February Challenge - build a scarecrow

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Congrats Loren, Nicole and Diana! Good job :)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Finished my 4th (and last) with Body (over 300 pages) - A Place to Remember by Jenn J. McLeod 508 pages 4.5★s

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


February - Build a Scarecrow
Level: Easy (4 books - minimum 1 AA)

4/4

Scarecrow #1 - Female

1. Male or Female - Choose Your Scarecrow's Gender
Female - Read a book by a female author OR
Male-Read a book by a male author

Force of Nature Jane Harper 5★s AA

2. Head/Face
Read a book with just a head/face on cover (not the rest of the body) OR
Read a book that scares you (your interpretation)

Island in the East by Jenny Ashcroft 5★s AA

3. Arms & Legs
Read a book with arms and legs visible on the cover (at least 1 arm and 1 leg must be visible to count) OR
Read a book where the MC can be described as very patient OR
Read a book where the MC has a boring job (your interpretation)

The Secret Vineyard by Loretta Hill 5★s AA

4. Body
Read a book over 300 pages OR
Read a book where the MC protects someone or something

A Place to Remember by Jenn J. McLeod 4.5★s AA 508 pages

[Valerie]

1/4
Easy – Build one scarecrow (4 books – one must be an Aussie Author)

lol I'm finally off the mark with only 8 days remaining. I enjoyed Still Life, a mystery novel set in a small town in Quebec, it was great to learn a bit of the culture. This is the first in the series, and I will certainly read the next one.

1. Male or Female - Choose Your Scarecrow's Gender
Female - Read a book by a female author
Still Life by Louise Penny 4★

2. Head/Face
Read a book with just a head/face on cover (not the rest of the body)
My Beautiful Enemy by Cory Taylor AA

3. Arms & Legs
Read a book with arms and legs visible on the cover (at least 1 arm and 1 leg must be visible to count)
Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

4. Body
Read a book over 300 pages
Juste avant le bonheur by Agnès Ledig (343 pages)

[Sally906]

Valerie wrote: "1/4
Easy – Build one scarecrow (4 books – one must be an Aussie Author)

lol I'm finally off the mark with only 8 days remaining..."

You're doing fine - I still have 2 to finish :)

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

Well done Brenda!
I still have two to read as well Sally. Starting one of them any minute now:)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Thanks Phrynne :)

[Em]

Wow, everyone's doing so well! I got so caught up in other books that I forgot about the challenge. I've just finished my first one, How to Be a Bawse: A Guide to Conquering Life. ★★★ (My review)

Onto the Handmaid's Tale now, but I don't have much hope of getting through the 1,000 pages of my three remaining books in the next seven days. ;)

[Nicola]

finished my third
1. Gender
Male Author
The Brethren/ Robert Merle
last one already started!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Doing well Nicola!

[Jenny]

Finished this challenge!

Easy – Build one scarecrow (4 books – one must be an Aussie Author)

4/4

1. Male or Female - Choose Your Scarecrow's Gender
Female - Read a book by a female author OR
Male-Read a book by a male author


The Cull by Tony Park - 4 ★ - AA
Date Read: 04 / 02 / 2018
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

2. Head/Face
Read a book with just a head/face on cover (not the rest of the body) OR
Read a book that scares you (your interpretation)


Lighthouse Bay by Kimberley Freeman - 4 ★ AA
Date Read: 09 / 02 / 2018
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

3. Arms & Legs
Read a book with arms and legs visible on the cover (at least 1 arm and 1 leg must be visible to count) OR
Read a book where the MC can be described as very patient OR
Read a book where the MC has a boring job (your interpretation)


The Cheapside Corpse by Susanna Gregory - 4 ★
Date Read: 02 / 02 / 2018
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

4. Body
Read a book over 300 pages OR
Read a book where the MC protects someone or something


Solitude Creek by Jeffery Deaver - 4 ★
Date Read: 15 / 02 / 2018
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Well done Jenny!

[Carolyn]

Finished my scarecrow with some good reads this month:

✔ 1. Female - Fractured by Karin Slaughter 4.5★

✔ 2. Head/Face
Read a book with just a head/face on cover - Beyond Fear by Jaye Ford 4.5★ AA

✔ 3. Arms & Legs
Read a book with arms and legs visible on the cover - Sixty Seconds by Jesse Blackadder 4★ AA

✔ 4. Body
Read a book over 300 pages - Slow Horses by Mick Herron 5★

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Well done Carolyn!

[Bec]

Congrats Jenny and Carolyn :D

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

Finished!

February - Build a Scarecrow
Level: Easy (4 books - minimum 1 AA)
4/4

1. Male or Female - Choose Your Scarecrow's Gender
Female - Read a book by a female author The Beautiful Mystery by Louise Penny 3 stars

2. Head/Face
Read a book with just a head/face on cover Until I Met Her by Natalie Barelli AA 4 stars

3. Arms & Legs
Read a book with arms and legs visible on the cover (at least 1 arm and 1 leg must be visible to count) Will to Live by Rachel Amphlett AA 5 stars

4. Body
Read a book over 300 pages Time and Again by Jack Finney 3 stars

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Congratulations Phrynne!

