The Reading Challenge Group discussion

This year I am aiming to increase the number of titles I read and to tackle my ever growing TBR.
January/February three from my 2020 TBR
1. Bruny by Heather Rose 3.5 stars
2. The Visitation by Jenny Erpenbeck 5 stars
3. Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens 3 stars
March two from my TBR
4. The Dictionary of Lost Words byPip Williams 4 stars
5. Mr Wigg by Inga Simpson 5 stars
6. The Beach Caves by Trevor Shearston I think 3.5 stars. some aspects of this book did not sit well. it was, however, set in an area I know really well so that added interest for me.
TBR August 2021
7. Klara and the Sun by Kazuo -Ishiguro only a recent addition to my TBR but reading the Booker Longlist for 2021. I was not terribly keen on it whilst reading but have thought about it constantly since finishing, 4 stars
8. The Promise by Damon Galgut. One of my favourite authors and this was another fantastic book from this him. Another Booker 2021 longlist. 5 stars
9. Shuggie Bainb = by Douglas Stuart Booker 2020 winner 5 stars
10. Rain: Four Walks in English Weather by Melissa Harrison delightful 4 star
September 2021
11. The Sweetness of Water by Nathan Harris 4 stars
12. The Mermaid of Black Conch by Monique Roffey 4 stars
13. The Heron's Cry by Ann Cleeves 4 stars
14. August Folly by Angela Thirkell. 5 stars.
15. Only Happiness Here: In Search of Elizabeth von Arnim by Gabrielle Carey 4 1/2 stars
16. Greene on Capri by Shirley Hazzard. 4 stars
17. On Shirley Hazzard by Michelle de Kretser. 4 stars . Perfect read after Greene on Capri.

1. Book Club books

January/February - Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens 3 stars. with reservations.

February bookclub - Grown Ups by Marian Keyes 4 stars for the sheer enjoyment of reading something light, funny with an enjoyable story.

March bookclub - The Dictionary of Lost Words
by Pip Williams. another four star read. Looking forward to the discussion.

April bookclub - My choice The Golden Maze by Richard Fidler. 4 stars

May bookclub - A 4 star reread for me - By Grand Central Station I Sat Down and Wept by Elizabeth Smart

July bookclub - a 3 star read - The Survivors by Jane Harper

August but meeting not held till October due to several lockdowns and other restrictions Only Happiness Here: In Search of Elizabeth von Arnim by Gabrielle Carey

]Not a Novel: A Memoir in Pieces by Jenny Erpenbeck 4 stars March 21

Lost and Found in Translation: Who Can Talk Country, Griffith Review 63 essay by Kim Mahood 4 stars 18 March 21. An excellent essay read in preparation for a nature writing course.

The Golden Maze byRichard Fidler. Absolutely worth the effort. Well written and interesting read.

One Italian Summer: Across the World and Back in Search of the Good Life Pip Williams. Just delightful. 4 stars

Rain: Four Walks in English Weather by Melissa Harrison 4 stars

3. Classics, including modern classics.

Feb. His Excellency Eugène Rougon by Émile Zola 5 stars

The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas read both book and listen to audio read by Bill Homewood. 4 stars

March The Kill (La Curée) by Émile Zola 3 stars

Cheerful Weather for the Wedding by Julia Strachey read by Miriam Margoles. - just marvellous both the novel and the reader.

April/May The Three Muskateers - byAlexandre Dumas 4 stars.

June High Rising by Angela Thirkell 4 stars

July Wild Strawberries by Angela Thirkell 4 stars

August The Demon in the House by [author
:Angela Thirkell|142160]

September August Folly|835434] by Angela Thirkell

September The Sin of Abbé Mouret by Émile Zola

4. Europe in Translation

* Albania 🇦🇱 - Prostituta by Teodor Keko. A short story collection.

* Germany - Visitation by Jenny Erpenbeck 4 stars.
- Not a Novel: A Memoir in Pieces 4 stars
another by Jenny Erpenbeck. very keen on this author.

* France - His Excellency Eugène Rougon by Émile Zola 5 stars

* Britain - Middle England by Jonathan Coe 3rd in trilogy. 4 stars

5. Australian Woman Authors

** Bruny by Heather Rose the first read from my TBR
** The Labyrinth by Amanda Lohrey
** Riptides by Kirsten Alexander 4 stars
** The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams 4 stars
** Mr Wigg by Inga Simpson 5 stars
** One Italian Summer: Across the World and Back in Search of the Good Life by Pip Williams 4 stars
**The Survivors by Jane Harper 3 stars
** A Home Like Ours by Fiona Lowe 4 stars
** Only Happiness Here: In Search of Elizabeth von Arnim by Gabrielle Carey
** The Curlew's Eye by Karen Manton 4.5 stars
** All About Ella by Meredith Appleyard 3.5 stars

6. I have decided to make another heading for Fantasy. This year I will be involved in two fantasy readalongs.

* Cosmere Conquest '21 a series of novels by Brandon Sanderson

January - Elantris Finished this book only just within the month assigned for each novel. Overall thought it very exciting.

February - Misborn Trilogy No. 1 - The Final Empire

May - The Alloy of Law by Brandon Sanderson 4 stars

July - Shadow and Bone by Leigh
Bardugo 4 stars

Good luck on your challenge, Penelope!
And happy reading!

Thanks Rosemarie. Good luck to you too.

Thanks!