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**Autumn Reading Challenge**
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@Brenda- Awe, not being able to sleep can really suck >:( Have you tried reading a super boring book?The book yes, is rather good and it's true so to me it's even more interesting than if it was fiction.
@Lisa- Niiiceee :D!!!
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The book yes, is rather good and it's true so to me it's even more interesting than if it was ..."
I've tried all sorts Laura...just something I have to put up with most nights...:)
Glad you're enjoying the book...'truth is greater than fiction' they say :)
My progress on this challenge to date:DONE
1. The Help by Kathryn Stockett (3 stars)
4. Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks (4 stars)
6. Hiroshima by John Hersey (4 stars)
7. Princess Masako by Ben Hills (4 stars)
8. The Tale of Murasaki by Liza Dalby (2 stars)
9. Blood Against the Snows by Jonathan Gregson (4 stars)
10.Telling Tales edited by Nadine Gordimer (3 stars)
YET TO GO
2. Ines of my Soul by Isabel Allende
3. A Monk Swimming by Malachy McCourt
5. TBA
I think Ines of my Soul might slow me down abit.
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Great work Lesley!People are going to swell on this challenge :D!
@Brenda- Understandable, just sucks. Though, now we know why you can read so quickly ehehehe :D
Side note:
I'd recommend Melatonin for sleeping..Only in Australia it's got strange rules on it. It's meant to work wonders for sleeping problems. And all natural :) I think you can purchase the homopathic(sp) here without any problems. But if you want the 'pure' stuff it's where you come into problems.
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People are going to swell on this challenge :D!
@Brenda- Understandable, just sucks. Though, now we know why you can read so quickly ehehehe :D
Side note:
I'd recommend Melat..."
Oh, thanks for that Laura, I'll do some investigations on that...:)
No worries :) Know some ppl who swear by it.
Laura "...I'd recommend Melatonin for sleeping..Only in Australia it's got strange rules on it. It's meant to work wonders for sleeping problems..." Working nights, and years of shift work, sleep is my biggest topic of conversation! When things get really bad for me I use valerian (avail from chemists) which works well. Relaxes you and helps keep you asleep once you get to sleep.
Just finished An Episode of Sparrows for the Autumn Challenge, as my re-read. I enjoyed it once again, 4 stars. Have posted a review.Now on to The Girl Who Played with Fire, have only read a few pages but I'm already curious and want to read more.
Just finished An Episode of Sparrows for this challenge. 4 stars. That's 4 down, 6 to go. Getting a bit bogged down with all the challenges at the moment. Want to read everything!Now on to The Girl Who Played with Fire.
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Working nights, and years of shift work, sle..."
I've tried Valerian Maggie, didn't help me I'm afraid. I actually use Restavit, available over the counter from the pharmacies, and it works every time I use it. I only take it when I absolutely desperately need a good nights sleep tho, so maybe once every couple of months. I don't like to take it too often...
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Only have one left in the challenge now, and have started it. Spartan Gold by Clive Cussler. Good so far!
Brenda wrote: "Maggie wrote: "Laura "...I'd recommend Melatonin for sleeping..Only in Australia it's got strange rules on it. It's meant to work wonders for sleeping problems..." Working nights, and years of sh..."
Restavit is good.
Brenda wrote: "I have just finished Mortal Remains by Kathy Reichs. It was another great Kathy Reichs novel...I enjoy them all :)Only have one left in the challenge now, and have ..."
Used to read a lot of Clive Cussler - Dirk Pitt books. Great adventures, totally lacking reality. Loved them.
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Only have one left in the challenge..."
The Dirk Pitt books were the best IMO. Now that he's got older, (lol) the younger adventurers have taken over. Not quite as good I don't think, but still enjoyable!
Maggie wrote: "Laura "...I'd recommend Melatonin for sleeping..Only in Australia it's got strange rules on it. It's meant to work wonders for sleeping problems..." Working nights, and years of shift work, sle..."
Yes, i also use Valerian when I've been having a bad week of sleeping (which is more often than not) but I try really hard not to take it because I find the day after I'm in a fog.
I've also got some stuff called Sleep Well with Zizyphus from Nutalife. It's not going to make you sleepy like valerian will but it helps calm you down and such (calm you down in ways you can see i guess). I've had mixed results with it.
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Was it as good as [book:Viral..."
Definitely Carmel!! :)
I just gave up on
and I don't often do that. I gave it one star. So I will hit the library in search of another 'irish' book after checking out what everyone else is reading for this challenge.
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and I don't often do that. I gave it one star. So I will hit the library in search of another 'irish' book after checking out what everyone else i..."Bad luck Lesley :( Never mind, lots of reading to do, not worth reading one you don't enjoy..:)
Sometimes I wonder if there's something genetic that makes the Irish more susceptible to alcohol. My first husband was Irish (3rd generation to US) and alcoholism was a big problem for lots of his family. Anyway, Lesley, I'd have no interest in that book either - thanks for the warning. The Binchy collection I read was easy and fun, w/ moments of poignancy.
