Nearly at the end of the year – and I am compiling my reads and reviews from November. Between work, reviewing and my own reading, I read eighteen books in November, bringing me to 188 for the year in total, and twelve of those books were by Australian women. In November, I participated in #AusReadingMonth with Kate Forsyth, where we both aimed to read as many books by Australian authors as we could over thirty days. Mine were all by women, as they comprised part of my Australian Women Writers challenge as well.
I read one book by Jane Austen – Persuasion. I’ve slowly been working on this challenge, but many things have managed to get in the way, such as work and other books. I have one category left in my Pop Sugar challenge – a genre I don’t know much about so it has proven hard to find something I wouldn’t give up on, or that I could get easily. I have read 95 books in total for the Australian Women Writer’s challenge, comprising at least 50% of my total.
Books Read in November
- Clancy of the Overflow by Jackie French
- Jane Doe and the Cradle of the Worlds by Jeremy Lachlan
- Wolves of the Witchwood (Impossible Quest #2) by Kate Forsyth
- Persuasion by Jane Austen
- The Sisters of Auschwitz by Roxane van Ipren
- The Beast of Blackmoor Bog (Impossible Quest #3) by Kate Forsyth
- Mr Dog and a Hedge Called Hog by Ben Fogle and Steve Cole
- The Drowned Kingdom (Impossible Quest #4) by Kate Forsyth
- Cavern of The Fear (Deltora Shadowlands #1) by Emily Rodda
- Battle of the Heroes (Impossible Quest #5) by Kate Forsyth
- A Game of Birds and Wolves: The Secret Game that Won the War by Simon Parkin
- Ella and Olivia: Reef Explorers by Yvette Poshoglian
- Pippa’s Island: The Beach Shack Café by Belinda Murrell
- Venus and Aphrodite: History of a Goddess by Bettany Hughes
- Crossing the Lines by Sulari Gentill
- Gom’s Gold by S.L. Mills
- Pippa’s Island: Cub Reporters by Belinda Murrell
- Pippa’s Island: Kira Dreaming by Belinda Murrell
Pop Sugar Challenge
- A book becoming a movie in 2019: Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
- A book that makes you nostalgic: The Lost Magician by Piers Torday
- A book written by a musician (fiction or nonfiction): Best Foot Forward by Adam Hills
- A book you think should be turned into a movie: Four Dead Queens by Astrid Scholte
- A book with at least one million ratings on Goodreads: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by JK Rowling – 20th Anniversary House Editions
- A book with a plant in the title or on the cover: Bella Donna: Coven Road by Ruth Symes, Eliza Rose by Lucy Worsley
- A reread of a favourite book: Beauty in Thorns by Kate Forsyth
- A book about a hobby: The Bad Mother’s Book Club by Keris Stanton
- A book you meant to read in 2018: Eliza Rose by Lucy Worsley
- A book with POP, SUGAR, or CHALLENGE in the title: Poppy Field by Michael Morpurgo, Mary Poppins by P.L. Travers
- A book with an item of clothing or accessory on the cover: 99 Percent Mine by Sally Thorne, The Things We Cannot Say by Kelly Rimmer
- A book inspired by myth/legend/folklore: Mermaid Holidays: The Magic Pearl by Delphine Davis and Adele K Thomas
- A book published posthumously: Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
- A book you see someone reading on TV or in a movie: Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
