Seven months into the year, and in total, I have read 118 books. Of those 118, 58 have been by Australian Women, and the remaining 60 by authors across the board – male, female and international. I am still trying to make progress on my Jane Austen challenge and have one square left to tick off for book bingo – a book over 500 pages. Many of my reads this year have fallen short of this, so I am still looking and hoping something in my own collection will come up.
Most of the books have been reviewed, with a few exceptions for books read for work or Squirrel Girl and Captain Marvel. Some reviewed books have not been released yet, so the links will be included in later wrap ups or maybe added to this one when they go live. I read 25 books in July, and have managed to stay on top of a lot of my reading as well.
Until next month, and more reviews and posts!
General
- The Silver Well by Kate Forsyth and Kim Wilkins
- Blood and Circuses by Kerry Greenwood (Phryne Fisher #6)
- The Aunt Who Wouldn’t Die by Shirshendu Mukhopadhyay
- The Secret Dragon by Ed Clarke
- Aladdin and the Arabian Nights
- Deltora Quest: The Maze of the Beast by Emily Rodda
- Deltora Quest: The Valley of the Lost by Emily Rodda
- Deltora Quest: Return to Del by Emily Rodda
- Deltora Quest #1 by Emily Rodda
- Somewhere Around the Corner by Jackie French
- Alexander Altmann A10567 by Suzy Zail
- The Binder of Doom: Brute Cake by Troy Cummings
- Beatrix the Bold and the Curse of the Wobblers by Simon Mockler
- Where the Dead Go by Sarah Bailey
- Firewatcher #1: Brimstone by Kelly Gardiner
- Purrmaids #1: The Scaredy Cat by Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen
- The Dragon in the Library by Louie Stowell
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Illustrated Edition by JK Rowling, illustrated by Jim Kay
- The Burnt Country by Joy Rhoades
- The Book Ninja by Ali Berg and Michelle Klaus
- Pages and Co: Tilly and the Bookwanderers by Anna James
- Top Marks for Murder by Robin Stevens (A Murder Most Unladylike #8)
- Bentley by Ellen Miles
- Fast Forward to the Future (Time Jumpers #3) by Wendy Mass
- Is it Night or Day? by Fern Schumer Chapman
Pop Sugar Challenge
- A book becoming a movie in 2019:
- 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:
- 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
- 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:
- 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:
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)
- 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
AWW2019
- 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
55.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
Book Bingo
Rows Across:
Row One:
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:
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:
Novel that has 500 pages or more:
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
July Round Up – 25
| Book |
Title |
Challenge |
| The Silver Well |
Kate Forsyth and Kim Wilkins |
General, #Dymocks52Challenge, #AWW2019, Popsugar |
| Blood and Circuses (Phryne Fisher #6) |
Kerry Greenwood |
General, #Dymocks52Challenge, #AWW2019 |
| The Aunt Who Wouldn’t Die |
Shirshendu Mukhopadhyay |
General, #Dymocks52Challenge, PopSugar |
| The Secret Dragon |
Ed Clarke |
General, #Dymocks52Challenge – released 6th August. |
| Aladdin and the Arabian Nights |
Anonymous |
General, #Dymocks52Challenge, PopSugar |
| Deltora Quest: The Maze of the Beast |
Emily Rodda |
General, #Dymocks52Challenge, #AWW2019 |
| Deltora Quest: The Valley of the Lost |
Emily Rodda |
General, #Dymocks52Challenge, #AWW2019 |
| Deltora Quest: Return to Del |
Emily Rodda |
General, #Dymocks52Challenge, #AWW2019 |
| Deltora Quest #1 Omnibus |
Emily Rodda |
General, #Dymocks52Challenge, #AWW2019, PopSugar |
| Somewhere Around the Corner |
Jackie French |
General, #Dymocks52Challenge, #AWW2019, Book bingo |
| Alexander Altmann A10567 |
Suzy Zail |
General, #Dymocks52Challenge, #AWW2019, Book bingo |
| The Binder of Doom: Brute Cake |
Troy Cummings |
General, #Dymocks52Challenge |
| Beatrix the Bold and the Curse of the Wobblers |
Simon Mockler |
General, #Dymocks52Challenge |
| Where the Dead Go |
Sarah Bailey |
