Aussie Author Challenge 2016 completion

 Yea, yea, yea.  2016 is over.  But, I forgot to post when I completed the Aussie Author Challenge, and it didn't happen unless I blog about it, right? 

Out of the books I read this year, the two I'd recommend the most are Resurrection Bay by Emma Viskic and The Natural Way of Things by Charlotte Wood.

The authors that I will continue reading: Michael Robotham, Geraldine Brooks, Emma Viskic, Liane Moriarty, and I am willing to give a couple of others another try.

Goodreads shelf for reviews and ratings.

And, I know in a previous post I mentioned that I was going to shorten my list of book challenges this year, but this one isn't getting cut.  I've thoroughly enjoyed exploring, discovering, reading, supporting, and championing the Aussie authors, so here's my post for the 2017 challenge, in case you missed it.

It's the 7th year for the Aussie Author Challenge, and my 2nd year participating (click on the picture/link to take you directly to the site for more information).  My completed book list is as follows:

Female Authors:

• People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks - COMPLETED 23 April 2016
• What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty  - COMPLETED 25 March 2016
• The Natural Way of Things by Charlotte Wood - COMPLETED 24 August 2016
• Rabbit-Proof Fence by Doris Pilkington (non-fiction) - COMPLETED 17 January 2016

Male Authors:

• I Hear Sirens in the Street by Adrian McKinty - COMPLETED 04 November 2016
• Life or Death by Michael Robotham - COMPLETED 23 September 2016
• Guilt by Matthew Nable - COMPLETED 3 February 2016
• The Broken Shore by Peter Temple - COMPLETED 21 December 2016

Authors New to Me:

•  Past the Shallows by Favel Parrett - COMPLETED 12 March 2016
• This House of Grief by Helen Garner (non-fiction) - COMPLETED 25 February 2016
• Hades by Candice Fox - COMPLETED 21 May 2016
• Resurrection Bay by Emma Viskic - COMPLETED 14 April 2016

Aussie Author Challenge 2017

Hey.  Guess what.  I'm participating in (another) book challenge.  Surprise, surprise.

This will be my 3rd year to tackle the Aussie Author Challenge.  As an American living in Australia, I am intrigued by the number of musicians and authors that I have discovered since moving here.  This challenge has helped facilitate finding some amazing authors that were born and/or now live in Australia.  Check out this link to find out more.  You can limit yourself to only tackling only 3 books for the entire year by an Australian author.  That's pretty easy peasy for a book challenge, am I right?

I've just started my last book for the 2016 challenge, so that I can reach "kangaroo" status, and I'll be aiming for that again in 2017.  I've read more than 12 books by Aussie authors this year, but for some reason, they were mostly by women.  I need to complete the "male authors" category.

"Kangaroo" status consists of:

KANGAROO: Read and review 12 titles written by Australian Authors of which at least 4 of those authors are female, at least 4 of those authors are male, and at least 4 of those authors are new to you; Fiction or non-fiction, at least 3 genre.

Here's my preliminary list (subject to change):

Male authors:
1.   Black Rock White City by A.S. Patric
2.   Working Class Boy by Jimmy Barnes
3.   The Best of Adam Sharp by Graeme Simsion
4.   Suspect by Michael Robotham

Female authors:
5.   Tell the Truth, Shame the Devil by Melina Marchetta
6.   The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty
7.   Ghost Girls by Cath Ferla
8.   We Ate the Road Like Vultures by Lynette Lounsbury

Authors new to me:
9.   The Fictional Woman by Tara Moss
10.  So Much to Tell You by John Marsden
11.  After Darkness by Christine Piper
12.  I Came to Say Goodbye by Caroline Overington

Aussie Author Challenge: Book 11

For my 11th read in the Aussie Author Challenge, I decided to give Adrian McKinty's "Sean Duffy" series another go.  I read the first one and wasn't all that impressed, but I was interested enough to try again.  So, I read I Hear the Sirens in the Street by Adrian McKinty.

Set in Northern Ireland, during the early '80s, a particular grim time in this country's history, it seems like it would be a gripping setting for a detective series.  Plus, the series gets good reviews from other readers.  But..........

.................Sean Duffy and I just aren't connecting.  For me, both books aren't quite thrilling enough for a thriller, but aren't atmospheric enough for a good mystery.  There are little quirks of Sean Duffy, for instance, he's a music fanatic.  Well, this should work for me.  But, it doesn't because I feel like all the music references come from a music snob.  He likes to read too...but it seems like I'm supposed to be impressed with those literary choices.  I feel like the author is trying to make him interesting, but it falls flat to me.  I don't want it to.  If you've been around these parts, you know that I don't like to talk bad about books.  I hate to say it, but Sean Duffy, I am going to quit you.

