2012 Aussie Authors - with a twist!

[Blue Eyed Vixen]

Natasha wrote: "Blue Eyed Vixen wrote: "Natasha wrote: "I just read Froi of the Exiles!! If only I had waited a little longer it could have been my February book!!
I have already read my January bo..."

Good to hear! I'e already found a copy in my local library so I'm stoked....just need to work my way through the pile to get to it now!!!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

WooHoo!! February!!! I will start Come Back to Me by Sara Foster today!!

[Melanie]

This month I am reading Fortune Cookie by Bryce Courtenay.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Melanie wrote: "This month I am reading Fortune Cookie by Bryce Courtenay."

Let me know what you think Mel...I have had it here & on Mt TBR for ages!!!!!

[Melanie]

Will do Brenda.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Melanie wrote: "Will do Brenda."

Thanks:)

[Sharon]

I managed to fit in a second book for January finishing it at 11 o'clock last night. I completed by John Flanagan and by Jackie French. Enjoyed both books.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Well done Sharon:) Both of them would have fitted into February also, for anyone stuck for a February title:)

[Sharon]

Brenda wrote: "Well done Sharon:) Both of them would have fitted into February also, for anyone stuck for a February title:)"

Funnily enough I am thinking of reading the same authors for February by John Flanagan and by Jackie French. I really enjoy books by both authors. Mickey & I actually got to go to a workshop at our local library a few years ago that had Jackie French as a guest speaker and we got to talk to her and get a book signed. It was a brilliant experience.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Sharon wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Well done Sharon:) Both of them would have fitted into February also, for anyone stuck for a February title:)"

Funnily enough I am thinking of reading the same authors for Februar..."

Wow, that would have been a wonderful experience! Good idea for your February titles too:)

[Khenan]

i've got both of those john flanagan books to do for feb :o. gotta finish off the thin man first :P too good to stop half way

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Khenan wrote: "i've got both of those john flanagan books to do for feb :o. gotta finish off the thin man first :P too good to stop half way"

It's ok Khenan, you've got 4 weeks to finish them all;D

[Mish]

I'm going to try and read 2 books this month

February The Family Lawby Benjamin Lawand Come Back to Me by Sara Foster

I'll be starting 'The Family Law' tomorrow

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

I've got the two for this challenge, the two for February, and one for Bookclub all to read this month!!! Woohoo!! ;D

[Mish]

You'll get through them easily Brenda...you're a quick reader :)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Thanks Mish, I hope so:)

[Cathy]

Brenda wrote: "WooHoo!! February!!! I will start Come Back to Me by Sara Foster today!!"

Read that recently - easy to read - a little bit creepy! Have fun!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Cathy wrote: "Brenda wrote: "WooHoo!! February!!! I will start Come Back to Me by Sara Foster today!!"

Read that recently - easy to read - a little bit creepy! Have fun!"

Thanks Cathy...am enjoying it so far!

[Bronwyn]

I have just finished my 2nd January book. I have read for January Addition by Toni Jordan and Gilgamesh by Joan London. This month I have chosen to listen to Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Manchetta

[Zuzu]

Finished The High Commissioner for January.
Next cab off the rank is Open File by Peter Corris for February.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Finished my first for February Come Back to Me by Sara Foster review here http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

[[deleted user]]

I've decided to go for semi-professional instead.

J-
June by Gabrielle Lord 4 stars
Letters From the Inside by John Marsden 4 stars
F-
The Ruins of Gorlan by John Flanagan 4 stars
Tom Appleby Convict Boy by Jackie French 1.5 stars
M-
Hell Island by Matthew Reilly 3 stars
The Piper's Son by Melina Marchetta 4 stars
A-
Halo by Alexandra Adornetto
Area 7 by Matthew Reilly
M-
Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
J-
Macbeth and Son by Jackie French
Picnic at Hanging Rock by Joan Lindsay
J-
The Burning Bridge by John Flanagan
They Came on Viking Ships by Jackie French
A-
Beyond The Sunset by Anna Jacobs
Death and the Running Patterer by Robin Adair
S-
Seven Deadly Wonders by Matthew Reilly,
Schindler's List by Thomas Keneally
O-
Oscar And Lucinda by Peter Carey
Conspiracy 365 October by Gabrielle Lord
N-
Sabriel by Garth Nix,
The Magic Pudding by Norman Lindsay 3 stars (borrowed from library)
D-
Dirt Music by Tim Winton
The Bombing of Darwin: The Diary of Tom Taylor, Darwin, 1942 by Alan Tucker

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Great list Mickey..well done!

