An additional Annual Challenge for 2018 - A-Z

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Finished my 20th - "P" Pseudonym - A Place to Remember by Jenn J. McLeod

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

[MaryG2E]

Haha! I've had to amend my progress list.
For "A", we have to read a book by an AUTHOR from a country we've never visited. I ticked off that by posting Caleb's Crossing by Australian author Geraldine Brooks (a wonderful piece of historical fiction). Whoa...it would be a bit of a worry if I had 'never visited' Australia, wouldn't it?? (I have not been to the USA which is where this book by an acclaimed Aussie author is set.)
Memo to self: read the criteria properly!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

LOL!!!

[Janine]

Finished my 21st

U - Umbrella on Cover
Saving Grace by Jane Green 3*

[Krystal]

MaryG2E wrote: "Haha! I've had to amend my progress list.
For "A", we have to read a book by an AUTHOR from a country we've never visited. I ticked off that by posting Caleb's Crossing by Australia..."

Haha whoops!

[Khenan]

Finishing off
U - Emma by Jane Austen ★4
E - The Book of Tea by Kakuzō Okakura ★5

means I'm 8 down. Found out Arcadia is too short so will have to find an alternative (can't complain, really enjoying it!)

[Jacm]

Just finished 'X- A book about music': Music And Freedom by Zoë Morrison. A full 4 ★.
I admit I chose this book simply to cross off another on this challenge & it was readily available as an audio book while I waited for another. What I discovered was a moving piece commenting on the insidious nature of domestic abuse - physical, emotional, and psychological. Unlike other novels on this topic, it paints a picture, not of scandal, but of a spirit crushed by a trusted person and the life long effect that this has. I found myself talking back to the characters as I listened, feeling the strong urge to make my opinion and feelings known about what was happening.
Seemingly unassuming, this is one novel that will stay with me for a long time.

[Jacm]

MaryG2E wrote: "Haha! I've had to amend my progress list.
For "A", we have to read a book by an AUTHOR from a country we've never visited. I ticked off that by posting Caleb's Crossing by Australia..."

Oops!

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

MaryG2E wrote: "Haha! I've had to amend my progress list.
For "A", we have to read a book by an AUTHOR from a country we've never visited. I ticked off that by posting Caleb's Crossing by Australia..."

Such a good book though Mary. Try and fit in in somewhere soon:) I listened to the audio which was excellent.

[Zoey]

Finished my 6th

H - Read a HISTORICAL book set in two different time periods
Evergreen Falls by Kimberley Freeman AA 3.5★

[Krystal]

Jacm wrote: "Just finished 'X- A book about music': Music And Freedom by Zoë Morrison. A full 4 ★.
I admit I chose this book simply to cross off another on this challenge & it..."

That's something I love about challenges - you end up finding all kinds of wonderful reads you otherwise wouldn't have picked up!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Zoey wrote: "Finished my 6th

H - Read a HISTORICAL book set in two different time periods
Evergreen Falls by Kimberley Freeman AA 3.5★"

Not quite as good as you thought Zoey? I've been tossing with that one and still haven't! lol

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Krystal wrote: "Jacm wrote: "Just finished 'X- A book about music': Music And Freedom by Zoë Morrison. A full 4 ★.
I admit I chose this book simply to cross off another on this c..."

It sure expands your reading horizons, doesn't it!

[Icewineanne]

Zoey wrote: "Finished my 6th

H - Read a HISTORICAL book set in two different time periods
Evergreen Falls by Kimberley Freeman AA 3.5★"

Not as good as her others Zoey? When i saw this on sale I quickly grabbed it but haven’t had a chance to read it yet.

[Janine]

Finished my 22nd

A - By an Author from a Country never visited (Norway)
The Redbreast by Jo Nesbø 3*

[Rachael]

Finished my 5th - An interesting woman - Still Me. 4★ I am still interested in Louisa Clark and all the goings on in her life. Maybe not as compelling as the first but still a good read.

[Marianne]

My 15th:
Z - Read a book with ZANY characters Hitman Anders and the Meaning of It All 3★s

[Krystal]

Rachael wrote: "Finished my 5th - An interesting woman - Still Me. 4★ I am still interested in Louisa Clark and all the goings on in her life. Maybe not as compelling as the first but still a good ..."

Ah I've been putting this one off coz the last one fell a bit flat for me. Glad you enjoyed it!

[Janine]

Finished my 23rd

Q - Queen on Cover or in Text
Mistress to the Crown by Isolde Martyn(AA) 3*

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Janine wrote: "Finished my 23rd

Q - Queen on Cover or in Text
Mistress to the Crown by Isolde Martyn(AA) 3*"

That's the one I have down for my Q as well Janine :)

[Kerri_M]

I may have bruised the Mods rules slightly with my M read (magic) with The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick

It does have over 125 pages [533], but many of them are illustrations, and many of the pages with writing are very brief.

