Tag: reading challenges

Main Challenge Wrap Up

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Every year I challenge myself to read more – and last year I had a goal of 150 books and ended up reading 205 books in total. I didn’t manage to read all the Jane Austen books, but I am aiming to read more this year. Below are is a breakdown of my challenges, and the linked posts. I definitely surpassed my #Dymocks52Challenge as well.

Many of these books were either ones sent to me for review, or as books for work to write quizzes on for an educational publisher in Australia as well as my own reading, so it is a very varied list.

2019 also marked my first year as Young Adult editor for the Australian Women Writer’s Challenge, and from this year, will be combining it with the Children’s entries. I wrote more about this in my other round up, so I won’t repeat it here.

AWW2019 – YA editor

Book Bingo with Theresa and Amanda – BINGO  

POP Sugar 2019 challenge– one category to fill

Overall Goal: 150 – 205/150

AWW2019 Goal: 25 – reached. Up to 100 now.

#Dymocks52Challenge – up to 205 for the year.

Reading Log

  1. All the Tears in China by Sulari Gentill
  2. Bella Donna: Coven Road by Ruth Symes
  3. Seven Little Australians by Ethel Turner
  4. Bella Donna: Too Many Spells by Ruth Symes
  5. Dragon Masters: Treasure of the Gold Dragon by Tracey West
  6. Vardaesia by Lynette Noni
  7. Best Foot Forward by Adam Hills
  8. Saving You by Charlotte Nash
  9. Zelda Stitch Term Two: Too Much Witch by Nicki Greenberg
  10. Australia’s Sweetheart by Michael Adams
  11. The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl Volume One: Squirrel Power by Ryan North
  12. 99 Percent Mine by Sally Thorne
  13. Enola Holmes: The Case of the Bizarre Bouquets (Enola Holmes #3) by Nancy Springer
  14. Enola Holmes: The Case of the Peculiar Pink Fan (Enola Holmes #4) by Nancy Springer
  15. Beauty in Thorns by Kate Forsyth
  16. What Lies Beneath Us by Kirsty Ferguson
  17. The Dog Runner by Bren MacDibble
  18. The House of Second Chances by Esther Campion
  19. The Familiars by Stacey Halls
  20. The Orchardist’s Daughter by Karen Viggers
  21. The French Photographer by Natasha Lester
  22. Harry Potter: A History of Magic, The Exhibition Guide by British Library, JK Rowling
  23. D-Bot #8: Dino Corp by Mac Park
  24. Kensy and Max: Undercover by Jacqueline Harvey
  25. The Things We Cannot Say by Kelly Rimmer
  26. 52 Mondays by Anna Ciddor
  27. The Incredible Hulk by Alex Irvine
  28. Four Dead Queens by Astrid Scholte
  29. The Wolf and the Watchman by Niklas Natt och Dag
  30. The Deep: Selkie Warrior by Finn Black
  31. Zebra and Other Stories by Debra Adelaide
  32. Captain Marvel: Higher, Faster, Further by Kelly Sue DeConnick
  33. Free Rein: The Steeplechase Secret by Jeanette Lane
  34. Esther by Jessica North
  35. Mermaid Holidays: The Talent Show by Delphine Davis and Adele K. Thomas
  36. Cuddles by Ellen Miles
  37. The True Story of Maddie Bright by Mary-Rose MacColl
  38. Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
  39. Middle School: Born to Rock by James Patterson and Chris Tebbetts
  40. The Honeyman and the Hunter by Neil Grant
  41. A Dream of Italy by Nicky Pellegrino
  42. Archibald, The Naughtiest Elf in the World Causes Trouble with the Easter Bunny by Skye Davidson
  43. Poppy Field by Michael Morpurgo
  44. The Artist’s Portrait by Julie Keys
  45. The Lost Magician by Piers Torday
  46. The Suicide Bride by Tanya Bretherton
  47. The Bad Mother’s Book Club by Keris Stanton
  48. Rabbit and Bear: Attack of the Snack by Julian Gough
  49. Eliza Rose by Lucy Worsley
  50. Deltora Quest: The Forest of Silence by Emily Rodda
  51. The Seven or Eight Deaths of Stella Fortuna by Juliet Grames
  52. Deltora Quest: The Lake of Tears by Emily Rodda
  53. Children of the Dragon: Race for the Red Dragon by Rebecca Lim
  54. Toto the Ninja Cat and the Incredible Cheese Heist by Dermot O’Leary
  55. The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary

56. Christopher Robin: The Little Book of Pooh-isms: With help from Piglet, Eeyore, Rabbit, Owl, and Tigger, too! by Brittany Rubiano

57. Daughter of Bad Times by Rohan Wilson

58. Deltora Quest: The City of Rats by Emily Rodda

59. Fabio, the World’s Greatest Flamingo Detective: Mystery on the Ostrich Express by Laura James

60. Life Before by Carmel Reilly

61. Alice to Prague by Tanya Heaslip

62. Upside Down Magic #5: Weather or Not by Sarah Mlynowski, Lauren Myracle and Emily Jenkins

  1. The Shelly Bay Ladies Swimming Circle by Sophie Green
  2. The Monster Who Wasn’t by T.C. Shelley
  3. The Forgotten Letters of Esther Durrant by Kayte Nunn
  4. Squidge Dibley Destroys the School by Mick Elliott
  5. Lintang and The Pirate Queen by Tamara Moss
  6. Alfie takes Action by Karen Wallace
  7. The Great Toy Rescue (Puppy Diaries #1) by Yvette Poshoglian
  8. As Happy as Here by Jane Godwin
  9. Women to the Front: The Extraordinary Australian Women Doctors of the Great War by Heather Sheard and Ruth Lee
  10. Deltora Quest: The Shifting Sands by Emily Rodda
  11. Deltora Quest: Dread Mountain by Emily Rodda
  12. Marvel Rising: Squirrel Girl and Ms Marvel by Devin Grayson, Ryan North and Willow Wilson
  13. Mermaid Holidays: The Magic Pearl by Delphine Davis and Adele K Thomas
  14. Mary Poppins by P.L. Travers
  15. Eco Warriors: Microbat Mayhem by Candice Lemon-Scott
  16. Explorer’s Academy: Nebula Secret by Trudi Trueit
  17. The Time Travel Diaries #1 by Caroline Lawrence
  18. Chanel’s Riviera by Anne De Courcy
  19. Maternal Instinct by Rebecca Bowyer
  20. When We Were Warriors by Emma Carroll
  21. Powers of a Girl by Lorraine Clink and Alice X Zhang
  22. Stasi 77 by David Young
  23. The Blue Rose by Kate Forsyth
  24. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by JK Rowling (20th Anniversary Ravenclaw Edition)
  25. Rumple Buttercup by Matthew Gray Gubler
  26. Fled by Meg Keneally
  27. Squirrel Girl #2: Squirrel You Know It’s True by Ryan North
  28. Split edited by Lee Kofman
  29. Kristy’s Great Idea by Ann M Martin (Babysitters Club #1)
  30. Choose Your Own Adventure #2: Journey Under the Sea by R.A. Montgomery
  31. The Last Dingo Summer by Jackie French (Matilda Saga #8)
  32. The Silver Well by Kate Forsyth and Kim Wilkins
  33. Blood and Circuses by Kerry Greenwood (Phryne Fisher #6)
  34. The Aunt Who Wouldn’t Die by Shirshendu Mukhopadhyay
  35. The Secret Dragon by Ed Clarke
  36. Aladdin and the Arabian Nights
  37. Deltora Quest: The Maze of the Beast by Emily Rodda
  38. Deltora Quest: The Valley of the Lost by Emily Rodda
  39. Deltora Quest: Return to Del by Emily Rodda
  40. Deltora Quest #1 by Emily Rodda
  41. Somewhere Around the Corner by Jackie French
  42. Alexander Altmann A10567 by Suzy Zail
  43. The Binder of Doom: Brute Cake by Troy Cummings
  44. Beatrix the Bold and the Curse of the Wobblers by Simon Mockler
  45. Where the Dead Go by Sarah Bailey
  46. Firewatcher #1: Brimstone by Kelly Gardiner
  47. Purrmaids #1: The Scaredy Cat by Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen
  48. The Dragon in the Library by Louie Stowell
  49. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Illustrated Edition by JK Rowling, illustrated by Jim Kay
  50. The Burnt Country by Joy Rhoades
  51. The Book Ninja by Ali Berg and Michelle Klaus
  52. Pages and Co: Tilly and the Bookwanderers by Anna James
  53. Top Marks for Murder by Robin Stevens (A Murder Most Unladylike #8)
  54. Bentley by Ellen Miles
  55. Fast Forward to the Future (Time Jumpers #3) by Wendy Mass
  56. Is it Night or Day? by Fern Schumer Chapman
  57. The Battle for Perodia (The Last Firehawk #6) by Katrina Chapman
  58. Rowan of Rin by Emily Rodda
  59. A Pinch of Magic by Michelle Harrison
  60. The Puppy Who Couldn’t Sleep by Holly Webb
  61. Mermaid Holidays #3: The Bake Off by Delphine Davis
  62. Claudia and the Phantom Phone Calls by Ann M Martin
  63. The Truth About Stacey by Ann M Martin
  64. Mary Anne Saves the Day by Ann M Martin
  65. While You Were Reading by Ali Berg and Michelle Klaus
  66. The Unforgiving City by Maggie Joel
  67. Matters of the Heart by Fiona Palmer
  68. Harry Potter: Spells and Charms: A Movie Scrapbook by Judy Revenson