It's the 7th year for the Aussie Author Challenge, and my 2nd year participating (click on the picture/link to take you directly to the site for more information).  My working book list is as follows:

Female Authors:

• People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks - COMPLETED 23 April 2016
• What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty  - COMPLETED 25 March 2016
• The Natural Way of Things by Charlotte Wood - COMPLETED 24 August 2016
• Rabbit-Proof Fence by Doris Pilkington (non-fiction) - COMPLETED 17 January 2016

Male Authors:

• I Hear Sirens in the Street by Adrian McKinty - COMPLETED 04 November 2016
• Life or Death by Michael Robotham - COMPLETED 23 September 2016
• Guilt by Matthew Nable - COMPLETED 3 February 2016
• The Broken Shore by Peter Temple

Authors New to Me:

•  Past the Shallows by Favel Parrett - COMPLETED 12 March 2016
• This House of Grief by Helen Garner (non-fiction) - COMPLETED 25 February 2016
• Hades by Candice Fox - COMPLETED 21 May 2016
• Resurrection Bay by Emma Viskic - COMPLETED 14 April 2016

Reading a book by a foreign author set in a familiar location PLUS Aussie Author Challenge: Book 10

I like mystery/crime books.  I like them a lot.  There was a time when I pretty much only read books that fell into the mystery, crime, thriller, or true crime genres.  Yes, I've expanded my reading horizons, but a good mystery book is still one that I love to curl up and read.  So, I'd been looking forward to finally reading a book from Michael Robotham because he is an Aussie author that I regularly see him mentioned as a recommendation for this genre. 

When I picked up this book, all I knew was the synopsis from goodreads, that it had a 4.05* review on goodreads, and it was about a guy who escapes prison the day before he is set to be released.  Sounds like my kind of book.  But, I made an assumption.  I assumed this Aussie author wrote his books set in Australian locations. 

Lo and behold, on the very first page, I see a reference to "Lake Conroe".  Uhm.  My dad owned a house on Lake Conroe.  Not to be morbid, but my stepmother lost her battle to cancer in this very house after spending late spring and early summer looking out the window at scenes on Lake Conroe.  Is this my Lake Conroe?  Well, yes, yes it is.  I got even more excited to read this book. 

There were many references to areas and locations that I know very well.  The teenage character in this book goes to the very high school that I graduated from.  My intimate knowledge caused me to stumble across a few edit mistakes.  For instance, there is a massive "master-planned" community called The Woodlands.  That's its name...with an upper case "T"...The Woodlands...not just Woodlands, or lower case "t", the Woodlands.  But, hey, I don't want to be pedantic or pretentious. 

So, I saw a few of these minor mistakes.  Then, I saw another.  As seen in the following picture, a passage mentions some girls at a "honky-tonk" (fine, no problem, there are actually bars in Texas that we call "honky-tonks"), but these girls seem to be at a bachelorette party (Aussie "hen's night").  The author says that the assumed bride-to-be is wearing "an 'L-plate' strung around her neck." 

Hold up.  America doesn't have L-plates.  It is safe to assume most Americans don't know what L-plates are.  And, it is even safer to assume that a bride-to-be in a Texas honky-tonk won't be wearing an L-plate around her neck. 

Am I nit-picking?  Is this book, published at an Australian book publisher, is it edited for Australian readers?   Therefore, are changes made to the book for Australian readers, and the American version wouldn't mention L-plates?  I don't know. 

I asked Kristen (our favorite Aussie expat in America blogger booklover) what she thought.  She said:  "you should apply things to where it is set, regardless of where it is published."  I must admit, I agree with her. 

Rachel mentioned something similar to this about a recent book she read written by an American that was set in London (Lovestruck in London by Rachel Schurig).

Okay...................all the edit questions/comments/concerns aside, I liked this book.  I liked the story.  I liked the characters.  I liked the pace.  It wasn't too fast or "thrilling", but it wasn't slow either.  It was good story-telling of a crime & mystery book.  I liked that the author gives the reader some nuggets of clues throughout the book, as if he wants you to figure some things out on your own, and others he wants to still remain a mystery.  In the end, all of the stories are tied together and resolved, and I liked that too.  I will definitely read more from Michael Robotham, and I'd recommend him to others.

One more example, Americans call it a "tank top", not a "singlet".  In fact, it took me a good month or so living here before I even knew what Aussies were talking about when they said "singlet".  If the book is set in Australia, call it a "singlet". If it's set in Texas, call it a "tank top". Am I right?  

Okay.  I'll stop now.  My point was already made, right?  Now, I know I am nit-picking.

Two more to go; I got this!

