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

171. Clancy of the Overflow by Jackie French
172. Jane Doe and the Cradle of the Worlds by Jeremy Lachlan
173. Wolves of the Witchwood (Impossible Quest #2) by Kate Forsyth
174. Persuasion by Jane Austen
175. The Sisters of Auschwitz by Roxane van Ipren
176. The Beast of Blackmoor Bog (Impossible Quest #3) by Kate Forsyth
177. Mr Dog and a Hedge Called Hog by Ben Fogle and Steve Cole
178. The Drowned Kingdom (Impossible Quest #4) by Kate Forsyth
179. Cavern of The Fear (Deltora Shadowlands #1) by Emily Rodda
180. Battle of the Heroes (Impossible Quest #5) by Kate Forsyth
181. A Game of Birds and Wolves: The Secret Game that Won the War by Simon Parkin
182. Ella and Olivia: Reef Explorers by Yvette Poshoglian
183. Pippa’s Island: The Beach Shack Café by Belinda Murrell
184. Venus and Aphrodite: History of a Goddess by Bettany Hughes
185. Crossing the Lines by Sulari Gentill
186. Gom’s Gold by S.L. Mills
187. Pippa’s Island: Cub Reporters by Belinda Murrell
188. Pippa’s Island: Kira Dreaming by Belinda Murrell

 Pop Sugar Challenge

1. A book becoming a movie in 2019: Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
2. A book that makes you nostalgic: The Lost Magician by Piers Torday
3. A book written by a musician (fiction or nonfiction): Best Foot Forward by Adam Hills
4. A book you think should be turned into a movie: Four Dead Queens by Astrid Scholte
5. A book with at least one million ratings on Goodreads: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by JK Rowling – 20th Anniversary House Editions
6. A book with a plant in the title or on the cover: Bella Donna: Coven Road by Ruth Symes, Eliza Rose by Lucy Worsley
7. A reread of a favourite book: Beauty in Thorns by Kate Forsyth
8. A book about a hobby: The Bad Mother’s Book Club by Keris Stanton
9. A book you meant to read in 2018: Eliza Rose by Lucy Worsley
10. A book with POP, SUGAR, or CHALLENGE in the title: Poppy Field by Michael Morpurgo, Mary Poppins by P.L. Travers
11. 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
12. A book inspired by myth/legend/folklore: Mermaid Holidays: The Magic Pearl by Delphine Davis and Adele K Thomas
13. A book published posthumously: Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
14. A book you see someone reading on TV or in a movie: Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
15. A retelling of a classic: Enola Holmes: The Case of the Bizarre Bouquets (Enola Holmes #3) by Nancy Springer
16. A book with a question in the title: Is It Night or Day? by Fern Schumer Chapman
17. A book set on college or university campus: Marvel Rising: Squirrel Girl and Ms Marvel by Devin Grayson, Ryan North and Willow Wilson
18. A book about someone with a superpower: The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl Volume One: Squirrel Power by Ryan North
19. A book told from multiple POVs: Four Dead Queens by Astrid Scholte
20. A book set in space: Captain Marvel: Higher, Faster, Further by Kelly Sue DeConnick
21. 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
22. A book with SALTY, SWEET, BITTER, or SPICY in the title: Australia’s Sweetheart by Michael Adams
23. A book set in Scandinavia: The Wolf and the Watchman by Niklas Natt och Dag
24. 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
25. A debut novel: What Lies Beneath Us by Kirsty Ferguson
26. A book that’s published in 2019: Vardaesia by Lynette Noni
27. A book featuring an extinct or imaginary creature: Dragon Masters: Treasure of the Gold Dragon by Tracey West
28. A book recommended by a celebrity you admire: Split edited by Lee Kofman – recommended by Myf Warhurst
29. A book with LOVE in the title: With Love from Miss Lily by Jackie French (short story)
30. A book featuring an amateur detective: All the Tears in China by Sulari Gentill
31. A book about a family: The House of Second Chances by Esther Campion
32. A book by an author from Asia, Africa, or South America: Children of the Dragon: Race for the Red Dragon by Rebecca Lim
33. A book with a zodiac sign or astrology term in title: The Seven or Eight Deaths of Stella Fortuna by Juliet Grames
34. 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
35. 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
36. A ghost story: The Aunt Who Wouldn’t Die by Shirshendu Mukhopadhyay
37. A book with a two-word title: Saving You by Charlotte Nash
38. A novel based on a true story: The Familiars by Stacey Halls – The Pendle Witches
39. A book revolving around a puzzle or game: Deltora Quest #1 by Emily Rodda
40. 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