  69. Mary Poppins She Wrote: The extraordinary life of Australian writer P.L. Travers by Valerie Wilson
  70. Kensy and Max: Out of Sight by Jacqueline Harvey
  71. The Loneliest Kitten by Holly Webb
  72. The Land of Long-Lost Friends by Alexander McCall-Smith
  73. The Lily and the Rose by Jackie French
  74. The Impossible Quest #1: Escape from Wolfhaven Castle by Kate Forsyth
  75. A Lighthouse in Time by Sandra Bennett
  76. Tiny Timmy: The New Coach by Tim Cahill
  77. 488 Rules for Life by Kitty Flanagan
  78. Boa Constructor (Binder of Doom) by Troy Cummings
  79. Silver by Chris Hammer
  80. Beauty, Beast and Belladonna by Maia Chance
  81. There Was Still Love by Favel Parrett
  82. Rebel Women who Changed Australia by Susanna de Vries
  83. The Deathless Girls by Kiran Millwood Hargrave
  84. The Book of Dust Volume 2: The Secret Commonwealth by Philip Pullman
  85. The Christmasaurus and the Winter Witch by Tom Fletcher
  86. Dragon Masters: The Land of the Spring Dragon by Tracey West
  87. The Mitford Scandal by Jessica Fellowes
  88. Whisper by Lynette Noni
  89. The Glimme by Emily Rodda
  90. The Frozen Sea by Piers Torday
  91. Mudlarking: Lost and Found on the River Thames by Lara Maiklem
  92. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
  93. The Orange Grove by Kate Murdoch
  94. Weapon by Lynette Noni
  95. Pages and Co #2: Tilly and the Lost Fairy Tales by Anna James
  96. Illustrated Edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by JK Rowling
  97. Total Quack Up Again by Sally Rippin and Adrian Beck
  98. The Starthorn Tree by Kate Forsyth
  99. With Love from Miss Lily by Jackie French (short story)
  100. The Lily in the Snow by Jackie French
  101. Christmas Lilies by Jackie French
  102. Skate Monkey: Fear Mountain by Paul Mason
  103. Illustrated Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by JK Rowling
  104. The Case of the Wandering Scholar by Kate Saunders
  105. The Wildkin’s Curse by Kate Forsyth
  106. Why You Should Read Children’s Books Even Though You Are So Old and Wise by Katherine Rundell
  107. Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman
  108. The Starkin Crown by Kate Forsyth
  109. Clancy of the Overflow by Jackie French
  110. Jane Doe and the Cradle of the Worlds by Jeremy Lachlan
  111. Wolves of the Witchwood (Impossible Quest #2) by Kate Forsyth
  112. Persuasion by Jane Austen
  113. The Sisters of Auschwitz by Roxane van Ipren
  114. The Beast of Blackmoor Bog (Impossible Quest #3) by Kate Forsyth
  115. Mr Dog and a Hedge Called Hog by Ben Fogle and Steve Cole
  116. The Drowned Kingdom (Impossible Quest #4) by Kate Forsyth
  117. Cavern of The Fear (Deltora Shadowlands #1) by Emily Rodda
  118. Battle of the Heroes (Impossible Quest #5) by Kate Forsyth
  119. A Game of Birds and Wolves: The Secret Game that Won the War by Simon Parkin
  120. Ella and Olivia: Reef Explorers by Yvette Poshoglian
  121. Pippa’s Island: The Beach Shack Café by Belinda Murrell
  122. Venus and Aphrodite: History of a Goddess by Bettany Hughes
  123. Crossing the Lines by Sulari Gentill
  124. Gom’s Gold by S.L. Mills
  125. Pippa’s Island: Cub Reporters by Belinda Murrell
  126. Pippa’s Island: Kira Dreaming by Belinda Murrell
  127. The Clergyman’s Wife by Molly Greeley
  128. Mermaid Holidays #4: The Reef Rescue by Delphine Davis and Adele K Thomas
  129. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll and Mina Lima
  130. The Christmasaurus by Tom Fletcher
  131. The Nutcracker and the Four Realms: The Secret of the Realms by Meredith Rusu
  132. Tiger Heart by Penny Chrimes
  133. The Nutcracker and the Mouse King by E.T.A Hoffman/The Tale of the Nutcracker by Alexandre Dumas
  134. Ask Hercules Quick by Ursula Dubosarsky
  135. Let it Snow by John Green, Maureen Johnson and Lauren Myracle
  136. The Nutcracker and Other Christmas Stories
  137. Isle of Illusion (Deltora Quest: Shadowlands #2) by Emily Rodda
  138. The Shadowlands (Deltora Quest Shadowlands #3) by Emily Rodda
  139. Deltora Quest Shadowlands Omnibus by Emily Rodda
  140. Roxy by Ellen Miles
  141. Pippa’s Island: Camp Castaway by Belinda Murrell
  142. Time Warp: The Seventh Journey Through Time by Geronimo Stilton
  143. The Watchmaker of Filigree Street by Natasha Pulley

