Fiona

I hate stopping reading books I've started, especially those that I've made a suffecient dent into them. It just feels like such a waste of time. I mean, this crappy Hemmingway book, I'd like to dump it and stamp on it, but I'm 200 odd pages in and it'd just feel like I'm letting myself down. Besides, I do want to read a Hemmingway... I got about 3-400 pages into Diana Gabaldon's Fiery Cross several times and had to stop because it got so tiresome and boring - which is a shame really, isn't it? I really want to finish - I think I will finish it but I just won't keep starting again. Unfortunately, boredom won me over once and I peeped at the end. It's like 1400 words long which is another problem. It didn't feel so much of a dent to really make myself continue reading. I hate this. Forcing yourself to read a book you obviously hate does sometimes ruin the passion a bit.

Oh god - Freckle juice! I recognised the name Judy Blume but couldn't think what I'd read of hers but that's it - I've read that! Strange, how you forget and then remember after so long! Like, I remembered I'd read a book called Elidor and watched the TV programme a long long long time ago - and it is on my TBR pile now somewhere in my bookshelf... such weird memories. Oh, I wanna read that again now and re-find my mis-spent youth!

Actually, I've just bought a book that takes on what might have happened if we were taken over by the Nazis... it's called Against the Day. I haven't read anything like these 'what ifs' before as I can't say I'm overly interested as such, but we'll see...

I always assumed biographies to be boring too, but I have read two and enjoyed them very much. Both written by Claire Tomalin and I think she is an excellent biographer - I read the biography of Samuel Pepys and Jane Austen. i'd reccomend both those books to anyone. I want to read Antonia Fraser's one on Charles II and I have another one by her called the 'Weaker Vessel' about women which actually sounds interesting. But yeah, you're right Judy, there are SO many biographies out there (often on the same people, many on Henry VIII or his wives) it's hard to pick one. I mean, you don't want to read too many biographies on one person really do you... I don't see and avoid these silly celebrity biographies. Jade Goody. What's so great about her life? In fact, biographies should be about dead people - the most interesting. Although I do have David Blunkett's bio (well... kinda autobio/memoir thingy and Piers Morgans) and they're not dead yet. But they lead more interesting lives then 'I got my tits out on national TV' or whatever it is or 'I'm married to a rich and famous footballer but I've in fact done nothing with my life other then shop.'

I just finished a book and I'm still a bit weepy over it. Actually, I think it was just too sad actually... but I still enjoyed it although in a way a little disappointed. Not cos it was sad but for other reasons. Anyway... Do you like happy or sad endings in books? Or do you go out of your way to avoid books you know are sad? I like bittersweet endings really. I guess this ending I read was bittersweet in a way but I found it so so so sad. I hate reading sad endings in public places because I hate crying in public. And people think you're a freak, I'm sure.

I avoit chicklit as I find it trivial shallow stupid stuff. Women's lit is okay, but I'm not overly keen on the genre. I avoid most high fantasy involving magic and too much made-up crap. There was only one Tolkien. The others are shoddy. Avoid books with pink front covers as I am very self conscious and don't want to be mistaken as a girly girly. Avoid horror like the plague as I don't see the point, avoid crime books - I like crima dramas though. Have bought myself an Agatha Christie to get into... Piorot. (however it is spelt) Also avoid sci-fi because meh, never really interested in it. Will avoid Ernest Hemmingway in the future, how he has been labelled a literary genius I don't know. I am reading (and will finish if it kills me, which it probably will...) because he can't write for toffees. Also seems like a complete arsehole. Avoid all books with insipid womensy covers. I don't care if it is a good book, why trivialise it by putting a handbag on it? No thank you.

The book I'm reading now - Five Children and It - I'd have thought kids would find it perhaps boring and perhaps too posh. But you never know, no kid is the same. It's strange to think that when you read it now you see the children as old fashioned of course and as a book set in the past. Of course when it written it wasn't set in the past. I believe it was written for the children of the time (and probably children of that class of the time). Although all in all - I wouldn't say these chilren are any different from the kids now actually in the way they act and behave. They just wear different clothes, speak differently and are used to different lives. They're just less interested in computer games obviously!

What classical children's books have you read? I've picked up E. Nesbit's Five Children and It (which totals my current reading list at 4 books at the same time, not normal for me...) Anyway - how do you think these compare to the modern day books? I suppose some children's books I've read were written in the 70's and 80's too but those don't really count as classics. I've read The Railway Children and I think I've read The Secret Garden too. Those are the two I remember mainly anyway... the language is different and of course aimed at different children probably - there's something so nice about them though. I wonder if they still appeal to kids nowadays? I know I read The Railway Children when I was in Junior school so I must have been ten and under. I also liked Edind Blyton, but I'd say that some of hers are timeless.

Hiya Sarah, I'm still a relative newbie too, despite post count (heh) welcome to BCF.

I read Hermoine with a silent e. Near enough! I quite like the name now...

I used to, but not anymore unless I don't plan on finishing the book in which I don't care if I ruin it or not.

