Aussie Readers discussion

Continuing on from last month's theme, May's challenge is a combination of TASKS and/or SPELL-IT-OUT, where you pick and choose the task, spell-it-out option, or a combination of both, to complete your challenge.



Copy and paste the template below then fill in your book choices beside each one

Minimum of 4

Easy - TASKS (4) one Aussie author
Medium - SPELL-IT-OUT (min 5) two Aussie authors
Hard - TASKS plus SPELL-IT-OUT (min 9) three Aussie authors

Don't forget our guidelines HERE

TASKS:

1. May Day is 2nd May; Melbourne held the first May Day in 1892 - Read a Historical Fiction novel by an Aussie author

2. Mother's Day is 8th May - Read a book about family/mothers/relationships OR with MOTHER in the title OR with a strong female protagonist

3. As it's the MERRY MONTH OF MAY read a book that makes you laugh OR has laughing/smiling character/s on the cover

4. May is linked to flowers - Read a book with flowers on the cover OR in the title

SPELL-IT-OUT

Using the first letter of a book title or the first letter of the authors first or last name, spell out a May item from this list:

1. Mother
2. May Day
3. Merry
4. Happy
5. Taurus
6. Gemini
7. Flowers

HAPPY READING!

Participants


Ace
Brenda
Carolyn
Connie
Diana
Dree
Jacm
Jane
Janine
Jennifer
Kathryn
Kerri
Krystal
Loren
Mary
MichelleG
Michelle_Mck
Nicola
PattyMacDotComma
Pauline
Phrynne
Renee
Sally906
Stef
Tien
Valerie
Vickie
Zoey

Merry Month of May

10/10

TASKS:

1. May Day is 2nd May; Melbourne held the first May Day in 1892 - Read a Historical Fiction novel by an Aussie author

Murder in the Dark by Kerry Greenwood 4★s AA

2. Mother's Day is 8th May - Read a book about family/mothers/relationships OR with MOTHER in the title OR with a strong female protagonist

Be My Baby by Laura Greaves 5★s AA

3. As it's the MERRY MONTH OF MAY read a book that makes you laugh OR has laughing/smiling character/s on the cover

Band of Gold by Deborah Challinor 5★s AA/NZ

4. May is linked to flowers - Read a book with flowers on the cover OR in the title

Before You Were Mine by Em Muslin 3★s



SPELL-IT-OUT

Using the first letter of a book title or the first letter of the authors first or last name, spell out a May item from this list:

1. Mother
2. May Day
3. Merry
4. Happy
5. Taurus
6. Gemini
7. Flowers

T - The Darathi Vorsi Prince by Tameri Etherton 4★s
A - Closing Down by Sally Abbott 5★s AA
U - Union Belle by Deborah Challinor 5★s AA/NZ
R - One to Watch by Rachel Amphlett 5★s AA
U - Under the Lilacs by Louisa May Alcott 4★s
S - The Stranger Inside by Jennifer Jaynes 3.5★s

11/11

1. Historical fiction by an Aussie author. Nightingale by Fiona McIntosh AA 3 stars.

2. Mother in title. The Mother Tongue: English and How It Got That Way by Bill Bryson4 stars

3. Smiles on the cover. Paper Chains by Nicola Moriarty AA 3 stars

4. Flowers on the cover. Purity in Death by J.D. Robb5 stars




F Fire Sale by Sara Paretsky 4 stars
L Lover Reborn by J.R. Ward5 stars
O One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez 3 stars
W The Wreckage by Michael Robotham AA 4 stars
E The End of the Day by Claire North 5 stars
R Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo 4 stars
S Staked by Kevin Hearne 4 stars

I'll be in - still struggling to finish my April challenge - running out of month.

So I'll aim for easy and see how I go:

Historical Fiction: A Woman Transported by Sharon Robards - AA - 2★s
Mother in Title: Mother of All by Heather Marie Adkins - 3★s
Makes me Laugh: Some Were In Time by Robyn Peterman - 5★s
Flowers on cover or in title: Unwrapping Her Perfect Match by Kat Latham - 4★s

Still have 10 days Sally :) Some good titles too... loved A Woman Transported!