But still, I would recommend this lovely lovely illustrated novel to all :)

★★★★

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

I'd say the page count - even with illustrations - would reach 125 with a total of 533 Kerri :) So glad you enjoyed it!

[Odette]

Finished 6th book for this challenge.

This enjoyable and well written cosy crime story, is filled with 'zany' characters living in a small imagined town in Canada.

Z - Read a book with ZANY characters: A Fatal Grace by Louise Penny - 4.5★

[Niamh]

After taking a quick break from this challenge and reading some other books, I have finished my 7th book. V - Vivid cover This Shattered World by Amie Kaufman (AA) gets 4★ from me.

[Khenan]

9th down with the amazing All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque - W - 5★

[Ace]

Finished my 3rd I - Read a book about an INTERESTING woman

Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston

5 ⛤⛤⛤⛤⛤

[Zoey]

Brenda wrote: "Not quite as good as you thought Zoey? I've been tossing with that one and still haven't! lol ."

Icewineanne wrote: "Not as good as her others Zoey? When i saw this on sale I quickly grabbed it but haven’t had a chance to read it yet.."

I havent read any of her others, so I cant really compare, but I liked it, it just wasnt a "Really liked it or a Loved it" :)

[Marianne]

my 16th:
W - Read a book set in WAR time The Complete Maus 4★s

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Zoey wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Not quite as good as you thought Zoey? I've been tossing with that one and still haven't! lol ."

Icewineanne wrote: "Not as good as her others Zoey? When i saw this on sale I quickl..."

I hope to get to it sooner rather than later - but you know how it is!!

[Kira]

I'm only on my first book for this challenge and feeling far behind.

Wool by Hugh Howey which I borrowed from the library.

I'm hoping to get some reading time this weeked. I can't believe how quickly this year is flying.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Good luck Kira :) I'm sure you'll pick up soon enough :)

[Kylie]

Everyone is doing so well with this challenge!

I've finally completed my first...

A - Read a book by an AUTHOR from a country you've never visited - Between Sisters by Cathy Kelly Ireland (which I would absolutely LOVE to visit!)

An absolutely wonderful read - definitely worthy of the full 5 stars! :)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Finished my 21st - "X" - Music (but no xylophone I'm afraid!) - The Sisters' Song by Louise Allan

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

[Lee at ReadWriteWish]

F is for the first book in a series.

A Grave Issue by Lillian Bell

3 out of 5 stars Review here

[Loren]

Finished my third; zany characters.

The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan. Love the mythology he uses in these books! Definitely a bunch of zany individuals included ;)

[Marianne]

My 17th
K - Read a book with a KNIFE on the cover Egyptian Enigma OK, the knives are on the back cover 4★s

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

Well we didn’t specify which cover:)

[Marianne]

That's why I figured it would be OK, :)

[Marianne]

I realise now I could have used it for C and I wouldn't have had to put the back cover up, LOL

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Haha! Might have to change it for me too ;) Though I couldn't see the back as I read an ecopy - I can see yours Marianne :)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Marianne wrote: "I realise now I could have used it for C and I wouldn't have had to put the back cover up, LOL"

Ha! Yes you could :)

[Odette]

Finished 8th book for this challenge:

Author is from Spain and book is set in Equatorial Guinea and to a lesser extent Spain.

A - Read a book by an AUTHOR from a country you've never visited (Spain):
Palm Trees in the Snow by Luz Gabás - 4★

[Rachael]

Finished my 6th for this challenge - D: Dark Themes - only 2★s. Didn't really think the main character would have made the decisions she did ...so a bit disappointing really.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Finished my 22nd - Z - Zany characters - To Hatch a Thief by Zara Keane

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

[Janine]

Finished my 24th

Y - Yellow Cover
The Rain Queen by Katherine Scholes(AA) 4*

[MaryG2E]

Hi Brenda
Do you think this cover has sufficient emerald colour in it to satisfy the E requirements?

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

MaryG2E wrote: "Hi Brenda
Do you think this cover has sufficient emerald colour in it to satisfy the E requirements?
"

You made me get up and go and look at my physical copy of this book Mary and I don't really see any green on it at all. I suppose there is a greenish tinge to the ground but I don't think I would classify it as emerald:)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

I'll do our little test for the colours - hang on.....

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

11.1% Green - http://labs.tineye.com/color/15cc844a... - so, I'm sorry Mary, but it's not enough :) Hope you can find another :)

[Michele]

Finished V- Vivid cover - Panama Fever: The Epic Story of One of the Greatest Human Achievements of All Time-the Building of the Panama Canal 5★