Harry on Down to Buy It! NOW!

[Lemming]

I've noticed the best and most-exciting forum the world has ever seen has been a little down over the past few days. Since Thorpey was dropped methinks! Oh no!

Well to cheer everyone up, I've started a book thread. I must admit that when I'm in the mood I'm partial to a bit of reading and with it being the summer - and I have some time off - I'm about to get my head stuck into a few books. Autobiographies, popular science, science fiction, fantasy, horror, I love them all! I don't go for romance though!

What books have you read recently, were they any good? What are their ratings (out of five-stars, five-stars being the best) in your opinion?

What are your favourite books ever? You may wish to comment on your favourite authors!

To get everyone motivated, I have set up a little question: We all are fully aware that the long-waited "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" is out in bookshops in about 18 minutes time (in the UK at least). Have you read the snazztastic Harry Potter series? I have! Are you going to buy this new Harry Potter book?

[Mongoose]

I might buy the new Harry Potter book. I'm about to resume the third book, and will then plough my way through 'The Joblot of Fire' and 'The Order of the Phoenix' (two Stellas and some salted peanuts, please). This time next week, I will have finished my career as a teacher of English, so I am going to take up reading again! As I have not really done much reading while teaching - it kind of kills the instinct to pick up a book of any description.

As for my favourite book/author. My favourite author is Thomas Hardy, who is despised by most people who have read his books. I think his characters are superb and he gets the reader involved in the character's experiences very effectively. He also knows how to tell a good tale, as shown by his short stories.

Favourite novel: Tess of the d'Urbervilles has some of the best writing by anyone ever. But it also has some pretty poor aspects. Last year I read 'Birdsong' by Sebastian Faulks, and I thought it was staggering. He wrote about WW1 soldiers in a way that got you to feel for them, but without ever showing an ounce of sentimentality. I think it's the best book I've ever read.

[Mongoose]

Having seen the poll that's been added:

I prefer the 'King of the Ring' for it's overall storyline, but Potter beats it on quality of writing. Rowling does write very well. Whereas Tolkein, a scholar of Old English, wrote the Ring Thing as if it had been originally written in Old English and he was translating it. Too much 'and the sons of men ...' blah blah blah. Just call them 'men' and be done with it.

Incidentally, I've been to Middle Earth. Not New Zealand. That's the Middle Earth of the films. I've been to the Middle Earth of the books aka Moseley Bog in Birmingham. It's where Tolkein grew up, and its places gave him the ideas for creating Middle Earth - I've been into 'Fangorn Forest' and seen a skanky pond that became the Dead Marshes.

[Lemming]

I've read every word that J.K. Rowling has penned in her Harry Potter series thus far and have absolutely enjoyed every last one of them. Lovely Stuff!

She's had bitter criticism off others for apparently nicking ideas and bringing them together, this is utter nonsense. Rowling simply has an amazing imagination and creates another world for the average person to drift into with a simple turning of a page. She's a complete genius and should be Dame J.K. Rowling!

Not only does she write billiant books but amazingly J.K. also has - over the past few years - found time to release music albums with her band Jamiroguai, have a lengthy relationship with the lovely Denise van Outen (of ITV's "Where the Heart Is" fame) and get a slot on Radio 1!

What a (wo)man! What a (wo)man!

I believe Harry Potter deserves a five-star rating!

[Mongoose]

Originally Posted by Lemming

She's had bitter criticism off others for apparently nicking ideas and bringing them together, this is utter nonsense.

She did get 'He who we don't name' from Lord of the Ring o' Roses. Although Shakespeare only wrote three original stories, and the rest were remakes. Don't hear anyone complaining about Hamlet and King Lear.

[Lemming]

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is now, officially, OUT!

[Mongoose]

Are you outside Waterstone's in Rugeley, with your sleeping bag and special 'Harry Potter' face mask?

[Maranello]

Originally Posted by Lemming

Are you going to buy this new Harry Potter book?

No Sir I am not! But I am off to our Borders here, since its open to 1am tonight and all books have 20% off...might come back with a sackful, but then again, might not if the store is over-run by Wisards!

PS: In either case, hopefully the Starbucks inside Borders will have a free chair for me to lounge about in peace and seclusion...!

[Mongoose]

Originally Posted by Maranello

No Sir I am not!

Blimey! I think that's the first time anyone's called Lemming 'Sir'! And they haven't followed it up with 'You're making a scene' ...

[Lemming]

Dame Rowling is reading an extract - from chapter six - to loads of kids at the moment. Magical stuff! Harry, Ron and Ginny are visiting Fred and George's joke shop in Diagon Alley.

But I do think it's unfair making kids sit there and listen to her at this hour. They all want to be camped outside Waterstone's with me, waiting to get our hands on a copy of the book!