**Summer Reading Challenge**

[Lesley]

I have finished another two for this challenge:

#2 The City of Joy. A fantastic story based on the memories of a Polish priest and a rickshaw walah living in the 'City of Joy' slum in Kolkata, India. Loved this, strongly recommend it, but it's not an 'easy read' by any means. 5 stars

#10 The Last Sky A great novel involving new love and old love set in Shanghai and Hong Kong as the time of the handover. 4 stars

I doubt I will get to reading no. 7,8 & 9 for this challenge. Oh well....

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Lesley wrote: "I have finished another two for this challenge:

#2 The City of Joy. A fantastic story based on the memories of a Polish priest and a rickshaw walah living in the 'City of Joy' slum..."

Congrats Lesley:) You still have a couple of weeks, you might make it;D

[Ben]

I've only just gotten into this challenge so these are books I've read since December and kind of retroactively fit into categories!

1. Celebrate Australia! - Wayne Bennett: Don't Die With The Music In You by Wayne Bennett

2. Lighten the load! – A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin

3. Summer –Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? by Mindy Kaling

4. Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras – A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin (has a major character who is gay)

5. Valentine’s Day – A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin (has a major romantic plot thread)

6. New Release - The New New Rules: A Funny Look At How Everybody But Me Has Their Head Up Their Ass by Bill Maher (was released Nov 21 2011 so close enough to the dates for me!)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Well done Ben..still 2 weeks till the end of summer;D

[Sally906]

I have completed my summer challenge - not sure how to link my list - but is on page 2 of this post

My last book was my romance challenge - I read A Round-Heeled Woman: My Late-Life Adventures in Sex and Romance by Jane Juska - was a non-fiction book - a memoir. Wasn't that great - more due to my personal thoughts on her activities rather than badly written.

So now I can look forwards to the Autumn challenge - just over a week away :)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Sally906 wrote: "I have completed my summer challenge - not sure how to link my list - but is on page 2 of this post

My last book was my romance challenge - I read [book:A Round-Heeled Woman: My Late-Life Advent..."

Sally, to link your challenge list...go to your original post, click edit, then highlight the complete text, and click copy. Cancel your edit, then come to this new comment box, and hit paste, and hey presto, there it is!!! Took me awhile to figure it out, but it's surprising how easy it is, when you know! :D

Congratulations on completing your challenge...well done:)

[Michelle]

I'm posting a little update on what I've completed so far for this challenge. I think I'm bowing out at this point as there's no way I'm going to get the rest read in two weeks!! I'm surprised I even got this far when I have a small bub I have to keep amused every day......

1) Aussie author – Temple – Matthew Reilly
2) TBR – Dead and Gone – Charlaine Harris - Completed 29/12/11
3) Food – The Long Quiche Goodbye – Avery Aames
4) Summer – Divine By Mistake – P.C. Cast
5) Australia Day – The Potato Factory – Bryce Courtney - Completed 22/01/12
6) Gay Character or Author – The Picture of Dorian Gray – Oscar Wilde - Completed 01/02/12
7) Christmas Carols – Skipping Christmasing Christmas – John Grisham
8) New Release – Catch Me – Lisa Gardner
9) Literature Map – Dixie City Jam – James Lee Burke - Completed 23/02/12
10) Romance – The Rocky Road to Romance – Janet Evanovich

It was fun to have a reading plan for once rather than staring at my bookshelves for ages wondering what to pick up next!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Well done Michelle...that's impressive with having a bub to entertain!! Maybe you can adapt the rest into the Autumn challenge, and keep going;D

[Lesley]

Michelle, you've done well. I'm wondering what you thought of The Potato Factory, as it's been on my bookshelf for quite some time now.

[Bronwyn]

Unfortunately this will be first time in 12 months that I have not been able to complete a challenge that I started.

I have just completed another book in this challenge - Gay Character - Dance With Me but I did not really enjoy it.

I am starting what will be the last book for me, to fit into Februayr and that is The Marriage Contract by Cathy Maxwell.

Congrats to those who have finished this challenge - I will try again next challenge to get my books read in the 3 months we are given.

[Michelle]

Lesley wrote: "Michelle, you've done well. I'm wondering what you thought of The Potato Factory, as it's been on my bookshelf for quite some time now."

Lesley, I really liked The Potato Factory and will soon be reading the next one in the series which is Tommo and Hawk. It took me a while to get through though as it's quite a long book and the old english language was hard to read sometimes too. I found it very interesting and definitely recommend you to read it if you have it.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Bronwyn wrote: "Unfortunately this will be first time in 12 months that I have not been able to complete a challenge that I started.

I have just completed another book in this challenge - Gay Character - [book:..."

Don't let it worry you Bronwyn. At least you were reading, and for the most part, enjoying your books:) Maybe the books you have left you could incorporate into the Autumn/March challenge.

[Lesley]

Thanks Michelle, yes it's a bit of a doorstop. I guess that's why I haven't got around to it yet.

[Dee-Ann]

Just managed to finish it, by cheating a bit. I have been reading a lot of childrens books lately and some of them fit the criteria

1. Celebrate Australia -Death Sentence: The Decay of Public Language

2. Lighten the load - The Chelsea Girl Murders

3. Food - Hey, Pancakes!

4. Summer in title - Bushfire

5. Australia Day - Third World Blues

6. Gay character or author - Facades

7. Christmas with carols - The Twelve Cats of Christmas

8. New release - Parrot Carrot

9. Literature Map search Paul Jennings - Kevin to the rescue

10. Touch of romance - That Summer at Hill Farm ... this was actually another addition titled 'Hill Farm' but could not find it in the searches and the description sounds the same.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Well done Dee-Ann!!

[Bronwyn]

Here are the challenge books that I completed.

1. Celebrate Australia – Aussie author – The Dressmaker by Posie Graeme-Evans – 4* 31/01/12
2. Lighten the load! Homecoming Girls – 5* audio 06/01/12
3. Food - Friends, Lovers, Chocolate by Alexander McCall Smith – 3* 10/12/11
Fatally Flaky by Diane Mott Davidson 3* audio – 12/01/12
4. Summer - Sleeping Partners by Lyn Wakefield – 3* audio – 20/12/11

5. Australia Day – The Slap by Christos Tsiolkas – 4* audio – 08/02/12
6. The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras – Dance With Me by Heidi Cullinane - 2* e-book – 26/02/12

7. Christmas - Home in Time for Christmas by Heather Graham – 4* audio 09/12/11
8. New Release...choose a book which is released between 1st December, 2011 and 28th February 2012...it doesn't have to be by an Aussie author!
9. Literature Map - I put in Debra Mullins and found Cathy Maxwell –The Marriage Contract – 29/02/12
10. Valentine’s Day - Engaged in Sin by Sharon Page 3* 09/01/12

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Congratulations Bronwyn! Impressive list:)