't forget you need a minimum of 4 Aussie authors for this one (please mark which ones they are) and also, when you've finished them and crossed them through, can you mark them with a star rating too please. That way those of us who are curious about your reads can check them out if it's a higher rating - or not if it's low :) Thanks!

Your name is linked in post two - just click on it whenever you need to find your original post :)

[Nicola]

2 more down (which means that there are only 2 left to read)!
K - Read a book with a Knife on the cover (I've raised it to a sword)
The Greatest Knight / Elizabeth Chadwick 4*
and
Y - Read a book with a YELLOW cover
Metro Winds / Isobelle Carmody AA 3*

[Jazzy]

Brenda wrote: "Welcome to the challenge Jazzy :) Don't forget you need a minimum of 4 Aussie authors for this one (please mark which ones they are) and also, when you've finished them and crossed them through, ca..."

Oh I need to find more Aussie authors! I will have to look at everyone's recommendations!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Jazzy wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Welcome to the challenge Jazzy :) Don't forget you need a minimum of 4 Aussie authors for this one (please mark which ones they are) and also, when you've finished them and crossed t..."

Check out everyone else's lists - you might be surprised what you find :) Good luck!

[Jazzy]

Brenda wrote: "Jazzy wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Welcome to the challenge Jazzy :) Don't forget you need a minimum of 4 Aussie authors for this one (please mark which ones they are) and also, when you've finished them..."
Thanks Brenda! I will get Cloudstreet. Also I may adjust my list, so far i've taken a couple off of it, and have also left my star ratings. x

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Thanks Jazzy!

[Krystal]

Jazzy wrote: "Oh I need to find more Aussie authors! I will have to look at everyone's recommendations!."

I ended up creating an 'Aussie Authors' shelf to make it easier to find books for challenges lol but once you have an eye out for them they are easier to find!

[Loren]

I did the exact same thing Krystal! Certainly makes life easier, doesn’t it? ☺️

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

I have one of those too ;)

[Niamh]

Been in a bit of a reading slump recently. What is it about this time of year for me? This is around the same time as last year's slump!! Anyway, just finished my book for D - Dark Themes: Hollow City by Ransom Riggs gets 4★ from me. Now to buy the next one in the series...

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

I hope your slump is on the way out Niamh - welcome back :)

[Jenny]

Finished 18th - S


Summer Desserts by Nora Roberts - 4 ★ - 06 / 07 / 2018
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Niamh]

Brenda wrote: "I hope your slump is on the way out Niamh - welcome back :)"

Thanks Brenda :) I hope it's out of the way too. My housemate is away for two weeks so maybe I'll be reading more rather than watching TV shows with her gone

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Enjoy! At least there's no ads when you read ;)

[Odette]

Finished 16th book.
There was a lot of magic in this book and have now discovered a new series to read!

M - Read a book where MAGIC is a main part:
Rivers of London by Ben Aaronovitch - 4★

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Odette wrote: "Finished 16th book.
There was a lot of magic in this book and have now discovered a new series to read!

M - Read a book where MAGIC is a main part:
Rivers of London by ..."

And that's what you want Odette, isn't it ;)

[Odette]

Brenda wrote: "Odette wrote: "Finished 16th book.
There was a lot of magic in this book and have now discovered a new series to read!

M - Read a book where MAGIC is a main part:
Rivers of London b..."

Perhaps it is what I want, but do I really need more books to read!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Probably not ;)

[Jazzy]

Odette wrote: "Finished 16th book...M - Read a book where MAGIC is a main part: Rivers of London..."

I bought that book as a gift for someone a few years ago and they said they really enjoyed it - perhaps I should read it sometime myself!

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

Odette wrote: "Finished 16th book.
There was a lot of magic in this book and have now discovered a new series to read!

M - Read a book where MAGIC is a main part:
Rivers of London by [author:Ben A..."

Oh yes you do need that particular series Odette! It is really good. For a special treat try the audio which is exceptionally good.

[Jazzy]

Brenda you have some good books on your list. If you need one for Umbrella I found Afternoons with Harvey Beam which is also an Aussie author but I don't know if it's any good yet :)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Thanks Jazzy :)

[Krystal]

Odette wrote: "Finished 16th book.
There was a lot of magic in this book and have now discovered a new series to read!

M - Read a book where MAGIC is a main part:
Rivers of London by [author:Ben A..."

I enjoyed that one but never got around to book 2. I suppose I must re-read it!

[Krystal]

Finished my 17th: a Genre I never read, which is historical non-fiction. (Life is too short to live in the past haha)

Actually really enjoyed it! But I have a soft spot for anything even remotely related to The Three Musketeers.

The Man Who Outshone The Sun King: Ambition, Triumph and Treachery in the Reign of Louis XIV by Charles Drazin (4 stars)



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

[Odette]

Finished 18/26.

T - Read a book which has lingered on your TBR for too long
(2.5 years - Sep 2015):
Jilted by Rachael Johns - 4★ AA

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Good one out of the way Odette :)

[Odette]

Another one down and one less TBR! Rural romance is not the type of book I am usually interested in. However, found Jilted a very pleasant and entertaining read.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

That's good to hear :)

[Jazzy]

20 books read, 6 books to go. Still looking for one with a knife on the cover. I thought I found one, but it was an icepick.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Doing well Jazzy! That was one of my harder ones to find too!

[Lee at ReadWriteWish]

Read S - Read a book with one of the four SEASONS in the title
Winter Beginnings by Elise K. Ackers AA

2 1/2 out of 5 review here