The It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? meme is hosted at BookDate
I’m also linking to The Sunday Post @ Caffeinated Reviewer
And the Sunday Salon @ ReaderBuzz
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Life…
Ugh migraines suck. I had them almost weekly for years, now it’s only every few months, and in the interim I forget how awful they are. This one wiped me out for three whole days mid-week, had double vision and everything.
When I wasn’t hiding in a darkened room, I was watching another bunch of UK comedy shows on YouTube, particularly The Big Fat Quiz of the Year, The Big Fat Quiz of the Decade, and The Big Fat Quiz of Everything specials. There are about 40 all up and if you don’t mind crude, silly humour they should have you laughing out loud.
Today is the start of school holidays, but it’s really only going to be me and my 16yo at home. My oldest will be working, as will hubby, and Aleah will be attending a lot of revision classes in preparation for her HSC, which starts in a few weeks. My youngest son has a new part time job working in the kitchen of local restaurant. He works five nights a week, but they are giving him extra day shifts through the holidays too.
It’s the last Monday of the month so time to check in with my challenge progress.
Nonfiction Reader Challenge: 11/12
Australian Women Writers Challenge: 54/50
Aussie Author Challenge: 23/24
Nerd Reading Challenge: 36/52
Historical Fiction Reading Challenge: 24/25
SwordsnStars Challenge: 7/10
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What I’ve Read Since I last Posted…
The Survivors by Jane Harper
A Woman of Force by Mark Morri
The Wreck by Meg Keneally
Dead Man in a Ditch by Luke Arnold
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New Posts…
Review: The Survivors by Jane Harper
Review: A Woman of Force by Mark Morri
Review: The Wreck by Meg Keneally
Review: Dead Man in a Ditch by Luke Arnold
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What I’m Reading This Week…
In the start of an all-new series, the bestselling author of Uprooted and Spinning Silver introduces you to a dangerous school for the magically gifted where failure means certain death – until one girl begins to rewrite its rules. Enter a school of magic unlike any you have ever encountered.
There are no teachers, no holidays, friendships are purely strategic, and the odds of survival are never equal. Once you’re inside, there are only two ways out: you graduate or you die. El Higgins is uniquely prepared for the school’s many dangers. She may be without allies, but she possesses a dark power strong enough to level mountains and wipe out untold millions – never mind easily destroy the countless monsters that prowl the school. Except, she might accidentally kill all the other students, too. So El is trying her hardest not to use it… that is, unless she has no other choice.
Wry, witty, endlessly inventive, and mordantly funny – yet with a true depth and fierce justice at its heart – this enchanting novel reminds us that there are far more important things than mere survival.
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‘I don’t want two wishy-washy godmothers,’ Jeannie had said that afternoon in the country hospital when Eliza was only a day old. ‘No dolls. No pink dresses. Just lots of adventures. Lots of spoiling. The pair of you like two mighty warriors protecting her at every step.’
Eliza Miller grew up in Australia as the only daughter of a troubled young mother, but with the constant support of two watchful godmothers, Olivia and Maxie. Despite her tricky childhood, she always felt loved and secure. Until, just before her eighteenth birthday, a tragic event changed her life.
Thirteen years on, Eliza is deliberately living as safely as possible, avoiding close relationships and devoting herself to her job. Out of the blue, an enticing invitation from one of her godmothers prompts a leap into the unknown.
Within a fortnight, Eliza finds herself in the middle of a complicated family in Edinburgh. There’s no such thing as an ordinary day any more. Yet, amidst the chaos, Eliza begins to blossom. She finds herself not only hopeful about the future, but ready to explore her past, including the biggest mystery of all – who is her father?
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Darnmoor, The Gateway to Happiness. The sign taunts a fool into feeling some sense of achievement, some kind of end- that you have reached a destination in the very least. Yet as the sign states, Darnmoor is merely a gateway, a waypoint on the road to where you really want to be.
Darnmoor is the home of the Billymil family, three generations who have lived in this ‘gateway town’. Race relations between Indigenous and settler families are fraught, though the rigid status quo is upheld through threats and soft power rather than the overt violence of yesteryear.
As progress marches forwards, Darnmoor and its surrounds undergo rapid social and environmental changes, but as some things change, some stay exactly the same. The Billymil family are watched (and sometimes visited) by ancestral spirits and spirits of the recently deceased, who look out for their descendants and attempt to help them on the right path.
When the town’s secrets start to be uncovered the town will be rocked by a violent act that forever shatters a century of silence.
Full of music, Yuwaalaraay language and exquisite description, Song of the Crocodile is a lament to choice and change, and the unyielding land that sustains us all, if only we could listen to it.
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‘Find out who you are, and live that life.’
Late in the night, fourteen-year-old Sam Watson steps onto a quiet overpass, climbs over the rail and looks down at the road far below.
At the other end of the same bridge, an old man, Vic, smokes his last cigarette.
The two see each other across the void. A fateful connection is made, and an unlikely friendship blooms. Slowly, we learn what led Sam and Vic to the bridge that night. Bonded by their suffering, each privately commits to the impossible task of saving the other.
Honeybee is a heart-breaking, life-affirming novel that throws us headlong into a world of petty thefts, extortion plots, botched bank robberies, daring dog rescues and one spectacular drag show.
