**Autumn Reading Challenge - 2012**

[Irina]

Finished with #2 . It was OK, 2 stars.

[Adhityani]

Just finished #7 Cleopatra by Stacy Schiff and gave it five stars! Awesome read, especially if you're into historical fiction, only this is non fiction!

Here's my review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

[Maggi]

I've just finished my short story. The Right Man by Australian writer, Anne Whitfield. A great quick read and I enjoyed it, but it was, ahem, a bit spicy.The Right Man

[Lesley]

Re. Half Broke Horses, thanks for everyone's recommendations of The Glass Castle. I have had the latter on my TBR for some time and I am keen to get to it after enjoying HBH so much.

[Bronwyn]

I have just finished my first book in this challenge - Jasper Jones by Craig Silvey. I had to read it for book club, it was okay 3

[Bronwyn]

There are some good choices here, I notice that I have not even put my list up yet but I will shortly. Happy reaeding everyone.

[Davina]

Just finished my Labour Day book The Piper's Son by Melina Marchetta he works as a data entry by day in a pub by night and belongs to a union family. It was a good read very sad it took some of concentration because there are lots of characters and two narators all with their own baggage. It should have a warning label do not read when tired, distracted and keep a box of tissues handy.

[Davina]

I didn't realise till after I started reading it. Oh well I've always been a bit backward. ;)

[Davina]

Thanks for the warning I won't read it if I ned to go out in public. Those red ruined eyes take a bit of explaining.

[Louise]

Already 1/2 way through March and I haven't even started reading challenge books yet! I'm studying again, so I've got a conflict between what I *want* to read, and what I *have* to read. I will find a happy balance soon though - or go mad! :)

[Maggie]

Getting through this challenge fairly quickly:
1. St Patrick's Day - The Secret Scripture
2. Labour Day - The Carpet Makers ( or A Lamp Is Heavy )
3. TBR - Women Who Hurt Themselves: A Book Of Hope And Understanding 2 STARS
4. Re-read - A Swarm In May READ
5. Library Book - Hidden Wives READ 4 STARS
6. Colours of autumn - CURRENTLY READING
7. Strong female character - The Hospital by the River: A Story of Hope ( or Guenevere, Queen of the Summer Country or Gwenhwyfar: The White Spirit )
8. short story - Night Shift - how appropriate for me!
9. Dragon - Tooth and Claw READ
10. Easter - Minnie and Moo: The Attack of the Easter Bunnies READ 3 STARS

[Jessy]

Here's an update of my challange:

1. St Patricks Day: This book is set in Ireland.

Heart's Blood (Whistling Tor, #1)

2. Labour Day: I choose police as my labour force

Do You Take This Cop? (Harlequin Superromance)

3. Reduce: This book is number 228 on my TBR

Cover Me

4. Reuse: I read this book on the 21st of July 2011

The Search

5. Recycle: I brought this book from a libary book fare (does that count?)

The Blackmail Pregnancy (Modern Romance)

6. Colours of Autumn: The Cover is Red.

Cover of Night

7. International Womens Day: I found this book with listopia list Books with a Kick-Ass Heroine

http://www.goodreads.com/list/show/13307...

A Lot Like Love (FBI, #2)

8. The days are getting shorter: I choose an Anthology

The Mammoth Book of Special Ops Romance (Includes ACRO, #4.5)


9.Dragon: I choose a romance dragon story lol


Firelight (Firelight, #1)

10.Easter: I choose a book about a family

Not Without Her Family

[Lesley]

This morning I finished listening to my #3 TBR The Lieutenant. I seem to not enjoy audio books as much as some, which is a shame as my library seems to getting more and more good titles all the time. I give this one 3 stars.

[Irina]

Finished reading my #3 - Please Look After Mother. Kyung-Sook Shin, liked it. I was attached to it because it's a nice story about mother, but also because it reminds me about time we lived in Korea. Gave it 4 stars. Starting my #4 - Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. I don't like to re-read children books as most likely I will feel disappointed, but my son wants me to read it now as he has just finished it and wants to discuss with me, I guess I have no choice :)

[Maggie]

Just finished A Swarm In May which I loved as a child but sadly re-reading it as an adult 57 years after it was written I can only give it a 2 or 3 star rating. It is very dated, full of school boy humour and Latin references neither of which hold up in 2012. I have left my review rating at 5 stars because it is a child's book and as a child I loved it. So then I read Cathedral Wednesday, another book in the series which I also loved as a child. Same thing I'm afraid. Oh well, the pitfalls of aging.

[Lesley]

Please Look After Mom sounds pretty good to me, Mountain goat. I have read only good reviews. Thanks for sharing - I shall be adding it to my TBR.

