January
| National & International Days | Title |
|---|---|
| Australia Day, Australia. 26th January | Happy Valley by Patrick White Australian classic; Australian Nobel prize-winning author; set in Australia. |
| Republic Day, India. 26th January. | The far field : a novel, by Madhuri Vijay Set in India; Indian author. |
| Literary Awards | Title |
|---|---|
| Victorian Premier’s Literary Award | To Name Those Lost, Rohan Wilson 2014 Winner Victoria Premier’s Literary |
| Year-long Challenge: Twisted Trivia | Title |
|---|---|
| Two of the words in the title start with the letter M. | Meet Me at Lennon’s by Melanie Myers |
| The theme of the book is survival that does not involve war situations. | After the Flood by Kassandra Montag |
| The book is set in a small town. | Taking Tom Murray Home by Tim Slee |
| The book is set in Italy, India or Indonesia. | The Far Field by Madhuri Vijay |
| The theme is North American aboriginal people. | The Round House by Louise Erdrich |
| There is a wild animal on the cover. | The Good Liar by Nicholas Searle |
| Set in the 19th century | To Name Those Lost by Rohan Wilson |
| A book written by a Nobel Prize in Literature winner. | Happy Valley by Patrick White |
February
| National and International Days | Title |
|---|---|
| Waitingi Day, New Zealand 6th February | Died in the Wool by Ngaio Marsh Set in New Zealand; New Zealand author. |
| Estonia Independence Day 24th February | The Willow King : the birds of the muses, by Meelis Friedenthal Set in Estonia; Estonian author |
| Literary Awards | Title |
|---|---|
| Adelaide Festival Awards for Literature Winner announced 29th February 2020 | The Death of Noah Glass by Gail Jones 2020 shortlist |
| Year-long Challenge: Twisted Trivia | Title |
|---|---|
| The cover has a key | The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield |
| The book is set between 1760 and 1820. | The Warlow Experiment by Alix Nathan |
| The book’s genre is time travel. | The Lost Girls by Jennifer Spence |
| The word “king” is in the title | The Willow King : the birds of the muses, by Meelis Friedenthal |
| Originally published 2018 | The Death of Noah Glass by Gail Jones |
| There is one or more sheep on the cover. | Died in the Wool by Ngaio Marsh |
| The book was translated from another language to English | A Long Petal of the Sea by Isabel Allende |
| First or second in a series | The End of the Ocean by Maja Lunde |
March
| National and International Days | Title |
|---|---|
| World Wildlife Day 3rd March. Celebrate and raise awareness of the world’s wild animals and plants. | Tiger by Polly Clark – about the Amur (Siberian tiger), of which there are only about 500 left in the wild. |
| International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination 21st March | The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Hamid Mohsin One of the themes of the novel is race discrimination. |
| Ghana Independence Day 6th March | The Temporary Gentleman by Sebastian Barry The story is set partly in Ghana 1957. |
| Pakistan Republic Day 23rd March | The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid Mohsin Hamid is a British/Pakistani writer. The novel takes place partly in Pakistan, dealing with its cultural and political issues. |
| Literary Awards | Title |
|---|---|
| Indie Book Awards (Aus) | Salt Creek by Lucy Treloar Indie Book of the Year Debut Fiction 2016 |
| Year-long Challenge: Twisted Trivia | Title |
|---|---|
| The book has “tiger” in the title. | Tiger by Polly Clark |
| The book is set in New York | The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Hamid Mohsin |
| The cover has a woman wearing a hat. | The Temporary Gentleman by Sebastian Barry |
| The genre is Scandinavian mystery | Little Siberia by Antti Tuomainen. |
| A book by an Irish author, other than C. S. Lewis | The Good Turn by Dervla McTiernan |
| The cover has a detailed feather on it. | Here We Are by Graham Swift |
| Setting is between 1900 and 1920 | House of Glass by Susan Fletcher |
| Other | Title |
|---|---|
| A known author. I’ve also read: “The Gathering” and “The Green Road”. | Actress by Anne Enright |
| Recommended to me | The Mercies by Kiran Millwood Hargrave |
April
| National and International Days | Title |
|---|---|
| St George’s Day, England. | To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf |
| Literary Awards | Title |
|---|---|
| The Pulitzer Prize for Fiction | The Shipping News, by E. Annie Proulx 1994 winner |
| Year-long Challenge: Twisted Trivia | Title |
|---|---|
| Set in one of the 4 Maritime Provinces of Canada (The Shipping News is set in Newfoundland/ Labrador). | The Shipping News, by E. Annie Proulx |
| Written by French author. | The Braid by Laetitia Colombani |
| Set in Iceland, or written by an Icelandic author. | The Sacrament by Olaf Olafsson |
| Cover is 75% green. | Greenwood by Michael Christie |
| The genre of mythology. | Circe by Madeline Miller |
