Aussie Readers discussion

NOVEMBER and it is time to do a clean up of our shelves and make some space for all those lovely new books we hope to receive as gifts at Xmas.

We have a combination of TASKS and/or SPELL IT OUT where you can choose to do either/or or both.

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

Minimum of 4

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

TASKS

1) Read the book which has been on your TBR shelf the longest.
2) Read a book from a series you have started but not finished.
3) Read a book you bought but have not got round to reading yet.
4) Read the book with the oldest publication date on your shelf.

SPELL-IT-OUT

For this part of the challenge, choose a word that has some association with November. Then choose your books from your TBR shelf using the first letter of the title or the author's first or second name. Some possible words to use could be:-
Cup Day
racing
eleven
Scorpio
Sagittarius
Topaz
Citrine
November
Chrysanthemum
Ashes
Cricket
Motorsport

For example if you chose topaz:
T A Torch Against the Night by Sabaa Tahir
O An Offer From a Gentleman by Julia Quinn
PHardball by Sara Paretsky
A All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven
Z Zoo by James Patterson

As usual you can choose to ignore the, a and an at the beginning of the title.

Have a really great reading month everyone:)

Ace
Brad
Brenda
Carolyn
Deborah
Diana
Dree
Jacm
Jane
Janine
Jennifer
Jenny
Karina
Kerri
Krystal
Kylie
Li'l Owl
Loren
Mell
Melissa
MichelleG
Mima
Nancy
Nicola
Nicole
Odette
Phrynne
Sally
Sandra
Sue
Suzie
Tien
Valerie
Zoey

November Clean Up Challenge
10/10

TASKS

1) Read the book which has been on your TBR shelf the longest.
The Diamond Age: or, A Young Lady's Illustrated Primer by Neal Stephenson 3 stars

2) Read a book from a series you have started but not finished.
Northwest Angle by William Kent Krueger 5 stars

3) Read a book you bought but have not got round to reading yet.
Cast Iron by Peter May 4 stars

4) Read the book with the oldest publication date on your shelf.
The Cornish Coast Murder by John Bude (First published 1935) 4 stars



SPELL-IT-OUT
R First Person by Richard Flanagan AA 3 stars
A Blind Justice by Bruce Alexander 4 stars
C Dark Chemistry by Catherine Lee AA 4 stars
I The Ideal Bride by Stephanie LaurensAA 3 stars
N Headhunters by Jo Nesbø 2 stars
G D is for Deadbeat by Sue Grafton 3 stars

I am doing easy - (Read 4 books) one Aussie author – here are my picks:

1) Read the book which has been on your TBR shelf the longest:
Mellington Hall by Meredith Resce - AA – Has been on my Aussie Author TBR the longest - February 2013

2) Read a book from a series you have started but not finished.
All Roar and No Bite by Celia Kyle - 2nd in a series I started ages ago and wanted to continue with

3) Read a book you bought but have not got round to reading yet.
The North Pole Challenge by Kevin George

4) Read the book with the oldest publication date on your shelf.
Upper Fourth at Malory Towers by Enid Blyton - published 1949

November Clean Up Challenge

Progress: 10/11

TASKS

✔ 1) Read the book which has been on your TBR shelf the longest. - Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher. Read: 16 Nov, Rated: 4 stars
✔ 2) Read a book from a series you have started but not finished. - This World We Live In by Susan Beth Pfeffer. Read: 13 Nov, Rated: 4 stars
✔ 3) Read a book you bought but have not got round to reading yet. - Reading Magic by Mem Fox. Read: 9 Nov, Rated: 5 stars
✔ 4) Read the book with the oldest publication date on your shelf. - Macbeth by William Shakespeare. Read: 27 Nov, Rated: 3 stars



SPELL-IT-OUT: Scorpio

✔ S - Sapphire Skies by Belinda Alexandra (AA). Read: 1 Dec, Rated: 5 stars
✔ C - The Chocolate Promise by Josephine Moon (AA). Read: 26 Nov, Rated: 3 stars
O - One Plus One by Jojo Moyes
✔ R - Ruined by Amy Tintera. Read: 23 Nov, Rated: 3 stars
✔ P - Picnic at Hanging Rock by Joan Lindsay (AA). Read: 27 Nov, Rated: 3 stars
✔ I - Indigo Storm by Fleur McDonald (AA). Read: 1 Dec, Rated: 5 stars
✔ O - Onyx by Jennifer L. Armentrout. Read: 26 Nov, Rated: 4 stars

