Play Book Tag discussion

The culture theme for August is...

Australia, nominated by Nicole and SouthWestZippy!

This thread will be used for a couple of purposes:
• Announcing the culture (done!)
• Planning and discussing what books you would like to read (let the planning commence!)
• Reviewing your books starting August 1 . Books read and reviewed before that will not count.

Finally, if you want to read a book for the culture challenge in August, but it does NOT fit Australia, that is totally fine too! You can still review it here for one participation point. Books that DO fit the Australia culture will receive two participation points.

Will everyone please put at the top of their review the culture they are reading for, whether it is Australia or another culture just to help me with scoring and to serve as a guide for others who are reading your review. Thanks!

Previous months culture themes
January - Iraq
February - Portugal
March - South Korea
April - Italy
May - Brazil
June - Greece
July - Syria
August - Australia

Clarification of Reporting Guidelines

The goal of the Expanding Your PBT Horizons Challenge is to read 12 books from other cultures throughout the year, which means you can read one a month or all 12 in January or any conceivable combination between the two. However, there are monthly culture themes added to the mix which makes for some unique reporting conflicts that the admins did not think of when posting the challenge. Thank you to Nancy for pointing it out!

The admins spoke and we tried to make this as fair and as simple as possible, so here are the three easy points to follow:

1) Each month there is a culture theme. If you choose to read for the theme—which is not mandatory—then you must read your book that fits that theme and post the review within the assigned month. You will receive 2 participation points per review and you can read more than 1 book, but each book counts toward your ultimate cap of 12 books for the year. *you can read more than 12 books if you like, but you only get points for this challenge for up to 12*

2) For books you read for the Culture Challenge that do not fit the monthly culture theme, you can do one of two things:

2a) You can post the books each month as you read them and simply label them as not fitting the monthly culture theme and stating what culture they fit. However, there are no "take backs" and once you report a book this way for 1 participation point, it counts to your total of 12 books.

2b) Alternatively, if you want to try to maximize your reads for the monthly culture theme, you can read other cultures throughout the year and wait to report them until late in December for 1 participation point each. An important point to this though is that even if you read a book in April and have been holding off on reporting it until the end of the year and then it happens to fit the December culture, you still only get 1 participation point for it because you did not read it in December.

Also, this only applies for the Culture Challenge. You should still write a review and post it in the monthly tag or nonmonthly tag folder in the month that you read it for regular PBT participation points.

I think this is the first culture we have had where I know that PBT members live there!

We want recommendations from those of you living in Australia! What do you think is the quintessential Australian book? The best Australian author?

Secondly, if you do not want to read about your own country since it is not really the point of the challenge, send me a private message and we can work out an alternative.

But, if you want to read a book that fits the Australia theme even though that is your home, then it will absolutely count for this challenge.

This may be the right time to finally get to The Thorn Birds!! It is a bit of a doorstopper, but I have a sneaking suspicion it will be a fast read for me.

I definitely see what others recommend/plan to read through....

So so happy it is not another wore torn country! I could not handle another one this month! Thornbirds sounds good-would be a re-read for me. I have some Australian fantasy writers I need to research!

The Thorn Birds was one I read when it first came out and before the adaptation with Richard Chamberlin! Not rereading it, but remember being totally enamored with it in the late 1970s.

I recommend any Nevil Shute works but especially A Town Like Alice which was also adapted into a superb PBS series with Bryan Brown, who was so very crush-worthy.

And My Brilliant Career by Miles Franklin - also made into an excellent movie.

There are some mystery series set there too, most notably the historical mysteries of Kerry Greenwood featuring Miss Fisher set in 1930s Melbourne. And guess what? There is an excellent series adaptation of them...

These are my of options on my TBR

Blue Latitudes: Boldly Going Where Captain Cook Has Gone Before-tagged 18 X's and I have been wanting to read Horwitz since his passing.

Cloudstreet

Theresa wrote: "The Thorn Birds was one I read when it first came out and before the adaptation with Richard Chamberlin! Not rereading it, but remember being totally enamored with it in the late 1970s...."

