Annual Challenge 2021 - Read Around Australia

[Deb]

Finished my first from Victoria.
The title and description hooked me, but I thought it was a very 'meh' book. 2* for by Hilde Hinton

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

[Em__Jay]

Has anyone read The Serpent's Skin by Erina Reddan?

Several reviews I've read mention it's set in Australia but don't mention a particular state or territory.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

I'm sorry Em, I have searched and can't find - even through the publishers - where in Australia it's set. Often it's set in the author's own state though, that may help...

[Em__Jay]

Brenda wrote: "I'm sorry Em, I have searched and can't find - even through the publishers - where in Australia it's set. Often it's set in the author's own state though, that may help..."

That's a good suggest. I'll try and remember that for next time.

I found the answer in the book. It's set in Victoria.

[Barbara]

Hi Brenda - I've had to change my book for The Northern Territory, because my library has removed The Crying Place from their ebook catalogue. Replacing it with Diamond Dove by Adrian Hyland. Thanks :)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Barbara wrote: "Hi Brenda - I've had to change my book for The Northern Territory, because my library has removed The Crying Place from their ebook catalogue. Replacing it with Diamond Dove by Adrian Hyland. Thank..."

No problems Barbara - I think we all have changed things around for varying reasons at one stage or another! You'll enjoy Diamond Dove (I hope) as I did very much :)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

That's great Em! A good one for others if they need a Victorian one too :) Thanks!!

[Barbara]

Brenda wrote: "Barbara wrote: "Hi Brenda - I've had to change my book for The Northern Territory, because my library has removed The Crying Place from their ebook catalogue. Replacing it with Diamond Dove by Adri..."

I'm sure I will Brenda, thanks.

[Veronique]

Hi I have just won a copy of the new Emily Maguire, Love Secrets (yeah!). Would anyone happen to know in which state it is located? I would suspect NSW but not clear from the varous reviews and summaries I have come across. Thanks!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Is Emily Maguire the author Veronique? I can't find it with the information you have...

[Veronique]

Brenda wrote: "Is Emily Maguire the author Veronique? I can't find it with the information you have..."

Sorry got the title wrong. It's called Love Secrets not Love Objects...here is the goodreads page https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

I have just checked the book, then the author Veronique. She lives in Sydney, so it's a 95% chance the book is set in NSW. You'll probably see evidence of that as you read it.

For future reference for you, to link your book, click on 'add book/author' and follow the prompts. That way your link will make it easy for others to check it out for you :)

I hope you enjoy the book - I'll be interested in your thoughts once you're done.

[Veronique]

Brenda wrote: "I have just checked the book, then the author Veronique. She lives in Sydney, so it's a 95% chance the book is set in NSW. You'll probably see evidence of that as you read it.

For future reference..."
Thanks Brenda. Will see if I read that one or stick with my current selections. I have the rest of the year to decide!

[Deb]

Just finished Boy Swallows Universe by Trent Dalton and absolutly loved it.
review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

But I need to get some focus here! That is the third for QLD, NSW is full also and I have not found a single one for NT or ACT!

Focus Deborah, focus!

[Clare]

Veronique wrote: "Hi I have just won a copy of the new Emily Maguire, Love Objects..."

I won a copy too. It sounds like an interesting read. Maybe it'll inspire me to declutter my house 😂

[Clare]

Deborah wrote: "I have not found a single one for NT or ACT..."

If you want some suggestions:
ACT Where the Trees Were

NT The Swan Book Its set in future "Northern Australia," where The Intervention & climate change have wrecked havoc. I'm still reading, so it may end up not being NT. The writing is amazing.

I got these books from other reader's lists - thanks for the recs everyone.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

It's good to browse the other lists isn't it Clare - easy to add more to our TBRs that way!

[Deb]

Clare wrote: "Deborah wrote: "I have not found a single one for NT or ACT..."

If you want some suggestions:
ACT Where the Trees Were

NT The Swan Book Its set in future "Northern..."

Oo great recommendations! I adored Where the Trees Were so much. I wish I could go back in time and read it again for the first time!

