Vickyβs
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(group member since Jan 06, 2026)
Vickyβs
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from the Aussie Readers group.
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πOctober's Featured Author - Robert ThorogoodDuration: 1/10/26 - 31/10/26π
HARD - Tasks & Spell Out (minimum 4 AA)
TASKS
π#1. Robert Thorogood was born in Colchester, England in 1972.
**Read a book by an English author (Next in Ruth Galloway Series by Elly Griffiths)
OR
**Read a book where the page count has TWO of 1972 in it. (show count)
π#2. Robert read History at Cambridge University. While there he was part of their comedy troupe Footlights
**Read a book from the genre Historical Fiction
Elizabeth and ElizabethbySue Williams(Historical Fiction) AA
OR
**Read a book where the AUTHOR'S initials fit into FOOTLIGHTS
π#3. Robert is a screen writer as well as an author. His series Death in Paradise began as a TV series and a book deal eventuated from this
**Read a book which is also a TV series
**Read a book where the initial of each title word fits into DEATH IN PARADISE (two word minimum)
The HunterbyTony ParkAA
π#4. Robert writes another very successful series called The Marlow Murder Club which focuses on a group of older women who form a club to investigate a series of killings in Marlow, Buckinghamshire (where Thorogood now lives with his family). He wrote three award winning books before they were picked up as the basis for the TV shows.
** Read a book which has won an award OR
** Read a mystery
The SurvivorsbyJane Harper(mystery)AA
πBONUS
**Read a book by Robert Thorogood
The Marlow Murder ClubbyRobert Thorogood
SPELL OUT
πC-One Two Three Four: The Beatles in TimebyCraig Brown
πL-Big Little LiesbyLiane Moriarty-AA
πU-The Barrakee MysterybyArthur W. Upfield-AA
πB- A Brief History of the Private Life of Elizabeth II: Brief HistoriesbyMichael Paterson
OR
B Year of WondersbyGeraldine Brooks-AA
Duration: September 1 to 30Level: HARD- Tasks+ SPELL OUT
β COMPLETED 16/9/26 (MIN.βοΈ4 AA) -thanks,Brenda and Phrynne!
#1. Anne Gracie was born in Australia in 1955 and now lives in Melbourne, Victoria
**Read a book by an Australian author
Once There Were WolvesbyCharlotte McConaghy(βοΈAA 1)
ββ14/9/26β β β β
**Read a book where the page count has TWO of 1955 in it. (show count)
#2. Anne had a happy upbringing, travelling around Australia with her parents, one brother and two sisters, in turn becoming a teacher, as both her parents were.
**Read a book where characters/family are travelling OR
**Read a book where the AUTHOR'S initials fit into SCHOOL TEACHER
The Secrets Below: The Whispering Sea Mysteries, Book 1byCamilla Sten(Havsfolket #1)
ββ14/9/26β β β β
#3. Anne writes historical romance novels, and has been shortlisted for the RITA award; has twice won the Australian Romance Writer of the Year award and National Readers Choice Award. She has lived in Scotland, Malaysia and Greece as well as Australia. She travelled through Europe in a caravan with her family, and had swum most of the famous rivers in Europe by the time she was eight.
**Read a book which has been shortlisted, or has won an award
The Shepherd's HutbyTim Winton(Voss Literary Prize -2019-βοΈAA 2)
ββ16/9/26β β β β
**Read a book where the initial of each title word fits into AUSTRALIAN ROMANCE WRITER (3 word minimum)
#4. Growing up on a farm, they had a horse, dogs, 2 cows (Buttercup and Daisy and one of them always had a calf), a sheep (Woolly), goats (Billy and Nanny) dozens of ducks, chooks, and a couple of geese, a pet bluetongue lizard and a huge vegie patch. She credits her mother highly with the adventurous, energetic & content life they had.