I agree with both A Town Like Alice (good classic movie also) and the Miss Fisher mysteries. It's been a few years since I read a Miss Fisher mystery, so I may pick up the next one in the series for August.

Joanne wrote: "So so happy it is not another wore torn country! I could not handle another one this month! Thornbirds sounds good-would be a re-read for me. I have some Australian fantasy writers I need to research!"

I agree! It is definitely important to read about war-torn countries, especially given current worldwide events, but I am looking forward to a little bit lighter read in August!

Joanne wrote: "Blue Latitudes: Boldly Going Where Captain Cook Has Gone Before-tagged 18 X's and I have been wanted to read Horwitz since his passing.."

I read this many years ago and really enjoyed it! I was on a real ocean explorer kick at the time.

Theresa wrote: "I recommend any Nevil Shute works but especially A Town Like Alice which was also adapted into a superb PBS series with Bryan Brown, who was so very crush-worthy."

This is one that comes on my radar fairly regularly. I may consider it if I end up needing something a little shorter.

How do I search for books tagged austrailia? I went through my TBR (one by one) and came up with nothing but a list to look through would be helpful.

Amy wrote: "How do I search for books tagged austrailia? I went through my TBR (one by one) and came up with nothing but a list to look through would be helpful."

You can find any shelf that your heart desires by going to the Browse tab at the top of your screen and then select "all genres," which is at the bottom of the short list of "favorite genres."

From there you can search for "Australia" and it pulls up a page with new releases, most read this week, lists with Australia books, and—finally—most popular Australia books.

In that section, you will see a few covers of popular books, then below that on the right, you will see "more popular Australia books." That link will take you to the full shelf.

You can do that with any tag you like! When Anita posts the monthly tag, she just posts the link that goes straight to the full shelf, but there is lots more to explore if you want!

So you can see if you find what I am pointing you to:

The Australia genre page:
https://www.goodreads.com/genres/aust...

The Australia shelf page:
https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...

But definitely figure out how to find those on your own because I think they are very helpful and just fun to poke around on for all kinds of tags, not just ones here on PBT. Sometimes, I just want a certain genre and I go to those pages to explore!

Nicole, that was amazing! thank you! I just found seven on my TBR that i couldn't find by looking one by one. Would love to know how you found/got to that second list.

Amy wrote: "How do I search for books tagged austrailia? I went through my TBR (one by one) and came up with nothing but a list to look through would be helpful."

I have a recommendation for you Amy The Place on Dalhousie-I have not read it yet, but I have a feeling you would like this Author

Nicole R wrote: "So you can see if you find what I am pointing you to:

That is a pretty handy trick Nicole! I always just want to listopia, which can be daunting! Thanks!

Nicole R wrote: "This may be the right time to finally get to The Thorn Birds!! It is a bit of a doorstopper, but I have a sneaking suspicion it will be a fast read for me...."

Oooh, is it going to fit? It's one I've been considering reading for a while.

Theresa wrote: "I recommend any Nevil Shute works but especially A Town Like Alice...."

This one's not officially on my tbr, but I'd consider it, as well.

My tbr has stuff tagged Australia, but I'm not sure any of them really "fit" the culture as I'd like it to for this challenge. I might consider one of these two, though.

OK - I'm trying very hard to read books from my physical TBR this year. When I searched my TBR for Australia, it came up with only one book. This book Eat Me - which sounds like a version of Sex and the City set in Sydney - but raunchier. How on earth this book got on my TBR, I don't know. I probably picked it up for 50 cents at a library sale. Now I have to decide if I want to actually read it LOL.

Oo oo! That’s me! I haven’t kept up with this challenge, but I’m happy to give some recommendations. Tim Winton is one of our most recognized authors, with Cloudstreet probably being his most loved novel, however I would go for The Shepherd’s Hut. Jasper Jones by Craig Silvey is a wonderful coming of age story with an authentic Australian feel. For those of you who love crime fiction, The Broken Shore by Peter Temple is excellent. Temple is probably my favourite Australia writer. His Jack Irish series is set in my home town and is SO Australian. The Secret River by Kate Grenville is a powerful and damning story of European settlement. It should be required reading for all Australians.

