bobblybear

I most definitely prefer psychological creepiness and mind-games. Gore grosses me out, but I think that is just shock-value rather than clever writing.

No, I don't think I could, unless it wasn't too scary and I didn't have to get up out of bed and wander around the house when it's dark. I'd be much, much worse with movies though.

Will post more tonight (at work at the moment), but the first thing that I noticed was the initials of the main character (IMP). It's the opening sentence.....do you think this was intentional, as in "the devil's imp"?

Horns is going well....hope to read some more tonight.

My biggest "irrational fear" is something grabbing me in the dark. If I'm ever alone in the house at night, I do check under the bed just in case "something" is under there.

Can I please be entered?

I don't like gore for the sake of gore.....I like there to be a story behind the horror (or should that be, a bit of horror behind a good story?). I think I also like creepy subtlety and menace, rather than something involving violence. Definitely something understated. For me, there has to be a good story and that's the main thing about whether I enjoy a book or not, regardless of the genre.

My favorite has to be The Stand, simply because it's such a cracking good story and also a situation that one can easily imagine happening. All the characters are very well drawn out (at least in the Uncut version), and the story itself is brilliant (but I've always been interested in end-of-the-world scenarios). It's the one I'd recommend to anyone who hasn't read him yet, simply because it's his most popular book, and it's got a great story alongside the horror element in it. My next favorite is IT, and I'd say this is more of a "horrorbook" than The Stand. Again, it's got a great story, and I think so many people can relate to the kids in the 1958 timeline. For me, it's the children's friendships that make the story so enjoyable, and I just love the opening chapter (with Georgie and his paper boat).....what a great start to the book! I've read most of his other books, but the majority were read when I was in my late teens (so a fair while ago ). I plan on reading them again, to see if my thoughts about them have changed. There have been a few that I haven't enjoyed (just couldn't get into Salems Lot), but those are a minority.

My favorite is Stephen King, but not only for the horror stories, just for his overall books. Horror isn't really a genre I've actively pursued, so I don't know of that many authors. I've tried Richard Laymon, but found his books to be repetitive and quite dull. Dean Koontz is another one that I have tried and not really enjoyed. I've also tried one Clive Barker, but couldn't get into it. Actually, I'm not sounding like much of a horror fan, am I? But I wouldn't mind trying any I mean I'm enjoying Horns by Joe Hill so far, but haven't read enough of it to classify it as horror yet. Anne Rice is another one I like. Can't actually think of many others, and this list on Wikipedia proves that I don't know much about the genre as most names are unfamiliar (but I'm surprised to see Road Dahl and VC Andrews on the list).

I haven't read anything by him, but I do have One Hundred Years of Solitude on my (physical) bookshelf. However, I've been put off reading it having heard it described as 'magical realism', which I tried and disliked with Midnight's Children. I know I can't lump it all in the same category, but it has pushed it further down my TBR pile.

Great review! I have this on my reading plan to be read very shortly. Hope I enjoy it as much as you did.

I just finished Forever last night. I don't ever remember reading it in full when I was younger....I probably only read the racy parts when it went around at school. I was quite surprised at how liberal and open-minded Katherine's parents were. I was expecting them to be very strict, but actually they were open and realistic. Blubber is the next one I am going to read. I haven't read any others (except for Superfudge - that was read to us by our teacher), which is strange. I can only think that I couldn't get hold of any copies at my local library, because I definitely would have read them if I'd seen them around.

No, never been to anything like this, or heard of it. It sounds to me like it's more something for a big city. Where I live, I don't think enough people would show up (mind you, my neighbours could all be readers for all I know). It's sounds interesting, but I'm never good with talking with people I don't know, so would probably feel extremely awkward.

I'm undecided. I'd like to discuss as I go along, but at the same time I don't want to risk reading/revealing spoilers. I'm not bothered by the use of spoiler tags - I don't feel that would be disruptive.

I had such high hopes for it, and it started very promisingly, but then it just seemed to get very, very silly. Such a disappointment. But I have to say, I would love to work the night-shift in a bookstore, especially one that gets only a couple of customers a night. Just think of the peace and quiet!

Fludd sounds like an interesting read, so I have added it to my wishlist. I hated Wolf Hall, which is the only other Mantel I have read/attempted, so will be interested to see what I think of this one.

Hope you feel better soon. Those two books are on my current reading plan so I should get to them in the next month or so. I finished Forever and Mr Penumbra's 24 Hour Bookstore last night. I had really high hopes for the latter, but it was just weird (and not in a good way) and not all that enjoyable. Towards the end, I was reading it just to finish it. Started Horns by Joe Hill this morning. Good so far!

Glad you enjoyed The Time Traveler's Wife. I really liked it too, and intend on reading it again (except that I think my sister-in-law has borrowed it!). Have you read any others by Audrey Niffenegger?

Nice reviews, Frankie. I've heard a few good things about Thirteen Reasons Why, and it's on my wishlist. Never heard of Thomas Quick, but I like true crime so I have added it to my wishlist. I have just googled him, and there is an interesting Guardian article on the story revolving around him. Sounds like it's quite multi-layered and about

Looking through my book list for this year, so far I have abandoned: Dark Lord: The Teenage Years - Jamie Thomson Missing Gretyl: Only Fools and Trollops - Si Page, Mark Stibbe, Tony Trimmer Midnight's Children - Salman Rushdie A Discovery of Witches - Deborah Harkness I'm really not a fan of abandoning books, but sometimes you have to. Just worked out that it is 8.6% of books that I started this year. That sounds so high! How many have you abandoned this year?

So far I've read Tiger Eyes and Deenie, and they were both pretty much as I remembered (although I preferred Tiger Eyes). I'm just surprised by how short they were. When I started them on my Kindle, it said that I had less than 2 hours remaining in each book. Anyway, I'm glad I bought them again, and they aren't really as dated as I thought they would be.

I don't really read samples...I don't know why. I would rather just buy the book. Doesn't make much sense I know, but I suppose sometimes a book can take a long time to hook you in, and you wouldn't get that from the sample. Also, just because a first chapter is great, doesn't mean the rest of the book will be. There have been many books which I have started off really loving, but then they just fall flat by the end. And then sometimes, you need to finish a book and have the whole story, before you can really appreciate it.

I'm appalling with my memory (for books I have read). Sometimes, I can forget how a book ended several days after I finish it. I think it's because I don't tend to think much about a book once I'm finished (unless it really sticks with me)....I'm usually more interested in what I'm about to start reading.

I'm the biggest reader in my family. My husband doesn't read at all (I've tried encouraging him, but it just doesn't interest him). My brother reads a bit, when he has the time, but my parents rarely read, though my mum may occasionally pick up a science book. I have a few friends that read, but we tend to have somewhat different tastes.

I tend to read one fiction and one non-fiction. However, I need to be in the mood to read non-fiction, so I can often read several fiction books before I dip back into the non-fiction. Generally if I'm reading a fiction book, and pick up another one, it means the first one isn't holding my attention.