Australian Women Writers Challenge discussion

I am a late arrival to the challenge, having signed up only a couple of weeks ago, in early October. Here's my reading list, which has shifted and changed and been added to since its original creation (last updated 15-Dec-2013):

1. I for Isobel, by Amy Witting (1990) - Read and reviewed here on GR, and also here: Like Telling the Truth. (5/5)

2. Whisky Charlie Foxtrot, by Annabel Smith (2012) - Read. Not reviewing, for personal reasons to do with the subject matter and my own life experiences, but it's a good read and I would recommend it. (4/5)

3. All the Birds, Singing, by Evie Wyld (2013) - still to read

4. The Night Guest, by Fiona McFarlane (2013) - still to read

5. The Last Magician: A Novel, by Janette Turner Hospital (1992) - Read through Book I, which is up to about 150 pages or so, and then abandoned. I explain why here. (2/5)

6. Drylands, by Thea Astley (1999) - Read. Not reviewing but it's marvellous. (5/5) An aside: I am completely infatuated with Thea Astley. She writes like a dream. The only one of hers I've read prior to this is Hunting the Wild Pineapple, which is also stunning (my review).

7. Cliffs of Fall and Other Stories, by Shirley Hazzard (1963) - read and reviewed briefly here. (5/5)

8. I tossed into the mix Kate Grenville's powerful novel, The Secret River, and my review is here on GR, and also here: Like Telling the Truth.

As of Monday, 16-December-2013, I am suspending my participation in the Challenge until January. This has been my first year to do this, and I find that I get bored reading a whole slew of writers who are all Australian women, one after another after another, despite their talent and diversity — both of which are substantial, by the way. I have never done any kind of reading challenge before, and I’d not realised that I simply do not read this way, for a very good reason: my attention and appreciation for the books and authors I am reading begin to wane after a while.

I read typically across cultures, but have mostly read books from writers who are British, American, Australian, Japanese, Indian, South American (Columbian, Chilean, et al.), French, or Russian. The books of a bazillion other countries linger in my imagination as far pavilions yet to be discovered. Also, I tend to read across genres and I like to mix up men and women authors (when will we expand this to include alternative genders, I wonder?).

All that to say, I have two books remaining to complete my challenge (although, I have read six books, and only signed up for six, these two were on the list from the beginning: Evie Wyld's All the Birds, Singing and Fiona McFarlane's The Night Guest. I will read them in the new year and decide then whether to review them. Happy December reading to everyone!

The challenge is wonderful isn't it? And there's always next year if you don't finish all of the above!

Debbie wrote: "The challenge is wonderful isn't it? And there's always next year if you don't finish all of the above!"

Hi, Debbbie. Yes, I am enjoying it. It's my first year to participate. I keep adding books, though :)

Yep! I have a long list!

I have been enjoying so many Australian women writers over the past few months, in addition to my list. Shirley Hazzard writes a great short story! Along with the novels, I have been interspersing short stories from Cliffs of Fall and Other Stories. I've not read any of her novels yet, but plan to do so.