Susie, I was hoping you would chime in!! Looking up the books you recommend...

I think I'm going to read Force of Nature. I enjoyed the first book in the series.

I have The Secret River so might finally read that. I also have Cloudstreet.

I read Jane Harper's standalone The Lost Man a couple weeks ago and it's my favorite of her three books. If you are looking for a mystery that's not detective driven, or something easier to handle than war, this might be a good choice. It's set on a cattle ranch in Queensland. If you want a more serious read that gave me a changed perspective on immigration, I recommend On the Java Ridge by Jock Serong. And.......you can never go wrong with Nevil Shute.

Australia, so exciting. I was hoping that would be chosen at some point.

I have relatives there. My husband's aunt and cousins. My niece and grand niece. MY niece was married in Sydney on the 14th of this month.

So many wonderful Australian books and perhaps there will be one on the Booker longlist that I am interested in .

Are there any Liane Moriarty's I haven't read yet?! Lol.

On my radar:
A Long Way Home
The Dressmaker
Boy Swallows Universe
The Light Between Oceans

How refreshing!

I binged on Liane Moriarty books a couple years ago, but they didn't give me any sense of the culture at all.

Anyone who likes romance should absolutely read The Thorn Birds! I really liked the film my brilliant career.

I'm hoping for a modern book about Australia that conveys something interesting about the modern culture. I'm also curious about management practices in Australia, leadership, norms, trends, organization cultures, training, employment law, etc. A fiction book set in an interesting workplace might be OK too. I'll be reading the reviews for good ideas!

I was really hoping for Russia, since I have Crime and Punishment, and Master and Margarita next to my bed. Oh well.

Great! I can do mindless reading for next month with romances by Virginia Taylor! Or maybe I can finally finish The Dressmaker.

Joi wrote: "
On my radar:
A Long Way Home
The Dressmaker
Boy Swallows Universe
The Light Between Oceans

.."

The Light Between Oceans is an exquisitely beautiful book. It's not as fast paced as the thrillers we both like, but if you can tolerate a slower pace, it's worth reading. The beginning was slow (especially on audio), but once he met the girl it got so much better. I was in a hurry to finish it for a bookclub meeting so I read the print book. But afterwards, I listened to the CD in the car just because it was so good.

Some options from my TBR include:

The Dry
Bridge of Clay
On the Beach
Big Little Lies
The Interrogation of Ashala Wolf

Has anyone read any of these? Do they represent Australia or do they just happen to be written by an Australian author but could take place anywhere? I think I am leaning towards The Interrogation of Ashala Wolf since that is written by an Aboriginal author, but it is young adult dystopia, so I am not sure if it fits or not.

I've been looking through my Australian books and came up with one I would like to recommend to animal lovers, Red Dog. It is a beautiful book about a dog and follows him all over western Australia and the outback. It is based on a true story.

How could I forget In a Sunburned Country by Bill Bryson? I might even have a copy around hear somewhere!

Joanne, I would read any author you think I would like. But you know me, its all about the TBR. I have this idea that over a few years I can really clear it of fluff, and only add things I know will be good. I have like seven books tagged Australia, and here's what they are. One: The Rosie Result. I was already on long hold for this at the library, so if it comes through, fabulous! Two: Ship of Brides by JoJo Moyes. Easy, since I have a door stopper for Trim and two non-fiction for the tag. I am going for breezy and simply setting for Horizons. Three: The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton. Although that is on my Trim list, so no go. The Luminaries, Caleb's Crossing, and Where the Forest Meets the Sea. Hopefully those are some suggestions for others. Also, I will check my read books and see if I have anything other than the Pearl Sister, Lucinda Riley, the seven sisters series #4. I only started tagging countries and places like a year ago, but I know there are some in there for Australia.

Cora wrote: "Some options from my TBR include:

The Dry
Bridge of Clay
On the Beach
Big Little Lies
The Interrogation of Ashala Wolf

..."

