**Winter Reading Challenge - 1/6/15 - 31/8/15**

[Lesley]

I have made a few changes too.


W The Water Diviner Read July, 4 stars
I
N
T The Plague read June, 2 stars
E East of Eden read July, 4 stars
R Robinson Crusoe read August, 4 stars
2.
3. YA The Anatomy of Wings
4.
5. Speculative Brave New World read June, 3 stars
HF Far from the Madding Crowd read June, 5 stars
Mystery The colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and his years of pilgrimage read July, 4 stars

[Stef]

I finally finished I gave it 3 1/2 ★ which I realize is damn tough of me (and please note I DO recommend you all read it as it is enjoyable) and Nix is still a great and an inspiration!

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

I will persist with the challenge but considering I am starting uni again soon (yay, yay, YAY) I might come unstuck on it ;)

[Janine]

I have finished my 8th
1 N Not Without You by Harriet Evans 2*

[MaryG2E]

After slogging through an excellent though grim Title beginning with W this week, I elected for something a lot different and much lighter. I'm a huge fan of the Elm Creek Quilt novels by Jennifer Chiaverini, so I selected for my Title beginning with R:
Round Robin, which is the second in the series. Chiaverini writes with great skill and perception about the issues which face women - mothers, daughters, sisters, workers, home-makers, etc. This book is rich with compassion and insight - a delightful read. 4.5★s

[Anna]

am loving The Tea Chest :) half way through...would be done if it weren't for silly work each day ;)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Anna wrote: "am loving The Tea Chest :) half way through...would be done if it weren't for silly work each day ;)"

Life makes a habit of getting in the way of our reading doesn't it Anna!! lol

[Anna]

Brenda wrote: "Anna wrote: "am loving The Tea Chest :) half way through...would be done if it weren't for silly work each day ;)"

Life makes a habit of getting in the way of our reading doesn't i..."

definitely. naughty life!! i could not help myself....read quite a bit at work :|

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Good for you:)

[Janine]

I have finished my 9th
1.T The Turning Point by Freya North 5*

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

Janine wrote: "I have finished my 9th
1.T The Turning Point by Freya North 5*"

I am reading a book by Freya North right now called Cat

[Elaine]

Finished my 4th for this challenge, my T read. To Kill a Mockingbird . Still a five star read for me and here's why.

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

[Anna]

finished number 4: my owned mystery for July and number 5: T for spell it out


W - What Have I Done? by Amanda Prowse
I - I Work at a Public Library: A Collection of Crazy Stories from the Stacks by Gina Sheridan
N - Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult
T - The Tea Chest by Josephine Moon
E - An Echo in Time: Atlantis by Traci Harding
R - Rabbit-Proof Fence: The True Story of One of the Greatest Escapes of All Time by Doris Pilkington

NEW RELEASE: You're Never Weird on the Internet - Almost by Felicia Day

YOUNG ADULT: Looking for Alibrandi by Melina Marchetta

AUSSIE INDIE AUTHOR: Life Lived Twice by Sherrie Wouters

OWNED TBR:
SPEC FICTION - The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold completed in June (more or less)
HISTORICAL FICTION - The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
MYSTERY - Mistake Creek by Rachel Amphlett completed in July

[Janine]

Finished my 10th
1E Everything Changes But You by Maggie Alderson 3*

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Finished my 16th - second #5 SPECULATIVE FICTION - Treasure, Darkly by Jordan Elizabeth Mierek 4★s

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

[Stef]

My speculative : 5★ by no means an easy read but well worth the intellectual and emotional effort.

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

[Janine]

I have finished my 11th
1R Rose Harbor in Bloom by Debbie Macomber 3*

[Stef]

And finished my R:

4 stars

Here is my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Jülie ☼♄ ]

Finished my 7th in this challenge last night:

#5c. Mystery: The Bones of You by Debbie Howells

A great psychological thriller! 4★s

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

[Steve]

Last night, I finally finished my eighth, my 1f. Spell it Out (R), Royal Exile, with my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show....

Up next is my first 5c. Historical, Atonement.

