**Spring Reading Challenge - 2014**

[Jülie ☼♄ ]

Kathryn wrote: "Patricia wrote: "Here's my list, the 'Wattle' one may prove tricky as I am trying to only add books I already own...might have to find a creative substitute.
My only exception so far is no.8 that o..."

How about a Gardening book? About Acacias...every kind of wattle there ;)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Bec wrote: "just a question - for 3 do you need to read one book for each colour? and for 8 is it a book they have on their list but you don't or as long as they have it on their list it doesn't matter?"

It has to be one for each colour Bec:)

As long as your friend has it on their READ list, it can be on your TBR or not...

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

☼♄Jülie wrote: "Kathryn wrote: "Patricia wrote: "Here's my list, the 'Wattle' one may prove tricky as I am trying to only add books I already own...might have to find a creative substitute.
My only exception so fa..."

As long as there is Wattle in the title or on the cover Jools:)

[Kathryn]

☼♄Jülie wrote: "Kathryn wrote: "Patricia wrote: "Here's my list, the 'Wattle' one may prove tricky as I am trying to only add books I already own...might have to find a creative substitute.
My only exception so fa..."

I don't have any gardening books on my list either! I thought about the floral emblems for the different states, but I definitely don't have any books featuring Cooktown orchids (the floral emblem for Qld) or waratahs or Sturt's desert pea or kangaroo paw etc etc.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Patricia wrote: "For my "wattle" read, I was thinking that wattle could be referred to as an Australian wildflower...the book Wildflower Hill by Kimberley Freeman has a yellow cover and the word wildflower on it:
Wildflower Hill by Kimberley Freeman..."

Maybe leave the wattle one until last Patricia as it'd be better to have either wattle in the title or on the cover if possible...

[Steve]

Brenda wrote: "Steve, Jodi Picoult isn't an Aussie author....#2.. "

Blah. She has a .au website! Misleading and false information!

[Carolyn]

Kathryn wrote: "☼♄Jülie wrote: "Kathryn wrote: "Patricia wrote: "Here's my list, the 'Wattle' one may prove tricky as I am trying to only add books I already own...might have to find a creative substitute.
My only..."

Maybe you can find an Aussie gardening book in the library Kathryn.

[Kathryn]

Patricia wrote: "Kathryn wrote: "I've heard the audiobook of The Thirteenth Tale is very well done, Patricia - hope you enjoy! Will look forward to seeing what you come up with for your "alternative" Wattle read - ..."

Can you listen to samples,Patricia?

These are some posts from the person who was listening to the audio version narrated by Amatos:
"Amato is very good at narrating. A lot of emphasis in her reading. However she is rather slow and careful with her narrating. Probably a little slower than talking speed - which I believe is part of the reason for 14 discs. My problem is I had to restart the disc 4 times due to falling alseep! Took about 2 1/2 hrs to listen to what I think should have been about 1 hr 15 minutes. Hopefully that won't happen a lot! This is already over 16 hrs long - I don't want to lengthen it to 25 hrs...LOL!!! "
"There is really not a lot of difference between the voices Kathryn. Jill Tanner as Vida may be less clear than Amatos - just a touch of a gravelly voice, but that may be just for this book and character. Not as deep and resonate as I had expected, but due to Vida's age and health, maybe that would not have been realistic.

Well into Vida's story and loving the sound of their speech. Like a melody, calming and so soothing. And as I said before - it comes at a slower pace. No wonder I have fallen asleep to them."

Hope this helps!

[Steve]

Wow, two pages for this thread already. I've fixed my list again, since naturalizing Jodi Picoult looks to be too much work. :-P

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Steve wrote: "Wow, two pages for this thread already. I've fixed my list again, since naturalizing Jodi Picoult looks to be too much work. :-P"

Never mind Steve - I think she's too much of an international author to accept Australia as "hers";)

[Elaine]

Kathryn wrote: "Elaine wrote: "Kathryn wrote: "I wasn't going to do this challenge because I normally have to add in some extra books not on my TBR, and I do want to focus on getting the books read this year that ..."

I know. I noticed that. I was only kidding as we were discussing this not so long ago. I might do the same as you and only add the books on my TBR. The only thing is I wanted to get to my pile of books on the floor and not borrow or buy any new books so I'll have to see which of those books, that I own, fit the challenge.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Patricia wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Maybe leave the wattle one until last Patricia as it'd be better to have either wattle in the title or on the cover if possible..."


