Welcome to this week's edition of Top Ten Tuesday which is hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl.
This week theme Books I Can’t Believe I’ve Never Read but I feel like I did a variation on that not too long ago. I have had this post half written in draft for weeks so I decided to go with this theme instead. I do see myself doing variations on this theme on occasion in the future too!
Have you ever noticed how many authors there are with the same first names. There are a proliferation of books who are written by people named Susan (however it is spelt) or Elizabeth or Jane or Kate or Victoria. Today, I am focussing on the name Jane! So here are ten books written by author's whose first name is Jane.
Jane Austen - Hand's up if this was the first Jane you thought of when I said what my theme was this week!
Jane Harper - I am a long way behind on Jane Harper's books but I do like their Australian setting.
Jane Lovering - A recent favourite author. I have read a number of her books over the last few years.
Jane Tara - I read this book club a couple of years ago.
Jane Harrison - This book tells of the arrival of British settlers from the point of view of the Indigenous people who witnessed, and then suffered because of it
Jane Yolen - A while ago I was reading a lot of fairytale retellings and this was a good one!
Jane Sanderson - I liked this book because it was set in both Adelaide and Sheffield which are both places I have listed
Jane Harris - I don't know why I haven't read more by this author.
Jane Smiley - I liked this book but I didn't love the abridged audio.
Jane Yang - This is one that is on my Kindle.to read.
Do you have any other authors named Jane that immediately come to mind?
Over the weekend I attended Melbourne Writers Festival. I always try to make sure that I attend something at the festival, and this time I was able to attend three events.
On Saturday, we attended an In Conversation with Anita Heiss which was facilitated by Shelley Ware. This was a wide ranging conversation from being a method writer to the inclusion of indigenous people in Australian stories to the plight of children in the current situation. Heiss' latest book, which was originally an Audible original, is called Red Dust Running and features an Indigenous cowboy so both of the presenters were dressed up in jeans, boots and cowboy hats. I have met Anita Heiss before and she is always engaging too listen too, very funny, and yet covering important topics!
On Sunday, I attended two sessions. The first was too hear Japanese author Asako Yuzuki who was interviewed by cookbook author and TV host Alice Zaslavsky. The conversation covered topics from food, the roles and expectations of women in modern Japanese society, and so much more. Like last year when we saw Toshikazu Kawaguchi in conversation, this was a translater assisted session, and she did an amazing job. There was a lady behind us who spoke Japanese relatively well and at the end of the session she was gushing about how well the translator did!
The final session was Australian author Jane Harper In Conversation with Irish author Marian Keyes. Keyes got a rapturous welcome from the moment that she walked on stage and she kept the audience engaged from the outset. I am pretty sure Harper could have asked just one question and just let Marian Keyes talk for the whole hour. One of the highlights of the conversation included the news that there is a TV series being made of the Walsh sisters books which has been sold to an Australian streaming service. It is going to be shown in Ireland later this year so hopefully we won't have to wait too long for it here! The audience laughed and clapped all the way through the hour and there was a real buzz in the room. I am so glad to have had the chance to hear her talk live. Now I wish I had time to go back and re-read all the Walsh sisters books!
I have some other photos from the two days on my Bookstagram account - Intrepidreaderandbaker.
While the festival doesn't feel the same as it did a few years ago when it was over two weekends, it was heavily promoted as a city event and there was a real buzz in the host locations, it is an event that really fills my cup. And the bonus is we get to visit some iconic Melbourne locations as well. One if the Capitol Theatre which usually isn't open to the public. This place is gorgeous! And the ceiling - amazing art deco style!
I'm reading
I mentioned last week that I was reading The Hazelbourne Ladies Motorcycle and Flying Club by Helen Simonson as it is the current selection for Cook the Books. I finished that book this week, and I know what I am going to cook for the cooking part of the equation. Now I just need to find the time to make it, hopefully this week.
I also finished The House At River's Edge by Rachel Burton, which I reviewed here.
The other book that I had to read last week as I had committed to a review date was Booked for Summer by Kathryn Freeman. I reviewed that book here.
Even though I have two books to review this week that I haven't started yet, I started reading An Italian Wedding Adventure by Leonie Mack. I really like this author's books and so far this is a good one too.
I also started The Madamoiselle Alliance by Natasha Lester. I went and heard her speak a couple of weeks ago and the story that she told about the main character in this book was fascinating. This is one of the two book club books that we will be talking about at the Rachael Johns Readers Retreat this coming weekend. I think that there is every chance that I might be reading the other book on the plane on the way over to Perth!
I'm watching
We are very lucky here as there are often film festivals which bring movies to the big screen that I would otherwise never hear about. The German Film Festival is currently on, and one of the two movies that I really wanted to see was the book to screen adaptation of the Door to Door Bookstore. I read the book last year and liked it. I was a bit surprised to see that it had been made into a very family friendly movie and I thought it a sweet movie. There was almost a cartoonish feel to it from some of the costumes to the sets and more. It also shared the magic of books and story, about the importance of found family and the impact of grief.
On Saturday night my husband and I went to see Thunderbolts, the latest Marvel movie, and it was really good! Definitely felt like a return to form.
We also watched a new Netflix documentary called Pangolin: Kulu's Journey. Before watching this show I had no idea what a pangolin even looked like. It is made by the same people who made My Octopus Teacher and once again it is a really nicely made documentary.
Welcome to this week's edition of Top Ten Tuesday which is hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. This week the topic is Most Anticipated Books Releasing In the Second Half of 2022
Here comes one of the more dangerous TTT themes! I know that as I visit other people's lists I will see at least 10 other titles which will make me think I can't believe I forgot that title! I have therefore left a space for those books! That and I only had a list of 9!
The Edge of Summer by Viola Shipman - Over the last couple of years Viola Shipman has become a must read author for me! This looks really good!
This Place of Wonder by Barbara O'Neal - This author is also a must read for me, although I am a couple behind.
The Crimson Thread by Kate Forsyth- I have been reading Kate Forsythe for a number of years now and her book Bitter Greens is one of my favourites.
In the Middle of Hickory Lane by Heather Webber - Heather Webber was a 2021 discovery and I can't wait to read more from her.
Other Birds by Sarah Addison Allen - It's at least 7 years since we have had a new book from Sarah Addison Allen! Can not wait to read this new one!
With Love from Wish & Co by Minnie Darke - Minnie Darke's book The Lost Love Song was one of my favourite reads from 2020! Really excited to see if I love this book too.
The Work Wives by Rachael Johns - Even when I was in my mega slump that lasted for a couple of years, Rachael Johns was still a must read for me!
Exiles by Jane Harper - Aaron Falk is back!
Love Letters from a Lord by Tessa Dare - I don't read a lot of historical romance anymore but Tessa Dare is an exception I am always happy to make!
Welcome to this week's edition of Top Ten Tuesday which is hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. This week the topic is Books With Your Favorite Trope/Theme (Submitted by Raincheckandread.com and Sara Beth @ Life, Love, Writing). I was contemplating doing something around books with dual timelines, but in the end I have decided to go off theme this week. Instead, I am trying to make my holiday vibes stretch out as much as I can. A couple of weeks ago now we travelled all around Tasmania so my theme this week is books set in Tasmania!
The Last of the Apple Blossoms by Mary-Lou Stephens - I read this book last year and really liked it. This book is set in the Huon Valley and inspired us to visit during our trip. We had the best toasted sandwich in a cidery there!
The Exiles by Christina Baker-Kline - This book is something of an anomaly as it is the only one which wasn't written by an Australian author. (my review)
The Roving Party by Rohan Wilson - I saw Rohan Wilson on a panel at Melbourne Writers Festival more than 10 years ago. I have a signed copy of the book, but I still haven't read it.
A Trifle Dead by Livia Day - This is a foodie murder mystery set in Hobart. The review I did of this a few years ago is probably one of my favourite ever posts on the blog.
Wildflower Hill by Kimberly Freeman - I really enjoyed Kimberly Freeman's historical/dual timeline novels. I have mentioned her in a couple of posts recently which has inspired me to try and find the last books of hers that I haven't read yet.
The Living Sea of Waking Dreams by Richard Flanagan - In theory I am currently listening to this. In practice I keep on getting distracted by other audiobooks. I will get back to it.
The Potato Factory by Bryce Courtenay - We spent went to a few places which highlight the convict history of Tasmania. This book does the same.
Past the Shallows by Favel Parret - This is another book I have had on my TBR shelf for years!
Mawson and the Ice Men of the Heroic Age: Scott, Shackleton and Amundsent by Peter Fitzsimmons - This is a non fiction book. I don't read a lot of non fiction, but I do want to read something about Mawson as one we really enjoyed visiting the replica of Mawson's Hut. There is lots of Mawson/Antarctic related information in Hobart as it is often the starting point for boats travelling there.
The Survivors by Jane Harper - This is the only Harper book I haven't yet read. Better get on to that as I have heard there is a new book coming out soon.