Would you mind putting them in links next time, so we can all just click to see the book? Thanks Mickey:)

[[deleted user]]

Ok.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Mickey wrote: "Ok."

:D

[[deleted user]]

There you go.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Mickey wrote: "There you go."

Thanks heaps Mickey...that makes it much easier:)

[Dee-Ann]

Have been on holidays for the past mont, so have not been able to fill in for January. As mentioned, I set myself the challenge of matching an Aussie book with an non-Aussie book. I managed to read ...

Australian author/books:
Jasper Jones ... 5 stars
Rascal and the Cheese ... 5 stars (read multiple times to my sons)

Non Australian author/books:
Halfway to the Grave ... 5 stars (one of the main characters was an Australian)
Sophie's World ... which I am still reading, but have made significant progress; it may end up qualifying for the June/July months ... ? 4 stars.

If I had to rank the books, I would put 1. Halfway to the Grave, 2. Jasper Jones, 3. Rascal and the Cheese and 4. Sophie's World.

[Sharon]

Have finished both my February reads. Loved both. by Jackie French was a story about hope, that no matter how bad things seem if you can just get around the next corner things might be better. An inspiring book. by John Flanagan. The first book from his new series Brotherband. It was full of action and humour. Can't wait till the next book comes out.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Congratulations Sharon...well done:) Only the 7th too...we didn't set it hard enough for you, did we;D

[Sharon]

Brenda wrote: "Congratulations Sharon...well done:) Only the 7th too...we didn't set it hard enough for you, did we;D"

March will be harder. Thinking along the lines of Matthew Reilly and Melina Marchetta. Mind you to have finished both books so early there was a lot of neglect to family (kids are teenagers now and surely hubby can look after himself?) and sleep.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Sharon wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Congratulations Sharon...well done:) Only the 7th too...we didn't set it hard enough for you, did we;D"

March will be harder. Thinking along the lines of Matthew Reilly and Melina M..."

Ha! I think we all neglect things/family members when we are engrossed in a book!!!

[Zuzu]

Finished Open File for Feb..
As it is early in the month I will read Two Steps Forward By Irma Gold.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Open File
Two Steps Forward :)

Doing well Zuzu!!

[Khenan]

Finished off my three books for this month today. Both flanagan books were as usual quite good. Rabbit proof fence was interesting, but wasn't good enough as i thought it would be. Movie seemed better!

Rabbit-Proof Fence: The True Story of One of the Greatest Escapes of All Time, The Lost Stories, The Outcasts

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Well done Khenan!! 3 books and it's only the 9th!!! O_O!!!!

[Sally906]

My February read is

A Rose for the Anzac Boys by Jackie French - I am enjoying it so far.

[Maggie]

I'm currently reading my second book for February Beyond Fear. It's a quick read.

[Melanie]

Brenda wrote: "Melanie wrote: "This month I am reading Fortune Cookie by Bryce Courtenay."

Let me know what you think Mel...I have had it here & on Mt TBR for ages!!!!!"

Brenda I finished Fortune Cookie and if I can be brutally honest i would have to say I didn't enjoy it as much as his other books.

The blurb sounded great so i had high hopes.
If I was to divide the book into thirds, I would say the first and third part was outstanding, so rich in history but I found the middle third lacked.

It seems to jump around a lot so was a little confusing.

But on saying that the book is wonderfully researched and goes into a lot of Chinese history. The Gold rush in Australia, the Opium Wars, the sex slavery is all covered and I did find the historical aspect of the book wonderful but I do think it was a little too long.