General, #Dymocks52Challenge, #AWW2019 |
| Firewatcher #1: Brimstone |
Kelly Gardiner |
General, #Dymocks52Challenge, #AWW2019 |
| Purrmaids #1: The Scaredy Cat |
Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen |
General, #Dymocks52Challenge |
| The Dragon in the Library |
Louie Stowell |
General, #Dymocks52Challenge |
| Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Illustrated Edition |
JK Rowling, illustrated by Jim Kay |
General, #Dymocks52Challenge |
| The Burnt Country |
Joy Rhoades |
General, #Dymocks52Challenge, #AWW2019 |
| The Book Ninja |
Ali Berg and Michelle Klaus |
General, #Dymocks52Challenge, #AWW2019 |
| Pages and Co: Tilly and the Bookwanderers |
Anna James |
General, #Dymocks52Challenge |
| Top Marks for Murder (A Murder Most Unladylike #8) |
Robin Stevens |
General, #Dymocks52Challenge |
| Bentley |
Ellen Miles |
General, #Dymocks52Challenge |
| Fast Forward to the Future (Time Jumpers #3) |
Wendy Mass |
General, #Dymocks52Challenge |
| Is it Night or Day? |
Fern Schumer Chapman |
General, #Dymocks52Challenge |
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My first prize winner book won the Children’s Book Council of Australia Honour Book, and this is Somewhere Around the Corner by Jackie French. Set during 1932 and the Great Depression in Sydney, it centres around a young girl called Barbara, who slips around a corner from 1994 to 1932 – and finds herself in the middle of a demonstration during the 1930s. Taken back to Poverty Gully by Young Jim, Barbara finds out what being part of a family is like, and what it means to stick together through good and bad times, such as the Depression. It is based on people Jackie knows and stories she has heard
Square seven, a book by an author I have never read before has been filled by 
by Libby Hathorn 
Title: The Secrets at Ocean’s Edge
The Secrets at Ocean’s Edge is a story about a family and the secrets they are hiding from each other, and the small towns they live in – Perenjori, on the wheat farm – Cowanup Downs, and the town they move to at the height of the Great Depression in 1932 – Dongarra (spelt with two r’s at the time) in Western Australia. Ernie, his wife Lily, and their daughter, Girlie have left a failing wheat farm for a new life and new guest-house venture in Dongarra by the ocean. Here, they are determined to hide their secrets – from each other and from the close-knit town – unsure of who they can trust. As hints drop at their secrets – Lily’s Arnott’s tin, Ernie’s frequent absences, and Girlie’s questions about the Feheely family and why Ruby Feheely can’t go to school with her – more secrets are destined to come out, especially when Lily’s brother, Tommy arrives – still scarred from The Great War, after six years apart, and Tommy’s search for his family. The secrets Lily has kept from him will set off a chain reaction of events, where even the most innocent of secrets can harm, and where the Hasses secrets are unlikely to stay secret forever.
Title: The Road to Gundagai (Matilda Saga #3)
The third book in Jackie French’s ongoing Matilda Saga, about the women and characters of other classes and races behind the history of Australia. In The Road to Gundagai, Bluebell “Blue” Laurence is living with her aunts after the death of the rest of her family at sea, a fire that has left her crippled, and months of feeling ill and not getting any better. Set against the backdrop of the Great Depression of the 1930s in Australia, Blue attends a circus, where she meets the people who will whisk her away from a life of closed rooms and illness, beds and dependency on others. Hiding the scars of the fire beneath a sparkling mermaid, costume, Blue becomes part of the circus, a member of the family, yet she is worried about the young Chinese girl, Mah, who used to serve her, and help her. Blue’s disappearance leads to a series of events involving her aunts and her Uncle Herbert, that come to a head when the circus arrives at Gibber’s Creek, and one member takes ill. It is at this point that Miss Matilda, owner of Drinkwater, takes them in and the mysteries and secrets that everyone has been hiding for months and years, are revealed, and a murderer caught as they attempt to strike again.
