Aussie Readers discussion

So it is a bit early but I have started planning as I have already finished my 2015 challenge of 100 books.

I have always read randomly, but thanks to Brenda's fascinating challenges I have started thinking a bit more consciously about WHAT I read and so I have developed a goal for 2016: I want to focus more on books that are about marine matters; maritime history, sailing, zoology, diving, biology - basically anything with a Marine slant.

In the past, I have always neglected re-reads with the feeling that it was 'cheating' but I find I want to keep track of how often I re-read.

Of course, I will still read anything randomly and omnivorously - I'll just try to focus more on my targets.

SO for 2016, I will aim for 130 books, re-reads to comprise not more than 30. Not sure how to nestle those books but I will think of something.

If anyone who reads this would like to recommend Marine themed books, all suggestions gratefully accepted!

Deborah wrote: "So it is a bit early but I have started planning as I have already finished my 2015 challenge of 100 books.

I have always read randomly, but thanks to Brenda's fascinating challenges I have starte..."

Not sure it you're looking for fiction or non-fiction, but if you like a bit of adventure fiction, Clive Cussler's novels often have a marine slant to them.

A little from column A, a little from column B. Actually yes, Clive Cussler is one I have been meaning to get around to for a while. He had at least one about the Titanic that I always meant to get to. Thanks for reminding me...

annnd off to a good start with ' Great White ' by James Woodford

And did you enjoy Great White by James Woodford Deborah?

It is the first book I started this year. I'm enjoying it throughly at the moment Im on Page 85. Also I'm going diving tomorrow :-)

Keep away from them then Deborah!!!

What about books about shipwrecks? The Batavia or other wrecks along the coast of Australia.

Brenda wrote: "Keep away from them then Deborah!!!"

I think they will keep away from me. I am hoping for Mantas, but sharks are unlikely.

Deb wrote: "What about books about shipwrecks? The Batavia or other wrecks along the coast of Australia."

Sure Deb, a good book about shipwrecks would suit me. Good idea, I'll have a google!

I'm counting this book as part of the marine challenge, because ice ages are a formative part of Marine structure:

Frozen Earth: The Once and Future Story of Ice Ages

And I have reviewed it here: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

I have also finishedA Confederation of Valor the first two of my thirty re-reads...

And another one added to the marine theme: The amazing story of the Coelocanth, the fish that in an afternoon went from being a 50-70 million old extinct fossil to being a real, live fish.

So glad I read this; it is hard to see how I missed it up until now but this made me want to ditch everything and go rushing off to Madagascar and Sulawesi to dive!

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

Deborah wrote: "And another one added to the marine theme: The amazing story of the Coelocanth, the fish that in an afternoon went from being a 50-70 million old extinct fossil to being a real, live fish.

So glad..."

A Fish Caught in Time: The Search for the Coelacanth by Samantha Weinberg

Brenda wrote: "Deborah wrote: "And another one added to the marine theme: The amazing story of the Coelocanth, the fish that in an afternoon went from being a 50-70 million old extinct fossil to being a real, liv..."

:)

My most recent edition to my Marine shelf:


And my review here..
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

Here is my next one... It ended up being spectacular though I didn't have high hopes initially


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

OK, my latest attempt was a bit of a bust; very little 'Sea' in it despite its title;



And my review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

And, needing a antidote to the very heavy book I have been reading, I went for a light, paranormal romance and hit gold...
byChristine Feehan

Enjoyed it thoroughly, and my review is here:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

And here is one from the science fiction shelf the sea levels have risen so it is pretty marine, though I would have liked more oceanography in it, I still totally loved this book:

byLev A.C. Rosen

Deborah does this book Rush Oh! by Shirley Barrett fit your bill?

☼♄Jülie wrote: "Deborah does this book Rush Oh! by Shirley Barrett fit your bill?"

It sure does ! Thank you for that one, it is on the 'to read' shelf. Reading about whaling is always heart breaking, but some of the books are really fascinating and that looks like a good one. It looks like it is based in Eden to, a place I have visited, so even better!

Deborah wrote: "☼♄Jülie wrote: "Deborah does this book Rush Oh! by Shirley Barrett fit your bill?"

