I have just read 2 books which I really liked, despite not usually liking books like that.

[GetOrfMoiLand]

So, is The Girl with the Dragon tattoo by Steig Larsson and Her Fearful Symmtery actually any good in your opinion, or ate they mindless tosh (as I would normally think) and I have developed bad taste in books.

I loathe mystery/crime ish books, but really was compelled by the Dragon tattoo one. very strange morality, but interesting and a great story. The prose was dull, however sometimes you don't want to read beautifully constructed sentences, and just want to go along for a gallop of a read.

And the Audrey Niffenenager one - I have avoided Time Travellers Wife as in my mind it is in the same league as Jodi Piccoult i.e. shite, but I really enjoyed fearful Symmetry. I whole contingent of characters which seemed Ok at first, but ended up being horrible, selfish gits. Brilliant sub plot re the neighbour with OCD and his wife, as well.

What did everyone think?

I didn't like either of these books - sorry !

GWDT - I am very much in the minority here as most people love it but it just didn't grip me - it was an easy read but I never felt compelled to pick it up. I guess the subject matter wasn't entirely my thing but I can read fairly widely and enjoy it so don't think it was just that. However, I told DH to read it and he read it, and then the next 2.

Her fearful symmetry - I think this was mainly my problem in that I am not very good at suspending belief and spent most of time thinking it was ridiculous and probably missed stuff because it was annoying me. That said, I agree about the OCD subplot - that was the best bit along wiht the descriptions of the cemetry, which made me want to go on a tour. My Mum enjoyed it though !

Yes, it was completely over the top (Symmetry) and there were points (quite a lot actually) where I thought 'oh, come on'. But loved the descroiptons of the ceremony and the first 3rd (where the ghost is flitting round the flat, watching) and the descriptions of grief were really well done, I think.

I really enjoyed time traveller's wife but then my view of what is shite may be lower than yours.

was surprised by GWDT - took a bit of getting into then got hooked and had to read all three in fairly quick succession. I found teh trick was to stop trying to remember who or where anywhere was and just go with the flow!

Oh yes for the life of me i couldn't remember who was who in GWDt tattoo at first - in one parapgraph someone called Berger was talking about someone called Birger. I twas like War and Peace where everyone has got 3 names and there is a cast of hundreds.

Enjoyed dragon tattoo - but haven't gone back for any of his others, very dark and having read american psycho I heartly wish I could completely erase some passages from my head

• I would give time travellers wife a go honestly, I hate Jodi Piccoult et al but TTW was a good read, very little hand wringing of waiting wife.

If anyone wants a book to put the fear of god into anyone planning children "we need to talk about Kevin" is great.

Gwdt is shit. Fun for the last third but still shit.

I read all three of course.

I think it depends what you need/want from a book at a given point - some books may not be fantastic literary works, but are neverthless original, smart page-turners which are entertainment for a few hours.

Bit like an episode of 'Emmerdale' vs an art house movie.

Calling books like the Stieg Larsson trilogy 'shit' is a bit simplistic. Popular books are not automatically rubbish - maybe success in itself is some indication of merit.

But they are shit. They aren't very well written, the characters are blatant wish fulfillment, the sex is AWFUL.

But they are exciting - well eventually they are. After 2/3 of the book full of leaden prose, it takes off and you really can't put it down.

There are better popular books out there.

I enjoyed GWDT and have read the 2nd one, 3rd is on my to read pile (with about 20 other books ). I didn't find them easy to read as such, I found it hard to understand some of the plot, though that could have been down to the translation.

HFS I didn't enjoy so much. Like Wheelybug, I liked the OCD subplot and the descriptions of the cemetary but other than that thought that it didn't quite know what kind of book it should be ifyswim.

Give Time Travellers Wife a go, I really enjoyed that and very different to Jodi Picoult (who I don't like!)