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

Brenda wrote: "Congratulations Phrynne!"

Only two more books to read this month to finish my other challenges:)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Well done! I just checked and I only have two as well! And I'm reading one of them now :) Woohoo!

[Zoey]

my scarecrow is all finished

February - Build a Scarecrow
Level: Easy (4 books - minimum 1 AA)

4/4

1. Male or Female
Female - Read a book by a female author

Forbidden by Lisa Clark O'Neill 4.5★

2. Head/Face
Read a book with just a head/face on cover

Evergreen Falls by Kimberley Freeman AA

3. Arms & Legs
Read a book with arms and legs visible on the cover

Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost 3★

4. Body
Read a book over 300 pages

Y is for Yesterday by Sue Grafton 5★

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Congratulations Zoey!

[MaryG2E]

Pleased to report that I have finished this challenge at the EASY level, and that my scarecrow is complete!

February 2018 Challenge: Build a Scarecrow
Level: Easy = Four books including one Australian Author
Progress: 4/4

1. Male or Female - Choose Your Scarecrow's Gender
Female: Read a book by a female author
Nine Folds Make a Paper Swan by Ruth Gilligan 4★s

2. Head/Face: Read a book with just a head/face on cover
Beyond the Orchard by Anna Romer (AA) 3★s

3. Arms & Legs: Read a book with arms and legs visible on the cover
Nacho Figueras Presents: High Season by Jessica Whitman 4.5★s

4. Body: Read a book over 300 pages
The Unmourned by Meg Keneally and Thomas Keneally (AA) 5★s

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Well done Mary!

[Shelly]

Oh Finished!.. Wasn't sure I would get there this month but zipped through the last two books this week.

1. Choose Your Scarecrow's Gender
Male- Read a book by a male author (this seemed kinda obvious to me lol)
Scarecrow and the Army of Thieves by Matthew Reilly AA


and

2. Head/Face
Read a book with just a head/face on cover (not the rest of the body)
Fetish by Tara MossAA

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Well done Shelly!

[Kathryn]

I thought I'd finish off with an Australian author - so had a blissful morning sitting on the couch drinking tea while the rain thundered down - and read Liane Moriarty's 'What Alice Forgot'. Borrowed from my 14yo daughter, from her school library.

I'm loving these challenges. And loving squeezing more time in for reading :)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Kathryn wrote: "I thought I'd finish off with an Australian author - so had a blissful morning sitting on the couch drinking tea while the rain thundered down - and read Liane Moriarty's 'What Alice Forgot'. Borro..."

What Alice Forgot is one I still have to read Kathryn :)

[Kathryn]

Brenda wrote: "Kathryn wrote: "I thought I'd finish off with an Australian author - so had a blissful morning sitting on the couch drinking tea while the rain thundered down - and read Liane Moriarty's 'What Alic..."

Brenda, I preferred What Alice Forgot to Big Little Lies which is the previous book my 14yo daughter pushed into my hands. What I love most is how my daughter is sharing books with me so we can discuss and unpick the stories and characters together. I remember trying, but maybe not terribly hard, to get my family to read Wilbur Smith novels when I was a teenager. But no one ever took me up on it as they weren't big readers. :)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Sounds really good Kathryn :) It's lovely that you're close like that!

[Clare]

Didn't think I would, but I finished my scarecrow!

Easy Scarecrow 3 AA

1. Choose Your Scarecrow's Gender
Female - Read a book by a female author Read 25/02
Beautiful Mess by Claire Christian AA ★TBA

2. Head/Face
Read a book with just a head/face on cover (not the rest of the body) Read 23/02
Pieces of Sky by Trinity Doyle AA 4★

3. Arms & Legs
Read a book with arms and legs visible on the cover (at least 1 arm and 1 leg must be visible to count) Read 18/02
Preloved by Shirley Marr AA 4★

4. Body
Read a book over 300 pages - 368p. Read 3/2
One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus 5★

[Li'l Owl]

Finished my scarecrow!

1. Choose Your Scarecrow's Gender
Female - Read a book by a FEMALE Author
Odd Child Out by Gilly Macmillan 5★'s

2. Head/Face
Read a book with just a Head/Face on Cover
The Jigsaw Man by Leigh Goodison 3★'s

3. Arms & Legs
Read a book with Arms and Legs Visible on the Cover
Fatal Mistake by Karen M. Davis 3.5★'s AA

4. Body
Read a book over 300 pages
Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend (480 pages)

Legs and Arms Fatal Mistake by Karen M. Davis 3.5★'s

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

[Nicole]

Well done everyone on finishing your scarecrow's. I was able to build my second scarecrow when I finished my final book of over 300 pages: The Break by Marian Keyes 3.5★'s. A potential 4★ book if it was just a bit shorter ... say 200 pages shorter! Still a goodread.

Now to finish my Summer Challenge (which I forgot all about). Luckily I only have one book to read for that challenge to be met as well!

Happy reading all!

[Krystal]

Congrats everyone who is finishing up!

