Once again, I am participating in the 52 Week Book Challenge. The Challenge is to read one book each week, to a particular prompt. The thing I most enjoy about this challenge, apart from reading the books, is matching books to the prompts. Its a fun thing to do, and I often end up choosing a book that I may not have otherwise read. That is always a positive. Quite often the prompts have me scratching my head for a while. I do enjoy the hunt for a book to fit a prompt. Reviews for these books will be appearing shortly. I’d love to hear if you’re doing this reading challenge in 2025
I spent more time than usual reading in February, as we have had a heat wave for most of the month, with long, hot days and very hot nights.
Non-Fiction – Mystery – Family History – Scotland
Fiction – Historical Fiction – Crime – Domestic Violence – Australia – Australian History
Fiction – Historical Fiction – 19th Century – England – Crime
Fiction – Mystery – Contemporary – Australia
The Disappearance of Astrid Bricard ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Looking Out by Fiona McCallum ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
The Lost Past by Billy McQueen ⭐️⭐️⭐️
After the EMP by E.E. Isherwood (Neighborhood Watch #1) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Ladies of Missalonghi ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
First Wife’s Shadow ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Raised by a Serial Killer ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
How to Eat 30 Plants a Week ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
A Secret Garden in Paris ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Talented Mrs. Greenway by Tea Cooper ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Seachangers ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Beautiful Ugly ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
My Book of the Month
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
From a bestselling Australian author, this compellingly realised novel brings to life the story of an enigmatic figure, wife to feted colonial architect Francis Greenway, and asks, whose hand really shaped Sydney? Who is the talented Mrs Greenway?
1814 Sydney When Mary Greenway, freshly arrived from the old country, steps into the maelstrom of Sydney Town with three children at her skirts, she has high hopes of a new beginning, despite having little money and a husband in irons. After all, the sudden death of her sadistic first husband has meant freedom from her gilded cage and Francis Greenway is an architect of some promise, under the protection of Admiral Phillip himself. Mary herself is a woman of great resources and an even greater creative passion, a passion that will surely burn through anything that the filthy, burgeoning, vitality of colonial Sydney can throw at her. Soon ensconced in a tiny cottage in George Street, Mary sets about moulding a life for her family from the unpromising clay of this new colony, with a determination fired in equal parts by guilt for her disastrous past action that nearly brought ruin to them all and desire to see her true calling realised. When she is befriended by Elizabeth Macquarie it seems that fate is smiling on them with the promise of a better life in her grasp. But fate is a difficult mistress and with past secrets to keep, and current betrayals on the brink of discovery, the stakes are higher than ever. With Mary’s grip on this new life slipping, will her past lies come back to haunt her? – Goodreads
My Thoughts
In the very early days of Australia, when Sydney was just beginning to be developed, it was quite common for women to be the driving force behind their husbands, who received all the accolades. Francis Greenaway and his wife were actual people, who were integral to Sydney becoming the city that it is today. and this book is based on their lives, though being a novel, their lives are fictionalised.
Everything about this novel, set in the early 1800s, is what I love about historical fiction that is based on fact.There is Australian history, colonial history, the development of Sydney, a very strong female character. I loved every page and couldn’t put it down. All I can say, is if you love Australian historical fiction, you must read this book. The author’s notes at the end, add to the experience of reading this novel.
Storygraph
Each year, I use Goodreads for recording my books, but decided that this year I would also use StoryGraph, just to try it out. I wanted to keep Goodreads going alongside, just in case there was something I didn’t like about StoryGraph.I’m very happy with good reasons, and the only reason I thought I might change, was because I like the graphs and images that are provided for books that are read. Well, here we are not even eight weeks in, and already there is a book that I have read that isn’t listed in StoryGraph.
There’s nothing rare or unusual about the book. It’s just historic fiction about 19th century London. It makes me wonder how many more books there will be during the year that aren’t listed, so I’m suspending my StoryGraph trial. I mention it because my StoryGraph experiment was on my goals list for 2025.
This post is linked to the monthly #whatsonyourbookshelfchallenge linkup hosted by bloggers Deb, Sue, Donna, and Jo.
Also linking to Natalie’s Weekend Coffee Share