BrainFreeze

Ooo will definitely give her a whirly whirl then! Thank you.

Going to have to hunt this one down now I think - didn't realise he'd even written an autobiography never mind two!

It's got a different ending apparently. Personally, my favourite of hers that I've read so far is 19 Minutes. I do like a lot of hers though - especially The Pact, Salem Falls and Vanishing Acts. I couldn't get into The Tenth Circle, and I tried three times.

This is very, very true. In my opinion no book can 'teach' you about parenting - it only comes with experience and relying on your instincts and basic common sense. I have 3 children and each of them is vastly different, what works for one doesn't work for the other and that's regarding everything - food, discipline, teaching...the works. There are books out there that can guide you step-by-step through things such as how to bath a baby (but your baby may like being held in a particular way that's not shown in the book as they only show a 'standard' way), how to feed a baby (again, will show you one way and nearly all babies have a way/position they like being held while being fed) etc etc. Cook books - if you're a total novice to cooking, you could do worse than getting Delia's How To...books which do teach you the basics. Jamie Oliver books are good too I think - very often he has quite a lot of basic recipes that can be built on and tweaked (some of his books, he's written the recipes specifically for that). As a previous person said too, The Hairy Bikers are very good too. Cleaning/home - there is a book that covers 'how to clean everything' and I can't remember if that's the actual name or not so I'm going to go off and see if I can find it for you.

Has anyone read any Anita Shreve? Keep seeing books of hers all over the place and yet I've not read any of hers. Are they in the same genre/vein as Jodi Picoult?

Finished Dexter By Design ~ Jeff Lindsay last night and now can't decide what to read out of; The Soloist - Steve Lopez Blindmans Bluff - Faye Kellerman Kiss of Evil - Richard Montanari The Book Thief - Markus Zusak

I'd like to see Karin Slaughters Grant County series turned into a TV series.

It had never happened to me until recently (well, not that I remember it happening before anyway) and it was while I was reading Plain Truth by Jodi Picoult. I had a dream I was Amish and living on a farm. Can't really remember much of the detail in the dream to be honest, but it did weird me out a little when I woke up. Not sure if it was because of the content of the book and the fact I'd just found out I was pregnant at the time too.

I'd have to agree - and actors...

Not in the least bit childish! Actually I still hadn't made my mind up who'd I'd like to swap with - but I think you may have helped me to make up my mind!

I always read the synopsis first - if it's an author who's new to me, I will then pick a random page out and read it to see if I like their style of writing.

Did anyone else find Sundays episode really sad?

Personally, I think what constitutes 'having a life' is a very personal thing. To some people, being immersed in one hobby is something they do see as being 'sad' (whether they're meaning personally or thinking of others) whereas others see it as a devotion. In the main, I think the vast majority of people have a lot more going on in their life than one single thing (be it reading or anything else). In my opinion, do whatever makes you happy as long as you're not hurting others. Life's too short to spend it apologising or making excuses for who you are or what you enjoy.

I've not read her more recent books, only her earlier stuff (no particular reason, just not got round to it) but my sister is an avid reader of hers and has said she thinks her earlier books are far better than her more recent work. So I'd say to go with her earlier books to start with and then as you work through them you can decide for yourself if you see what I mean? Her books in order are; Dangerous Lady The Ladykiller Goodnight Lady The Jump The Runaway Two Women Broken Faceless Maura's Game The Know The Graft The Take Close Faces The Business

I'm another fan! Genesis is the next instalment in the Grant County series and apparently (don't shoot me if this is wrong!) KS will be merging the Grant County series with Will Trent. I'm reading Fractured at the moment - I'm about 2/3 of the way through and I'm really enjoying it!

Not really sure why anyone would not read something based purely on what it's called. Each to their own though eh? Personally I always read prologues - in the same way I always read epilogues. I'd feel like I've not properly read the whole book if I missed either out.

Well 19 Minutes was the first JP book I ever read (on recommendation) and it blew me away. I've now only got about 4-5 of hers to get and 19 Minutes is still one of my favourites. Made me think (really think!) and made me see things from so many different points of view. As others have suggested I'd recommend Change of Heart too.

I've been reading MHC for some years now and always really enjoy her books. Her daughter is a writer too (I think in the same genre?) but I've not read any of hers.

I'd say try Lee Weeks - she's only published 2 books so far and her 3rd is due out this year. Highly recommend.

I really love Misery and Carrie too - Carrie was one of the first King books I read actually. I know a lot of people aren't keen on it, but I really loved Bag of Bones. I actually got really swept along by it. I also really loved The Green Mile - Jodi Picoults Change of Heart had echoes of The Green Mile I felt although it wasn't in the same vein (if that makes any sense?)

I actually really enjoy Patricia Cornwell - her Scarpetta and the 2 books she's done so far in the Win Garranno series (At Risk and The Front). The latter series is actually written in quite a different way to her Scarpetta series. I can't really put my finger on (or properly explain) how they're different, but they are. It's the wording and the way she explains things. I don't know, maybe it was just the way I was reading them. I've also got the Ripper book by Patricia Cornwell and I really enjoyed it. Her theory and a lot of her research was panned by die-hard Ripper experts as they considered it to be largely flawed, but I've actually read quite a few books about the Ripper - not just what he did, but the psychology behind it, the theories etc, and to be honest, I thought her book was good. She was thorough, clear and concise in explaining how she came up with her theories and I could clearly see what she was saying. Ultimately, no one knows who the Ripper was (as it stands) so I don't think it was necessary for her to be panned the way she was over the book. Worth a read in my opinion.