**Spring Reading Challenge - 2014**

[Carolyn]

RitaSkeeter wrote: "Carolyn wrote: "RitaSkeeter wrote: "Steve wrote: "I have finished my eighteenth, my first 3f. Read a Rainbow (Purple) Spellwright, with my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/sh..."

Sorry I should rephrase that Rita, I really enjoyed the Liveship Traders, but not nearly as much as the other two series. I also haven't got into the Rain Wild chronicles.

[Adrian]

Steve wrote: "Adrian wrote: "Hi, this is Adrian's wife here, (I post a lot of stuff on his behalf). I thoroughly enjoyed the series, though it's been a while since I read it."

Might you be thinking of [book:Fo..."

You're absolutely right, Steve. I haven't had the pleasure of reading Fool's Assassin yet. It is on my list though!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Finished my 20th - 2nd #6 (Labour - detective) - Angels Flight by Michael Connelly 5★s

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

[Steve]

Last night, I finished my nineteenth, my first 3c. Read a Rainbow (Yellow), Fool's Assassin, with my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show....

Up next is my second 1. Spring, Wander Dust.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Finished my 21st - second #1 TBR - Sweet Damage by Rebecca James 5★s

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

[Nicola]

Brenda wrote: "Finished my 20th - 2nd #6 (Labour - detective) - Angels Flight by Michael Connelly 5★s

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

Loved that one - mainly because I knew I was going to go up and down the hill a few times on Angels Flight a few weeks later! Magic...

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Nicola wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Finished my 20th - 2nd #6 (Labour - detective) - Angels Flight by Michael Connelly 5★s

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

Loved ..."

Oh wow, did you??!! Fabulous...

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Finished my 22nd - 2nd 3e (Blue) - Gypsy Hunted by Andrea Drew 4★s

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

[Carolyn]

Finished my eighth (will have to get a move on with this challenge!)

#1. Spring Clean A Thousand Splendid Suns 5★

What an incredible book! I think I delayed reading it because I thought it would be depressing but somehow it wasn't. The women are just so strong and resilient and in the end there is hope (but for how long?)

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

[Steve]

I have finished my twentieth, my second 1. Spring, Wander Dust, with my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show....

Up next is my first 1. Spring, Stoneheart.

[Jackmeister]

I've read three more,
3) Rainbow - green, by Dick Francis - 4 *
4) Young Adult Aussie Author, by John Marsden - 4 *
7) Remembrance Day, by Anthony Hill - 5 *

Only three left to read. :-)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Carolyn wrote: "Finished my eighth (will have to get a move on with this challenge!)

#1. Spring Clean A Thousand Splendid Suns 5★

What an incredible book! I think I delayed reading it because I th..."

Here's the link to your review Carolyn:)

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

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Jackmeister wrote: "I've read three more,
3) Rainbow - green, by Dick Francis - 4 *
4) Young Adult Aussie Author, by [author:John Marsden|2875..."

Doing well Jackie!

[K]

So... I have done 2:

1. Book I've been wanting to read for a LONG time from my TBR pile: which I finished this arvo.

2. Yellow

[Jackmeister]

Thanks Brenda, I'm glad I read a lot early, now I can coast a little, which is way better than squashing them in at the end in a mad panic, like I have done previously, lol.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Jackmeister wrote: "Thanks Brenda, I'm glad I read a lot early, now I can coast a little, which is way better than squashing them in at the end in a mad panic, like I have done previously, lol."

Very sensible! Gives you time to relax with some different reads before the Summer challenge;)

[Janine]

I have finished my 10th #3d. Green
The Devil's Own by Sandra Brown 2*

[Carolyn]

Brenda wrote: "Carolyn wrote: "Finished my eighth (will have to get a move on with this challenge!)

#1. Spring Clean A Thousand Splendid Suns 5★

What an incredible book! I think I delayed reading..."

Thanks Brenda!

[Janine]

I have finished my 11th #3f. Purple/Violet
Kiss Me While I Sleep by Linda Howard 4*

[Elaine]

Finished my 7th for this challenge. Thanks to my friend Kathryn I thoroughly enjoyed The Independence of Miss Mary Bennet . 4 stars.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Elaine wrote: "Finished my 7th for this challenge. Thanks to my friend Kathryn I thoroughly enjoyed The Independence of Miss Mary Bennet. 4 s..."

Well done Elaine! This is apparently a great book:)

[Michelle]

Finally finished my 3rd for this challenge:

1) Spring TBR - - finished 20/10/14

[Elaine]

Brenda wrote: "Elaine wrote: "Finished my 7th for this challenge. Thanks to my friend Kathryn I thoroughly enjoyed The Independence of Miss Mary Bennet[bookcover:The Independence of Miss Mary Benne..."