- A retelling of a classic: Enola Holmes: The Case of the Bizarre Bouquets (Enola Holmes #3) by Nancy Springer
- A book with a question in the title: Is It Night or Day? by Fern Schumer Chapman
- A book set on college or university campus: Marvel Rising: Squirrel Girl and Ms Marvel by Devin Grayson, Ryan North and Willow Wilson
- A book about someone with a superpower: The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl Volume One: Squirrel Power by Ryan North
- A book told from multiple POVs: Four Dead Queens by Astrid Scholte
- A book set in space: Captain Marvel: Higher, Faster, Further by Kelly Sue DeConnick
- A book by two female authors: The Silver Well by Kate Forsyth and Kim Wilkins, While You Were Reading by Ali Berg and Michelle Klaus
- A book with SALTY, SWEET, BITTER, or SPICY in the title: Australia’s Sweetheart by Michael Adams
- A book set in Scandinavia: The Wolf and the Watchman by Niklas Natt och Dag
- A book that takes place in a single day: Archibald, The Naughtiest Elf in the World Causes Trouble with the Easter Bunny by Skye Davidson
- A debut novel: What Lies Beneath Us by Kirsty Ferguson
- A book that’s published in 2019: Vardaesia by Lynette Noni
- A book featuring an extinct or imaginary creature: Dragon Masters: Treasure of the Gold Dragon by Tracey West
- A book recommended by a celebrity you admire: Split edited by Lee Kofman – recommended by Myf Warhurst
- A book with LOVE in the title: With Love from Miss Lily by Jackie French (short story)
- A book featuring an amateur detective: All the Tears in China by Sulari Gentill
- A book about a family: The House of Second Chances by Esther Campion
- A book by an author from Asia, Africa, or South America: Children of the Dragon: Race for the Red Dragon by Rebecca Lim
- A book with a zodiac sign or astrology term in title: The Seven or Eight Deaths of Stella Fortuna by Juliet Grames
- A book that includes a wedding: The Things We Cannot Say by Kelly Rimmer, Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen, A Dream of Italy by Nicky Pellegrino
- A book by an author whose first and last names start with the same letter: Mermaid Holidays: The Talent Show by Delphine Davis and Adele K. Thomas, The True Story of Maddie Bright by Mary-Rose MacColl, Explorer’s Academy: Nebula Secret by Trudi Trueit
- A ghost story: The Aunt Who Wouldn’t Die by Shirshendu Mukhopadhyay
- A book with a two-word title: Saving You by Charlotte Nash
- A novel based on a true story: The Familiars by Stacey Halls – The Pendle Witches
- A book revolving around a puzzle or game: Deltora Quest #1 by Emily Rodda
- Your favourite prompt from a past POPSUGAR Reading challenge:
2016 – A book based on a fairy tale: The Blue Rose by Kate Forsyth – based on Chinese fairy tale, The Blue Rose
2017 – A steampunk book: The Book of Dust Volume 2: The Secret Commonwealth by Philip Pullman
Prompt:
Advanced
- A “cli-fi” (climate fiction) book: The Dog Runner by Bren MacDibble, Daughter of Bad Times by Rohan Wilson
- A “choose-your-own-adventure” book: Choose Your Own Adventure #2: Journey Under the Sea by R.A. Montgomery
- An “own voices” book: Children of the Dragon: Race for the Red Dragon by Rebecca Lim
- Read a book during the season it is set in: Archibald, The Naughtiest Elf in the World Causes Trouble with the Easter Bunny by Skye Davidson (Easter Season), The Shelly Bay Ladies Swimming Circle by Sophie Green (parts are set during Autumn), While You Were Reading by Ali Berg and Michelle Klaus (Winter), The Unforgiving City by Maggie Joel (Winter)