Welcome to this month's edition of Six Degrees of Separation, which is a monthly meme hosted by Kate from Books Are My Favourite and Best. The idea is to start with a specific book and make a series of links from one book to the next using whatever link you can find and see where you end up after six links. I am also linking this post up with The Sunday Salon, hosted by Deb at Readerbuzz.
This month the chain starts with Eats, Shoots and Leaves by Lynne Truss.
l wasn't sure how to start this chain this month. In the end, I have taken the fact that Eats Shoots and Leaves is about grammar and decided to link it to a dictionary because grammar and language go together right? So my first book is The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams
I am continuing down the lost track with The Lost Man by Jane Harper, a book that is set in the harsh Australian Outback.
That brings me to the first book in a big saga called Outback by Aaron Fletcher. I first did a post about the identity of Aaron Fletcher about 10 years ago and I still get comments on that post, most recently talking about his passing.
Keeping with the outback theme, I am choosing Outback Sisters by Rachael Johns which is part of the Bunyip Bay series. There is a new book in this series out in October which I am looking forward to.
A bunyip is a creature from Aboriginal mythology. A book which incorporates Aboriginal mythology into a YA dystopian/fantasy setting is The Interrogation of Ashala Wolf by Ambelin Kwaymullina.
Using the concept of mythology as my final link, I am jumping to ancient Greek mythology with Circe by Madeline Miller
Next month starts with Postcards from the Edge by Carrie Fisher.
Welcome to this week's edition of Top Ten Tuesday which is hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. This week's theme is Books with nature on the cover. A month or so ago, I did a post which featured lots of water on the covers. It surprised me to see that I actually only reused one of those covers, and yet, I still have several more watery covers to share this week.
Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen - I thought I would start with a garden which instantly brings me to Garden Spells
The Signature of All Things by Elizabeth Gilbert - I love the cover on this book, and I was really surprised when I read it as I wasn't sure what to expect.
Last Bridge Before Home by Lily Malone - There are so many rural romances that I could have featured, but I decided to echo the river scene in these two choices.
Virgin River by Robyn Carr - The reality is that I could have picked just about any book from the Virgin River series. One day I would love to visit the area where these books are set.
The Survivors by Jane Harper - My next two choices are both Australian authors, both with ocean scenes. This first one though is the wild sea.
Tiny White Lies by Fiona Palmer - And this is the calmer sea.
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens - I think there's a certain synergy between these two covers even though they are completely different types of water.
Bila Yarraghanggalangdhuray by Anita Heiss - This is my repeat cover, mainly because I need to hurry up and finish writing the review for this book.
The Burial by Courtney Collins - The covers for these two remind me of the time we spent looking at the stars at Uluru a month or so ago.
The Brightest Star in the Sky by Marian Keyes - Sirius I think?
Welcome to this week's edition of Top Ten Tuesday which is hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. This week's theme is Books I Meant to Get to in 2020....but I didn't. The reality is that this post could be a top 50 or 100 books and it might not still be enough!
Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo - After reading With the Fire on High early in 2020, I was super excited to read this book, even pre-ordering it, but I still haven't actually reading it.
The Mirror and the Light by Hilary Mantel - I have listened to the first two books in this trilogy and I do intend to do this one on audio too, but with substantially reduced listening time a 38 hour long book feels like too much of a commitment right now.
The Survivors by Jane Harper - I have really enjoyed Jane Harper's other books, and I really need to go to see the new movie which has been made of her first book, The Dry!
Return to Virgin River by Robyn Carr- Oh the surprise when it was announced that there was going to be a new book in the Virgin River series after many years, no doubt on the back of the success of the first series of the adaptation on Netflix. And yet, haven't even looked at the first page yet.
The Lost Girls of Devon by Barbara O'Neal - I have been a fan of Barbara O'Neal for a long time now, and yet I still haven't read this one yet!
Death and the Maiden by Samantha Norman and Ariana Franklin - When Ariana Franklin (who also wrote under the name Diana Norman) died more than ten years ago, I was upset to think that we wouldn't get any more of the Adelia Aguilar story. This book brings the series to it's conclusion.
The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams - This book came out just near the beginning of the pandemic and I heard the author talk about this in one of the first online author events I attended, which is what made me buy the book
Tsarina by Ellen Alpsten - I enjoy reading a good book about Russian history, or at least I will when I get to it!
Big Lies in a Small Town by Diane Chamberlain - This is one author I am convinced that I will really enjoy....when I actually read her!
The Paris Hours by Alex George - Recently I was scrolling through my blog and I came across a quote I have shared from a previous book by this author. It reminded me again that I want to read this book.
So there's just ten of the books that I meant to read last year, but didn't quite get to!
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