It's the 7th year for the Aussie Author Challenge, and my 2nd year participating (click on the picture/link to take you directly to the site for more information).  My working book list is as follows:

Female Authors:

• People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks - COMPLETED 23 April 2016
• What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty  - COMPLETED 25 March 2016
• The Natural Way of Things by Charlotte Wood - COMPLETED 24 August 2016
• Rabbit-Proof Fence by Doris Pilkington (non-fiction) - COMPLETED 17 January 2016

Male Authors:

• I Hear Sirens in the Street by Adrian McKinty
• Life or Death by Michael Robotham - COMPLETED 23 September 2016
• Guilt by Matthew Nable - COMPLETED 3 February 2016
• The Street Sweeper by Elliot Perlman

Authors New to Me:

•  Past the Shallows by Favel Parrett - COMPLETED 12 March 2016
• This House of Grief by Helen Garner (non-fiction) - COMPLETED 25 February 2016
• Hades by Candice Fox - COMPLETED 21 May 2016
• Resurrection Bay by Emma Viskic - COMPLETED 14 April 2016

Aussie Author Challenge: Book 9

The Natural Way of Things by Charlotte Wood:

One of my great friends who is a lover of books praised this book and gave it to me as a birthday gift.  This recommendation alone had me intrigued. 

Also, it is receiving much praise from the Australian literary community, and it is on the shortlist for this year's Miles Franklin Award, which is Australia's "most prestigious literary award".  I must admit, I'm not always a reader/fan of these "prestigious" books...but I was still intrigued.

When I finished this book, I immediately wrote "So many thoughts.  So many questions.  So many emotions.  I need to digest."  After a couple of days, I still feel that way.  Adequately sharing my thoughts might prove difficult, but I will try.

First, I'll share this short clip from goodreads:  "The Natural Way of Things is a gripping, starkly imaginative exploration of contemporary misogyny and corporate control, and of what it means to hunt and be hunted."

Americans, do you remember the disappearance of Chandra Levy?  At the age of 24, she was reported as a missing person.  During the investigation, it was learned that she "allegedly" was having an affair with a married U.S. Congressman.  Reportedly, when questioned, this man seemed evasive and more concerned with saving his own face and reputation, rather than concern over Miss Levy's whereabouts and safety.

Hypothetically, in a fictitious world, what if it was arranged to just have someone like Chandra Levy "sent away"?  Removed from the society that she lived in and muddied the waters with her existence due to such a sexual scandal?  Punished for her promiscuous behaviour?  (Again, not my thoughts...this is for the sake of a work of fiction.)  That's the premise of this book.

Young women that are connected by a variety of popular, news-worthy sexual scandals (gang rape by football players, sexual harassment and relations with a judge on a singing reality competition show, an affair with a politician and more) are drugged and seemingly, kidnapped, taken to a place that I can only describe as similar to a concentration camp.  They live in horrendous conditions with no real knowledge of how they got there or what will happen to them.  What they do know:  "The reason for their captivity has a blank clarity: they are hated." (Pg 171)

The story is captivating.  The reader experiences the women's descent into madness, their quest for survival or revenge.  There are many, many passages that are extremely difficult to stomach, but they are an adequate description of the conditions these women were forced to face.  I couldn't help but question how I, personally, would/could handle such conditions.  I could see myself going either way...losing my sanity, becoming engrossed with revenge, doing what needed to be done to survive, or just wanting to give up.  While reading and following the journey, I felt such a range of emotions from anger and disgust to triumph and hopefulness. 

Without saying too much more, about the story itself, one of the lessons that shall stick with me from this story is this (broken down in simplest form):  Life can be tough and extremely challenging, but it is always best to be in charge of one's own journey.

It's the 7th year for the Aussie Author Challenge, and my 2nd year participating (click on the picture/link to take you directly to the site for more information).  My working book list is as follows:

Female Authors:

• People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks - COMPLETED 23 April 2016
• What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty  - COMPLETED 25 March 2016
• The Natural Way of Things by Charlotte Wood - COMPLETED 24 August 2016
• Rabbit-Proof Fence by Doris Pilkington (non-fiction) - COMPLETED 17 January 2016

Male Authors:

• I Hear Sirens in the Street by Adrian McKinty
• Life or Death by Michael Robotham
• Guilt by Matthew Nable - COMPLETED 3 February 2016
• The Street Sweeper by Elliot Perlman

Authors New to Me:

•  Past the Shallows by Favel Parrett - COMPLETED 12 March 2016
• This House of Grief by Helen Garner (non-fiction) - COMPLETED 25 February 2016
• Hades by Candice Fox - COMPLETED 21 May 2016
• Resurrection Bay by Emma Viskic - COMPLETED 14 April 2016

Aussie Author Challenge: Book 8

This book wasn't an original pick for the challenge, but I'd seen many recommendations for it (plus the two books that follow it in the series), I decided I needed to move it up my "to read" list.

Hades by Candice Fox - Impossible for me to "rate". Sometimes, it is a 2 star, other times a 4, even 5 star. Or it could be ZERO stars for taking a well-known literary and television character and re-writing it.

Is this fan fiction? 

The parallels to Dexter Morgan are painfully obvious. Child witnesses brutally violent death of parent. Subsequently, the father figure role model that steps in to raise child(ren) recognizes violent tendencies. Child (then teen) is abnormally intelligent. Father figure develops a plan and way for kid(s) to function undetected and contribute to society ultimately working in homicide police department. Brother and sister work in homicide together.  

