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Sally906 wrote: "Well surprise, surprise - I have finished my challenge!! Didn't think I was going to do at all for a while there!!

So here is my final list:

1. (b) Long time TBR -..."

Thanks, Sally, and congratulations to you on finishing too. I normally put my star ratings with my list at the end so anyone reading can see roughly how I liked each of my books.

I read No Sex in the City either last year or the year before and really enjoyed it. And I have All the Birds, Singing and Hollow City on my TBR list. Not so sure about All The Birds, Singing after reading your review, though...

Sally906 wrote: "Phrynne wrote: "Congrats Sally. The nice thing is you can read what you like for the rest of the week!"

AND

Julie wrote: "You got time for another book Sally! :) "

I can try and catch up on the ..."

Sounds like a good plan :)

Kathryn wrote: "I just finished the last book in the challenge. With one week to spare!! My final list (slightly different to my original list!!) looked like this:

1a. Buddy Reads
With Elaine �� [book:The Cuckoo..."

Well done Kathryn. You did well to finish ahead of time too. :)

Sally906 wrote: "Well surprise, surprise - I have finished my challenge!! Didn't think I was going to do at all for a while there!!

So here is my final list:

1. (b) Long time TBR - [book:The Seventh Witch|656695..."

Well done Sally! Impressive effort:)

I don't think I will finish this challenge in time...I still have 2 books left and am only 1/3 way through Bleak Houseand the last book I have to read is Runelight

Jennifer wrote: "I don't think I will finish this challenge in time...I still have 2 books left and am only 1/3 way through Bleak Houseand the last book I have to read is Runelight"

As long as you have enjoyed what you've read throughout the challenge, that's the main thing!

I have enjoyed all the books I have read for this challenge. I enjoy finding new authors to read and trying to match the books I want to read to the interesting challenges you have given us.

Jennifer wrote: "I have enjoyed all the books I have read for this challenge. I enjoy finding new authors to read and trying to match the books I want to read to the interesting challenges you have given us."

That's great Jennifer! Maybe you could slot your couple of unfinished into the Spring challenge:)

Jennifer wrote: "I don't think I will finish this challenge in time...I still have 2 books left and am only 1/3 way through Bleak Houseand the last book I have to read is Runelight"

Thanks Jennifer. I love Joanne Harris but when I checked just now I find I have never read Runelight or the prequel Runemarks. More books for my TBR list:)

Elaine wrote: "Kathryn wrote: "I just finished the last book in the challenge. With one week to spare!! My final list (slightly different to my original list!!) looked like this:

1a. Buddy Reads
With Elaine �� ..."

Thanks, Elaine! I only just noticed your comment! Not much ahead of time! I will try to get ahead a bit earlier on the next challenge!

Finished my 11th book of the challenge, my long term TBR The End of the Affair by Graham Greene - 3��, now to finish the book I started on 1st June and have still not finished Suite Française by Irène Némirovsky.

@Trevor I loved both these books you mentioned.

Finished my 9th and final book for this challenge, as I won't fit anymore in now. All That I Am . After a slow start this ended up being a 4 star read for me.

Well done Elaine! And congrats on a job well done!!

Trevor wrote: "Finished my 11th book of the challenge, my long term TBR The End of the Affair by Graham Greene - 3��, now to finish the book I started on 1st June and have still not fini..."

I just read lots of positive reviews about Suite Française Trevor. It sounds good, but disappointing it was unable to be finished..

Brenda wrote: "Trevor wrote: "Finished my 11th book of the challenge, my long term TBR The End of the Affair by Graham Greene - 3��, now to finish the book I started on 1st June and have..."

I'm still hoping to finish it, first section was great, just finding the second part difficult going.

Bette BookAddict wrote: "@Trevor I loved both these books you mentioned."
Not sure why I'm not enjoying Suite Française but I'm determined to finish it :-) First section was great, just finding the second section dragging a bit.

I'm drawing the line on the end of my challenge too. I have completed 11 books but do not see myself reading my final book Big Little Lies. I know lots of people love this book and this author but I'm not sufficiently enamoured by her writing to purchase the book. Our library is not getting it in and it has a long wait list for other libraries.

Decided that I wont be able to fit another one in on this challenge so this is my final list. Lots of good ones and a few ho hum ones...
1..Long term TBR (since Jul 2011) - Chronicles of the Tudor Queens / David Loades
Moonwar / Ben Bova
2. New Release - Lethal Sky / Greg Barron
Lost & Found / Brooke Davis
3. Miles Franklin award - Jack Maggs / Peter Carey
4. Childrens day YA - Z for Zachariah / Robert C. O'Brien
Prisoner of Night and Fog / Anne Blankman
5. Real - Sith, Slayers, Stargates, + Cyborgs: Modern Mythology in the New Millennium / John Perlich
Fake - The Ice Princess / Camilla Läckberg
6. Winter - Winter / Simon Brown
7. National Tree Day - Burial Rites / Hannah Kent
8. Literature Map - Pirate Latitudes / Michael Crichton
9. Summer cover Aussie Author - That Summer / Sarah Dessen
10. Naughty - The Gods of Guilt / Michael Connelly
The Skin Collector / / Jeffery Deaver
A Most Peculiar Malaysian Murder / Shamini Flint
Nice - Darkness Hunts / Keri Arthur
The Collected Works of A.J. Fikry / Gabrielle Zevin
The Maiden and the Unicorn / Isolde Martyn
TBR 419 / Will Ferguson

Total read for the 3 months is 27 (this challenge plus the other ones)...

Bette BookAddict wrote: "I'm drawing the line on the end of my challenge too. I have completed 11 books but do not see myself reading my final book Big Little Lies. I know lots of people love this book an..."

Well done on your conclusion!

Nicola wrote: "Decided that I wont be able to fit another one in on this challenge so this is my final list. Lots of good ones and a few ho hum ones...
1..Long term TBR (since Jul 2011) - [bookcover:Chronicles o..."

Congratulations Nicola! Great reading:)

Brenda wrote: "Nicola wrote: "Decided that I wont be able to fit another one in on this challenge so this is my final list. Lots of good ones and a few ho hum ones...
1..Long term TBR (since Jul 2011) - [bookcov..."

Brenda,
Thank you! Been a harder season than usual with finishing Uni and moving house - it's nice to finally get some time to really devote to relaxing and reading

Well that's an even bigger celebration for you! To complete that many as well as move house AND uni - you're a champion!!

Nicola wrote: "Decided that I wont be able to fit another one in on this challenge so this is my final list. Lots of good ones and a few ho hum ones...
1..Long term TBR (since Jul 2011) - [bookcover:Chronicles o..."

Well done. Some great reads there :)

Finished my last book for this challenge.

The House at Riverton

I loved it.

Confession time. With one day to go, I'm clearly not going to finish this challenge. I have had some other worthwhile pursuits take up my time, but that's life! I'll just somehow incorporate the remaining books into the next challenge :)
Congratulations to all who have managed a successful Winter Challenge.

1a. Buddy read with ChristyThe Cuckoo's Calling read
2. The Golden Boys by Sonya Hartnett
3. All That I Am read
4. I Am the Messenger
5. Nonfiction: The Piano Shop on the Left Bank: Discovering a Forgotten Passion in a Paris Atelier. read
Fiction: Currawalli Street (has been on my list for a while) read
6. The Winter Palace read

7. TBA
8. Katie Fforde A French Affair (I chose Joanna Trollope as one on my favourites)reading
9. The Return by Silvia Kwon
10. Blood Witness for mystery/thriller Read
Balancing Act for chicklit

Well I've finished the challenge with 1 day to spare, my last book was
Suite Française by Irène Némirovsky - 3��

My full challenge list was:

1) B - The End of the Affair by Graham Greene - 3��
2) New release - The Boy's Own Manual to Being a Proper Jew by Eli Glasman - 4��
3) Miles Franklin winner - Careful, He Might Hear You by Sumner Locke Elliott - 3��
4) YA - The Milkman's On His Way by David Rees - 3��
5) Real - Free Country: A Penniless Adventure the Length of Britain by George Mahood - 3��
5) Fake - Suite Française by Irène Némirovsky - 3��
6) Winter cover - Roger Ascham And The King's Lost Girl by Matthew Reilly - 3��
7) National Tree Day - Morse Code for Cats by Tom Conyers - 4��
8) Literature map (Balzac) - Yvette by Guy de Maupassant - 3��
9) Aussie summer cover - Barracuda by Christos Tsiolkas - 5��
10) Naughty - The Scarlet Pimpernel by Emmuska Orczy - 4��
10) Nice - A Spot of Bother by Mark Haddon - 3��

No really bad books, and one outstanding book Barracuda by Christos Tsiolkas - 5��

Rosie wrote: "Finished my last book for this challenge.

The House at Riverton

I loved it."

Congratulations! A day to spare;)

Valerie wrote: "Confession time. With one day to go, I'm clearly not going to finish this challenge. I have had some other worthwhile pursuits take up my time, but that's life! I'll just somehow incorporate the..."

Well done on what you achieved Valerie!

I have completed my last book for this challenge: All That I Am 3��
Unfortunately I ran out of time so I have two that I was unable to read, Non Fiction and New Release, so shall try and fit them into another challenge.
Thanks again Brenda for providing us with such great challenges.

Yay Christina. You've done well :)

Looks like we've had a great 3 months worth of reading, whether the list was finished or not!
Lots of great books to add to my TBR list :) despite my best intentions it's getting larger not smaller!

Happy Spring Everyone...

Christina wrote: "I have completed my last book for this challenge: All That I Am 3��
Unfortunately I ran out of time so I have two that I was unable to read, Non Fiction and New Release, so shall try..."

Well done Christina:) Hope you enjoy Spring as much!

Books down, everyone! Congratulations to all who finished, commiserations to all who gave it a good go, and thanks to Brenda for such a brilliant challenge.

Yes...*Happy Spring Everyone*!! :D

I managed to finish off this challenge last night with Barracuda which I found a fascinating read.

1. TBR Crime and Punishment 4 stars
2. new release: didn't do
3. Miles Franklin White Earth 2 stars
4. YA 1984 3 stars
5a. fake The Commandant 3 stars
5b. real Hazel's Journey 3 stars.
6. winter Frankenstein 4 stars
7. national tree day Mateship With Birds 2 stars
8. literature map Drylands 2 stars
9. Australian summer Barracuda 4 stars
10a. naughty Beneath the Darkening Sky 3 stars
10b. nice Sense and Sensibility 3 stars
11. TBR The Color Purple 3 stars
12. TBR Emma 3 stars

Lesley wrote: "I managed to finish off this challenge last night with Barracuda which I found a fascinating read.

1. TBR Crime and Punishment 4 stars
2. new release: didn't do
3. Mi..."

Some heavy reading in there too. Well done!

Lesley wrote: "I managed to finish off this challenge last night with Barracuda which I found a fascinating read.

1. TBR Crime and Punishment 4 stars
2. new release: didn't do
3. Mi..."

Congratulations Lesley!

Lesley wrote: "I managed to finish off this challenge last night with Barracuda which I found a fascinating read.

1. TBR Crime and Punishment 4 stars
2. new release: didn't do
3. Mi..."

I loved Barracuda, one of my favourite books so far this year

Thanks.

Sadly I fell just short of finishing this challenge, (partly due to my picking a 700+ page book for my august TBR read...), but I had some great reads during winter. Final list looks like this:

1a. Buddy read - by Khaled Hosseiniwith Kathryn
1b. Long time TBR - by Markus Zusak
2. New release - didn't get to read
3. Miles Franklin -
by Peter Carey
4. Young Adult - by J.R.R. Tolkien
5a. Real - by Addie Zierman
5b. Fake - by Katie Fforde
6. Winter cover - by Helene Young
7. Library borrow - by Moira McKinnon
8. Literature map - I put in Bryce Courtney and got by Wilbur Smith
9. Summer cover - by Fleur McDonald
10a. Murder - by Malla Nunn
10b. Romance - by Emily Giffin

June TBR - by Alexander McCall Smith
July TBR - by Tony Park
August TBR - by Bryce Courtenay - still reading :)

Bring on the Spring challenge!

Katrina wrote: "Sadly I fell just short of finishing this challenge, (partly due to my picking a 700+ page book for my august TBR read...), but I had some great reads during winter. Final list looks like this:

1a..."

Hooray, Katrina!! How are you enjoying Jack of Diamonds?

Katrina wrote: "Sadly I fell just short of finishing this challenge, (partly due to my picking a 700+ page book for my august TBR read...), but I had some great reads during winter. Final list looks like this:

1a..."

Well done Katrina! Great effort:) I echo Kathryn's question too...

Brenda wrote: "Katrina wrote: "Sadly I fell just short of finishing this challenge, (partly due to my picking a 700+ page book for my august TBR read...), but I had some great reads during winter. Final list look..."

Jack of Diamonds is good - although verrry long. As it has so many different parts to it with one main character - it is almost like reading a few shorter stories :)
My main negative is sometimes the descriptions and explanations of things get a little long and seem unesessary to the story....will be interesting to see how the last quarter unfolds though.
On a positive the musical desciptions are fascinating and make me want to head out and listen to a jazz band :)

Thanks Katrina:) Good to know. The size scares me a little though;)

Brenda wrote: "Thanks Katrina:) Good to know. The size scares me a little though;)"

The size scares me a little too. Don't think I'll read it as my first Bryce Courtenay book - I'll start with a smaller one!

I've read a lot of his, probably most of them. But the larger ones are daunting!

wasn't too well these past too months (winter is a bad time for me) which makes it hard to focus on reading (which totally sucks) so didn't do very good on the winter challenge but hoping to pick up some of them in the spring challenge - plus school holidays so that helps :)

Bec wrote: "wasn't too well these past too months (winter is a bad time for me) which makes it hard to focus on reading (which totally sucks) so didn't do very good on the winter challenge but hoping to pick u..."

Bad luck Bec, but never mind - that's life:( Good luck with the next challenge!!!

Kathryn wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Thanks Katrina:) Good to know. The size scares me a little though;)"

The size scares me a little too. Don't think I'll read it as my first Bryce Courtenay book - I'll st..."

Definitely not the place to start reading Bryce Courtenay! I started with which I loved...also not as long from memory :)