Natty

Aw no I thought that was kinda sweet tbh. It was nice to see a male protrayed with some "old fashioned" values - I mean he is old but he could have quite easily adapted with the time. CAMP EDWARD! I don't like the character of Jacob at all. He bothers me a lot.

I love Tonks and Lupin. I'm actually quite surprised at how much I had forgotten happened tbh. Just finished re-reading them and feel a little void but happy because I got a lot more out of them. When I read them before I don't think I took everything in because of how fast I was turning the pages haha x

Harry has undergone a lot throughout his life as Chrissy rightly points out. However, he is given A LOT of privelleges once he goes to Hogwarts. And, he only got into half of the situations pointed out by Chrissy because he was a nosey little so-and-so. I can't help but resent that Dumbledore's Favourite thing. In my eyes, people like Ron and Hermionie are the true heroes of the novels because they never had to put themselves in those situations. Harry was always going to be famous and was always going to have to be a fighter. Hermionie and Ron choose to be because he's their friend. I'm not so sure I think Harry actually sees it like that though. I'm reading Order of the Phoenix now and he's having right hissy fits because he isn't a bloody prefect. Get over yourself Potter!!! x

I think you've missed the point somewhat. I don't think Poe is a scary writer, nor do I think Stevenson is and I credit this to the fact that we aren't scared of things which people living a couple hundred years ago were. I think if you read Jekyll and Hyde with the expectations of a twenty first century reader you'll get barely anything from it. The ending for one is pretty poor when you level it with other science type novels. However, when you put it into context it's frightful and controversial and a fantastic little read. This goes for many classics, very few in my opinion manage to succeed as great novels in their time, and then as great novels in modern time without allowing for context. It's as Ben Mines says, "What's wrong with Treasure Island? If you allow that it's an adventure book for Victorian schoolboys, it's perfectly readable." Same goes here. x

I used to live in Nottingham and loved the Oxfam store in West Bridgford. I was also a bit of a fan for the Waterstones as it was huuu-ge. Now I'm back in Grimsby and tbh, there's only a teeny tiny Waterstones so I tend to order online x

Tbh I agree with him. I think Meyer is a very poor writer, Rowling is a very good writer. However, Meyer's story is so captivating and enjoyable that it doesn't matter how well she writes. I'm not so sure the same would stand for Rowling, who IMHO tries to make the world of Potter seem new and exciting - but in actual fact has just made history and social-type-things magical and real. All that aside, both have negatives and positives and I'm not so sure I could choose. Maybe Harry Potter because it encompasses a whole range of human emotion whereas the Twilight saga just makes me feel all loved up

I'm re-reading the books now, completely whisked away by them tbh (today was my day off from work and apart from one appointment I had a completely free day - I read the last 50 pages of Prisoner of Azkaban and the entire of Goblet of Fire). But Harry really is annoying. I can see Draco's point of view - I mean Harry gets away with everything. I'd have a strong dislike to him too if I were at Hogwarts! x

Haha On another note I got a really nice email from Keith Gray the other day. Reading this prompted me to email him about when he read at out school and such like. He's a super nice chappy. x

Another of my favourite books, although I always forget about it... I agree with BookJumper that the style isn't all there but when you take into context of the novel it doesn't matter. I studied it when I was at uni and ended up having a custom essay title so I could write about it. I've never read another novel which says so much without saying anything at all. The possibilities of who Mr. Hyde is and the controversial issues it then points to in what, 1886? Unfortunately, we take a lot of that undertoned writing for granted nowadays because we're freely allowed to write and speak about anything.

Agreed. It is a very good, satirical novel. I love Dickens. My other fave is Great Expectations.

I think Meyer dabbled with too many adult issues in BD and as a result a lot of the reasoning behind her character's motives were lost.

