Aussie Readers discussion

July Challenge 2020 - Freedom at last!
After all those weeks of lock down, life is gradually getting back to normal. What did you miss most in all those days we spent at home? Our challenge this month is a Spell It Out.

SPELL IT OUT
Choose from the lists below or use your own idea. You can use the first letter of the author's first or last name, or the first letter of the title (a, an, the may be ignored)

Easy 4-5 books (At least one Aussie author)
Medium 6-7 books (At least 2 Aussie Authors )
Hard over 8 books (At least 3 Aussie Authors)

Don't forget our guidelines HERE

walks
cafes
surf
pubs
clubs
beach
trips
family
friends
movies
drives
school
bootcamp
libraries
exercise
restaurants
holidays
road trips
bookclubs
get togethers
grandchildren

July Challenge. Freedom at last!
Duration: 1/7/20 - 31/7/20
Level: 0/?

✅Alex
(✅Amanda
Amy
✅Brenda
Bron
✅Carolyn
Celine
✅Cherie
✅Deborah
Erin
✅Jackmeister
✅Jane
✅Janine
✅Jennifer
✅Kahlia
Kali
Kerree
✅Kim
✅Krystal
KylieH
✅LAiNEY
✅Li'l Owl
Lynxie
✅Mari
Michelle_Mck
✅Nicola
✅Phrynne
✅Sarah
Sharon
Susan
✅Teresa
✅TheMadHatter
Tien
✅Trish
✅Valerie

July Challenge 2020 - Freedom at last!
Hard Challenge
8/8

H Hide and Seek by M.J. Arlidge4 stars
O The Book of Souls by James Oswald 4 stars
L Killer Twist by C.A. Larmer AA 3 stars
I The Secret Life of Shirley Sullivan by Lisa Ireland AA 3 stars
D Walk the Wire by David Baldacci 4 stars 14/7/20
A The Woman in the Window by A.J. Finn 4 stars
Y Y is for Yesterday by Sue Grafton 4 stars
S The Six by Anni Taylor AA 4 stars

July 2020 - Freedom at last
Level: Hard
Duration: 1/7/20 - 31/7/20
13/13

G The Goldminer's Sister by Alison Stuart 5★s 6/7/20 AA
R Turn to Dust by Rachel Amphlett 5★s 8/7/20 AA
A Unwelcome Guests by Anna Willett 5★s 11/7/20 AA
N Helix: Episode 7 by Nathan M. Farrugia 5★s 1/7/20 AA
D Death at the Dance by Verity Bright 4★s 4/7/20
C Finding Eadie by Caroline Beecham 5★s 2/7/20 AA
H Her Last Words by Kim Kelly 5★s 3/7/20 AA
I Golden Poppies by Laila Ibrahim 5★s 16/7/20
L Lily's Secret by Kirsty Ferry 4★s 9/7/20
D Deadman's Track by Sarah Barrie 5★s 5/7/20 AA
R When She Was Good by Michael Robotham 5★s 21/7/20 AA
E Escape to the Art Cafe by Sue McDonagh 5★s 7/7/20
N The Night Whistler by Greg Woodland 5★s 23/7/20 AA

July Challenge 2020 - Freedom at last!
Hard Challenge
9/9 (3/3 AA)

L - Somme Mud Kids: An Australian Teenager in the First World War by Edward P.F. Lynch AA -Read 18/07
I - In Search of Us by Ava Dellaira -Read 27/07
B - My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry by Fredrik Backman -Read 05/07
R - The Reptile Room (A Series of Unfortunate Events #2) by Lemony Snicket -Read 16/07
A - And the Ass Saw the Angel by Nick Cave AA -Read 08/07
R - The Red-Haired Woman by Orhan Pamuk -Read 30/07
I - Into White by Randi Pink -Read 30/07
E - Catching Teller Crow by Ambelin Kwaymullina & Ezekiel Kwaymullina AA -Read 09/07
S - Serpent & Dove (Serpent & Dove, #1) by Shelby Mahurin -Read 21/07

July Challenge 2020 - Freedom at last!
Easy Challenge
0/5 (1 AA)

C - Circe by Madeline Miller (fin 16/7/20)
A - The Last Wish by Andrzej Sapkowski
F - Eifelheim by Michael Flynn
E - An Echo of Things to Come by James Islington AA
S - The Secret of Crickley Hall by James Herbert