November Clean Up Challenge
9/9

TASKS

✔1) Read the book which has been on your TBR shelf the longest. Cold Grave AA
✔2) Read a book from a series you have started but not finished.Cold JusticeAA
✔3) Read a book you bought but have not got round to reading yet.Disturbing the Dust AA
✔4) Read the book with the oldest publication date on your shelf.Pride and Prejudice


SPELL IT OUT
Remembrance Day:
✔P The People of Forever Are Not Afraid
✔O Once
✔P Damaged by Pamela Callow
✔P The Prey
✔Y You Will Not Have My Hate

November Clean Up Challenge
2/4

TASKS

1) Read the book which has been on your TBR shelf the longest.
The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger

2) Read a book from a series you have started but not finished.
A Very Russian Christmas by Roxie Rivera 3★

3) Read a book you bought but have not got round to reading yet.
Isla's Inheritance by Cassandra Page Australian author 4★

4) Read the book with the oldest publication date on your shelf.
Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift First published 1726

November Clean Up Challenge
10/10 (min 3 AA)

TASKS (4/4)

1) Read the book which has been on your TBR shelf the longest.
Worldshaker (Worldshaker #1) by Richard Harland (AA) -Read 24/11

2) Read a book from a series you have started but not finished.
Six Impossible Things (The Six Impossiverse #1) by Fiona Wood (AA) -Read 24/11
I've read book #3 in series a couple of years ago & have been meaning to finish the series by reading ealier books

3) Read a book you bought but have not got round to reading yet.
again, so many... A Thousand Pieces of You (Firebird #1) by Claudia Gray -Read 11/09

4) Read the book with the oldest publication date on your shelf.
totally not in the mood to attempt The Iliad so oldest pub on tbr by AA is Lady Bridget in the Never-Never Land by Rosa Praed (first published in 1915) - Read 17/11



SPELL-IT-OUT (6/6)
(am totally indecisive so randomizer has picked this for me...; thank goodness it's not Chrysanthemum lol)

R - Robb, J.D. - Glory in Death (In Death #2) -Read 11/11
A - Annie Seaton - Kakadu Sunset (The Porter Sisters #1) (AA) -Read 11/11
C - Come In Spinner by Dymphna Cusack & Florence James (AA) -Read 24/11
I - The Idea of Perfection by Kate Grenville (AA) -Read 11/03
N - The Next Accident (Quincy & Rainie #3) by Lisa Gardner -Read 5/11
G - George Orwell - Keep the Aspidistra Flying -Read 11/09

I'm In. Titles added soon
Hard - TASKS and SPELL-IT-OUT (Read min 9 books) three Aussie authors
10/11

TASKS

1) Read the book which has been on your TBR shelf the longest.
The Bone Bed by Patricia Cornwell 4 stars

2) Read a book from a series you have started but not finished.
Dark Control by Jamie Garrett AA 4.5 stars

3) Read a book you bought but have not got round to reading yet.
Dark Threat by Jamie Garrett AA 4 stars

4) Read the book with the oldest publication date on your shelf.
Mansfield Park by Jane Austen 5 Star

SPELL-IT-OUT

C Cerulean Sins by Laurell K. Hamilton 5 stars

I Incubus Dreams by Laurell K. Hamilton 5 stars

T Tower of Dawn by Sarah J. Maas 5 stars

R Rosalee Station by Mandy Magro AA 4 stars

I Kazuo Ishiguro - The Buried Giant 4 stars

N Narcissus in Chains by Laurell K. Hamilton 5 stars

E Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas 5 stars

Has anyone spotted the deliberate mistake in my choices??? Not one Aussie author.
Back to the drawing board. I would keep quiet except I know Brenda's eagle eye will spot it:)

Phrynne wrote: "Has anyone spotted the deliberate mistake in my choices??? Not one Aussie author.
Back to the drawing board. I would keep quiet except I know Brenda's eagle eye will spot it:)"

I'm surprised she hasn't already LOL.

November Clean Up Challenge
4/7
Medium - SPELL-IT-OUT (Read min 5 books) two Aussie authors
RACE DAY

R Sourdough by Robin Sloan
A Autumn by Ali Smith
✔ C The Choke by Sofie Laguna AA ⛤⛤⛤⛤⛤
✔ E Exit West by Mohsin Hamid ⛤⛤⛤

✔ D The Dry by Jane Harper AA ⛤⛤⛤⛤
A The Power by Naomi Alderman
✔ Y Much Ado About You by Eloisa James ⛤⛤⛤⛤

November Clean Up Challenge
6/6
Medium - SPELL-IT-OUT (Read min 5 books) two Aussie authors