It sure does ! Thank you for that one, it is on the 'to read' shelf. Reading abou..."

Oh good, it gets good reviews on here. A goodreads friend gave me a copy at our last meet up and I haven't got to it yet but am looking forward to it ;)

Ah, the ever growing to read shelf....
I keep hearing about goodreads meetups, don't know that there has been one in Brissie though?

Deborah wrote: "Ah, the ever growing to read shelf....
I keep hearing about goodreads meetups, don't know that there has been one in Brissie though?"

I don't know of a meet up in Brissie Deborah but you could check with fellow Brissie members...that's how it all started with the rest of us ;)

Not so far Deborah :) Maybe it'll be worked out one day... it'll be announced in here if it happens:)

Is there a place where we could register it as a possibility Brenda?

If you go to the State threads you could ask in the Q'ld one if anyone in the Brisbane area was interested. Then when you find if any are, it could go from there. The only other person I'm aware of (who frequents the group) is Kathryn...

Let me know if you'd like some help:)

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

If we orgainse it would you like to pop over for a coffee with us Brenda :P

LOL! A long way to "pop" Deborah! But if it was to be organised I'm going to be up there late August, early September, so maybe...

Oh, that would be cool! Well, I am up for coffee August/September even if no one else speaks up.

I know Kathryn would be too if she's around...we'll see what we can organise:)

Awesome, I was wondering if the State Library cafe would be a good location. Its book related, does nice food and coffee and is close to public transport.

Sounds good :) I don't know Brisbane at all so as things get closer and providing we have some interest in the Q'ld thread, I'll PM you to work things out further...

A wonderful non-fiction book, that reads like fiction, is SHIP OF GOLD IN THE DEEP BLUE SEA, by Gary Kinder.

Ship of Gold in the Deep Blue Sea by Gary Kinder

Sounds good! I'll pop it on the to read list, thank you :)

Finished:

And reviewed it here https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

While it may not be immediately intuitive as how a book about a volcano is relevant to the Marine element of my challenge. It is a basic part of Marine Biology, because plate tectonics and volcanoes are the way in which oceans and seas form. Also, Krakatoa is an island in one of the most exciting seas of the world....

Just finished a quite poetic novel that is definitely in the marine theme, learned a lot about traditional abalone divers and the oceanic descriptions were beautiful.
by Marele Day
and my review
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

by Tim Winton

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

This is also part of my winter challenge, so I am multitasking!

As part of two challenges; the readathon and the Winter challenge;

byPauline Rowson

With my review;
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

by Tracy Deebs is a very pleasant Marine themed YA novel, my review is here. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

If I had no Marine Biology background it would have been a four star. What can I say; I tend to be pedantic about science stuff.

This book totally wowed me; well written and informative, while the theme that tied it together was freediving, it was the perfect book of my personal challenge : by James Nestor
and my review
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Just done with one that I had been happily saving for a while: by Sy Montgomery. And I reviewed it here : https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...


Also added to the shelf by Tanith Lee [rip} which was a collection of ocean and sea related short stories.

Have you seen this new one Deborah: My Last Continent: A Novel by Midge Raymond, thought it might qualify for your challenge ;)

☼♄Jülie wrote: "Have you seen this new one Deborah: My Last Continent: A Novel by Midge Raymond, thought it might qualify for your challenge ;)"

Thank you - yes it would qualify for my challenge, and I think it looks like fun.

My latest for this challenge is

But I have also started on as part of my August challenge.

Review for

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6...

And

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

Just finished by Mark Kurlansky

Which I am very glad to have read, and my review is here:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

One more : this was a bit of a fail as a marine theme but that is why I read it and it does at least have a pretty picture of a galleon on it...
by William Hope Hodgson

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

And my favourite so far, I think. It feels as if this was the book I was looking for when I started this challenge:
by Trevor Norton

and my review
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Another one, it is only slightly a 'marine' theme I guess, but it is about marine fossils. The story of the oceans is not a story only of now, the way they evolved, separated and formed, their extinctions are part of who the oceans are. This story of how the Jurassic fossils became know in England and the Western world is a bit tangential, but still marine. And IMMENSELY worth reading: by Tracy Chevalier

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