I've read three of your choices. The Dry really gave me the feeling of being in a drought stricken Australian town and is my recommendation of the three I've read. On the Beach and Big Little Lies didn't give me much of a sense of place or culture.

Amy wrote: "Joanne, I would read any author you think I would like. But you know me, its all about the TBR. I have this idea that over a few years I can really clear it of fluff, and only add things I know wil..."

Just one note that Luminaries is New Zealand rather than Australia. I really want to read it one day...

That’s right! When I found two searching one by one, I found two NZ. They shouldn’t have popped up on the Australia tag.

Don't listen to me, listen to Susie - she is really Australian. I'm just pretending in Sydney for the last 20 years :D

here are some books I recommend

These are pretty easy and smooth reads:
• The Lost Man (same author of The Dry - which I didn't read). Good book of outback Australia. A crime. Small community.
• Tomorrow, When the War Began - a Dystopian action packed YA
• Goodwood - another small town. Not amazing read but nice and VERY Australian

Literary fiction
• The Harp in the South - The story of a poor family and their working class neighbourhood (which happen to be my much more gentrified these days neighbourhood
• My Brilliant Career. written in 1901. young woman frustrated with society's expectations. I loved the descriptions of her childhood. I thought they were amazing. both in the station and in the dairy farm. And I really understood her need for freedom later in the book.
• True History of the Kelly Gang - so so very Australian. fictionalization of the Australian outlaw legend Ned Kelly by a great story teller - Peter Carey. Published in 2000... so will fit the monthly tag.

I haven't read these. They all sound really good to me:

Two books by co-workers of mine from 2018-19:
• Boy Swallows Universe - lots of people seem to love. I will read it for sure this month
• One Hundred Years of Dirt - waiting on the library. will read when arrives

Will try my best to read
• Picnic at Hanging Rock - really famous Aussie book. I believe there was a tv show in the last few months. There was a famous movie as well
• The Songlines - I think this book has to do a lot with the Aboriginal culture (written by Bruce Chatwin who's not Austrlian though. But I really want to read it for a while now

probably won't have time but would love to
• My Brother Jack (don't know anything about it beside that it's our literary section's editor's favourite book)
• A Fringe of Leaves or anything by patrick white
• Oscar and Lucinda - Another Peter Carey. He writes well!
• Gould's Book of Fish: A Novel in Twelve Fish - looks a bit crazy but very interesting (published 2001)

Amy wrote: "That’s right! When I found two searching one by one, I found two NZ. They shouldn’t have popped up on the Australia tag."

There are a lot on the Listopia lists of Australia that are actually NZ-LoL funny that a reader does not know geography! IMO

Rachel N. wrote: "Cora wrote: "Some options from my TBR include:

The Dry
Bridge of Clay
On the Beach
Big Little Lies
[book:The Interrogation of Ashala Wol..."

Thanks Rachel, that is very helpful.

Amy wrote: "That’s right! When I found two searching one by one, I found two NZ. They shouldn’t have popped up on the Australia tag."

agreed!
But the tags are not policed, so it's left to us to trust (not!) random people

Joanne wrote: "So so happy it is not another wore torn country! I could not handle another one this month! Thornbirds sounds good-would be a re-read for me. I have some Australian fantasy writers I need to research!"

I agree! I read The Thornbirds so long ago. I love it. I also really loved by McCullough and its short and fits the Horizon choice of Australia this month. AND nothing to do with war!

I have a number of Australian friends and via Facebook, asked them to chime in with recommendations. There are some repeats here that have already been mentioned, but some new ones too and ones that I'd forgotten about and have floating around my bookshelves! One of my friends also said if someone is looking for a specific genre, to let her know and she would target suggestions:

Ion Llewellyn Idriess, OBE (20 September 1889 – 6 June 1979) was a prolific and influential Australian author. He wrote more than 50 books over 43 years between 1927 and 1969. Henry Lawson, Banjo Patterson. Personally I wouldn’t bother with Bryce Courtney. Tim Winton - Cloud Street. The Slap by Christos Tsiolkas_ quite confronting:The term of his natural life:rabbit proof fence: the chant of jimmy blacksmith: walkabout :Oscar and Lucinda by Peter Carey: Voss, the Eye of the Storm by Patrick White.