** Read a book set in the country, and which features animals OR
HorsebyGeraldine Brooks(Features ANIMALS-βοΈAA 3)
ββ6/9/26β β β β β
** Read a romance novel (romantic suspense/historical romance/contemporary romance)
SPELL OUT ANNE :
AThe Valley of FearbyArthur Conan Doyle
ββ4/9/26β β β β
NNemesisbyPatricia Wolf(βοΈAA 4)
ββ8/9/26β β β β
NNotes of a Native SonbyJames Baldwin(1971,nomination for Nobel Prize for Literature.)
ββ9/9/26β β β β β
EA Dying FallbyElly Griffiths
ββ3/9/26β β β β
Duration: September 1 to 30Level: HARD- Tasks+ SPELL OUT
β COMPLETED 16/9/26 (MIN.βοΈ4 AA) -thanks,Brenda and Phrynne!
#1. Anne Gracie was born in Australia in 1955 and now lives in Melbourne, Victoria
**Read a book by an Australian author
Once There Were WolvesbyCharlotte McConaghy(βοΈAA 1)
ββ14/9/26β β β β
**Read a book where the page count has TWO of 1955 in it. (show count)
#2. Anne had a happy upbringing, travelling around Australia with her parents, one brother and two sisters, in turn becoming a teacher, as both her parents were.
**Read a book where characters/family are travelling OR
**Read a book where the AUTHOR'S initials fit into SCHOOL TEACHER
The Secrets Below: The Whispering Sea Mysteries, Book 1byCamilla Sten(Havsfolket #1)
ββ14/9/26β β β β
#3. Anne writes historical romance novels, and has been shortlisted for the RITA award; has twice won the Australian Romance Writer of the Year award and National Readers Choice Award. She has lived in Scotland, Malaysia and Greece as well as Australia. She travelled through Europe in a caravan with her family, and had swum most of the famous rivers in Europe by the time she was eight.
**Read a book which has been shortlisted, or has won an award
The Shepherd's HutbyTim Winton(Voss Literary Prize -2019-βοΈAA 2)
ββ16/9/26β β β β
**Read a book where the initial of each title word fits into AUSTRALIAN ROMANCE WRITER (3 word minimum)
#4. Growing up on a farm, they had a horse, dogs, 2 cows (Buttercup and Daisy and one of them always had a calf), a sheep (Woolly), goats (Billy and Nanny) dozens of ducks, chooks, and a couple of geese, a pet bluetongue lizard and a huge vegie patch. She credits her mother highly with the adventurous, energetic & content life they had.
** Read a book set in the country, and which features animals OR
HorsebyGeraldine Brooks(Features ANIMALS-βοΈAA 3)
ββ6/9/26β β β β β
** Read a romance novel (romantic suspense/historical romance/contemporary romance)
SPELL OUT ANNE :
AThe Valley of FearbyArthur Conan Doyle
ββ4/9/26β β β β
NNemesisbyPatricia Wolf(βοΈAA 4)
ββ8/9/26β β β β
NNotes of a Native SonbyJames Baldwin(1971,nomination for Nobel Prize for Literature.)
