Aussie Readers discussion

"It's a beautiful day, don't let it get away."

Welcome to our Autumn Reading Challenge





1. St Patrick's Day - - Celebrate with the Irish - Read a book written by an Irish author or set in Ireland or has an Irish character.



2. Australian Labour Day - Choose a book whose lead characters are from the working class. Construction workers, office workers, health workers, policemen or teachers. Make sure you mention their occupation in the discussion thread.

It's Clean up Australia Day 4th March: Do your bit to:
3. REDUCE - Read a book from your TBR shelf
4. RE-USE - Re-read an old favourite
5. RECYCLE - Read any book from the library

6. Colours of Autumn - Choose a book that has the words, red, gold, brown, orange or yellow in the title or a book whose cover is primarily an Autumn colour. (Post the cover in the discussion thread)



7. International Womans Day 8th March - - Read a book about a strong female character either fiction or non-fiction.

8. The days are getting shorter - Read a short story, essay or anthology (you’ll often find free short stories/excerpts and snippets that would fit into this category)

9. Chinese Year of the Dragon - - read a book that has a reference/character of a dragon in it or on the cover.



10. Easter 6th - 9th April - - Read a book depicting the origin of Easter; Festivals; Hot Cross Buns; chocolate; families & family activities.



Some links to help you with your choices!

http://www.africa-eu.com/search?q=iri...

http://www.africa-eu.com/list/show/58...

http://www.africa-eu.com/search?q=str...

http://www.africa-eu.com/search?q=eas...

HAPPY AUTUMN READING!

Nice to see people thinking about reading more, but I already read three novels a week and am rather set in my ways about what I like to read.

May I recommend my own 'The Trader's Wife' as a book about a strong female character.

Happy reading, whatever you choose!

Anna Jacobs

1. St Patrick's Day -- Celebrate with the Irish - Read a book written by an Irish author or set in Ireland or has an Irish character.

Everyone is reading Ulysses right?

Autumn??? AAAAAAAAAARG - am still scurrying to finish Summer - although I only have one more to go for that :)

Anna wrote: "Nice to see people thinking about reading more, but I already read three novels a week and am rather set in my ways about what I like to read.

May I recommend my own 'The Trader's Wife' as a boo..."

The Trader's Wife by Anna Jacobs...thanks Anna:)

Knowledge Lost wrote: "1. St Patrick's Day -- Celebrate with the Irish - Read a book written by an Irish author or set in Ireland or has an Irish character.

Everyone is reading Ulysses right?"

Haha!! Until I saw 783 pages KL:( ;D

Sally906 wrote: "Autumn??? AAAAAAAAAARG - am still scurrying to finish Summer - although I only have one more to go for that :)"

Sally, you still have 2 weeks of summer to go...you'll do it:D

I have an Irish teacher in my romantic suspense novel, When Danger Follows. When Danger Follows
Hard to think of autumn when we've had hardly any summer this year.

Maggi wrote: "I have an Irish teacher in my romantic suspense novel, When Danger Follows. When Danger Follows
Hard to think of autumn when we've had hardly any summer this year."

That's right Maggi...it's been the weirdest summer I can remember:(

Michael wrote: "Hmmmm im trying to come up with a few books here. It aint easy."

No rush Michael...still a fortnight till Autumn officially begins;D

Michael wrote: "Hmmmm im trying to come up with a few books here. It aint easy."

I digress, this is one of the easiest challenges yet. I have't been able to read much since school started, so this will definitely give me some motivation!

★ Jess wrote: "Michael wrote: "Hmmmm im trying to come up with a few books here. It aint easy."

I digress, this is one of the easiest challenges yet. I have't been able to read much since school started, so this..."

That's great Jess...I'll be interested to see your list when you work it out:)

Michael wrote: "I got a few questions with the working class one would a cop be in that category? I have a book by a Chinese author but it doesnt have dragons on cover or in it not sure if that is ok? Finally woul..."

A policeman is listed! So yes!

