**Spring Reading Challenge - 1/9/12 - 30/11/12**

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Probably both Marcia...or they're all in bed now;)

[MarciaB]

Brenda wrote: "Probably both Marcia...or they're all in bed now;)"

Yeah, where I should be, with my nose stuck in my book :)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

I'll be there shortly....night night;)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Oh Michael, we'd love you to join in;)

[MarciaB]

Brenda wrote: "I'll be there shortly....night night;)"

Night night Brenda, night night Michael - c ya all tomorrow.

[Lynxie]

Too busy reading to chat!! :D night all!

[MarciaB]

Michael wrote: "Nightee night Marcia. I can go abit longer tonight as i have the day off tomorrow oh yeah. :D"

Well, aren't you lucky Michael - so much for me being off to bed, here I am, still sitting here!! Sleep tight.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

That's great Michael..enjoy..night all!!

[MarciaB]

Lynxie wrote: "Too busy reading to chat!! :D night all!"

Yeah Lynxie, where we should ALL be! We have heaps of challenges to finish!

[Kirsten]

What did you think of Cloud Atlas? "

I enjoyed it! It took me a while to get into it, and I liked some stories better than others. I'm interested to see what the movie will be like!

[[deleted user]]

Kirsten wrote: "What did you think of Cloud Atlas? "

I enjoyed it! It took me a while to get into it, and I liked some stories better than others. I'm interested to see what the movie will be like!"

I'd love to see the movie too. I recently bought the book so that I could read it before watching the movie. Good to know that it's enjoyable.

[Amber]

1. Red: The Castlemaine Murders by Kerry Greenwood

2. Orange: Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins ★★

3. Yellow: Tales from Outer Suburbia by Shaun Tan

4. Green: Alif the Unseen by Willow Wilson

5. Blue: The One Hundred Year Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson ★★★

6. Purple/Violet: Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin ★★★★★

7. Spring Clean TBR: Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell ★★★

8. Aussie author Spring new release: The Burial by Courtney Collins ★★★★

9. Spring title/cover: Rainbow Street Pets by Wendy Orr ★★★ (this book replaces Spring Story on my original list)

10. Australian YA: Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta

11. Pick a friend: Mandy by Julie Andrews Edwards

12. TBR: A Dog's Purpose by W. Bruce Cameron

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

You're doing well Amber!!

[Lesley]

This month I have read another four from my Spring list;

yellow cover 4 stars
green cover 3 stars
YA A Long Way Gone 3 stars
TBR The Good Muslim 2 stars.
One to go now.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Well done Lesley:) You're flying!

[Kim Marie]

Talulla Rising 4 STARS

City of Dragons 5 STARS

City of Golden Shadow 4 STARS

Bitter Greens 4 STARS

Bitter Greens is a must read for those who enjoy historical fiction and the retelling of fairytales...in this case "Rapunzel". Australian author Kate Forsyth's research of Rapunzel's author, Charlotte-Rose de Caumont de la Force is incredibly detailed, and my one small criticism is that I became slightly confused trying to keep track of all the French aristocracy. It's quite a compelling, and at times explicit, story but I think I'd have wanted to read it purely for the beautiful cover alone.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

I have finished my #11 - Pick a friend - by Truman Capote. My review is here http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

I have one to go:)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Kim Marie wrote: "Talulla Rising 4 STARS

City of Dragons 5 STARS

City of Golden Shadow 4 STARS

Bit..."

You're doing well Kim. Glad you enjoyed ... I'll have to look into that one:)

[Lynxie]

I finished my first rainbow/spring clean picks!!

Last book which was my spring inspired cover: 2*

My review:http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

I have also read the first book from my second list:

BLUE: 5*

My review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

[Zoey]

Update so far

Red Siren Tara Moss 3.5 ★

Orange Territory Judy Nunn

Yellow
Hit Tara Moss 4 ★

Green The Plantation Di Morrissey

Blue Clean Cut Lynda La Plante 3 ★

Purple Kimberley Sun Di Morrissey 2 ★

TBR Appassionata Jilly Cooper 3 ★

New Aus. Release Assassin Tara Moss

Spring Title or Cover Earthly Joys Philippa Gregory Currently reading

Aussie YA

Tomorrow, When the War Began John Marsden 3.5 ★

Friends List The Hunger GamesSuzanne Collins 4 ★

TBR The Man Who Made Husbands Jealous Jilly Cooper 3 ★

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Well done Lynxie and Zoey:)

[Lynxie]

Thanks Brenda! Reading will probably slow down a little now, have a lot of writing to do for school! Maybe the writing will inspire me to start on my novel again!

