Aussie Readers discussion

In 2019 I introduced a litle rigour, in that for every new book I added/read I knocked off 2 off my TBR list. Made a dent at least, so I will continue with the same.

Good luck Alex, it's always a challenge to not add more.

Kerri wrote: "Good luck Alex, it's always a challenge to not add more."

Thanks, and good luck too!

Good luck Alex!

Brenda wrote: "Good luck Alex!"

Thanks and to you too! Really enjoy my Goodreads "family".

Best Wishes Alex! Looking forward to seeing your choices!

Laur wrote: "Best Wishes Alex! Looking forward to seeing your choices!"

Thanks, Laur. Some of my favourite authors definitely, but I tend to go off-range too. Happy reading.

Alex wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Good luck Alex!"

Thanks and to you too! Really enjoy my Goodreads "family"."

Thanks Alex :) Yes our group definitely has a special feel to it...

Well done - that requires a lot of discipline.

Good luck and happy reading in 2020, Alex!

That is oh so difficult to not add books to the TBR/Audible/Kindle pile! I wish you all the best Alex! Happy Reading! :) xo

Nearing the end of two months I have read 20 books -12 off my TBR list plus 8 new ones added. Not quite the 2:1 ratio I had hoped for but a promising start. Better still, NOT a single DNF anywhere, which makes a pleasant change.

Hope others are enjoying similar success.

Alex wrote: "Nearing the end of two months I have read 20 books -12 off my TBR list plus 8 new ones added. Not quite the 2:1 ratio I had hoped for but a promising start. Better still, NOT a single DNF anywhere,..."

Well done!

Deborah wrote: "Alex wrote: "Nearing the end of two months I have read 20 books -12 off my TBR list plus 8 new ones added. Not quite the 2:1 ratio I had hoped for but a promising start. Better still, NOT a single ..."

Thanks. The best result is the DNF (so far). Perhaps I an choosing more wisely now.

6 Apr and on track: 33 read (about the same as last year) - meeting the ratio of 22 existing TBR : 11 added. So far zero DNF - though it was a struggle.

I decided to take the enforced lockdown as an opportunity - time was always pressing and now it is gifted in spades, to be put to good use or squandered. Happy reading!

I June: 47 read - 31 existing / 16 newbies, only 1 DNF so I am on track with my 2:1 ratio.

1 October & drifting a bit: 81 read (2 DNF) but the ratio of completing 2 existing : 1 new, which should stand at 54/27, has dropped a bit: 50/31. Will really have to pull out the stops to get back on track. Some fascinating reading though.

Approaching the end of December and I cracked the ton at 102 books - with another to be finished before the year's end. That was half the challenge: the other was to reduce my TNR list / new books added at a ratio of 2:1 (68/34). I came close: 61/41 - with another 2 of my TBR as DNF - the lowest DNF so far.

Along the way I discovered some gems among the TBR (and some better forgotten), but a creditable effort.

Well done Alex!!

Well done! Sometimes it is the clearing the way of the chaff that is the best result.
...almost the best result, discovering a great book, is the best, od course.

Brenda wrote: "Well done Alex!!"

Thanks Brenda, To me, every book read is a 'journey' - without the imposition of airports.

Deborah wrote: "Well done! Sometimes it is the clearing the way of the chaff that is the best result.
...almost the best result, discovering a great book, is the best, od course."

Thanks. I would not have uncovered the gems that I have, had I not exercised a little rigour. Can make a start on 2021 refreshed, not with a sinking feeling.

Well done, Alex! It's a really complex balancing act, isn't it? - the self-discipline of reading from "the list" vs. the flexibility to add exciting new titles. I haven't done the calculations, but I think I'm probably sitting at about 50/50 for the year. What were your best "gems" of the year?

Sarah wrote: "Well done, Alex! It's a really complex balancing act, isn't it? - the self-discipline of reading from "the list" vs. the flexibility to add exciting new titles. I haven't done the calculations, but..."

Thanks Sarah, and it's pretty hard to pick, but sticking to "gems" only, I'd say the following:
Best Aussie gem - The Build Up by Phillip Gwynne - don't know why this has not been more widely read, but the concurrent themes of misogyny in the NT police, PTSD among Vietnam vets & domestic violence amongst Indigenous people some readers would find confronting.

Best series: Havana Bay by a favourite author of mine, Martin Cruz Smith - set in Cuba. I also read his latest The Siberian Dilemma and he's lost none of his magic. Laughable to think that a publisher told him a Moscow detective wouldn't sell.

Best translated book: The Cold Summer by Gianrico Carofiglio - held me spellbound.

And lastly, environmental thriller, Soundkeeper by Michael Hervey

All four of these titles share a good storyline and characters, without literary pretentions. Good reading for 2021.

Alex wrote: "Deborah wrote: "Well done! Sometimes it is the clearing the way of the chaff that is the best result.
...almost the best result, discovering a great book, is the best, od course."

Thanks. I would ..."

I know what you mean. Some of the books that really rocked my world this year are ones I would never have picked up if it were not for my annual personal challenge. In some ways it is even more exciting when a book you did not have high expectations for turns out to be great.

Completed challenges

2020 A-Z Authors: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Extra special challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Autumn Challenge (incomplete): https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...