Heehee, I had one guilty pleasure. The Passionate Pirate! shhhh!! Erm - guilty pleasures now though? I don't have any. I read kids books but that isn't a guilty pleasure. Oh, but I have a kinda want for a guilty secret. I want to read Darcy Takes a Wife by someone. I just ahem... don't want to pay for it or be seen buying it! Or seen reading it. Or aheh. It is a um, rather erotic sequel to pride and prejudice. I've read extracts *snigger* Elizabeth and Darcy have sex and he has a big thingy. Mmm Colin Firth.

Oh, I forgot about the Flowers in the Attic series - I read them all apart from the prequel which wasn't that good. All dead depressing.

Yes, quite a few - unless you mean just indefinate on-going series an not books that are like - trilogies and the such. The Otori series by Lian Hearn (so far 4 books, will be 5) The Dalemark Quartet by Diana Wynne Jones The Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon Harry Potter by everyone knows who. I read 4-5 books from the Wheel of Time series before giving it up as a no-hoper of ever going anywhere. The Sevenwater Trilogy by Juliet Mariller I used to read the Redwall series by Brian Jaques but not since I was a teen. I'm hoping to complete reading the Three Musketeer series by Dumas!

I do tend to browse around the authors I know I suppose - looking more around those parts of the shop as pin points or markers I suppose. I don't usually buy author's first books... I don't think that's a conscious decision though I think it is just the way it is. I haven't bought many books which are from new authors of today, I mainly tend to buy from those who have had a few out. Normally, but not always. And like Kell said about the eye level thing - I think that's a good point in choosing a name because I certainly don't look up very much or down. If I can't reach the top shelf I'm not going to bother because sometimes if you get a book down it's jolly hard getting it back up there again! I think I notice - that the bookshop occasionally moves book positions around a bit, but I don't think enough to massively change those people who are on top or bottom shelf. It's a pity really... I always check out Diana Wynne Jones even if I know she hasn't anything new out - just in the off chance the stupid bookshop actually has some of her other books there. I usually look around the Ses as well and the G's. I suppose that is because they are near my marker authors. How weird. I shall have to observe my book-buying/browsing habits more closely.

I want to get around to reading more, but not sure which... I've read Jurassic Park/The Lost World and Prey. His other books though, don't seem to interest me. I think I should just get stuck into one. My favourite has to be Jurassic Park it's better then the other two of his that I've read. It's so different to the movie, but I think they're both good in their own right even if a lot was changed.

Yep, I believe it's next to a big Tesco that I sometimes go to...

I'd say the books I read most as a young kid - when I was about five to six was probably Edind Blyton, I grew up on the Magical Faraway Tree and Mr Pinkwhistle. I also read Roald Dahl a little after that and then Brian Jaques Redwall series. Swallows and Amazon was also a childhood favourite, I'd love to read those again but I'm afraid I won't enjoy them so much or in the same way. I can't really get into Redwall anymore, which is a shame whereas I adored them as a kid. I think I discovered Martin the Warrior when I was about ten. It was winter and I'd just come out of the dentist. I remember it was winter because it was dark and cold outside. And of course I dragged dad down the bookshop and I found this book with a colourful picture of a mouse on it and that attracted me to begin with. It looked good so Dad bought it for me. I read all of Redwall up to Lord Brocktree. I think that's when I realised I'd grown out of them... which is sad. I haven't grown out of Diana Wynne Jones yet though.

I know the Marriot hotel! Hah, small world.

Wind up frog! How cute! Yeah, babies do look like frogs I always thought. Apart from me, I looked like a hamster. Well, hellooooo I am 22 from south england, yay! I too live near the beach, although it's usually murky and fog bound here rather then anything but I love it. The Isle of Wight is directly opposite and I can't imagine having a boring empty stretch of sea in front of you. Have a good time here.

In a few years time perhaps - he must only have been about seven!

Yay! Great to hear that kids are reading still. Hey - does your son like animals? Maybe Brian Jaques Redwall series although not sure if they're too old for an 8 year old. Cars... don't know of any I'm afraid. I had a laugh the other day when I was in the bookshop and there was a mum and her son. She went past me and she said (to her son) Mum: "Now you've looked at EVERY book in the book shop, can we GO now?" Son: "Oh, but look over here, more books!" Mum: "AH!" *kid goes off to check biography section.*

I'm reading the 4th book - The Harsh Cry of the Heron at the mo and I'm lovin' it. I discovered her books about three years or so ago and they captured my imagination. I should read them again from the beginning because I have forgotten a lot of what happened. I love the characters though and they have always been addictable reading. The prequel is coming out soon. I probably won't get around to reading that for a long time though because I don't generally like hard backs, although I have the 3rd book in hard back. :/ Anyway, anyone read and love?

I don't usually, but at the mo I'm trying to read three (hah) Hemmingway (he's boring) The Harsh Cry of the Moon because I've been waiting for ages and Harry Potter 5. HP is on the back burner for now, Hemmingway is my toilet book and I'll probably go back to it full time after I've finished the Harsh Cry of the Moon. As I said, this time is an exception. Occasionally I might take a break and read a book inbetween. Usually I prefer to read one at a time otherwise it just takes too long to actually finish a book.

Sorry - Diana Wynne Jones. I hate typing out her name!