I know I shouldn't compare the work of siblings but I enjoyed Frank McCourt's books, which was why I tried
. I've not read a Binchy so may try that. Thanks for the tip.
Lesley wrote: "I just gave up on and I don't often do that. I gave it one star. So I will hit the library in search of another 'irish' book after checking out what everyone else i..."I just read the description of the book, it does sound rather interesting (atleast to me). I've placed it on my TBR but it's not as must read.
What didn't you like about the book?
Finished one!! Horray.4. Water for Elephants - Sarah Gruen
Loved it. I thought the ending was perfect, and the little plot twist I so did not see coming.
Just updating here from my post (message 49 - sorry don't know how to link).I have finished 5 out of 10:
1. Shades of Autumn - The Orange Girl by Jostein Gaarder
2. Strong Female Lead - Fierce September by Fleur Beale
3. Something Irish - Green by Laura Peyton Roberts
4. Working Class Lead - The Body at the Tower by Y.S. Lee(The main character worked for a spy agency and went undercover on a construction site as a boy labourer)
10. Short Stories - 10 Short Stories You Must Read This Yearby Robert Drewe et al
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I have finished 5 out of 10:
1. Shades of Autumn - The Orange Girl by Jostein Gaarder
2. Strong Fe..."
Doing very well Sally!! :)
Laura, I found
was all about his drinking with his celebrity mates, with little variation. I was hoping for a little more on his irish background/beginnings as well.
Lesley wrote: "Laura, I found was all about his drinking with his celebrity mates, with little variation. I was hoping for a little more on his irish background/beginnings as well."Ah, now that does seem like a shame. :/
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Thanks Carmel..will also start the April one soon..:)
:O! Woah 9/10 is an amazing effort and so quickly!! Nice jooob Brenda!!
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Thanks Laura!! I don't need an excuse to read..just have to remember to read the right (challenge) ones!!
OK, three downLeon Uris' Trinity was an utter bore. 650 pages of melancholic and indulgent drivel and then maybe 150 pages of real action. My review is been short and uncomplimentary.
My list (a work in progress)
1. Shades of Autumn - A Fortunate Life, I will get this book read one way or another :)
4. Labour Day - undecided.
5. Dr Suess' Birthday - nope, probably wont do this, my son at age 21 wouldn't see the humour at all.
7. Re-read - undecided but I rarely re-read books
8. Recycle (library) - undecided but I have plenty left over from the Summer Challenge to choose if I get there.
9. Ides of March - Prince of Darkness
10. Short Stories - nothing pops up yet but I think I will look at some of the stories written by women of the Afghan Women's Writing Project http://www.awwproject.org/
The good news is that I am now reading A Fortunate Lifewhich I have been intending to read for years now. :)
Hope everyone is having a lovely weekend.
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AR Autumn Challenge 20111/3/11 - 31/5/11
6/9 Completed
1. Colour - In Too Deep
2. International Women's Day - This Side of the Grave
3. Irish -
4. Aust Labour Day -
5. Skip
6. TBR -
7. Re-Read -
8. Library -
9. Murder -
10. Short Story/Anthology - Huntress
Jacinta and Sandra going really well :D!!
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1/3/11 - 31/5/11
6/9 Completed
1. Colour - In Too Deep
2. International Women's Day - This Side of the Grave
3. Irish - [book:Immortal in De..."
Awesome Sandra!! :)
Update5/8 now completed, and I've chosen all Aussie authors for this challenge except for Barbara Else who's just across the ditch in New Zealand.
1) Colours of Autumn: Ochre and Rust by Philip Jones, my review is at http://anzlitlovers.wordpress.com/2011/0...
2) International Women‘s Day/strong female character: The Warrior Queen by Barbara Else
3) Saint Patrick‘s Day/Irish: Out of Ireland by Christopher Koch
4) Australian Labour Day: The Big Fellow by Vance Palmer (about a unionist)
5) Dr Seuss‘ birthday/children's book Diary of a Would-Be Princess by Jessica Green My review is here on Good Reads http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/156...
6) Clean Up Australia/Reduce from the TBR Heaven Where the Bachelors Sit by Gerard Windsor My review is at http://anzlitlovers.wordpress.com/201...
7) Recycle/Library book An Imaginary Life by David Malouf My review is at http://anzlitlovers.wordpress.com/2011/0...
8) Shorter days/short story Eustace in The Complete Stories by David Malouf *and* Still here by Anna Krien in The Best Australian Stories (Black Inc). More Reviews TBA
Lisa Hill, ANZ LitLovers
PS I may switch my strong female character to The Book of Rachel by Leslie Cannold....
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It helps when you pick books you really want to read :)
Sandra wrote: "It helps when you pick books you really want to read :)"That is very true :)
Brenda wrote: "Here's my list now, as I just finished #1:1. Spartan Gold 4 ****
2. Innocent In Death 5 *****
3. The Judas Gate 5 *****
4. Mailman of the Birdsville Track: The Story of Tom Kruse 4 ****
5. Are We..."
Good on you Brenda you have done well here.
