Kylie

Pizza

Poor Nathan! He doesn't have much luck with those TV shows does he? All that talent (and all those good looks) going to waste!

Excellent! I'm glad you and Prospero agree with each other - makes my decision a lot easier (and with LWW being the most well-known, I was looking forward to reading that one the most anyway). Thanks! (And yes, Prospero, your post made perfect sense!)

Thanks Prospero!

I'm planning on finally starting on the Chronicles of Narnia this weekend (I have a long weekend so I should be able to get through one story). I was going to read them chronologically as that's the order they're published in my book, but I was just looking at Wikipedia and it has this to say about the reading order:

Time of year makes no difference to me - I read every moment I get a chance regardless of the weather or season.

My favourite baddie is Alex from A Clockwork Orange. I can't think of a favourite good guy either. They mustn't stick in my mind the way baddies do.

The Picture of Dorian Gray Oscar Wilde Rating: 9/10 Published: 1890 Number of pages: 200 Summary (taken from blurb): Dorian is a good-natured young man until he discovers the power of his own exceptional beauty. As he gradually sinks deep into a frivolous, glamourous world of selfish luxury, he apparently remains physically unchanged by the stresses of his corrupt lifestyle and untouched by age. But up in his attic, hidden behind a curtain, his portrait tells a different story... Comments: A wonderfully dark and Gothic novel. Dorian starts the story as a young, innocent man who is more or less unconcerned by his extraordinary beauty. Then he meets Lord Henry, who derives great pleasure in imparting his theories on aestheticism to the impressionable young man. Dorian drinks it all in and begins a life of debauchery and depravity, which leads to tragedy for everyone he comes in contact with. The Picture of Dorian Gray misses out on a perfect 10 only because I found Lord Henry's ramblings a little hard-going at times. He's a very quotable man (or should I say, Oscar Wilde is a very quotable man), not that I agreed with much of what he said. It took me a while to get into the book, but once the story picked up, it flew along. Has one of the best endings to a story that I have ever read. Started: 13 April 2008 Finished: 17 April 2008

I don't recall any of my books having taster chapters, but I would probably read them if they did. It may sound weird, but I wouldn't feel as though I'd really finished the book until I'd read everything. Some of my books have reader guides and author interviews at the end, and until I've read all of them and the introduction (even if I'm not that interested), I can't consider a book 'finished'.

Oryx and Crake Margaret Atwood Rating: 9/10 Published: 2003 Number of pages: 436 Summary (taken from blurb): Pigs might not fly but they are strangely altered. So, for that matter, are wolves and racoons. A man, once called Jimmy, now calls himself Snowman and lives in a tree, wrapped in old bed sheets. The voice of Oryx, the woman he loved, teasingly haunts him. And the green-eyed Children of Crake are, for some reason, his responsibility. Comments: A very enjoyable, yet disturbing, read that contains all the elements that earmark a terrific piece of dystopian literature. It brings to mind some of the greats (Huxley, Orwell) and is a credible take on a world in the near future in which science has gone too far. Any novel that makes you despair for the future of mankind has done a pretty good job, in my opinion. The story begins with Snowman (aka Jimmy) who may be the last living person on earth (apart from the Crakers). The story jumps between past and present as Atwood slowly unveils the circumstances and events leading up to Jimmy's current situation. Oryx and Crake are mythologised by the Crakers and revered as gods, but the reader is privy to their all-to-human faults. Margaret Atwood has clearly done a lot of research for this novel, and it shows. Along with the knowledge of genetic engineering, she has done a terrific job of bringing her characters to life. The more I think about this book, the more I realise what an incredible job Atwood did with it. Highly recommended. Started: 6 April 2008 Finished: 12 April 2008

Yes, I have to read in order. I'm currently reading the 3rd (of 4) books in Arthur C Clarke's Rama series. I've read them all in order, although a couple of years apart, so I've been a bit hazy on some of the things that happened in the earlier books.

I'm definitely the main reader. My parents aren't interested in reading books at all (despite my repeated urgings ).

I've heard a lot of people say this. I've never read IT (although it's on my TBR pile) and I don't have any issues with clowns at the moment. I'd like to keep it that way but I still can't wait to read IT! Looks like I'll be joining your ranks one day.

I read the Baby-Sitters Club books over and over again when I was younger. And I've re-read most of the Trixie Belden books at least half a dozen times. Every year or two I read all 10 books of John Marsden's Tomorrow, When the War Began series. I also re-read the Harry Potter books at least once every two years (I was pretty much re-reading them every year for a while, as new books kept coming out). And there is a certain trilogy of books by Jonathan Wylie that I've also read about half a dozen times. Dear me, is it any wonder I have so many books on my TBR pile when I keep re-reading? Although, of the 20 books I've read so far this year, only two have been re-reads, and there's a been a gap of at least 10 years since I last read them!

I would highly recommend reading the book. I don't think it's really that long and it's very entertaining. It is followed on as a series of books, with Anne growing up and having children. I plan on reading them all eventually - I loved Anne of Green Gables Welcome to the forum!

I agree. The more opinions I can read about a book, the better! I love to get as many different points of view as possible about books (what other people did/didn't like etc).

Thanks for the Graham Greene recommendations Janet and Prospero! I'll keep both of those in mind for the future. Good to hear that stalkers aren't all bad

Any particular series that you would recommend, Tiger? I'd be interested to hear your thoughts because I'm always on the lookout!

Yes you did mention it. I'm just stirrin' ya! I debated about whether or not to put Bill Bryson down as a favourite character. I love to read about his travels and viewpoints and he certainly is a 'character' (as in 'funny' and 'interesting', according to the dictionary).

Hi David and to the forum!

Drat. I'm sure you're changing the rules as you go along

Re-reads don't count towards the 'read three, buy one' challenge remember!

I think it's because she told a very good story. As simple as that. She built up an entire magical world and opened up a lot of questions that had readers guessing until the very end.

Yes, they were both part of one book and even then it was still very short! Some of those 137 pages were introductions to the stories. It's the only Graham Greene book I've read so far and for me I think it has been a good introduction to his work. I'll definitely check out more.

More of my favourites: Sydney Carton from A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens Raoul Duke from Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S Thompson Anne from Anne of Green Gables by LM Montgomery Alex from A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess Matilda from Matilda by Roald Dahl Severus Snape and Albus Dumbledore from the Harry Potter books by JK Rowling Atticus Finch from To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee