What are You Reading - 2023

[Lilisa]

I finished Honor by Thrity Umrigar. Hard hitting and impactful literary/historical fiction. Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... and

The Peacock and the Sparrow by debut author I.S. Berry. A spy thriller. Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I’m currently reading:
- Love Across Borders: Passports, Papers, and Romance in a Divided World
- Allergic: Our Irritated Bodies in a Changing World, and
- Our Missing Hearts (audio)

[Kristie, Moderator]

Flop Dead Gorgeous: my Flop Dead Gorgeous review

The Girls on Chalk Hill: my Girls on Chalk Hill review

I'm back to reading Happy Place and The Wishing Game.

[PattyMacDotComma]

The Rush, by Aussie author Michelle Prak, is a scary outback, backpacker thriller! Storm, blackout, body lying at the side of the road in torrential downpour ... do you stop or get the heck out of there?

4★ My review of The Rush

[Christine]

I’m reading a book called The Summer Retreat by Sheila Roberts

[PattyMacDotComma]

The Voice to Parliament Handbook: All the Detail You Need by Aussie authors Thomas Mayo and Kerry O'Brien is an excellent, easy-to-read summary of Aboriginal and colonial history as well as a discussion about the upcoming Constitutional referendum.

Absolutely wonderful! If you're an Aussie, don't miss it.
5★ Notes from me about The Voice to Parliament Handbook with some excerpts

[PattyMacDotComma]

I love seeing little kids dress up and pretend. Princess Kevin by Michaël Escoffier is a cute story about a little boy going to fancy dress day at school. Go, Kevin!
5★ My review of Princess Kevin with several of the illustrations

[Janice, Moderator]

I just finished reading The Legions of the Mist on audiobook. Tomorrow, I will start The Magician of Lhasa.

[Sandra, Moderator]

After reading the first chapter of three different books and put them away, I finally settle with The Edge of the Earth.

I don't know why I am being so picky. I'm insufferable. :/

[Rusalka, Moderator]

Sandra wrote: "I don't know why I am being so picky. I'm insufferable. :/"

Well, we think you're pretty awesome!

[Sandra, Moderator]

LOL, thank you, Rusalka. I think you are too. <3

[Christine]

I’m reading a book called Deep Tide by Laura Griffin

[PattyMacDotComma]

Here and Queer: A Queer Girl's Guide to Life by Rowan Ellis is exactly what it says it is, BUT, it doesn't indicate how vibrant and detailed and caring it is. This should be readily available in all schools and community libraries for those young girls everywhere who feel so unsure.
5★ My review of Here and Queer... with several of the colourful illustrations.

[Christine]

I’m reading a book called A Merciful Death by Kendra Elliot

[Janice, Moderator]

I've started all new books - Where Waters Meet on ebook. Tomorrow I'll start Dawn of Wonder on audiobook.

[PattyMacDotComma]

It's a wild ride on the coattails of ghosts and ghouls, swept along by Sri Lankan winds, in The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida, by 2022 Booker Prize winner Shehan Karunatilaka. More than half of my review is quotes, so there's more of his writing than mine. 😊
5★ My review of The Seven Moons...

[PattyMacDotComma]

For a few minutes of thought-provoking fun, have a (free) read of Andy Weir's couple of pages about 'Life" and the meaning thereof. I really enjoyed The Egg and added a link to where you can read it.
My review of The Egg

[PattyMacDotComma]

Michael Trant brings rural and outback Western Australia to life again with his latest thriller No Trace. Terrific audio - loved it!(
My review of No Trace

The audio edition hasn't been added to Goodreads yet, but it's out there.

[Kristie, Moderator]

I finally finished Cursed. It was darker than I expected it to be and was pretty bleak for a while.

- my Cursed review

I am planning to finish If We're Being Honest today and have started Sold on a Monday for my face-to-face book club. I started this one once before and it was a DNF for me. I think I was expecting one story and got another. I'm hoping that I enjoy it more this time now that I know better what to expect.

[Christine]

I’m reading a book called The Summer Seekers by Sarah Morgan

[Dem]

Finished Therapy

My Review:www.goodreads.com/review/show/5624743830

[PattyMacDotComma]

Barren Grounds by AA B. Michael Radburn was a good read but didn't grab me as much as his other books, only because I didn't believe the ending, BUT I reckon it could be made into a terrific film or TV series. It has all the right elements.
My review of Barren Grounds

[PattyMacDotComma]

In the 1920s, London's dance halls, with their young 'hostesses', were the Shrines of Gaiety that Kate Atkinson showcases here. Crime, bent cops, girls as playthings to be cast aside. What a story.
My review of Shrines of Gaiety

[PattyMacDotComma]

This very short, gentle story shows how two cultures bond over an old Native American. The Man to Send Rain Clouds by Leslie Marmon Silko is free online and I loved it.
My review of The Man to Send Rain Clouds with a link to the story online.