Look, I completely ignored this TBR lol - no AA! Instead I read these books:
C - Circe
A - The Court of Broken Knives by Anna Smith Spark
F - The Fifth Season
E - Elric of Melniboné
S - The Philistines Be Upon Thee by Stephen Toman

July Challenge. Freedom at last!
Duration: 1/7/20 - 31/7/20
Level: Hard - 8/8 (5/5AA)

H - Witch Chocolate Fudge H.Y. Hanna AA Read 1/7/20 4*
O - Becoming Michelle Obama Read 17/7/20 5*
L - The Lace Weaver Lauren Chater AA Read 5/7/20 5*
I - The Secret Life of Shirley Sullivan Lisa Ireland AA Read 16/7/20 3*
D - The Banksia Bay Beach Shack Sandie Docker AA Read 26/7/20 5*
A - Accidental Heroes Danielle Steel Read 23/7/20 4*
Y - The Sun Is Also a Star Nicola Yoon Read 23/7/20 4*
S - The Secrets Mothers Keep Jacquie Underdown AA Read 20/7/20 5*

July Challenge. Freedom at last!
Duration: 1/7/20 - 31/7/20
Level: Easy - 5/5

C - Close to Home: Selected Writings - Alice Pung - AA - 4.5★ - 02/07/2020
A - All You Can Ever Know - Nicole Chung - 3.5★ - 12/07/2020
F - F*ck Happiness: How the Science of Psychology Ignores Women - Ariel Gore - 3★ - 14/07/2020
E - The Girl in the Letter - Emily Gunnis - 3.5★ - 01/07/2020
S - Silver - Chris Hammer - AA - 4★ - 10/07/2020

July Challenge. Freedom at last!
Duration: 1/7/20 - 31/7/20
Level: 5/5

W - What Have I Done? by Amanda Prowse 3★
A - The Alchemist's Secret by Scott Mariani 4★
L - A Lonely Girl is a Dangerous Thing by Jessie Tu 1★ AA
K - A Killing Truth: A Leine Basso Thriller Prequel by D.V. Berkom 3★
S- The Scholar by Dervla McTiernan 4★ AA

July Challenge: Freedom at last!
Duration: 1/7/20 - 31/7/20
Level: Hard
8/8

S The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon ★★★★☆ (13/7)
P Please Don't Hug Me by Kay Kerr AA ★★★★☆ (11/7)
O Loveless by Alice Oseman ★★★★★ (29/7)
R The Door to Camelot by Suzannah Rowntree AA ★★☆☆☆ (27/7)
T The Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea by Maggie Tokuda-Hall ★★☆☆☆ (6/7)
I Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko ★★★★☆ (26/7)
N The Lost Future of Pepperharrow by Natasha Pulley ★★★☆☆ (5/7)
G Ghost Bird by Lisa Fuller AA ★★★★☆ (15/7)

I am in with TRIPS, because the first thing I did when the restrictions lifted was go on a road trip to North QLD.

T Tim Winton Shallows AA
R Robert Louis Stevenson Kidnapped
I Iain Pears The Immaculate Deception
P Pierre Boulle The Bridge Over the River Kwai
S Steven Rowley Lily and the Octopus

In an added bonus; if I keep to this list, I will get my 'Acquired as yet unread' shelf down below 100 books for the first time in, like, forever!

July Challenge - Freedom at Last!
Medium. 7 books (2 AA)

✔ F The First to Lie by Hank Phillippi Ryan 5★
✔ R Until I Find You by Rea Frey 4★
✔ I Turning Angel by Greg Iles 3.5★
✔ E Escape to the French Farmhouse] 4★
✔ N The Night Whistler by Greg Woodland AA 5★
✔ D Dark Edges by Catherine Lee AA 4★
✔ S The Search Party by Simon Lelic 4★

🚴‍♀️🏊‍♂️🏖 All linked to here! Enjoy:) 🚴‍♀️🏊‍♂️🏖

July Challenge 2020 - Freedom at last :(
Duration: 1/7/20 - 31/7/20
Level: Hard
8/8 COMPLETED

I missed absolutely nothing, gained much, so now I miss...
L - Too Much Lip by Melissa Lucashenko AA 13/07/2020 4.5* https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
O - Burmese Days by George Orwell 26/07/2020 5* https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
C - The Confessions of Frannie Langton by Sara Collins 07/07/2020 5* https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
K - Her Last Words by Kim Kelly AA 03/07/2020 4* https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
D - The Girl with the Louding Voice by Abi Daré 29/07/2020 5+* https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
O - Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell 17/07/2020 3.5* https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
W - The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams AA 11/07/2020 5+* https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
N - Black is the New White by Nakkiah Lui AA 03/07/2020 4* https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

