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Did you get an non-typical authorial insights from her in the ensuing conversation?

It was clear to me as I read LK Hamilton that the sex was "the point" of the book, and the other stuff was just filler and set-up for the next sex scene.

That's interesting. I've heard "Lord of the Flies" and "Catcher in the Rye" mentioned a lot in response to this topic on other pages I visit, but I had just assumed that people were begrudgingly remembering school assignments. I guess that leads me to ask, which books have you folks disliked...

As a writer, my aim is actually to write literary fantasy, so I'm curious, what do you see as some of the essential characteristics of literary fantasy that would separate it from not-so-literary fantasy, like Robert Jordan?

I think that's because, from what I understand of JD Robb (never actually read one), it is supposed to be a romance/mystery cross-genre. And sex scenes are a central feature of most romance novels.

Ever read a book that you absolutely hated? Or even one that you rather disliked? Which book was it? And why didn't you like it?

I always give a book a chance, reading every word at the beginning. But once I get the feel of it, unless I'm utterly enthralled, I will skim. To what extent, it depends on the book. I get all my books from the library so I don't worry about getting the book's "worth" out of it. I just read for...

Downhill? Do you mean that because you found them so addicting (i.e. snowball factor) or because none of the rest are as good as the first?

I recently read one of her books for the first time. I never thought I'd complain about a book having too much sex, but hers definitely did.

I think, perhaps, if there was a GROUP of characters I could identify with, it would be the Hobbits. A quiet life of eating good food and drinking good ale sounds like my kind of thing.

Kay is one of my favorites, too. I think he would do that quite well. I hope he'll continue expanding into other medieval cultures.

I'm a writer (albeit unpublished as of yet). I write fantasy.

When you're reading a new book, do you read every word? Do you ever skim? If so, what parts do you skim? Does it depend on the author? How the story develops? Your mood at the time?

What is your favorite classic film? Why does this film intrigue you?

I can't think of any character I've identified with recently. The previous point about character's having traumatic lives is a good one. I don't think I'd want to live any life that is eventful enough to make good fiction. Give me boring peace and quiet.

Who are the literary characters you most identify with? If you could live the adventures, conflicts, pitfalls and triumphs of any literary character, who would it be? On the other hand, if a friend were describing you, what character would they most liken you to?

Can you give me any recommendations?

I remember the favorite books of my youth fondly, but I would say that I'm mostly happy to have moved on to adult books. Moral ambiguity isn't exactly a staple of children's or young adult fiction.

If you're an adult, do you ever read children's books? Harry Potter is probably the most notorious example of what I'm talking about. A lot of adults are picking up children's (or young adult) novels, especially in the alternative reality (scifi, fantasy, etc.) genres, for their own reading...

I've only heard about this controversy, not read or seen any interviews. But it occurs to me that all he had to say was that opinions differ when it comes to literary nonfiction. Many nonfiction purists would label memoir as fiction, while looser definitions call admittedly-fictional memoirs...