In 2025, I am again 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.

52 Week Book Challenge Books

Other Books Read in April

Book of The Month

The Dig Tree
A True Story of Bravery, Insanity, and the Race to Discover Australia’s Wild Frontier

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“The harrowing true story of the Burke and Willis expedition team who took on the Australian wilds 150 years ago–and lost.

They departed Melbourne’s Royal Park in the summer of 1860, a misfit party of eighteen amateur explorers cheered on by thousands of well-wishers. Their mission: to chart a course across the vast unmapped interior of Australia, from Melbourne to the northern coast. Months later, only one man returned alive–with tales of heroism, hardships, and lost opportunities that were by turns terrifying and darkly comic.

Drawing its title from one of the few remaining traces of the expedition, The Dig Tree combines the danger of Sebastian Junger with the irony of Bill Bryson to relive the tragic journey of these completely initiated adventurers. The cast of characters includes the expeditionleader; a reckless, charming Irish policeman known for getting lost on his way home from the pub; an eccentric nature enthusiast from Germany; an alcoholic camel handler; and a rogue American horse-breaker who is just in it for the money. For nine harrowing months, their quest for glory shifts from idiocy to perseverance and then inexorably toward tragedy. The nightmare culminates in a last haunting message left behind a group of desperate and dying men–the word DIG carved into what is now Australia’s most famous tree.

The Dig Tree follows this compelling journey through a forgotten corner of history to examine a daring expedition that came unbelievably close to success only to let it slip away.” – Goodreads

This book is exactly the sort of book that I would love. As most Australians would, I know the story of Burke and Wills well, having been taught about them at school and also having read many books about their adventure over the years. This book is a stand-out with it’s really great research and detail, that I hadn’t previously heard. Those who aren’t familiar with the story of Burke and Wills, would think that it must be a novel, and a very far fetched novel at that. But no, this is a true story of the exploration of the centre of Australia, including all that went wrong on that journey.

Star Rating 

Please note that my star rating system isn’t at all based on literary merit, but is based on my enjoyment for the book.

For me a book that gets five stars, is a book that I really enjoyed, and found difficult to put down.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Unputdownable. Would read it again.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Fantastic read. Not to be missed

⭐️⭐️⭐️ Enjoyable. Would recommend it.

⭐️⭐️ Wouldn’t read it again.

⭐️ Don’t recommend this book at all.

The book mentioned in this post is of my own choice and has not been sent to me to review. My opinions are my own and I receive no renumeration at all for them.

Have you read any of these books? If so, I’d love to hear your thoughts. I promise to always reply to comments made below.

To keep up with the latest book reviews, please pop your email into the box in the side bar. This will ensure you are notified of all updates.

Find me here: Facebook and Instagram and Goodreads

This post is linked to the monthly #whatsonyourbookshelfchallenge linkup hosted by bloggers Deb, Sue, Donna, and Jo.

© 2025 Copyright. all rights reserved: bestbookishblog.com

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

52 Week Book Club Challenge Books

Other Books Read

Star Rating 

Please note that my star rating system isn’t at all based on literary merit, but is based on my enjoyment for the book.

For me a book that gets five stars, is a book that I really enjoyed, and found difficult to put down.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Unputdownable. Would read it again.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Fantastic read. Not to be missed

⭐️⭐️⭐️ Enjoyable. Would recommend it.

⭐️⭐️ Wouldn’t read it again.

⭐️ Don’t recommend this book at all.

The book mentioned in this post is of my own choice and has not been sent to me to review. My opinions are my own and I receive no renumeration at all for them.

Have you read any of these books? If so, I’d love to hear your thoughts. I promise to always reply to comments made below.

To keep up with the latest book reviews, please pop your email into the box in the side bar. This will ensure you are notified of all updates.

Find me here: Facebook and Instagram and Goodreads

This post is linked to the monthly #whatsonyourbookshelfchallenge linkup hosted by bloggers Deb, Sue, Donna, and Jo.

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.

52 Week Book Club Challenge Books

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

Other Books Read in February

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

Summary

When a blizzard strands them in Salt Lake City, two strangers agree to charter a plane together, hoping to return home; Ben Payne is a gifted surgeon returning from a conference, and Ashley Knox, a magazine writer, is en route to her wedding. But when unthinkable tragedy strikes, the pair find themselves stranded in Utah’s most remote wilderness in the dead of winter, badly injured and miles from civilization. Without food or shelter, and only Ben’s mountain climbing gear to protect themselves, Ashley and Ben’s chances for survival look bleak, but their reliance on each other sparks an immediate connection, which soon evolves into something more.

Days in the mountains become weeks, as their hope for rescue dwindles. How will they make it out of the wilderness and if they do, how will this experience change them forever? Heart-wrenching and unputdownable, The Mountain Between Us will reaffirm your belief in the power of love to sustain us.- Goodreads

My Thoughts

I read this book after I watched the Netflix movie. I was mainly drawn to the movie because I am a fan of Kate Winslett. I thought I saw that the movie was based on a true story, but parts of the story seemed a bit far fetched and over romaticised. That made me very interested to read the book. A few chapters in, I realised that it was complete fiction, and felt disappointed and completely let down. However, as I got further into it, I found the novel to be completely believable, and the scenes that I thought were silly in the movie, weren’t in the original story.

There were only two people in this story for most of the time, and I couldn’t help but hope that all would work out well for them. I can understand why Kate Winslett was cast in the role, as the character was the type that she plays well – a confident, strong willed and resilient woman. I loved her character.

Even though I began reading The Mountain Between Us because I had the mistaken idea that it was a true story, I loved the fictional adventure story of survival, that it turned out to be. It was very fast paced and definitely a page turner, that I finished very quickly over the lazy days of the New Year period. I should add that as well as being an adventure drama, this novel is also very funny at times.

Star Rating

Please note that my star rating system isn’t at all based on literary merit, but is based on my enjoyment for the book. For me a book that gets five stars, is a book that I really enjoyed, and found difficult to put down.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Unputdownable. Would read it again.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Fantastic read. Not to be missed

⭐️⭐️⭐️ Enjoyable. Would recommend it.

⭐️⭐️ Wouldn’t read it again.

⭐️ Don’t recommend this book at all.

© 2025 Copyright. all rights reserved: bestbookishblog.com