I still have six books left to read in April:) I keep getting distracted and reading book that are not in my challenges.

Brenda wrote: "Still have 10 days Sally :) Some good titles too... loved A Woman Transported!"
Been meaning to read it for a while - will tick the box on a couple of challenges if I manage it :)

Phrynne wrote: "I still have six books left to read in April:) I keep getting distracted and reading book that are not in my challenges."

If you start now, you'll definitely finish Phrynne :)

Sally906 wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Still have 10 days Sally :) Some good titles too... loved A Woman Transported!"
Been meaning to read it for a while - will tick the box on a couple of challenges if I..."

I hope you can - it's really good IMO :)

Phrynne wrote: "I still have six books left to read in April:) I keep getting distracted and reading book that are not in my challenges."

That's my excuse too - I feel like that fish that say I'm not going to do something (ie read a book not on my list) when kapow - I see a non list book pick it up and am immersed!!!

Can't wait to pick the titles for this challenge...

Merry Month of May

5/11

TASKS:

1. May Day is 2nd May; Melbourne held the first May Day in 1892 - Read a Historical Fiction novel by an Aussie author
Spirit of Lost Angels by Liza Perrat AA 5 stars

2. Mother's Day is 8th May - Read a book about family/mothers/relationships OR with MOTHER in the title OR with a strong female protagonist
Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty AA 4 stars

3. As it's the MERRY MONTH OF MAY read a book that makes you laugh OR has laughing/smiling character/s on the cover Finger Lickin' Fifteen by Janet Evanovich 4 stars


4. May is linked to flowers - Read a book with flowers on the cover OR in the title
The billionaire and the virgin - extended epilogue by Bella Love-Wins 3.5 stars

SPELL-IT-OUT

F Power Game by Christine Feehan 5 stars

LLet it Byrneby Holly Hart4 stars

O Our Kind of Love by Victoria Purman AA 4 stars

WWicked Wolf Shifters by Anna Craig 4 stars

E Etched in Bone by Anne Bishop 4.5 stars

R Room by Emma Donoghue 3.5 stars

S The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien 2 stars (I just couldn't get into this book). Alternate book: Kakadu Sunset by Annie Seaton AA 5 stars...loved this book

Sally906 wrote: "Phrynne wrote: "I still have six books left to read in April:) I keep getting distracted and reading book that are not in my challenges."

That's my excuse too - I feel like that fish that say I'm ..."

Haha! I can visualise!

Jennifer wrote: "Can't wait to pick the titles for this challenge...

Merry Month of May



TASKS:

1. May Day is 2nd May; Melbourne held the first May Day in 1892 - Read a Historical Fiction novel by an Aussie aut..."

Enjoy that process Jennifer!

Brenda wrote: "Merry Month of May

0/10

TASKS:

1. May Day is 2nd May; Melbourne held the first May Day in 1892 - Read a
Historical Fiction
novel by an Aussie author

[book:A Kiss from Mr Fitzgerald|2896542..."


I read the Barbed Wire and Roses book last year it's really good. I hope you enjoy it.

Thanks Jennifer, I'm looking forward to it :)

In for yet another easy TASKS this month! Miss Marple may not be muscly but she most definitely has a "strong" personality! Click star rating to see review once published and linked. AA = Aussie author.

Progress: 4/4

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ #1 Historical Burial Rites by Hannah Kent (2013) (AA)
★★★★☆ #2 Female The Thirteen Problems by Agatha Christie (1932)
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ #3 Laugh The Life and Loves of a She Devil by Fay Weldon (1983)
★★★★☆ #4 Flowers Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes (1958)



Update: Now that I've read the books, I would swap them around and actually put The Thirteen Problems (1932) in the #3 makes-me-laugh slot, and The Life and Loves of a She Devil (1983) in #2 strong-female-protagonist instead.

★☆ ♥

I still have 5 books left for April that I'm not sure I'll finish in time, but of course I'm going to commit to a heap of new ones for May.

