Chrissy

Thanks Steve.

charismatic

organic

Thank you Sam.

Thank you Cath.

I'm glad you enjoyed 'Running With Scissors'. Although it is a disturbing book when you look objectively at the events, it is written in such a way that you pretty much see all the stuff as the normal for them, so it takes some of the insanity out of it. I have earmarked the article for later. Thank you.

My first cup of tea of the day. Breakfast made, husband's packed lunch made (and packed). Now my cuppa!

I bought 'The Cry' last year during a kindle deal, so I'm really glad to read that you enjoyed it. I will have to send it to the top of my reading list.

But would it be Muggle or Magical counselling? And what would be the difference?

I'd call that a "Yay" with a double helping of "Woo and indeed Hoo". Great stuff Raven, I'm both pleased for you and jealous.

My questions are for any of our visiting authors. With the 'dark corners' that are often explored in novels, is there any aspect of writing that 'gets to you' ? If so, what do you do about it? Thank you in advance, and I hope my question makes sense.

Not sure what I think about this. Why tell us now? I always thought that Harry and Hermione would have been too obvious a set up, and were better as great friends. His relationship with the family centric Ginny a better choice for this family lacking orphan who seems to lose pretty much everyone (Mum, Dad, Sirius, Remus, Dumbledore).

I tend to lean toward crime fiction, but am always open to other genres. My favourite book shops are the ones that aren't too genre specific on their shelves, so I can be 'captured' by book rather than choosing from a specific genre. Second hand book shops can be great for this. Recently I changed the 'collections' on my kindle, so now my (far too many) books are alphabetised rather than genre so that I select my books differently.

Hi KidRoberts, and welcome to the forum ~ you'll have to let us know what you thought of 'The Duel'. I've read 10 books so far this this year, although quite a few were pretty easy reads. I just have to hope that the rest of the year goes as well.

Probably top of any list for me is Carol O'Connell. Her Kathy Mallory series is wonderful, but I would recommend her heart breaking 'Judas Child' to any lover of this genre. O'Connell gives such a depth to her characters, and her depiction of children and childhood is stunning. Her books always make my heart ache, and in the case of 'Judas Child' compelled me to start the novel over as soon as I had completed it. Arthur Conan Doyle and his Sherlock Holmes has to appear in my list of favourites, as does Dorothy L Sayers and her Lord Peter Wimsey & Harriet Vane novels. Love them for their great plots and interesting characters that you can grow to love. Jeffrey Deaver is another favourite, his Lincoln Rhyme series always a treat. For a standalone novel, one that has always remained with me is 'A Maiden's Grave'. I give a second to Kathy Reichs and her character of Temp Brennan. An interesting, original and well-paced series. Sara Paretsky's VI Warshawski series has the wonderful central prickly character of VI. I love the path that she carves for herself through the series. An unusual series of plots that don’t pander to a ‘feisty female in peril’ mentality. Karin Slaughter, with her Grant County, and her Will Trent series has developed some memorable characters. Graphic at times, her depiction of crime scenes and victims can be harrowing, but this is redeemed through her great characters. Bringing things to the little island that is the UK, Val MacDermid, has both series and stand alones to her name, and I always look out for her latest publication as she never fails to capture me. Peter Robinson’s Inspector Banks series has remained consistently good from the beginning onward with no weak stories, and great character development that feels believable. Manda Scott's Kellen Stewart series is fabulous with memorable characters and great plots. Outside of this series, her novel ‘No Good Deed’ is a rich and vivid story that to this day sits in my mind, despite having last read it quite a few years ago. There are more, but these authors would always be in my top 20.

Like Andrea, I'd say sub genre rather than a separate genre.

I must read this again. It is a mighty powerful thought provoking book.

Thanks folks! I am enjoying my reading enormously and am not fretting AT ALL about what I should (hate that word!) be reading. I also changed my collection headings on my kindle. I decided to go alphabetical rather than genres, so with the exception of non-fiction and the books I have read, they all sit neatly in their alphabetic collections. It seems to already have helped with my new just pick 'n' read philosophy for 2014.

I am astounded that I have ended this first month of the year having read 10 books! Admittedly the Cassandra Clare books are easy to get through, but 10 is 10! 6) My Fat Mad Teenage Diary by Rae Earl. What a terrific read. Set in the Lincolnshire suburbs during 1989, this is the diary of Rae, the recently released from a mental health unit and overweight teenager who chronicles her life day by day. The 80's references were a real nostalgic nudge, especially the music. Many laugh out loud moments, and that sigh of understanding you give when you read something from a teenager where they completely missed what was really going on. This is not teenage angst in it's usual guise, but a clever and witty recollection. 7) City Of Ashes by Cassandra Clare The 6th and final book of this urban fantasy series is published in May this year, and I thought I would slowly (and in between other books) re read this series before May. Having started them, I have found myself launching straight into the next. Ah well, Reading is reading. This 1st book introduces us to the characters that will fill the next 6 books in this the world of demons and supernatural beings, and of the Shadowhunters, the men and women who stand between us ordinary humans, and a total demonic take over. We enter this world through Clary. Why can she see 'things' that others cannot? Why has her mother disappeared. A cracking opening book. 8) City Of Bones by Cassandra Clare Things are changing for all the characters in this series. Things are also getting serious. The enigmatic Clave arrive in town, their inquisitor determined to unearth what is really going on. Battle scenes that will make you wince, loyalties tried and tested to their limits and a compelling second book that answers some questions while most definitely setting many more up! 9) City Of Glass by Cassandra Clare We arrive in Idris, some by design, others by accident. Who belongs to whom, and where do everyone's loyalties lie? This fast paced third book will make you gasp in horror and sorrow, while the fight scenes will leave you feeling bruised and tender. There are no healing runes for the reader. 10) City Of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare I consider this fourth book as my least favourite. Until the last quarter the book feels a little too angst ridden, although the reason for this is made clear in that last quarter. Simon has a lot of the story for himself, and is a character I have really liked from the start. His interactions with everyone he meets marks him as compassionate, witty and perceptive, so his large role in the book saves it for me. I have started the fifth book, and will have to hope that I recall the events when May comes around. Not a bad month all-in-all. Roll on February!

I haven't, but a few people on the forum have, although off the top of my head I cannot remember a single one! My brain is currently a bundle of cotton wool soaked in molasses - all messy gooey and useless! Just looked at both lists, and I haven't read any of them, but some of them do look so interesting I may have to extend my wish list. Oh dear, I really shouldn't have looked!

kingdom

My Mum finished 'Inferno' and LOVED it! She felt that the descriptions of Florence and Venice were spot on, and was delighted to discover a few snippets of bits she didn't know about both locations. She has since started 'The Lost Symbol'. I don't think the order in which they are read really matters, although 'The Da Vinci Code' does briefly make reference to 'Angels & Demons', but I just didn't 'get' it until I read 'A&D'.