If you insist...I'll keep it a secret.
It's not ..."

I did my best by Googling Wattle books, adding them to the database so there would be a list of books for everyone to choose from, over several hours one Sunday afternoon! But if you really can't find one, yes by all means, go as close as you can:)

[Kathryn]

Patricia wrote: "Kathryn wrote: "Patricia wrote: "Kathryn wrote: "I've heard the audiobook of The Thirteenth Tale is very well done, Patricia - hope you enjoy! Will look forward to seeing what you come up with for ..."

Just realised I didn't actually mention Jenny Agutter who you also asked about, Patricia. I don't think anyone mentioned her narration, but she has a lovely voice as Sister Julien on Call the Midwife so I can't imagine she'd be anything but excellent!

[Bec]

ok - I've done pretty badly getting through my winter list so I have managed to transfer a few onto my spring list - hopefully this will go better. I thought I had a perfect one for Wattle - Wattle Creek but just realised I've already read it last year! Also included 2 longer picture story books in my list:
1. TBR - Sisters Of Mercy
2. Spring Release: The Sunnyvale Girls
3a. Red
3b. Orange
3c. Yellow
3d. Green
3e. Blue either or
3f. Purle:
4. YA Aussie: The Mission (MTG Agency)Fiona Palmer(its not on goodreads yet but out in November)
5. Wattle:
6. Labour Day: Silver Clouds
7. Rememberance day:
8. GR Friend: After Cleo (from Rachel)
9. Fav Genre (rural/YA): Jumping Fences
10. TBR: Firestorm
I'm actually meeting author Helen Brown (book 8) later this month which is pretty cool

[Kathryn]

Elaine wrote: "Kathryn wrote: "Elaine wrote: "Kathryn wrote: "I wasn't going to do this challenge because I normally have to add in some extra books not on my TBR, and I do want to focus on getting the books read..."

I knew you were kidding and agree with using as many of your most urgent TBR books as possible!!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Bec wrote: "ok - I've done pretty badly getting through my winter list so I have managed to transfer a few onto my spring list - hopefully this will go better. I thought I had a perfect one for Wattle - Wattle..."

Great list Bec:) I chose that wattle one as well, for my second one!

[Sally906]

Brenda wrote: "This one is the 24th September girls:)

The Rosie Effect"

Mine is on pre-order!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Sally906 wrote: "Brenda wrote: "This one is the 24th September girls:)

The Rosie Effect"

Mine is on pre-order!"

Lucky you!

[Carolyn]

Brenda wrote: "Patricia wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Maybe leave the wattle one until last Patricia as it'd be better to have either wattle in the title or on the cover if possible.


If you insist...I'll keep it a ..."

I'm going to give Black Wattle Creek a go. It looks interesting.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Carolyn wrote: "Brenda wrote:
I'm going to give Black Wattle Creek a go. It looks interesting "

That's the other one I chose Carolyn:) I have checked my library and they have it - and it does sound interesting... hopefully it will be:)

[Sally906]

If I didn't already have Wattle Creek my other choice would have been Silver Wattle which is set in the early film industry in Australia.

[Sally906]

OK, here is my list - as usual it is subject to change :)

1. The Dirty Chef: From Big City Food Critic to Foodie Farmer by Matthew Evans

2. Outback Ghost by Rachael Johns

3.
Red - by Jenni Boyd
Orange - by Karen Brooks
Yellow - by Madeleine St. John
Green - by Ilsa Evans
Blue - by Sarah-Kate Lynch
Purple/violet - by Joni Folger

4. Frontier Resistance by Leonie Rogers
5. Wattle Creek by Fiona McCallum
6. The Saturday Big Tent Wedding Party by Alexander McCall Smith - main cgaracter is a private detective
7. When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit by Judith Kerr
8. Man Drought by Rachael Johns (Marg, Bree and Shelleyrae)
9. YA Dystopian - Pandora Jones: Deception by Barry Jonsberg
10. Reluctantly Charmed by Ellie O'Neill (the ARC had been sitting on my TBR pile since May)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Great list Sally! #7 is a good choice - I didn't think of that one:)

[Sally906]

Brenda wrote: "Great list Sally! #7 is a good choice - I didn't think of that one:)"

Always hit my TBR and review pile first :)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

I hit my books I own first;) I sit on the floor in front of the bookshelves and pick them over, one at a time;)

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

I had to go through all the books on my kindle to find out what colour their covers are! That was fun.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Phrynne wrote: "I had to go through all the books on my kindle to find out what colour their covers are! That was fun."