I almost made it to 206 books in 2019 – but didn’t get the other one finished, but as the majority of that will be read in 2020, it will count towards this year’s count. For book bingo, I have to hit the ground running, choose my square and book from what I have available, and have it done by next Saturday! Not all of these books were reviewed, but many were, and many will be this year as well. If you’re doing any reading challenges this year, best of luck!

My 2020 Reading Challenges

2020 Reading Challenge

In 2020, I have decided to take part in four specific reading challenges, and one overall challenge. The overall challenge will be my total books read between these four challenges, reviewing and my work as a quiz writer, and I am aiming to read 165 books in total. Below are the other challenges I am taking part in. Many categories will be easy to fill and I have books in mind that will fill multiple categories, though as usual, will aim as much as possible to read something different for each one, even if this means I end up with multiple entries for some. Some categories, like the audiobook one, may not be met, as I typically don’t read audiobooks – I tend to let anything I listen to like radio, music or podcasts fade into the background whilst working and I fell this would happen tenfold with an audiobook and I would not get much out of it.

Below are the blank lists and cards for the challenges, ready for me to start filling in from tomorrow. It should be interesting, as some are quite broad and others very specific whilst some fall somewhere in between. I’m sure I’ll fill as many as possible, as I did this year, 2019, and will aim to review as many as possible.

