Bel-ami

I tend to forget the details of most of the books I read! (old age) - but I'll put anything by P.G. Wodehouse forward which I seem to forget quicker than most

Today it is.... HE Bates Guy de Maupassant JRR Tolkein Thomas Hardy George Eliot Kate Atkinson Balzac Victor Hugo Emile Zola Robert Harris

Another mood reader here, and one book at a time - I've countless unread books on my shelves, but very often I'll browse them and not feel inspired, so will revert to the library or worse, have to make another purchase

Hello Chrissy - yes thank you! Just relocated some of my bookshelves and thought of how I hadn't visited the forum for a while - will try to be a more regular visitor! Hope all is well with you?

Light reading........ A hot English summer - When The Green Woods Laugh, HE Bates A summer holiday - A Breath of French Air, HE Bates Travelling (holiday) - Mr Finchley Discovers His England - Victor Canning

Currently reading Case Histories - enjoying the style, the humour and the plot - full marks so far. Also I watched the BBC series long enough ago, for it not to cloud my image of Jackson too much.

I watched the TV series 'back in the day' and have relatively recently started reading the books - have just finished the Spend Game. I can't helpful visualising Ian McShane as Lovejoy, albeit as a much rougher version than the TV version. Doling out a black eye to a lady isn't exactly the way to appeal to the modern reader, but that aside, I enjoy the books and will keep going through the list.

Another one - it's non-stop crime thrillers or historical fiction and then just occasionally a classic or biography to make me feel a bit more highbrow

Yes, I really like this series. Similar to Lyndsey Davis' Falco books, but with less humour and arguably more 'depth'. Well worth the read if you like historical fiction and whodunnits.

Tickets booked for next week

Although I suppose Winnie the Pooh was a firm favourite in my childhood and of course there are many children's books which are based upon animal characters Baba the Elephant etc. etc., but having just read Suzette A. Hills "A Load of Old Bones", I was wondering how widespread this 'genre' is in adult(ish) fiction? Paul Galico, Joyce Stranger, Richard Adams spring to mind - and I did read The Incredible Journey once upon a time. It's not a genre I really go for, but I thought A Load of Old Bones, which has 3 narrators - vicar, dog and cat - was a fun mix of crime and comedy. Just realised this topic is covered to some extent by the November choice for the 'Reading Circle'

Having seen all the Bond films and having just seen Skyfall (which I thought was one of the best yet), I thought I'd finally get around to reading a James Bond. So, I'm almost through Casino Royale. I like it - certainly a period piece and probably quite racy for its time. Probably best to disconnect Bond in the films from Bond in the books.

Another one for the Secret Seven! After that, I think it was 4,50 from Paddington by Agatha Christie, or Maigret Goes on Holiday by Georges Simenon.

Brennan by Bernard Knight is Post-Apocalyptic, no zombies though. What you might imagine would be quite a realistic take on what might actually happen and how survivors would try to pick up the pieces.

I have heard that Tony Cascarino's autobiography is one of the best. Also Frank Worthington's (if you can find a copy) is supposed to be very entertaining - a classic 70s playboy. I've read neither of those, but have read and would recommend Paolo di Canio's autobiography - not just football - also a snapshot of life and politics in Rome. It's fascinating, he's 'barking'

Why not try The Athenian Murders by Spanish author José Carlos Somoza.........it's certainly innovative..

Les Miserables Watership Down Silas Marner and a new one to this thread....Tarka the Otter oops.......I guess that should have been Ring of Bright Water

I hate abandoning books and in general I love "classics", but I did give up on The Way of All Flesh by Samuel Butler and The Grapes of Wrath (life's too short) and I'll add Dante's Divine Comedy as my third vote.

You could always try "Last Stand!" by Bryan Perrett Full title is "Last Stand: famous Battles Against: Famous Battles Against the Odds" (Cassell Military Classics) I have a copy on the shelf, but I think it's out of print. It covers Rorke's Drift, the Alamo and Little Big Horn and a number of others. Good luck!

...and another man who likes Jane Austen. Not long finished Pride & Prejudice and will certainly read another this year. ...and I do like beer, football, Top Gear etc. too

You could try The Spanish Civil War by Hugh Thomas.......a doorstop of a book.

He's on the Chris Moyles show on Radio 1 this morning...........now!

Thanks again Sue, have just read Jacquot and the Waterman in 2 days. A real page turner and a likeable main character. Now for Jacquot and the Angel