Ruth

Born reader. My mom and dad are both avid readers, and my dad taught me to read before I could go to school. My mom bought me a new book each week to encourage me - I also have two brothers who are both avid readers, although we all have different tastes.

Well...I can generally read when the tv is on; I just tune it out somehow. I hardly ever read in bed...I have a few books which I can dip in and out of on my bedside table, but I rarely pick them up. My favourite place for reading is the comfy armchair in our lounge, but I will also read in a cafe (not when I've got company, obviously) or when I'm out walking, which is at least once a day. I'll read morning, afternoon or evening. In the mornings, I generally have a cup of coffee by my side, but in the evening I only tend to have cold drinks. I always have a drink next to me (usually diet coke). My main reading habit is that when I pick a book up for the first time, I always look to see how many pages and/or chapters it has, and then work out roughly how many pages/chapters I'm planning on reading per day.

I never lend books out, mainly because books are the one thing that people seem to think it's okay to borrow and not give back. I've lost too many books that way, so I don't lend them out now. If someone saw a book on my shelf and wanted to read it, I'd happily buy them a copy, but they're not getting mine! The one exception to the rule is my parents - I'll lend them books, because I always get them back. I never borrow books. I have so many of my own to read, that I really don't need to!

I can think of worse things than being glued to the sofa on a Friday night!! I will definitely be watching. I went to see a hypnotist a few years ago - on stage I mean, not a one-to-one session. About half of the audience were hypnotised, but I was one of the half who was not.

Just finished The Master and Margarita - fascinating, funny and thought provoking. I definitely recommend this one. Am about to start an easy re-read - The Growing Pains of Adrian Mole, by Sue Townsend. This series never fails to make me laugh out loud.

Could be:lol: I can't wait to see his show next year. We're only a few rows from the front as well, so should be great!

Michelle, only just seen your post - sorry for not replying earlier. I would recommend the book; I enjoyed it a lot, but best in mind that I am a fan, so was probably predisposed towards liking it.

I don't normally get upset when celebrities die, but I was very sad to hear about Patrick. I shed a tear for him this morning.

I have tickets to see him next April Only a few rows from the front as well...I think it will be a fab show. I think he is amazing. What I like is that he does not believe in psychic ability or magic. In his book, Tricks of the Mind, he debunks a lot of what mediums and psychics do, and shows how they pull it off and create various illusions etc. EDIT: Have you ever seen any of his art? He's brilliant at that too! http://derrenbrownart.com/

I'm glad you enjoyed it, as I have read the first three in the series, and have that one on my tbr.

The Vesuvius Club, by Mark Gatiss? http://www.amazon.co.uk/Vesuvius-Club-Lucifer-Box-Novel/dp/0743483790/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1252666621&sr=8-2

Anything by Adriana Trigiani is a good comfort read, and lovely to snuggle down with on a cold evening.

Enjoyed The Sixth Wife, although it worked better as a story about a relationship between two people rather than a story set in Tudor times. Now going to start The Master and Margarita, by Mikhail Bulgakov.

No, I'm sorry, I didn't mean my post to come across the way that it probably did! I just meant that I love my tbr pile, but we're all different. Sorry if I sounded unfriendly - I didn't mean to:)

I usually read a book about every five days. That's probably my average, but a few have taken me up to two weeks, and some I can read in one day (if that day is a lazy Sunday)!

Hi Flashman My dad is a huge fan of the Flashman books, and has the whole series. I keep meaning to borrow them from him.

I loved TOBG. I can also recommend The Queen's Fool by Philippa Gregory - it's equally as good as TOBG. I have quite a few books by this author on my pile now - she really makes history come alive and it's so interesting to read.

Yes, once. I walked out of a film starring Eric Stolz. Can't remember the name of it (it was years ago), but it was rubbish. I think I walked out after about half an hour. Having looked through his biography, I think it might have been Sleep With Me, but I can't be sure.

I have this on my tbr pile, and have meant to get around to it for ages. I'm going to read it next after seeing this thread. It inspired Mick Jagger to write Sympathy for the Devil, and just as I write this, the Stones have come on the radio! EDIT: Hi Green_Shoe, and welcome to the forum. I love your avatar:)

I've got over 700 books at home, which I have yet to read! And about as many again that I've already read and can't bear to part with.

I don't see the OP's problem with tbr piles. Surely if you're going to read (for example) 50 books in a year, does it matter if it's books you've had on a pile for some time, or books you've been lucky enough to have for free, or books you've just gone out and bought?

Yes, I love to discover new authors and actively seek them out. But I also have a few favourites, who I will buy any book by.

About to start The Sixth Wife by Suzannah Dunn. I am very interested in the Tudor period at the moment, so I am looking forward to this one

I treated myself to the first two seasons of this at the weekend. I find the whole Tudor period of history fascinating, so I'm looking forward to watching it.

Just finished Born Bad, by Josephine Cox, and unfortunately was really disappointed with it. Not recommended.