Thursday 28 January 2010

Novels by Australian women: my 2010 reading challenge.

Shortly after my previous post, the following appeared in my Twitter feed:

EmergingWriters: Will @tiggyjohnson spend a whole year reading only novels by Australian women? That would be interesting! http://bit.ly/8NhLnR

Well, I've decided to take this on as a challenge so will only read novels by Australian women this year. Sorry to all you blokes with fabulous books, or to the non-Aussies, but it is just one year.

And it is just for novels. I'll still be reading whatever poetry or short stories happen to take my fancy, as well as being indiscriminatory as far as non-fiction goes.

I probably won't really discuss the works I'm reading, because reviewing just isn't my thing. Although I will say that so far, of the five titles I've finished thus far, my favourite has been 'The Ghost's Child' by Sonya Hartnett. A truly beautiful tale.

I'm sure too there's no chance I'll be able to maintain the pace I've set so far, but I'll see how I go. And I'm sure I'll enjoy coming across new authors as the months roll past. Actually, all five so far, as well as the two in-waiting, are by authors I haven't previously read. I'm sure this won't remain the case by the end of the year, as I'm sure to search for more from Hartnett, at the very least.

Anyone else set any reading goals for 2010?

6 comments:

Carole Poustie said...

I loved The Ghost's Child too. Have you read Butterfly? If not - it's a must for your list. It's a great challenge you've set yourself.Enjoy!

Carole

Tiggy Johnson said...

Thanks Carole. Will add it to my list. So far I have just my next two selected.
Feel free to join me...

of thieves said...

Wow wow wow wow wow! What an ambitious reading plan. Look forward to hearing about it. Have you read any Madeleine St. John? She is wonderful -- and the first Australian woman to be shortlisted for the Booker Prize for Fiction.

Tiggy Johnson said...

Oooh, estelle, thanks for the suggestion. Have added her to my list. Will have to make sure I post an update every now and then too.

Lisa said...

Wish you'd told me about The Ghost's Child today...I picked it up briefly while I was trying to make up my mind what to buy. Oh well, happy with my purchases...
I'll just have to place a hold on that one :)

Tiggy Johnson said...

Haha Lisa. I did mention Hartnett, although perhaps not the title. Yes, pout a hold on it, I borrowed it from the library, so I know it's there.