Yes, the parallels are that close, but enough things have been changed that the story is possible to enjoy, I suppose.  I couldn't get past it.  I couldn't stop thinking "how did this win an award for Australian debut author in crime fiction in 2014?"  Shouldn't a winner of such an award be a little more creative than take the outline of the Dexter series and change it up enough for it not to be plagiarism? 

I can't be the only person to notice this, am I right??  After reading the book, I scanned some goodreads reviews.  Yes, others have noticed the Dexter parallels as well. 

If you can get past the Dexter similarities (or you never read/watched Dexter previously), you will probably enjoy this book.  If not, give it a pass. 

It's the 7th year for the Aussie Author Challenge, and my 2nd year participating (click on the picture/link to take you directly to the site for more information).  My working book list is as follows:

Female Authors:

• People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks - COMPLETED 23 April 2016
• What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty  - COMPLETED 25 March 2016
• The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton
• Rabbit-Proof Fence by Doris Pilkington (non-fiction) - COMPLETED 17 January 2016

Male Authors:

• Jasper Jones by Craig Silvey
• Life or Death by Michael Robotham
• Guilt by Matthew Nable - COMPLETED 3 February 2016
• The Street Sweeper by Elliot Perlman

Authors New to Me:

•  Past the Shallows by Favel Parrett - COMPLETED 12 March 2016
• This House of Grief by Helen Garner (non-fiction) - COMPLETED 25 February 2016
• Hades by Candice Fox - COMPLETED 21 May 2016
• Resurrection Bay by Emma Viskic - COMPLETED 14 April 2016

Aussie Author Challenge: Book Seven

People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks

Have you ever wondered who else held your library book? What if it was a historical, ancient textbook? Who tore that one page?  Or stained the other?  Or left a bookmark in it?  Fascinating theme for a story, but if I'm honest, this book took a lot of work to get through it all. An Australian woman who is a book conservationist has the task of examining and attempting to trace the history of an ancient Jewish text that has survived through the Crusades, the Inquisition, WWII, and more...historical times that such books were victims of censorship, burned and destroyed.  Different chapters examine the book's survival through such times and important players surrounding the life of the book.  Again, fascinating concept.  Sadly, it didn't work for me.  As I ask myself "why?", I think I never connected to really any of the characters of the story.  One character's story engaged me more than others, but there were so many that didn't, I was left disappointed.  A lot of readers on goodreads thought highly of this book. Another blogger and book lover enjoyed this book immensely as well.  Maybe I'm just not as smart as them. If a book feels like I'm laboring while I'm reading it, then that book isn't going to be my favorite. I read Year of Wonders by this same author.  That book, I expected it to be work to get through, and it wasn't.  I enjoyed it much more.  She has other works that interest me as well, so I'm not giving up on Geraldine Brooks.

It's the 7th year for the Aussie Author Challenge, and my 2nd year participating (click on the picture/link to take you directly to the site for more information).  My working book list is as follows:

Female Authors:

• People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks - COMPLETED 23 April 2016
• What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty  - COMPLETED 25 March 2016
• The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton
• Rabbit-Proof Fence by Doris Pilkington (non-fiction) - COMPLETED 17 January 2016

Male Authors:

• Jasper Jones by Craig Silvey
• Life or Death by Michael Robotham
• Guilt by Matthew Nable - COMPLETED 3 February 2016
• The Street Sweeper by Elliot Perlman

Authors New to Me:

•  Past the Shallows by Favel Parrett - COMPLETED 12 March 2016
• This House of Grief by Helen Garner (non-fiction) - COMPLETED 25 February 2016
• Thornwood House by Anna Romer
• Resurrection Bay by Emma Viskic - COMPLETED 14 April 2016

Aussie Author Challenge: Book Six

Resurrection Bay by Emma Viskic - Sometimes, I like to stroll through bookstores and read those little cards with staff recommendations for books.  It's just another way (besides goodreads, bloggers, libraries, and my own research) to find out about a good book.  This one was sitting in the Australian fiction section featured with a grouping of other crime/mystery/thriller recommendations.  Because I'd never heard about the book before or the author, and all the information that I had was on a small note card, I started reading it with few expectations.  So, to say it exceeded all expectations, is a given.  But, I feel like I should send a "thank you" note to the staff member at the bookstore for introducing me to it.

You know how some thrillers like to slowly build with a foundation and character development before the action takes off?  Not this one.  On page one, the lead character is holding his murdered best friend in his arms.  Action from the start! 

I enjoyed the story set in Melbourne and Resurrection Bay (not sure if this is an actual place or not), Victoria, Australia.  It had me guessing and re-thinking my opinions about where it was going and who were the villains.  The pace was quick, and some twists were unexpected. 

I enjoyed the characters.  Admittedly, I'm unaware of any book that I've read with a deaf protagonist.  That element to the story was an interesting addition to a crime-based thriller.