TASKS:

✔1.Historical Fiction novel by an Aussie author Spirits of the Ghan AA

✔2.Read a book about family/mothers/relationships Me & Emma

✔3. book that makes you laugh OR has laughing/smiling character/s on the cover If You Ask Me

✔4. book with flowers on the cover Life is But a Dream

SPELL-IT-OUT

✔M Malicious Intent AA
✔O The One-in-a-Million Boy
✔T Beachcombers by Nancy Thayer
✔HThe History of Love
✔E An Easeful Death AA
✔R Right Behind You

I am going for hard - Tasks + Spell-it-Out

Tasks
#1 Historical Fiction by Australian Author
The Cloud Leopard's Daughter by Deborah Challinor(AA)
#2 Mother in Title
Her Mother's Secret by Natasha Lester(AA)
#3 Book that makes me laugh
The Road to Little Dribbling: More Notes From a Small Island by Bill Bryson
#4 Flowers on Cover
A Letter from Italy by Pamela Hart(AA)


Spell-it-out
M - Mr. Perfect by Linda Howard
E - When The Duke Returns by Eloisa James
R - I'm Watching You by Karen Rose
R - The Songbird Sisters by Rachael Herron
Y - A Dissection of Murder by Felicity Young(AA)

I'm in! I will aim for Easy and will work on Tasks... subject to change of course :-)

0/3 Read

1. May Day is 2nd May; Melbourne held the first May Day in 1892 - Read a Historical Fiction novel by an Aussie author
TBC

2. Mother's Day is 8th May - Read a book about family/mothers/relationships OR with MOTHER in the title OR with a strong female protagonist
Good Money by J.M. Green **AA**

3. As it's the MERRY MONTH OF MAY read a book that makes you laugh OR has laughing/smiling character/s on the cover
Dumplin' by Julie Murphy

4. May is linked to flowers - Read a book with flowers on the cover OR in the title
Tbc

I'm in for Easy


1. Aus Author Hist. Fiction - A Pirate for Christmas by Anna Campbell 3★
2. Strong Female - W is for Wasted by Sue Grafton 3.5★
3. Smile on Cover - One Time Thing by Tess McCallum 4.5★
4. Flowers in Title - The Rose Garden by Susanna Kearsley 5★

I'm in - Gemini cause that's what i am.


G Goldenhand - Garth Nix (A)
E Earthly Delights - Kerry Greenwood (A)
✔M Mass, Sarah - A Court of Wings and Ruin
I Inverting the Pyramid: The History of Football Tactics - Jonathan Wilson
N Nix, Garth - Clariel
I I See You by Clare Mackintosh

That's why I've chosen Taurus Renee :)

I'm in - will try for HARD but will be away for part of May so that might make it easier or harder!

Tasks
Historical Fiction: Raisins and Almonds by Kerry Greenwood AA 4*
Mother (Strong character/relationships) : The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty AA 4.5*
Makes me Laugh: The Light Fantastic by Terry Pratchett 5*
Flowers on cover or in title: Queen of the Flowers by Kerry Greenwood AA 4*



Spell It Out Had to choose MOTHER as I'll be visiting my Mum in the UK during May!
M -The Wrong Side of Goodbye by Michael Connelly 5*
O - The Other Side of Dawn by John Marsden AA 5*
T - A Time to Run by J.M. Peace AA 5*
H - Pig Island by Mo Hayder 4*
E - Ready Player One by Ernest Cline 5*
R - The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan 4*

Oh good books Jane. You have several of my favourite authors there:)

OK I will do easy. Let me check my TBR

1. Historical Aussie Miss Lily's Lovely Ladies

2. relationship/mother/strong female Crazy as Chocolate

3. funny or smiling The Aeronaut's Windlass (although it remains to be seen whether I will laugh)

4. flowers

Jane wrote: "I'm in - will try for HARD but will be away for part of May so that might make it easier or harder!

Tasks
Historical Fiction: Raisins and Almonds by Kerry Greenwood..."

