Tag: Christmas

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Dymocks Reading Challenge 2025 Completed

Ashleigh

And just like that, another year of the Dymocks Reading Challenge is over. I managed to fill in each prompt for this one, and may have ummed and ahhed about the Gothic Ruins prompt, because I read a couple of books that seemed to fit it well. I did focus on Australian books and authors… Continue reading Dymocks Reading Challenge 2025 Completed

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Dymocks Volume 3 2025 Completed

Ashleigh

And that’s the third volume completed! I found the prompts in this one easy to fill. They had a good balance of being open and specific, and I had a few options for some whilst others I took a good guess at where they would fit. I chose a translated book for the Branching Out… Continue reading Dymocks Volume 3 2025 Completed

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The 12 Birds of Christmas by Jodie McLeod, illustrated by Eloise Short

Ashleigh

Title: The 12 Birds of Christmas Author: Jodie McLeod, illustrated by Eloise Short Genre: Christmas Publisher: Wollemi Press Published: 1st October 2025 Format: Hardcover Pages: 32 Price: $26.95 Synopsis: From the award-winning author and illustrator of The Black Cockatoo With One Feather Blue comes this original rhyming read aloud about giving, community and sharing the… Continue reading The 12 Birds of Christmas by Jodie McLeod, illustrated by Eloise Short

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Books by Non-Australian Men 2024

Ashleigh

In 2024, I read nine books by men who weren’t from Australia. Two of these books were anthologies that included works by men, which is why I have included them here. Some books have crossover in a few ways, so I have tried to reflect that as much as I can. As my focus was… Continue reading Books by Non-Australian Men 2024

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2024 Dymocks Reading Challenge Completed for real this time

Ashleigh

Well, when it came to the end of October, we all thought the Dymocks Reading Challenge was ending with Dessert. It was a satisfying ending too, and yet, when the Christmas Leftovers prompts that allowed me to add a few more in, albeit one that I had months ago in a pinch as I was… Continue reading 2024 Dymocks Reading Challenge Completed for real this time

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Dymocks Reading Challenge: Christmas Leftovers

Ashleigh

Christmas Leftovers Just when we thought it was over in October, Dymocks surprised us with four more prompts for November and December to wrap up the year. I had to be sneaky though, and use a previously read book for the Book of the Year prompt as I was running out of time, and the… Continue reading Dymocks Reading Challenge: Christmas Leftovers

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The Swordmaster’s Secret and Other Stories by Narrelle M Harris

Ashleigh

Title: The Swordmaster's Secret and Other Stories Author: Narrelle M Harris Genre: Crime/Historical Fiction Publisher: Dangerous Charm/Draft2Digital Published: 30th July 2024 Format: Paperback Pages: 116 Price:  $40.74 Synopsis: These stories are all set after the events of Narrelle M Harris' The Adventure of the Colonial Boy. The collection begins with "The Swordmaster's Secret", a few months… Continue reading The Swordmaster’s Secret and Other Stories by Narrelle M Harris

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Sally’s Lament (Twisted Tales #19) by Mari Mancusi

Ashleigh

Title: Sally’s Lament (Twisted Tales #19) Author: Mari Mancusi Genre: Fantasy Publisher: Scholastic Australia Published: 1st September 2024 Format: Paperback Pages: 352 Price: $17.99 Synopsis: Sally has mostly loved her creepy hometown of Halloween Town. But lately, she can't help but want something more. In a place full of the frightening, you'd think living in… Continue reading Sally’s Lament (Twisted Tales #19) by Mari Mancusi

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When Santa Got Stuck in a Gum Tree by Jackie Hoskings, illustrated by Nathaniel Eckstrom

Ashleigh

Title: When Santa Got Stuck in a Gum Tree Author: Jackie Hoskings, illustrated by Nathaniel Eckstrom Genre: Christmas Publisher: Walker Books Published: 4th September 2024 Format: Hardcover Pages: 32 Price: $24.99 Synopsis: From the creators of An Aussie Christmas Gum Tree, Jackie Hosking’s lyrical rhymes and Nathaniel Eckstrom’s charming illustrations are the perfect match to get… Continue reading When Santa Got Stuck in a Gum Tree by Jackie Hoskings, illustrated by Nathaniel Eckstrom

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August 2024 Reading Round Up

Ashleigh

We’re over halfway through the year now, and I have met my overall reading goal, but still have a few challenge prompts to tick off across the board. I have books planned for these prompts and will hopefully get to them all by the end of the year. My reading has gone down a bit… Continue reading August 2024 Reading Round Up