QBD Reading Challenge Completed

At the start of the year, I embarked on the QBD Reading Challenge, which was a travel itinerary this year. I have finished it in just under nine months and was able to fill it with as many review books as possible and other books also had overlaps with a couple of other challenges that I am close to completing as well. My goal is to have all these challenges completed by the end of the year.

I have read across a wide range of genres for this challenge, and have focused on Australian authors, with a few exceptions that fitted in specific categories. I also aimed to read books that not everyone else read, or too many overly popular ones because I often feel like these books get enough attention and have invariably let down by them when I do try. Many simply do not live up to the hype we have been sold as readers. For me, it’s the books that don’t get this hype that often have more to say anyway.

So, that’s this challenge done and dusted for the year – I wonder what we will have next year!

QBD Reading Challenge 2024: Travel Itinerary

Local Travels

A Short Getaway (a book with under 300 pages): Miss Mary-Kate Martin’s Guide to Monsters: The Bother with the Bonkillyknock Beast by Karen Foxlee

Explore Australia (a book by an Indigenous author): The Wonder of Little Things by Vince Copley with Lea McInerney

Visit the relatives (a book suggested by a loved one): Her Majesty’s League of Remarkable Young Ladies by Alison D Stegert
Staycation (a book by an Australian author): 11 Ruby Road 1900 by Charlotte Barkla

The holiday countdown (a book with a number in the title): The Eleventh Floor by Kylie Orr

The usual tourist trap (one of the classics): Looking for Alibrandi by Melina Marchetta

International Holiday

Experience a new culture (translated novel): What You Are Looking for Is in the Library by Michiko Aoyama, translated by Alison Watts

Long-haul flight (a 500+page book): Dragonclaw (The Witches of Eileanan Book One) by Kate Forsyth

See the world through someone else’s eyes (a memoir): Late Bloomer: How an Autism Diagnosis Changed my Life by Clem Bastow

Semester abroad (read about a new skill or hobby): Tight Lines by Louise Lambeth

Guided tour (A QBD Book of the Month): Nerra, Deep Time Traveller: The Broken Rainbow by Tasma Walton (Oct 2023)

Inflight entertainment (A book adapted to film): A Kind of Spark by Elle McNicoll

New Experiences

First time visitor (first book in a series): Millie: The Cutest Puppy in the World: New Home by Cate Whittle

Hot new destination (a debut novel): The Unexpected Heiress: A Family Saga from Concentration Camp to Gold Mining Empire by George Mallory

Increase spice tolerance (a romance novel): Love, Just In by Natalie Murray

Let’s go girls (a book by a woman): Lani and the Universe by Victoria Carless

New arrival (a book published in 2024): Jawsome: Licence to Rock by RJ Timmis

Dragon you on a new adventure (story with dragons): Fledgewitch: A Dragons of Hallow Book by Lian Tanner

Must-see Sights

My fantasy destination (a magical adventure): Losing the Plot by Annaliese Byrd

Travel back in time (a historical book): Outlaw Girls by Emily Gale and Nova Weetman

Flying proud (An LGBTQI+ book): Lemons in the Chicken Wire by Alison Whittaker

Popular destination (Top 100): The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman

A thriller to keep me on the edge of my plane seat: Tipping Point by Dinuka McKenzie

Visit somewhere on the bucket (TBR) list: The Peak (Spy Academy #1) by Jack Heath