**Summer Reading Challenge**

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Awesome Sally:)

[Louise]

I've updated my #4 to Heat Wave by 'Richard Castle'. I've been loving the Castle series on TV and hopefully this will be a good giggle. :)

[Lesley]

I read my #4 'summer' House of Sand and Fogsome time ago. Sad tale of migrant family living in San Francisco. 3 stars from me.

Just started #5 The Happiest Refugee: A Memoir.

[Louise]

I enjoyed the The Happiest Refugee: A Memoir. A light read, interesting, and the when you get to the Dancing with the Stars and poo, let me know if you laughed out loud!

[Sharon]

Louise wrote: "I've updated my #4 to Heat Wave by 'Richard Castle'. I've been loving the Castle series on TV and hopefully this will be a good giggle. :)"

I read Heat Wave for this challenge. It was definitely a fun read.

[Lesley]

Louise wrote: "I enjoyed the The Happiest Refugee: A Memoir. A light read, interesting, and the when you get to the Dancing with the Stars and poo, let me know if you laughed out loud!"

Shall do Louise! Only at p39 and he's getting the hang of industrial sewing machines so some way to go yet.

[Mish]

I've just finished my 3rd book for this challenge

#6 Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras Lover Unleashed 4 stars my review is here
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Now starting
#4 Summer - The Summer Without Men by Siri Hustvedt

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Have finished my 9th for this challenge..#8 New Release (27/12/11) Down the Darkest Road by Tami Hoag. Absolutely brilliant..review here http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

1....word related to SUMMER in the title Outback HeartJoanne van Os★★★★★

2. Lighten the load! A book from TBR list... The Silent Girl by Tess Gerritsen ★★★★

3. Food!..a book relating to summery foods, salads, barbeques, pavlova, recipes,.. Cherry Pie (thanks David)★★★

4. Celebrate Australia! Choose an Aussie author... The Indigo Sky by Alison Booth★★★★

5. Australia Day... Come Back to Me by Sara Foster★★★★★

6. Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras..choose a book with a gay character or written by a gay author The Retribution by Val McDermid ★★★★

7. book about Christmas,with Carols in the story A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens ★★★★

8. New Release..maybe KIWI, doesn't have to be Aussie Down the Darkest RoadTami Hoag★★★★★

9. Literature Map..I put in Lisa Gardner, (love this website:).. Lady Killer by Lisa Scottoline ★★★★

10. Valentine’s Day...a book with a touch of Romance... Bloody Valentine by James Patterson ★★★★

[Mish]

Only one book to go Brenda....excellent, well done

I've picked 'Come back to Me by Sara Foster for my Aussie Author Challenge with a twist - February read. Looks like we might be reading it at the same time :)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Haha! Thanks Mish...yes we will! Mine is my February read too..killing 2 birds with one stone...well actually 3, as it'll also go into the AWW12 challenge:D

[Mish]

haha! you've combined your reads with the challenges real well....Mine is also going into AWW12 so I'm killing only 2 birds with one stone.

I've read a few positive reviews on this book so it should be a good one

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Same Mish..I think it will be very enjoyable:)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Thanks Carmel:)

[Kylie]

Finally found a new release. Was the hardest part to find as the book i was hoping for didn't get released or look like it would any time soon.

COMPLETED - 24/1/2012

1. Aust Author - DEAD ish By Naomi Kramer 14/12/11 (2 stars)

2. TBR Shelf - Destined By P.C. Cast 26/12/11 (4 stars)

3. Food - Chili Con Corpses By J.B. Stanley 4/12/11 (4 stars)

4. Summer - The Summer of Riley By Eve Bunting 9/01/2012 (4 stars)

5. Australia Day - Esty's Gold By Mary Arrigan 19/12/11 (4 stars)

6. Gay Author/Character - The Catcher in the Rye By JD Salinger 13/12/11 (3 stars)

7. Christmas Carols - A Christmas Carol By Charles Dickens 1/12/2011 (4 stars)

8. New Release - Yellow Eyes by Sonya Lee 24/1/2012 (4 stars)

9. Literature Map - Rain By VC Andrews 5/12/11 (4 stars)

10. Romance - Safe Harbor By Judith Arnold 17/12/11 (4 stars)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Kylie wrote: "Finally found a new release. Was the hardest part to find as the book i was hoping for didn't get released or look like it would any time soon.

