My AWW Reading Challenge in 2012
Originally published at tansyrr.com. You can comment here or there.
Will you be doing the Australian Women Writers Challenge in 2013? I certainly will! I’ve enjoyed the community aspect of the challenge, and the focus on Australian women writers - while I tend to read a majority of women writers anyway, I do have a tendency to stay within certain genre comfort zones, and often to neglect Australian writers over international ones, unless they are very close friends. And while my list for this year’s reading definitely involved a bunch of books by my friends (did I mention how many talented friends I have? A WHOLE BUNCH) I also tried to challenge myself by trying new authors, reading some books that have languished on my To Read Shelf for too long, and in the case of Kate Forsyth’s Bitter Greens, NOT neglect a certain title that I know is going to be wonderful just because it’s the size of three regular books.
I met my own challenge parameters back in June (the Franklin - 10 books, review at least 6) but have continued to add to the list and was delighted today to count up and realise that I hit 25. Sounds impressive, though considering I read 175 books this year (including graphic novels & audio books), it’s still only a small proportion.
DEFINITELY coming back for more next year, at the same level. We have some great female writers in Australia and they really do miss out on the recognition that is due to them, in general book media.
“Four times as many living Australian male writers than female writers appear on First Tuesday Book Club’s list of Top 50 Aussie reads.”
On a personal note, I really think that the AWW has helped me as a writer, too - I noticed far more reviews going around of the Creature Court trilogy and Love and Romanpunk in 2012 than in previous years, and I think the Challenge has a lot to do with that.
What will you be reading next year? How will you be reading next year? What great books by Australian women can we look forward to next year?
Tansy’s Australian Women Writers 2012 Reading Challenge.
1. Eona by Alison Goodman (fantasy)
2. Cooking the Books by Kerry Greenwood (contemporary crime)
3. Bad Power by Deborah Biancotti (spec fic, superhero, short story collection)
4. The Opposite of Life, by Narrelle M. Harris (horror, vampire, comedy)
5. Madigan Mine, by Kirstyn McDermott (horror, contemporary)
Opposite of Life & Madigan Mine reviewed at Galactic Suburbia podcast episode 55
6. Angel Arias, by Marianne De Pierres (YA fantasy, vampire, slightly science fictional)
7. The Getting of Wisdom, by Henry Handel Richardon (AUSTRALIAN CLASSIC, literature, boarding school story)
8. Ishtar, edited by Amanda Pillar & K.V. Taylor (historical, fantasy, science fiction)
(reviewed at Galactic Suburbia Episode 59)
9. Cracklescape, by Margo Lanagan (speculative fiction)
10. Walking Shadows, by Narrelle M Harris
11. The Truth About Verity Sparks, by Susan Walker (children’s historical)
12. Medea, by Kerry Greenwood (historical/mythological fantasy - reread)
13. Besieged, by Rowena Cory Daniells (epic fantasy)
14. What Women Want, by Nelly Thomas (memoir/comedy/non-fiction)
15. Hoodwink, by Rhonda Roberts (time travel, Hollywood)
16. Team Human, by Justine Larbalestier & Sarah Rees Brennan (YA vampire)
17. Exile, by Rowena Cory Daniells (epic fantasy)
18. To Spin a Darker Stair, by Faith Mudge & Catherynne M Valente (short stories)
19. Sea Hearts, by Margo Lanagan (weird/historical fantasy, Lanagan is a genre right?) (reviewed in Galactic Suburbia Episode 69)
20. Sanctuary, by Rowena Cory Daniells (epic fantasy)
21. Midnight & Moonshine, by Lisa Hannett & Angela Slatter (short story collection, Nordic myth)
22. Bitter Greens, by Kate Forsyth (historical fantasy) (reviewed at Galactic Suburbia episode 72)
23. Through Splintered Walls, by Kaaron Warren (horror, short story collection)
24. Last Chance Cafe, by Liz Byrski (general/women’s fiction)
25. The Price of Fame, by R.C. Daniells