When I started my blog in March this year I began it with a vague plan to involve myself in the writing world and to feel connected to other writers and readers. I planned to review and discuss books, writers festivals and awards, chart my own hopeful journey to become an author (not much happening there!) and support Australian authors and their books. But, to begin with I wasn’t quite sure where to start and joining the Australian Women Writers challenge gave me some initial direction with the blog, as well as understanding the gender imbalance in book reviewing in general.
I have come to realise that fewer reviews = fewer book purchases & less attention to the author and their book, so if books by female writers are not reviewed as much as male writers, then fewer books are sold (my general observation – don’t ask me for stats! lol!)
Read my post Australian Women Writers & Genre vs. Literary Fiction about why I joined the 2014 AWW challenge and about authors Tara Moss (who inspired the AWW challenge) and Kathryn Heyman who talk about the lack of reviews of books written by women.
I’ve really enjoyed the 2014 AWW challenge and wished I’d had time to review more books! I set myself the challenge of reading all the books nominated for the CBCA (Younger & Older Readers), the Aurealis Awards (Children’s and Young Adult categories), and the NSW Premier’s Literary Awards (children’s and Young Adult) as well as any my monthly book club read and any other book that came my way. I got through almost all of them – so, I’ve certainly read more books than I reviewed, but time is short and I will get around to it – perhaps over the Christmas holidays, but they will end up going toward my 2015 AWW challenge now!
I’ve submitted 12 reviews since April to the 2014 AWW Challenge: 8 x speculative fiction, 1 x historical fiction, 3 x contemporary fiction (1 by Angela Long as guest reviewer to WTML).
This year my main focus has been reviewing Children and Young Adult novels (which I will continue to do next year) and I am delighted to announce that Angela Long will be joining me at Welcome to my Library with reviews of Australian Adult Fiction (for my many Adult readers who love the blog but prefer to read books for grown ups). And, so I don’t tip too far in the wrong direction – next year I will also be adding more reviews of books written by Aussie blokes! I certainly read a fair few but only reviewed one – so more reviews to come!
Welcome to my Library Reviews: 2014 Australian Women Writers challenge
Song for a Scarlet Runner by Julie Hunt
The Four Seasons of Lucy McKenzie by Kirsty Murray
The Red Wind by Isobelle Carmody
The Cloud Road by Isobelle Carmody
A Very Unusual Pursuit (City of Orphans Book 1) by Catherine Jinks
The Incredible Here and Now by Felicity Castagna
Jamie Reign: The Last Spirit Warrior by P.J Tierney
These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner
The Sky so Heavy by Claire Zorn
Masquerade by Kylie Fornasier
The Protected by Claire Zorn
Reviewed by Angela Long for Welcome to my Library
just_a_girl by Kirsten Krauth
Want to join next year? Head over to the Australian Women Writers website in the new year and join up for 2015.
Don’t have a blog but love Goodreads? No problem – you can link your Goodreads reviews as well.
Thank you Elizabeth Lhuede for starting this challenge – I’ve connected with so many wonderful people and looking forward to next year!
38 replies to “2014 Australian Women Writers Wrap-up”
I think I’ve found I’ve reviewed more books by females than males this year and it hasn’t been a decision it just happened. I hope you enjoy your next year in blogging, reading and reviewing!
Thanks, you too!
magnificent issues altogether, you simply gained a new reader.
What could you suggest in regards to your submit that you simply made a few days in the past?
Any sure?
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