- A LitRPG book:
- A book with no chapters / unusual chapter headings / unconventionally numbered chapters: Kensy and Max: Undercover by Jacqueline Harvey (Ciphers used to give the chapter headings)
- Two books that share the same title: Deltora Quest: The Forest of Silence by Emily Rodda
- Two books that share the same title: Deltora Quest: The Lake of Tears by Emily Rodda
- A book that has inspired a common phrase or idiom: Aladdin and the Arabian Nights – Open Sesame
- A book set in an abbey, cloister, monastery, vicarage, or convent: Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
Australian Women Writer’s Challenge
- All the Tears in China by Sulari Gentill – Reviewed
- Seven Little Australians by Ethel Turner – Reviewed
- Vardaesia by Lynette Noni – Reviewed
- Saving You by Charlotte Nash – Reviewed
- Zelda Stitch Term Two: Too Much Witch by Nikki Greenberg – Reviewed
- 99 Percent Mine by Sally Thorne – Reviewed
- Beauty in Thorns by Kate Forsyth – Reviewed/Revisited post
- What Lies Beneath Us by Kirsty Ferguson – Reviewed
- The Dog Runner by Bren MacDibble – Reviewed
- The House of Second Chances by Esther Campion – Reviewed
- The Orchardist’s Daughter by Karen Viggers – Reviewed
- The French Photographer by Natasha Lester – Reviewed and Q&A
- Kensy and Max: Undercover by Jacqueline Harvey – Reviewed
- The Things We Cannot Say by Kelly Rimmer – Reviewed
- 52 Mondays by Anna Ciddor – Reviewed
- Four Dead Queens by Astrid Scholte – Reviewed
- Zebra and Other Stories by Debra Adelaide – Reviewed
- Esther by Jessica North – Reviewed
- Mermaid Holidays: The Talent Show by Delphine Davis and Adele K. Thomas – Reviewed
- The True Story of Maddie Bright by Mary-Rose MacColl – Reviewed
- Miss Franklin: How Miles Franklin’s Brilliant Career began by Libby Hathorn – Reviewed
- Archibald, The Naughtiest Elf in the World Causes Trouble with the Easter Bunny by Skye Davidson – Reviewed
- The Artist’s Portrait by Julie Keys – Reviewed
- The Suicide Bride by Tanya Bretherton – Reviewed, Interview
- Deltora Quest: The Forest of Silence by Emily Rodda – Reviewed
- Children of the Dragon: Race for the Red Dragon by Rebecca Lim – Reviewed
- Deltora Quest: The Lake of Tears by Emily Rodda – Reviewed
- Deltora Quest: The City of Rats by Emily Rodda – Reviewed
- Alice to Prague by Tanya Heaslip – Reviewed
- Life Before by Carmel Reilly – Reviewed
- The Shelly Bay Ladies Swimming Circle by Sophie Green – Reviewed
- The Monster Who Wasn’t by T.C. Shelley – Reviewed
- The Lost Letters of Esther Durrant by Kayte Nunn – Reviewed
- Lintang and The Pirate Queen by Tamara Moss – Reviewed
- The Great Toy Rescue (Puppy Diaries #1) by Yvette Poshoglian – Work book, not reviewed
- As Happy as Here by Jane Godwin – Reviewed
- Women to the Front: The Extraordinary Australian Women Doctors of the Great War by Heather Sheard and Ruth Lee – Reviewed
- Deltora Quest: The Shifting Sands by Emily Rodda – Reviewed
- Deltora Quest: Dread Mountain by Emily Rodda – Reviewed
- Mermaid Holidays by Delphine Davis and Adele K Thomas – Reviewed
- Mary Poppins by P.L. Travers – Reviewed
- Eco Warriors: Microbat Mayhem by Candice Lemon-Scott – Work book, not reviewed.
- Maternal Instinct by Rebecca Bowyer – Reviewed
- The Blue Rose by Kate Forsyth – Reviewed
- Fled by Meg Keneally – Reviewed
- The Last Dingo Summer by Jackie French (Matilda Saga #8) – Reviewed
- The Silver Well by Kate Forsyth and Kim Wilkins – Reviewed
- Blood and Circuses by Kerry Greenwood (Phryne Fisher #6) – Reviewed
- Deltora Quest: The Maze of the Beast by Emily Rodda – Reviewed
- Deltora Quest: The Valley of the Lost by Emily Rodda – Reviewed
- Deltora Quest: Return to Del by Emily Rodda – Reviewed
- Deltora Quest #1 by Emily Rodda – Reviewed
- Somewhere Around the Corner by Jackie French – Reviewed
- Alexander Altmann A10567 by Suzy Zail – Reviewed
- Where the Dead Go by Sarah Bailey – Reviewed
- Firewatcher #1: Brimstone by Kelly Gardiner – Reviewed
- The Burnt Country by Joy Rhoades – Reviewed
- The Book Ninja by Ali Berg and Michelle Klaus – Reviewed
- Rowan of Rin by Emily Rodda – Reviewed
- Mermaid Holidays #3: The Bake Off by Delphine Davis – Reviewed
- While You Were Reading by Ali Berg and Michelle Klaus – Reviewed
- The Unforgiving City by Maggie Joel – Reviewed
- Matters of the Heart by Fiona Palmer – Reviewed
- Mary Poppins She Wrote: The extraordinary life of Australian writer P.L. Travers by Valerie Wilson – Reviewed
- Kensy and Max: Out of Sight by Jacqueline Harvey – Reviewed
- The Lily and the Rose by Jackie French – Reviewed
- The Impossible Quest #1: Escape from Wolfhaven Castle by Kate Forsyth – Reviewed
- A Lighthouse in Time by Sandra Bennett – Reviewed
- 488 Rules for Life by Kitty Flanagan – Reviewed
- There Was Still Love by Favel Parrett – Reviewed
- Rebel Women who Changed Australia by Susanna de Vries – Reviewed
- Whisper by Lynette Noni – Reviewed
- The Glimme by Emily Rodda -Reviewed
- The Orange Grove by Kate Murdoch – Reviewed
- Weapon by Lynette Noni – Reviewed
- Total Quack Up Again by Sally Rippin and Adrian Beck – Reviewed
- The Starthorn Tree by Kate Forsyth – Reviewed
- With Love from Miss Lily by Jackie French (short story) – Reviewed
- The Lily in the Snow by Jackie French – Reviewed
- Christmas Lilies by Jackie French – Reviewed
- The Wildkin’s Curse by Kate Forsyth – Reviewed
- The Starkin Crown by Kate Forsyth – Reviewed
- Clancy of the Overflow by Jackie French – Reviewed
- Wolves of the Witchwood (Impossible Quest #2) by Kate Forsyth – Reviewed
- The Beast of Blackmoor Bog (Impossible Quest #3) by Kate Forsyth – Reviewed
- The Drowned Kingdom (Impossible Quest #4) by Kate Forsyth – Reviewed
- Cavern of The Fear (Deltora Shadowlands #1) by Emily Rodda – Reviewed
- Battle of the Heroes (Impossible Quest #5) by Kate Forsyth – Reviewed
- Ella and Olivia: Reef Explorers by Yvette Poshoglian – Work book, not reviewed
- Pippa’s Island: The Beach Shack Café by Belinda Murrell – Reviewed
- Crossing the Lines by Sulari Gentill – Reviewed
- Gom’s Gold by S.L. Mills – Reviewed
- Pippa’s Island: Cub Reporters by Belinda Murrell – Reviewed
- Pippa’s Island: Kira Dreaming by Belinda Murrell – Reviewed
- Mermaid Holidays #4: The Reef Rescue by Delphine Davis and Adele K Thomas – Reviewed
Book Bingo
Rows Across:
Row One: BINGO
A book with a red cover: Children of the Dragon: Race for the Red Dragon by Rebecca Lim – #AWW2019
Beloved Classic: Seven Little Australians by Ethel Turner – AWW2018
A novel that has more than 500 pages: Rebel Women who Changed Australia by Susanna de Vries, The Book of Dust Volume 2: The Secret Commonwealth by Philip Pullman
A novella no more than 150 pages: Deltora Quest: The Forest of Silence by Emily Rodda – #AWW2019