July Challenge 2020 - Freedom at last!
Duration: 1/7/20 - 31/7/20
Level: Medium
Progress: 5/6 books, 1/2 Aussie Authors

Globes - as in reading during iso took me globes away when I had to stay at home. Or as in light globes - which have certainly got more use these past few months 😂

✅G - Gathering Dark by Candice Fox AA
✅L - The Language of Kindness: A Nurse's Story by Christie Watson
- finished 26/7/20 - 1 star
✅O - Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
- finished 21/7/20 - 2 stars
✅B - The Loop by Ben Oliver
- finished 9/7/20 - 4 stars
✅E - Mayhem by Estelle Laure
- read 6/7/20 - 3.5 stars

Ran out of time to finish this one (pandemic stress affected readings enjoyment, moving house stress are into my reading time, I’m still working so there’s that...), completed two days into August
✅S - State Highway One by Sam Coley AA
- finished 2/8/20 - 4 stars

July Challenge. Freedom at last!
Duration: 1/7/20 - 31/7/20
Level: Medium (2 AA)
Progress: 6/6
COMPLETE!

A - Crossings by Alex Landragin (AA) Review Here
R - Seven Ancient Wonders by Matthew Reilly (AA) Review Here
A - A Lonely Girl is a Dangerous Thing by Jessie Tu (AA) Review Here
K - Aurora Burning by Jay Kristoff (AA) Review Here
A - A Dance with Fate by Juliet Marillier (AA) Review Here
N - Uprooted by Naomi Novik Review Here

Arakan Krystal?

Arakan Martial Art ::D We just started back with pads (ie hitting things) last week :)

I missed it like crazy!

Ahhh I understand :)

I'm in!

July Challenge. Freedom at last!
Duration: 1/7/20 - 31/7/20
Level: Easy 0/4

P: Passing Clouds: A winemaker's journey by Graeme Leith AA ★★★
U: Under The Spanish Stars by Alli Sinclair AA
B: The Proving by Ken Brosky
S: Crossing the Lines by Sulari Gentill AA

🚴‍♀️🏊‍♂️🏖 All linked to here! Welcome to the challenge:) 🚴‍♀️🏊‍♂️🏖

Kali wrote: "I missed absolutely nothing, gained much, so now I miss..."

I love it Kali! I'm feeling much the same...

Oooh, yes, I'm in please! I'm like Kali, I'm beginning to miss lockdown a little...
July Challenge: Freedom at last!
Duration: 1/7/20 - 31/7/20
Level: Hard
Progress: 8/8 AA: 3/3

L: The Long Quiche Goodbye by Avery Aames (14/7) 3.5*
O: The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman (5/7) 4*
C: Crossings by Alex Landragin AA (second reading, in the "Baroness sequence") (29/7) 5*
K: Know My Name: A Memoir by Chanel Miller (31/7) 5*
D: Dear Fahrenheit 451: Love and Heartbreak in the Stacks by Annie Spence (20/7) 4*
O: The Tiger's Wife by Téa Obreht (29/7) 3*
W: When She Was Good by Michael Robotham AA (26/7) 4.5*
N: The Botanist's Daughter by Kayte Nunn AA (1/8) 4*

🚴‍♀️🏊‍♂️🏖 Oh you have some good books there Sarah!!! I have linked your name. Happy reading:) 🚴‍♀️🏊‍♂️🏖

Phrynne wrote: "🚴‍♀️🏊‍♂️🏖 Oh you have some good books there Sarah!!! I have linked your name. Happy reading:) 🚴‍♀️🏊‍♂️🏖"

Thanks Phrynne!

Kali wrote: "July Challenge 2020 - Freedom at last :(
Duration: 1/7/20 - 31/7/20
Level: Hard
0/8

I missed absolutely nothing, gained much, so now I miss...
L - Too Much Lip by [author:Melissa ..."
Lol! That is a unique perspective, I like it. One thing I loved about lockdown was that I had my beach pretty much to myself and there was almost no trash on it!

I should probably add YOGA and LIBRARIES, but I doubt my ability to read eighteen books in a month, at my current reading levels.