My December, yearly wrap and 2019 challenge wraps will appear during the first week of 2020.

My challenges:

 

modern mrs darcy

The Modern Mrs Darcy – signed up via a blog and will aim to read as many as I can off of this list of twelve. Instead of doing the PopSugar one this year, I have opted for this and another as the PopSugar one is getting very, very specific and I fear that I would struggle to find some of the necessary books, and I’d rather do a challenge where I can fit the book I read to a category in a more general way, rather than trying to force it too, or not being able to find the right book to fit a category. This only has thirteen categories, so will be easier and some may end up with multiple reads.
THE MODERN MRS. DARCY
2020 Reading Challenge
a book published the decade you were born:
a debut novel:
a book recommended by a source you trust:
a book by a local author:
a book outside your (genre) comfort zone:
a book in translation:
a book nominated for an award in 2020:
a re-read:
a classic you didn’t read in school:
three books by the same author:
1.
2.
3.

The Nerd Daily – this one has a few more specific categories, but they can likely be stretched and will align with other challenges. The good thing with this one, with categories like New York Times bestseller, is that it doesn’t specify a year, or genre, so is open to interpretation. I like challenges like this, as it gives freedom to read without worrying about anything too specific and also, it allows me to fit in my review and work reading into these challenges, which helps when trying to fit a book to a category that can seem overly prescriptive, but is often easier than it seems.

2020-Reading-Challenge nerd daily

The Nerd Daily 2020 Challenge
1. Author Starting with A
2. Female Author
3. Purchased on Holidays
4. 2020 Film Adaptation
5. Fantasy or SciFi
6. Recommended by Us (Group)
7. Under 200 pages
8. Six Word Title
9. Written by two authors
10. Mystery/thriller
11. Green Cover
12. Recommended by a friend
13. Set in the past
14. 2019 Goodreads Choice Winner
15. A book you never finished
16. Protagonist starting with H
17. Reread
18. Non-fiction
19. Released in February
20. Part of a duology
21. New York times best seller
22. Recommended by family
23. Over 500 pages
24. An award-winning book
25. Orange cover
26. Bookstore recommended
27. A number in the title
28. An audiobook
29. Debut author
30. Inspired my mythology/folklore
31. A retelling
32. A one-word title
33. Bought based on cover
34. Author starting with M
35. Start a new series
36. A book released in 2019
37. Male author
38. 2020 TV Adaptation
39. A book gifted to you
40. Author with a hyphenated name
41. Released in September
42. Purchased years ago
43. A standalone
44. Author with the same initials
45. Told from two perspectives
46. Romance or thriller
47. A protagonist starting with S
48. Two-word title
49. Set in a foreign country
50. Animal featured in cover
51. Written by your favourite author
52. Based or inspired by a true story

Australian Women Writers Challenge – I’ve done this every year for the past three or four years and am also the Children’s/YA editor – which means I collate the monthly and yearly reviews into a nice little reporting post for each month throughout the year. In 2020, we will be combining the two, so I need to find a work around to include at least four of each. As this is an area I studied and work in now, I enjoy putting these together, and writing my own reviews on the books.

AWW2020Australian Women Writers Challenge – 25

Book Bingo – 2020 marks the third year I’ve done book bingo with Theresa and Amanda. On 2018, I managed to fill out two bingo cards – I was overly eager and didn’t want to forget to add anything, so I had at least fifty books that year in book bingo. Last year, we had 30 squares to fill – which meant a few double ups throughout the year. Both of those years, we were posting every second Saturday in each month to make sure we filled the card. This year, we’ve gone sparkly and fancy – and have twelve very general categories (after certain debacles and issues with overly specific categories, we decided to do it this way). So one post a month, on the second Saturday of the month so we can keep on top of this, our other challenges and work.