At the heart of Honeybee is Sam: a solitary, resilient young person battling to navigate the world as their true self; ensnared by a loyalty to a troubled mother, scarred by the volatility of a domineering step-father, and confounded by the kindness of new alliances.
Honeybee is a tender, profoundly moving novel brimming with vivid characters and luminous words. It’s about two lives forever changed by a chance encounter — one offering hope, the other redemption. It’s about when to persevere, and when to be merciful, as Sam learns when to let go, and when to hold on.
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Ugh, sorry to hear about the migraine. Glad it’s passed. Sounds like everyone is your house is busy these days!
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I am sorry to hear that you had a migraine. Hope you will be well soon. Here in Germany students will have their fall break in late October. Stay safe and happy reading.
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Oh, I am sorry about the migraines! I used to get them, but haven’t in many years, knock wood.
Your books look good, and congrats on your challenges progress.
I like the look of The Godmothers…I think I’ve read McInerney.
Enjoy your week!
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The books on your list sound really good.
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I am so sorry you had migraines! I had one for two days this week and it’s awful. I hope you have a great week now xoxo
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How did you like The Wreck? I really enjoyed her previous book, Fled.
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Migraines are so terrible. I feel your pain!
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I hope you enjoy A Deadly Education – I did. I’m sorry about the migraine; my daughter struggles with them, too.
Anne – Books of my Heart Here is my Sunday Post
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Migraines are the worst! I hope you found some relief. Your family is so busy. Sounds like life is almost normal in your parts. The Godmothers sounds so good. I am already curious as to what happened to Eliza.
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Migraines are horrible. I’m sorry you are suffering so much from them.
Your challenges are coming along well. I keep forgetting to post about my nonfiction reads. Sigh.
Deadly Education sounds interesting. I’ll be happy to hear more.
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I will look for that new book by Craig Silvery. I adore Jasper Jones and think his writing is so strong. I had a bad headache this week too that left me feeling nauseated. Ugh. Nothing is worse than being set upon by such pain. Hope this coming week is better. My Sunday Salon post
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Migraines are the worst. I don’t get them very often, but they knock me out when I do. I need to get on Deadly Education. It looks like a fun one. Happy reading!
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My sympathies on the migraine. I get them too, almost always three day long ones. 😞
Hope it’s a long time until your next one! Happy school holidays and all the best to your daughter with her revision.
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I’m sorry about the migraine. I used to get them really bad, but they’ve been better in recent years. Take care. Have a great week!
My post is here.
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You poor thing! I’ve never had a migraine, but my son used to suffer badly from them so I can imagine how awful they must be. Hope you recover well. Enjoy your new books.
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So sorry about your migraines—they’re the worst!
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So sorry to hear about your migraine. They’re the absolute worst and so exhausting. I hope you’re able to relax some over the school holiday and how nice that it’ll mostly just be you and your 16yo. One on one time can sometimes be so nice. Have a great week!
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I had two 1-day migraines this month. I think the stress of the times is just gettin gto me. I loved Deadly Education and I hope you do too.
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Sorry about the migraine. I had them as a small child but apparently outgrew them. I just ordered a copy of Novik’s new book. It does sound excellent. Come see my week here. Happy reading!
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You are doing so well on your challenges! I am sorry you suffer from migraines, they sound absolutely awful. I am going to write down those British comedies as they sound perfect for right now.
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I hope you’re feeling better now. I used to suffer from frequent but very mild migraines – more on the visual disturbance side along with a bad (but manageable) headache. I’m certain they were induced by the lighting where I worked, because I’ve only had a couple a year since leaving there.
The Godmothers sounds like a great story, I need to add it to my TBR
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i have headaches a lot, but thank goodness they are not migraines. glad you are feeling better
sherry @ fundinmental
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Sorry to hear about your migraines. I used to have them as a kid. I still get them from time to time, but nowhere as bad as you. I pray you get relief.
Nice group of books this week. A Deadly Education sounds fascinating.
Thanks for sharing.
http://thebookconnectionccm.blogspot.com/2020/09/its-monday-what-are-you-reading-sep-28.html
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Hope your summer is a good one. We’ll be slogging out in winter here. You have read a lot of books so far! Congrats!
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Migraines are such hateful things, glad you’ve came through it. I love the big fat quiz of the year, they are so funny!
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Ugh so sorry about your migraines!!
A Deadly Education looks really good!!
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Sorry about the migraine, I’ve never had them but seen how others are really laid out by them. I have never read McInerney, but I have a couple on my shelf to read. Need to try one to see if for me.
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I’m sorry you’re having migraines! I haven’t ever had one but just a nasty headache will make me pretty miserable. Nothing like double vision or dizziness that puts sufferers down for the count.
I just read a review of A Deadly Education at Beth Fish Reads and it sounds so good! The Godmothers looks good too.
Enjoy your week and take care!
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Hope you’re feeling better this week. Definitely want to get my hands on A Deadly Education soon.
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Oh no sorry to hear about the migraine. Sounds awful. Hope this week is better and migraine free!
The Harper books I’ve seen have had me curious. I’ve seen good reviews. The Simpson book sounds really interesting also!
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Migraines are the worst, I’ve only ever had a couple in my lifetime but they’re some of the most debilitating things I’ve ever experienced. Hopefully you’re free of them for as long as possible.
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