It could have been trimmed down a little.

I do hope you enjoy it though.

[Janine]

I have just finished my second book for February, Wings of Fear by Helene Young although my version of the book is titled Border Watch. I guess it meets the rules as it now has an F in the title. I was going to read 2 Kimberley Freeman books and still might but enjoyed reading the Helene Young instead, especially as it was based in Australia

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Melanie wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Melanie wrote: "This month I am reading Fortune Cookie by Bryce Courtenay."

Let me know what you think Mel...I have had it here & on Mt TBR for ages!!!..."

Thanks Melanie...gives me some idea, and 'brutally honest' is good:) A lot of his books are too long, not sure why, but the books could certainly fit into less pages!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Janine wrote: "I have just finished my second book for February, Wings of Fear by Helene Young although my version of the book is titled Border Watch. I guess it meets the rules as ..."

Janine, did you like it lots? I loved it, and Shattered Sky, which was released in March 11, was brilliant. She has a new one coming out in July this year, the 3rd (and last I think) of the series. I can't wait to read it:)

[Janine]

Brenda wrote: "Janine wrote: "I have just finished my second book for February, Wings of Fear by Helene Young although my version of the book is titled Border Watch. I guess it meet..."

Brenda I haven't read it but after looking at the reviews will definitely be looking for it.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Janine wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Janine wrote: "I have just finished my second book for February, Wings of Fear by Helene Young although my version of the book is titled Border Watch. ..."

I'm sure you'll enjoy it after reading Border Watch!

[Maggie]

JANUARY:
On the Jellicoe Road READ 5 STARS
The Best of Times, the Worst of Times: Our Family's Journey with Bipolar by Jessica Rowe and her mother READ 2 STARS
The Donkey Who Carried the Wounded: The Famous Story of Simpson and His Donkey - a True Anzac Legend by Jackie French READ 4 STARS
FEBRUARY:
Batavia Peter Fitzsimmons READ 5 STARS
Beyond Fear Jaye Ford READ 3 STARS
The Spell of Rosette Kim Falconer CURRENTLY READING
MARCH:

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Well done Maggie:)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

I have just finished my second February book My Sister's Funeral by Stephen Bush review here http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

January - Outback Heart by Joanne van Os★★★★★
Five Bells by Gail Jones ★★

February - Come Back to Me by Sara Foster★★★★★
My Sister's Funeral by Stephen Bush★★★★

March - Granville A Mother's Grief by June ollerenshaw ★★★★
The Mistake by Wendy James ★★★★★

April - By The Sword by Alison Stuart ★★★★★
Murder At The Rocks by Jill Paterson

May - Scarecrow and the Army of Thieves by Matthew Reilly
Me and Mr. Booker by Cory Taylor

June - Deadly Trust by J.J. Cooper
The Diamond Anchor by Jennifer Mills

July - Picnic at Hanging Rock by Joan Lindsay
A Season Of TransformationJayne Fordham

August - It's Not About the Bike: My Journey Back to Life by Lance Armstrong
Prime Cut by Alan Carter

September - The Secret River by Kate Grenville
Treespeaker by Katie W. Stewart

October - Matilda Is Missing by Caroline Overington
Hell on the Way to Heaven by Chrissie Foster

November - The Old School by P.M. Newton
Tiger Men by Judy Nunn

December - Precipice , The by Virginia Duigan
Desert Fish by Cherise Saywell

[Bronwyn]

I have just finished my first February book - The Gypsy Crown by Kate Forsyth and I am half way through my second which is Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta. Both were good choice are quite enjoyable. I think I will try a Di Morrissey for March

[Natasha | natashasnovels]

Mish wrote: "I'm going to try and read 2 books this month

February The Family Lawby Benjamin Lawand Come Back to Me by Sara Foster

I'll be s..."

The Family Law is awesome!

[Mish]

Hi Natasha, I've finished the Family Law. You're right...it was absolutely awesome. I don't think I have laughed so hard in ages. Brilliant :)