 

Book Bingo 2020 clean.jpg

Themes of culture
Themes of inequality
Themes of Crime and Justice
Themes of politics and power
About the environment
Prize winning book
Friendship, family and love
Coming of age
Set in a time of war
Set in a place you dream of visiting
Set in an era you’d love to travel back in time to
A classic you’ve never read before

So those are my 2020 challenges! I hope to fill in as many as possible and will aim to post updates throughout the year.

Deltora Quest Omnibus #1 by Emily Rodda – Deltora Quest wrap up

Deltora Quest 1.jpgTitle: Deltora Quest Omnibus #1

Author: Emily Rodda

Genre: Fantasy Adventure

Publisher: Scholastic Australia

Published: 1st October 2008

Format: Hardcover

Pages: 774

Price: $29.99

Synopsis: Here, for the first time, the eight books of the international best-selling fantasy series Deltora Quest are brought together in one superb volume.

For centuries, the evil Shadow Lord has been plotting to invade Deltora and enslave its people. All that stands against him is the magic Belt of Deltora with its seven gems of great and mysterious power.

When the gems are stolen and scattered throughout the kingdom, the Enemy triumphs, and Deltora is lost. Abandoned by their king, suffering under the Shadow Lord’s cruel tyranny, the people live in ignorance, terror and despair.

But while most have abandoned hope, three unlikely companions have not.

The great gems have been hidden in fearsome places throughout the kingdom and are protected by terrible guardians. But Lief, Barda and Jasmine believe that they can be found. They cling to their faith that if the magic Belt can be restored, the Shadow Lord will be banished from their land. With only a sketchy map to guide them, the companions set out into the unknown.

So begins the perilous quest which has captured the imagination of millions throughout the world.

~*~

The Deltora Quest series, consisting of eight books, is the story of Lief, Barda and Jasmine seeking to restore the magical Belt of Del and defeat the Shadow Lord who has invaded their homeland. To start with, I have linked each individual review here in this post, listed below.

The Forests of Silence

Deltora Quest 1

The Lake of Tears

lake of tears

City of the Rats

city of rats

The Shifting Sands

the shifting san ds

Dread Mountain

Dread Mountain

The Maze of the Beast

The Maze of the Beast

The Valley of the Lost

valley of the lost

Return to Del

return to del

I read each book and this omnibus as part of the 2019 Australian Women Writer’s Challenge and for a few other challenges, fulfilling several categories, some which I managed to do by bending and reimagining the parameters given in the challenge. Currently, I have this one slated to fulfil my novel of 500 pages or more, as so far, I have not read one yet in all my reading this year so far, but am keeping this open in case something does come across my desk for review or general reading purposes.

Being able to read all eight books in this omnibus version was a very good thing, as I was able to flick backwards and forwards, putting the clues together from each book as I read it over the past few months in between my work as a quiz writer, editor and book reviewer. So, I finally finished it, and really enjoyed it. Throughout, each novel built on the previous ones, whilst still being individual stories. Yet their interconnection means that it is best to read them in order, so everything makes sense and fits in together like a puzzle or game while you read.

2019 Badge

In wrapping up this series, I have not been as expansive as other posts, as I have included each individual review. Astute readers will piece the clues together as they read, and each clue is cleverly included throughout, culminating in the final books to reveal the secrets that need to be uncovered.

Overall, it was a very engaging and action packed series, with the right amount of adventure, humour, darkness and light for readers of all ages to enjoy and engage with.

Book Bingo Three – Double Bingo: Crime and Non-Fiction About a Non-Famous Person

20181124_140447

Book Bingo Saturday with Theresa Smith and Amanda Barrett has rolled around again, and week three has provided me with my first opportunity to tick off two squares, as per our arrangement to make sure we fill out all thirty across the year. Both of these books are new releases from January this year. Of course, no reading challenge would be complete without a book by Sulari Gentill, and her new book, All the Tears in China, fits this square. My second square is the Non-Fiction About a Non-Famous Person, filled with a book about someone i had never known about before.