Have a great time! Some really good books there too :)

I'll definitely complete Easy and hopefully Hard if I get all my seasonal challenges finished :)

✔ #1. May Day - AA historical novel - A Kiss from Mr Fitzgerald by Natasha Lester AA 4★
✔ #2. Mothers Day - book about families - The Starlings by Vivienne Kelly AA 5★
✔ #3. Merry month of May- book that makes you laugh - Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman 5★
✔ #4. Flowers in title or on cover - Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann 5★



✔ G Gemina by Amie Kaufman AA 5★
✔ E The Essex Serpent by Sarah Perry 4★
✔ M The Magpies by Mark Edwards 4★
✔ I The Invisible Library by Genevieve Cogman 5★
✔ N Noteworthy by Riley Redgate 4★
✔ I Into the Water by Paula Hawkins 4★

All in, as always :)

COMPLETED

1. May Day: Gould's Book of Fish by Richard Flanagan (AA) -Read 05/05

2. Mother's Day: The Wonder by Emma Donoghue -Read 26/05

3. MERRY MONTH OF MAY: Man Drought by Rachael Johns (AA) -Read 02/05

4. flowers: The Street of a Thousand Blossoms by Gail Tsukiyama -Read 17/05



M: The Man Who Loved Children by Christina Stead (AA) -Read 05/10
O: One Second After (After #1) by William R. Forstchen -Read 29/05
T: Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor -Read 23/05
H: The House of Dolls (Pieter Vos #1) by David Hewson -Read 17/05
E: Medea and Other Plays by Euripides -Read 03/05
R: The Highland Lass by Rosemary Gemmell -Read 03/05

Snap on #1 Carolyn!

Don't forget to mark which books are by Aussie Authors everyone :)

Brenda wrote: "Snap on #1 Carolyn!"

:) Looking forward to it!

Me too :)

Stef wrote: "OK I will do easy. Let me check my TBR

1. Historical Aussie Miss Lily's Lovely Ladies

2. relationship/mother/strong female Crazy as Chocolate

3. funny or smiling ..."

Any AAs there Stef?

Mother, may I? Not sure I'll finish, but here goes:
MOTHER

M – Feel Me Fall by James Morris READ 4.5★
O – One Leg Over by AUSSIE Robin Dalton READ 4★
T – The Best of Adam Sharp by AUSSIE Graeme Simsion READ 4★
H – The Dressmaker by AUSSIE Rosalie Ham READ 4★
E – Anything Is Possible by Elizabeth Strout READ 5★
R – Room by Emma Donoghue READ 5★

Just an easy one for me this month. So, I'm doing the TASKS:

Progress: 4/4 - FINISHED!!

1. Historical Fiction novel by an Aussie author: Burial Rites by Hannah Kent - 5 stars
2. Book with a strong female character: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis - 5 stars
3. Book that makes me laugh: Seriously... I'm Kidding by Ellen DeGeneres - 4 stars
4. Book with flowers on the cover: Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw - 3 stars

I will give it ago. I will go for easy.
Historical Fiction by an Aussie Author The Maya CodexAdrian D'Hage (AA).
Book with Mother in title The Rice MotherRani Manicka
Book that makes me laugh A Few Well-Frozen Worms
Book with flowers on cover The Lavender Keeper by Fiona McIntosh

[

I'm in for the Easy TASKS, with FOUR Aussie authors !

1. May Day is 2nd May; Melbourne held the first May Day in 1892 - Read a Historical Fiction novel by an Aussie author
Burial Rites by Hannah Kent

2. Mother's Day is 8th May - Read a book about family/mothers/relationships OR with MOTHER in the title OR with a strong female protagonist
Family Secrets by Liz Byrski

3. As it's the MERRY MONTH OF MAY read a book that makes you laugh OR has laughing/smiling character/s on the cover
Error Australis by Ben Pobjie
4. May is linked to flowers - Read a book with flowers on the cover OR in the title
The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty

Nice choices Valerie and well done!!

I'm happy to participate in the May challenge. I'll tackle the Easy level of the Tasks, i.e. four books for the month. Titles to be advised later.
I love the image that you've chosen to illustrate this challenge - both colourful and quaint.

