Naff old books that you are embarrassed to admit reading but just LOVE

I was thikning only yesterday that I wanted to re read all the Anne of green gables books - I loved them when I first read them.

I also was transfixed by my first sidney sheldon book, so dashed off to get another (amazingly they are easy to find in any charity shop near you) - then I realised they all have basically the same plot :o

I love Miss Read and reread them regularly. Also James Herriot (Cedric the farting boxer, anyone?), Chalet School, Malory Towers. I have all the Agatha Christie books but haven't read them for years, I don't know why. R.F Delderfield, yes definitely. I don't think I'd class any of them as naff though (defensive ).

Oh and Laura Ingalls Wilder. How I used to yearn to be a pioneer girl!

Jilly Cooper, Cathy Kelly, Sheila O'Flanagan. I could go on....

Pan Horror books. Jilly Cooper. Clive Cussler :)

I am amazed so many people have read the Miss Read books, I loved their gentle innocence. Also Meave Binchy and Marion Keyes.

ooh, I love the Chalet School! I'm re-reading one at the minute. Also Anne of Green Gables and her other series like Emily. The Antonia Forest series is fab too. I'm not embarrassed about them though, 'Autumn' term is right next to 'Mill on the Floss' on a living room bookcase ATM!

oooh - which 3 Keziah? I want to live vicariously through your pleasure...

I have just had to take out 3 Georgette Heyer's from the library having read the rest of this thread!

Barristermum - definitely AJ Cronin, Miss Read.

My copy of The Secret Island completely fell apart, so I bought a new copy a few years ago - telling myself our goddaughter will love it when old enough!

The LM Montgomery, James Herriot, Arthur Ransome, Enid Blyton are all on the bookcase.

I've not yet read Jilly Cooper/ Georgette Heyer.

I love, and re-read,

James Herriot
Jean Auel (shame!)
Laura Ingalls Wilder
L.M. Montgomery
The Devil Wears Prada
Innocence
'The Country Child' (no shame here. It's good!)
The 'Tillerman' books by Cynthia Voigt

Etc.

Oumarusks, you can get them on ebay for suprisingly little money - I have occasionally forgotten myself in an auction and paid a £100 but more often £60 - nice birthday present action if you want to tell a relative. Make sure they don't buy one with a copy DJ - it's got to be original if they are to retain value, but they're lovely as they are unabridged and the Armada versions slashed them terribly.

I love Anne of Greengables too - and Megan Followes as her on the TV serialisation is comfort TV watching too.

Courtesy of this thread I am rereading Regency Buck

ditto sidney sheldon, virgina andrews, jilly cooper and kinflicks!

kurri i read those jalna when a teen, think I will re-read again!

I had forgotten all about The Secret Island. I loved it so much as a child, we had a lake with an island across the field from my parents house when I was a child, I longed to go and live on it but there were loads of horrid geese living there .SO happy I have been reminded! I have just ordered it from Amazon for me dd .

My easy reading / guilty pleasure books are PG Wodehouse, Miss Read and Terry Pratchett.

Barristermum - oooh, I'm very envious of your first editions

Alison Utley..i think called Country Child? and was true story. All the Little House on Prairies too.

thanks so much for reminding me of The Secret Island, BelligerentGhoul!!! I wanted to BE those kids more than life itself. Think will plan a hopeful/optimistic visit to parents loft soon in hope that copy still remains!! Does anyone remember a book also by Enid Blyton about a brother and sister that went to live in a hollow tree?? (nothing to do with the Enchanted Wood books) that always captivated me but have never been able to recall title

found my old copy of North and South (with Patrick Swayze on cover) - am really tempted to re read!

all the Anne of Green Gables series..all enchanting!!

Ooo I'd forgotten Howard spring and anyone else like the Herries Chronicles? Walpole I think. Cumbria and rougher than poldark but romantic and swashbuckling.

The thing I most forgot of my romantic youth tho was the scarlet pimpernel series. Not just the first but eldorado and all those that followed. Demme Monsieur chauvelin!!!

Everything by Jilly Cooper, she's absolutely fab! Have to admit that they are in the private study bookcase though and not on display in the one in the dining room (blush) .

Anyone else an Elswyth Thane fan? I spent my teens fantasising about living in Colonial Williamsburg instead of boring old Devon.

And I still have my collection of JT Edson westerns (though they are hidden away from the discerning) - whatever happened to westerns? When I was a girl libraries had whole sections devoted to them.

Barrister mum - I had forgotten about Poldark, A J Cronin and R F Delderfield - I loved their books. I'd also throw Howard Spring into the mix as a good comfort read.