Haha!! My kindle is only in black and white Phrynne O_o!

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

:)

[Elaine]

I'm still a maybe on this but reading all your choices here I'm getting very inspired. Some good books selected. Looking through my owned books that are mostly on my TBR there are quite a few that qualify. I have to say though the wattle choice has me a little flummoxed. I'm not really keen on any of them. Sorry Brenda...I do appreciate your efforts to give us choices but at the moment nothing is really jumping out at me. I'll think about it over the weekend. As I usually never complete the challenges I may leave that one out!!! :)

[Jülie ☼♄ ]

Patricia wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Maybe leave the wattle one until last Patricia as it'd be better to have either wattle in the title or on the cover if possible..."


If you insist...I'll keep it a secret.
It's not ..."

How about this one Patricia The Golden Wattle Cookery Book some great old fashioned recipes in there!

Or this:
A Celebration of Wattle: Australia's National Emblem
It's in the spirit of Wattle Day so no other flower would fit the bill really ;)

[Heather]

My list for the Spring Reading Challenge:

1. TBR:
2. New Release:
3 Read a Rainbow
a. b. c. d. e. f.

4. YA:
5. Wattle:
6. Labour Day - Police:
7. Remembrance Day :
(I don't think I'll have time to get through many TBRs after this)
8. Goodreads Friend - Listed as one of Phrynne's favorites:
9. Favourite Genre - Thriller:
10. TBR:

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

Elaine wrote: "I'm still a maybe on this but reading all your choices here I'm getting very inspired. Some good books selected. Looking through my owned books that are mostly on my TBR there are quite a few that ..."

I must admit whenever I come up against part of a challenge I don't like I just quietly leave it out:) I feel there's no real point changing it to suit myself because that kind of defeats the whole purpose!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

☼♄Jülie wrote: "Patricia wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Maybe leave the wattle one until last Patricia as it'd be better to have either wattle in the title or on the cover if possible..."


If you insist...I'll keep it a ..."

Thanks Julie! A great couple of choices there too:)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Heather wrote: "My list for the Spring Reading Challenge:

1. TBR:
2. New Release:
3 Read a Rainbow
a. b.[book..."

Great list Heather! Some wonderful reads there:)

[Jülie ☼♄ ]

Brenda wrote: "☼♄Jülie wrote: "Patricia wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Maybe leave the wattle one until last Patricia as it'd be better to have either wattle in the title or on the cover if possible..."


If you insist....."

;)

[Elaine]

Phrynne wrote: "Elaine wrote: "I'm still a maybe on this but reading all your choices here I'm getting very inspired. Some good books selected. Looking through my owned books that are mostly on my TBR there are qu..."

Quite true Phrynne. Usually when I don't finish a challenge it's usually the books I wasn't all that keen on or were hard to get that I've missed out on reading.

[Jülie ☼♄ ]

Here's my list:


1. Spring TBR: Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline
2. Brisbane Writer's Festival:Sept. Release: Mothers Grimm by Danielle Wood
3. Read a Rainbow:
3a. (Red): The Bellamy Bird by Clare Havens 4*s
3b. (Orange): Mr Wigg by Inga Simpson 5*s
3c. (Yellow): The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce 5★s
3d. (Green): Nest by Inga Simpson 5★s
3e. (Blue): The Blue Mile by Kim Kelly 4★s
3f. (Purple): Secret Lives by Diane Chamberlain
4. Young Adult: Looking for Alibrandi by Melina Marchetta
5. National Wattle Day: Black Wattle Creek by Geoffrey McGeachin 4★s
6. Labor Day: Death Mask By Kathryn Fox (#5 buddy read with Carolyn) 4★s
7. Remembrance Day: My Dear I Wanted to Tell You by Louisa Young
8. Goodreads friend: (Carolyn & Kathy) Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty 4★s
9. Favourite Genre: Historical NF: Abandoned Women: Scottish Convicts Exiled Beyond the Seas by Lucy Frost
10. TBR: The Last Days of Rabbit Hayes by Anna McPartlin 4★s


*Sadly, due to time constraints, I have to mark this challenge as dnf :( not to worry, plenty more to come ;)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

☼♄Jülie wrote: "Here's my list:


1. Spring TBR: Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline
2. Brisbane Writer's Festival:Sept. Release:."

Told you those two Inga Simpson books might fit into the Spring challenge Julie ;) Great list!