COMPLETED - 24/1/2012

1. Aust Author - DEAD ish By ..."

Congratulations, that's great Kylie! I think you are the first who has finished this challenge, and over a month early:) Well done!! What WILL you read now...lol

[Kylie]

Congratulations, that's great Kylie! I think you are the first who has finished this challenge, and over a month early:) Well done!! What WILL you read now...lol

I have plenty to read so no worries there, trying to read 100 books this year. I have also have challenges in another group to complete.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Haha!! I thought you would have! That's great....I think we are all doing multiple challenges;D

[Lesley]

Recently finished these two:

3. Summer - Finding Valentino. The author travels to Italy to understand more of her father's heritage. Includes recipes and vivid description of her travels. I loved it. 5 stars. Elizabeth Gilbert could learn from reading this IMO!

5. Australia - The Happiest Refugee: A Memoir. 4 stars.

[Regan]

Finished Breakfast at Tiffany's by Truman Capote. The story didn't really capture me and I didn't find the characters all that likeable, but not dislikeable either. Capote does have a pleasant writing style, but story comes first for me. It wasn't an unpleasant read, however it wasn't anything special either. So it's a 2/5 stars from me. It definitely is not in the league of his novel In Cold Blood, which is a favourite of mine.

And I finally got Picnic at Hanging Rock by Joan Lindsay from the library. So that is what I will be reading next.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Regan wrote: "And I finally got Picnic at Hanging Rock by Joan Lindsay from the library. So that is what I will be reading next...."

Interested to hear your thoughts when you finish Regan.

[Laurel]

Regan wrote: "Finished Breakfast at Tiffany's by Truman Capote. The story didn't really capture me and I didn't find the characters all that likeable, but not dislikeable either. Ca..."

Sorry you didn't like Breakfast at T, Regan. I thought it a great read and so well written. Much better than the movie though Audrey H was very pretty and her co-star [forget his name] handsome

[Mish]

I have just finished my 4th book for this challenge

#4 Summer - The Summer Without Men by Siri Hustvedt Great book - 4 stars. here's my review
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

I've started

#5 Australia Day - Last Summer by Kylie Ladd (it's also for my AWW12 challenge)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

You're doing well Mish:)

[Maggie]

Brenda wrote: "That's interesting...two differing opinions from Louise and Michelle on River God: A Novel of Ancient Egypt!"
Louise wrote: With Maggie being the tie breaker! LOL!

Ok, now that I've read my January books for the 2012 challenge, I'm back to finish the last two books of this one. So of course I will start with River God: A Novel of Ancient Egypt.

[Sally906]

I have finished another one:

9. Literature Map website choice:
I searched for two authors that I have read and enjoyed in the last two weeks before challenge announced who were Liane Moriarty and Sophie Kinsella - coincidently the same author was closest to both of them - Fiona Walker - so read a book by her.
Lots of Love by Fiona Walker

Didn't enjoy it as much as I did the books by the other two authors, but was still a good average :)

Have 3 to go to finish - so doing ok :)

[Megan]

This challenge hasn't been going very well, but I have read a few - will just have to see how I go.

1. Celebrate Australia! Disgrace by J.M. Coetzee

2. Lighten the load! The Road to Wigan Pier by George Orwell

3. Food! The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender

4. Set during summer The end of the golden weather;: A voyage into a New Zealand childhood by Bruce Mason

5. Australia Day Saturday by Ian McEwan has a family gathering/reunion

6. The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras A Passage to India by E.M. Forster

7. Christmas Carols Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut - The first lines are a Christmas carol

8. New Release

9. Literature Map I put in Hunter S Thompson and got Ernest Hemingway so chose For Whom the Bell Tolls

10. It’s Valentine’s Day! To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Doing well Sally and Megan:)

[Louise]

I've finished my 7th book (#9 in the list) A Spy for the Redeemer by Candace Robb. Review is here: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Only 2 more to go - 1 is on request from the library, and the other one #8 I still haven't decided upon! Better hurry up tho.....

[Louise]

Ooops - make that my 8th book. Can't count!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Well done Louise!!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Which one is it Michael....Catch Me by Lisa Gardner??

