Reading habits and favorite books

Hanne · Reading habits and favorite books

Reading is one of my favorite things. My mother's family read a lot - my four uncles had books in the kitchen, in bathroom, everywhere - and I learned the habit from them. Now my older boy, Aleksanteri has taken up it as well. He'll be three next month, but he is learning letters! He reads the dictionary and points out the different letters, he has learned to count because he is interested in numbers and three days ago he has started to draw letters. I'm quite amused, because usually toddlers draw humans, but mine draws u, o, i, p... I think he might learn to read in very early age. Surely before he goes to school when he's seven years old.

I'm also a very quick reader. I can read a novel in English (400-600 pages) in four to five hours. Finnish is a bit quicker still, but now I read almost exclusively in English because I want to spend some time with my books. DH is really envious of this. He's slower and never has time to read anything.

I get my books from several sources. Earlier I used library, but now when I've started to focus more on historical fiction and science fiction & fantasy with romantic elements, I have to get them abroad. I use Bookmooch a lot. I can swap my old books there and get points, which I can use to ask books from others. It has worked very well for me. Everyone has been honest and nice, no frauds there.
I buy quite many e-books. They're a bit cheaper, no need for shipping and available as soon as I place my order. I'm always losing my books, because I walk around the house with a book in my hand and never remember where I put it. Also, the e-books are more ecological option. If I was slower reader, I wouldn't like to buy them. Reading from computer screen starts to get uncomfortable for long periods of time.
I buy my books from Fictionwise, because they have good selection and they don't add VAT to purchases. I bought their club membership last month because it gives access to online library and discounts from my purchases. I can lend three books at the time from there without charge. To be honest, their library selection isn't very good, but I'm curious to try almost anything.

I like historical novels and fantasy with romantic elements. Lately I've finished historical fiction trilogy by Judith Merkle Riley. It's set on 13th century England and it tells the life story of young woman called Margaret of Ashbury. The author has a good grasp of history and the story is very interesting, with all sorts of twists.
I think that her another book, Master of All Desires, is even better. Some scenes were so funny that I laughed aloud even though it was third time I read the book. You can read the non-spoiler review here

What are your favorites? I'm always searching for a good read.

pictish

I just love reading too Hanne and tho I work in a library I do tend to buy a lot of books Embarassed

I have maybe a bigger book stash than my wool stash Laughing

I read a lot of history esp medieval and C16th and historical fiction from that period. I love Elizabeth Chadwick's historical novels and Sharon Penman's and also Phillippa Gregory tho she takes liberties with the facts Confused

I'm reading a life of Bess of Hardwick at the moment - she was a friend of Elizabeth I and went through 4 husbands getting richer each time Wink

I also like diaries, letters and biographies. I'm getting the letters of the Mitfords for Christmas - see here I'm also a member of Audible for listening while I'm knitting Cool

Jobo

I am a big reader too and like Ali, I like Phillipa Gregory - she is my fave at the moment.

I've just finished reading Bad Girls, Good Women by Rosie Thomas which Ive read twice over the years - it really is very good.

My favourite book recently has to be The Island by Victoria Hislop.

I like Martina Cole too (crime thrillers), although they are very gritty and have a lot of swearing - my favourite by her is The Ladykiller - a real page turner.

I love chicklits sometimes too - just read Caroline's Sister by Sheila O'Flanagan - very good!!

Katy Gardner is another great author for a psychological thriller Very Happy

I have read Hidden, and Losing Gemma (which was made into a TV drama over here).

gilraen

Me too!! I'm the daughter of an ex-English teacher and a writer/poet and avid reader. eg We were read the Hobbit at 4yrs for bedtime stories, and I had read all of the LoTR by 10 and Jean Plaidy/Heyer etc by 12. There were always shelves upon shelves of books at home.

My all time favourite after Middle Earth etc is historical fiction and my favourite Author of this genre is Dorothy Dunnett, a Scottish writer. Her Lymond Series would be my 'Desert Island Discs' books. Smile

I love crime thrillers too. Smile

Oblonsky

I love reading too. I read loads of different genres, but mostly fantasy and historical fiction.

Some favourite books lately were the Diana Gabaldon 'Outlander' series, books by Elizabeth Chadwick, trilogies by Robin Hobb. Perennial favourites include Tolkien, Diana Wynne Jones and Georgette Heyer.

I still read children's books and school stories!

I also like travel books and biographies.

And it goes without saying that I read any knitting book I find Very Happy

Our bookshelves are so over-loaded, as both my children love reading too! Books were the one thing we always had loads of when I was growing up!

loobyj

Ooh, I read anything other than too much horror or gore Very Happy

I love reading - lol at Gilraen - that could be me you're describing - my teacher memorably described me as being a 'precocious reader'

I do have different types of books for different places though. Something easy to pick up and put down for the train - detective stuff or chick lit; bit more meaty fiction for bed. And hardback books are only for the living room - too heavy to take anywhere else Laughing

lj

Hanne