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Australian authors read in 2024

I read 206 Australian authors in 2024, many more than international authors, because I feel like Australian authors are often overlooked in favour of US or UK authors, unless they have a big name that is almost guaranteed to sell books. My Australian reading has been as diverse as possible, within genre and author identity.… Continue reading Australian authors read in 2024

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Australian Women Read in 2024

For the past several years, I have been eager to promote Australian women writers. Not to the detriment of men or international authors, but because Australian women writers are brilliant and often overlooked, so don’t always get the recognition they deserve. There are some who are popular, but for those who aren’t, I feel that… Continue reading Australian Women Read in 2024

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Aussie YA Challenge Completed

One of the challenges I took part in this year was the #AussieYAChallenge, hosted by Amy at Lost in a Good Book. I had planned to read to the highest level, which was Nix – read twelve books, because at the time, I wasn’t sure how much Australian YA would come my way. I ended… Continue reading Aussie YA Challenge Completed

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The Books I read that were Written by Women

In 2023, I read 173 books written by women across a range of genres and audiences and age groups, and many of these were review books or books that I reviewed throughout the year. I made the effort to be as diverse as possible – whether this was the story, the author, or the characters… Continue reading The Books I read that were Written by Women

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Completion of QBD Reading Challenge 2023

I have completed the 2023 QBD Challenge. My last prompt was a funny memoir, which in some ways was hard to find, but I settled on Paul Jennings’ memoir, Untwisted, which was funny in parts, and I enjoyed the way he told the stories – with humour and empathy throughout. I reviewed twenty books for… Continue reading Completion of QBD Reading Challenge 2023

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Dymocks Summer Reading Challenge Completed

It’s taken me a while, but I finally completed my summer prompts. I was going to finish this in December, but I read a book that worked for this and other challenge prompts, so I decided to use it as the Summer and Autumn prompts are available to start now. My final prompt was BookTok… Continue reading Dymocks Summer Reading Challenge Completed

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First Book Bestie’s Book Bingo Row Completed

As you know, this year one of my challenges is the Book Bestie’s Bingo. Well, it hasn’t taken me long to fill more than half the card, and get one bingo with another two on the way – I just have to find the books I am going to use for them. Below are the… Continue reading First Book Bestie’s Book Bingo Row Completed

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Saving Francesca by Melina Marchetta

Title: Saving Francesca Author: Melina Marchetta Genre: Fiction Publisher: Puffin, Penguin Published: 5th June 2006 (First published 2003) Format: Paperback Pages: 242 Price: $19.99 Synopsis: A memorable and much-loved Australian classic told with humour, compassion and joy, from the internationally bestselling and multi-award-winning author of Looking for Alibrandi. Francesca is at the beginning of her second… Continue reading Saving Francesca by Melina Marchetta

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September 2021 Round Up

In September, I read 21 books, and most of those were again Australian authors, with two quiz books and 19 review books. To date on the day of writing this, I have read 217 books, and September saw me reach 215 books for 2021. I completed my Dymocks Reading Challenge, leaving only my QBD Challenge… Continue reading September 2021 Round Up

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What Zola did on Sunday by Melina Marchetta and illustrated by Deb Hudson

Title: What Zola did on Sunday Author: Melina Marchetta Genre: Contemporary Publisher: Puffin Published: 28th September 2021 Format: Paperback Pages: 96 Price: $12.99 Synopsis: From the author of Looking for Alibrandi comes this gorgeous series to engage and entertain newly independent young readers. A wonderful children’s series celebrating community, friendship and kindness from the bestselling author of Looking… Continue reading What Zola did on Sunday by Melina Marchetta and illustrated by Deb Hudson