Goodreads Ireland discussion

So this is just the folder for our third continent which will start on the 9th April and run until the 28th may. Just giving people time to pick up your read. Enjoy!

Brilliant, I have my choice ready to go. I've picked Picnic at Hanging Rock which is supposedly an Australian classic. Looking forward to seeing what everyone else chooses.

A fantasy choice for me after two scifis, Sabriel by Garth Nix.

They both sound really interesting, even trelawns pick has a bit of a sci fi feel to it by the blurb!
I'll be going with a fortunate life by Albert facey. Have enjoyed some really good Australian picks in the past so looking forward to this one

I'm going with Girt: The Unauthorised History of Australia an interesting history of settlement in Australia.

They all sound great. My choise is People of the Book. My first taste of Geraldine Brooks.

I read The Thornbirds about 30 years ago and loved it. I might reread to see if my opinion schange with time :-)

I will read Bittersweet. I loved The Thornbirds too

For anyone still looking for a book I recommend the nonfiction The Fatal Shore: The Epic of Australia's Founding which blew me away a few years ago when I read it.

As for my choice I'll probably go with one of the Phryne Fisher series. I enjoyed the few episodes of the series I've seen and would like to see how the character comes off in print.

Definitely a great challenge so far.I think everyone has found something new and interesting so far either through their own choices or someone elses.

Sounds like an interesting mystery series Sara, might check it out at some point.

Oh that must the books that the Miss Fisher mysterys are based on on tv. They do sound good Sara.

I certainly wouldn't have Disgrace of my own bat and not only is it a great book, I've also found a brilliant auther that I'd never heard of!

I've read both the thorn birds and people of the book... I think people of the book is better one. Colleen McCullough is what I would call a popular writer who write sagarish books I think. They are also a bit stero-typed. People of the book was more real. Though I did like Tim...

Sara, I've listened to all the Phryne Fisher books and watched the series. I found them really good. The story line is quite different to the series. I actually liked the Phryne Fisher of the books better than the one in the series. The books covered lots of issues of those times which I thought was really good and very interesting.

Sara wrote: "For anyone still looking for a book I recommend the nonfiction The Fatal Shore: The Epic of Australia's Founding which blew me away a few years ago when I read it.

As for my choice ..."

I was reading some reviews of The Fatal Shore: The Epic of Australia's Founding. I never stop wondering how people can be so brutal. It looks like an excellent yet draining book. I am ignorant about Australia's history. I knew it began as a penal colony but I had no idea that it was a place of torture.

Sherry wrote: "Sara wrote: "For anyone still looking for a book I recommend the nonfiction The Fatal Shore: The Epic of Australia's Founding which blew me away a few years ago when I read it.

As f..."

I'm a total wimp when it comes to brutality in books. There is so much of it in real life - I read to escape reality! Of course we should all be aware of the terrible brutalities of history, but I find reading those kind of books very depressing. I like to think society has progressed since then, but every now and again I see a news report that reminds me of the amount of savagery that is simmering under the surface of our oh-so-civilized society.

Margo, for some reason I don't get tougher with age. I read cozy mysteries and fun fantasy and some other hodge podge. It's not sophisticated but I don't have nightmares. I added the book to my list and then read the reviews. It really does look like its very good. The author used actual letters and diaries and did extensive research. BUT, I don't think I can handle it. I agree that we should know about these incidents but I can't emotionally handle immersing myself in it, as a friend of mine likes to say..I'm getting to old for this sh%t. LOL I have to commend anyone who can read 600 pages of a rough history. It has piqued my interest in Australia but I'd rather read something that touches on what happened rather than the gory details.

Sherry wrote: "Margo, for some reason I don't get tougher with age. I read cozy mysteries and fun fantasy and some other hodge podge. It's not sophisticated but I don't have nightmares. I added the book to my lis..."

Sherry, I read a fair few cozy mysteries also. No nasty surprises! I don't know whether I have become more squeamish with age or whether there really is more gore in fiction these days. I have stumbled into torture scenes and snuff porn once too often ! I know I'm not on the right thread for this discussion, but I made the decision recently to stop watching game of thrones as I couldn't stomach the gratuitous gore :-(

Margo wrote: "Sherry wrote: "Margo, for some reason I don't get tougher with age. I read cozy mysteries and fun fantasy and some other hodge podge. It's not sophisticated but I don't have nightmares. I added the..."

I think we're alike on the subject. I'm at peace with my squeamishness. Hehe

The book I've chosen for the Australian leg of our challenge Girt: The Unauthorised History of Australia is about the settlement of Australia. It looks at it from a humorous perspective so I think will not be as brutal if you are interested in Australian History. But will still tell about the penal colonies.