Need to have dragons somewhere either in the book, or on the cover...

No, those two wouldn't work, as you need to have it mentioning those colours, or the cover pic be predominantly in one of the colours mentioned.....

Sorry Michael...keep looking;D

Here's my tentative list...just sat on the floor in front of the book case, and found pretty much all of them there:)

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) The Time Machine by H.G. Wells
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.

The Pact by Jodi Picoult

My list (subject to a few tweaks here and there)

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 - A Different Sky by Meira Chand

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)

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

Looking good Sally:)

I will have to think about what I want to read and how many off these I want to do, but it sounds like a fantastic challenge.

This sounds like fun, i am in

(s it ok, I am inthe states, jsut read a fantastic book about Australia called The Only Sin by Julie Ellis who also doens't write a book without a strong woman figure and this was her strongest to date.

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo?The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

This is such a cool idea. I love the inspirational questions. Not sure if I can commit to the challenge though. Have to think if I can work it into what I want to read for Australian Women Writers Challenge. But the book suggestions here are great -- thanks, everyone :)

It's fine to work around it guys, incorporate it with other challenges (AWW12) and any books you want, as long as they fit in with the criteria! Enjoy:)

Great choice for Chinese year of the dragon there Maggi!!

Okay here is my book list:


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





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



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



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



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



6. Colours of Autumn: The Cover is Red.



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

http://www.africa-eu.com/list/show/13...



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




9.Dragon: I choose a romance dragon story lol




10.Easter: I choose a book about a family




Took me awhile to decide it all but I did it lol

My list:

1. St Patrick's Day -
The Sea by John Banville

2. Australian Labour Day -
The Cat's Table by Michael Ondaatje features multiple working class characters.

3. REDUCE -
The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes

4. RE-USE -
Supernova: The Knight, The Princess and the Falling Star by Dee

*originally published in 2001, recently translated into English. I read this book just out of high school.

5. RECYCLE -
The Stranger's Child by Alan Hollinghurst

6. Colours of Autumn -
The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet by David Mitchell

7. International Womans Day -
Cleopatra by Stacy Schiff

8. The days are getting shorter -
The Best of the Best: Modern Australian Short Stories

9. Chinese Year of the Dragon -
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

10. Easter -
The Easter Parade by Richard Yates

Fantastic lists there guys:)

Took me two hours to come up with the list! It's perfect... now onto the reading part :D

Recycle:
Colours of Autumn Dark Road to Darjeeling
International Woman's Day
Strong woman lead character: Flying Too HighA Phryne Fisher Mystery

Dhitri wrote: "Took me two hours to come up with the list! It's perfect... now onto the reading part :D"

Ooooh!!! Not yet Dhitri;D

When does the challenge start? March?

Would Watership Down be okay for #10?

Dhitri wrote: "When does the challenge start? March?"

Yes, 1st March, the beginning of Autumn, Dhitri;D

Ljuke wrote: "Would Watership Down be okay for #10?"

Yes, it'd be good Ljuke! Love the bunny on the cover:D

1. Molloy by Samuel Beckett
2. All the Pretty Horses by Cormac McCarthy (about a rancher)
3. The Marvelous Land of Oz by L. Frank Baum
4. Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad (I've actually only read half of it, many years ago, so time for a re-read)
5. A Hell of a Woman by Jim Thompson FINISHED. Brutal and awesome.
6. Just After Sunset by Stephen King

7. Queenpin by Megan Abbott
8. The Man Who Knew Too Much by G.K. Chesterton
9. The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
10. Watership Down by Richard Adams

Ljuke wrote: "1. Molloy by Samuel Beckett
2. All the Pretty Horses by Cormac McCarthy (about a rancher)
3. The Marvelous Land of Oz by L. Frank Baum
4. [book:Heart of Da..."

Good list Ljuke!!!