Great picks there Zoey!

[Kim Marie]

Very slow going on this Challenge but thanks for the encouragement Brenda! I hope you enjoy Bitter Greens when you find time for it :)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Kim Marie wrote: "Very slow going on this Challenge but thanks for the encouragement Brenda! I hope you enjoy Bitter Greens when you find time for it :)"

At least you're reading, AND enjoying it Kim...that's the main thing:)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Lynxie wrote: "Thanks Brenda! Reading will probably slow down a little now, have a lot of writing to do for school! Maybe the writing will inspire me to start on my novel again!

Great picks there Zoey!"

Hopefully you will start again..good luck with your school writing:)

[Janine]

Finished!
1. Red 3*
2. Orange 2*
3. Yellow 4*
4. Green 2*
5. Blue 4*
6. Purple 3*
7. Spring Clean 3*
8. Spring New Release 4*
9. Spring in Title 3*
10. YA Aussie Author 4*
11. Pick a Friend (Brenda) 4*
12. TBR 4*

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Congratulations Janine! Fantastic result. With more than a month to spare, you can read all your TBR's now;)

[Janine]

Brenda wrote: "Congratulations Janine! Fantastic result. With more than a month to spare, you can read all your TBR's now;)"

I have other challenges to finish before that happens but getting closer to picking some of my TBR which are begging to be read.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Janine wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Congratulations Janine! Fantastic result. With more than a month to spare, you can read all your TBR's now;)"

I have other challenges to finish before that happens but getting close..."

Good on you:) It's hard keeping up, isn't it!

[Mish]

Wonderful Janine :)

[MarciaB]

Okeedokee - 3rd book in second rainbow down - you can find my review of here http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Well done Michael:)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

You'll fit another one in!! Don't wait...you'll go into withdrawals;) lol

Plus, you can read another Spring one!!

[MarciaB]

Michael wrote: "Thanks Brenda now im deciding if i should start another now or wait for next month to start. Hmmmmmm. :)"

Come on Michael, where's the spirit - you know you want to!!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Michael wrote: "Thats a possibility. :)"

Do it!!! lol

[Trina]

Changing my yellow book to cause I feel like I've done a lot of serious reading, and now I just want to read something easy.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Enjoy Trina:)

[Louise]

I've changed my choice for #7 from Dark Fire, C.J. Sansom to Kraken by China Miéville. It's not technically a book that I've wanted to read for a while, but I've just slogged through it and I need some recognition for that fact. I have it 2 stars. :)

I still need to choose one for #8 (Brisbane Writer's Festival). Has anyone got any suggestions? Please?

[Lynxie]

Well I am changing my Aussie new release from Assassin to Gather the Bones

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Lynxie wrote: "Well I am changing my Aussie new release from Assassin to Gather the Bones"

Couldn't you get it from the library Lynxie? I hope you can get to it sometime, as it's great!! But I'd love to know your thoughts on Gather the Bones as it's one I want to read as well!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Louise wrote: "I've changed my choice for #7 from Dark Fire, C.J. Sansom to Kraken by China Miéville. It's not technically a book that I've wanted to read for a while, but I've just slogged through it and I need ..."

What sort of book do you like Louise? I read Assassin by Tara Moss and loved it. If you go back through this thread, and zero in on #8 in each persons post, you'll find LOTS of different suggestions....good luck:)

[Lynxie]

To be honest Brenda, I didn't get there, but with NaNoWriMo coming up in a couple of days I wanted something easy, so I paid $4 for the new book instead of the $19 for Tara's. I will get to it when it is a bit cheaper or I have time to get to the library :)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Fair enough:) It's a thick book, so you want to have the time to enjoy it.

Do you check your library catalogue and reserve books online? I do that all the time:)

[Lynxie]

Can't say that I have Brenda. I will have to check that out!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

It's so easy...too easy actually!! I like the sound of a book, I find it on the library website, I reserve it....takes about oh....30 seconds;)

[Lynxie]

That sounds dangerous for my TBR list!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

It is, it definitely is!! lol

[[deleted user]]

I just finished and reading and then read

[Lynxie]

Ok so that's now two from my new rainbow:

BLUE: ★★★★★ which I posted previously and now this one!

2ND SPRING CLEAN: Unjust Cause ★★★★

My review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Great review Lynxie:)