Hazeltree

I don't go and read the ending but I have flicked through the book once or twice if it has looked like someone has died - just to see their name and check they are ok! I did that with one of Diana Gabaldon's books - I just couldn't bear the thought that the character had been killed!

I keep thinking that - must read it before someone spoils it!

I've just been having a look at the Library Thing website. Do you guys enter the exact edition that you own, or just go with the title?

I was given the House at Riverton and the Savage Garden for my birthday. Not got round to reading them yet but they look good.

This is so hard! There are several groups of books by authors that I really like - Diana Gabaldon's Cross Stich etc, Jean Auel's Clan of the Cave Bear etc, Trudi Canavan's Black Magician Trilogy, J K Rowling's Harry Potter series (of course!) Bernard Cornwell's Sharpe series Long Term favourites (single books) include: Gone With The Wind - Margaret Mitchell The Hobbit - J R R Tolkien Lord of the Rings - J R R Tolkien Devil Water - Anya Seton Watership Down - Richard Adams Those are off the top of my head and I know I've cheated by putting my favourite series's (if that's a word!) of books but I couldn't pick one out of a series!

I was given this for my birthday but I've not started it yet. Looks like it's going to be good!

I know this is an old post but I've just joined the forum. I read Priestess of the White a while ago. I did finish it but I didn't find it as good as her Black Magician Trilogy. I'm going to get the second book next time I get a chance to go to a book shop and then re-read the Priestess. Give it another go when the story is continued.

"Bannister wants me to be his navigator in the St Pierre. I've refused. She got upset." Wildtrack by Bernard Cornwell Her exposed and unsupported breasts drooped; the nipple of one breast seemed larger and darker and more down-pointed than the other. Her knees were spread apart, as if she'd lost all sensation in her legs - or else she'd broken her pelvis. A Widow for One Year - John Irving (That was a surprise! He's talking about nude portraits. This is a description of one of the later ones of a particular woman. I've not read the book yet - could be interesting!) They quickened their pace, without much visible effect, when lo! their quarry was brought to a standstill by two gentlemen coming downwards, who encountered and stopped him. "Now let us go more slowly, sir," suggested Alison, dragging at her father's arm. To which Mr Grant, complying, said: "My dear, to be alternately a greyhound and a snail is hard upon a man of my years, nor do I understand why you should be stalking Ardroy in this fashion." The Jacobite Triliogy by D K Broster Three new books to have a look at - I'm looking forward to it!

The parts that I found disturbing in the James Herbert books WERE the parts that had a measure of possibility. I think it was the Ghosts of Sleath or possibly The Fog which had descriptions of child abuse in and there were other parts which were a little bit too possible for comfort!

I read a few of James Herbert's books a few years ago. I found them quite compelling to read, but I have no desire to read them again. I can only describe them as disturbing!

I've noticed that already! I've only really looked at the General Discussion section and found plenty to talk about there! Too many to say really - Harry Potter of course, Trudi Canavan, Diana Gabaldon, Bernard Cornwell, some old favourites like Gone With The Wind and Daphne DuMaurier books. The main problem is that I've read those books so many times that I am wanting something new. I think I'm going to write down some of the authors I've seen mentioned in here and go searching the library!

I've cried over tons of books! As a teenager at times I picked a book to read that I knew would make me cry! One of my 'favourites' for crying was Devil Water by Anya Seton. In recent years I've tended to avoid them, but then I've been struggling against depression for a while. Several books have brought a tear to my eye in recent years - the last two HP ones for starters. I get very involved with the characters when I read the book, so if anything bad happens to them I feel it!

I don't know what sort of book I want to read - that's part of the problem! I've tried various different books from our local library - crime, thriller, mystery etc. I'm going through a bit of a phase of Knight's Templar books at the moment. I've got some book vouchers to spend at the moment but I find it hard to buy books from authors I've not heard of. I got into the Philippa Gregory books on a recommendation and loved them! I got a couple of new authors for my birthday but haven't read them yet. Just wondered if anyone could recommend a 'not too heavy going' author that I could look out for.

Where to start! Since I'm new I've read the whole thread!!! It's taken me ages and I have seen so many people's comments that I would like to quote - but now have no idea where they were!!! I've never turned down corners on books, but I do put them down open. I must admit that I like the look of a well read book!!! The books on my shelf that look brand new are the ones that I've not enjoyed or haven't read yet! I like the idea of using a bookmark - the benefits of being able to find your place instantly, but since I read in bed alot and often fall asleep over it, I rarely seem to have the bookmark in and then I lose it down the side of the settee or something when I am reading downstairs or something!

Me too! Although I've not read them all cover to cover. Like somebody else said - I want to read the non-fiction books I have but don't seem to get round to it. When I want to relax, a good novel is easier!!

I've been in the mood for 'light reads that don't take much concentration' for the last few years since I had my first child! I've not had enough sleep to concentrate on anything more complicated. I'm not getting much more sleep at the moment, but I am getting bored with re-reading the same authors that I know I can manage. I think I am ready to branch out now and try some different authors - any ideas?

I'm glad other people do that! I thought it was just me! I tend to get vague images of the scenery etc - I'm not a very visual person. What really irritates me is that I can't get accents right unless I read really slowly and concentrate on hearing the accent in my head. I always want to get on with the story though, so I tend to ignore any accents and have everybody sounding like me in my head!

I love this thread! My current book: "For us to learn to use magic outside of the Guild's influence, we must break a law. Ambassador Dannyl has complied with this law. But he, too, laments the loss of opportunity." The High Lord - Trudi Canavan My husband's current book: As if drawn by invisible strings, the heads of the wizards turned to look at it. Wizards wouldn't be wizards if they couldn't see a little way into the future. As the bead swelled and started to go pear-shaped they turned and, with a surprising turn of speed for men so wealthy in years and waistline, began to dive for the floor. Hogfather - Terry Pratchet

I've read all of them several times (apart from A Breath of Snow and Ashes as I waited for the paperback). I really like the characterisation and I find I'm missing the characters if I leave it too long between reads. I'd pick up A Breath etc if I were you - there are some good storylines in it and it advances a lot of the stuff that has been discussed before. But then I've never had a problem with picking up long books! Someone I used to work with got me into them. She lent me the first couple, but I had to buy the 3rd because she hadn't finished reading it and I couldn't wait! I've got them all now.

I've not seen anything written on this forum about Diana Gabaldon's books, but she combines 1st person and 3rd person narrative fairly well. The first book is purely first person and the later ones have different sections depending on the person who's perspective you are seeing from. I find her books interesting - the writing is not brilliant and there are several cross continental errors (the writer is American but the characters are British and much of the story happens in Scotland). However, if you can get past that - the characterisation is fantastic! I've read the books several times because I start missing the characters if I've not read them for a while. The errors do show up more though, the more I read them!

Hi I'm Cath and just joined the forum. Reading is one of the few hobbies I find time for now so I thought I'd join the forum. I've got a bit stuck in a rut as far as authors goes, so any advice on people to try would be appreciated! Look forward to chatting with you all.

Birthday: 3rd July Age: 31 Starsign: Cancer Single/Married/Other?: Married Children? 3 boys Where do you live?: Leicestershire Do you work?: No - apart from housework and being a mum! Favourite author?: Too many! Favourite book?: Too many! How did you get here?: I had a look on google to see if there were any book club forums and found you!!!

I read anywhere I can! I've not tried while feeding the baby, but I do read while I'm eating if I can get the kids to leave me alone! I always read in bed before going to sleep. It doesn't matter how tired I am - if I don't read I can't settle.