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1. Spartan Gold 4 ****
2. Innocent In Death 5 *****
3. The Judas Gate 5 *****
4. Mailman of the Birdsville Track: The Story of Tom Kruse 4..."
Thanks Bronwyn! :)
Have just finished A Fortunate Lifewhich was a delight from start to finish. Australians are so lucky that A.B. Facey shared his story with us.Now finished 4 from my list
2. Strong Female Lead - The Girl Who Played with Fire.
3. St Patrick's Day - Trinity
4. Labour Day - undecided.
5. Dr Suess' Birthday - nope, probably wont do this, my son at age 21 wouldn't see the humour at all.
7. Re-read - undecided but I rarely re-read books
8. Recycle (library) - undecided but I have plenty left over from the Summer Challenge to choose if I get there.
9. Ides of March - Prince of Darkness
10. Short Stories - nothing pops up yet but I think I will look at some of the stories written by women of the Afghan Women's Writing Project http://www.awwproject.org/
I have reviewed my list and made a couple of changes, I am not getting through it as fast I would like but I am in another challenge as well on one of my other groups and that is to read 10 books each month - I am trying to combine where I can though. I think I have read 6/10 categories with couple of extras thrown in.1. Shades of Autumn – Beyond The Darkness by Alexandra Ivy (it has an autumn colour cover) - read and reviewed - 08/04/11 5*
2. Strong Female Lead - Untamed by P.C. Cast (Zoey Redbird is the lead character) – audiobook – read and reviewed 5* 08/03/11 and Wildflower Hill by Kimberley Freeman (Beattie Blaxland is the lead character) – audiobook – read and reviewed 5* 28/03/11
3. Something Irish – The Gathering by Anne Enright – audio book - read and reviewed 2* 15/03/11 and Recipes for a Perfect Marriage by Kate Kerrigan – read and reviewed 4* 28/03/11
4.. Working Class Lead - Dreamland - Nick Carmody ada Kevin Chambers is a jounalist, then a taxi driver - audio book - read and reviewed 4* 05/04/11
5. Children's Book - Skip at this stage
6. Reduce from TBR List – Dance With The Devil by Sherrilyn Kenyon read and reviewed 4* 17/03/11
7. Re-Read - Morrigan's Cross by Nora Roberts - audiobook
8. Recycle (Library Book) – That Perfect Someone by Johanna Lindsey – read and reviewed 5* 11/03/11
9. The Ides of March (Murder Mystery) - Death Was the Other Woman: A Novel by Linda L. Richards – audiobook – read and reviewed 3* 23/02/11
10 Short Stories - Holiday With A Vampire: Christmas Cravings\Fate Calls short stories by Maureen Child and Caridad Piñeiro and Irish Magic: Four Tales of Romance and Enchantment from Four Acclaimed Authors
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I restarted and finished The Secret Lives of Dresses which I am going to put down for the strong women category. The character in this story is proabaly not the strongest and most inspirational female character in that most of the time she is a lost uni student grieving for her dying grandmother who has been her sole carer for most of her life, but towards the end she starts to make her own decisions and moves on with her life, which is a strength in itself. Despite this, I only gave the book 3 stars as the writing was a bit ordinary.
4 down, 6 to go.
1. The Colours of Autumn: Middlesex the book I have has very autumn tones on the cover.
2. International Women‘s Day: The Secret Lives of Dresses - READ
3. Saint Patrick‘s Day: This Year It Will Be Different - READ
4. Australian Labour Day: The Housekeeper and the Professor - READ
5) A children’s book. to be decided
6) REDUCE - Last Sacrifice
7) RE-USE - Matilda or The Ladies of Missalonghi depends on which one I can find.
8) RECYCLE - The Catcher in the Rye
9) The Ides of March - to be decided
10) Short story, essay or anthology - Short & Tall Tales: Moose County Legends Collected by James Mackintosh Qwilleran - READ
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Aussie Readers
Books mentioned in this topic
Animal Dreams (other topics)The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (other topics)
Unaccustomed Earth (other topics)
The Day the Ravens Died (other topics)
Seek the Fair Land (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Judy Nunn (other topics)Beth Shoshan (other topics)
Kathy Reichs (other topics)
Kathy Reichs (other topics)
Kathy Reichs (other topics)
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1) Colours of Autumn:
Ochre and Rust by Philip Jones, my review is at http://anzlitlovers.wordpress.com/201...2) International Women‘s Day/strong female character: The Warrior Queen by Barbara Else
3) Saint Patrick‘s Day/Irish: Out of Ireland by Christopher Koch
4) Australian Labour Day: The Big Fellow by Vance Palmer (about a unionist)
5) Dr Seuss‘ birthday/children's book
Diary of a Would-Be Princess by Jessica GreenMy review is here on Good Reads http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...6) Clean Up Australia/Reduce from the TBR Heaven Where the Bachelors Sit by Gerard Windsor
7) Recycle/Library book
An Imaginary Life by David MaloufMy review is at http://anzlitlovers.wordpress.com/201...8) Shorter days/short story
Eustace in The Complete Stories by David Malouf*and*Still here by Anna Krien in The Best Australian Stories (Black Inc). Reviews TBALisa Hill, ANZ LitLovers