Australian Women Writer's Challenge Completed

Once again I have loved being involved in the Australian Women Writer's Challenge in 2013. Setting my target a little higher than in 2012, I am happy to report that I have made (and exceeded slightly) my goal in a more timely fashion this year. (Last year I was reading until the 31st December). My goal was 55 books read and 40 reviews - I made it to 58 read and may get through another one before the end of the year. My review goal was right on at 40.

I have read a mixture of genres this year, although once again Contemporary Fiction has been my main category. My favourites in this group were The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty (really loved it), House For All Season by Jenn. J McLeod, Paper Chains by Nicola Moriarty, Sisters of Mercy by Caroline Overington and Last Summer by Kylie Ladd.  In historical fiction I loved two of Kate Morton's books - The Secret Keeper and The Forgotten Garden as well as Amanda Curtin's Elemental. In the biography/memoir genre my top picks were Cliffy by Julietta Jameson and How To Do a Liver Transplant by Kellee Slater. In psychological thrillers Dark Horse by Honey Brown, The Cry by Helen Fitzgerald and Blood Secret by Jaye Ford held me captive as I frantically turned the pages. Melanie Casey's Hindsight introduced me to paranormal crime fiction and I look forward to reading more from her. In saying all that though, I have enjoyed all the books I have read for the challenge this year. There were none that I started and could not finish - those mentioned above stood out just a little above the others.If you read my Goodreads ratings, you will see that most of the books I read rated a solid 4, which to me is a satisfying, entertaining and very enjoyable book.

Great Aussie Reads Challenge Wrap Up

My Great Aussie Reads challenge incorporates the books I have read for the Australian Women Writer's challenge, plus those written by Australian male writers. As I will summarise my AWW books in a separate post, I will concentrate only on those by male writers in this post.

I am not sure why, but basically all my GAR books by male writers are non-fiction - with a fairly even distribution of biography/memoir and true crime. I didn't deliberately set out to only include those genres, but perhaps that is just my reading preferences playing themselves out.

Book Review No 40: The Cry by Helen Fitzgerald

I wasn't quite sure what to expect when I came across The Cry, but within moments of starting the book I knew I would fight to put it down. Fortunately for me a train journey allowed me to devour most of it in a single session.

Joanna faces every parents nightmare when her baby son Noah refuses to settle during the long flight between Scotland and Australia. Frowned upon by fellow passengers and flight attendants alike for the constant screaming, Joanna is at the end of her rope. Mentally she feels herself losing it, not realising the events of this horrible flight will be played out in a court room months later.

Book Review No: 39 Outback Heroines by Sue Williams

When most people think of the outback the images that usually come to mind involve dust, heat, isolation and rugged stockmen carving out a life in one of the most unforgiving environments on earth. But the truth is that women do now and always have played an enormous role in outback life. As well as the more traditional roles of nurse, teacher, governess or shopkeeper - outback women have always been able to turn their hands to almost everything that men do.

For those of us who live in the city or even larger regional areas it is difficult to fathom the hardship outback life can bring. For a women, it is even more difficult as they still have to battle long-held sexist stereotypes as well as deal with the demands of raising children. Yet dotted in these tiny towns are inspirational women who refuse to be beaten by the hardships outback life can bring.

Book Review No: 38 One Piece of the Puzzle by Justine Ford

Murders are always shocking in our society, even more so when they happen close to your own community. Yet despite the massive media attention at the time of the crime and shortly afterwards, these crimes often fade from the public memory as time moves on. Within a few months, media attention focuses on something else and unfortunately sometimes police resources are similarly redirected. Yet behind the scenes there are a band of dedicated detectives who work tirelessly to solve homicides and sometimes with some luck and countless hours of painstaking investigation these cases are solved.

While One Piece Of The Puzzle covers a difficult subject matter, it is a very readable book. Examining twenty of our most chilling murders over the past few decades, it reveals how sometimes the smallest piece of evidence can be the "one piece of the puzzle" needed to solve a crime. While sobering to be reminded of these sad cases, it is good to know that justice was eventually done for each of these victims.

Book Review No 37: Love, Sweat and Tears by Zelie Bullen

Growing up on the outskirts of Perth, Zelie realises early on in life that she has a natural affinity with animals. From a young age, she feels a strong connection and spends a lot of time being around all kinds of creatures. Although she does not qualify to study Vet Science or Zoology at university, Zelie instead enrolls in an Agricultural Science Diploma, with the hope of eventually upgrading into a uni degree. Although still a teenager, Zelie has spent a lot of time experimenting with different training methods for animals and has had a lot of success, just going with her own instincts.

While Zelie has no doubts about her chosen career field, her personal life is another story. From the tender age of eighteen, she begins a series of brushes with tragedy that no one person should have to endure in a lifetime, let alone in a few short years. First her boyfriend's brother is killed in a car accident, then her beloved sister and then her father dies (whom she has just started getting to know after being distant for many years). Needing some time out and a change of scenery, Zelie puts study on hold and moves to the Gold Coast with the hopes of one day training the horses in the Outback Spectacular.

Reading and Reviewing Challenges - Nearly There!

Yeah I know you don't want to hear that we are now officially into the final quarter of 2013 - but we are. So I thought it was time for another update with my reading and reviewing challenges for  the year.Unlike last year where I found myself scrambling at the last minute and reading a large pile of books in the final weeks of 2012, I am happy to report that as at this time I am running ahead of schedule. Yay!

I have read 52 books (towards my target of 55) and reviewed 36 (target 40) for the Australian Women Writers Challenge. It will be nice to end at a more leisurely pace. I haven't quite decided on my last three books but as always I know I am spoilt for choice with what is out there. The reviews list for the year continues to grow and every time I look on there I discover at least one book I've never heard of. It is so nice to have an ever growing pile of books to choose from. You can check out the list of reviews at the AWW website: http://auswomenwriters.weebly.com/index.html

For the Great Aussie Reads challenge, I am at 60 books read with a target of 65 - so once again I am pretty close. You can check out the website at http://www.greataussiereads.com

Flashback

While book number two is taking longer than planned, I am happy to announce that I have released a mini volume of three short stories entitled Flashback. At this time it is only available as an Amazon e-book but I am looking to other formats in the coming months.

Amazon link: click HERE

Book Review No 36: Blood Secret by Jaye Ford

Rennie Carter had spent her whole life running from a violent past when she arrived in the sleepy town of Haven Bay. Initially planning to stay a short while (as always), she was not prepared for the possibility of falling in love with local man Max. Life with him is so good that finally Rennie puts down some roots and allows herself to live a "normal" life for a while.

Despite her contentment Rennie is always on her guard and her instincts smell trouble when she and Max are involved in a road rage incident one evening. When Max goes missing a mere few hours later Rennie feels her old fears rushing back to grab her by the throat. Fighting her own instincts to run, she sets out to find Max but in the process realises she is not the only one with skeletons in the closet.

Book Review No 35: How To Do A Liver Transplant by Kellee Slater

It is always interesting to read about people who grow up in the same town as you did, especially those who go on to do incredible things in their life. Brisbane surgeon Kellee Slater is one of those people.

Growing up in a very average family, Kellee did not dream of being a doctor from a young age. Initially planning to become a home economics teacher, it was only on the advice of her school guidance counselor that she even applied to study medicine at UQ - the day before her university preferences were due. From that moment on Kellee's destiny was to become first a doctor, then a surgeon and finally a highly specialised liver transplant surgeon.