**Autumn Reading Challenge - 1/3/15 - 31/5/15**

[Carolyn]

I probably will double the May challenge :)
I also need to catch up a bit on my books the Annual Aussie challenge so I think I'll be kept busy.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

I'm sure you will Carolyn:) You might be able to incorporate May with the Aussie one in some places?

[Carolyn]

Brenda wrote: "I'm sure you will Carolyn:) You might be able to incorporate May with the Aussie one in some places?"

Definitely Brenda! SF and fantasy are two of the genres in my annual challenge so I will aim to read a couple off the list in May.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Carolyn wrote: "Brenda wrote: "I'm sure you will Carolyn:) You might be able to incorporate May with the Aussie one in some places?"

Definitely Brenda! SF and fantasy are two of the genres in my annual challenge ..."

That's the way:) Cross-overs are good!

[Steve]

Last night, I finished my eighteenth, my second 3. International Day of Happiness, Imitation in Death, with my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show....

Up next is my second 6. New Release Aussie Author, Once Lost.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

How many of you are looking forward to the release of the Winter challenge? It won't be too much longer! **teaser**

[Jülie ☼♄ ]

Brenda wrote: "How many of you are looking forward to the release of the Winter challenge? It won't be too much longer! **teaser**"

ʘ.ʘ

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

☼♄Jülie wrote: "Brenda wrote: "How many of you are looking forward to the release of the Winter challenge? It won't be too much longer! **teaser**"

ʘ.ʘ"

Love your little faces Jools;)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

RitaSkeeter wrote: "Brenda wrote: "How many of you are looking forward to the release of the Winter challenge? It won't be too much longer! **teaser**"

Meeeeeee. Still need to make it through Autumn challenge books f..."

Plenty of time yet Rita!!! Glad you're looking forward to it - so am I!!

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

RitaSkeeter wrote: "I've finished A God in Ruins by Kate Atkinson my family day novel; slipping back into the comfort and warmth of the Todd family at Fox Corner.

This book completely a..."

Starting it this afternoon:)

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

If it is as good as her books usually are I will be able to talk about it by tomorrow:)

[Jülie ☼♄ ]

RitaSkeeter wrote: "I'll be watching out ʘ.ʘ
(Borrowed your eyes Julie)."

No worries, but I might have to close those eyes tomorrow if you and Phrynne get into a talkfest about A God in Ruins!! ;)

[Odette]

Here is an update of my progress on this Challenge. Though I enjoyed it, I found the Last Man of Rome to be a slow read as it is such a lengthy book. Also went away with family, however, was not the sort of holiday to get much reading done. I have still four more books to go to finish this challenge.

1. Make a Cup of Tea

(a) Boil the Water - Beginning with B
Band of Gold by Maggie Christensen Read
(b) Choose your Tea - Black Tea
Chelsea Mansions by Barry Maitland Read
(c) Steep the Tea - Over 301 pages
People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks
(d) Sweet - One spoonful - Book One of Series
The First Man in Rome by Colleen McCullough Read
(e) Black or White - Soy Milk - Mystery/Thriller
The Devils' Cradle by Darcy Daniel
2. Aussie Author
Nightingale by Fiona McIntosh Read
3. Happy - Happy to read this
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
4. Library Book
Evergreen Falls by Kimberley Freeman Read
5. Family
Wife on the Run by Fiona Higgins
6. New Release
The Last Dance by Fiona McIntosh Read

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

☼♄Jülie wrote: "RitaSkeeter wrote: "I'll be watching out ʘ.ʘ
(Borrowed your eyes Julie)."

No worries, but I might have to close those eyes tomorrow if you and Phrynne get into a talkfest about [book:A God in Ru..."

No spoilers I promise:)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Phrynne wrote: "☼♄Jülie wrote: "RitaSkeeter wrote: "I'll be watching out ʘ.ʘ
(Borrowed your eyes Julie)."

No worries, but I might have to close those eyes tomorrow if you and Phrynne get into a talkfest about [..."

How is it so far Phrynne?

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

Brenda wrote: "Phrynne wrote: "☼♄Jülie wrote: "RitaSkeeter wrote: "I'll be watching out ʘ.ʘ
(Borrowed your eyes Julie)."

No worries, but I might have to close those eyes tomorrow if you and Phrynne get into a ..."

Complicated.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Ahh OK then;)

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

Hoping it will become clearer soon:)

[Sally906]

Carolyn wrote: "And that concludes the Autumn Challenge for me! All great books - no duds!

1a). Set in a hot climate - A Beautiful Place to Die by Malla Nunn 5★
1b). Black tea - [b..."

Congratulations:)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Phrynne wrote: "Hoping it will become clearer soon:)"

I'm sure it will!

