On a hunt for a new book tag to do (seeing as these are my current obsession), I discovered the Aussie Book Tag over on Little Book Owl’s YouTube channel and knew that obviously, I had to this.

For any of you that don’t know, I am Australian! So this is a very fitting tag for me to do. Now when I say a “new” tag to do, I lie. Because as I’ve worked my way through these answers I realised that I actually did this way back in 2016. But it’s been YEARS since then, so I certainly think it’s worth revisiting!

To make this extra fun, however, I am going to answer this tag ONLY using books written by Australian authors. I’m finding it really interesting to challenge myself lately to take extra notice of what I’m reading, so it was really interesting to go through what I’ve read and see how much of what I’m reading is supporting my local authors. Let’s go!

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Koala
A character you want to cuddle all day long

I confess it’s been a really long time since I’ve read Mao’s Last Dancer but this is really powerful story. I dare say you’d finish this story wanting to give Li a massive hug after reading his story.

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Vegemite
A book you love that everyone else hates

So I’m actually turning this question around because I couldn’t find an Australian book that I loved that everyone else hates – BUT, I could find one that I hated but everyone else loved it. That’s right folks, Unearthed really was not my cup of tea. Predictable. Illogical. Meh.

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Socceroos
Fave fictional squad

Okay, this totally isn’t *really* a squad but I’m counting it. If Will, Tug, Halt and all the others can’t technically be counted as the most epic squad you’ve ever encountered, then I don’t know what to say.

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Southern Cross
Most recent 5-star read

One of my most recent 5-star reads by an Australian author is Home Fires by Fiona Lowe. I was not at all sold on this book to start with but it ended up really blowing me away. There is just so much going on in this story and the pace gradually builds into this epic crescendo at the end. This is also very topical this year as the story follows a town that loses almost everything due to a bushfire.

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Patriotism
Fave book by an author from your country

I think every Aussie kid read Once when they were younger. I think I actually had to read it for school. I remember this being one of the very few books I really lapped up when I was younger. That sticks in my mind because it was at an age where I truly hated reading, so to have found a book that I didn’t put down even in the car was pretty special.

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Echidna
A book you like to look at, but it physically hurts to read

Beautiful cover, absolutely tragic story. The events in this book really take a turn for the worse as you progress your way through it. But oh boy, this is such a powerful tale of WANT and you will definitely hear your heart cracking as the tragic tale unfolds.

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Ned Kelly
A book that is really grim, but an iconic must-read

How could I not choose The Book Thief for this question? This is an amazing but thoroughly upsetting story that you simply HAVE to read. There’s something utterly unique about it and it is packed with beautiful characters.

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Great Barrier Reef
A book that had you gaping in awe

Fiona McIntosh is a fabulous writer and I have decided upon that fact after reading exactly one of her books: this one. The Pearl Thief was UNBELIEVABLY good and I was dazed for days afterwards trying to process how someone could write such a spell-binding story.

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Pavlova
A light & fluffy book that you can’t help but love

I think you could probably argue as to whether this is a “light and fluffy book” but it was so easy to read (and so enjoyable to read) that I think it fits the bill. Contest is completely addictive and is a book I fail to see how anyone wouldn’t enjoy. It’s wild, it’s set in a library, it’s an epic battle, it’s basically everything you could ever want in a book that you can binge and love.

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Milo
A genre/author you reach for to get you out of a reading slump

FANTASY. Always. Whilst I haven’t read Sabriel yet, I know that this is exactly the kind of book I’d settling myself down with and a cup of tea to get me back on track with my reading! There’s something addictive about the adventures to be had within fantasy novels.

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Tags

I tag anyone who wants to have a crack at this but for my fellow Aussies below, if you’ve already done this tag I challenge you to do it using only Australian authors!

Cait @ Paper Fury

Bec @ becklepanda

Stef @ Noveltea Corner

Aentee @ Read at Midnight

Caz @ Little Book Owl 

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~~ Kirstie ~~

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