[Trish L]

I have finished building my scarecrow

Easy – 4 books – one must be an Aussie Author

1. Male Scarecrow. Truth AA

2. Head/Face
Read a book with just a head/face on cover (not the rest of the body) Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House


3. Arms & Legs
Read a book with arms and legs visible on the cover (at least 1 arm and 1 leg must be visible to count) Serenity House

The cover of the version I am reading shows a male figure sitting in his PJs. as per the webpage in Kindle https://www.amazon.com/Serenity-House...


4. Body
Read a book over 300 pages An Officer and a Spy

[Sally906]

Trish wrote: "I have finished building my scarecrow

Easy – 4 books – one must be an Aussie Author

1. Male Scarecrow. Truth AA

2. Head/Face
Read a book with just a head..."

What did you think of them Trish? Do you give your books star ratings? Were they the best books ever - or so bad the author will never darken your door again?

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Congratulations to Clare, Owl, Nicole and Trish! Well done all :)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Trish wrote: "I have finished building my scarecrow

Easy – 4 books – one must be an Aussie Author

1. Male Scarecrow. Truth AA

2. Head/Face
Read a book with just a head..."

I'm particularly curious as to your thoughts on Trish?

[Trish L]

Brenda wrote: "Trish wrote: "I have finished building my scarecrow

I'm particularly curious as to your thoughts on Fire and Fury Inside the Trump White House by Michael Wolff Trish?


Fire and Fury 3* I Have enjoyed the daily soap opera shenanigans coming out of Washington on the nightly news and this filled out lots of background. If only half of what is written about the Trump administration is true, (and you have to assume that the author is biased and not a Trump supporter otherwise he would not have written this book).......... ye Gods! Trump is portrayed as a self obsessed incompetant, surrounded by inexperience. Without knowing more about how their system works, - particularly how the President can simply make orders in a dictatorial way without recourse to parliament - a Google break was called for now and then. Overall very interesting, and if you follow current affairs its worth the read. I am left thinking thank goodness we have our Westminster system.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Thanks Trish :) I would like to "like" your review!!

[Trish L]

Sally906 wrote: "Trish wrote: "I have finished building my scarecrow

Easy – 4 books – one must be an Aussie Author

1. Male Scarecrow. Truth AA

2. Head/Face
Read a book wi..."

1) Truth 2.5* A reasonable police proceedural set in Melbourne but far too much blokey speak between the police investigators. Not nearly as good as Broken Shore.
2) Fire and Fury. 3* see my comments to Brenda
3) Serenity 5* Loved it. story about an elderly chap put into a care facility by his family. Turns out he had secrets from his past.
4) Officer and a Spy 5* An account of the Dreyfuss Affair in 1890's France. A real page turner.

[Sally906]

OK - down to the line almost and I have finished my challenge:


1. Male or Female - Choose Your Scarecrow's Gender
Female - Read a book by a female author - The Last Train by Sue Lawrence - 5★s

2. Head/Face
Read a book that scares you (your interpretation) - Kahayatle by Elle Casey (Horror/YA /post apocalyptic/cannibals – scary) - 4★s

3. Arms & Legs
Read a book where the MC can be described as very patient - Storm Clouds by Bronwyn Parry- AA (Both MCs are very patient as they solve the mystery of the dead wife) - 5★s

4. Body
Read a book over 300 pages – Wildwood by Elinor Florence - 328 pages - 4★s

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Congratulations Sally! Looks like some great reads there for you :)

[Diana]

Well done Sally.

[Bec]

Completely forgot that February is the shortest month (lol) but still managed to finish this challenge on the final day! Well done to everyone else who's also finished :D

Level: Easy
4/4

1. Choose Your Scarecrow's Gender
Male - Read a book by a male author
The Student by Iain Ryan (AA) 2.5★

2. Head/Face
Read a book that scares you
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley 2.5★

3. Arms & Legs
Read a book with arms and legs visible on the cover
On the Beach by Nevil Shute (AA) 5★

4. Body
Read a book over 300 pages
The Complete Father Brown by G.K. Chesterton (800 pages) 3★

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Congratulations Bec! You had a mixture of ratings there - hope March is better for you :)

[Bec]

Brenda wrote: "Congratulations Bec! You had a mixture of ratings there - hope March is better for you :)"

Thanks Brenda! I had a really good December and January so it was bound to happen eventually, but I think I've made some really great choices for March. Can't wait to get stuck in!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Not long now! 4 hours if you live on the east coast ;)

[Ace]

Sally906 wrote: "OK - down to the line almost and I have finished my challenge:


1. Male or Female - Choose Your Scarecrow's Gender
Female - Read a book by a female author - [bo..."
Well done Sally!

[Ace]

Sadly I have a scarecrow with only a head/face and a body.

Finished 2 of 4 books, but at least one was an Aussie author and the other was:

H.M.S. Surprise by Patrick O'Brian

(379 pages)

[Sally906]

Ace wrote: "Sadly I have a scarecrow with only a head/face and a body.

Finished 2 of 4 books, but at least one was an Aussie author and the other was:

H.M.S. Surprise by [author:Patrick O'Bria..."

I am sure it was a very scary scarecrow - and no arms would be good because the birds would have nowhere to perch!!!!

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

I have seen scarecrows like that:)