Monthly Theme Read

[Heidi]

Ok time to start our first ever monthly theme read. This is open to everyone and you can read books from any or all of the themes - it is up to you. Here are themes for January:

1. Martin Luther King Day -books about oppression and/or race relations
2. Australia Day - book written by Aussie author and/or book based in Australia
3. Coming of Age Day in Japan - coming of age stories.

Have fun with it and feel free to work the themes around to match books you already plan to read. Please give updates about books you plan to read and then updates after you read them. Happy reading!

[Heidi]

I plan to stick with my Aussie writers who have not steered me wrong yet and will be reading .

[Gwennie]

Okay, well I plan on doing two of these.

I'll go Aussie - Looking for Alibrandi, since I already was.


(Does this work for coming of age, too?)

[Heidi]

Yup it fits both catergories.





Wendy wrote: "Okay, well I plan on doing two of these.

I'll go Aussie - Looking for Alibrandi, since I already was.


(Does this work for coming of age, too?)"

[Terry (Ter05 TwiMoms/ MundieMoms)]

I had to look up dystopia - doesn't sound like anything I have read or want to, but I may have gotten it wrong.
My favorite Australian author is Juliet Marillier and I have read every book she has written except one and just started that one today (her newest). Love all her books and have reviewed them all.

[Gwennie]

Dystopia is like Hunger games, Uglies, The Giver, Chaos Walking...

They tend to be about future societies of opression where the people tend to be controlled through means of violence and denial.

[Heather]

This idea is great :)

I will be reading A Northern Light (Coming of Age)

A Northern Light

[Brittany (finally graduated and can once again read for fun)]

I'm also gonna go with the whole Aussie author thing... So I can go one of 2 ways. I've been planning on starting a Moriarty book because I have yet to read her stuff and I hear she's great (thanks Heidi) or I also would like to read Looking for Alibrandi like Wendy. My love for Melina Marchetta continues to grow with each passing book I read.

[Heidi]

Wendy wrote: "Dystopia is like Hunger games, Uglies, The Giver, Chaos Walking...

They tend to be about future societies of opression where the people tend to be controlled through means of violence and denial."

Dystopia is one of my favorite genres, but I am fairly certain Terry is more of a paranormal/fantasy fan.

[Terry (Ter05 TwiMoms/ MundieMoms)]

Good call, Heidi. LOL

[Jaimie]

I will be reading for Aussie Day!

[Terry (Ter05 TwiMoms/ MundieMoms)]

I am reading Seer of Sevenwaters by Aussie author, Juliet Marillier.

[Kourtni]

I will read for Australia Day. :)

[Brittany (finally graduated and can once again read for fun)]

Excellent choice Kourtni!!

[Kourtni]

Thanks! Heidi gave me a friendly shove in that direction. ;)

[Heidi]

Kourtni wrote: "Thanks! Heidi gave me a friendly shove in that direction. ;)"

Yay! Success :)

[Brittany (finally graduated and can once again read for fun)]

Funny, that's how i picked up that book too. But that's why we love her. ;)

[Heidi]

Aww shucks!

[Brittany (finally graduated and can once again read for fun)]

Don't let it go to your head, Heidi. Only I would do something silly like that.

[Arphaxad]

I've just gleefully ordered by Juliet Marillier for Aussie Day! *punches air*

[Kourtni]

It's so true Heidi! Awe, group hug!

[Heidi]

Arphaxad wrote: "I've just gleefully ordered by Juliet Marillier for Aussie Day! *punches air*"

Yay! I plan to read that one soon too since Terry and Becca are such huge fans of the author. I didn't realize she was from AU until this thread!

Group hug right back at you Kourtni! Quick before Brittany changes her mind :)

[Gwennie]

Huh, maybe I'll move Looking to my Coming of Age story and read Daughter of the Forest for my Australian... I can grab it for my Kindle on Friday.

[Becca]

Arphaxad wrote: "I've just gleefully ordered by Juliet Marillier for Aussie Day! *punches air*"

Oh! I am so excited for you all! She is by far my favorite author. Huge fan!

[Arphaxad]

Yeah, despite my usual policy of not getting my hopes up - pessimist that I am - I'm actually quite excited about this one. It had just better get here before term starts again, so I can get in some good uninterrupted reading time! :)

[Peep (Pop! Pop!)]

Would The Girl who Chased the Moon count as coming of age? I'm almost done with that audiobook.

[Heidi]

Peep wrote: "Would The Girl who Chased the Moon count as coming of age? I'm almost done with that audiobook."

I would say it does Peep. p.s. I loved that book on audio. It is so sweet!

[Peep (Pop! Pop!)]

It is, that's exactly how I would describe it: sweet.

[Heidi]

Peep wrote: "It is, that's exactly how I would describe it: sweet."

I listened to her other two books on audio and they were just as sweet (but not in a bad way). They leave you with a good feeling IMO.

[Becca]

So I will be reading for my Aussie book. It's okay, you can gush.

[kirpa]

i'll be reading for MLK day

[Heidi]

Becca wrote: "So I will be reading for my Aussie book. It's okay, you can gush."

Gush gush

[Gwennie]

Yep, same author.

[Heidi]

The fourth Bloody Jack book is also great for MLK Day , but I read it in Dec., so I am out on that one!

[Heidi]

How is everyone doing with this months challenge?? Has anyone read the book they planned on reading? If so, how was it? I plan to start my book right after my current book (hopefully by tomorrow) and I will give an update after I finish :)

[Gwennie]

I finished Looking for Alibrandi. I thought it was great. I think I loved it even more because i grew up without my biological father too.

I haven't started Daughter of the Forest yet.

[Heidi]

Yay Catie! I can't believe you got all three themes covered. That is great :)

I am loving all these Melina Marchetta reads. I wish I wasn't all caught up on her - oh well I can read another new one in March :)

[Becca]

I read for Australia day, for MLK Jr Day, and several different ones for the coming of age day: and .

[Heidi]

Yay Becca! Lots of theme reads for you :) I just started my Australia Day read .

[Heidi]

I did not plan on any coming of age books, but I have read a few books this month where the main character grows up during the book , , and .

[Stormi (StormReads)]

This might be a dumb question but how do you find authors from other countries?

[Becca]

I have no idea, and it's not a dumb question. I mostly find authors from other countries through word of mouth (like through this group) or if I particularly like an author from another country, recommendations from their site.

[Jaimie]

I read my Aussie book and loved it!

[Stormi (StormReads)]

Catie,

That was a great idea. I found a place where it list the Best of Austrailian fantasy, YA, Crime books, etc. THANKS!

[Heidi]

I am thinking ahead to February. Here are some thoughts:

1. Valentines Day - love stories
2. President's Day (US) - historical books
3. Chinese New Year - books about fresh starts/characters with moves or big changes??

Thoughts? Additions/changes?

[Gwennie]

I think that looks perfect! Love stories and Historical are two of my favorites. Maybe I'll tackle . I love Margaret George.

[Stormi (StormReads)]

Sounds like good themes to me!

[Heidi]

Ok we'll stick with the following themes for February.

1. Valentines Day - love stories
2. President's Day (US) - historical books
3. Chinese New Year - books about fresh starts and/or characters with moves or big changes

[Heidi]

If anyone is also planning on reading the featured author for Feb. I think an excellent double duty book would be as it also fits the Chinese New Year theme :)

[Heidi]

For Feb I plan to read (love) and the 6th Bloody Jack (historical).