Moonchild

I rarely have two on the go as I reckon I'd get too muddled up and lose track Very occasionally I do but the second one is usually something very short and uncomplicated like one from the Enid Blyton series I'm currently re-reading.

Yet another Cathy Kelly this month - Best of Friends. Only a few chapters in but I'm not liking it as much as some of her other books so far. Though hopefully that will change. I think this is my last C.K. as I'm almost sure I've read all her novels now.

I picked this one up in Tesco today but I was very good and set it back on the shelf. I have two of her other books in my TBR pile so I probably will get around to buying it sometime. I read PS I Love You a while back - wasn't too bad but maybe a little too cheesy. OK for a chill out, feel good read.

I'll lend you my copy if you'd like. Save you the embarrassment of the library;) PM me your details if you're interested.

I sure hope so

Have now finished Maggie O'Farrell - The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox. Really enjoyed this one. Quite a sad story and thought provoking. As for the next book, would you believe although I've 130+ books in my TBR pile, i can't find a book to read I've already picked up 3 today and read a little then decided "I'm not in the mood to read this one at the moment." Must be the hot weather.

I've had 1984 on my TBR pile for a couple of years now. I really want to read it soon but every time I choose a new book something else always jumps out at me first.

I have Queen Mum on my TBR pile and will be buying 19 minutes shortly. Looking forward to reading both of them.

I used to read a lot of this genre when I was younger. I must be becoming a bit of a wuss now though as I find most of it just gives me the creeps and I can't sleep. Find myself listening out for noises in the dead of night & imagining the bogey man coming to get me. I suppose living alone doesn't help! The best (or should that be scariest) I ever read was The Shankhill Butchers by Martin Dillon. Freaked me out so much I only ever got half way through it and it's back on my TBR pile. Someday.....!!

I absolutely loved Daphne Du Maurier's 'My Cousin Rachel'. Reminded me a lot of 'Rebecca' - it had a similar dark, mysterious atmosphere about it. Will undoubtedly end up as one of my top 2007 reads. Next was Muriel Spark's 'The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie'. Strange little tale but funny in places. Quite liked it but just no more than an average rating. To be honest I think the only reason I stuck with it was because it was so short, if this had been a chunky read I think I'd have given up on it. Not sure what's next on my list... decisions, decisions...

I've only 'found' her quite recently & have only read 2 so far but I think she's an excellent writer & would highly recommend her

I loved The Tenth Circle by Jodi Picoult. Kept me guessing almost right til the end. Not quite as good as My Sisters Keeper but still brilliant IMO.

Your post sums me up entirely, Andy. I just can't get on with fantasy either. For a book to be enjoyable for me it has got to be entirely believable. I'm sure I'm missing out on loads of great fiction but its just a genre I can't make myself get into.

Finished Always and Forever. Not as good as the last Cathy Kelly I read, Past Secrets. Always and Forever was slightly veering toward the type of chick lit I don't like - where the characters dress in the latest high fashion designer clothing thats described in great detail, the main characters all have high powered jobs - just generally not the down to earth fiction that I can easily relate to. Still, it was an easy read and in the main quite enjoyable. I've now started Jodi Picoult's The Tenth Circle which I'm loving. Only started yesterday but already I'm half way through after staying up til 4am reading! She's fast becoming my favourite author at the moment. This is only my second book of hers but I've just bought a few more off ebay which I can't wait to devour. B)

I didn't dislike The Bell Jar. I'm not really sure what it was. I think maybe it wasn't the book itself, it's just I don't particularly like short books. I prefer chunkies that I can really get into - where I can get to know the characters inside out and where's there's lots of detail. Where I can almost be a part of it all and get totally lost inside the pages whilst I'm reading it. Most shorter books just don't do that for me. B)

I love the Brontes and have read quite a few of them with loads more in my TBR pile. Wuthering Heights and The Tenant of Wildfell Hall are probably my favourites. Villette is in my TBR pile and I hope to read it before the end of the year. They can take a little more concentration than other books at times but I usually find once I start getting into it they get much easier, especially if I read a few one after the other.

Another Cathy Kelly for me this month - Always and Forever. Halfway through at the moment and its rattling along nicely.B)

Didn't get as much read on holiday as I'd hoped. Still, managed to make a slight dent in the TBR pile:readingtwo: Finished Karma by Holly A Harvey. Really enjoyed this one. Chick lit with a bit of a difference. Down to earth characters that I could relate to and had me howling with laughter in places. Highly recommended to all those who haven't read it. Also finished The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath. Was really disappointed with this one. Had high hopes for it after reading loads of good reviews. I'm not entirely sure why I didn't really enjoy it... I think it was to do with the style of writing. Too short and not enough detail possibly. A Day Called Hope by Gareth O'Callaghan. Autobiography of the Irish author and broadcaster dealing with the years he suffered with depression. A good read. Don't Wake Me At Doyles by Maura Murphy. The memoirs of an Irish lady from her early childhood in rural Ireland in the early 1900's up to the present, documenting her struggle with poverty, an abusive husband and her battle with cancer. I really enjoyed this one. The Twins At St Clares - Enid Blyton. Have bought the box set of the St Clares books and this is the first in the series. Going back and re-reading some of my childhood favourites:) Another good read. My Sisters Keeper - Jodi Picoult. Wow!! What can I say...? My first book by this author but most certainly not my last. Couldn't stop turning the pages, I was hooked from page 1. Probably the best book I've read in a long time and definitely gets you thinking. Can't wait to read more by Picoult. I'm now reading Always and Forever by Cathy Kelly my chunky challenge for this month. Really liking it so far - have managed to read half of it already and only started it last night. B)

I've got a mad little Westie! Of course, but hurry up, I'm leaving in half an hour

Thank you Jules!

Usually whenever I can find some spare time! If the weather's good I'll read outside in the garden. If I'm on nightshift I'll take my book with me & if its quiet I'll be able to get loads read. Occasionally in the evenings I'll curl up on the sofa with a book but I rarely read in bed these days. I'm heading off on holiday tomorrow - have rented a cottage on a little island so loads of books are coming with me. I'm staying almost a fortnight so I'm hoping to get loads read. A totally relaxing break - just me, my dog, long walks & my books.

Oh dear. I've just spent the last few hours listing the books in my TBR pile. There's 103. And that's not counting the books I have on order plus loads that are still on the shelves in my old room at my parents house. . :D :eek2:

And when I received it there was a little note from Icecream which I'm using as a bookmark

Look what I've just found for all us Du Maurier fans The Book People have a special offer of a box set of 10 of her books for

Finished Walking Ollie today while lying out in the sun after work Nice easy read & being the owner of a sometimes boisterous pup, I could relate to a lot of it! Overall an enjoyable read. i really want to read Marley & me but I'm banning myself! By the sound of it it's too heartbreaking for me. Can't bear reading anything sad about animals - it would haunt me for ages Have started The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath this evening. Delivery from Amazon today too! One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest - Ken Kesey Jeeves Omnibus No 1 - PG Wodehouse Swallows & Amazons - Arthur Ransome Prozac Nation - Elizabeth Wurtzel Now I just have to get around to building the new bookcase I bought recently to house the rapidly expanding TBR pile!