[Davina]

I finished my St Patricks day book yesterday. At 8.30 I said I'm tired just one more chapter. Why can I never read just one more chapter so I went to bed at midnight. The book was The Time Of My Life by irish authorCecelia Ahern. I enjoyed it she always has an interesting twist. But it's not my favourite of hers which is If You Could See Me Now.

[Lesley]

My revised #2 The Grapes of Wrath gets 5 stars from me. It must be up there with the ultimate 'battling workers' read. It was terrific, required careful reading to get the language, but very worthwhile and had me reading up on the Dust Bowl.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

I finished 3 from this challenge while away, so I'll list them as I review them:)

#6..colours of Autumn..The Third Victim by Lisa Gardner. My review http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

[Maggi]

I'm sorry I've been so slack, up to my ears in edits. I'll catch up when I can.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Maggi wrote: "I'm sorry I've been so slack, up to my ears in edits. I'll catch up when I can."

That's ok Maggi, plenty of time:)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

#5...Clean up Australia Day..recycle (library) Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World review http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

#9...Chinese year of the dragon..The Dragon of the Dolomites My review http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

[Louise]

I've done it! I've finished my first challenge book! Crocodile on the Sandbank was my choice for #4 (Re-use), and then I've chosen the next in the series The Curse of the Pharaohs for #7.

[Louise]

Oh, I've also changed my #1 from In the Woods to Morrigan's Cross. (It was in at the library, so I snaffled it!)

[Maggie]

Louise wrote: "I've done it! I've finished my first challenge book! Crocodile on the Sandbank was my choice for #4 (Re-use), and then I've chosen the next in the series [book:The Curse of the Pharao..."

Well done.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Louise wrote: "I've done it! I've finished my first challenge book! Crocodile on the Sandbank was my choice for #4 (Re-use), and then I've chosen the next in the series [book:The Curse of the Pharao..."

That's great Louise:)

[Sharon]

Have finished 4 books for the Autumn Challenge:

1. St Patrick's Day by Justin Somper (1 of the lead characters is Irish)
2. Australian Labour Day by Posie Graeme Parker (about a girl orphaned at 13, pregnant at 15 who makes her way by becoming a dressmaker)
3. Reduce by Matthew Reilly FINISHED
4. Re-Use by Katherine Hepburn FINISHED
5. Recycle by Melina Marchetta FINISHED
6. Colours of Autumn by Philippa Gregory
7.International Women's Day by Suzanne Collins FINISHED
8. Short Story by R L Stevenson
9. Chinese Year of The Dragon by Pierre Pevel
10. Easter by Roald Dahl.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Well done Sharon, you're doing great!!

[Maggi]

I've reviewed a book I haven't listed here and have to say it was a great read. Of Honest FameOf Honest Fame historical fiction set during the Napoleonic Wars. Also Australian Anne Gracie's Regency romance, The Stolen Princess, an entertaining light read.The Stolen Princess

[Maggie]

Just about to start Night Shift for the short story section of this challenge.

[Louise]

I've finished my second book - #1 St Patrick's Day - with Morrigan's Cross (Set in Ireland with lots of Irish people). I gave it 3 stars, but 2.5 would've been better. Review is here: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

[Maggi]

I'm almost finished with my autumn book, Dark Road to Darjeeling Not my favorite of Deanna Raybourn's but still very good reading.

[Maggie]

Maggie wrote: "Just about to start Night Shift for the short story section of this challenge."

Havent actually started this yet, so NOW I'm about to start it (or at least soon-ish).

But I have been reading
One Unknown: A Powerful Account of Survival and One Woman's Inspirational Journey to a New Life as I heard an interview with her on Radio National. Gill Hicks was severely injured in the London Tube bombings in 2005, lost both her legs and wasn't expected to survive. It is the most amazing story, so this book is the one I am reading for strong women instead of The Hospital by the River: A Story of Hope which I will get to one day no doubt.

[Adhityani]

Book #6 down!



I just finished the book and it is brilliant with a capital B. Here is my review http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
Anyone with a passion for historical fiction, East meets West theme, colonial lit - this is highly recommended!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Well done Dhitri! Great review:)

[Louise]

I have updated my choice for #6 the Autumn colours - I've now chosen A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Finished #2 (Labor Day-working class character-policeman) Monster by Jonathan Kellerman. My review http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

All done!

1. St Patrick's Day - Celebrate with the Irish - .... has an Irish character.

Reunion in Death by J.D. Robb (Roarke is Irish)

2. Australian Labour Day - A book who's lead character is from the working class.

Monster by Jonathan Kellerman (lead character is a policeman)

Clean up Australia Day
3. reduce (your TBR) Private London by James Patterson
4. re-use (re-read) Are We There Yet? A Journey Around Australia by Alison Lester
5. recycle (library) Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World by Vicki Myron

6. Colours of Autumn either coloured words in the title, or autumn coloured cover.

The Third Victim by Lisa Gardner

7. International Womens Day strong female lead character.

The Memory Collector by Meg Gardiner (Jo Beckett is the lead character)

8. The days are getting shorter short story...

10 Short Stories You Must Read in 2011 by Larissa Behrendt (I'll read one or more of these)

9. Chinese Year of the Dragon dragon on the cover, or character.

The Dragon of the Dolomites by Scott William Carter (I just downloaded this one for free!!)