I'll give it a go.
July Challenge. Freedom at last!
Duration: 1/7/20 - 31/7/20
Level: medium 5/6 - 2 AA

S The Scarecrow by Michael Connelly 19/7 5★
C Coffin Road by Peter May 14/7 5★
H The Hermit of Eyton Forest by Ellis Peters 2/7 4.5★
O One to Watch by AA Rachel Amphlett 14/7 3★
O Only Daughter by AA Anna Snoekstra
L Less by Andrew Sean Greer 7/7 3.5★

You missed school Alex???

Deborah wrote: "Kali wrote: "July Challenge 2020 - Freedom at last :(
Duration: 1/7/20 - 31/7/20
Level: Hard
0/8

I missed absolutely nothing, gained much, so now I miss...
L - Too Much Lip by [au..."
Yes, Deborah! It was exactly that feeling of having a place to myself -- even if it was just my garden to escape the house the kids commandeered. I felt that time was fuller and not wasted. And I remarked more than once that we were creating less rubbish literally, we had little for the recycling or the wheelie bin.

Sarah wrote: "Kali wrote: "I missed absolutely nothing, gained much, so now I miss..."

I love it Kali! I'm feeling much the same..."

Thank you, Sarah.

Phrynne wrote: "🚴‍♀️🏊‍♂️🏖 All linked to here! Welcome to the challenge:) 🚴‍♀️🏊‍♂️🏖"

Thanks, Phrynne.

Brenda wrote: "You missed school Alex???"

Serendipity. It just 'fitted' with titles languishing on my bookshelf &/or my PC.

Alex wrote: "I'll give it a go.
July Challenge. Freedom at last!
Duration: 1/7/20 - 31/7/20
Level: easy 0/5 or 6 1 AA (rules are meant tb bent)

Alex, Anna Snoekstra is an Aussie. Can you mark it please? Thanks!

July Challenge...Freedom at last!
Duration 1/7/20 - 31/7/20
Easy level 5/5 AA 4/4

Going with FILMS as in at the Cinema which I am looking forward to being reopened soon :-)

F Just an Ordinary Family by Fiona Lowe AA....read 4.5*
I Indian Summer by Marcia Willett....read 3.5*
L The Long Road Home by Fiona McCallum AA....read 3.5*
M The Heartwood Hotel by Kerry McGinnis AA....read 3.5*
S The Suspect by Michael Robotham AA....read 4*

Call me mad but I really missed the gym!

July Challenge. Freedom at last!
Duration: 1/7/20 - 31/7/20
Easy Level: 4/4
Completed 19/07

✅ G - The Dark Angel by Elly Griffiths 08/07 ★★☆
✅ Y - Your House Will Pay by Steph Cha 19/07 ★★★★★
✅ M - The Misbegotten by Katherine Webb 10/07 ★★★★★
✅ S - The Shelly Bay Ladies Swimming Circle by Sophie Green *AA*
04/07 ★★★★

July Challenge. Freedom at last!
Duration: 1/7/20 - 31/7/20
Level: 6/6 (Medium - 2 x AA) as of 19 July 2020

I didn't miss much at all, but the one thing I did miss was seeing my awesome bestie. Love you Cherie :-) XXX. Hopefully we can catch up in person soon.

B A Bad Day for Sunshine by Darynda Jones
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... (4 Stars).

E Rory, the Sleeper by A.W. Exley
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... (3 Stars)

S The Sculptress by Minette Walters
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... (3.5 Stars)

T Three Wishes by Liane Moriarty AA
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... (4 Stars)

I Ice Kissed by Amanda Hocking
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... (2.5 Stars)

E Making Laws For Clouds by Nick Earls AA
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... (3.5 Stars)

July Challenge 2020 - Freedom at last!
Easy Challenge
5/5 (1 AA)

The only thing I really missed was catching up with The Mad Hatter for our occasional lunch dates! We may have talked nearly every day but it feels like FOREVER since we went out! Therefore I'm using the word lunch :)

L - Jane Doe and the Cradle of All Worlds by Jeremy Lachlan AA 3 stars
U - Geekomancy by Michael R. Underwood 3 stars
N- Stardust by Neil Gaiman 3 stars
C - The Wizards of Once by Cressida Cowell 3 stars
H - The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix 3 stars

You are such a sweetie xx


TheMadHatter wrote: "July Challenge. Freedom at last!
Duration: 1/7/20 - 31/7/20
Level: 0/6 (Medium - 2 x AA)

I didn't miss much at all, but the one thing I did miss was seeing my awesome bestie. Love you Cherie :-) X..."