The Swan Book Looks like exactly the sort of book I will enjoy! I will go right onto the library site and see if I can get it.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

There you are Deborah - your tip of the day. Go through others' lists, you never know what gem you might find!

[Janine]

Finished 11/12

NT
Hidden Valley by Annie Seaton 4*

[Kim]

Finished 14 out of..... I just might keep going :D

WA
Land's Edgeby Tim Winton Finished April 4 4 Stars

A short evocative memoir of the WA coast by Tim Winton. As erudite as ever. My mini review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Go for it Kim! I've read 36/36+ - BUT I haven't read the requirements for the states that don't have many books set in them (that I know of) so I have to keep going anyway ;)

[Trevor]

I am thinking that for my ACT choice I will borrow the audio book of The Eleventh by Alex Mann from the library. I cannot find a physical copy of the book, so no page count, it's just over 5 hours to listen to, is that long enough to meet the page length requirement?
Thanks.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Trevor I can only find audio books for this one and have no idea about the comparison. My executive decision is yes, go ahead with it and we'll say it's more than 125 pages :)

[Trevor]

Brenda wrote: "Trevor I can only find audio books for this one and have no idea about the comparison. My executive decision is yes, go ahead with it and we'll say it's more than 125 pages :)"

Thanks Brenda, I think it must only be available as an audio book.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

I think you're probably right Trevor :)

[Janine]

Annual Challenge 2021 - Read Around Australia
AUSSIE AUTHORS ONLY
Duration: 1st January - 31st December 2021
Level: Book Lover
12/12

Western Australia
1. The Drifter by Anthea Hodgson READ 8/3/21 4*

South Australia
2. When Grace Went Away by Meredith Appleyard READ 18/2/21 5*
3. Dust On The Horizon by Tricia Stringer READ 16/2/21 3*

Tasmania
4. The Secrets Mothers Keep by Jacquie Underdown READ 11/3/21 3*
5. Deadman's Track by Sarah Barrie READ 21/1/21 4*

Northern Territory
6. Hidden Valley by Annie Seaton READ 3/4/21 4*
7. Croc Country by Kerry McGinnis READ 10/4/21 3*

Australian Capital Territory
8. The Land Before Avocado by Richard Glover READ 28/2/21 4*

New South Wales
9. Where the Dead Go by Sarah Bailey READ 13/2/21 3*
10. The Naturalist's Daughter by Tea Cooper READ 5/3/21 4*

Victoria
11. Where Fortune Lies by Mary-Anne O'Connor READ 4/1/21 4*

Queensland
12. Riptides by Kirsten Alexander READ 14/1/21 3*

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

Well done Janine:)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Well done Janine!! An early finish :)

[Deb]

Clare wrote: "Deborah wrote: "I have not found a single one for NT or ACT..."

If you want some suggestions:
ACT Where the Trees Were

NT The Swan Book Its set in future "Northern..."
I just picked up The Swan Book from the library today - thank you for the recommendation it looks intense.

[Marie]

Got some progress on this challenge done.
Tasmania completed (actually done 3)
The Bluffs by Kyle Perry 5 Stars;
Deadman's Track by Sarah Barrie 3 1/2 stars

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Marie wrote: "Got some progress on this challenge done.
Tasmania completed (actually done 3)
The Bluffs by Kyle Perry 5 Stars;
Deadman's Track by Sarah Barrie 3 1/2 stars"

Doing well Marie - just so you know how to do it - click on 'add book/author' and follow the instructions to link your books and authors :) Thanks!

[Clare]

Deborah wrote: "I just picked up The Swan Book from the library today - thank you for the recommendation it looks intense...."

It is intense. I read a little at a time between other not so heart breaking books. As well as all it's other genres, its a satire, so there's dark humour too. The writing about Australia's land and nature is pure lyricism.

[Deb]

Clare wrote: "Deborah wrote: "I just picked up The Swan Book from the library today - thank you for the recommendation it looks intense...."

It is intense. I read a little at a time between othe..."

I think I will do the same. It is amazing writing, but so packed full of figurative detail that I think I will need to be reading another another book at the same time, one with more action which does not require quite so much concentration every second...

