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Original poster

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

132 replies

BalloonSlayer · 07/01/2011 17:02

I recently found a copy of an omnibus of James Herriot's books in a church booksale.

I last read his books (my copies must be in the loft somewhere) when I was waiting for DS1 to arrive, nearly 11 years ago.

I am enjoying reading them again SO much. They are so funny, and sad - and yes, sentimental - and the funny stories are written so well I still chuckle out loud. I must have read some of the anecdotes a hundred times in my life, they were a massive success in the 70s. Yet I wouldn't be surprised if they were out of print now.

What guilty pleasures do you have? Have you got any favourite books that you don't give pride of place on your bookshelf, even though you should?

OP posts:
theITgirl · 07/01/2011 22:12

sybilvimes - I also like MM Kaye, especially her detective ones, have you come across those

GypsyMoth · 07/01/2011 21:34

i'm sad!!

my dd's laugh at me but i pounce on their english lit gcse books!! i LOVE to re read 'lord of the flies',and' an inspector calls',and last night started on 'of mice and men'

kind of think i'll avoid 'much ado about nothing!

CornishKK · 07/01/2011 21:29

Dorothy L Sayers - just the Wimsey & Harriet ones. Agatha Christie, just Miss Marple.

Jilly Cooper, definitely Virginia Andrews, all of them but especially My Sweet Audrina, Poldark series, Catherine Cookson, Jean M Auel.

Another that I can't remember the author of, The Mists of Avalon, brilliant.

A John Wyndham box set!

The Far Pavillions is a shameless holiday read.

William Horwood's Duncton series and Skallgrigg.

I have Noam Chomsky on my shelf (a gift), the spine remains uncracked.

comewhinewithme · 07/01/2011 21:24

The Flowers In The Attic series Blush.

MissRead · 07/01/2011 21:18

Check out my user name for my all time favourite comfort reads... Amazed to see that there are others here who read her too, was convinced I was the only person under 50 who'd ever heard of her! Have recently discovered Lillian Harry whose Burracombe novels are very similar but with slightly more plot. Also adore Jilly Cooper especially the Octavia/Imogen/Harriet etc series. Love kids' books too, spent many happy hours in the children's section of the local library when I was a student and am loving reading them to DD now.

MrsFlittersnoop · 07/01/2011 21:14

Winston Graham - Poldark series
Georgette Heyer
Miss Read
James Herriott
Alexander McCall Smith
H.E. Bates - Darling Buds of May

Am a sucker for kids books too:
Laura Ingalls Wilder (Little House on the Prairie)
Noel Streatfeld
Gillian Avery

Twinklenips · 07/01/2011 21:07

Flowers in the attic. Blush

GnomeDePlume · 07/01/2011 21:03

Dorothy L Sayers and Agatha Christie. They are comfort reading for when I feel poorly.

Summersoon · 07/01/2011 21:01

Def James Herriott.
Also Agatha Christie, George Higgins (Boston crime fiction), John Le Carre, Scott Turow, William Tapply (again Boston-based lawyer-crime fiction) Not sure any these, including James Herriott, should be counted as naff though! There is a good reason why people read and re-read these books! And what about Jane Austen - one of my favourite bad day at work/bad cold/other irritations reads. I think I have read P&P about 25 times!

rocket5 · 07/01/2011 21:01

The Lorna Hill 'Wells' series about ballet dancers - just put them on the bookshelves in DD's room. Scarily enough I still know them almost word for word..

maktaitai · 07/01/2011 20:56

Dick Francis
Georgette Heyer
Sue Barton series - I'm always putting them in the attic/selling them and then embarassingly rebuying them in charity shops
and even more embarrassingly the Carol series by the same author
Marian Keyes
Dorothy L Sayers

Cathycat · 07/01/2011 20:52

I love the Lilian Harry stories about World War 2. all very nostalgic, predictable, relaxing and simple to read. Oh ethelina - The Chalet School! - I am gutted to admit that I chucked my whole collection away when I moved house, 8 years ago. Why?! To this day I don't know what possessed me. I would love to read the whole lot now!

KurriKurri · 07/01/2011 20:33

I'll confess to the Whiteoaks of Jalna books by Mazo de la Roche, for my comfort reading, (I started a thread about them once, but I don't think many people had heard of them Grin)

Anne of Green Gables, and all the Little Women books too. And Anne Granger's Mitchell and Markby books (cosy undemanding whodunnits)

Keziahhopes · 07/01/2011 18:59

Miss Read, James Herriot, Anne of Green Gables.... comfort books definitely that I have.

mrsmillsfanclub · 07/01/2011 18:57

Miss Read-read all of them. I find them a real comfort when life is stressful, they are totally void of nastiness, violence and are very relaxing.

ethelina · 07/01/2011 18:14

The Ordinary Princess? Old favourite of mine. Smile Lost my copy a while ago though. Sad

sybilvimes · 07/01/2011 17:57

MM Kaye. I love her novels. I don't know anyone else who has ever admitted to having read them Blush

FlorenceAndTheMachine · 07/01/2011 17:52

Miss Read
Many children's books
Sophie Kinsella

Carrie06 · 07/01/2011 17:50

Jemima J - dog eared, twice the size it used to be from reading in the bath.

eyeofhorus · 07/01/2011 17:50

sara paretsky detective novels

dalek · 07/01/2011 17:48

Stephen King - but only the early stuff.

pinkhebe · 07/01/2011 17:45

me too Bloomingnora Blush

bloomingnora · 07/01/2011 17:43

OK, I confess. Dick Francis. Have got them all

ethelina · 07/01/2011 17:41

Ive got the James Heriot books. My secret shame is Chalet School books. Also keep a selection of kids books such as The Secret Garden, A Little Princess, Black Beauty and Kim for mindless bath reading.

WhereTheWildThingsWere · 07/01/2011 17:37

I see your James Heriott, Jilly Coopers and Marian Keyes (all of which I have).

And raise you

Anne Rice

and

Charlotte Bingham

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