Hey guys, don't forget to post the cover of your 'Autumn colours' book...#6...so we see the bright colours of autumn:)

This is my plan;

1. Irish Are You Somebody?: The Accidental Memoir of a Dublin Woman
4. Reread Memoirs of a Geisha 13 Apr, 3 stars
5. Library The Teahouse Fire 5 Mar, 2 stars
6. Colour 9 Mar, 1 star
7. Strong female Half Broke Horses 2 Mar, 4 stars
9. dragon Yakuza Moon: Memoirs of a Gangster's Daughter 3 Apr, 2 stars
3. TBR The Lieutenant 17 Mar, 3 stars
2. Labour Day The Grapes of Wrath read 19 Mar, 5 stars
8. short story The Snows of Kilimanjaro and Other Stories May, 3 stars
10. Easter Purple Hibiscus 15 May, 4 stars. Story's events occur over the Easter period.

1. St Patrick's Day (Irish Author)


2. Labour Day (Policewoman)


3. Reduce


4. Re-Use


5. Recycle


6. Colours of Autumn

or The Long Road Home by Mary Alice Monroe which has a lovely tree covered in Autumn Leaves on the cover but I can't find a link to the same cover

7. International Womans Day (As recommended by the Author)


8. Anthology


9. Chinese Year of the Dragon


10. Easter (Family)

Great lists Lesley and Janine! Janine, Eve is a definite kick-ass strong character...lol

Brenda wrote: "Great lists Lesley and Janine! Janine, Eve is a definite kick-ass strong character...lol"
The JD Robb books could have been used for most of these headings!

So jealous of your Anthology Janine!!!! I wish I found that one looks lush!!! lol

Jessy wrote: "So jealous of your Anthology Janine!!!! I wish I found that one looks lush!!! lol"

It does have a nice cover!

Janine wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Great lists Lesley and Janine! Janine, Eve is a definite kick-ass strong character...lol"
The JD Robb books could have been used for most of these headings!"

Haha!! I had 2 there...the Irish connection and the lead character, but decided to drop one out:)

As usual I can never chose between a few books, so here's my tentative list (which may well change):
1. St Patrick's Day - The Lively Ghosts of Ireland 1 STAR
2. Labour Day - The Carpet Makers READ 3.5 STARS
3. TBR - Women Who Hurt Themselves: A Book Of Hope And Understanding 2 STARS
4. Re-read - A Swarm In May READ 2 or 3 STARS
5. Library Book - Hidden Wives READ 4 STARS
6. Colours of autumn - READ
7. Strong female character - The Hospital by the River: A Story of Hope REPLACED BY One Unknown: A Powerful Account of Survival and One Woman's Inspirational Journey to a New Life
READ
8. short story - Night Shift - how appropriate for me! Just read "Graveyard Shift"
9. Dragon - Tooth and Claw READ
10. Easter - Minnie and Moo: The Attack of the Easter Bunnies READ 3 STARS

Good list Maggie:)

If I can complete this challenge I will have made a huge dent in Mount TBR :))

St Patrick's Day:
1. The Likeness by Tana French

Australian Labour Day: School Teacher
2. In and Out of Step by Christine M. Knight

Clean Up Australia:
3. Reduce - The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet by David Mitchell

4. Re-Use - Dragon Haven by Robin Hobb......Finished

5. Recycle - The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes

Colours of Autumn:
6. by Peter David....Finished (3.5 STARS)

International Women's Day:
7. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins....Finished (4 STARS)

Anthology:
8. Legends of Australian Fantasy by Jack Dann

Chinese Year of the Dragon:
9. City of Dragons by Robin Hobb

Easter: Family
10. The Family Law by Benjamin Law ...Finished (3 STARS)

What a great list Kim. You've got a few of my favourites there :) happy reading

Fantastic list Kim Marie:)

Thanks Mish and Brenda. It did seem like a good mix :)

Kim Marie wrote: "Thanks Mish and Brenda. It did seem like a good mix :)"

It's good to make a dent in the TBR list too...you just have to remember not to get more to replace the ones you're reading;D

Now that's an impossible challenge Brenda!