[Kim]

Deborah wrote: "Clare wrote: "Deborah wrote: "I have not found a single one for NT or ACT..."

If you want some suggestions:
ACT Where the Trees Were

NT The Swan Book Its set in fu..."

If you have trouble getting through The Swan Book, it's fantastic as an audiobook. Quite a few levels to the story and the writing is so rhythmic and poetic, can highly recommend the audiobook.

[Clare]

Kim wrote: "If you have trouble getting through The Swan Book, it's fantastic as an audiobook. Quite a few levels to the story and the writing is so rhythmic and poetic, can highly recommend the audiobook..."

I'm listening to the audiobook. The narration is so good.

[Deb]

Kim wrote: "Deborah wrote: "Clare wrote: "Deborah wrote: "I have not found a single one for NT or ACT..."

If you want some suggestions:
ACT Where the Trees Were

NT [book:The Swan Book|1824793..."
Thanks Kim - I am actually enjoying reading it. I do find that I need no distractions and a decent amount of time to read it.

Normally I can read anywhere, anytime and distractions only exist if I allow them to. In The Swan Book I find I need time to sink into the lyrical quality of it, also splitting my attention between it and other things is not really possible.

It is a beautiful reading experience though.

[Deb]

Yay! I finally got my first from NT... Well, probably NT. Mostly NT? The author is from there, but places are never named concretely, to be honest.

by Alexis Wright
Was a magical read/listen in any case.

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

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Deborah wrote: "Yay! I finally got my first from NT... Well, probably NT. Mostly NT? The author is from there, but places are never named concretely, to be honest.

by [author:Al..."

It sounds like you should take it as such Deborah. It's set in the future and all over as well (southern states) but as the author is from NT, I'd say it's pretty much set there :)

[Jane]

Well officially I've finished the Book Lover (easy) level of this challenge with :
8. SA - The Shearer's Wife by Fleur McDonald 3*

but I'm going to keep track of any 'spares' and see if I can get to the next level. Will update my original post as I do.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Well done Jane - I won't give you your tick until you let me know you're completely finished :)

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

Well done Jane!

[Deb]

I just finished reading (or rather listening to) The Portrait of Molly Dean by Katherine Kovacic

And I am so impressed! Thank you to whoever it was from this group who recommended it to me, I was completely charmed. Also, that takes care of my second and third from Victoria; I simpley have to read another book by this author and have gone straight on to the next Alex Clayton!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Deborah wrote: "I just finished reading (or rather listening to) The Portrait of Molly Dean by Katherine Kovacic

And I am so impressed! Thank you to whoever it was from this grou..."

Glad you enjoyed it Deborah, I loved it too!

[Deb]

Brenda wrote: "Deborah wrote: "I just finished reading (or rather listening to) The Portrait of Molly Dean by Katherine Kovacic

And I am so impressed! Thank you to whoever it wa..."

It was a bit like drinking champagne - a really sparkling little book! I couldn't find her second one in the library, so I have gone straight on to her third book. So far, it is living up to the first one beautifully!

[Joanne Farley]

I have finished listening to Earthly Delights.

I started out not really liking it but by about 30% I was on board it ended up being a four star read for me.

This series will have to be added to by TBR pile.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Joanne wrote: "I have finished listening to Earthly Delights.

I started out not really liking it but by about 30% I was on board it ended up being a four star read for me.

This series will have ..."

A fun and entertaining series Joanne :)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Deborah wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Deborah wrote: "I just finished reading (or rather listening to) The Portrait of Molly Dean by Katherine Kovacic

And I am so impressed! Thank you t..."

Glad it's hitting the right buttons for you Deborah :)

[Em__Jay]

Has anyone read An Unconventional Wife: The Life of Julia Sorell Arnold by Mary Hoban?

I wanted to use it for a book set in Tasmania. It is on the Tassie book list but the book blurb doesn't seem like a lot of the story takes place in Tasmania.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Em, I just updated her author profile and tried to find out more about the book. I think you would be able to use it for Tasmania although it looks like a lot is set in the UK. Give it a go and you can let us know what you think - but at this stage I say yes :)