I love the passionate, positive energy that surrounds this reading challenge.

The 2014 Australian Women Writers Challenge was set up to help overcome gender bias in the reviewing of books by Australian women. The challenge encourages avid readers and book bloggers, male and female, Australian and non-Australian, to read and review books by Australian women throughout the year. You don’t have to be a writer to sign up. You can choose to read and review, or read only.

One of the reasons I’m into this challenge is that I have relatives in Sydney that I hope to visit within the next few years and would like to know more about Australian literature by the time I get there.

This will be my third year signing up for this challenge. During the last two years I’ve discovered some fantastic writers (like Helen Gardner and Anna Funder) who I don’t think would have crossed my path had I not been on the lookout for Australian woman writers.

I’m signing up at the Miles level again this year which is to read 6 books and review at least 4. Although I didn’t do so hot with my 2013 reading challenges, throughout the year I’ve been buying books by Australian women writers when I saw them at library sales. Here’s a snap of some of them:

I also have Miles Franklin’s My Brilliant Career ready to go on my Kobo ereader.

To learn more about the challenge and perhaps sign-up for it yourself click here.