[Christine]

I’m reading a book called Texas Christmas Magic by Katherine Garbera

[PattyMacDotComma]

I love C.S. Harris's mastery of history and mystery. I'm trying to stretch the series to make it last, and have just read the excellent Why Kings Confess
My review of Why Kings Confess

[PattyMacDotComma]

A Very English Murder is the first in the light-hearted, historical mystery series by Verity Bright, a husband and wife team. Lady Swift is young, adventurous, and good fun.
My review of A Very English Murder

[Saar The Book owl]

I've finished:

My review of 'A cat, a man and two women.

[Christine]

I’m reading a book called The Road to Christmas by Sheila Roberts

[Janice, Moderator]

I finally finished the two I had on the go, and I start all new books today - Fairy Tale on audiobook (for the group themed read) and The Sorcerer's House for the monthly challenge.

The two I just finished were Dawn of Wonder and Tress of the Emerald Sea.

[PattyMacDotComma]

Garry Disher is a favourite Aussie author whose offbeat Wyatt series features the crook. In Deathdeal, while avoiding his main enemies in Melbourne and Sydney, Wyatt is summoned to Queensland to pull off a job. I reckon you could read these out of order.

My review of Deathdeal

[PattyMacDotComma]

Saboteur is a very short story about a man who is arrested for no good reason and finds an unexpected way to deal with it. Great little read!
My review of Saboteur with a link to the story online

[PattyMacDotComma]

How It Unfolds by James S.A. Corey is the first quirky sci-fi story in The Far Reaches collection. How many lives can you live in how many different places?
My review of How it Unfolds

[Gavin]

Currently reading Imajica

[PattyMacDotComma]

Sci-fi, mystery. Void by Veronica Roth is an entertaining short story about the murder of a tourist in space.
My review of Void

[Rusalka, Moderator]

That looks like a fantastic series, Patty. Most of those authors are on the favourites list in this house. Where did you find them?

[Kristie, Moderator]

I've been a bit all over the place recently. I am hoping to finish a few books today & tomorrow: The Connellys of County Down, Fairy Tale, and Kill Joy. I am also reading The Wishing Game and If We're Being Honest.

[Kirsten]

I recently started Translation State

[Jayme, Moderator]

I'm reading What Happened to the Bennetts. It is a fast-paced page turner.

[Christine]

I’m reading a book called A Season of Angels by Debbie Macomber

[Saar The Book owl]

I've finished The Shadow of the Gods. For those who like Norse mythology and fantasy.
This is my review: Review: The shadow of the gods.

[PattyMacDotComma]

Rusalka wrote: "That looks like a fantastic series, Patty. Most of those authors are on the favourites list in this house. Where did you find them?"

The series is separate stories, all of which I think were first published several years ago but have been reissued (updated? don't know), and NetGalley had them in a single PDF as The Far Reaches collection.

Aussie Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com.au/s?k=the+far...

They are free for Kindle Unlimited, too!

[PattyMacDotComma]

And here's another, Rusalka!

The Long Game by Ann Leckie is another quirky and still topical sci-fi short story about people and humans - two different things.
My review of The Long Game

[Janice, Moderator]

Saar The Book owl wrote: "I've finished The Shadow of the Gods. For those who like Norse mythology and fantasy.
This is my review: Review: The shadow of the gods."

I have that one to read, Saar. Sounds like I need to bump it higher on the priority list.

[Janice, Moderator]

I abandoned The Sorcerer's House. It was a bit too weird for my liking.

Instead, I will start Your Perfect Year for the puzzle challenge.

[PattyMacDotComma]

Killer Traitor Spy is a very current Aussie thriller in former journalist Tim Ayliffe's Greater Good series. It's not just Reds under the bed anymore! It's a big world and it's full of spies

I love the series, but this would be just as good as a standalone.
My review of Killer Traitor Spy

[Saar The Book owl]

Janice wrote: "Saar The Book owl wrote: "I've finished The Shadow of the Gods. For those who like Norse mythology and fantasy.
This is my review: Review: The shadow of the gods."

I have that one ..."

Yes, it's definately worth it. I've got part 2 also and there will be a third book also.

[Christine]

[PattyMacDotComma]

I loved Katherine Heiny's latest book, Games and Rituals: Stories. Unconnected stories ranging from imagining who taught Ted Bundy to drive (yikes!) to worrying if your wife's Marie Kondo decluttering is going to turf you out next. (Do you still spark joy?!) Thought-provoking as well as entertaining.
My review of Games and Rituals

[PattyMacDotComma]

As the title suggests, The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies is an amusing historical fiction about the daring adventures of twin aristocratic sisters who risk more than their reputations to rescue women living in desperately awful circumstances. Fun, but also dark.
My review of ...ill-mannered Ladies

[Christine]

I’m reading a book called Mistletoe Cottage by Debbie Mason