Gelfling

Yeah, I know what you mean, it's a really sick book. The puppy torture and murder of homeless people nearly made me stop reading. I only continued because I needed close, haha.....which never actually came, come to think of it.

Thanks - will give them a try

George - I've never read any Ian Rankin, but I keep hearing his name pop up. Can you recommend a good one to start on?

I really liked the Historian. It's very atmospheric because of the slow, tense build up. Hope you enjoy

He's fab isn't he? I've only discovered him fairly recently as I read "The Book of Lost Things," which I fell in love with....a very gothic fairy tale. I hear they are making it into a film. Nocturnes is the only other book I've read. It's fantastic (and I think they are making a couple of those stories into films as well....certainly "The new Daughter," will be filmed). I havn't read any of his other stuff, have you? Any good?

I've not heard of it, but I know what you mean about children's books. I love revisiting the books from my childhood. I've actually recently got a beautiful edition of "Wind in the Willows," from the Folio Society, which I can't wait to read again. The only book I found I couldn't see the magic in any more was "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe."

Thanks Mia, I'll give it a go. Nici - I hate clowns, I can't think why they were invented and I don't know of a single child that finds them funny. If you share my fear and want a chilling read, try John Conolly's book of short stories "Nocturnes." There's a fairly nasty clown one in there

The book is always better, Kell

Thanks Nici, I've had this on my shelf since summer (I bought it because it was one of the BBC's top reads) and I've just not got round to it yet, but I think I'll give it a try soon. I love books that take you to the past and make you experience what it was like to live then. That's the reasons I loved "Katherine," much to my surpirse.

I loved this book so much! It's hilarious. It completely takes the micky out of the Omen films. I heard Terry Giliam has done a screenplay for it, but says they'll never get the massive amount of funding required for all the special effects. Shame. Loved what they said about Crowley getting the M66 and Azriel getting Milton Keynes

Yeah, I think he did pose as Owen actually, that must be it. Have you seen the film? They did really well with it I think. The actor (can't remmeber his name off the top of my head, even though IMDB is just a few clicks away, hehe) really got the character of Bateman right I think (especially in the scene when he's bubbling up inside about the business cards).

Dracula would be mine I think. I love the style in which it is written. It's very atmospheric, especially the captain's log from the Demeter, that's followed by a newspaper article describing how the ship came into Whitby harbour with the dead captain bound to the helm. I must confess though, I can not stand Stephen King. I've read "IT," and part of "Dreamcatcher," but I had to give up on the later because it just stopped making sense with all that Mr Gray stuff. His stlye of writing seems to contain too much gratuitous swearing and violence...I'm not saying I found that offense: I didn't, but it annoys me when it adds nothing to the plot or characters. It just seems to be used to shock people into reading. He's only getting one more chance from me; maybe the next one will be better. Having said that, I've never tried any of his non-horror work. The Shawshank Redemption is a fantastically moving film, so I won't dismiss him from my bookshelf yet. Also, to this day I am still scared of clowns, so maybe IT was a better book than I'm giving it credit for

Esiotrot, Dahl's adult stories are devilishly delicious Try "The Landlady," first, it's fab. I love Gerald Durrell's books....I can read them again and again and still get the same amount of pleasure from them. He tells the stories from his childhood with a wonderful mix of nostalgia, humour and wit. The stories from his later life, such as animal collecting in deep jungles and starting his own zew in Jersey are hilarious too. I am also getting quite into Angela Carter. I've only read "Magic Toyshop," "Night's at the Circus," and parts of "****** Chamber," but I love them. I'm trying to pace myself though, as I don't want to read all her books at once and then have nothing left of hers to read. The same with Daphne DuMaurier.

This was a great book, but very hard going due to the sick content. I'm not actually sure about the murders now that you mention it. I think they happened, or most of them, but you're right that he's a bit out of it for a lot of the book.