Kirstykat

I absolutely refuse to read chick-lit. As a teenager I read a lot of Danielle Steele just for something to read and chill out to during my studies, but I wouldn't touch her now with a barge pole. These books, I think, are for people of limited reading ability and limited imagination. For people who can not go beyond what is typed on the page to what the author may be suggesting through metaphors,similies etc. I lose patience with such books very quickly indeed!

Thank you! I will do the same for you, too.

Hello All! I have just joined this site and it looks quite interesting, but not as personal/friendly as this site. If you want to join and be my friend, my user name is Kirstykat, just like here.

O'h my goodness! What horror!!! I thought that I was relatively well read (although I want to read more classics), but you all seem to have read so much more than me..... I am going to work out exactly how many of these that I have read and then start reading from the list. I know that quite of few of my TBR books at home will match up with the list of TBRs from this list. I had better get a move on......

Really glad to have sparked some debate here. See, my point is proven - we are all avid readers/addicted bookworms and look, we are having an intelligable, comprehensive discussion. I rest my case

These are wonderful works of historical fiction - when you read them, you can tell that an awful lot of research has gone into them - hence there is normally at least 4 or 5 years between releases!!

Well, guys 'n' gals, can you beat: London by Edward Rutherford - around 1200 or 1300 pages Sarum by Edward Rutherford - around 1300 pages. Both FANTASTIC reads. Have still got The Forest, Russka and Dublin to read by him. As you can appreciate, you need a rest from him inbetween reads.

I would just like to say, without getting too political, that people don't read anymore because life is 'too busy'. This is a real shame because reading expands your mind, creativity, broadens your horizons and outlook on life. You can go to amazing places - all over the world,any era and any culture and get totally lost. You can read something that is not of your usual opinion and see things from a different perspective and even if you still don't agree with what you have read, you have at least experienced that point of view, which, I think, makes you a broader and more wholesome and intellectually balanced person. We must encourage any young children we know to learn to read and to learn to love to read. They will learn so much - not to mention be able to communicate better and learn to debate and learn to see the world through different eyes. It is all too sad that all they know now a days is how to play on an X-Box or PS2 etc. They feed so much stodge into their brains with computer games and gormless tv. It is sad to watch them be cheated liked this because they are not encouraged as they should be. Rant Over !!!!!!!!!!!:lol:

Probably no more than two. I remember when Joanne Harris (author of Chocolat, Blackberry Wine) was churning out books about 5 years ago. After reading those 2 I decided that she really wasn't my cup of tea.

Hi Angerball! Let us know what you think of Marley & Me. I started a thread on it under 'Book Reviews'. It will be interesting to see what you think. Kirstykat

Put it this way; my husband and I have two book cases choca- block in our living room. We then decided to buy another bookcase and turn our spare room into a study... that is now full to bursting point with books to read. Then there are the healthy and ever expanding piles on the beside cabinets, by the bedside cabinets, on the floor, crammed into the wardrobe..... But we get through them and give them to Charity Shops, swap with friends etc. and only keep the dearest of dear reads. Kirsty:readingtwo:

Hi, I get my books from Anywhere and Everywhere I can!!! I also swap with colleagues and we lend/borrow off of each other too. There is also a 'Book People' book club at work, which sometimes has good books for a fraction of the RRP. Kirsty.

This is a FANTASTIC book - regardless of whether or not you are a Canine fan. I laughed, I cried, I wept and I smiled and everything in between. I don't dislike dogs, but I am more of a Cat Person. This book reminded me of why I am an Animal Lover and why I loved my childhood dog so very much. This is a true story of a journalist and his wife and the puppy that they bought. A Labrador Retriever, they thought that he would be easy to train and an easy, loveable family pet. The second half could not be more true. He is a clumsy, loveable oaf and the 'adventures' that the family have with this happy, spirited dog and the situations they all come across and find themselves in make you want to rush out and find him - not just any dog - HIM!! Apparently, there will be a film of this book released this year and I hope that it will do it justice. Be prepared for tears as well as laughter, though. Enjoy!! Kirsty.

:blush:Hello Everyone! It's been a while,but I am back now ! I LOVE Historical Novels and can highly recommend 'Anne Boleyn, A Novel' by Jessica Smith. It shows a very interesting side to The Tale and you can tell that it was really well researched. I got my copy from E-Bay - I am not sure if it is still in print as the original price was in Shillings and Pence....! It's worth keeping your eyes peeled for, though

I can NOT ABIDE chick-lit, Mills & Boon, easy reads like Danielle Steele. What is the point? Read to expand your mind and increase your imagination and creativity, otherwise you may as well be a couch potato and watch drivvle like 'X' Factor etc. It may be harsh, but it's my opinion and, o'h it makes my blood BOIL !!!!!!!

I was horrified to find a square of CLEAN toilet paper in my husband's book once. I went to move it off of the coffee table to dust it and saw this piece of loo roll poking out . I wouldn't mind but we have a drawer full of bookmarks and we always buy them when we visit places of interest. I really did have quite a lot to say on the matter:motz:. Needless to say, he hasn't done it since...!!!

It depends on what time I leave work and how tired I am. I always read in the bath, though, so I usually get through about 30-40 pages a day read, plus, if I am not too tired, whatever I read when I go to bed.

I keep meaning to sew my own bookmarks. I have some lovely ones that I could cross-stitch and then get laminated at work. The trouble is do I read....or sew.... or read....or sew.....????

A MASSIVE TO EVERYONE WHO HAS WELCOMED ME AND HELPED ME SETTLE IN AND FEEL AT HOME HERE!!!!!!!! I WILL TRY TO REPLY INDIVIDUALLY TO ALL MESSAGES POSTED TO ME. KIRSTYKAT

My husband and I have 2x6 shelve bookcases bursting with books - on one of my husbands shelves, it is two rows deep - that is how short of space we are for our passion. O'h yes - we have two over-flowing shelves in his study, too!! Then, there are (neat!!!??!!!) piles on the floor by our bedside tables. I also have my 'current' book on me all the time so that I can read at any spare moment. But we are not a slave to our passion, at all, are we??? Dread to think what it would be like if we were Kirstykat

Thanks Everyone for all these recommendations - they all sound brilliant. Please keep them coming!!!!! Kirstykat

Hi Korrie, I am new here,too, but don't worry - it was awfully daunting at first, but everyone is so welcoming and so one tends to settle in really quickly! I love to spend time on this site (when I am not reading). It is great to chill out with other bookworms when I get home from work. I just dash round with the hoover, duster and polish, stick a load in the washing machine, and either curl up with a cuppa and my cat and a book, or go on the Net until hubby comes home from work. I hope that you settle in soon and I look forward to hearing about what you're reading/what you have got on your reading list. Take Care, Kirstykat:sign0144:

Fabulous, Louise! Thank you for such a speedy reply. Kirstykat:smile2:

Hi Again Jules, My tabby, Millie, will not allow us to have any more cats as she is Queen Bee and will NOT be moved from her pedastool. Honestly, she really is our baby and we wouldn't do anything to hurt her feelings. I am not really into Martina Cole - I read one of her books once and it left a bitter taste in my mouth - she is so very graphic and wonder what she may have suffered or seen in her personal life in order to write like this. My sister has met her a couple of times when she visited her Writer's Circle and she is a very nice lady and very well spoken and, apparently, has a weakness for Toblerone - so she is human..!!! I must admit that it is only in the last couple of years that I have got into historical fiction, I am quite a broad reader really. Anyway, thanks again for making me feel welcome. I must go now,as I need my beauty sleep...! Hi Liz, Thank you for your welcome message! I look forward to chatting with you more over time. Right now, I am off for my Beauty Sleep! Hi Kell, Thank you for your welcome message. Yes, I shall post some of my thoughhts on the forum as I get further into Cloud Atlas. I am LUVVING this site already!!!!!!! Kirsty.

I love to read sitting on the settee with a mug of good quality hot chocolate, the lamp on, so that I can have good light and the warmth from it, and my tabby cuddled up to me or on my lap. Pure Bliss...!!!!!!!!