Karen1

I have to admit I do quite often have a sneaky look at the back page. I don't necessarily read it but I do look to see what character names are mentioned in order to get an inkling as to what is going to happen. This is something that I am trying to stop though.

A Place Called Here is the only one of Cecelia Ahern's books I haven't read yet. It's half price in WH Smiths at the moment though and I have been tempted to get it. I have to say though that her last couple haven't been all that great - readable yes, enjoyable to some extent, but not as good as PS I Love You which I loved.

Good question. When I was younger I quite often had more than one book on the go at once, but now I much prefer to read one at a time. Like you Bagpuss I think I'd probably get confused.

That's great news about your son finally getting the reading bug Maureen. Yay! It's funny how some kids like to read and others don't. I've always been an avid reader from the time I was old enough to read, but my brother who is two years older than me hasn't read a book since his school days probably. My mum's always said that when we were kids I was happy just to sit in the garden or in the house on rainy days on my own with a book where as my brother hated being on his own and wanted out to play with his friends.

I try not to judge a book by it's cover, but with books by authors not known to me, then it's ultimately the cover that usually gets my attention initially so the cover is important.

^ thanks. In that case next time I see it I will definitely give it a go.

I've seen this book in my library a few times and have been tempted, but for some reason I've always put it back on the shelf. Maybe next time I see it I'll give it a go.

I have to say though that I really enjoyed Jane Eyre and have read it more than once. I did find the first few chapters a little weird but once I got past them it was a really good read. Maybe I should try and perservere with another one of the classics that I own. I might actually enjoy it once I'm over the first hurdle. I think it's the old style of writing and the way in which the characters speak that put me off though - they just don't seem to flow that well.

^ I know A Writer from another forum, and I've had the pleasure of reading some of her work and I can honestly say it's fab!

In all honesty I can't say that they really appeal to me either, but I feel I should try and read them because...well they're classics. Does that make sense?!

I have a number of the 'classics' on my bookshelf waiting to be read but I've just never got around to them. Well that's not strictly true because I've started some of them, but have given up after the first couple of chapters because I just can't seem to get into them. I'm ashamed to say that I think I've only read one classic, Jane Eyre, which incidentally I loved.

Yep that is one of the ones I have read and well, I'm sorry to say I think if anything it put me off her books. I found it a little bit of a chore mainly because I didn't like the main character very much.

I voted for Horror, Thriller, Romance, Action and Adventure.

Oooh I like the idea of being in a gang. LOL Thanks Doctor-Who-Mad-Gal and Icecream.

Thanks Renniemist. It's good to be here.

Hi A Writer. Fancy seeing you here!

Hi Tiger! Thanks for the welcome lovesreading06. Yes I've pretty much read all of the books written by those two authors. I think.

This thread hasn't been posted in since February, so I hope you don't mind me bringing it up again and if you do I'm really sorry. I have to admit I love Chick Lit and I'm going through a bit of a phase just now. I do have to read other genre's in between though for a bit of a change, but I find chick lit really easy and lighthearted and find them great to read after a stressful day at work when you want something that flows easily without you having to think about things too much. Some of my favourite chick lit authors are (in no particular order) - Jane Green, Melissa Hill, Cathy Kelly (didn't think much of her last one though), Sophie Kinsella, Carole Matthews (loved her latest The Chocolate Lovers' Club), Sheila O'Flanagan, Tina Reilly, Sarah Webb, Louise Bagshawe (her books are bit hit and miss though with some being better than others) and probably loads of others that I haven't mentioned. After reading through this thread I see a few of you like Marian Keyes. I'm sort of on the fence with her books. I've only read a couple and although I thought they were okay, I didn't think they were that great. Another book I loved, which isn't so much chick lit but more just general women's fiction is Pebble Cove by Mairead O'Driscoll. I was lucky enough to 'win' a copy at the beginning of the year and I absolutely loved it. Some of the girls who also got hold of a copy on another forum I'm a member of had mixed reactions to it because part of it is set in a neonatal intensive care unit and it does get a bit medical in some parts, but I personally thought it was a great read. Would definitely recommend it.

I remember when I was in primary school we read Charlotte's Web by EB White which went on to become one of my favourite books. I just fell in love with Wilbur! In high school we did the usual Shakespeare - MacBeth and A Merchant Of Venice - and I have to admit that I think the essays and the fact that we studied both of them so indepth actually helped me understand them at the time because of the style of writing. Not a big fan of Shakespeare, sorry! We also studied To Kill A Mockingbird, which is another fave of mine and A Town Like Alice by Nevil Shute which I'd actually like to reread now I'm that much older. We also did Roll Of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D Taylor which I wouldn't mind reading again as it was so long ago I can't remember that much about it but I think I enjoyed it.

Thanks for the welcome. princessponti - trust me I don't need any encouragement, but it's good to have some fellow addicts. Wraith - if there is help on the NHS no doubt the waiting list is huge, and to be honest with you I don't think I actually want help. I may have admitted I have a problem, but a part of me is still in denial. madcow - books in supermarkets are a bargain so in a way you are sort of saving money too. Or at least that's my theory!

judyb65, Sugar, Angel, Liz, angerball, wrathofkublakhan - thank you to you and everyone else who has welcomed me to the board. I don't think I've ever had such a warm welcome on a forum before. This sure is a friendly place. I'm between books just now but will be starting Marshmallows For Breakfast by Dorothy Koomson at some point today.

Gyre, Nicci, happyanddandy and Purple Poppy - Thanks for the welcome! Oh and Purple Poppy I'm also English but have lived in Scotland since I was 9.

I didn't read her first book although I have to admit I was tempted just to be nosy, but a friend of mine did read it and said it was a real easy read - as in not too taxing on the brain - and that she thought the main character was pretty much based on Jordan. So that kind of put me off.

Thanks Fay. I have a feeling I may be spending quite a lot of time on this forum!

I tend to keep the majority of mine, unless it is a book that I know I wont ever read again, in which case I either sell it on eBay, give to a friend or take to the charity shop.