If you can get your hand on this one, I recommend it.

It's the 7th year for the Aussie Author Challenge, and my 2nd year participating (click on the picture/link to take you directly to the site for more information).  My working book list is as follows:

Female Authors:

• People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks
• What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty  - COMPLETED 25 March 2016
• The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton
• Rabbit-Proof Fence by Doris Pilkington (non-fiction) - COMPLETED 17 January 2016

Male Authors:

• Jasper Jones by Craig Silvey
• Life or Death by Michael Robotham
• Guilt by Matthew Nable - COMPLETED 3 February 2016
• The Street Sweeper by Elliot Perlman

Authors New to Me:

•  Past the Shallows by Favel Parrett - COMPLETED 12 March 2016
• This House of Grief by Helen Garner (non-fiction) - COMPLETED 25 February 2016
• Thornwood House by Anna Romer
• Resurrection Bay by Emma Viskic - COMPLETED 14 April 2016

Aussie Author Challenge: Book 5

I'm blaming the hype (or maybe something is wrong with me) but this book was just okay for me. In fact, I was ready for it to wrap up and finish.  I feel like I should apologize for feeling this way.  So many people adored this book.  I gave it 3 stars, and if I'm being honest, I probably did so because I'd feel guilty for giving it a lower rating since so many others loved it.  Yes, I do fall to peer pressure from time to time. 

I don't like bashing books or talking negatively about books that others enjoy, because I want others to maintain those fond feelings.  I want to refrain from my criticisms.  But, that wouldn't be reviewing a book, would it? 

I felt like I was supposed to really care for these characters and get invested in their stories, but I didn't.  Maybe I'm heartless.  (No, I'm not.)  I think Alice's sister's (see, I finished reading it 3 days ago, and I can't even remember her name) story of her struggles with infertility was the most well-developed story.  But, it wasn't enough to make the book feel complete for me. 

Sorry Alice lovers!

It's the 7th year for the Aussie Author Challenge, and my 2nd year participating (click on the picture/link to take you directly to the site for more information).  My preliminary book list is as follows:

Female Authors:

• People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks
• What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty  - COMPLETED 25 March 2016
• The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton
• Rabbit-Proof Fence by Doris Pilkington (non-fiction) - COMPLETED 17 January 2016

Male Authors:

• Jasper Jones by Craig Silvey
• Life or Death by Michael Robotham
• Guilt by Matthew Nable - COMPLETED 3 February 2016
• The Street Sweeper by Elliot Perlman

Authors New to Me:

•  Past the Shallows by Favel Parrett - COMPLETED 12 March 2016
• This House of Grief by Helen Garner (non-fiction) - COMPLETED 25 February 2016
• Thornwood House by Anna Romer
• All the Rivers Run by Nancy Cato

Aussie Author Challenge: Book 4

The fourth book I've read for the Aussie Author Challenge is the debut by young author, Favel Parrett, "Past the Shallows".   I really, really wanted to fall in love with this book, but it was just okay for me.  I could see the author trying to connect, trying to emote, trying to pull me into the story...but I didn't connect, I didn't feel, and quite frankly, I predicted what was going to happen.  I couldn't decide if the reader is supposed to know what unfolds, but just enjoy the ride to get there...or if the end was supposed to have some surprising revelations. Some people seem to really love this book, I wanted to, but it just didn't happen.  2/5

It's the 7th year for the Aussie Author Challenge, and my 2nd year participating (click on the picture/link to take you directly to the site for more information).  My preliminary book list is as follows:

Female Authors:

• People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks
• What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty 
• The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton
• Rabbit-Proof Fence by Doris Pilkington (non-fiction) - COMPLETED 17 January 2016

Male Authors:

• Jasper Jones by Craig Silvey
• Life or Death by Michael Robotham
• Praise by Andrew McGahan
• Guilt by Matthew Nable - COMPLETED 3 February 2016

Authors New to Me:

•  Past the Shallows by Favel Parrett - COMPLETED 12 March 2016
• This House of Grief by Helen Garner (non-fiction) - COMPLETED 25 February 2016
• Thornwood House by Anna Romer
• The Street Sweeper by Elliot Perlman

Aussie Author Challenge: Book Three

In the synopsis on Goodreads for This House of Grief by Helen Garner, this book is described as "utterly compelling".  It has been rated over 1600 times with an average score of a 4.03 book.  Maybe it was the "utterly compelling" description and the high review marks that caused me to expect more from this book.  Instead, I found it tedious and boring more often than I should. 

This is a true story.  I had to remind myself that a horribly tragic event occurred that caused the loss of life for three young brothers.  The author admits that some days in the courtroom the judge, jurors, and journalists appeared bored, nodded off, and distracted themselves to stay awake or keep focused.  So, why write and detail those days in the courtroom in a manner just as boring?  To be accurate?  I suppose.  I respect the fact that the author wasn't trying to sensationalize or write a piece for a gossip magazine.  She tells us of her own emotional reactions from time to time, but overall, it felt like an emotionless story too often than it should.  And, the loss of three young boys is far from an emotionless occurrence. 