[Trevor]

Finished my 6th book for the challenge "Boil the Water" - A Town Like Alice by Nevil Shute 4★
I love this book and my short review is : https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Next up is my International family Day book - The Railway Children by E. Nesbit

[Renee V]

Finished my (updated) library book The Hen Who Dreamed She Could Fly: A Novel - really enjoyed it.

[Jenn]

I have finished my books for this challenge.


1. Make a cup of tea
a. Boil the water (B) Breaking Creed by Alex Kava 5 stars

b. Choose your tea - Black tea - black book cover - Naked Cruelty (the cover is mostly black) 4 Stars


c. Steep the tea - Strong 301+ pages Vision in Silver by Anne Bishop5 stars

d. Sweet? - 2 teaspoons - 2nd book in a series The Novice by Trudi Canavan4 Stars

e. Black or white? - Just a dash of milk - Romance/Chic Lit - The Calling by Kelley Armstrong4 Stars


2. Clean up Australia Day - Book by Aussie Author on my TBR shelf Jilted by Rachael Johns 5 stars

3. International day of Happiness The Ruby Circle by Richelle Mead5 stars

4. International Mother Earth Day - Lick by Kylie Scott 4 stars

5.International Family Day Only We Know by Victoria Purman5 stars

6. New Release by Aussie Author Leap of Faith by Fiona McCallum 5 stars

[Lynxie]

Jennifer wrote: "I have finished my books for this challenge.


1. Make a cup of tea
a. Boil the water (B)Breaking Creed by Alex Kava

b. Choose your tea - Black tea - black book cov..."

How did you like Leap of Faith Jennifer??

[Jenn]

Lynxie wrote: "Jennifer wrote: "I have finished my books for this challenge.


1. Make a cup of tea
a. Boil the water (B)Breaking Creed by Alex Kava

b. Choose your tea - Black tea..."
How did you like Leap of Faith Jennifer??

I really enjoyed reading Leap of Faith..I couldn't put it down. Fiona McCallum is such a great writer I have enjoyed all of her books.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Congratulations Jennifer! Did you enjoy them all? Perhaps you could put a rating beside them for us? That way we can add them to our TBRs if you rate them highly:)

[Jenn]

Brenda wrote: "Congratulations Jennifer! Did you enjoy them all? Perhaps you could put a rating beside them for us? That way we can add them to our TBRs if you rate them highly:)"

They were all really good reads Brenda. I have added my star rating to each of them.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Jennifer wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Congratulations Jennifer! Did you enjoy them all? Perhaps you could put a rating beside them for us? That way we can add them to our TBRs if you rate them highly:)"

They were all re..."

Great! It's good that you've had a good quarterly challenge of reads:) Thanks:)

[Steve]

Last night, I finished my penultimate (nineteeth) book, my second 6. New Release Aussie Author, Once Lost, with my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show....

Up next is my second 2. Clean up Australia Day, The First Man in Rome.

[Heather]

For April I read 1c. Strong - Dead Men's Bones 4 ★
1d. No sugar - Apple Tree Yard 5 ★
4. Library book - St Kilda Blues 4 ★
I'm actually reading a lot more library books lately ebooks are becoming expensive!
I've started for 5. Family House of Leaves
but I'm swapping it for Goodnight, Beautiful as I find the book is going to take me forever to get through it's like reading a text book. You need quiet and I can only manage about half an hour at a time, before I need a break from it.

[Suzie]

I've just started my 1d) No sugar book which is We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves by Karen Joy Fowler and I must say I am not loving it :(

[Sally906]

Just started my final book Night Walker by Aaron L. Speer - not very far in and there was just a confrontational bar scene consisting of vampire and man (now ex-man) - eeeeew! Still has settled back down and the writing is good.

[Lynxie]

Finished my 5.May 15th is International Family Day - read a book which has family featured...
The After House – mother/daughter ★★

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

[Suzie]

Finally finished 1d) No sugar We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves by Karen Joy Fowler. ★ definitely not for me, blurgh

[Trevor]

Book number seven finished, "International Family Day" - The Railway Children by E. Nesbit 4★
my short review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Now onto my "Clean Up Australia Day" book - Merciless Gods by Christos Tsiolkas

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

Suzie wrote: "Finally finished 1d) No sugar We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves by Karen Joy Fowler. ★ definitely not for me, blurgh"

I scraped up two stars but I was being generous. I really did not like it either.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

I have just finished my final read for the Autumn challenge:)

Second 1d) Sweet - Book 4 in series -The Crossing at Blaisdell Park by Marta Tandori 3★s

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

My completed list:

1a. Boil the Water - B - Behind the Sun by Deborah Challinor 5★s
Bad Behaviour by Rebecca Starford 3.5★s

b. Choose tea - (Black - cover) - Eden, Noon by Archer Swift 4.5★s
Hell's Fury by P.D. Martin 5★s

c. Steep - (Strong) - Bittersweet by Colleen McCullough (528 pages) 4★s
TimeStorm by Steve Harrison(352 pages) 5★s


d. Sweet? - (Artificial) - Book #4 in series - Present Darkness by Malla Nunn 5★s
The Crossing at Blaisdell Park by Marta Tandori 3★s

e. Black or White (Just a dash) - Romance/Chick Lit Missing You by Kylie Kaden 4★s
Someone Like You by Victoria Purman 3★s

