Aussie Readers discussion

Reneelowen wrote: " i just finished reading this book it was really good :)"

I've just downloaded that on my Kindle and I'm looking forward to reading it!:)

Meredith wrote: "In between serial killer novels I'm re-reading all of T A G (Tom) Hungerford's books. He's rather a forgotten figure these days but he is IMO one of Australia's 2 or 3 best writers. "The Ridge and ..."

I've never heard of T.A.G. Hungerford Meredith. I've added Straight Shooter: Autobiographical Stories to our group bookshelf but the rest of the books are missing the cover photos and book synopsis so I'll try to find that info and add them at a later date. Thanks for pointing him out.:)

I finished The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet yesterday. It was a great read, a fascinating look at the Japanese, their interaction with Europeans and their culture in 1799. I highly recommend it. Now I am torn, I am not sure whether I should start Nation or The Slap. I want to read both, but I never enjoy books as much when I read more than one at a time.

Evelyn wrote: "Jess wrote: "'Aussie Rick' wrote: "Jessabelle wrote: "Last night I finished Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, (which I found to be quite a big read for the two sittings I mana..."

I read the book when it was first published and really enjoyed it too. Laurel

I've just finished reading Graffiti Moon by Australian author, Cath Crowley. Set in Melbourne, this book tells a captivating tale of Lucy's quest to find the mysterious graffiti artist, Shadow, over the course of one night. Poetic, intelligent, witty and funny; I highly recommended it to YA fans or anyone who's after a short and sweet read.

Just finished Love Bites by Lynsay Sands it was a quick read and the pages flowed by. It was easy to predict where the book was heading from an early stage, but the characters were strong and well represented and became endearing enough that you enjoyed the story and the plot.

Julianne wrote: "Just finished Love Bites by Lynsay Sands it was a quick read and the pages flowed by. It was easy to predict where the book was heading from an early stage, but the characters were strong and well..."

I enjoyed Love Bites too Julianne. My favourite Lynsay Sands book is Single White Vampire but I've found the last 2 or 3 have been pretty poor quality...:(

Okay, so I've decided to put aside Tony Blair's memoir because it dragged too much for me and I've decided to read this year's Booker Prize winner The Finkler Question. I've read 20 percent of the book and it's an intriguing read so far. I have yet to grasp all the jokes (it's labelled a comic novel) but the well-balanced qualities of the prose that must have charmed the Booker Prize judges are pretty evident.

Elise wrote: "I gave up on Persuasion..."

I found PERSUASION a little challenging when I first started reading it too, but I stuck with and found it reasonably enjoyable in the end. I think that Austen's heroine, Anne, is quite different from her others, and that throws people a bit. Pity you didnt stick with it. :(

~S.
(= Austen nerd)

Carmel wrote:
Trish, that sounds really interesting I'm going to put that on my to read list. Curious if you've read Jodi Picoult's now that's a powerful read that one, one of her best:)
Cheers
Carmel, I haven't read any Jodi Picoult, but I was thinking about trying the newest one, Sing you Home , which is due out next year, since she is so famous. I'll let you know how it is!

I am reading Taken by Midnight by Lara Adrian. Paranormal is my thing...

Sharon wrote: "I am reading Taken by Midnight by Lara Adrian. Paranormal is my thing..."

I'm with you on that one Sharon!:) We've got a romance thread and sometimes PNR recommendations etc are posted there if you want to have a look. Here's the link.

I'm reading 'The Murders at The Rue Morgue' by Edgar Allan Poe. It's a laugh a minute - not.
Seriously, though, you can't beat it for atmospheric build-up. I picked it up because I read it was the forerunner for the mystery/horror genre. Since I'd like to write something like that one day, I thought I'd better read it.

I just finished (barely) new release, At Home With The Templetons. OMG, what a drag! The first part of the story was good, but parts 2 through 3 were akin to watching grass grow.

Jenny wrote: "I just finished (barely) new release, At Home With The Templetons. OMG, what a drag! The first part of the story was good, but parts 2 through 3 were akin to watching grass grow."

I liked your review of At Home With the Templetons Jenny. It's a shame because the blurb sounded good...

Mandy wrote: "Jenny wrote: "I just finished (barely) new release, At Home With The Templetons. OMG, what a drag! The first part of the story was good, but parts 2 through 3 were akin to watching grass grow."

..."

Ohhh...I have that one on reserve at the library!! Will wait and see..:)

I'm reading the Midnight Breed series... book one. I got through it in a week; and can't wait to read the other 5! Very hot and saucy vampire books! :P

Mozette wrote: "I'm reading the Midnight Breed series... book one. I got through it in a week; and can't wait to read the other 5! Very hot and saucy vampire books! :P"

They're great Mozette! I really enjoyed them.:)

I'm about to crack open (figuratively speaking) the second book in the My Blood Approves series. This is an odd one. Sometimes the writing gets a bit wonky, or I want to clobber the main character over the head with a clue, but I still really enjoy the read. At least I did with the first one, and I hope the rest measure up!