Prize winning book: Somewhere Around the Corner by Jackie French – #AWW2019, Alexander Altmann A10567 by Suzy Zail – #AWW2019
Row Two: BINGO
A book by an author with the same initials as you: The Book Ninja by Ali Berg and Michelle Klaus – #AWW2019
Non-Fiction book about an event: The Suicide Bride by Tanya Bretherton – #AWW2019
Fictional biography about a woman from history: Fled by Meg Keneally – #AWW2019
Memoir about a non-famous person: Australia’s Sweetheart by Michael Adams
Book written by an Australian woman more than 10 years ago: Deltora Quest: The Lake of Tears by Emily Rodda – #AWW2019 (2001)
Row Three: BINGO
Themes of Science Fiction: Daughter of Bad Times by Rohan Wilson
Themes of Culture: The Lost Magician by Piers Torday
Themes of Justice: What Lies Beneath Us by Kirsty Ferguson – AWW2019
Themes of Inequality: The Things We Cannot Say by Kelly Rimmer – AWW2019
Themes of Fantasy: Vardaesia by Lynette Noni – AWW2019
Row Four: – BINGO
Book with a place in the title: The French Photographer by Natasha Lester -AWW2019
Book set in the Australian Outback: The Last Dingo Summer by Jackie French (Matilda Saga #8) – #AWW2019
Book set on the Australian Coast: The House of Second Chances by Esther Campion – AWW2019
Book set in the Australian Mountains: The Orchardist’s Daughter by Karen Viggers – AWW2019
Book set in an exotic location: Four Dead Queens by Astrid Scholte – #AWW2019
Row Five: BINGO
Written by an Australian Man: The Honeyman and the Hunter by Neil Grant
Written by an Australian Woman: Zelda Stitch Term Two: Too Much Witch by Nicki Greenberg – AWW2019
Written by an author under the age of 35: Archibald, The Naughtiest Elf in the World Causes Trouble with the Easter Bunny by Skye Davidson – #AWW2019
Written by an author over the age of 65: Miss Franklin: How Miles Franklin’s Brilliant Career began by Libby Hathorn – #AWW2019
Written by an author you’ve never read: The Dog Runner by Bren MacDibble – #AWW2019
Row Six: BINGO
Literary: Zebra and Other Stories by Debra Adelaide – AWW2019
Crime: All the Tears in China by Sulari Gentill – AWW2019
Historical: The Familiars by Stacey Halls
Romance: Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
Comedy: Best Foot Forward by Adam Hills
Rows Down:
Row One: – BINGO
A book with a red cover: Children of the Dragon: Race for the Red Dragon by Rebecca Lim – #AWW2019
Book by an author with the same initials as you: The Book Ninja by Ali Berg and Michelle Klaus – #AWW2019,
Themes of science fiction: Daughter of Bad Times by Rohan Wilson
Book with a place in the title: The French Photographer by Natasha Lester -AWW2019
Written by an Australian man: The Honeyman and the Hunter by Neil Grant
Literary: Zebra and Other Stories by Debra Adelaide – AWW2019
Row Two: BINGO
Beloved Classic: Seven Little Australians by Ethel Turner – AWW2018
Non-Fiction book about an event: The Suicide Bride by Tanya Bretherton – #AWW2019
Themes of culture: The Lost Magician by Piers Torday
Book set in the Australian outback: The Last Dingo Summer by Jackie French (Matilda Saga #8) – #AWW2019
Written by an Australian woman: Zelda Stitch Term Two: Too Much Witch by Nicki Greenberg – AWW2019
Crime: All the Tears in China by Sulari Gentill – AWW2019
Row three: BINGO
Novel that has 500 pages or more: Rebel Women who Changed Australia by Susanna de Vries
– #AWW2019, The Book of Dust Volume 2: The Secret Commonwealth by Philip Pullman
Fictional biography about a woman from history: Fled by Meg Keneally – #AWW2019