41. A “cli-fi” (climate fiction) book: The Dog Runner by Bren MacDibble, Daughter of Bad Times by Rohan Wilson
42. A “choose-your-own-adventure” book: Choose Your Own Adventure #2: Journey Under the Sea by R.A. Montgomery
43. An “own voices” book: Children of the Dragon: Race for the Red Dragon by Rebecca Lim
44. 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)
45. A LitRPG book:
46. 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)
47. Two books that share the same title: Deltora Quest: The Forest of Silence by Emily Rodda
48. Two books that share the same title: Deltora Quest: The Lake of Tears by Emily Rodda
49. A book that has inspired a common phrase or idiom: Aladdin and the Arabian Nights – Open Sesame
50. A book set in an abbey, cloister, monastery, vicarage, or convent: Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen

Australian Women Writer’s Challenge

1. All the Tears in China by Sulari Gentill – Reviewed
2. Seven Little Australians by Ethel Turner – Reviewed
3. Vardaesia by Lynette Noni – Reviewed
4. Saving You by Charlotte Nash – Reviewed
5. Zelda Stitch Term Two: Too Much Witch by Nikki Greenberg – Reviewed
6. 99 Percent Mine by Sally Thorne – Reviewed
7. Beauty in Thorns by Kate Forsyth – Reviewed/Revisited post
8. What Lies Beneath Us by Kirsty Ferguson – Reviewed
9. The Dog Runner by Bren MacDibble – Reviewed
10. The House of Second Chances by Esther Campion – Reviewed
11. The Orchardist’s Daughter by Karen Viggers – Reviewed
12. The French Photographer by Natasha Lester – Reviewed and Q&A
13. Kensy and Max: Undercover by Jacqueline Harvey – Reviewed
14. The Things We Cannot Say by Kelly Rimmer – Reviewed
15. 52 Mondays by Anna Ciddor – Reviewed
16. Four Dead Queens by Astrid Scholte – Reviewed
17. Zebra and Other Stories by Debra Adelaide – Reviewed
18. Esther by Jessica North – Reviewed
19. Mermaid Holidays: The Talent Show by Delphine Davis and Adele K. Thomas – Reviewed
20. The True Story of Maddie Bright by Mary-Rose MacColl – Reviewed
21. Miss Franklin: How Miles Franklin’s Brilliant Career began by Libby Hathorn – Reviewed
22. Archibald, The Naughtiest Elf in the World Causes Trouble with the Easter Bunny by Skye Davidson – Reviewed
23. The Artist’s Portrait by Julie Keys – Reviewed
24. The Suicide Bride by Tanya Bretherton – Reviewed, Interview
25. Deltora Quest: The Forest of Silence by Emily Rodda – Reviewed
26. Children of the Dragon: Race for the Red Dragon by Rebecca Lim – Reviewed
27. Deltora Quest: The Lake of Tears by Emily Rodda – Reviewed
28. Deltora Quest: The City of Rats by Emily Rodda – Reviewed
29. Alice to Prague by Tanya Heaslip – Reviewed
30. Life Before by Carmel Reilly – Reviewed
31. The Shelly Bay Ladies Swimming Circle by Sophie Green – Reviewed
32. The Monster Who Wasn’t by T.C. Shelley – Reviewed
33. The Lost Letters of Esther Durrant by Kayte Nunn – Reviewed
34. Lintang and The Pirate Queen by Tamara Moss – Reviewed
35. The Great Toy Rescue (Puppy Diaries #1) by Yvette Poshoglian – Work book, not reviewed
36. As Happy as Here by Jane Godwin – Reviewed
37. Women to the Front: The Extraordinary Australian Women Doctors of the Great War by Heather Sheard and Ruth Lee – Reviewed
38. Deltora Quest: The Shifting Sands by Emily Rodda – Reviewed
39. Deltora Quest: Dread Mountain by Emily Rodda – Reviewed
40. Mermaid Holidays by Delphine Davis and Adele K Thomas – Reviewed
