Aussie Readers discussion

I am doing this challenge along with 2 other GR friends. They are not part of AR but we will be doing it together. Happy to have anyone else that finds it interesting join in.
Here is the challenge:

http://media1.popsugar-assets.com/fil...

I haven't really selected my books yet. May be choosing them as I go I think and in no specific order but rather as they take my fancy or possibly fit into other challenges.

Good for you Elaine:) It's definitely a challenging one - right out of people's comfort zones!

Good luck with it, and keep us updated won't you:)

I'm doing this as well, Elaine! I'll post it in my personal challenge thread and will look forward to seeing your choices!

Thanks Brenda. I will. Yes it seemed like an interesting one and one that does challenge. That's why I haven't even really started thinking about it!!! :)

Try to use as much from your TBR as you can - especially your owned TBR:) Good luck!

Oh wow Kathryn!!! Are you doing the exact same challenge? That's fantastic. I will definitely check in with you as we go. I'm doing it with Kym ( Nick's GF) and her Mum is doing it also. It will be interesting to see what we all come up with.

Elaine wrote: "Oh wow Kathryn!!! Are you doing the exact same challenge? That's fantastic. I will definitely check in with you as we go. I'm doing it with Kym ( Nick's GF) and her Mum is doing it also. It will be..."

Yes, it's a yearly challenge in another GR group. I've added it to my thread in the personal challenge folder. I've made some choices, but not all...

Yes I just saw your post and followed your link. I didn't realise it was actually listed here on GR although it did say you could link to GR. I think I will try to do most of it and adapt it to suit my Aussie books where I need it to. Some of them are hard to work out. Like read a book with your occupation in it or a book that's guaranteed to bring you joy. How do I know? An easy one would be the first book you see in a bookshop. Maybe I should start with that one?

A book from the library will be easy for me, and a murder mystery!

And it's not an Australian book, and I don't think you own it, but The Yellow-Lighted Bookshop: A Memoir, a History by Lewis Buzbee is written by a man who runs a bookstore which I'd say is close enough!

Know any books about dietitians?!

Thanks Kathryn!!! I'll look out for that one. And it doesn't necessarily have to be Australian. I know books written by dietitians. Does that count? Ha,ha.

It's OK - I already have a couple of options if I can't find a book with a dietitian as a main character!

How about this one Kathryn? Death For A Dietitian .
Although I don't think there's a dietitian in it. Just in the title. Or this one Amorous Dietitian. Sounds a bit too raunchy. Don't think you'd like it.

Elaine wrote: "How about this one Kathryn? Death For A Dietitian .
Although I don't think there's a dietitian in it. Just in the title. Or this one Amorous Dietitian. Sounds a bit t..."

Raunchy is one word, soppy is another! Did you see the cover of Amorous Dietitian? Pathetic!! Not that I judge books by their covers, but still...! I think I'll pass on both of those, Elaine! But thanks anyway!

By the way, The Yellow-Lighted Bookshop is non-fiction, and it wasn't specifically about owning and running a bookshop - it was more about the history of book-selling - it was very interesting.

Yes agree Kathryn. It does look pretty corny and dated. I've just realised that this challenge may actually add more books to my TBR than I really want to add. I will have to look carefully through my list and see if what I have on there qualifies. Although I'm sure I will still be adding some.

Wow, that's an interesting challenge!

Brenda wrote: "Try to use as much from your TBR as you can - especially your owned TBR:) Good luck!"

That's the plan Brenda although I can already see a few of the categories will need a new book!!!

Good luck!

Stef wrote: "I will do this one (like you as it happens)

Book based on a fairytale:
National Book Award winner:
YA bestseller:
Haven't read since high school:
Set in your home state (tough for me from South Au..."

Stef you might want to follow this on the GR link. There is actually a group doing it formally. Brenda maybe you can help Stef with the link as I can't find it now except through Kathryn's link. It was my son's girlfriend who sent this to me on FB and so we decided to do it together, along with her Mum. We are all GR members too but ours is an informal group and it's more to see how far we get with it.

Leonie wrote: "Wow, that's an interesting challenge!"

It definitely gets you thinking Leonie. I'm hoping it will help me whittle down my huge TBR. But of course it may only make it larger!!!!

Elaine wrote: "Leonie wrote: "Wow, that's an interesting challenge!"

It definitely gets you thinking Leonie. I'm hoping it will help me whittle down my huge TBR. But of course it may only make it larger!!!!"

LOL!

Elaine wrote: "Stef wrote: "I will do this one (like you as it happens)

Book based on a fairytale:
National Book Award winner:
YA bestseller:
Haven't read since high school:
Set in your home state (tough for me ..."

I'm sure there are probably many GR groups doing this. The one that I'm doing it with is 2015 and 2016 Reading Challenge with their thread for it here: http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/1...

So feel free to join this group and sign up for the challenge, but if you are a member of other groups, Stef, there's probably a good chance one of them will be doing it!!

Great challenge Elaine. Good luck :)

Thanks Sharon. I'll see how I go. I didn't finish the last personal challenge I attempted about 2 years ago!!!

Never mind I haven't completed this years personal challenge, so I think I'll give it a miss for next year. It's all good fun that's the main thing and I'm sure you'll complete this one :)

Thanks Sharon and you're right. It's having a go that's the fun part or should be not necessarily finishing. :)

Good Luck Elaine :)

Thanks Julie. I will probably need it!!! :)

You'll be right Elaine:) Just concentrate on the challenge books and you'll make it without any trouble:)

Aww thanks Brenda. You have more faith in me than I do I think. Hey were your ears burning? We were talking about you yesterday and that you've practically read one book a day. That is a herculean effort. You are amazing.

Thanks E :) I appreciate it...but it's fun! And of course I have faith in you....

