The 2014 Australian Women Writers Challenge was set up to help overcome gender bias in the reviewing of books by Australian women. The challenge encourages avid readers and book bloggers, male and female, Australian and non-Australian, to read and review books by Australian women throughout the year. You don’t have to be a writer to sign up. You can choose to read and review, or read only.
The challenge runs from Jan 1 – Dec 31, 2014. You can sign up at any time. The information for signing up is here.
There are three levels or you can create your own level:
- Stella: read 4 – if reviewing, review at least 3
- Miles: read 6 – if reviewing, review at least 4
- Franklin: read 10 – if reviewing, review at least 6
- Create your own challenge: nominate your own goal
I already know of two books I want to read that fit this challenge:
Behind the Night Bazaar by Angela Savage
The Darkest Hour by Katherine Howell
I also have books by Kerry Greenwood and Malla Nunn. Other suggestions are welcome; even if I don't read them this year, there is always 2015.
Thanks to Bernadette at Reactions to Reading for alerting me to this challenge and encouraging me to join.
24 comments:
TracyK: You are a most challenged person in 2014. How many have you committed to this year? I hope to get through one - the Canadian Book Challenge.
Bill, this year I think I am in 10 challenges, and I will add one for Fantasy books in the Spring. But last year I did more, and committed to higher numbers, so really I am cutting down. I do have to get back to my Canadian authors soon, although I did read two by a Canadian author this month.
Tracy, I think I mentioned British author Nevil Shute to you before. Some of his novels are set in Australia where he spent a part of his life. Eleven challenges and that's fewer than last year? Way to go, Tracy!
Tracy, good luck to you. One of my own personal challenges this year was to try about a dozen books from Australia and New Zealand. I doubt very many of them will be by female authors though, maybe Savage's Night Bazaar which I have, plus I managed to pick up Frantic by Katherine Howell for 50p when I was out and about a couple of weeks ago
YAY - hope you enjoy the challenge Tracy and I promise to make some more recommendations as the year progresses. Always happy to send books to worthy readers too so sing out if you get stuck. You've got some good choices on your list already though.
Tracy - I'm so happy that you're going to participate in this challenge. There are some extremely talented Aussie women writers out there, and you've already noted two of the best. I'm looking forward to what you think of their work.
Prashant, I looked up Nevil Shute. Because I can never resist a suggestion. I had heard of some of his books (On the Beach is probably why I know his name). You are right ... lots of books set in Australia, and several written during World War II (not Australia). Many of his books sound interesting.
Yes, Col, I was glad to see your personal Australia challenge because you can try out some authors for me. I can benefit from your experience. I won't be sticking to just women authors, but I hope that they predominate.
Thanks, Bernadette. I will be following your reviews. Based on your recommendations, I really want to read books by Sulari Gentill; I will probably have to go with Kindle versions for her books.
Margot, I am looking forward to reading those books.
Sounds awesome TracyK - not sure I can really face another challenge but this is very tempting as I too would like to read a lot more Australian fiction - hmmm, very very tempting ...
I've read Malla Nunn and enjoy her books set in South Africa. Good luck with the challenge, Tracy, as it sounds like a good one. I'll have to do my own unofficial, under the radar challenge to read Australian authors since I own quite a few (Peter Temple, Kerry Greenwood and Gary Disher).
Sergio, some challenges are hard to resist. In reality, we don't need challenges to get us to read books, but a few keep my read diversified. I am looking forward to more books by Australian writers.
Keishon, I just bought Bad Debts by Temple and I have a Gary Disher, plus I would like to try his new series. So many books and not enough time.
I have that one too. Look forward to your thoughts on these authors. Oh. I read your comment above with Bernadette and bought Sulari Gentill's A Few Right Thinking Men, the first book in that series.
Great, Keishon, the Gentill series sounds really good.
You are amazing Tracy! Look forward to the results of this one as well as your other challenges.
So glad you are doing this Tracy. I tried in 2012 but ran out of time so failed miserably. Good luck!
Thanks, Moira. I hope since I am cutting back on challenges and keeping my goals reasonable that I will actually accomplish most of them. But mostly I am just challenging myself to do what I want to do anyway... so I won't stray off the path. Too much.
Sarah, my biggest failure last year was reading chunksters (over 450 pages). And this year I will definitely read some of those, but I am not committing to it.
You can't go wrong here. I have read books by several Australian women writers, not a dud among them. I could read these books every day -- although I'm trying to catch up this year on my TBR stacks and books I keep postponing reading. This is my catch-up year.
Katherine Howell, Kerry Greenwood, Angela Savage, Malla Nunn, Virginia Duigan, Felicity Young are among the good writers from Oz. Also, just read a book by Annie Hauxwell, original protagonist. And there are many more.
Bernadette does keep excellent lists and reviews, and Angela Savage has a lot of reviews of books by and articles about Australian writers, women and men.
See you in Oz!
Thanks, Kathy, you had given me some suggestions earlier and now you have added even more for me to look into. Felicity Young was on my radar before but I had forgotten about her.
Felicity Young writes about a British woman doctor, circa 1911, when women could not be employed as doctors.
Kathy, I will definitely find one of her books. Thanks again.
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