I hate to admit this, due to the serious nature of the criminal trial examined, but I reached a point that I started skimming and just wanted the book to end.  2/5

It's the 7th year for the Aussie Author Challenge, and my 2nd year participating (click on the picture/link to take you directly to the site for more information).  My preliminary book list is as follows:

Female Authors:

• People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks
• What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty 
• The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton
• Rabbit-Proof Fence by Doris Pilkington (non-fiction) - COMPLETED 17 January 2016

Male Authors:

• Jasper Jones by Craig Silvey
• Life or Death by Michael Robotham
• Praise by Andrew McGahan
• Guilt by Matthew Nable - COMPLETED 3 February 2016

Authors New to Me:

•  Past the Shallows by Favel Parrett
• This House of Grief by Helen Garner (non-fiction) - COMPLETED 25 February 2016
• Thornwood House by Anna Romer
• The Street Sweeper by Elliot Perlman

Aussie Author Challenge: Book Two

The second book I read for he Aussie Author Challenge 2016 was Guilt by Matt Nable.   This book had a lot of potential.  I enjoyed the author's cadence and writing style somewhat.  The framework of the story interested me.  But, sadly, it didn't live up to its potential.  For a number of reasons, I was disappointed.  I hate book bashing, but to give an honest, fair review, I need to explain my disappointments.

• Too many characters and story lines. Yes, they are all connected, but it was just too much.  I needed a flow chart.
• With so many characters, some lacked the depth I think the author intended.
• The thoughts and words expressed by 17 year old girls in 1989 were unrealistic.  I know.  I was a 16 year old girl in 1989.  Unless these specific Australian girls were just wayyyyy more advanced and comfortable talking/thinking about specific sexual acts and body parts.  It's possible 17 year old girls today would talk and think this way, but not teenagers of 1989.  We were a little more closed and silent about those things.  Not that sex wasn't happening; no girl I know talked about it this way.  Other aspects of teenager life seemed very realistic, but not this.
• I kept expecting a twist (or twists) to keep the story less predictable. 
• Things that I can only assume the author thought would be a twist...well, they weren't.
• If the ending was supposed to be a little bit of a shocker, it wasn't.

I get really sad and annoyed when a book, tv show, movie, person don't live up to their potential and expectations.  So, this book saddened, annoyed, and disappointed me.  2/5

It's the 7th year for the Aussie Author Challenge, and my 2nd year participating (click on the picture/link to take you directly to the site for more information).  My preliminary book list is as follows:

Female Authors:

• People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks
• What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty 
• The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton
• Rabbit-Proof Fence by Doris Pilkington (non-fiction) - COMPLETED 17 January 2016

Male Authors:

• Jasper Jones by Craig Silvey
• Life or Death by Michael Robotham
• Praise by Andrew McGahan
• Guilt by Matthew Nable - COMPLETED 3 February 2016

Authors New to Me:

•  Past the Shallows by Favel Parrett
• This House of Grief by Helen Garner (non-fiction)
• Thornwood House by Anna Romer
• The Street Sweeper by Elliot Perlman

Aussie Author Challenge 2016: Book One

The first book that I've completed for the Aussie Author Challenge is Rabbit-Proof Fence by Doris Pilkington/Nugi Garimara.  I selected this book because an Australian friend of mine told me that she read this in school, and it was memorable for her. 

 

This is a true-story experienced by the mother and auntie's of the author.  From a terribly sad and inhumane time of Australian history, this story is set in the 1930s and tells of three girls that are "half caste" (mixed race from a white settlement father and an Aboriginal indigenous mother).  They are taken, virtually kidnapped and stolen from their families under the premise that they will be given a good education and prepared for better employment opportunities.  These children were removed from their families, unwillingly, taken across a strange land, put on a boat, a taken to a "school" that was described more like a jail with bars and the windows and padlocks on the doors. 

 

The story specifically follows the journey of Molly, Daisy, and Gracie as they trek over dangerous conditions to find their way back home to their own families and community.  But, the bigger scope is the actions of settlers who take indigenous land as their own, implement their own laws and regulations, and forever alter an entire race of human beings.

 

 

It's the 7th year for the Aussie Author Challenge, and my 2nd year participating (click on the picture/link to take you directly to the site for more information).  My preliminary book list is as follows:

Female Authors:

• People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks
• What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty 
• The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton
• Rabbit-Proof Fence by Doris Pilkington (non-fiction) - COMPLETED 17 January 2016

Male Authors:

• Jasper Jones by Craig Silvey
• Life or Death by Michael Robotham
• Praise by Andrew McGahan
• Guilt by Matthew Nable

Authors New to Me:

•  Past the Shallows by Favel Parrett
• This House of Grief by Helen Garner (non-fiction)
• Thornwood House by Anna Romer
• The Street Sweeper by Elliot Perlman

Aussie Author Challenge 2016

I participated in the Aussie Author Challenge 2015; I reached "kangaroo" status, and I loved discovering Aussie authors new to me or reading authors that I didn't even realize were Australian.  (My final post about it is here.)  A couple of the books that I read for the challenge will even make it to my Best Books I Read 2015 post coming up soon!

