A - Z Authors 2022

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

📚📚📚 Welcome to the challenge Alda. 📚📚📚

[Jacm]

W - Natalie Zina Walschots with Hench. 3.5★

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

[Alda]

Thanks Brenda and Phrynne :)

I will then add the following books:

D - Di Morrissey with A Distant Journey - 3⭐️ - 31/01/2022
J - Janet Skeslien Charles with The Paris Library - 4⭐️ - 15/01/2022
M - Madeline Miller with The Song of Achilles - 5⭐️ - 23/01/2022 (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Good job Alda 👍

[Em__Jay]

January reading
13/26
2/6 AA

✔ A The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams (18/01/22) 4*
✔ C Love at First Spite by Anna E. Collins (04/01/22) 2.5*
✔ D The Vanished Collection by Pauline Baer de Perignon (12/01/22) 2.5*
✔ F Anxious People by Fredrik Backman (03/01/22) 5*
✔ H Full Credit to the Boys: A cliché-free tale of marrying into Footy by Mel Hoffman AA (08/01/22) 4*
✔ K The Lucky Ones by Kiersten Modglin (13/01/22) 1*
✔ M Dolphin Junction by Mick Herron (13/01/22) 2.5*
✔ N The Maid by Nita Prose (13/01/22) 4*
✔ P How to Save a Life by P Dangelico (02/01/22) 2*
✔ R The German Wife by Debbie Rix (14/01/22) 3*
✔ S Josh and Gemma Make a Baby by Sarah Ready (07/01/22) 3*
✔ V Burnt Out by Victoria Brookman AA (05/01/22) 3.5*
✔ X Olga Dies Dreaming by Xóchitl González (09/01/22) 3*

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

Half way there in one month. You are reading up a storm Em_Jay:)

[Em__Jay]

Phrynne wrote: "Half way there in one month. You are reading up a storm Em_Jay:)"

My January reading got off to a great start. I am most excited that I already had an author on my list whose name started with X.

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

My go to author for X is Diana Xarissa. She has written loads of books so I think she will keep me going for a while:)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Em__Jay wrote: "January reading
13/26
3/6 AA

✔ A The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams (18/01/22) 4*
✔ C Love at First Spite by Anna E. Collins ..."

Great work Em! A shame a few of them weren't to your taste - let's hope the 2nd half of the challenge amount gives you better reads :)

[Janine]

Finished Y - Maisey Yates Secrets from a Happy Marriage 2*

[PattyMacDotComma]

Y
Edgware Road by Yasmin Cordery Khan tells the story of an international banking scandal and how an English-Pakistani family living in London got caught up in it, to the point that someone ends up dead. Excellent!
4.5~5★ Link to my Edgware Road review

[PattyMacDotComma]

O - my!

The Things They Carried in Vietnam include more than stuff. This phenomenal book by Tim O'Brien was a finalist for the 1991 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. Included in a soldier's burden are shame, fear, and embarrassment. I feel like I know his people, and I wish they hadn't had to go.
5★ Link to my review of The Things They Carried

[Jackmeister]

Finished 2 more

B - Jim Butcher with Storm Front - 4⭐️ - 11/2/22

Z - John Etzil with Airliner Down - 4⭐️ - 6/2/22

[Denise MF]

completed # 8 & 9 this week.

G - ✔Laura Griffin - Untraceable 7/2/22 v 4⭐
V - ✔Vanessa McCausland - The Beautiful Words AA 10/2/22 4⭐

[Jacm]

V - VE. Schwab - The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue. 4 ★

Addie just wants to live her life the way she wants, without being tied down by anyone...

Henry just wants to be enough...

The is the story of what happens when two people from different centuries both make a deal with The Darkness.

How do you live through three centuries knowing that every other person will forget you exist as soon as they walk into the next room? How do you live a full life when everyone who looks at you sees what they want to see, not who you really are?

Beautifully written with wonderful audiobook narration.

[Alda]

I've finished for the letter C True History of the Kelly Gang by Peter Carey (5⭐️ - 19/02/2022).

It was not the easiest read for a non-native speaker of English, because Carey decides to use a sort of illiterate style for the narrator (Ned Kelly). Despite that, I've really enjoyed this read! I didn't know much about Ned Kelly before: I knew he was an outlaw and was regarded as a hero by his contemporaries (well, maybe not by the police), and I can now better understand the reasons behind the "myth" of Ned Kelly and his gang. Probably it is not the truest account of what happened then, but it was informative and entertaining at the same time.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Glad you enjoyed it Alda - and well done for sticking to it :)

[Kim]

Finished my 6th of this Challenge with:-

'J':-
Breathe by Joyce Carol Oates

Rated this one as 3* (7/10). My review is here:-
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Janine]

Finished U - Jacquie Underdown The Perfect Family(AA) 3*

[Em__Jay]

February update
4/26
1/6 AA

Running Total
17/26
4/6 AA

B Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus (19/02/22) 4.5*
G Ghostlines by Nick Gadd AA (01/02/22) 3*
L The Soulmate Equation by Christina Lauren (06/02/22) 2*
O Dressed by Iris by Mary-Anne O'Connor (05/02/22) 3*

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Doing well Em!