ββ9/9/26β β β β β
EA Dying FallbyElly Griffiths
ββ3/9/26β β β β
π¦**Spring Challenge 2026 - Australian Ice Creams**Duration: 1/9/26 - 30/11/26π¦
Level:
6/6
Levels:
β’ Easy: Six (6) books - Tasks only - 2 AAs minimum
β’ Medium: Spell Out - 4 AAs minimum
β’ Hard: Tasks & Spell Out - 6 AAs minimum
#1. Icecream is (mostly) colourful! Read a book with a colourful cover (show cover)
byGeraldine Brooks(AA 1)ββ6/9/26β β β β β
#2. Aussie icecreams! Read a book by an Australian author
NemesisbyPatricia Wolf
(AA 2)
ββ8/9/26β β β β
#3. Established 1907 (Peters)! Read a historical fiction novel
The Great AlonebyKristin Hannah
ββ5/9/26β β β β β
#4. Cold Rock! Read a book with rocks/mountains/hills on the cover (show cover)
byElly Griffithsββ3/9/26β β β β
#5. Ice Cream! Read a book where the title's first letter (excluding A, An, The) is in ICE CREAM
If Beale Street Could TalkbyJames Baldwin
ββ12/9/26β β β
#6. Unique/Nostalgic/Iconic! Read a book where the author's initials fit into NOSTALGIC
The Secrets Below: The Whispering Sea Mysteries, Book 1byCamilla Sten
ββ14/9/26β β β β
SPELL OUT:CORNETTO (6/8)
CThe Dead of Jericho: The Fifth Case in the Classic Inspector Morse SeriesbyColin Dexter(Morse #5)
ββ21/9/26β β β β
oOnce There Were WolvesbyCharlotte McConaghy(AA 3)
ββ14/9/26β β β β
rA Room Full of Bones by Elly Griffiths
ββ1/9/26β β β β
nNotes of a Native SonbyJames Baldwin
ββ9/9/26β β β β β
πeElizabeth and ElizabethbySue Williams(AA 4)
tThe President Is MissingbyBill Clinton
ββ24/9/26β β β β β
tThe Shepherd'sHutbyTimWinton(AA 6)
ββ16/9/26β β β β
o The Outcast DeadbyElly Griffiths
ββ16/9/26β β β β β
August 2026 Tasks:β COMPLETE 15/9/26-great challenge,Brenda!
#1. Elly Griffiths, whose real name is Domenica de Rosa, was born in London on 17.8.63
**Read a book where the author writes under a pseudonym OR
**Read a book where the author's initials fit into DOMENICA DE ROSA
The Sunflower HousebyAdriana Allegri(A.A. in DOMENICA DE ROSA)
ββ8/8/26β β β β
#2. Her debut novel was written under her real name and was entitled The Italian Quarter. It has since been re released as Return to the Italian Quarter
**Read a debut novel OR
**Read a book where the initial of each title word fits into ITALIAN QUARTER (two word minimum)
The Crossing PlacesbyElly Griffiths(Debut Novel)
ββ2/8/26β β β β
#3. Griffiths is most famous for her Ruth Galloway series set in Norfolk, England and featuring a University Professor in Archaeology who helps a Detective to solve crimes.
**Read a book from a series OR
**Read a crime/mystery novel
OutbackbyPatricia Wolf(Crime/Mystery)
ββ11/8/26β β β β
#4. She has written three other mystery series, The Brighton Mysteries, Harbinder Kaur, The Ali Dawson Mysteries and a middle school age series called Justice Jones (which looks like good fun!)
** Read a book set in England OR
** Read a YA or a Childrens book (125 pages minimum page limit)
Adventures of the Little Wooden HorsebyUrsula Moray Williams(4 hours 14 minutes listening)
ββ15/8/26β β β β β
BONUS
**Read a book by Elly Griffiths
The Janus StonebyElly Griffiths
ββ4/8/26β β β β
August 2026 Tasks:β COMPLETE 15/9/26-great challenge,Brenda!
#1. Elly Griffiths, whose real name is Domenica de Rosa, was born in London on 17.8.63
**Read a book where the author writes under a pseudonym OR
**Read a book where the author's initials fit into DOMENICA DE ROSA
The Sunflower HousebyAdriana Allegri(A.A. in DOMENICA DE ROSA)
ββ8/8/26β β β β
#2. Her debut novel was written under her real name and was entitled The Italian Quarter. It has since been re released as Return to the Italian Quarter
**Read a debut novel OR
**Read a book where the initial of each title word fits into ITALIAN QUARTER (two word minimum)
The Crossing PlacesbyElly Griffiths(Debut Novel)
ββ2/8/26β β β β
#3. Griffiths is most famous for her Ruth Galloway series set in Norfolk, England and featuring a University Professor in Archaeology who helps a Detective to solve crimes.
**Read a book from a series OR
**Read a crime/mystery novel
OutbackbyPatricia Wolf(Crime/Mystery)
ββ11/8/26β β β β
#4. She has written three other mystery series, The Brighton Mysteries, Harbinder Kaur, The Ali Dawson Mysteries and a middle school age series called Justice Jones (which looks like good fun!)