It was a good book Brenda once I got over the shock of what McCullough had done with some of my favourite Austen characters!!!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Elaine wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Elaine wrote: "Finished my 7th for this challenge. Thanks to my friend Kathryn I thoroughly enjoyed The Independence of Miss Mary Bennet[bookcover:The Independence of ..."

LOL! I'm glad you enjoyed it Elaine!

[Jenn]

I have just started my 20th book (my 2nd Orange book) Living with the Dead

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Finished my 23rd - 2nd #3f Purple - The Knight of Castle Kildare by Erin Moira O'Hara 4.5★s

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

[Lesley]

Finished my 9th of the challenge.

#1 tbr Gone Girl read 12 Sep, 3 stars
#3
read 31 Oct, 3 stars

read 8 Oct, 2 stars

read 30 Sep, 2 stars

read 3 Oct, 2 stars


#4 Australian YA Poor Man's Orange read 15 Sep, 3 stars
#6 labour day Fever read 18 Oct, 3 stars
#7 war Why the Whales Came read 23 Oct, 3 stars
#8 friend's read Plainsong read 21 Oct, 3 stars
#9 favourite genre, historical fiction Gone with the Wind read 24 Sep, 4 stars
#10 tbr The Zigzag Way read 25 Sep, 3 stars

[Steve]

Last night, I finished my twenty-first, my first 1. Spring, Stoneheart, with my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show....

I made a start on my second 8. Goodreads friend (Sally), Mistborn: The Final Empire.

[Elaine]

Finished my 8th book for this challenge. Colour red, The Catcher in the Rye . 3 stars and my review,

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

Now only 7 to go!!!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Finished my 24th - 1st 3b (Orange) The Burning Room by Michael Connelly 5★s

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

[Sally906]

Here is where I am at - as usual ones still to be read are subject to change :)

1. Letters from Skye by Jessica Brockmole

2. Outback Ghost by Rachael Johns

3.
Red - by Jenni Boyd
Orange - The Brewer's Tale by Karen Brooks
Yellow - by Madeleine St. John
Green - Forbidden Fruit by Ilsa Evans.
Blue - by Sarah-Kate Lynch
Purple/violet - by Joni Folger

4. The Bellamy Bird by Clare Havens
5. Wattle Creek by Fiona McCallum
6. The Saturday Big Tent Wedding Party by Alexander McCall Smith - Precious is a private detective
7. Wolfsangel by Liza Perrat
8. GR friend read list - Janine - Darkening Skies by Bronwyn Parry
9. YA - Pandora Jones: Deception by Barry Jonsberg
10. TBA

[Kathryn]

Sally906 wrote: "Here is where I am at - as usual ones still to be read are subject to change :)

1. Letters from Skye by Jessica Brockmole

2. Outback Ghost by [aut..."

Will be interested to see how you like [book:The Essence of the Thing: Text Classics|19417275], Sally. I just recently read The Women In Black and enjoyed it. I might have to see if I can find this one sometime if you enjoy it.

[Mary]

I've recently joined this group and have just seen this challenge. Is the finish date November 30? If so, if i get a move on I'm thinking I can get this done. I can certainly enjoy myself trying. I love the idea of the challenges and say thank you to the moderators for the work involved.

[MaryG2E]

Originally I only signed up for 12 books, due to what I feared would be limited access. With some tweaking of the list, I increased the number of books to 14 out of the 15 in Brenda's Challenge.
I'm really pleased with the progress that I've made. I think that setting the challenge to myself has made me increase my reading, to great personal benefit.
From my personal list of 14 books for this challenge, I've now finished 10, the latest being my Rainbow cover Blue: The One Hundred Year Old Man Who Jumped Out the Window and Disappeared - a pleasant, light, humorous book, rather patchy in places, so a score of 3★s.

I reckon I'll have knocked off the final 4 long before the end of Spring. Here's hoping, anyway ;-)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Mary wrote: "I've recently joined this group and have just seen this challenge. Is the finish date November 30? If so, if i get a move on I'm thinking I can get this done. I can certainly enjoy myself trying...."

Yes it finishes Nov 30th Mary, and you're very welcome to try:) Whatever you manage to read toward it will be fun anyway! Good luck:)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

MaryG2E wrote: "Originally I only signed up for 12 books, due to what I feared would be limited access. With some tweaking of the list, I increased the number of books to 14 out of the 15 in Brenda's Challenge.
I..."

You're doing well Mary!

[Mary]

OK I think I am ready! How about this?