[Em__Jay]

Brenda wrote: "Doing well Em!"

Thanks!

[Janine]

Finished #18

V - Emma Viskic(AA) Resurrection Bay 3*

[Phil]

I joined as a new member last December & didn't register to do
the challenge as I didn't know how. This is my first post. I have
finished the challenge & will post the details after I work out how to
do that

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Phil wrote: "I joined as a new member last December & didn't register to do
the challenge as I didn't know how. This is my first post. I have
finished the challenge & will post the details after I work out how ..."

Welcome Phil! I'll send you an email through Goodreads (PM) and explain how you do it.

[Phil]

Brenda wrote: "Phil wrote: "I joined as a new member last December & didn't register to do
the challenge as I didn't know how. This is my first post. I have
finished the challenge & will post the details after I ..."
Thanks Brenda, I know how to add book/author details but not the book cover photos

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Phil wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Phil wrote: "I joined as a new member last December & didn't register to do
the challenge as I didn't know how. This is my first post. I have
finished the challenge & will post the d..."

I just sent you an email Phil, with it all explained (I hope)

[Phil]

These are the books I've read to complete the challenge:-

A - Aravind Adiga, The White Tiger, Read 25/01/22, 4*
B - Murray Bail, EucalyptusAA Read 19/2/22, 3*
C - J.M. Coetzee, Disgrace, Read 31/1/22, 4*
D - Christina Dalcher, Femlandia, Read 16/1/22, 4*
E - Akwaeke Emezi, Freshwater, Read 24/1/22, 3*
F- Richard Flanagan, The Living Sea of Waking Dreams AA Read 7/2/22, 3*
G - Kate Grenville, A Room Made of Leaves AA Read 2/3/22, 4*
H - Jane Harper, Force of Nature AA Read 9/2/22, 3*
I - Kazuo Ishiguro, Never Let Me Go Read28/1/22, 3*
J - Lloyd Jones, Mister Pip Read 18/2/22, 3*
K - Mary Robinette Kowal, The Fated Sky Read 15/2/22, 4*
L - Sofie Laguna, The Choke AA Read 17/2/22, 3*
M - Charlotte McConaghy, Migrations AA Read 2/2/22, 3*
N - Patrice Nganang, Mount Pleasant Read 3/2/22, 2*
O - Yōko Ogawa, The Memory Police Read 28/2/22, 3*
P - Orhan Pamuk, The Red-Haired Woman: A Novel Read 15/2/22, 4*
Q - Kwei Quartey, Death by His Grace Read 20/2/22, 4*
R - Marilynne Robinson, Gilead Read26/2/22, 3*
S - Douglas Stuart, Shuggie Bain Read 12/1/22, 5*
T - Olga Tokarczuk, Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead Read6/2/22, 3*
U - Loung Ung, First They Killed My Father: A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers Read 24/2/22, 4*
V - Kurt Vonnegut Jr., Slaughterhouse-Five Read 23/2/22, 5*
W - Tim Winton, The Shepherd's Hut AA Read 17/1/22, 4*
X - Xavier Herbert, Capricornia AA Read8/2/22, 3*
Y - Tiphanie Yanique, Land of Love and Drowning Read 4/2/22, 4*
Z - Émile Zola, The Belly of Paris Read 4/3/22, 4*

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

📚📚📚 Well done Phil. That's amazing. 📚📚📚

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Congrats Phil! You have time to do another round :)

[Jackmeister]

Finished another two.

F - Brian Freeman with The Ursulina - 5⭐️ - 24/2/22

K - Kerry Greenwood with Away with the Fairies - AA - 3⭐️ - 7/3/22

[Phil]

Brenda wrote: "Congrats Phil! You have time to do another round :)"

Phrynne wrote: "📚📚📚 Well done Phil. That's amazing. 📚📚📚"
ok, another round it will be. This time I'll do A-Z first names instead of surnames. I'll also read only indigenous Australian authors & the rest will be authors from around the world not from mainstream english speaking/published countries

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Looking forward to seeing your list Phil! Good job :)

[Janine]

Finished #19

H - Sally Hepworth(AA) The Mother-in-Law 4*

[Alda]

I have completed for the letter L Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother's Will to Survive by Stephanie Land - 3*