Mandy wrote: "Mozette wrote: "I'm reading the Midnight Breed series... book one. I got through it in a week; and can't wait to read the other 5! Very hot and saucy vampire books! :P"

They're great Mozette! ..."

I love Lucan... he's a hotty, but a really weird guy who doesn't get it when a chick is into him after all those centuries! :)

I am reading several books at the moment, and one of them is 'Life of Pi' by Yann Martell. I had put it off for a while and the librarian told me that she did not get a lot out of it, but so far (and I am about half way through) I am finding it fascinating. Part of this fascinatin may stem from the fact that my father was a professional fisherman and I would spend a lot of time on his boat when I was young and part of that time would be spent wondering what I would do if the boat sunk.

Life of Pi

Mozette wrote: "I love Lucan... he's a hotty, but a really weird guy who doesn't get it when a chick is into him after all those centuries!..."

Yep Lucan was very hot! Lara Adrian is very similar to J.R.Ward. Have you read any of J.R.'s?

Mandy wrote: "Mozette wrote: "I'm reading the Midnight Breed series... book one. I got through it in a week; and can't wait to read the other 5! Very hot and saucy vampire books! :P"

They're great Mozette! ..."
Loving the latest one Mandy.

I wasn't planning on reading, AT Home With The Templetons Mandy, but when I saw it at Big W for under $20 thought, why not. Being a romance fan, you'll be interested to know that there is a love story buried in this book, but it's overshadowed massively by every other character's story, many of which aren't worth reading. Given that the book begins with youngest Temmpleton, Gracie, returning to the Australian house of her childhood and seeing Tom (the boy next door) after years away, you'd think that this relationship would take a front seat. Gracie and Tom feature quite a lot in part 1 of the story, which is actually worth reading. But their relationship doesn't begin until much later in the story, and when it does, the author almost skims over it in order to get back to what other characters are doing. I honestly feel she (author) got so carried away with all these other characters she negelected the two who should have been centre stage. If her editor had encouraged her to cut back on the word count the story would have had far more impact.

Brenda: I'll be interested to hear what you think of the book. I shold add that I'm an impatient reader these days. The fact that I read alsmot 400 pages of the Templetons before skimming is pretty good for me.

Currently reading Brisbane author, Trent Jamieson's, Death Most Definite. It's got ghosts and zombies and is set in several very recognisable Brisbane locations. So far I've found nothing to complain about.

I'm reading Black Juice because it's Aussie. It's turning out so far to be awfully intense for one as squeamish as I, even though it's labeled YA.

I am not familiar with Black Juice Cheryl so I quickly read a couple of other peoples reviews. It would appear that you are not alone. 'Intense', 'not necessarily YA' seems to be the common thread.

I'm currently reading 'A Secret Kept' by Tatiana de Rosnay. It's her second book, the first one being 'Sarah's key' which we read with my book club. It was an amazing read, and so far 'A Secret Kept' is promising to be the same.

I am reading The Well at the World's End by A.J. Mackinnon who is Australian. I have read another book by him The Unlikely Voyage of Jack De Crow: A Mirror Odyssey from North Wales to the Black Sea which I found really a delight. He is an English teacher so it is peppered with quotes and literary references, he has a knack of getting into scrapes, a good sense of humour ans a taste for adventure. On top of that he has included really lovely sketches to illustrate his experiences. i wasn't sure whether I wanted to read a second book because it might spoil the first, but I'm really enjoying this one too. I would never have heard of the books but for a recommendation from a work colleague.

Sharon wrote: "Mandy wrote: "Mozette wrote: "I'm reading the Midnight Breed series... book one. I got through it in a week; and can't wait to read the other 5! Very hot and saucy vampire books! :P"

They're gre..."

Actually, just finished the first one late last night! Very well done! And then, began the next one on the book spiral from Bookcrossing... Dante... now he's an interesting vamp!

I hated McInerney's (sp?) first one so much -- amateurish, I thought -- I've never touched another. Then I read the "Templetons" one for review and was surprised at how much I enjoyed it -- till the unusual 'house' stuff ended and it became more or less a run of the mill romance. I pressed on to the end, altho I admit to skimming the latter parts as it became v predictable. I did like the 'recreated' colonial house bits, tho.

Jenny wrote: "Currently reading Brisbane author, Trent Jamieson's, Death Most Definite. It's got ghosts and zombies and is set in several very recognisable Brisbane locations. So far I've found nothing to compla..."

I've heard good things about that author Jenny. I'll watch for your review with interest.:)

I have to admit, I'm glad I'm done with Black Juice. I read a couple of picture books for a break, but they're by Colin Thompson so they're not exactly snuggles and bunnies. And now I'm about to start Virginia Woolf's Orlando. I'll be needing a break after that, looking for something wholesome and natural!

I have started reading The Slap. It is very early on so I can't really comment yet. There is a lot od swearing. I was warned about this so it didn't come as a surprise. I like the writing style, it is easy to picture where you are.

Cheryl, is that the book with the story, Singing My Sister Down? OMG that story has haunted me for ages!