41. Mary Poppins by P.L. Travers – Reviewed
42. Eco Warriors: Microbat Mayhem by Candice Lemon-Scott – Work book, not reviewed.
43. Maternal Instinct by Rebecca Bowyer – Reviewed
44. The Blue Rose by Kate Forsyth – Reviewed
45. Fled by Meg Keneally – Reviewed
46. The Last Dingo Summer by Jackie French (Matilda Saga #8) – Reviewed
47. The Silver Well by Kate Forsyth and Kim Wilkins – Reviewed
48. Blood and Circuses by Kerry Greenwood (Phryne Fisher #6) – Reviewed
49. Deltora Quest: The Maze of the Beast by Emily Rodda – Reviewed
50. Deltora Quest: The Valley of the Lost by Emily Rodda – Reviewed
51. Deltora Quest: Return to Del by Emily Rodda – Reviewed
52. Deltora Quest #1 by Emily Rodda – Reviewed
53. Somewhere Around the Corner by Jackie French – Reviewed
54. Alexander Altmann A10567 by Suzy Zail – Reviewed
55. Where the Dead Go by Sarah Bailey – Reviewed
56. Firewatcher #1: Brimstone by Kelly Gardiner – Reviewed
57. The Burnt Country by Joy Rhoades – Reviewed
58. The Book Ninja by Ali Berg and Michelle Klaus – Reviewed
59. Rowan of Rin by Emily Rodda – Reviewed
60. Mermaid Holidays #3: The Bake Off by Delphine Davis – Reviewed
61. While You Were Reading by Ali Berg and Michelle Klaus – Reviewed
62. The Unforgiving City by Maggie Joel – Reviewed
63. Matters of the Heart by Fiona Palmer – Reviewed
64. Mary Poppins She Wrote: The extraordinary life of Australian writer P.L. Travers by Valerie Wilson – Reviewed
65. Kensy and Max: Out of Sight by Jacqueline Harvey – Reviewed
66. The Lily and the Rose by Jackie French – Reviewed
67. The Impossible Quest #1: Escape from Wolfhaven Castle by Kate Forsyth – Reviewed
68. A Lighthouse in Time by Sandra Bennett – Reviewed
69. 488 Rules for Life by Kitty Flanagan – Reviewed
70. There Was Still Love by Favel Parrett – Reviewed
71. Rebel Women who Changed Australia by Susanna de Vries – Reviewed
72. Whisper by Lynette Noni – Reviewed
73. The Glimme by Emily Rodda -Reviewed
74. The Orange Grove by Kate Murdoch – Reviewed
75. Weapon by Lynette Noni – Reviewed
76. Total Quack Up Again by Sally Rippin and Adrian Beck – Reviewed
77. The Starthorn Tree by Kate Forsyth – Reviewed
78. With Love from Miss Lily by Jackie French (short story) – Reviewed
79. The Lily in the Snow by Jackie French – Reviewed
80. Christmas Lilies by Jackie French – Reviewed
81. The Wildkin’s Curse by Kate Forsyth – Reviewed
82. The Starkin Crown by Kate Forsyth – Reviewed
83. Clancy of the Overflow by Jackie French – Reviewed
84. Wolves of the Witchwood (Impossible Quest #2) by Kate Forsyth – Reviewed
85. The Beast of Blackmoor Bog (Impossible Quest #3) by Kate Forsyth – Reviewed
86. The Drowned Kingdom (Impossible Quest #4) by Kate Forsyth – Reviewed
87. Cavern of The Fear (Deltora Shadowlands #1) by Emily Rodda – Reviewed
88. Battle of the Heroes (Impossible Quest #5) by Kate Forsyth – Reviewed
89. Ella and Olivia: Reef Explorers by Yvette Poshoglian – Work book, not reviewed
90. Pippa’s Island: The Beach Shack Café by Belinda Murrell – Reviewed
91. Crossing the Lines by Sulari Gentill – Reviewed
92. Gom’s Gold by S.L. Mills – Reviewed
93. Pippa’s Island: Cub Reporters by Belinda Murrell – Reviewed
94. Pippa’s Island: Kira Dreaming by Belinda Murrell – Reviewed
95. 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

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.