Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Today I start

It’s January 10 2012 so it’s time to start this blog.

I’ve started this blog for several reasons. This first is for a repository for all my thoughts on the books I have been reading – not all my friends want to be bored by my ramblings. The second is to improve the quality of my reviews. I’ve been writing reviews for Sisters in Crime and Crime Factory and I’m slowly getting better at it. As they say, practice makes perfect. Lastly I’ve joined up for the Australian Women Writers 2012 Reading and Reviewing Challenge which aims to counteract the gender bias in reviewing and social media newsfeeds; and actively promote the reading and reviewing of a wide range of contemporary Australian women's writing throughout 2012, the National Year of Reading (to paraphrase their blog).

Firstly I’ll own up to being a co-convenor with Sisters in Crime Australia, and I’m an avid crime reading buff. As such, crime will be a dominant theme in this blog. I love a host of male crime writers so there will be reviews and ramblings on crime writing of both genders with a heavy slant towards writers of the female persuasion.

I also read general fiction so crime won’t be the only type of books discussed. I love contemporary Australian literature and Young Adult novels and, due the influence of a few writerly friends, I’ve been dragged into an area I generally steer clear of – fantasy.

I’m currently reading Sophie Cunningham’s Melbourne and will be soon be starting Sulari Gentill’s Miles Off Course.

Stay tuned.