2. Clean up Australia - TBR Skyfire by Skye Melki-Wegner 5★s
Lost by Michael Robotham 5★s

3. "Happy" Book - Ill-Gotten Gains: A Nell Forrest Mystery by Ilsa Evans 4★s
Passing Through Perfect by Bette Lee Crosby 5★s

4. Library - After Darkness by Christine Piper 4★s
Out of the Mists: The Hidden History of Elizabeth Jessie Hickman by Di Moore 4★s

5. Family - The Divine Wind by Garry Disher 4★s
Jubilee's Journey by Bette Lee Crosby 5★s

6. New Release Autumn - Paper Daisies by Kim Kelly (1/4/15) 5★s
Wild Wood by Posie Graeme-Evans 1/4/15 4.5★s

[Carolyn]

Nice list Brenda. Looks like you had a pretty good Autumn!

[Kathryn]

Brenda wrote: "I have just finished my final read for the Autumn challenge:)

Second 1d) Sweet - Book 4 in series -The Crossing at Blaisdell Park by Marta Tandori 3★s

Review: http..."

Looks like some good reading was done by you during autumn, Brenda! You've got a few there that you enjoyed that are on my list, so that's good to see... Now I just need to get around to reading them!

[Neil]

Here I go. A bit behind for this challenge, but it's my one for the year. Love your sister lets go!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Thanks Carolyn and Kathryn! I changed a few from my original list, but yes, a good quarter of reading!

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

Neil wrote: "Here I go. A bit behind for this challenge, but it's my one for the year. Love your sister lets go!"

Do you meanLove Your Sister by Connie Johnson?

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

I tried to find "Your Sister Lets Go" and only got Stoker Munro: Survivor for some reason!!!

Neil - help!

[Neil]

Sorry Brenda, it's my loose language. I meant lets go as let's get into my 1st book which is love you sister by Connie Johnson

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Neil wrote: "Sorry Brenda, it's my loose language. I meant lets go as let's get into my 1st book which is love you sister by Connie Johnson"

No worries Neil - Phrynne had it right then;) Perhaps you can link next time to stop the confusion;) LOL!!! Thanks for clearing that up anyway:)

[MaryG2E]

Pleased to have finished the Aussie Readers Autumn Challenge for 2015, with some excellent reading completed. Thanks to our moderators for dreaming up such an interesting program of selections.

1. MAKE A CUP OF TEA
a. Boil the water: Title beginning with B,O,I or L
Irène by Pierre Lemaitre 4 ★s
b. Choose your tea (cover in the colour of your tea): Black
The Dinner by Herman Koch 3.5 ★s
c. Strength of tea (page count): Strong = 301+ pages
Forty Days Without Shadow by Olivier Truc, 444 pages 4 ★s
d. Sweetener: None = Standalone novel
Dead Famous by Ben Elton 2 ★s
e. Black or White: Lots of milk = Young Adult
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green 5 ★s

2. CLEAN UP AUSTRALIA DAY (Aussie author from TBR list)
The Arrival by Shaun Tan 5 ★s
3. INTERNATIONAL DAY OF HAPPINESS (A book that makes you happy)
A Rose for the ANZAC Boys by Jackie French 5 ★s
4. INTERNATIONAL ‘MOTHER EARTH’ DAY (A borrowed or library book)
Borrowed from my good friend Kimberley:
Something in the World Called Love by Sue Saliba 5 ★s
5. INTERNATIONAL FAMILY DAY (A book which features family)
Nine Days by Toni Jordan 4.5 ★s
6. NEW RELEASE BY AUSSIE AUTHOR = released on 2/3/2015
The Port Fairy Murders by Robert Gott 3.5 ★s

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Well done Mary!!! Looks like you had a (mostly) good quarter of reading:)

[MaryG2E]

Brenda wrote: "Well done Mary!!! Looks like you had a (mostly) good quarter of reading:)"

Yes indeed thanks Brenda. The only dud was the Ben Elton book Dead Famous. I've generally enjoyed his other books, but this one was poorly executed and well below his usual insightful standard

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

It's a shame but somewhat expected over a lot of books read, isn't it? :)

[MaryG2E]

Brenda wrote: "It's a shame but somewhat expected over a lot of books read, isn't it? :)"

True. But it is also a case of swings and roundabouts. For this challenge I really extended my reading selections and was rewarded with some great reads that I would not have expected. The first three titles on the list I've just posted are European, and made available via translation into English. Quite different in style and tone, and decidedly different in their subject matter. Great stuff!