1. Spring clean - Bel Canto by Anne Patchett
I'm cheating a bit here as a late starter by using this which I finished today and have had on my list for years. It's only cheating because I just joined the challenge but I figure anything I have read this spring is fair game.
2. BWF - Wife on the Run – Fiona Higgins
3a. Red – The Hope Quotient by Ray Johnston
3b. Orange - Living With the Dead by Kelley Armstrong
3c. Yellow – Fools Assassin by Robin Hobbs
3d. Green – The Dark Mirror by Juliet Marillier
3e. Blue – Whipping Boy by Gabrielle Lord
3f. Purple/Violet – The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
4. YA - Looking for Alibrandi by Melina Marchetta
5. Wattle - Black Wattle Creek (Charlie Berlin #2) by Geoffrey McGeachin
6. Labor Day – The Stalking of Julia Gillard by Kerry Ann Walsh (not fiction I know but I want to read it)
7. Remembrance Day - The Daughters of Mars by Thomas Keneally (should have picked one off the TBR but couldn’t resist Mr Keneally
8. Friend’s TBR – Angela’s Ashes by Frank McCourt
9. Favourite Genre – Tales of a Female Nomad – Rita Golden Geldman (Don’t really have a single favourite)
10. TBR – Suite Francaise by Irene Nemirovsky

BTW how do you guys get formatting in here?

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Mary that's great! If you click on "edit" at the bottom of that post you just did, you'll see in the box you are typing in on the top right hand side, "add book/author". Click on that and type your book in - the drop down box will let you choose which one it is; click on "add". It goes into this box. Then go back in again and change it over to "author" at the top - choose the correct author and hit "add" again...there you will have it:)

Good luck!

[Steve]

Mary wrote: "3c. Yellow – Fools Assassin by Robin Hobb"

This book is proving to be rather popular this challenge. :-)

[MaryG2E]

Yeehaaaa! Having just finished my Rainbow Colour Blue, I am now about to open the cover of my Rainbow Colour Orange. OMG, for the first time in over 45 years, in the spirit of the Aussie Readers Challenge, I am about to start reading a Western! Bonito Deputy, by Jack Slade.

[Janine]

I have finished my 12th #5 Wattle in Title
Black Wattle Creek by Geoffrey McGeachin 3*

[Lynxie]

Finished my 9th 3d. Green: The Kings Ward ★★★

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

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

MaryG2E wrote: "Yeehaaaa! Having just finished my Rainbow Colour Blue, I am now about to open the cover of my Rainbow Colour Orange. OMG, for the first time in over 45 years, in the spirit of the Aussie Readers C..."

Good for you Mary! I hope you enjoy it...

[Nicola]

Finished my Rainbow Red read:
The Subtle Knife / Philip Pullman
Can't wait to read number 3 for my rainbow Orange read - but have a couple of others due at the library so need to get into them first!
10 books down so far with another 9 on my list (not including other challenges)...

[MaryG2E]

Brenda wrote: "MaryG2E wrote: "Yeehaaaa! Having just finished my Rainbow Colour Blue, I am now about to open the cover of my Rainbow Colour Orange. OMG, for the first time in over 45 years, in the spirit of the ..."

It only took me half a day to finish it Brenda. It was more of a novella than a full-blooded book. A straight-forward, simple narrative, cartoon cut-out kind of characters, nothing very inspiring. 2★s

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

MaryG2E wrote: "Brenda wrote: "MaryG2E wrote: "Yeehaaaa! Having just finished my Rainbow Colour Blue, I am now about to open the cover of my Rainbow Colour Orange. OMG, for the first time in over 45 years, in the..."

Disappointing Mary:(

[MaryG2E]

Brenda wrote: "MaryG2E wrote: "Brenda wrote: "MaryG2E wrote: "Yeehaaaa! Having just finished my Rainbow Colour Blue, I am now about to open the cover of my Rainbow Colour Orange. OMG, for the first time in over ..."

Yes, rather, but also informative. At my library there are dozens and dozens of these compact Western books on the shelves, obviously very popular with some readers. They are probably not the sort of readers who would work their way through the Long List for the Man Booker, but their reading choices are just as valid. Bonito Deputy is a simple morality story, good guy versus baddies. And, as you can guess, the good guy wins in the end, the baddies get shot (it is the American Wild West, after all!) and the complex character rides off into the dawn (not the sunset!)

[Mary]

Janine wrote: "I have finished my 12th #5 Wattle in Title
Black Wattle Creek by Geoffrey McGeachin 3*"

Is on my list so i hope is as good as its touted to be.

[Mary]

Steve wrote: "Mary wrote: "3c. Yellow – Fools Assassin by Robin Hobb"

This book is proving to be rather popular this challenge. :-)"

I have to admit that's one of the reasons i picked it. And i wouldn't mind returning to Robin Hobbs so this seems a good way to go. And is on my TBR so i get to spring clean at the same. Multitasking ☺

[Mary]

Brenda wrote: "Mary that's great! If you click on "edit" at the bottom of that post you just did, you'll see in the box you are typing in on the top right hand side, "add book/author". Click on that and type your..."

Thanks Brenda. That will make it sooooo much easier.