R - A Royal Pain by Rhys Bowen 5★
A - Murder in Thrall by Anne Cleeland 1★
C - Curve My Heart by Sarah Gai AA 4★
I - Isla's Inheritance by Cassandra Page AA 3.5★
N - Now You See Me by Sharon Bolton 5★
G - Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith 3★

November Clean-Up Challenge

13/13

SPELL-IT-OUT

C - Nightmare Realization by Carol Riggs 5★s
R - The Burden of Lies by Richard Beasley 3★s AA
I - In The Market For Murder by T E Kinsey 5★s
C - When The Phoenix Rises by Nesly Clerge 5★s
K - Watch For Me by Moonlight by Kirsty Ferry 5★s
E - One More Song by Nicki Edwards 5★s AA
T - The Last Hours by Minette Walters 5★s 3/11/17




C - Child Of Africa by T.M. Clark 5★s AA
U - Under the Cold Bright Lights by Garry Disher 5★s AA
P - Private Games: by James Patterson 4★s

D - Darkness at the Edge of Town by Jennifer Harlow 4★s
A - Hell to Pay by Rachel Amphlett 5★s AA
Y - Barbed Wire And Roses by Peter Yeldham 5★s AA

We've arrived in our next place - Mount Gambier - and the first thing (after unpacking the car and settling in) was add my choices for the challenge :) I hadn't noticed - yet! lol

Great Challenge! I love a good clean-up!
I should be going for Easy so I can finish my Spring and Annual challenges but what the heck I'll aim for medium and see how I go :)

9/9 books

✔ 1. Longest on my tbr: The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle 4★
✔ 2. From a series I am reading: Seduction in Death by J.D. Robb 5★
✔ 3. A book already bought: Force of Nature by Jane Harper AA 4★
✔ 4. Oldest publication date on my shelf: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum pub 1900 4★



✔ A Diamond Dove by Adrian Hyland AA 4★
✔ S The Dark Lake by Sarah Bailey AA 4★
✔ H Dying Breath by Helen Phifer 4.5★
✔ E The Pursuit by Janet Evanovich 3★
✔ S Still Missing by Chevy Stevens 4★

Ace wrote: "Phrynne wrote: "Has anyone spotted the deliberate mistake in my choices??? Not one Aussie author.
Back to the drawing board. I would keep quiet except I know Brenda's eagle eye will spot it:)"

I'm..."

I was travelling Ace ;)

I knew there was a good reason lol.

You got there quick Brenda, last time I saw an update you were at The Dog on the Tuckerbox. All this driving must be eating into your reading time :(

It sure is Ace! We had some time in Bendigo as well..left there this morning.

SCORPIO
First choices
S - Us Mob Walawurru / David Spillman AA
C - Campaign Ruby / Jessica Rudd AA
O - One Good Knight / Mercedes Lackey
R - The Last Templar / Raymond Khoury
P - The Build Up / Phillip Gwynne AA
I - The Inaugural Meeting of the Fairvale Ladies Book Club / Sophie Green AA
O - On, Off / Colleen McCullough AA

I'm going to go with MEDIUM in SPELL-IT-OUT.

The word I've chosen is PEACE because 11th November 1918 was the day the Armistice was signed, thus resulting in the conclusion of World War 1 and the hope of peace.

0/5

P - People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks (AA)
E - The End of Everything by Megan Abbott
A - Assassin's Creed: Renaissance by Oliver Bowden
C - The Chocolate Tin by Fiona McIntosh (AA)
E - Ekaterinburg: The Last Days of the Romanovs by Helen Rappaport

Easy - TASKS
4?/4

1) Read the book which has been on your TBR shelf the longest.
The Poison Principle by Gail Bell AA
on my pile for nearly 10 years DNF 2 stars too academic for me

2) Read a book from a series you have started but not finished.
The Handsome Man's De Luxe Café by Alexander McCall Smith
The No 1 Ladies Detective Agency series 4 stars enjoy this series

3) Read a book you bought but have not got round to reading yet.
A Dirty Job by Christopher Moore
One of my favourite authors and beautifully designed books!
5 stars, best book I have read this year.Warning - this book contains profanity galore.
4) Read the book with the oldest publication date on your shelf.
The Scarlet Pimpernel by Emmuska Orczy First published 1905 3 stars

Excellent idea! Given that November is going to be rather chaotic with report writing I'll be definitely sticking to the Easy level. :) I'm also shamelessly stealing from my Spring Challenge! ;)

Easy

Progress: 4/4

TASKS

1) Read the book which has been on your TBR shelf the longest.

Bloodstream by Tess Gerritsen. Oldest in my Audible library - since April 2014. Completed 15/11, 5 stars.