Elaine wrote: "Thanks Julie. I will probably need it!!! :)"

I wouldn't worry, Elaine - no reason you can't extend it over 2 years if you wanted to. Just enjoy your reading along the way!

Exactly right Kathryn...enjoyment is the key:)

Thanks girls. And yes I agree. If it's not fun then it's not worth it. I'm really not that concerned about finishing it and I'm planning to read some chunksters next year as well so I will do what I can.

I will be starting this challenge with two books:

No.30 A Book with a Blue Cover: Mr Mercedes
and

No. 39 A Book set on an Island: Solomon's Noose - The True Story of Her Majesty's Hangman of Hobart.

Good choices Elaine!!! I hope you have a little one to keep you going for 24 hours? I'm just trying to find one for the same reason:)

Thanks Brenda. The first comes highly recommended by Kathryn and the second one just sounds like a fascinating read. It's also a library book so I wonder if I can use it for that category also? I'll see how I go and if I need to double up I might. I'm finishing one off now and as I've been working all week and working all day till 5 tomorrow it's all I'll manage to do I think till the new year.

Oh are you?? That's a shame:( Oh well... have a happy New Year anyway :D

You too Brenda. Happy New Year. I will have a week off from NY's day and we are going away to Phillip Island so will catch up on some reading then hopefully. I plan to just spend the week reading!!! Don't even care about the beach or anything else. Lol.

Oh wow! That's great:) I'd love to go there one day! Have a wonderful time:) And thanks...

I think this challenge is terrific and I love the list. There is great diversity and a wide range of genres. If I hadn't already committed to the Aussie Readers 2016 challenge at the middling level, I'd be right into this Elaine.

Looking through the list, I accessed Oprah's Book Club lists and was impressed by the choices. It made me realise that there is a wealth of high quality US reading available, beyond the trashy best-sellers. I also smiled to see several titles by Bill Cosby on the list, which makes me wonder if Oprah needs to revise her list sometime real soon, given current events regarding that formerly praised comedian. We live in interesting times, dear readers...

Elaine wrote: "You too Brenda. Happy New Year. I will have a week off from NY's day and we are going away to Phillip Island so will catch up on some reading then hopefully. I plan to just spend the week reading!!..."

As a former resident of Phillip Island, Elaine, I whole-heartedly say, remember it is a lovely place to visit, particularly for a beach holiday in summer, but you should never, EVER consider living there. EVER!!! Make sure you go home to civilisation after enjoying what it has to offer.

I think the list is interesting too Mary albeit with a bit of an American influence but I think I can make it work for me with some Aussie books and classics. Haven't looked at Oprah's list yet. I'm just doing the challenge as the categories take my fancy.

Now you've made me curious about Phillip Island. We are actually staying in San Remo which we love and have been there a few times on holidays. It's our go to place when we can't go interstate. Phillip Island is a bit too busy and commercial but is still a gorgeous spot.

good luck! what an interesting challenge :)

Thanks Laura.

The Challenge and The Books:

1. A book based on a fairy tale: Mothers Grimm

2. A National Book Award Winner: As this is a US award I'm going to interpret it as any national award winner and chose a Man Booker Prize winner: A Brief History of Seven Killings (2015)

3. A YA Bestseller: Wonder

4. A book you haven't read since high school: Wuthering Heights

5. A book set in your home state: The Forgotten Rebels of Eureka
6. A Book translated to English: The City of Dreaming Books translated from the German.

7. A romance set in the future: Naked in Death


8. A book set in Europe: Rebecca's Tale

9. A book under 150 pages: The lost honour of Katharina Blum, or, How violence develops and where it can lead

10. A New York Times Best Seller: The Girl on the Train

11. A book that's becoming a movie this year: The Night Circus

12. A book recommended by someone you just met: Ashley Bell

13. A self-improvement book: The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love That Lasts

14. A book you can finish in a day: How Full Is Your Bucket? Educator's Edition: Positive Strategies for Work and Life

15. A book written by a celebrity: The Happiest Refugee: A Memoir

16. A Political memoir: The Dismissal

17. A book at least 100 years older than you: Les Misérables

18. A book that's more than 600 pages: The Goldfinch

19. A book from Oprah's book club: The Invention of Wings

20. A science fiction novel: The Stand

21. A book recommended by a family member: Disgrace ( Hubby)

22. A graphic novel: World of Warcraft: Ashbringer Not really sure I can actually read this or any other graphic novel!!!

23. A book that is published in 2016: The Midnight Watch: A Novel of the Titanic and the Californian ( April)

24. A book with a protagonist that has your occupation: The Little Paris Bookshop

25. A book that takes place during Summer: Simmering Season

26. A book and it's prequel: Shift and Dust

27. A murder mystery: The Silkworm

28. A book written by a comedian: Dear Fatty

29. A Dystopian novel: Fahrenheit 451

30. A book with a blue cover: Mr Mercedes

31. A book of poetry: Aurelia

32. The first book you see in a bookstore: All the Light We Cannot See

33. A classic from the 20th century: Harp In The South

34. A book from the library: Finding Fraser

35. An autobiography: Lucky

36. A book about a road trip: Into the Wild

37. A book about a culture you're unfamiliar with: Nine Parts of Desire: The Hidden World of Islamic Women

38. A satirical book: 1984

39. A book that takes place on an island: Solomon's Noose - The True Story of Her Majesty's Hangman of Hobart.

40. A book that's guaranteed to bring you joy: A Dreadful Daughter's Spells

Wow! Great list there Elaine:) Enjoy!

Thanks Brenda. I still have a few to add and of course there's no guarantee I won't be changing my mind through the year or maybe not even get to all of them!!!

That's what we all do Elaine;)

Finished my first for this challenge. No.31 a book of poetry. Aurelia.

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