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Michael wrote: "Bingo and since its my day off i should get a fair way through it. :)"

Haha!! Enjoy:)

[Louise]

I've decided on my #8 New Release: Temple of the Gods. Release date is 8 November 2011, but the copyright date in the book I've got is 2012 - so that's the one I'm going with! :D

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Louise wrote: "I've decided on my #8 New Release: Temple of the Gods. Release date is 8 November 2011, but the copyright date in the book I've got is 2012 - so that's the one I'm going with! :D"

Go for it Louise:)

[Sharon]

Have finished 9 from my list only 1 to go yah! :

1. Celebrate Australia : The Lost Stories by John Flanagan
2. Lighten the load : Ishmael and the return of the dugongs by Michael Gerard Bauer
3. Food! The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
: 4. Summer : Heat Wave by Richard Castle
5. Australia Day : The Night They Stormed Eureka by Dawn French
6. The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras : In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
7. Christmas : A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
8. New Release : Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare
9. Literature Map : The Vampire's Assistant by Darren Shan (had trouble deciding which author to put as favourite, ended up picking Cornelia Funke)
10. Valentine's Day :Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Sharon wrote: "Have finished 9 from my list only 1 to go yah! :

1. Celebrate Australia : The Lost Stories by John Flanagan
2. Lighten the load : [book:Ishmael and the return of the dugong..."

Well done...you have a big one to finish with;)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

I have completed this challenge, just finishing #5 Come Back to Me by Sara Foster. It was amazing! Review here http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

1....word related to SUMMER in the title Outback HeartJoanne van Os★★★★★

2. Lighten the load! A book from TBR list... The Silent Girl by Tess Gerritsen ★★★★

3. Food!..a book relating to summery foods, salads, barbeques, pavlova, recipes,.. Cherry Pie (thanks David)★★★

4. Celebrate Australia! Choose an Aussie author... The Indigo Sky by Alison Booth★★★★

5. Australia Day... Come Back to Me by Sara Foster★★★★★

6. Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras..choose a book with a gay character or written by a gay author The Retribution by Val McDermid ★★★★

7. book about Christmas,with Carols in the story A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens ★★★★

8. New Release..maybe KIWI, doesn't have to be Aussie Down the Darkest RoadTami Hoag★★★★★

9. Literature Map..I put in Lisa Gardner, (love this website:).. Lady Killer by Lisa Scottoline ★★★★

10. Valentine’s Day...a book with a touch of Romance... Bloody Valentine by James Patterson ★★★★

[Sally906]

Well done Brenda :)

[Maggie]

River God: A Novel of Ancient Egypt is getting much better, suddenly the story livened up so I'm enjoying it more now (the narrator character is still annoying but luckily the other characters aren't). I might even read the next book in the series.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Thanks Sally and Michael:)

[Louise]

I've finished my ninth book Heat Wave. Review is here: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Only 1 more to go, and I'm already part the way though that one which will leave me plenty of time for the February challenge too. :)

[Sharon]

Have finished yah! Left the best to last (although I did thoroughly enjoy all the books on my list) :

1. Celebrate Australia : The Lost Stories by John Flanagan
2. Lighten the load : Ishmael and the return of the dugongs by Michael Gerard Bauer
3. Food! The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
: 4. Summer : Heat Wave by Richard Castle
5. Australia Day : The Night They Stormed Eureka by Dawn French
6. The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras : In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
7. Christmas : A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
8. New Release : Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare
9. Literature Map : The Vampire's Assistant by Darren Shan (had trouble deciding which author to put as favourite, ended up picking Cornelia Funke)
10. Valentine's Day : Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Congratulations Sharon...well done!!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Michael wrote: "Just finished my 5th book of the challenge. The new release one. Catch Me

Review here: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/..."

Doing well Michael:)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Michael wrote: "Thanks Brenda. :)

I was actually a bit sad i finished that one as it was so good."

I totally understand, I often re-read the last few pages when I feel like that:)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Michael wrote: "Ive done that with the last few chapters. :)"

:D

[Maggie]

Finished this challenge at last - seemed to take me ages.

I finished River God: A Novel of Ancient Egypt 4 stars earlier this week. It began poorly, but picked up and I enjoyed the storyline, even if the characters werent fully fleshed out. I'll be reading the next in the series.

And I read A Christmas Carol by Dickens this week, on the 200th anniversary of his birth. Not my style of writing but the story has merit. My mother would be spinning in her grave to know that - she was the president of the Charles Dickens Association, so reading it had greater meaning for me.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Well done Maggie!! Great about your Mum...I loved that book which I read for Christmas in December:)

[Louise]

Phew - I've finished this challenge with Temple Of The Gods by Andy McDermott. Review here: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/.... A cracking good adventure if you need something to waste time on.

Another good challenge! Thanks everyone. :)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Louise wrote: "Phew - I've finished this challenge with Temple Of The Gods by Andy McDermott. Review here: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/.... A cracking good adventure if you need som..."

Congratulations Louise! Well done:)