One of the issues I have with post-modern literature is the lack of heroes. I'm not talking about anti-heroes who, despite the label, are not the opposite of heroes; I'm talking about books that follow characters who don't really achieve anything. They don't have any distinguishing character qualities or flaws and--and this is the one thing I absolutely cannot abide--they don't learn anything.

Ann Veronica Stanley and Tiffany Aching (created by HG Wells and Terry Pratchett respectively) are not like that. They are true heroines. They are strong young women who are finding out who they are and what they want out of life. They both learn valuable lessons and, the reason I really admire them, they both take responsibility.

I feel like I'm a better person for having a spent a few hours in their company and what more can you ask of a book than that?

I am taking part in The Novel Challenge in order to raise funds for people affected by Multiple Sclerosis (MS). MS is the most common disease of the central nervous system and affects more than 18,000 Australians.

Did you know?

* The average age of diagnosis of MS is just 30 years

* MS affects three times as many women as men

MS Australia aims to minimise the impact of multiple sclerosis on all individuals affected by the disease, as well as their families, carers and the community, by offering a wide range of services, equipment and support. MS Australia's goal is to assist everyone affected by MS to live life to their fullest potential and secure the care and support they need, until we ultimately find a cure.

Please DONATE by clicking on the button to the right and help MS Australia support all people affected by multiple sclerosis.

This is what I have learned from reading William Gibson's Spook Country. I have started reading Hand Me Down World by Lloyd Jones but it's the First Rule of Book Club book club book (say that five times fast) so I'm not allowed to discuss it or share any opinions on it until after book club meets on Monday.

I have also started reading Moving Pictures by Terry Pratchett. Pratchett is one of my favourite writers and three shelves of my bookcase are filled with his Discworld novels (plus Nation, which is not a Discworld novel but is still brilliant). I'm pretty sure I haven't read Moving Pictures before but it is reminding me quite a lot of A Hat Full of Sky, which is one of my favourites.

As I mentioned on Facebook, I am willing to read recommendations for donations. On the list for this so far are Australian Tragic by Jack Marx and the Watch quadrilogy by awesome Russian author whose name I can't spell off the top of my head.

I finished reading The Ladies of Grace Adieu and Other Stories last night and jumped straight back into Spook Country. I love Gibson's writing style, who else could come up with,

He took things apart, sampled them, mashed them up. This was fine with her, though like General Bosquet watching the charge of the Light Brigade, she was inclined to think it wasn't war. Inchmale understood it, though, and indeed had championed it, assoon as it was digitally possible pulling guitar lines out of obscure garage chestnuts and stretching them, like a mad jeweler elongating sturdy Victorian tableware into something insectile, post-functionally fragile, and neurologically dangerous.

William Gibson: Best. Similes. Ever.

That said, I'm not enjoying Spook Country as much as Pattern Recognition. Not sure why. I think Hollis Henry, although a great character, just isn't quite as a fascinating as Cayce Pollard. I might have to put rereading Pattern Recognition on my to do list.

Final comment about William Gibson. I tweeted him a link to our team page and he retweeted it to his 53 000 plus followers. Awesome.

Yesterday I picked up Australian Tragic by Jack Marx. It's my first challenge book (my friend Luke offered a $50 donation if I read it). It actually looks pretty cool, even if the cover is a bit scary.

Just finished reading Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother by Amy Chua. It was a birthday present (it's my birthday today) from some friends. Not a book I would have chosen for myself but it was compelling and I couldn't put it down. I can't explain it in a way that isn't going to make the author seem like a caricature (which she's not) so I'll just say that it was brilliant.

I'm now reading The Ladies of Grace Adieu, a collection of short stories by Susanna Clarke, the author of Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell. Next on the list is finishing Spook Country, then I'm thinking I should read something about reading, perhaps Harold Bloom's How to Read and Why.

So I've just finished my first two books that actually count towards the MS Readathon. The Day I Swapped My Dad for Two Goldfish is a brilliant picture book my one of my favourite author/artist collaborations: Neil Gaiman and Dave McKean. It's funny and clever and the artwork is astounding. I recommend it for kids and grown ups alike.

The second book is a bit different (longer and much more science-y). The Crystal Desert by David G. Campbell is a beautiful memoir of not only the biologist/author but also of the continent of Antarctica.  The writing is just beautiful and I learned so much about the history of Antarctic exploration.

Next on the list is Spook Country by William Gibson.

Book number two that doesn't count towards the MS Readathon because I've started too early is Persuasion by Jane Austen. It's my favourite novel. Not just my favourite classic, or my favourite Austen or my favourite chick-lit novel; it's my favourite novel out of every novel I have ever read. I want to be Anne Eliot. I want to be level-headed and capable. I want to be the person everyone looks to in a crisis. And, of course, I want to be swept off my feet by a handsome and charming adventurer. Unfortunately, apart from that last point, I will have to continue to live vicariously through Anne Eliot in my almost annual re-read of Persuasion. 

Not sure what to read next. I have some books on humanism here but they're a bit dry. Any suggestions?

Even though the official readathon doesn't start till August 1, I will mention, whenever I update, what I'm currently reading. I've just started The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro and I can't believe I've never read this before. It's restrained and brilliant.

I was really chuffed when I checked the site this morning to see that I already had two donations. Thanks to Rowan for getting in there early. Thanks go also to the anonymous donor whose generosity has put First Rule of Book Club and myself on the leaderboard. 

I am taking part in The Novel Challenge in order to raise funds for people affected by Multiple Sclerosis (MS). MS is the most common disease of the central nervous system and affects more than 18,000 Australians.

Did you know?

* The average age of diagnosis of MS is just 30 years

* MS affects three times as many women as men

MS Australia aims to minimise the impact of multiple sclerosis on all individuals affected by the disease, as well as their families, carers and the community, by offering a wide range of services, equipment and support. MS Australia's goal is to assist everyone affected by MS to live life to their fullest potential and secure the care and support they need, until we ultimately find a cure.

Please DONATE by clicking on the button to the right and help MS Australia support all people affected by multiple sclerosis.