** Read a book set in England OR
** Read a YA or a Childrens book (125 pages minimum page limit)
Adventures of the Little Wooden HorsebyUrsula Moray Williams(4 hours 14 minutes listening)
ββ15/8/26β β β β β
BONUS
**Read a book by Elly Griffiths
The Janus StonebyElly Griffiths
ββ4/8/26β β β β
July's Featured Author - Peter CareyDuration: 1/7/26 - 31/7/26
Level: Easy - Tasks (minimum 1 x AA)
Completed 19/7/26-thanks,Brenda!
#1. Peter Carey was born in Bacchus Marsh in Victoria, Australia in 1943.
**Read a book by an Australian author OR
**Read a book where the author's initials fit into BACCHUS MARSH
Island HomebyTim Winton
ββ6/7/26β β β β β (Australian Author)
#2. From the age of eleven, Carey boarded at Geelong Grammar School. His years there were after Robert Murdoch graduated and before Prince Charles arrived.
**Read a book where a school is featured, either from a teacher or student perspective OR
**Read a book set in England
Mary Poppins Opens the DoorbyP.L. Travers
βοΈβ19/7/26β β β β β (Set in England)
#3. After four novels had been written and rejected, The Fat Man in History β a short story collection β was published in 1974. This slim book made him an overnight success.
**Read a book where the initial of each title word fits into THE FAT MAN IN HISTORY (three word minimum)
**Read a book where the page count has TWO of 1.9.7.4 in it (show total)
Mrs Harris Goes to Moscow: Adventures of Mrs. Harris, Book 4byPaul Gallico
ββ7/7/26β β β β β (Published in October,1974)
#4. Between 1976 and 1990 he wrote War Crimes, Bliss, Illywhacker, Oscar and Lucinda. After he won the Booker Prize for Oscar & Lucinda, he began The Tax Inspector, and moved to New York.
** Read a crime/mystery novel OR
** Read a book which has won/been nominated for an award
By the Shores of Silver Lakeby Laura Ingalls Wilder
πβ1/7/26β β β β β (John Newbery Medal 1940)
1/6/26 - 30/6/26HARD - Tasks & Spell Out (minimum 4 AA)
β Completed 21/6/26-Thanks,Phrynne!
TASKS
#1. Jussi Adler-Olsen was born in Copenhagen in Denmark in 1950. His books are translated from Danish.
**Read a book which has been translated from another language
First LovebyIvan Turgenev
ββ8/6/26β β β β β (Translated from Russian)
#2. His debut novel, The Alphabet House was written in 1997 and is a best seller in Denmark and internationally.
**Read a debut novel OR
**Read a book where the initial of each title word fits into ALPHABET HOUSE (two word minimum)
A Painted HousebyJohn Grisham(ALPHABET HOUSE)
ββ21/6/26β β β β
#3. Adler-Olsen is most famous for his Department Q series set in Denmark and featuring Detective Inspector Carl Morck.
**Read a book from a series OR
**Read a crime/mystery novel
My ChildhoodbyMaxim Gorky
ββ9/6/26β β β β β (In a series:Autobiography #1)
#4. Many of his books have been made into movies or TV shows. Department Q has a Scottish TV adaptation on Netflix in which the characters names have been anglicised.
** Read a book set in Scotland OR
** Read a book which has been made into a movie or TV show.
On the Banks of Plum CreekbyLaura Ingalls Wilder
ββ17/6/26β β β β β (Many events in this book were adapted into the long running Ed Friendly Productions TV series "Little House on the Prairie.")
