20 Books of Summer (or Winter as the case may be)!

Cathy @746 Books is once again hosting her #20booksofsummer reading challenge.

It's actually winter here in Australia which is the perfect weather for curling up with a good book or two (although I'm sure my European and American readers will scoff heartily at my definition of winter and feeling cold!)

I always love the idea of this challenge but I struggle to stay motivated during the third month.

So I'm going to mess with Cathy's rules a little and only list 15 books so that the last five can be spontaneous, flexible picks to get me through my August angst!

1. The Hate Race by Maxine Beneba Clarke   (reviewed 17/8/16)

(replaced All My Januaries on my list)

2. Ruins by Rajith Savanadasa   (reviewed 30/6/16)

Another ARC with a BIG rap from my Hachette rep; another July release; another Australian author.

I also adore Indian literature, so this one has the best of both worlds for me - a Sri Lankan born Australian with his debut novel set in Colombo.
Great cover too!

3. Mothering Sunday by Graham Swift (reviewed 9/6/16)

I've been hoping to get into this well-reviewed story sooner rather than later (and I can't wait to read JoAnn @Lakeside Musing's review when she writes it as her social media raves this weekend have been very tantalising :-)

This book has been languishing on my TBR for long enough now.

4. Truly, Madly, Guilty by Liane Moriarty  (reviewed 6/8/2016)

I love my reps!

My Pan Mac rep came through a week ago with an ARC of Liane's latest book.

Mr Books snaffled it straight away since I had just started The Story of a Lost Child.

He raced through it with great pleasure and is now eagerly awaiting our discussion when I finally read it.

5. Everywhere I Look by Helen Garner  (reviewed 27/7/2016)

Most Aussie readers will know (& most likely adore) Helen Garner.

I have her latest non-fiction personal essays tempting me from my bedside chair.

6. Paving the New Road by Sulari Gentill  (reviewed 12/6/16)

I'm up to the fourth book in this gentle crime series set in Sydney in the 1930's.

I love Rowland Sinclair and his Bohemian friends.

This series has become my comfort read. As the days get colder and darker, I can safely say that a comfort read will be required at some point!

7. Joan of Arc by Lili Wilkinson (reviewed 8/8/2016)

I've had Lili's fictional bio for teens on my bedside chair ever since I read Green Valentine last year & discovered that she had written a much earlier story based on the life of Joan.

Louise @A Strong Belief in Wicker has a review of the book here.

I'm a BIG fan of Wilkinson and always intrigued by Joan.

Win/win!

8. The Tragedy of the Korosko by Arthur Conan Doyle  (reviewed 1/9/2016)

Carol @Journey and Destination first put me onto this beautiful looking book.

You may have already spotted the other theme developing with this list....

slimness.

No chunksters to bog me down this winter!!

9. The Santiago Pilgrimage by Jean-Christophe Rufin   (reviewed 22/8/16)

Spotted at this year's Sydney Writer's Festival - sounds intriguing.

10. On the Beach by Nevil Shute  (reviewed 13/6/16)

Nancy @Ipsofactdotme reminded me of this Australian classic about the end of the world, when she read it for AusReadingMonth three years ago. 

I've been meaning to read it ever since.

11. The Home and the World by Rabindranath Tagore    (reviewed 3/9/16)

August readalong with Cirtnecce.
(replaced The Bell Jar on my list)

12. Angle of Repose by Wallace Stegner   reviewed 22/7/2016

I read and loved, loved, loved Crossing to Safety four years ago.
I've been meaning to read another Stegner ever since.

13. I'm Supposed to Protect You From All of This by Nadja Spiegleman  (reviewed 4/9/16)

(replaced Our Man in Havana on my list)

14. The Last Painting by Sara de Vos by Dominic Smith  (reviewed 31/8/16)

(replaced Villette on my list)

15. Every Man For Himself by Beryl Bainbridge  (reviewed 18/6/16)

This is how it happens.

Barely one day after compiling my list of 14 and leaving a space for 6 books in August, I have discovered that Annabel's House of Books is hosting a Beryl Bainbridge reading week from 13th-19th June.

The Bainbridge ended up on my TBR when Lisa @Bookshelf Fantasies told me about this other Titanic story after we both shared our love for The Midnight Watch.

16. The Course of Love by Alain de Botton  (reviewed 2/8/2016)

(replaced The Bone Sparrow on my list)

17. The Catherine Wheel by Elizabeth Harrower is my #CCSpin 13 choice.
(reviewed 31/7/2016)

18. The Ladies of Lyndon by Margaret Kennedy    (reviewed 20/6/16)
so that I can join in Jane @Beyond Eden Rock's readalong.

19. Gentlemen Formally Dressed by Sulari Gentill   (reviewed 27/6/16)

My lingering winter cold saw me dive into another cosy, comfort read.

20.

Auggie and Me: Three Wonder Stories by R J Palacio   (reviewed 13/7/2016)

After a drama at work, I needed something light and easy to dip into. Something that I knew would be heart-warming and uplifting.
The companion book to Wonder was an obvious choice.

I should finish The Story of the Lost Child tonight, so which book would be a good one to move on to next?