Morgan’s Run by Colleen McCullough.

Bryce Courtenay. He has some wonderful Aussie historical fiction starting with the Potato Factory.

Has anyone noticed how many of the books we are finding actually were made into really good movies or series?

Nicole R wrote: "Amy wrote: "How do I search for books tagged austrailia? I went through my TBR (one by one) and came up with nothing but a list to look through would be helpful."

You can find any shelf that your ..."

Thank you Amy for asking and thanks Nicole for the answer. I didn't know that either! Very helpful indeed.

Theresa wrote: "How could I forget In a Sunburned Country by Bill Bryson? I might even have a copy around hear somewhere!"

I thought to mention that one, as well. I've already read it, but others may want to.

Doggone it, I forgot about Cloudstreet! But it's on my Trim the TBR list so I can't use it!

Fiction is just not doing anything for me lately-going withBlue Latitudes: Boldly Going Where Captain Cook Has Gone Before for sure

Summer is all about fun and whimsical reading and I happened to stumble across Seven Little Australians which appears to be the Aussie version of the Von Trapp's set in 1880's Sydney!

Hayjay315 wrote: "Summer is all about fun and whimsical reading and I happened to stumble across Seven Little Australians which appears to be the Aussie version of the Von Trapp's set in 1880's Sydney!"

This looks like wonderful fun! Can't wait to hear your thoughts

Oh ... I recently listened to Bittersweet by Colleen McCullough (author of The Thorn Birds)

Peter Carey is also a good Australian author
I've read Theft: A Love Story
And have on my TBR: Oscar and Lucinda and True History of the Kelly Gang

I also have a copy of Richard Flanagan's First Person, though I'm not sure I can get to it this coming month. I really enjoyed The Narrow Road to the Deep North.

Idit wrote: "Don't listen to me, listen to Susie - she is really Australian. I'm just pretending in Sydney for the last 20 years :D

here are some books I recommend

These are pretty easy and smooth reads:
I can also recommend:
A Town Like Alice by [aut[author:Colin Thiele|45815]hor:Nevil Shute|21477]
The Pearl Sister by Lucinda Riley
We of the Never Never by Jeannie Gunn
Storm Boy by Colin Thiele
The Fire in the Stone by Colin Thiele
and my new favourite by Australian author, although it is set in an alternate universe: NevermoorThe Trials of Morrigan Crow byJessica Townsend

Hayjay315 wrote: "Summer is all about fun and whimsical reading and I happened to stumble across Seven Little Australians which appears to be the Aussie version of the Von Trapp's set in 1880's Sydney!" A childhood favourite of mine!



You're kidding me! I just finished My Brilliant Career by Miles Franklin for my TBR last month!

I can definitely recommend it for anyone who wants an authentic flavour of Australian Bush society, similar to that my Nanna grew up in. I love that she terms the colloquialisms: 'the squattocracy' 'cockey' 'beaut' etc.

I personally am in the mood for some Henry Lawson after reading so many bits and pieces of him in 'My Brilliant Career', so I think I will read Henry LawsonThe Penguin Henry Lawson: Short Stories and maybe add a few of my favourite poems from Poems Of Henry Lawson to add some colour to my reading.
I actually have this physical A Fantasy Of Man: Henry Lawson Complete Works, 1901-1922on my bookshelf but I will pick the best bits out of it ( as in the short stories and poetry) because to read all the newspaper tripe he wrote would bore me silly and its well over 1000 pages.

A friend who loves mysteries as much as I do has suggested Arthur Upfield’s series of mysteries starring Bony, his part Aboriginal detective. I might even have a couple on my bookshelves if I look.

Theresa wrote: "A friend who loves mysteries as much as I do has suggested Arthur Upfield’s series of mysteries starring Bony, his part Aboriginal detective. I might even have a couple on my bookshelves if I look."

This sound interesting!