Mixed feelings about this memoir. I really loved the Netflix miniseries, but I couldn't recognise the series' protagonist, Alex, in the author, Stephanie. The strong denounce of the failure of the American dream & system for people who find themselves in dire financial conditions and/or homeless is muffled by all the judgments and assumptions Stephanie makes about her clients' lives, plus her contradictions (i.e. "I work 25 hours/week and can't make a living" and a few chapters later "I work 9 hours a day and I am too tired at the end"). I was happy she and her daughter found their happy ending, but I would probably have never watched the series if I had read this book first. At least it's good that I started with the Netflix series - which is a gem :)

[Janine]

Finished #20

F - Darry Fraser The Prodigal Sister(AA) 4*

[Janine]

Finished #21

T - The Emporium of Imagination by Tabitha Bird(AA) 4*

[PattyMacDotComma]

I

I really enjoyed The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro, about a super-professional butler who knows how to inspect the silver polishing but, sadly, knows nothing at all about people. Very touching. 1989 Booker Prize Winner.
5★ My review of The Remains of the Day

[Janine]

Finished #22

D - Helena Dixon Murder in the Belltower 3*

[Kim]

Finished my 7th of this Challenge with:-

'G' - author surname:-
North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell

Rated this one as 4* (7.5/10). My review is here:-
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Janine]

Finished #23

N - Kayte Nunn(AA) Angel's Share 4*

[Kim]

Finished my 8th of this Challenge with:-

Divergent by Veronica Roth

Rated this one as 3* (7/10). My review is here:-
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Janine]

Finished #24

Q - Stella Quinn The Vet from Snowy River(AA) 4*

[Janine]

Finished #25

X - Nicole Alexander(AA) Stone Country 4*

[PattyMacDotComma]

Z

Zeba Blay's Carefree Black Girls: A Celebration of Black Women in Popular Culture is a passionate protest, full of examples, about the global culture of "colorism" and how the darkness of your skin decides your worth and opportunities. She knows her stuff!
4★ My review of Carefree Black Girls

[PattyMacDotComma]

C

Apeirogon, by award-winning Irish writer Colum McCann, is the remarkable and moving true story of two fathers, former enemies, working for peace. One is Israeli, one Palestinian. Both lost young daughters in the conflict. It is unbelievably beautifully done.
5★ My review of Apeirogon

[Janine]

Challenge Completed
A-Z Authors
1/1/22 - 31/12/22
26/26

A - Osprey Reef by Annie Seaton(AA) READ 2/1/22 4*
B - Unforgiven by Sarah Barrie(AA) READ 6/1/22 5*
C - The Dark Hours by Michael Connelly READ 4/1/22 4*
D - Murder in the Belltower by Helena Dixon READ 22/3/22 3*
E - Meet Me in Bendigo by Eva Scott(AA) READ 12/1/22 3*
F - The Prodigal Sister by Darry Fraser(AA) READ 18/3/22 4*
G - Dangerous Ground by Rachel Grant READ 7/1/22 3*
H - The Mother-in-Law by Sally Hepworth(AA) READ 12/3/22 4*
I - The Unusual Abduction of Avery Conifer by Ilsa Evans(AA) READ 8/1/22 4*
J - How to Mend a Broken Heart by Rachael Johns(AA) READ 22/1/22 4*
K - The Missing Girl by Kerry McGinnis(AA) READ 13/1/22 3*
L - Keeper of the Light by Leanne Lovegrove(AA) READ 23/1/22 4*
M - The Spy's Wife by Fiona McIntosh(AA) READ 18/1/22 4*
N -Angel's Share by Kayte Nunn(AA) READ 29/3/22 4*
O - The Family Doctor by Debra Oswald(AA) READ 21/1/22 3*
P - Never Never by James Patterson READ 16/1/22 3*
Q - The Vet from Snowy River by Stella Quinn(AA) READ 1/4/22 4*
R - Forgotten In Death by J.D. Robb READ 28/1/22 4*
S -Evil in Emerald by A.M. Stuart(AA) READ 11/4/22 4*
T - The Emporium of Imagination by Tabitha Bird(AA) READ 20/3/22 4*
U - The Perfect Family by Jacquie Underdown(AA) READ 12/2/22 3*
V - Resurrection Bay by Emma Viskic(AA) READ 1/3/22 3*
W - Wild Place by Christian White(AA) READ 10/1/22 3*
X - Stone Country by Nicole Alexander(AA) READ 5/4/22 4*
Y - Secrets from a Happy Marriage by Maisey Yates READ 5/2/22 2*
Z - Nine Elms by Robert Bryndza READ 14/1/22 3*

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Well done Janine!!

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

Very well done Janine!

[Jazzy]

Super Janine!