I think I'm a bit weird tbh. I like my ebook reader because I have no fear of creasing any of the pages when it's a brand new book... does that bug anyone else? Haha x

See, it's responses like that which makes me think "sheesh I'm missing something good". Five more Harry Potter books to go and then I'm on it! x

I love buying books from bookshops, especially new books. No smell like it. However, I think books are pricey so often resort to charity shops or downloading them for my ebook reader. There was a really good Oxfam bookstore in West Bridgford, Nottingham. I used to go to uni nearby and absolutely loved going in there to see if I could get any cheap ones for my reading list. More often than not I'd come out with a big bag of books, mostly ones not on my reading list haha! I'm also a big fan of places like Amazon's marketplace. I've been looking for Twenty Years After by Alexander Dumas for a while as a present for my bloke (it's our one year anniversary, he likes the musketeers, put it all together with the title and you get something quite cute), but rather than buying a sort of wordsworth classic or Oxford, I wanted an old fashioned hardback type, you know the sort. Got one from Matthews633 on there like Wednesday and it arrived this morning for one

NOM NOM. I read Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone last night so maybe mine's back a little...

Wow wow wow. I need me a copy of Ostrich Boys. I live in Cleethorpes so that'd be proper interesting! I just realise who this book was by, silly me. He was a friend of my primary school teacher and she used to read us his books as he submitted them to publishers so I'm really amazed and glad he's gained some popularity and what not. If anyone does read this and likes it may I suggest Creepers. On another note, my school did that Carniege thing years ago. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone won by like, miles unsuprisingly. I think quite a few of them sound quite interesting tbh. Like BookJumper I'm older but occasionally dabble with yound adult books and more often than not I'm pleased with what I find. The only thing that matters is if the language is adult and not... mmm, too basic I suppose.

It sounds in essence a lot like The Female Eunuch then. Kind of. That too is more like an academic book than anything else, but still, I liked it. I'll dig out a copy of that as I've never really thought of reading anything else by her x

It's true, my blokee and I did a car boot last year and between us we had quite a few Pratchett novels we had both got doubles of. Anyway, they all sold and no other books did really. That's my only addition to this. I read Mort when I was a kid but I've never really got into Pratchett since, try as I might. Sad times.

Hello I'm new too, everyone here is really friendly so I'm sure you'll be happy here ! xx

You really do have a sizeable list TBR! With my current loss of reading mojo I think such a list would probably scare me into a little hovel of no return for books haha! Of all those though, I think I only really knew about five or six. You must let me know what you think of Birdsong, I had to read it for A-Level English lit. and I loved it. It's probably one of my favourite books ever although I haven't picked it up in a long while. As for the other two I've suggested, how was Greer? I must say I've only read Female Eunuch but it had me laughing quite a bit - is it on the same sort of wave length? The Book Thief I have on my bedside cabinet alongside The Glass Books of The Dream Eaters and many others with tempting covers but with insides I just can't seem to sink my teeth far enough into to want to carry on reading x

Yowzer your list is epic. I watched The Reader yesterday so you'll have to let me know how the book is. I hadn't even realised it was a book (or heard of the movie in all fairness) until yesterday haha! Also, I really like how you've put it all together on that webpage. It looks like a good idea to review as you go so everyone, including you, can read back on it. You may have inspired me to follow in your lead! x

When I read that I just thought... eesh who? Maybe it's time to pull my finger out and get reading them haha! Chesilbeach, have you read Seeing? I watched the movie Blindness and thought it was pretty epic. However, I thought the ending was open to interpretation somewhat so figured the books might give me clearer insight. However, whatever I read about them on the internet is always positive. Apparently Seeing is about a vote in the same unnamed town/city where everyone submits blank pieces of paper. I figured it'd be interesting and well, deep. x

Haha I suppose festivals could be quite daunting. I went to my first one when I was 17 and loved it. Boozed up, bands and people rebelling made the weekend. Now as 23 is fast approaching, I'm one for watching the bands - not moshing and going home on the Sunday so I can wake up to a nice warm shower. Give me a few years and it'll be Glasto on the telly and a hot chocolate haha Also, Peacefield - Jazz fests? That sounds amazing! I've always wanted to go to a Jazz fest or maybe just a Jazz bar or something. Unfortunately in my little town Jazz isn't high up on the want lists of the yocals. Rather, booze deals and block rockin' beats. Aaah... x

I've read the Harry Potter books before, in fact I started reading them when I was still in school. However, with the new movie and what not I'm a little concerned that I've forgotten most of it - especially as the saga was drawing to it's climax. I admit I was one of those 'can't-turn'-the-pages-fast-enough' types x