Just started Lia Weston's, The Fortunes of Ruby White (A Good Reads gal) and so far it's excellent!

I've just started (and about to finish) reading 'The Countess' by Rebecca Johns, very reminiscent of CC Humphries 'Vlad' but I'm sorely disappointed with it. It's not a BAD book to read by any means, I've enjoyed reading the descriptions of Hungary and the historical detail; but I was expecting it to be more gothic, more of the folkloric Countess Bathory (and the reason being why she is remembered so although her guilt has been debated). An easy book to read nonetheless, but not at all what I had hoped it was *boo*

So I will finish The Countess this afternoon then start Kate Morton’s new novel (which I’m incredibly excited about as I just LOVED The Forgotten Garden), The Distant Hours.

I'm reading a Dexter novel and it's great fun. I've never seen the TV show and didn't know it was based on a series of novels. I think this one is "Dexter is Delicious" and it deals with some pretty gross stuff, but it's a good light read.

Also, by coincidence, on a very recent "QI" they showed a Burmese python in the Everglades trying to eat an alligator. OK, I had to look away from the screen... but in the Dexter novel, read 2 days after seeing "QI" there's a Burmese python in the Everglades...

I've been treating myself to a re-read of all my Discworld books.... I adore Terry Pratchett and get lost in the light-hearted fun. Also not to taxing on the brain so I can concentrate on the polishing/editing stage of the final in the Witchcraft Wars, Slade's Destiny.

Tracey wrote: "I've been treating myself to a re-read of all my Discworld books.... I adore Terry Pratchett and get lost in the light-hearted fun. Also not to taxing on the brain so I can concentrate on the poli..."

I love his idea of DEATH... hilarious! He's got such a great sense of humour and makes you want to meet the guy; if you know what I mean. :P

Meredith wrote: "I'm reading a Dexter novel and it's great fun. I've never seen the TV show and didn't know it was based on a series of novels. I think this one is "Dexter is Delicious" and it deals with some prett..."

I haven't read the Dexter books and when I first heard about the series I thought, How Gross!, I could never watch that... But it's written so well and it's so dark and delicious I became a real fan. I'll have to try the books one day...:)

Carmel wrote: "Would love to know if anyone is currently reading or read by LK Madigan, they've had it featured on a great site I follow novelnovice.com as book of the mon..."

No Carmel, I've never seen that book/author before. I like the blurb and it's got plenty of good reviews. I'm sure fans of YA would love it.:)

Jenny wrote: "Cheryl, is that the book with the story, Singing My Sister Down? OMG that story has haunted me for ages!"

Yes it is. And yes, that's a haunting story. If I weren't so squeamish, I'd've read the stories one at a time, and they all would be haunting me. "Sister..." is the first one so I think that's at least partly why it makes the biggest impact. I liked the acknowledgements, wherein the author gives clues about the inspirations. If she hadn't given those, I would not have been able to stop wondering if she were alien, or possessed, or something....

Mermaid's Mirror def. looks interesting.

Singing My Sister Down is the only story in that book I can remember. Must get hold of the book again and re-read it.

Stephanie wrote: "Finished the Salley Vickers (which was fabulous--shall post a review next week, and read The Three Loves Of Persimmonby Aussie author Cassandra Golds this afternoon. A beautiful, swe..."

I haven't read The 'Three Loves Of Persimmon'. I have read a couple of Cassandra Gold books because I bought them for my daughter. Her books are wonderful.

hi!
I am Marianela. I am Australian but born in Chile (from Chilean parents) BUT, Australia is my home
I LOVE reading, I read in English and in Spanish. i have this rule" always read if possible the book in its original language, too much is lost in translation"
i got so many books that my husband has decided not to mentioned the "book situation" anymore
We do not have any children...so, we are seen as a couple and not a family
I mentioned this, because I just read this wonderful Australian book called "The book of lost threads" by Tess Evans.
If you read it and enjoyed it let me know, it gives such an insight to the situation of family and having children
It really tells people never to point the finger to couples without children...you never know the whole story....:>(
happy reading!!!! xoxoxoxox

ps; I LOVE Jane Austen and i have found so much enjoyment after i was able to read her books in English. I also love Paulo Coelho and i read him in Spanish usually because he writes in Portuguese...But, i always buy his books in english because i like sharing his books with my friends. and yes, yes, for easy reading Alexnader McCall Smith, whenever somebody is sick or a bit low...these books remind you that life and people are NICE!

I am currently re-reading Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets in anticipation for the up-coming movie.
I am trying to reread the entire series.

Last Aussie book I read would have been....I Am the Messenger by Markus Zusak

Booklover23 wrote: "I am currently re-reading Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets in anticipation for the up-coming movie.
I am trying to reread the entire series.

Last Aussie book I read would ha..."

Did you enjoy 'I am the Messenger", Jessica? I have it in my to-read pile. I read 'Book Thief' with our book club, and loved it, so my son gave me '..the Messenger' for my birthday. I'm trying to get to it!! :)