2) Read a book from a series you have started but not finished.

Covet by Tara Moss. AA. Completed 26/11, 5 stars.

3) Read a book you bought but have not got round to reading yet.

Pretty Baby by Mary Kubica Completed 23/11, 4 stars.

4) Read the book with the oldest publication date on your shelf.

The Glass Virgin by Catherine Cookson Completed 12/11, 4 stars.

Everyone to this point is linked to the first message:)

Okay I'm in!!

Level: Medium
Completed: 4/5

SPELL-IT-OUT
R -
The Greatest Gift by Rachael JohnsAA Review Here
A - An Ember in the AshesbySabaa Tahir Review Here
C - The Power of MythbyJoseph Campbell
E - All the Birds, Singing by Evie Wyld (AA) Review Here
S - Tower of Dawn by Sarah J. Maas Review Here

November
Level - Medium 2/7
KESTREL - November's Bird!

K Fatal Mistake by Karen M. Davis AA
E See Jane Die by Erica Spindler
S Beneath the Shadows by Sara Foster AA
T The Game You Played by Anni Taylor
R Raven Black by Ann Cleeves 4★'s
E Evil Games by Angela Marsons
L Friend Request by Laura Marshall 4★'s



Thanks Phrynne!
Had to think out of the box to fit my choices!! Who knew each month has a different bird but I checked and was right for once!

I'll do medium please, with SPELL-IT-OUT
0/6

P The Pilo Family Circus by Will Elliott AA
O Dissonance by Stephen Orr AA
L Summertime by Vanessa Lafaye
L Où es-tu ? by Marc Levy
E Et après ... by Guillaume Musso
N Love in a Cold Climate by Nancy Mitford

Welcome to the challenge Owl and Valerie. I have linked your names:)

Phrynne wrote: "
... As usual you can choose to ignore the, a and an at the beginning of the title..."

Does that mean that we could use 'the', 'a', or 'an' (for example for the 'T' or 'A' in 'TOPAZ' in order to spell out that word?)

Thanks!

Sue wrote: "Phrynne wrote: "
... As usual you can choose to ignore the, a and an at the beginning of the title..."

Does that mean that we could use 'the', 'a', or 'an' (for example for the 'T' or 'A' in 'TOPA..."

Sue if you have a look at Brenda's list, she uses "The" in one of her choices.

Ace wrote: "... If you have a look at Brenda's list, she uses "The" in one of her choices."

Thanks, Ace! If Brenda does it then I know it must be 'legit' - lol. Thank you for providing the answer to my question :)

Sue wrote: "Ace wrote: "... If you have a look at Brenda's list, she uses "The" in one of her choices."

Thanks, Ace! If Brenda does it then I know it must be 'legit' - lol. Thank you for providing the answer ..."
No worries. I'm always looking for ways to fit in the books I want to read into the challenges ;) Good luck.

You can always use The and A. I was just letting you know you can also leave them off:)

Once again my wish list is getting longer as I add new discoveries from everyone’s lists :)

I am having a terrible time matching the books I already have... On the bright side, I have discovered a lot about this month in history, Australia. http://www.nma.gov.au/online_features...

Hard - TASKS and SPELL-IT-OUT (Read min 9 books) three Aussie authors

3/12

TASKS

1) Read the book which has been on your TBR shelf the longest The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab
2) Read a book from a series you have started but not finished Finding Cassie Crazy by Jaclyn Moriarty AA OR The Piper's Son by Melina Marchetta AA
3) Read a book you bought but have not got round to reading yet Frogkisser! by Garth Nix AA ★★★★★
4) Read the book with the oldest publication date on your shelf



SPELL-IT-OUT

N Night Swimming by Steph Bowe AA ★★★★
O The Other Side of Summer by Emily Gale AA
V Vanilla by Billy Merrell
E Everyone Here Spoke Sign Language: Hereditary Deafness on Martha's Vineyard by Nora Ellen Groce
M Magic Bitter, Magic Sweet by Charlie N. Holmberg OR Moxie by Jennifer Mathieu
B The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket
E Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation by Lynne Truss
R Ramona Blue by Julie Murphy ★★★★

Mima wrote: "Hard - TASKS and SPELL-IT-OUT (Read min 9 books) three Aussie authors

0/12

TASKS

1) Read the book which has been on your TBR shelf the longest The Near Witch by [author:Victoria S..."

Finding Cassie Crazy is one of my faves!!

I will do the Hard challenge.

TASKS 4/4

1) Read the book which has been on your TBR shelf the longest.

Gunshot Road by Adrian Hyland - 5 ★ - 07 / 11 /2017 - AA

2) Read a book from a series you have started but not finished.

