I love books and since I started this blog I had not the chance to post about what I’ve been reading. When I found out about the Australian Women Writers Challenge, I thought this was a great opportunity to discover new writers and share with you about them and their work.
In a few words the Australian Women Writers Challenge was set up in 2012 to promote women writers in Australia after a study discovered that male authors are more likely to have their books reviewed in mainstream media.
I’m taking up the challenge level Stella which is read four books and review three on my blog. Perhaps, I will read more than four books this year but I want to give myself an achievable goal I’m sure I will be able to reach.
I chose different categories of books and I can all find them at my local library excluding the first one which I bought back in November last year as an eBook:
1- Rules are for breaking by Imelda Evans. Imelda says “I write fun fiction about fabulous women (and the men they get mixed up with).” You can have a look at Imelda’s blog here.
2- Vinyl Inside by Rachel Matthews. Rachel was my teacher when I did my writing course last winter at RMIT and, since I finished my class, I really want to read her book. The setup is a caravan park near Shepparton in the 80’s.
3- California PI by Rachel Sommerville. This is a non-fiction. Rachel is an Australian private investigator who described in this book her experience with working with people on the death row in the United States.
4- Bitter Greens by Kate Forsyth. I stumbled across the website of Kate yesterday night when I was looking for my last novel to read to complete my selection.
I’m really looking forward to start to read and share my thoughts with you.
Are you doing the Australian Women Writers Challenge?
What books are you reading?
Linking this post with Grace over at With Some Grace for FYBF.
{ 26 comments… read them below or add one }
Very interesting what you wrote about Australian Women Writers. From my side, I didn’t have the opportunity to read many books. But, reading your post, encouraged me to start searching and reading. Thank you very much for your ideas.
Sounds great. We women have to support each other. Hope you enjoy your book choices.
Great idea! Good luck with the challenge. I’ll be checking back to read the reviews – I’m always interested in what books others recommend.
This is such a positive thing for the many, many talented Australian Women Writers.
Found you through FYBF
Rebecca x
Thanks for stopping by Bek!
Good on you for getting involved in the challenge, Rita!
I’ve read some great books so far this summer. I just went to the library to borrow some more – 2 books from Zadie Smith. I tried reading her years ago but got distracted. I’m determined to give it another go!
All the books you’ve chosen sound fascinating. Can’t wait to read your reviews!
I don’t know Zadie Smith. I will Google her. Did you end up reading The Alchemist Grace? Did you like it?
I find it interesting when a lot of women read books and I don’t. Books just don’t apeal to me from when I was in school. I think it could have been because I was a slow reader and so it put me off reading till now. I love reading blogs now.
Salwa, maybe you should find a very good book that you just can’t put down… I know a lot of people who did not like reading because they just read things they didn’t enjoy at school. But later on, they discovered what was really the joy of reading when they knew which type of books they really liked.
Wow hadn’t heard of this challenge & am definitely interested. I’m looking for some new reading material to break up boring uni journals!! Will check it out. Thanks for sharing!
Yes Nee, you should go and have a look at the challenge. It’s really interesting!
Rita, some wonderful books there. Look forward to hearing what you think and good on you for getting involved
Thanks for stopping by my blog!
It’s great that you’re doing this challenge Rita! I never knew this existed! I absolutely adore reading. I always have a book on my bedside table. In fact, there is usually a pile of them. I just finished reading “Cross Stitch” by Diana Gabaldon. It was recommended by a friend. It is the first of a series. I really enjoyed it! The next one is on order at the Library. I really look forward to your book reviews and I’m ALWAYS looking for book recommendations
Min, I read “Cross Stitch” (in French) and I loved it (it is actually the blue book in my new header!) I didn’t get a chance yet to read the other books in the series. But I intend to read them in the near future.
Great choices. I’m doing the challenge too, but I’m going to make it up as a I go to some extent rather than create a list now. You’ve given me some good ideas though – I’ve been meaning to read Kate Forsyth for ages. Must head down to the library!
I love reading your reviews.
Great challenge! I remember reading that “A Subversive Reader & a Baby Squirm” is doing this challenge too. Looking forward to the reviews.
I like the sound of the first two books – will have to look them up.
If you’re looking for another great Aussie woman writer, check out Kate Morton. I loved her book The Forgotten Garden. I went to a literary luncheon with her in November and she was great (I even wrote about it on my blog http://redlandcityliving.com/literary-luncheon-with-kate-morton/).
Ok I’ve just ordered them from my local library
That’s great Janet! As for Kate Morton, I definitely need to check her books out. I loved your post.
Good luck in the reading and the reviewing Rita. I used to be a big reader but I have no desire to read right now – I think blog reading has taken over from book reading – hoping I’ll get my reading mojo back eventually!
Hi Rita. I am not familiar to any of those writers, but I hope one of them, if not all, and you are included, would write major literary accomplishments that bring some more Booker Prizes to the country, just like Peter Carey. Boy, that’d be awesome! Hehe
Also, And thank you so much for your recent follow to my blog. I hope my poems and short stories do not disappoint. Thank you again, many blessings and much love to you.
That would be great indeed!
I enjoy your writing a lot! Keep on sharing your beautiful work.
Thank you, Rita. So shall we say, I am now talking to Rita Azar, the future winner of the Booker Prize?
Subhan Zein
Haha! We can dream… It can also be you, you know!