[Nicola]

Over half way through the challenge and this is my first posting!
But here is my list - I've been working on it...
Winter
Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West / Gregory Maguire
I Know Where I'm Going: A Personal Biography of Katharine Hepburn / Charlotte Chandler
The Nightmare Affair / Mindee Arnett
Troll Mountain: Episode I / Matthew Reilly
The Early Asimov, Vol 1 / Isaac Asimov
Relics / Pip Vaughan-Hughes

New Release
The Other Side of the World / Stephanie Bishop

YA Aussie Author
not known yet

Aussie Indie Author
TimeStorm / Steve Harrison

Speculative
The Martian / Andy Weir
Historical
Voyager / Diana Gabaldon
Mystery
The Strange Death of Fiona Griffiths / Harry Bingham

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

Nicola wrote: "Over half way through the challenge and this is my first posting!

Did you like TimeStorm?

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Same question Nicola:)

[Nicola]

Phrynne wrote: "Nicola wrote: "Over half way through the challenge and this is my first posting!

Did you like TimeStorm?"

Phrynne and Brenda,
Loved it! Could see the writing was a bit stilted but the story itself made up for it. So interesting (especially as I lived in Sydney way back when and it brought some memories back!) and the melding between the times worked well. There was a bit at the end to do with the genealogies that I still couldn't work out!

[Zoey]

Was that to do with the dates at the end Nicola?? They threw me out a bit & made me think there is more to the story of what happened after it ended. So maybe a sequel?? Hint, Hint Steve :)

[Nicola]

Zoey wrote: "Was that to do with the dates at the end Nicola?? They threw me out a bit & made me think there is more to the story of what happened after it ended. So maybe a sequel?? Hint, Hint Steve :)"

That's what I was hoping too! As a family historian I felt like I needed to get online and find the documentation!

[Carolyn]

I've read my 9th for the challenge #5. speculative tbr Cinder by Marissa Meyer 4★
review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

and have started my #3. Aussie YA The Midnight Dress by Karen Foxlee

[Stef]

Finished my penultimate, new release

5★

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

[Elaine]

Finished my 5th, my I book: I Saw A Man . 4 star read.

[Carolyn]

I've read my tenth, #3 Aussie YA The Midnight Dress by Karen Foxlee 5★
An excellent read!

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

[Bronwyn]

Here is my Winter Challenge - better get cracking!
1.
W The Warlord Wants Forever by Kresley Cole
I I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore
N Nightwalker by Jocelynn Drake
T Torn Trousers: A True Story of Courage and Adventure: How A Couple Sacrificed Everything To Escape to Paradise by Gwynn White
E The End of Your Life Book Club by Will Schwalbe
R Ransom by David Malouf

2.New Release
Truth or Beard by Penny Reid

3. YA Aussie Author
These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman

4. Aussie Indie Author
Don't Look Back by S.E. Gilchrist

5. June Historical Fiction Seven Little Australians by Ethel Turner
July Speculative Fiction The Skin Map by Stephen R. Lawhead
August Mystery Cocaine Blues by Kerry Greenwood

[MaryG2E]

Elaine wrote: "Finished my third for for the challenge. My N read, Nine Days. Really enjoyed it."

Glad to hear this. It is one of the stand-out books I've read this year.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Bronwyn wrote: "Here is my Winter Challenge - better get cracking!
1.
W The Warlord Wants Forever by Kresley Cole
I I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore
N ..."

Don't Look Back - S.E. Gilchrist - here's this one for you Bronwyn:)

[Bronwyn]

Thanks Brenda, I couldn't find it when I went to add it!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Bronwyn wrote: "Thanks Brenda, I couldn't find it when I went to add it!"

That was because you had S E Gilchrist, not S.E. Gilchrist! Completely not your fault at all! It's so hard with the authors who use initials...where to put the full stop (or even if they have a full stop!) I had to change about 5 books which were under S E Gilchrist and should have been under the other... so the way I find the best when searching for books is to use the ISBN - you'll always find it if it's in the database by using that:)

[Bronwyn]

Brenda wrote: "Bronwyn wrote: "Thanks Brenda, I couldn't find it when I went to add it!"

That was because you had S E Gilchrist, not S.E. Gilchrist! Completely not your fault at all! It's so hard with the author..."