It's a great pic isn't it Mary :)

I'm sure these choices will change!! But for the moment, the plan is:


1. A Historical Fiction novel by an Aussie author
Tiger Men by Judy Nunn

2. Read a book about family/mothers/relationships OR with MOTHER in the title OR with a strong female protagonist
TBD

3. A book that makes you laugh OR has laughing/smiling character/s on the cover
Kisses from Katie: A Story of Relentless Love and Redemption by Katie J. Davis

4. A book with flowers on the cover OR in the title
Winter in Full Bloom by Anita Higman

Count me in - although definately easy, I seem to be on a bit of a reading go-slow :)

May Day - historical fiction AA The Light Between Oceans (AA) by ML Steadman

✔Mothers Day -female relationships - Number the Stars - Lois Lowry ★★★★

Merry May - funny The Colour of Magic by Terry Pratchett

May - flowers Earthly Powers by Anthony Burgess

Earthly powers has 1 flower - hope that qualifies?

Not long until we can start this challenge guys!

Janine wrote: "I am going for hard - Tasks + Spell-it-Out

Tasks
#1 Historical Fiction by Australian Author
The Cloud Leopard's Daughter by Deborah Challinor(AA)
#2 Mother in Title..."

I loved Mr Perfect. I read it years ago with many other of her titles and it made me laugh out loud.

I spent the whole evening putting this list together and getting it into this space and then linking all the books and authors. As I hit the last enter before saving it all, I accidently hit another key which whipped me from here to a new page. I am tired and cranky now so here is my list and I will come back over the weekend and re-link everything properly.

TASKS:

1. - Read an Historical Fiction novel by an Aussie author Miss Lily's Lovely Ladies by Jackie French AA 4*
2. Mother's Day is 8th May - Read a book with MOTHER in the title The Rice Mother by Rani Manicka
3. read a book that makes you laugh OR has laughing/smiling character/s on the cover Man Drought by Rachael Johns (AA) 4*
4. Read a book with flowers on the cover The Dressmaker by Rosalie Ham AA

SPELL-IT-OUT
F Assassin's Fate by Robin Hobb (Fitz and the Fool Series) 5*
L The Lucky One by Caroline Overington AA
One Shot by Lee Child 4*
Wicked Abyss by Kresley Cole
Error Australis by Ben Pobjie AA
Reckoning: A Memoir by Magda Szubanski AA 4*
Someone to Hold by Mary Balogh 4*

Easy

1. May Day is 2nd May; Melbourne held the first May Day in 1892 - Read a Historical Fiction novel by an Aussie author
Wolfsangel by Liza Perrat

Aussie Author

2. Mother's Day is 8th May - Read a book about family/mothers/relationships OR with MOTHER in the title OR with a strong female protagonist
Red Sister by Mark Lawrence


3. As it's the MERRY MONTH OF MAY read a book that makes you laugh OR has laughing/smiling character/s on the cover
The Happiest Refugee: A Memoir by Anh Do

Aussie Author

4. May is linked to flowers - Read a book with flowers on the cover OR in the title
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See

1. "Territory" by Judy Nunn AA
2. "Mrs Kelly" Grantlee Kieza AA
3. "Girl in Between" Anna Daniels AA
4. "Snow Flower and the Secret Fan" by Lisa Lee

H "The Harp in the South" by Ruth Park AA
A "Asking for Trouble" by Peter Simms AA
P "Picnic at Hanging Rock" by Joan Lindsay AA
P "The Broken Shore" by Peter Temple AA
Y "Yesterday's Girl" by Anna Jacobs AA

Mary wrote: "I spent the whole evening putting this list together and getting it into this space and then linking all the books and authors. As I hit the last enter before saving it all, I accidently hit anothe..."

Hate it when that happens Mary:)

Pauline wrote: "1. "Territory" by Judy Nunn
2. "Mother Teresa" by Lucinda Varcley
3. "Secondhand Souls" by Christopher Moore
4. "Snow Flower and the Secret Fan" by Lisa Lee

H "The Harp in the South" by Ruth Park
..."

Please can you link your titles Pauline and mark the ones that are Aussie:)