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Thinks by David Lodge This one's on my TBR shelf.

I'm not a great lender of books at all. I don't know many people who seem to be as interested as me in reading. Also I like to keep my books in good condition and hate them having their spines broken and the pages becoming dog-eared. That's not to say I wont lend a book if somebody finds one...

I've just finished Donna Tarrt's first novel 'The Secret History' which I really enjoyed. I also had a quick jaunt through John Buchan's 'The Thirty-nine Steps'. I read this in one sitting but enjoyed it thoroughly. Real 'Ripping Yarns' type stuff - great fun. I've just started 'Hyperion by...

The Rising Sun by Douglas Galbraith. Great story based on Scotlands doomed attempt to colonise South America. I don't understand why this book has not done better. I really enjoyed it.

A Prayer fo Owen Meany - John Irving

Norwegian Wood - Haruki Murakami This is his most accessible book. His other books (that I've read) are just as good if not better although slightly weirder, but not unduly so, if you get my meaning. I'll just babble on shall I.

Sounds interesting. On a similar vein have you read 'I,Lucifer' by Glen Duncan. The Devil comes to Earth having been given one last shot at redemption if he can behave himself. He takes over the body of a suicidal writer and tells his side of the story. Very dark, very funny.

Lady Chatterley's Lover Hi Booker I can't say I was massively impressed by Lady Chatterley's Lover. I found too many turgid, boring passages in places. When the story is progressing it moves along quite quickly however. I only really finished it because I wanted to know how it ended...

Jeeves and Wooster Omnibus - PG Wodehouse. