As has become tradition, I’m writing my completion post for the Australian Women Writer’s Challenge, around the middle of the year, though I will continue to contribute until the year’s end, and do a final round-up then.
I signed up, as always, for the top-level, Franklin, which involves reading 10 books and reviewing at least 6, and as always I’ve exceeded this. In fact, by June 30, I had contributed 16 reviews to the challenge, including 3 guest posts by Amanda.
Here’s my list in alphabetical order (by author), with the links on the titles being to my reviews:
- Cabel Boake, Three short stories (short stories)
- Jennifer Down’s Pulse points (Guest post) (short stories)
- Amanda Duthie’s (ed.) Kin: An extraordinary filmmaking family (anthology)
- Enza Gandolfo’s The bridge (novel)
- Anita Heiss’ (ed.) Growing up Aboriginal in Australia (memoir anthology)
- Vicki Lavreau-Harvie’s The erratics (memoir)
- Janet Lee’s The killing of Louisa (novel)
- Melissa Lucashenko’s Too much lip (novel)
- Louise Mack’s Girls together (classic/novel)
- Angela Meyer’s A superior spectre (novel)
- Annabel Smith’s Whiskey and Charlie (novel)
- Maria Tumarkin’s Axiomatic (essays, for want of a better word)
- Maria Tumarkin’s Axiomatic (Guest post) (ditto)
- Us Mob Writing, Too deadly (short story anthology)
- Karen Viggers’ The orchardist’s daughter (novel)
- Josephine Wilson’s Extinctions (Guest post) (novel)
In last year’s completion post, I said that I didn’t have specific goals for the rest of that year but that I’d like to read more indigenous writers, more classics, and more from my TBR pile. These continue to be my non-goal goals, but I’ve not done particularly well with them so far this year, but I have read two classic writers (Capel Boake and Louise Mack) and I’ve also read three works by indigenous writers, two of which are anthologies. I’m pleased with all this, and hope to read more indigenous authors, in particular, men as well as women, as the year progresses. And, I’ve returned to my preferred fiction/non-fiction ratio, with 9 of my 13 being novels and short stories. Around 2/3 is my comfort zone!
I’m also pleased to include, this year, three guest posts by Amanda who offered to do these reviews to fill gaps in the Challenge. As Amanda doesn’t have her own blog, and didn’t want to review on GoodReads (another option for our participants), I happily offered her my blog for the purpose.
Watch out for my 2019 AWW Challenge wrap-up post for the year’s full story!
Whispering Gums 
WHEW !!!
Well done you.
🙂
Thanks M-R, it’s pretty paltry compared to some, but it all helps the goal!
As always, I am a bit envious as to how many books that you have finished and plan to finish. Of the many neat things that you do is keep track of and aim at a particular fiction verses non fiction ratio. I always plan to read more non fiction myself. Thus I also keep track of my ratio.
Thanks Brian. It’s a very loose aim in that in that end I seem to read what comes my way – review books, reading groups books, and the few others that I can sneak in!
Well done, Sue:)
Thanks very much Lisa – it’s paltry compared to what you read but the best I seem to be able to do!
Sue, I should not need to remind you that reading is not a competition! You do a heap of other things like contributing to WP and AWW that I don’t do. Plus #Seriously – as one who never had the f2f love of a grandmother – I think those long journeys up and down the highway to your grandson are much, much more important than writing book reviews.
I know it’s not Lisa – but thanks for reminding me! It’s just that I want to do it all don’t I!! (And you do a lot too, I know!)
But, I’m sorry you never had that relationship. I have always felt very lucky as both my grandmothers were important physical presences in my life – one in Brisbane where we lived for 6 years until I was 11, and one in Sydney where we lived (me from the age of 14 until I left to come to Canberra at 22). Both visited us when we lived in places not their own. And both lived until I was 30 for one and 34 for the other. Lucky, as I said.
Look at you all smug for having beaten that challenge (just teasing). Seriously I’m impressed. And I love your non goal goals concept.
Thanks Karen! I think non-goal goals are the best. You can’t lose, you can only win!
I’m a convert …
Love it, Karen!
Well done Sue. I’ve completed mine too … think I’m up to 15… but will do my round up at end of the year.
Thanks kimbofo. Well done too. I always do a final round-up at the end of the year, but like to do a completion one around the time I formally meet the challenge goal so I can relax and not forget to do all the formalities at the end of the year!
Great effort Sue! Now you can cruise through the second half of the year (though I’m sure your total AWW tally will be even more impressive!)
Thanks Angharad – I sure hope it will be more impressive by the end of the year – with some more classics. I can live in hope!!