48987121_1508329715968294_4870693570241101824_n.jpg

3D-Cover_C-format_ATTICIn his ninth outing, artist Rowland Sinclair his friends, fellow artist, Clyde Watson Jones, sculptress Edna Higgins, and poet, Jew and Communist, Milton Isaacs have headed to China to help Rowland’s brother, Wilfred, with a business deal involving the family business. However, as it is Rowly, not everything will or can go smoothly. From beatings to a murdered Russian in his suite, arrests and people from all sides looking to harm Rowly or wrongly accuse him of nefarious crimes. As the series moves further towards the outbreak of World War Two, the threats of fascism, nationalism, jingoism and violence against any perceived as being the wrong sort are growing. Hitler’s shadow keeps rising as the books go on as well – and politics are becoming ever more cemented in narcissistic and devious, evil themes and extremes, mirroring our world today. Reading the series, Rowly and his friends are caught between sides, and being pulled in different directions with demands for support. Set in 1935, the world is teetering between two wars: The War to End all Wars and the war that nobody thought they would have to face. It has been eighteen years since the Russian Revolution, and rumours abound about the survival of the youngest daughter. In this world, and story, who is telling the truth, and who is trying to hurt Rowly and his reputation?

australia's sweetheart

The second book this week is Australia’s Sweetheart by Michael Adams, the story of Mary Maguire, a young woman who moved from Australia to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career, and the ups and downs of the world of Hollywood, and the expectations and pressures she was under during this time to fit in and fulfil the desires of people she didn’t even know. Her life was much more than this though, and Michael begins from her early days as a child growing up in her parent’s hotel, to dance classes, small films in Australia and the eventual Hollywood siren call. From here, to England, and marriage sickness and motherhood – a fraught time where her husband was arrested for being a Nazi sympathiser, and she was watched by MI5. Finally, her life took her into a new marriage, and away from the darkness of the war years. The full story is fascinating, and too full to recount it all here. I chose this for this square because Mary is a forgotten star and figure in Australia – she’s not as well-known as others from history – so I think this was a perfect fit for this square.

Look out next week for my next square!

Book Bingo Week Two 2019

20181124_140447

Comedy Square

Welcome to week two of 2019’s book bingo with Theresa, Amanda and I, and everyone else using our card as part of their own 2019 reading challenges and goals. I’ve only crossed one square off again this week – as many of the books to come are scheduled reviews, so my bonus squares will come later on in the coming months.

48987121_1508329715968294_4870693570241101824_n.jpg

With Comedy being a fairly subjective genre, I was at first unsure of how to approach this square, as there have been books I have read that have funny stuff in them but might not necessarily qualify as comedy in terms of genre or style. So when I received Best Foot Forward by Adam Hills for Christmas, I knew I could easily check off the comedy square with this wonderful book.

best foot forward

Adam Hills, former host of Spicks and Specks, is one of my favourite comedians. My full review of the book is here – what I loved about this book was that Adam was honest and entertaining – and he never let having a prosthesis hold him back. Though he had some challenges, Adam found he could do most of the things he wanted to do, and I enjoyed reading about his life and how he came to be the host of Spicks and Specks,as well as co-hosting a show at the Paralympics and finding a community of disabled people there.

The second of February will be my next book bingo – keep an eye out for it!

Booktopia

Book Bingo Twenty-Four – the PENULTIMATE BINGO POST! Featuring A Book with A Number in the Title and A Non-Fiction Book.

Book bingo take 2

That time has come around again, and I am ticking off two in this post, with the final three to come in a fortnight! I again have a few bingos – Row Two Across gains the bingo with the non-fiction square finally being ticked off, as well as row three and row five down. I have one more book to read, and a review to write for the next book bingo, as well as several others so keep an eye out for all that coming out in the coming weeks, and finally, at the end of the year, my wrap up posts for each challenge and my reading for the year overall.

