This year I was a bit slow off the mark with my Australian Women Writers Reading and Reviewing Challenge. I was enjoying being headfirst in the completion of one of my own novels, and the beginning of another.

My intention was to complete the Stella challenge (read 4 –  review at least 3)  which I’ve done in the dying days of December with my final read for the year, Past the Shallows by Favel Parrett. And boy what a book it was. What a gem! Beautiful and sombre. So glad I ended the year with that one.

I read Landscape With Animals early in the year when I was looking for a book with well written sex scenes to use as a study for my own book. Kristen Krauth from over at  Wild Colonial Girl, interviewed Krissy Kneen (author of two collections of erotica, Swallow the Sound and Triptych) about writing sex scenes. Krissy noted that Landscape With Animals is her favourite erotic book. That was enough for me. And I’d have to agree, it really is  a great study in writing sex scenes, as well as being a beautifully written book.

Eleven of the books or collections I’ve purchased this year just happened to be by Australian Women so I’ve got plenty to catch up on, and to go on into AWW2014!

Landscape With Animals by Cameron S Redfern (Sonya hartnett) ✔

Jesus Sandals and Anchovette, by Joanna Atherfold Finn from the  – Amanda Lohey Selects, The Women’s Long Stories collection put out by Spineless Wonders  ✔

Black Juice by Margo Lanagan ✔

Past The Shallows by Favel Parrett  ✔

Unloched, by Candice Lemon-Scott 

Cracklescape by Margo Lanagan

Floundering by Romy Ash

Chameleon by Kathy Stewart

The Young Widow’s Book of Home Improvement by Virginia lloyd

In the Shadows of the garden by Sharon Kernot

Surrender by Sonya Hartnett