Aah! The penny drops - I will be on the lookout for those pesky full stops! Thanks!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

No worries:)

[Janine]

I have finished my 12th and final as I have had to cheat slightly as I will be travelling for all of August and didn't want to take this book with me
5. Speculative American Gods by Neil Gaiman 1*

[Lynxie]

Janine wrote: "I have finished my 12th and final as I have had to cheat slightly as I will be travelling for all of August and didn't want to take this book with me
5. Speculative"

1 star! I had heard good things about this... interesting. :)

[Janine]

Lynxie wrote: "Janine wrote: "I have finished my 12th and final as I have had to cheat slightly as I will be travelling for all of August and didn't want to take this book with me
5. Speculative"

1 star! I had h..."
Lots of people seem to love it but not my sort of book.

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

Janine wrote: "Lynxie wrote: "Janine wrote: "I have finished my 12th and final as I have had to cheat slightly as I will be travelling for all of August and didn't want to take this book with me
5. Speculative"

..."

I listened to this one on audio book and I loved it. The character of Shadow was very well done and the narrator added something to the story. But in the end we all like different kinds of books:)

[Jülie ☼♄ ]

Finished my 8th for this challenge:

3. Aussie YA: Looking for Alibrandi by Melina Marchetta

I originally gave this 4★s but decided to change that to 5★s because it made me think, and laugh, and cry, and think some more.

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

[Kathryn]

☼♄Jülie wrote: "Finished my 8th for this challenge:

3. Aussie YA: Looking for Alibrandi by Melina Marchetta

I originally gave this 4★s but decided to change that to 5★s because it m..."

I just picked this up for 50c at an op shop!! I figured after we were talking about it the other day, I couldn't let it go by at that price!

[Jülie ☼♄ ]

Kathryn wrote: "☼♄Jülie wrote: "Finished my 8th for this challenge:

3. Aussie YA: Looking for Alibrandi by Melina Marchetta

I originally gave this 4★s but decided to change that to ..."

Good for you Kathryn, are you going to read it now? Its really good!

[Kathryn]

☼♄Jülie wrote: "Kathryn wrote: "☼♄Jülie wrote: "Finished my 8th for this challenge:

3. Aussie YA: Looking for Alibrandi by Melina Marchetta

I originally gave this 4★s but decided to..."

Not just yet, Julie, but some time!

[Jülie ☼♄ ]

Kathryn wrote: "☼♄Jülie wrote: "Kathryn wrote: "☼♄Jülie wrote: "Finished my 8th for this challenge:

3. Aussie YA: Looking for Alibrandi by Melina Marchetta

I originally gave this 4★..."

Can recommend it Kathryn :)

[Kathryn]

☼♄Jülie wrote: "Kathryn wrote: "☼♄Jülie wrote: "Kathryn wrote: "☼♄Jülie wrote: "Finished my 8th for this challenge:

3. Aussie YA: Looking for Alibrandi by Melina Marchetta

I origina..."

I know - just read your review...! It's on the list!

[[deleted user]]

I had to type my list again when I went to strike through on my original comment it would just strike through the whole page.
1...
W When You Wish Upon a Duke
I Impossible
N Night Myst
T Town in a Blueberry Jam
E Eliza's Gift
R [[book:River Road|18079815][

2... Read a NEW RELEASE aussie author June July August 2015 tbr
3... YOUNG ADULT AUSSIE author [book:The Piper's Son|7417780]
4... AUSSIE INDIE AUTHOR tba
5...OWN TBR
JUNE SPECULATIVE FICTION Shades of Grey: The Road to High Saffron
JULY HISTORICAL FICTION Snow Flower and the Secret Fan
AUGUST MYSTERY The Last Child

[Jülie ☼♄ ]

Arena, it will do that if you forget to put the < /s> in the correct order at the end of each line....I do that a lot because I forget to put the / before the s ;)

[Suzie]

Finished my R book: Raylan by Elmore Leonard. 3 1/2 stars

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Suzie wrote: "Finished my R book: Raylan by Elmore Leonard. 3 1/2 stars"

Raylan by Elmore Leonard