The Darkest Hour by Katherine Howell - 5 ★ - 07 / 11 / 2017 - AA

3) Read a book you bought but have not got round to reading yet.Jane Austen

Secrets Between Friends by Fiona Palmer - - 4 ★ - 28 / 11 / 2017 - AA

4) Read the book with the oldest publication date on your shelf.

Lady Susan/The Watsons/Sanditon by Jane Austen - 3★ - 27 / 11 / 2017

SPELL-IT-OUT 8/8

N Need You Dead by Peter James - 5 ★ - 10 / 11 / 2017
O Opposites Attractby Merry Farmer - 3 ★ - 26 / 11 / 2017
V Resurrection Bay by Emma Viskic - 5 ★ - 26 / 11 / 2017 - AA
E Empty Before You by Claire Scott - 5 ★ - 20 / 11 / 2017
M Morgan's Law by Karly Lane - 4 ★ - 08 / 11 / 2017 - AA
B Bella's Run by Margareta Osborn - AA - 5 ★ - 16 / 11 / 2017
E Life Support by Nicki Edwards - 4 ★ - 02 / 11 / 2017 - AA
R The Redeemer by Jo Nesbø - 4 ★ - 13 / 11 / 2017

Welcome to the challenge Mima. Your name is linked:)

Sally906 wrote: "Once again my wish list is getting longer as I add new discoveries from everyone’s lists :)"

I know what you mean Sally! I almost cover my eyes so I don't see any more I want to read ;) lol

Brenda wrote: "Sally906 wrote: "Once again my wish list is getting longer as I add new discoveries from everyone’s lists :)"

I know what you mean Sally! I almost cover my eyes so I don't see any more I want to r..."

You’re one of my worse tempters - and as we like a lot of the same books so I pay attention to your lists :)

Oh - oops! Sorry... lol ;)

Brenda wrote: "Oh - oops! Sorry... lol ;)"

You two could just keep your eyes on your own lists ladies!! LOL 😉

But what would be the fun in that?!

Deborah wrote: "I am having a terrible time matching the books I already have... On the bright side, I have discovered a lot about this month in history, Australia. http://www.nma.gov.au/online_features......"

I understand that, Deborah! I had to search for a different word altogether to make mine fit but I did it! =o)

I have linked your post Jenny:)

Krystal wrote: "Mima wrote: "Hard - TASKS and SPELL-IT-OUT (Read min 9 books) three Aussie authors

0/12

TASKS

1) Read the book which has been on your TBR shelf the longest The Near Witch by [auth..."

I really should have read it straight after reading book #1! It's just, I'm so easily distracted by other great books

Phrynne wrote: "I have linked your post Jenny:)"

Thank you, Phrynne!

I was going to pass on the November challenge, as I really wanted to knock off some well overdue books instead.
What happens then? The November challenge IS to knock off overdue books... Now that is a happy co-incidence!

The happy co-incidences don't stop there:
The book that has been on my TBR shelf the longest, (Crime & Punishment) also happens to be the oldest publication date. (1860) (#1, #4)
I was really keen on reading book #3 of the Alien series which I bought ages ago... snap! (#2, #3)

To celebrate these happy co-incidences, and because my birthday is in November, I am going with the word "HAPPY". (BIRTHDAY was too long sorry)

H Heller J.D. Nixon (AA) 271p
A Aftermath Keith McArdle (AA) 220p
P Alien: River of Pain Christopher Golden 352p
P Crime and Punishment Fyodor Dostoyevsky 671p
Y The Diary of a Young Girl Anne Frank 349p

Hope that meets the requirements :)

Phrynne wrote: "Welcome to the challenge Owl and Valerie. I have linked your names:)"

Thanks Phrynne! =o)

Here I go: lets aim for hard:

Spell it out
S Stolen Beauty by Laurie Lico Albanese
W Where the Trees Were by Inga Simpson AA
I If I Stay. by Gayle Forman
F Fortune is a River: Leonardo da Vinci and Niccolo Machiavelli's Magnificent Dream to Change the Course of Florentine History by Roger D. Masters
T Trackers: The Untold Story of the Australian Dogs of War by Peter Haran AA

Because the author Jonathan Swift was born on November 30th and yes, I know that is a bit of stretch for November....


Task
1) is finish the two books that have been on my 'acquired' shelf since 2011

The Man Who Sold the Moon by Robert A. Heinlein
or/and
.Burning Chrome by William Gibson

3) Two I have bought but not read yet;
Dopeland by John BirminghamAA
The Good People by Hannah KentAA