🚴‍♀️🏊‍♂️🏖 All linked to here. 🚴‍♀️🏊‍♂️🏖

I'm in...
Spell-it-out
Hard over 8 books (At least 3 Aussie Authors)
17/17
5/5 AA


H - How to Run with a Naked Werewolf by Molly Harper 5 stars
O - Once Burned by Jeaniene Frost 4.5 stars
L - Last Bridge Before Home by Lily Malone AA 5 stars
I - Ice Cold Heart by P.J. Tracy 5 stars
D - Trent Dalton - Boy Swallows Universe AA 3.5 stars
A - An Awful Cat-titude by Addison Moore 3.5 stars
Y - Yasmine Galenorn - Witchling 5 stars
S - Into the Unknown by Bethany Shaw 4 stars

R - Rage of a Demon King by Raymond E. Feist 5 stars
O - Out of the Shadows by Bethany Shaw 4 stars
A - Amie Kaufman - Battle Born AA 5 stars
D - Susan Dennard - Bloodwitch 5 stars

T - Taming The Biker by Cassie Alexandra 4 stars
R - Raymond E. Feist - Queen of Storms 5 Stars
I - Ilona Andrews - Magic Binds 5 stars
P - Peace by Garry Disher AA 5 stars
S - Sabriel by Garth Nix AA 5 stars

Brenda wrote: "Alex wrote: "I'll give it a go.
July Challenge. Freedom at last!
Duration: 1/7/20 - 31/7/20
Level: easy 0/5 or 6 1 AA (rules are meant tb bent)

Alex, Anna Snoekstra is an Aussie...."

Bless you, my child....

July Challenge. Freedom at last!
Duration: 1/7/20 - 31/7/20
Level: Hard
8/8

H - Before She Was Found by Heather Gudenkauf READ 3/7/20 3*
O - Outback Sisters by Rachael Johns(AA) READ 3/7/20 3*
L - Lilies, Lies and Love by Jackie French(AA) READ 10/7/20 3*
I - The Invitation by Belinda Alexandra(AA) READ 8/7/20 3*
D - Prince of Fire by Daniel Silva READ 16/7/20 3*
A - Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie READ 4/7/20 3*
Y - You'll Never See Me Again by Lesley Pearse READ 12/7/20 4*
S - Sleep with the Lights On by Maggie Shayne READ 12/7/20 3*

🚴‍♀️🏊‍♂️🏖 Welcome to the challenge Janine and Jennifer. You are linked. 🚴‍♀️🏊‍♂️🏖

July 2020 Challenge - Freedom at last
Level: Hard
Duration: 1/7/20 - 31/7/20
8/8 - 3 AA Finished 21st July

G - The Good Turn by Dervla McTiernan AA 5*
Y - Homo Deus: A History of Tomorrow by Yuval Noah Harari 4*
M - Fair Warning by Michael Connelly 5*
C - Hold Tight by Harlan Coben 4*
L - The Long Shadow by Anne Buist AA 4*
A - Capturing the Pirate's Heart by Annie Seaton AA 4*
S - Thereby Hangs a Tail by Spencer Quinn 3*
S - Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore by Matthew J. Sullivan 4*

July 2020 Challenge - Freedom at last
Level: EASY
Duration: 1/7/20 - 31/7/20
4/4

P - The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams AA (FINISHED)
A - The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho (FINISHED)
W - We by Yevgeny Zamyatin (FINISHED)
S - Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik (FINISHED)

Finished late.

Jane wrote: " July 2020 Challenge - Freedom at last
Level: Hard
Duration: 1/7/20 - 31/7/20
0/8 - 3 AA

🚴‍♀️🏊‍♂️🏖 Welcome to the challenge Jane. You are linked:) 🚴‍♀️🏊‍♂️🏖

Kerree wrote: "July 2020 Challenge - Freedom at last
Level: Medium
Duration: 1/7/20 - 31/7/20
0/7

I am confused Kerree?????????

Phrynne wrote: "Kerree wrote: "July 2020 Challenge - Freedom at last
Level: Medium
Duration: 1/7/20 - 31/7/20
0/7

I am confused Kerree?????????"

I was too! Sorry, I was trying to make certain books fit into a 7 letter word, then I changed things around. All fixed now.

🚴‍♀️🏊‍♂️🏖 All good Kerree:) I have linked your post. Happy reading:) 🚴‍♀️🏊‍♂️🏖