I'm a self-professed book challenge junkie, right?  Needless to say, I've be organizing my Aussie Author Challenge 2016 list before the challenge was even announced.  Well, it's HERE! 

 

I'm pretty sure I've got Kristen roped in for it this year.  Any other book lovers want to join us?  You only have to commit to reading and reviewing 3 books (for the minimum level).  That's not asking too much, is it?

 

Here's the info (or click on the picture/link to take you directly to the site): 

Read on to decide which challenge level suits you and how you can get involved.

WALLABY
Read and review 3 titles written by Australian authors, of which at least 1 of those authors are female, at least 1 of those authors are male, and at least 1 of those authors are new to you; Fiction or non-fiction, any genre.
WALLAROO Read and review 6 titles written by Australian authors, of which at least 2 of those authors are female, at least 2 of those authors are male, and at least 2 of those authors are new to you; Fiction or non-fiction, at least 2 genre.
KANGAROO
Read and review 12 titles written by Australian Authors of which at least 4 of those authors are female, at least 4 of those authors are male, and at least 4 of those authors are new to you; Fiction or non-fiction, at least 3 genre.

How to Join:

1. Tell the world you are committing to this challenge and at what level – you can do that either on your own website, facebook or google+, or any other form of social media that will allow you to convey your feelings about each book after reading them. In that commitment provide a link to this page and display the Aussie Author Challenge 2016 badge to show your support for the initiative. Then register for the challenge by adding a link to your challenge commitment using the Registration Linky below.

2. Each time you read and review a book please provide a link back to this challenge page. Then add a link to that review to the Aussie Book Reviews Linky below.

3. When you have completed this challenge tell the world about the acheivement, and submit a link to that completion announcement via the Challenge Completion Linky below.

When sharing your reviews via twitter, or more generally discussing this challenge, use the hashtag #aussieauthor. If you ever have any difficulties using the form below don’t hesitate to email me at bookwordlover@gmail.com.

Resources you may find useful:

• Links to around 1000 reviews of titles by Aussie Authors written by participants of the 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and Aussie Author Challenge 2015
• Australian literary award winners: Miles Franklin Award, The Age Book of the Year, Prime Minister’s Literary Award, Patrick White Award, Ned Kelly Awards, The Stella Prize, Aurealis Awards

I'm going for KANGAROO status again, and here's my initial book choices:

Female Authors:

• People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks
• What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty 
• The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton
• Rabbit-Proof Fence by Doris Pilkington (non-fiction)

Male Authors:

• Jasper Jones by Craig Silvey
• Life or Death by Michael Robotham
• Praise by Andrew McGahan
• Guilt by Matthew Nable

Authors New to Me:

•  Past the Shallows by Favel Parrett
• This House of Grief by Helen Garner (non-fiction)
• Thornwood House by Anna Romer
• The Street Sweeper by Elliot Perlman

 

Have you read any of these?  What did you think?  Did you know the author is Australian?

Aussie Author Challenge - I am a kangaroo!

My final read for the Aussie Author Challenge showed great potential.  At first, I considered changing the book after I learned the author isn't Australian after all.  But, he lives in Melbourne now.  And, he's won the Ned Kelly Award which is for Australian Crime Writers, so I stuck with my choice.  After all, it seemed like a new series to introduce myself to featuring Sean Duffy, a detective in Northern Ireland.  The Cold Cold Ground by Adrian McKinty showed a lot of promise; unfortunately, it didn't grab me.  Maybe, I'd just been reading too many thrillers in a row.  But, this one just never drew me into the plot, and the characters never interested me enough into their stories.  I did like that the unrest of Northern Ireland played such a role in the story.  But, I confess my ignorance; maybe, I'm not knowledgeable enough for all the acronyms thrown around...I got too confused with all the talk about the IRA, RUC, FRU, SF, UCsomethin', etc.  And, I didn't care for the ending. 2/5

This challenge introduced me to so many fantastic Australian authors, not only the ones I read, but the others I discovered in searching for books to read and reading others' reviews.  Challenge favourites:  Saving Francesca by Melina Marchetta, Stolen by Lucy Christopher, Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty, I Am the Messenger by Markus Zusak, and All That I Am by Anna Funder.

 

I aimed to reach "Kangaroo" status with this challenge, and I DID IT!  I'm a KANGAROO!

KANGAROO
– Read and review 12 titles written by Australian Authors of which at least 4 of those authors are female, at least 4 of those authors are male, and at least 4 of those authors are new to you;
– At least 6 fiction and at least 2 non-fiction, and at least 2 titles first published in 2014 or 2015.