10. Easter I've chosen 'families' out of the above choices.

Romy's Garden Adventures: Easter Funny Bunny by Rob Towner

[Adhityani]

Finished Book #10 The Easter Parade by Richard Yates and did not enjoy it... Boo.... Only gave it two stars http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

[Maggi]

I've changed one of my choices. I'm reading Where Maidens Mourn by CS Harris, which is in my tbr pile.If you like a darker Regency murder mystery, Harris is great.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Maggi wrote: "I've changed one of my choices. I'm reading Where Maidens Mourn by CS Harris, which is in my tbr pile.If you like a darker Regency murder mystery, Harris is great."

When Maidens Mourn by C.S. Harris:)

[Sharon]

Have finished 7 books for the Autumn Challenge:

1. St Patrick's Day by Justin Somper (1 of the lead characters is Irish) FINISHED

2. Australian Labour Day by Posie Graeme Parker (about a girl orphaned at 13, pregnant at 15 who makes her way by becoming a dressmaker)

3. Reduce by Matthew Reilly FINISHED

4. Re-Use by Katherine Hepburn FINISHED

5. Recycle by Melina Marchetta FINISHED

6. Colours of Autumn by Philippa Gregory

7.International Women's Day by Suzanne Collins FINISHED

8. Short Story by R L Stevenson FINISHED

9. Chinese Year of The Dragon by Pierre Pevel FINISHED

10. Easter by Roald Dahl.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Wow, looking good Sharon:)

[Louise]

Ive just finished #6 Colours of Autumn with A Discovery of Witches. Good reading! http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

I have finished two more from this challenge....
#3..clean up Aust Day..reduce TBR list Private London by James Patterson, and #7...international women's day..The Memory Collector by Meg Gardiner, which was awesome!

Reviews for both to follow:)

I now have 3 left to read!

[Sally906]

I only have one book to read and I have finished the challenge - and so I can relax all through May and ponder the Winter Challenge :) Am I obsessed or what - LOL!!!

I still have this one to read, which I will start tomorrow as I am flying away for a week and like real books to read on planes:

6. Colours of Autumn - A book whose cover is primarily an Autumn colour.
Explosive Eighteen by Janet Evanovich
As you can see the cover is choc a block full of Orange, red and yellow



Here are the books I have read so far:

1. St Patrick's Day - Read a book written by an Irish author or set in Ireland or has an Irish character:
Castles, Follies & Four-Leaf Clovers: Adventures Along Ireland's St Declan's Way by Rosamund Burton

2. Australian Labour Day - Choose a book whose lead characters are from the working class.
Cherry Ames, Student Nurse by Helen Wells - a hard working nurse - and a trainee to boot!!! Poor little navvy!

It's Clean up Australia Day

3. REDUCE - Read a book from your TBR shelf - A Lie for a Lie by Emilie Richards
4. RE-USE - Re-read an old favourite - The Seeds Of Time by John Wyndham(I constantly re-read my Wyndham collection)
5. RECYCLE - Read any book from the library - Under a Different Sky by Meira Chand (Can't find a link on good reads - she's written eight books so am a little surprised)

7. International Woman’s Day - Read a book about a strong female character
The Trader's Wife by Anna Jacobs - Hubby and I heading to Singapore in April so have a pile of novels set in Singapore to read - this was on top.


8. The days are getting shorter - Read a short story, essay or anthology
The Missing - Two Sophie Anderson short stories by P.D. Martin

9. Chinese Year of the Dragon - read a book that has a reference/character of a dragon in it or on the cover.
Fire Me Up by Katie MacAlister (the love interest is a dragon in human form)

10. Easter - Read a book depicting the origin of Easter; Festivals; Hot Cross Buns; chocolate; families & family activities.
Emma The Easter Fairy by Daisy Meadows

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Wow Sally, well done! You have steamed through them all!! Winter challenge won't be released for awhile, but May challenge will be released in just over a week;D So when you return, you might be pleasantly surprised!! Have a wonderful holiday!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Brenda wrote: "I have finished two more from this challenge....
#3..clean up Aust Day..reduce TBR list Private London by James Patterson, and #7...international women's day..Th..."</i>

Here is my review for [book:Private London.. http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

and my review for The Memory Collector.. http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

[Louise]

I've finished #3 Babylon by Victor Pelevin. Review here http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...