| A classic written by a woman. | To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf |
| Other | Title |
|---|---|
| Genre: Historical fiction | The Year Without Summer Guinevere Glasfurd |
| Known author; Australian historical fiction | True History of the Kelly Gang, Peter Carey |
| Australian history | Mrs Kelly by Grantlee Kieza |
May
| National and International Days | Title |
|---|---|
| Jordan Independence Day 25th May | Appointment With Death by Agatha Christie |
| Year-long Challenge: Twisted Trivia | Title |
|---|---|
| Author is a Mary, Edith or Sybil | The Inheritance of Solomon Farthing by Mary Paulson-Ellis |
| Mountains on the cover | The Orchardist by Amanda Coplin |
| The word “Orphan” is in the title or a significant character is an orphan | A Thousands Moons by Sebastian Barry |
| Flower other than orchid on cover | The Red Lotus by Chris Bohjalian |
| Other | Title |
|---|---|
| Recommended | Conjure Women by Atakora, Afia |
| Known author | The Dickens Boy by Tom Keneally |
June
| Literary Awards | Title |
|---|---|
| International Dublin Literary Award – 2020 awards postponed due to COVID-19 | Idaho by Emily Ruskovich – 2019 Winner – International Dublin Literary Award |
| Walter Scott Prize | The Redeemed by Tim Pears – 2020 Shortlist – Walter Scott Prize |
| Australian Book Industry Awards | Good Girl, Bad Girl by Michael Robotham – 2020 Longlist – Australian Book Industry Awards |
| Year-long Challenge: Twisted Trivia | Title |
|---|---|
| Genre is thriller | The Glass Hotel by Emily St John Mandel |
| Hand on the cover | The Disappearance of Adèle Bedeau by Graeme Macrae Burnet |
| Horse on the cover | The Redeemed by Tim Pears |
| Other | Title |
|---|---|
| Recommended; Australian setting and author | A Treacherous Country by K.M. Kruimink |
| Known author | Gulliver’s Wife by Lauren Chater |
| Recommended | How Much of These Hills is Gold? by C. Pam Zhan |
July
| National and International Days | Title |
|---|---|
| Somalia 1 July | Crossbones by Nuruddin Farah |
| Year-long Challenge: Twisted Trivia | Title |
|---|---|
| The title is one word starts with the letter “D”. | Dreamland, Nancy Bilyeau |
| Book is part of a trilogy | Crossbones by Nuruddin Farah |
| Stormy seas | On the Java Ridge by Jock Serong |
| Originally published in French | After the Circus, by Patrick Modiano Translated by Mark Polizzotti |
| Other | Title |
|---|---|
| Recommended; Historical Fiction | Shadowplay by Joseph O’Connor |
| Australian author; Historical Fiction | On a Barbarous Coast by Craig Cormick & Harold Ludwick |
| Recommended | The End of October, Lawrence Wright |
| Recommended; Historical Fiction | Tyll, Daniel Kehlmann Translated Ross Benjamin |
| Recommended | Eight Lives by Susan Hurley |
| Recommended | One Good Deed by David Baldacci |
August
| Title | For: |
|---|---|
| How We Disappeared by Jing-Jing Lee Reserved at L. #2 in queue | National Day of Singapore |
| The Secret City, Hugh Walpole Winner 1919 (Gutenberg online) | James Tait Black Prize |
| The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald Reserved at L. #2 in queue | YLTO: Author’s name is Francis |
| The Death of Comrade President, Alain Mabanckou. Translated by Helen Stevenson | YLTO: Set in Africa/ African author |
| The Enchanted April, Elizabeth Von Arnim | YLTO: The word “April” is in the title. |
| Quota, Jock Serong | YLTO: The title of the book starts with Q or Z. |
| Astonish me, Maggie Shipstead | YLTO: Theme is Dance |
| Fallen land : a novel, Taylor Brown | YLTO: Nay The story is about the American Civil War. |
| Simon the Fiddler | YLTO: Nay The story is about the American Civil War. |
| One, Patrick Holland | YLTO: Large eye |
| A Visit from the Goon Squad, Jennifer Egan | Author |
| Larchfield, Polly Clark | Author |
| Others: | |
|---|---|
| All Our Shimmering Skies by Trent Dalton | Reserved at L. The book is on order. |
| China, Edward Ruthfurd | Reserved at L. The book is on order. |
| Abstainer, Ian McGuire | Reserved at L. The book is on order. |
| The Sandpit, Nicholas Shakespeare | Reserved at L. #1 in queue |
| The Lying Life of Adults, Elena Ferrante | Reserved at L. The book is on order. |
| The Last Migration McConaghy, Charlotte | Reserved at L. The book is on order. |
| The Burning Island Serong, Jock. | Reserved at L. The book is on order. |
| Sisters Johnson, Daisy | Reserved at L. The book is on order. |
| Pilgrims Kneale, Matthew. | Reserved at L. The book is on order. |
| Stone sky gold mountain / Mirandi Riwoe. | Reserved at L. #2 in queue |
| Utopia Avenue / David Mitchell. | Reserved at L. #4 in queue |
| Mammoth / Chris Flynn. | Reserved at L. #8 in queue |
| The Brisbane Line / J.P. Powell. | Reserved at L. #14 in queue |
| The guest list / Lucy Foley. | Reserved at L. #14 in queue |
| The dictionary of lost words / Pip Williams. | Reserved at L. #18 in queue |