Female authors:
Saving Francesca by Melina Marchetta - COMPLETED 11 April 2015 - 5/5
Frantic by Katherine Howell- COMPLETED 6 April 2015 - 3.5/5
Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty (published 2014) - COMPLETED 11 August 2015 - 4/5
Girl, Defective by Simonne Howell - COMPLETED 7 September 2015 - 4/5

Male authors:
I Am the Messenger by Markus Zusak - COMPLETED 24 September 2015 - 4.5/5
The Rosie Effect by Graeme Simsion (published 2014) - COMPLETED 26 June 2015 - 1/5
The Narrow Road to the Deep North by Richard Flanagan - CUT
The Cold Cold Ground by Adrian McGinty - COMPLETED 15 October 2015 2/5
A Long Way Home by Saroo Brierley (non-fiction) - COMPLETED 10 February 2015 - 4/5

Authors new to me:
Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley - COMPLETED 3 April 2015 - 3.5/5
Strange Places by Will Elliott (non-fiction) - COMPLETED 2 April 2015 - 2/5
All That I Am by Anna Funder - COMPLETED 28 March 2015 - 4/5
Stolen: A Letter to My Captor by Lucy Christopher - COMPLETED 11 March 2015 - 5/5

I Am the Messenger by Markus Zusak - Aussie Author Challenge book.11

Book chat from me again.  A lot of readers in the blogger world agree that The Book Thief by Markus Zusak is a phenomenal piece of creative art.  I think so too.  So, I wanted to read another book of his, but I kept putting it off, because I thought "how can it be anywhere close to The Book Thief?"...I can now answer that.  It's different.  The setting is different.  The era is different.  The age of characters are different.  It's different, yet wonderful as well. 

I Am the Messenger by Markus Zusak - There is some really great stuff here.  At times, I got really annoyed and slightly angry.  Then, as the story continued, I liked that I had that response.  It was thought-provoking and demanded an array of emotions to be experienced.  I also felt encouraged, hopeful, and was brought to tears more than once.  Sometimes, I wanted to hug and applaud the main character; other times I wanted to tell him that he was a complete idiot.  Read it for yourself, and you decide. 4.5/5

I'd seen this quote before.  I gotta admit, when I read it in the actual book, I was especially moved by the power of these words.  These beautiful words about beautiful people are captured in a beautiful moment in the story.  Finding quotes like this in the actual context of a story is one of the beauties of a book.

I have more Markus Zusak news.  I am going to a speaking engagement of his at the Sydney Jewish Museum.  In my facebook news feed, I saw the event created.  I didn't even realize that I followed him on facebook, but I'm sure glad I do because in a matter of days, the event sold out.  As the event states, "Markus Zusak was born in Sydney, Australia. His mother Lisa is originally from Germany and his father Helmut is from Austria. They immigrated to Australia in the late 1950s."  I'm really looking forward to this.  I don't know what to expect, and I'm going solo, but I think this makes me feel like a serious bibliophile.  Or fangirl.  Or both.

 

I aimed to reach "Kangaroo" status with this challenge, and I'm fairly confident I'll do it! 

KANGAROO
– Read and review 12 titles written by Australian Authors of which at least 4 of those authors are female, at least 4 of those authors are male, and at least 4 of those authors are new to you;
– At least 6 fiction and at least 2 non-fiction, and at least 2 titles first published in 2014 or 2015.

Female authors:
Saving Francesca by Melina Marchetta - COMPLETED 11 April 2015 - 5/5
Frantic by Katherine Howell- COMPLETED 6 April 2015 - 3.5/5
Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty (published 2014) - COMPLETED 11 August 2015 - 4/5
Girl, Defective by Simonne Howell - COMPLETED 7 September 2015 - 4/5

Male authors:
I Am the Messenger by Markus Zusak - COMPLETED 24 September 2015 - 4.5/5
The Rosie Effect by Graeme Simsion (published 2014) - COMPLETED 26 June 2015 - 1/5
The Narrow Road to the Deep North by Richard Flanagan - CUT
The Cold Cold Ground by Adrian McGinty
A Long Way Home by Saroo Brierley (non-fiction) - COMPLETED 10 February 2015 - 4/5

Authors new to me:
Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley - COMPLETED 3 April 2015 - 3.5/5
Strange Places by Will Elliott (non-fiction) - COMPLETED 2 April 2015 - 2/5
All That I Am by Anna Funder - COMPLETED 28 March 2015 - 4/5
Stolen: A Letter to My Captor by Lucy Christopher - COMPLETED 11 March 2015 - 5/5

Before I go (since we're talking about books)...............September 27th through October 3rd is Banned Books Week - Celebrate the Freedom to Read - more information here: http://www.bannedbooksweek.org/
I got online, reserved the top most frequently challenged or banned young adult fiction book for 2014-2015 (The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie), and I'm going to read it this week!