My book club read a book about australia a couple of years back called Rabbit-Proof Fence: The True Story of One of the Greatest Escapes of All Time. It was interesting, though I found the first past very dry. It was about the efforts of the settlers to "breed" the aborigional traits out of the natives through a progrem of intermarriage. A different take on ethnic cleansing.

They made a film of that a few years ago Margo.

Ya - I think the film was better than the book. It was very atmospheric.

Marcia a and Margo, those books both sound very good.

I was reviewing my choices and looking at what's ahead and I could almost complete the challenge reading only books by Bruce Chatwin. I have read one for S America and am currently reading one for Africa. I read one that would fit Europe and he has one set in Australia and Asia. Just N. America and Antartica missing. Highly recommend his books. He was a very interesting man and very well travelled.

Nice way to broaden your horizons with just one writer ;-)

Shame he didn't the set! That would do so cool from 1 writer. A well travelled man indeed.

If he had lived longer he might have completed the set Margo but he died when he was 48. He is such an intriguing guy, he did a lot in his life. I am looking at getting another of his books that talks about some of the situations he found himself in, like meeting Indira Ghandhi or being arrested in Benin during a coup on suspicion of being a mercenary.

It's kind of a cool way to do it though trelawn. Don't think there are many authors that could list their books set in that many continents, maybe Bryson

These are the books I listed for Australia
Cloudstreet by Tim Winton
The Midnight Promise by Zane Lovitt (detective mystery)
The Bone People by Keri Hulme which I have been meaning to read for years.

http://www.australia.gov.au/about-aus...

Seraphina wrote: "http://www.australia.gov.au/about-aus..."

Good stuff. I have several books of Les Murray's poetry as he is one of the favorite poets of one of my favorite poets Sinéad Morrissey.
http://www.poemhunter.com/sin-ad-morr...
http://www.poemhunter.com/les-murray/

Ya I think the letters could be very interesting to read aswell

I used to read a lot of Australian authors and books about Australia when I was in my teens. I think I even read biographies of Bob Hawke and Allan Bond. I'm better now.

So I have a lot in the house to choose from. I am tempted to re-read Picnic At Hanging Rock. It's fantastic.

That's the book I've chosen for the challenge too Lorraine. Glad to hear it's good.

Trelawn wrote: "That's the book I've chosen for the challenge too Lorraine. Glad to hear it's good."

The new irish audiobook library has been made available in my local library, and they have Down Under. I think it ma have been Trelawn who recommended that one?

Anyway, there is a queuing system, and that one become available tomorrow, so i guess I'll be starting early or else go to the back of the queue! It's a bit of a shock to the system as for the past 5 years in Offaly I have rarely had to wait in line ;-p

Yeah I read Down Under a few months ago Margo. It was a really enjoyable read, funny and informative.

Great. This new library system in throwing my my life into disarray though! I like to read as the mood takes me, or else follow my own, loose, plan. It's great to have the resource of free books, but there's a lot to be said for buying the damn book lol

Margo wrote: "Great. This new library system in throwing my my life into disarray though! I like to read as the mood takes me, or else follow my own, loose, plan. It's great to have the resource of free books, b..."

I downloaded an app Borrowbox. I think it's connected to your library account. Have you tried that?

Lorraine wrote: "Margo wrote: "Great. This new library system in throwing my my life into disarray though! I like to read as the mood takes me, or else follow my own, loose, plan. It's great to have the resource of..."

Yes. I'm very impressed with it. It's simpler to use than the old OCD system we used to have. About 80% of the audiobooks are reserved though, so you have to get in the queue.

Seraphina, when does this officialy start? I have Down Under for the next 3 weeks ;-)

The 9th margo but you can start and finishe whenever you want, the timeframe is just in place to encourage people to do their reads

The 9th sounds about right actually. I know timing is not crucial, but it adds to the fun :-))

Today is the start of the Australian segment of our continental challenge. It runs until 28th may. I'll be starting the biography A Fortunate Life over the weekend. Hope everyone enjoys their picks

I'll start during the week. I'll read Sabrial by Garth Nix and Across the Nightingale Floor by Lian Hearn .

I still have to start The Taxidermist's Daughter and have 3 library books (1 for a book club) to read. I am glad we have 7 weeks for our challenge books.

I started Down Under last might. I am still chuckling to myself after 2 chapters. On a serious note though, the laws of 18th centuary britan were so draconian. One "convict" was trnsported to Australia or the crime of steeling 12 cucumber plants! Among 200 hanging offences was the offence of "impersonating an Egyptian"!

Margo, it Sounds like they were looking for excuses to be sadistic.

It's a brilliant read Margo. So many interesting stories and nuggets of random information

That's it Trelaawn, totally random! What I've enjoyed so far has not even really been about Australia, he is such an interesting author.