Themes of justice: What Lies Beneath Us by Kirsty Ferguson – AWW2019
Book set on the Australian coast: The House of Second Chances by Esther Campion – AWW2019
Written by an author under the age of 35: Archibald, The Naughtiest Elf in the World Causes Trouble with the Easter Bunny by Skye Davidson – #AWW2019
Historical: The Familiars by Stacey Halls
Row Four: – BINGO
Novella no more than 150 pages: Deltora Quest: The Forest of Silence by Emily Rodda – #AWW2019
Memoir about a non-famous person: Australia’s Sweetheart by Michael Adams
Themes of inequality: The Things We Cannot Say by Kelly Rimmer – AWW2019
Book set in the Australian mountains: The Orchardist’s Daughter by Karen Viggers – AWW2019
Written by an author over the age of 65: Miss Franklin: How Miles Franklin’s Brilliant Career began by Libby Hathorn – #AWW2019
Romance: Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
Row Five: BINGO
Prize winning book: Somewhere Around the Corner by Jackie French – #AWW2019, Alexander Altmann A10567 by Suzy Zail – #AWW2019
Book written by an Australian woman more than ten years ago: Deltora Quest: The Lake of Tears by Emily Rodda – #AWW2019 (2001)
Themes of fantasy: Vardaesia by Lynette Noni – AWW2019
Book set in an exotic location: Four Dead Queens by Astrid Scholte – #AWW2019
Written by an author you’ve never read: The Dog Runner by Bren MacDibble – #AWW2019
Comedy: Best Foot Forward by Adam Hills
Jane Austen Reading Challenge
Pride and Prejudice
Sense and Sensibility
Northanger Abbey
Mansfield Park
Emma
Persuasion
Matters of the Heart by Fiona Palmer – Pride and Prejudice retelling
November Round-Up – 18
Book | Author | Challenge |
Clancy of the Overflow | Jackie French | General, #Dymocks52Challenge, #AWW2019 |
Jane Doe and the Cradle of the Worlds | Jeremy Lachlan | General, #Dymocks52Challenge, |
Wolves of the Witchwood (Impossible Quest #2) | Kate Forsyth | General, #Dymocks52Challenge, #AWW2019 |
Persuasion | Jane Austen | General, #Dymocks52Challenge, |
The Beast of Blackmoor Bog (Impossible Quest #3) | Kate Forsyth | General, #Dymocks52Challenge, #AWW2019 |
The Sisters of Auschwitz | Roxane van Ipren | General, #Dymocks52Challenge, |
Mr Dog and a Hedge Called Hog | Ben Fogle and Steve Cole | General, #Dymocks52Challenge, |
The Drowned Kingdom (Impossible Quest #4) | Kate Forsyth | General, #Dymocks52Challenge, #AWW2019 |
Cavern of The Fear (Deltora Shadowlands #1) | Emily Rodda | General, #Dymocks52Challenge, #AWW2019 |
Battle of the Heroes (Impossible Quest #5) | Kate Forsyth | General, #Dymocks52Challenge, #AWW2019 |
A Game of Birds and Wolves: The Secret Game that Won the War | Simon Parkin | General, #Dymocks52Challenge, |
Ella and Olivia: Reef Explorers | Yvette Poshoglian | General, #Dymocks52Challenge, #AWW2019 |
Pippa’s Island: The Beach Shack Café | Belinda Murrell | General, #Dymocks52Challenge, #AWW2019 |
Venus and Aphrodite: History of a Goddess | Bettany Hughes | General, #Dymocks52Challenge, |
Crossing the Lines | Sulari Gentill | General, #Dymocks52Challenge, #AWW2019 |
Gom’s Gold | S.L. Mills | General, #Dymocks52Challenge, #AWW2019 |
Pippa’s Island: Cub Reporters
|
Belinda Murrell | General, #Dymocks52Challenge, #AWW2019
|
Pippa’s Island: Kira Dreaming | Belinda Murrell | General, #Dymocks52Challenge, #AWW2019
|
My next round ups will be December, 2019, the Australian Women Writers Challenge and hopefully round ups of my other challenges including Book Bingo, which will each have linked posts in them.