SPELL OUT
M The Midnight TrainbyMatt Haig
ββ12/6/26β β β β β
Y The Young HemingwaybyMichael S. Reynolds
ββ15/6/26β β β β β
S The Secrets from the Deep: Hildur, Book 4bySatu RΓ€mΓΆ
ββ5/6/26β β
T Three Men in a BoatbyJerome K. Jerome
ββ18/6/26β β β β β
E Everything That Rises Must ConvergebyFlannery O'Connor
ββ7/6/26β β β β β
RRoad to Tara: The Life of Margaret MitchellbyAnne Edwards
ββ3/6/26β β β β β
Y The Yellow WallpaperbyCharlotte Perkins Gilman
ββ2/6/26β β β β β
July's Featured Author - Peter CareyDuration: 1/7/26 - 31/7/26
Level: Easy - Tasks (minimum 1 x AA)
Completed 19/7/26-thanks,Brenda!
#1. Peter Carey was born in Bacchus Marsh in Victoria, Australia in 1943.
**Read a book by an Australian author OR
**Read a book where the author's initials fit into BACCHUS MARSH
Island HomebyTim Winton
ββ6/7/26β β β β β (Australian Author)
#2. From the age of eleven, Carey boarded at Geelong Grammar School. His years there were after Robert Murdoch graduated and before Prince Charles arrived.
**Read a book where a school is featured, either from a teacher or student perspective OR
**Read a book set in England
Mary Poppins Opens the DoorbyP.L. Travers
βοΈβ19/7/26β β β β β (Set in England)
#3. After four novels had been written and rejected, The Fat Man in History β a short story collection β was published in 1974. This slim book made him an overnight success.
**Read a book where the initial of each title word fits into THE FAT MAN IN HISTORY (three word minimum)
**Read a book where the page count has TWO of 1.9.7.4 in it (show total)
Mrs Harris Goes to Moscow: Adventures of Mrs. Harris, Book 4byPaul Gallico
ββ7/7/26β β β β β (Published in October,1974)
#4. Between 1976 and 1990 he wrote War Crimes, Bliss, Illywhacker, Oscar and Lucinda. After he won the Booker Prize for Oscar & Lucinda, he began The Tax Inspector, and moved to New York.
** Read a crime/mystery novel OR
** Read a book which has won/been nominated for an award
By the Shores of Silver Lakeby Laura Ingalls Wilder
πβ1/7/26β β β β β (John Newbery Medal 1940)
1/6/26 - 30/6/26HARD - Tasks & Spell Out (minimum 4 AA)
β Completed 21/6/26-Thanks,Phrynne!
TASKS
#1. Jussi Adler-Olsen was born in Copenhagen in Denmark in 1950. His books are translated from Danish.
**Read a book which has been translated from another language
First LovebyIvan Turgenev
ββ8/6/26β β β β β (Translated from Russian)
#2. His debut novel, The Alphabet House was written in 1997 and is a best seller in Denmark and internationally.
**Read a debut novel OR
**Read a book where the initial of each title word fits into ALPHABET HOUSE (two word minimum)
A Painted HousebyJohn Grisham(ALPHABET HOUSE)
ββ21/6/26β β β β
#3. Adler-Olsen is most famous for his Department Q series set in Denmark and featuring Detective Inspector Carl Morck.
**Read a book from a series OR
**Read a crime/mystery novel
My ChildhoodbyMaxim Gorky
ββ9/6/26β β β β β (In a series:Autobiography #1)
#4. Many of his books have been made into movies or TV shows. Department Q has a Scottish TV adaptation on Netflix in which the characters names have been anglicised.
** Read a book set in Scotland OR
** Read a book which has been made into a movie or TV show.
On the Banks of Plum CreekbyLaura Ingalls Wilder
ββ17/6/26β β β β β (Many events in this book were adapted into the long running Ed Friendly Productions TV series "Little House on the Prairie.")