Book bingo take 2

Across

Row #2 – BINGO

 

A book with a yellow cover: Australia Day by Melanie Cheng – AWW2018

A book by an author you’ve never read before: If Kisses Cured Cancer by T.S. Hawken

A non-fiction book: Amazing Australian Women: Twelve Women Who Shaped History by Pamela Freeman and Sophie Beer – AWW2018

 A collection of short stories: Fairy Tales for Feisty Girls by Susannah McFarlane – AWW2018

A book with themes of culture: Relic of the Blue Dragon (Children of the Dragon #1) by Rebecca Lim – AWW2018

Row #4

 

A forgotten classic:

A book with a one-word title: Wundersmith by Jessica Townsend – AWW2018

A book with non-human characters: A Home for Molly by Holly Webb, Beast World by George Ivanoff

A funny book: Archibald, the Naughtiest Elf in the World Goes to the Zoo by Skye Davidson, Illustrated by Ágnes Rokiczky -AWW2018

A book with a number in the title: We Three Heroes by Lynette Noni – AWW2018

Down

Row #3: – BINGO

 

A memoir: No Country Woman by Zoya Patel – AWW2018

A non-fiction book:Amazing Australian Women: Twelve Women Who Shaped History by Pamela Freeman and Sophie Beer – AWW2018

A prize-winning book: Chain of Charms series by Kate Forsyth – 2007 Aurealis Award for Best Children’s Fiction – aWW2018

A book with non-human characters: A Home for Molly by Holly Webb, Beast World by George Ivanoff

A book everyone is talking about: Lenny’s Book of Everything by Karen Foxlee – AWW2018

Row #5 – BINGO

 

A Foreign Translated Novel: The Distance Between Me and the Cherry Tree by Paola Peretti

A book with themes of culture: Relic of the Blue Dragon (Children of the Dragon #1) by Rebecca Lim – AWW2018

A book with a mystery: The Mitford Murders by Jessica Fellowes (Mitford Murders #1)

A book with a number in the title: We Three Heroes by Lynette Noni – AWW2018

A book written by someone over sixty: Miss Lily’s Lovely Ladies by Jackie French – AWW2018

3D-WTH

The first book I’ve ticked off for this post is a book with a number in the title – We Three Heroes by Lynette Noni. Part of the Medoran Chronicles series, it is three novellas, told from the perspectives of Alex’s three best friends, Jordan, D.C. and Bear, and is linked to the previous four books – so if you wish to avoid spoilers, make sure you read Akarnae, Raelia, Draekora and Graevale. It is a well-written book, delving into the lives of three heroes who help Alex in her battle against Aven. Seeing what has happened through the eyes of D.C., Bear and Jordan fills in the gaps in the stories we see through the eyes of Alex, and what they mean to her and what she means to them. It gives the series a new insight and delves into the secrets of Alex’s friends that are hinted at in the other books and gives readers a deeper understanding of D.C. and why when we first meet her, she comes across as prickly and off-putting, and what caused this attitude.

A great book for those who love the Medoran Chronicles.

amazing australian women

The second, and final book on this post, is a non-fiction picture book that tells the stories of remarkable women in Australia and what they did to contribute to our history and nation as it stands today. Amazing Australian Women: Twelve Women Who Shaped History by Pamela Freeman and Sophie Beer is a non-fiction picture book, women who were involved in arts, politics, activism and resistance, business owners, singers, teachers and politicians, whose achievements and roles in society had a great impact on Australia but are perhaps not as well-known as some. The book does explore a few well-known women, such as Dame Nellie Melba, Sister Elizabeth Kenny, and Edith Cowan, yet the others were ones that I had not previously heard about or come across in my history studies. In bringing them out of the archives, and into the light and to life, for readers young and old. Learning about new historical figures is always interesting and important to reshape our thinking of how we view history and the people who built it – those who were once hidden but are not anymore – and these are figures that I would have enjoyed writing assignments on during my history studies.

AWW-2018-badge-rose

This has been my penultimate post for the book bingo I’ve been participating in with Theresa Smith and Amanda Barrett for the past year, and hope to do so again next year. This is one challenge I have managed to complete, whereas my other one was trickier, as there were some very difficult categories to fill. Until next fortnight!

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