Viz

But it's officially not as good as it used to be...

(Actually I agree with that, it's something of a shadow of its former self. But there's still usually one or two things in each issue that make me laugh uncontrollably.)

Nikki French novels are my guilty pleasure. I'm not into thrillers as a rule, but I do find these addictive. I also love Sue Grafton's Kinsey Milhone alphabet novels and will be bereft when she finally hits Z, but she writes so well, I'm not sure that counts as a guilty pleasure.

Caroline, I'm with you on Sue Grafton. And yes, she's definitely too good to feel guilty about.

Emma

Emma, didn't like the last one that much though, and felt so let down! Have you read it? Think it was S for...er, something.

No, I don't think I have - I tend to pick them up second hand, so my colledction looks more like a spilled scrabble-rack than a tidy alphabet!

I wonder what she'll do when she reaches Z?

Emma

How about numbers ? "9 is for 911" anybody ?

Zipper Magazine.

JB

I suppose I don't feel so much guilty, exactly, about my Jilly Cooper moments, more that.... some friends came round over Xmas and were admiring the books on my shelves and saying, ooh, gosh, haven't read that, never managed to get through that, etc etc, and then suddenly- Jilly Bloody Cooper! that's what you really read isn't it? and Maeve Binchy! and... and I felt slightly as though I had to defend myself, as in; oh, those are for real bathtime reading, you know, just instantly forgettable, but fun... silly tho, to categorise books. i think of my guilty reads like chocolate, though.

But chocolate is fantastic isn't it?

I read Maeve Binchy too, and don't care who knows it.

I don't think any of us should feel guilty about what we read, just because it isn't always all intelligent and literary.

As said on another thread, a lot of us read for escapism, and there's nothing better than losing yourself in a fictional world for a while - even if it is totally unbelievable with unrealistic characters. It's a chance to escape into another world and forget about your worries - whatever they might be - for a little bit.

Katerina

Jeez, I'll go along with that. I still read comic books, Batman and the like, which i'm sure certain members of society would have a chuckle over. The problem with those people is they believe in their own taste too much, which from where I'm sitting, usually revolves around things that are dull as dishwater. Still, each to their own.

JB

Actually, what am I on about 'I have no guilty reads'?

My favourite guilty read of all time is the WWforum.

Lol. Good one.

JB

It's easy to be PARANOID about what others think of your tastes, but I don't think it's worth getting excited about it. Personally I don't distinguish between bath-books and other books. They all get the steam treatment.

Pete