Your reading list

I would be interested in knowing answers to the following open-ended questions to the members of this website.

1) What are you reading these days? Or, what kind of stuff do you generally read?

2) Who are some of your favourite authors?

3) What have some of your favourite books/magazines/newspapers/online articles/blogs been and why?

Good afternoon :)

1) I have a whole queue of books waiting to be read, amongthem are, Thud and Wintersmith and a mountain of Dragonlance stuff

2) I like Pratchett, of course, Tolkien, Margaret Weis, Dan Brown and lots of others

3) My favourites, and ones I'm still working my way through, are the disc world series and Dragonlance series, there seems to be thousands of those!

Once I've worked my way through them I'll be looking for something different, probably still the same genre though. I dont get a lot of time for reading these though, you lot keep me so busy! :p

:-*

I thought I might trawl through War and Peace but have just recently bought Richard 'The Hamster' Hammond's autobiography and the novel of Kiera Knightley's new film, The Duchess because apparently they've cut a lot of the book out of the film...haven't seen the film but want to read the book.

Having just read excerpts of Julie Walters' autobiography in a daily paper, I think I'll end up buying that too.

You all knew I was into high brow reading, didntcha? :o)

Thanks very much indeed, Grace. If it isn't too personal, may I ask why celebrity biographies and film based novels interest you? What other genres do you read?

Est...don't try to lull me into a false sense of security...I've got your card marked.

To be honest, I haven't read much since getting divorced, my concentration went and I'm trying determinedly to change that because I love reading and can get lost in a book completely (haven't read any about the Bermuda Triangle thank goodness). However, there's no point in getting into anything too challenging too soon, so am easing myself in gently hence the lightweight stuff - however Richard Hammond and Julie Walters are people I find extremely funny, have heard Hammy's book is very interesting and Julie's should make me laugh.

I love reading anything historical but can't abide Shakespeare.

Does that answer your question in a basic sense?

Yes, it more than does. Thanks much.

I would be interested in knowing answers to the following open-ended questions to the members of this website.

1) What are you reading these days? Or, what kind of stuff do you generally read?
Like reading about ancient arabic civilisations and stuff relating to the history of flint tools esp arrowheads. Not currently reading anything, have been recommended Shantaram, Gregory David Roberts, anyone read it?

2) Who are some of your favourite authors?
Rupert Thomson, Thomas Hardy, Armistead Maupin

3) What have some of your favourite books/magazines/newspapers/online articles/blogs been and why?
To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee is one of my fave books, got me thinking. By the River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept, Paulo Coelho. Lord of the Flies, William Golding. Papillon, Henri Charrière. Not read any blogs, like National Geographic Magazine, Which Magazine & The Sunday Times Travel supplement.

Ok so I didn't read number 3 properly :p

My favourite books have probably been LOTR but really I like most, I dont read news papers or magazines at all, they're either all depressing or just plain lying or just gossiping, I get enough of that here :p

Hi Est..

1) What am I reading these days? Or, what kind of stuff do you generally read?

Currently reading Gordon Ramsay autobiography, it's quite interesting to see how he made all his money. I would also be interested like LS to read Julie Walters, I think she is really funny.

I also have a lot of the 'self help' books. I find them really interesting when I make the time to sit down and study them, have found that they have helped me a lot during the times I have felt 'troubled' with life.

I have like pure a stack of books to read when I get time.

2) Who are some of your favourite authors?

I've read all of Martina Cole & Mandasue Hellas books, they're good for reading in bed! lol. But don't have any particular favourite authors, usually read the back of a book and if it sounds interesting then I'll read it

3) What have some of your favourite books/magazines/newspapers/online articles/blogs been and why?

Don't really get time to read newspapers, usually have a magazine in the car to read while I'm waiting to collect son/daughter from train, bus, band practice etc. It's usually 'Closer' or 'Reveal' or some other insignificant light read that can be put down and picked up to read just a page to pass the time. Usually obtained from a.n.other, I don't buy them myself! I then pass them on to someone else to read!

Why are you interested in this info?

I read Heat magazine every tuesday mainly cos i need glasses and can look at the pictures and love the goss

hi Est x

I) just finished Call The Midwife,the Memoires of Jennifer Worth,she was a Midwife in the East End of London in the 1950's,wonderful stuff.

2) Don't have a fav authour,if i like the look of a book i buy it,looking forward to reading the Biography of Henry Allingham.

3)Not a newspaper reader,have a look at the BBC website for news and read my Runners World mag

Stop making us feel guilty LL.... with your Runners World Mag!

I'll bet you just get it to look at the lunch boxes....

1) What are you reading these days? Or, what kind of stuff do you generally read?

Currently reading -

- Singled Out - Virginia Nicholson, about the two million 'surplus' women after WWI
- Austerity Britian - David Kynaston, social history series - this book covers 45 to 51
- Karma and Rebirth

I read some of one, then the other, then a quick fiction book in-between.

2) Who are some of your favourite authors?

Ben Elton, Susan Howatch, Tom Sharpe, Arthur C Clarke, Maeve Binchy, Stephen Fry, Rosamunde Pilcher, Philip Pullman

3) What have some of your favourite books/magazines/newspapers/online articles/blogs been and why?

- Arthur C Clarke - Childhoods End, Rendezvous with Rama - pretty much any by this author
- Philip Pullman - Dark Materials Trilogy in particular
- Ben Elton - excellent light reads which are superbly written
- Tom Sharpe - cannot shout about this author enough - witty, clever, well written, easy flow
- Susan Howatch - Starbridge series in particular
- Stephen Fry - The Hippopotamus/Paperweight in particular
- E M Forster - The Machine Stops - excellent short story, written in 1909 and applicable today, can be downloaded or read online at - http://brighton.ncsa.uiuc.edu/prajlich/forster.html - really excellent short read
- Books I'm currently reading - when I get time, seem to have been reading them for ages, keep reading fiction inbetween.
- Focus magazine - extremely interesting BBC mag about current technologies, science, etc, whilst managing to retain the bite sized, need to know element
Viz magazine - one of the most brilliantly written productions on the face of the planet that's been going for over 20 years - crude occasionally so not for Mary Whitehouse, funny every single time
Various other mags with articles that interest me such as New Scientist, Standpoint, etc

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Picked up bargains today - The Complete Maus (includes both parts I and II) and The Mitfords - both been on my list for a while, plus the cartoon cover and illustrated version of One Flew Over The Cuckoos Nest which I've never read although love the film. All on 3 for 2 at Waterstones :)

Oh and my neighbour chucks her Marie Claire mags over the fence when she's read them...

Oh and Pure, I grew up reading The Hobbit and LOTR - when I heard they were coming out on film I was beside myself and bought them all as soon as I could. Childhood thing I guess but still a wonderful story of true friendship.

Pepper - I agree that the occasional self help book can be an interesting and useful read, just pick out the bits that you need! The two best books I've read recently are -

- Live Alone and Like It - Majorie Hillis. Written in 1936 so should be read a little tongue in cheek, but many values remain today for the officially single woman
- Life's Too F**king Short - Janet Street Porter. An excellent short read on Janet's take on life - what to leave in and what to drop kick out.

LL - I bought Call the Midwife but as yet haven't read it, excellent to see good feedback for it, I shall push it forward!

Estudiante - how about telling us your lists?

I thank you all for sharing your reading lists. It is only fair that I tell you mine, which I will. I've just been swamped with work again. Will post my list at the first moment of respite I am allowed.