| A room made of leaves : a novel / Kate Grenville. | Reserved at L. #23 in queue |
| The Viceroy of Ouidah by Bruce Chatwin (Request from SLQ) Avail Book Depository | National Day of Benin – 1st August |
| The Roots of Heaven by Romain Gary (Request from SLQ) Avail Book Depository | National Day of Chad 11August |
| The General in His Labyrinth by Gabriel García Márquez Avail Book Depository | National Day of Bolivia 6 Aug |
September
| National and International Days | Title |
|---|---|
| Democratic People’s Republic of Korea 9 September | How I Became a North Korean, by Krys Lee |
| Chile 18 September | Ways of Going Home by Alejandro Zambra |
| Armenia 21 September | The Sandcastle Girls Chris Bohjelain L |
| Nicaragua 15 September | The naturalist in Nicaragua by Thomas Belt |
| Malta 21 September | The Kappillan of Malta – Nicholas Monsarrat |
| Literary Awards | Title |
|---|---|
| Women’s Prize |
| Year-long Challenge: Twisted Trivia | Title |
|---|---|
| Set in Scotland /a Scottish author. | The Hunting Party. |
| The author’s first or last name is either Richard or Preston. | Orfeo |
| The book was a prize winner in 2007. | Carpentaria, Honour Among Men, Barbara Fradkin Linda Little, Scotch River In the Country of Men |
| The book is set in China or written by a Chinese author. OR The book is written from an animal’s point of view. OR There is ice on the cover or the word “Ice” is in the title. | Little Gods by Meng Jin; China, Edward Rutherfurd OR Mammoth OR The Ice Swimmer |
| The title starts with the letter K OR | Kintu |
October
| National and International Days | Title |
|---|---|
| World Animal Day 4 October – to raise the status of animals in order to improve welfare standards around the globe. | |
| World Cities Day 31 October – to promote interest in global urbanization, and to address challenges of urbanization. | |
| The People’s Republic of China 1 October | |
| Cyprus Independence Day 1 October | |
| Nigeria Independence Day 1 October | |
| Tuvalu Independence Day 1 October | |
| Palau Independence Day 1 October | |
| Guinea Independence Day 2 October | |
| National Foundation Day, Republic of Korea National Foundation Day3 October | |
| Day of German Unity, Germany 3 October | |
| Lesotho Independence Day 4 October | |
| Croatia Independence Day 8 October | |
| Uganda Independence Day 9 October | |
| Fiji National Day 10 October | |
| Equatorial Guinea Independence Day 12 October | |
| Spain 12 October | |
| Niue Independence Day 19 October | |
| Zambia Independence Day 24 October | |
| Austria National Day 26 October | |
| St Vincent and the Grenadines Independence Day 27 October | |
| Czech Republic Independent Czechoslovak State Day 28 October | |
| Turkey Republic Day 29 October | |
| Literary Awards | Title |
|---|---|
| Queensland Literary Awards | |
| Man Booker | |
| Governor-General Canada Awards | |
| Year-long Challenge: Twisted Trivia | Title |
|---|---|
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November
| National and International Days | Title |
|---|---|
| Universal Children’s Day 20 November | |
| Antigua and Barbuda Independence Day 1 November | |
| Anniversary of the Revolution, Algeria 1 November | |
| Panama Independence Day 3 November | |
| Dominica Independence Day 3 November | |
| Tonga National Day 4 November | |
| Cambodia Independence Day 9 November | |
| Poland Independence Day 11 November | |
| Angola Independence Day 11 November | |
| Oman National Day 18 November | |
| Proclamation of Independence, Latvia 18 November | |
| Monaco National Day 19 November | |
| Lebanon Independence Day 22 November | |
| Suriname Republic Day 25 November | |
| Mauritania Independence Day 28 November | |
| Albania Independence Day 28 November | |
| Barbados Independence Day 30 November | |
| St Andrew’s Day, Scotland 30 November | |
| Literary Awards | Title |
|---|---|
| Irish Book awards | |
| National Book Award | |
| Scottish Book Awards | |
| Year-long Challenge: Twisted Trivia | Title |
|---|---|
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December
| National and International Days | Title |
|---|---|
| International Mountain Day 11 December | |
| Myanmar (date varies) | |
| Central African Republic Republic Day 1 December | |
| Romania Great Union Day 1 December | |
| Lao People’s Democratic Republic National Day 2 December) | |
| United Arab Emirates 2 December | |
| King Bhumbibol Adulyadej’s Birthday, Thailand 5 December | |
| Finland 6 December | |
| Bahrain 16 December | |
| Kazakhstan 16 December | |
| Jamhuri Day, Kenya 12 December | |
| Bhutan 17 December | The Circle of Karma by Kunzang Choden |
| Niger 18 December | |
| Qatar 18 December | |
| Emperor’s Birthday, Japan 23 December | |
| Libya 24 December | |
| Literary Awards | Title |
|---|---|
| Prime Minister’s Literary Awards (Australia) | |
| Year-long Challenge: Twisted Trivia | Title |
|---|---|
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