SPELL OUT
M The Midnight TrainbyMatt Haig
ββ12/6/26β β β β β
Y The Young HemingwaybyMichael S. Reynolds
ββ15/6/26β β β β β
S The Secrets from the Deep: Hildur, Book 4bySatu RΓ€mΓΆ
ββ5/6/26β β
T Three Men in a BoatbyJerome K. Jerome
ββ18/6/26β β β β β
E Everything That Rises Must ConvergebyFlannery O'Connor
ββ7/6/26β β β β β
RRoad to Tara: The Life of Margaret MitchellbyAnne Edwards
ββ3/6/26β β β β β
Y The Yellow WallpaperbyCharlotte Perkins Gilman
ββ2/6/26β β β β β
Jan 31, 2026 01:44AM
Brenda wrote: "Welcome to the challenge Vicky - and to the group!"Thank you,Brenda-I'm looking forward to this challenge!
Jan 19, 2026 11:59PM
Great Challenge-please count me in!Annual Challenge - Book Bingo - Aussie Authors Only
Duration - 1/1/26 - 31/12/26
Level: Hard
20/25
1 ACROSS
by Tim Wintonββ6/9/26β β β β
b. Book you bought -Don't Stop Believin': The bestselling memoir of Australia's sweetheartbyOlivia Newton-John
ββ6/8/26β β β β
c. Male MC -That Eye, the SkybyTim Winton(Orton Flack is the main character)
ββ4/8/26β β β β
d. Female author -HorsebyGeraldine Brooks
ββ6/9/26β β β β β
e. One word title -ParadisebyPatricia Wolf(DS Walker #2)
ββ12/8/26β β β β β
2. ACROSS
a. Historical fiction -MarchbyGeraldine Brooks
ββ1/5/26β β β β β
b. Part of a series -NemesisbyPatricia Wolf(DS Walker #4)
ββ8/9/26β β β β
c. Romance -The Garden of Hopes and DreamsbyBarbara Hannay
ββ10/3/26β β β β
d. New to you Author -Wild Dark ShorebyCharlotte McConaghy
ββ21/8/26β β β β β
e. Favourite genre MYSTERY THRILLER -The SurvivorsbyJane Harperπ
3. ACROSS
a. Set in Australia -An Open SwimmerbyTim Wintonπ
b. Female MC -Once There Were WolvesbyCharlotte McConaghy
ββ14/9/26β β β β OutbackbyPatricia Wolf
ββ11/8/26β β β β
d. Author's name begins with S -The SilencebySusan Allottor
Elizabeth and ElizabethbySue Williamsπ
e. Title begins with M -Minimum of TwobyTim Winton(Short Stories)
ββ26/7/26β β β β β
4. ACROSS
a. Four word title -People of the BookbyGeraldine Brooks
ββ5/3/26β β β β β
b. A book you borrowed -Avalanche: A Love StorybyJulia Leigh
ββ28/8/26β β β β β
c. Male author -The Underdog: Wolfe Brothers #1byMarkus Zusak
ββ18/2/26β β β β β
d. Water on cover -
byTim Winton
ββ6/7/26β β β β β
e. A place in title -The Barrakee MysterybyArthur W. Upfieldπ
5. ACROSS
a. Flowers on cover -
byTim Wintonββ27/7/26β β β β β
b. By a favourite author -Memorial DaysbyGeraldine Brooks
ββ1/8/26β β β β β
c. Published 2026 -HerobyPatricia Wolfπ
d. Mystery -OpalbyPatricia Wolf
ββ14/8/26β β β β
e. Set in another country-Calebβs CrossingbyGeraldine Brooks
ββ5/7/26β β β β
IDEAS
bySue WilliamsπBig Little LiesbyLiane Moriarty
πThe Funeral CrashersbyJoanna Nell
πThe Lake HousebyKate Morton
πHorsebyGeraldine Brooks
πMy Brilliant CareerbyMiles Franklin
πThe Lake HousebyKate Morton
πBig Little LiesbyLiane Moriarty
πAll We DreambyPamela Cook
πThe Doctorβs GiftbyFiona McArthur
π1.The SurvivorsbyJane Harper
π2.Apples Never FallbyLiane Moriarty
πEverywhere I LookbyHelen Garner
πHeart Of The CrossbyEmily Madden
πThe Barrakee MysterybyArthur W. Upfield
πThe HunterbyTony Park
πThe Last MigrationbyCharlotte McConaghy