[Jülie ☼♄ ]

Brenda wrote: "☼♄Jülie wrote: "Here's my list:


1. Spring TBR: Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline
2. Brisbane Writer's Festival:Sept. Release:..."

Haha I love this list Brenda, it's got a lot of my favourites in it that I've been hanging out for ;)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

☼♄Jülie wrote: "Brenda wrote: "☼♄Jülie wrote: "Here's my list:


1. Spring TBR: Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline
2. Brisbane Writer's Festival..."

That's awesome :) Everyone will be keen to start now!

[Jülie ☼♄ ]

Looks like is going to be taking a big bow in this challenge! :)

[Sally906]

I have decided which of my J.D. Robb books I am going to read for the challenge:

6. Visions in Death by J.D. Robb - Eve Dallas is a futuristic police officer

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Sally906 wrote: "I have decided which of my J.D. Robb books I am going to read for the challenge:

6. Visions in Death by J.D. Robb - Eve Dallas is a futuristic police officer"

I'm hanging out for the new release next month Sally..I'm up to date!

[Zoey]

Didnt get anywhere near finishing the Winter Challenge, but have managed to squeeze them into this one :)

1. TBR - The Ice Cream Girls Dorothy Koomson
2. Aussie New Release - TBD
3a. Red - The Merzetti Effect Norah Wilson
3b. Orange - Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy Helen Fielding
3c. Yellow - The Lawman Lily Graison
3d. Green - Bernese Mountain Dog Esther Verhoef
3e. Blue - Focus Alyssa Rose Ivy
3f. Purple - White Lion's Lady Tina St. John
4. Aussie YA - The Third Day, The Frost John Marsden
5. Wattle Day - Silver Wattle Belinda Alexandra
6. Labour Day (Lawyer) - In Safe Hands Lee Christine
7. Remembrance Day - Atonement Ian McEwan
8. Friends List (brenda) - Dirt Music Tim Winton
9. Fav. Genre (Hist Fict) - Lady of the English Elizabeth Chadwick
10. TBR - Found Alyssa Rose Ivy

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Zoey wrote: "Didnt get anywhere near finishing the Winter Challenge, but have managed to squeeze them into this one :)

1. TBR - The Ice Cream Girls[author:..."

Great list Zoey! I've enjoyed a few of those:)

[Rosie]

I am in. I love these challenges.

1. The Forgotten Garden
2. The Sunnyvale Girls
3. Orange The Amber Spyglass
red Chronicle of Ages
Green The Subtle Knife
Yellow Forbidden Fruit
Blue The Cosmic Logos
purple Peach Cobbler Murder
4. Lord Sunday
5. Wattle Babies
6. Immortal in Death
7. The Book Thief
8. A Game of Thrones
9. Sci Fi/Fantasy Being of the Field
10. The Universe Parallel

I am going through my books now so the list may change.

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

Brenda wrote: "Sally906 wrote: "I have decided which of my J.D. Robb books I am going to read for the challenge:

6. Visions in Death by J.D. Robb - Eve Dallas is a futuristic polic..."

Well that solves my problem of what to read for number 6. Festive in Death. Thanks Brenda

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Phrynne wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Sally906 wrote: "I have decided which of my J.D. Robb books I am going to read for the challenge:

6. Visions in Death by J.D. Robb - Eve Dallas is a f..."

And I might change one of mine to that one too;)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Rosie wrote: "I am in. I love these challenges.

1. TBA
2. The Sunnyvale Girls
3. TBA
4. TBA
5. Wattle Babies
6. thinking of reading a JD Robb book
7. The Book Thief
..."

Excellent! The fun is in the choosing;)

[Chris]

Ok, here's my list:
1. Spring TBR:& Sons or The Light in the Ruins whichever is returned to the library first.
2. Brisbane Writers' Festival New Release: Hello From the Gillespies
3. Read a rainbow:
Red:
Orange: Is that enough orange?
Yellow:
Green:
Blue:
Purple: is that enough purple?
4. Aussie Young Adult: Darkness, Be My Friend
5. Wattle: Blackwattle Lake
6. Labor Day Good-Bye, Mr. Chips
7. Remembrance Day: Men at Arms
8. Goodreads Friend: The Time Keeper
9. Fabourite Genre-Historical Fiction: The White Princess
10. Another TBR: A Place at the Table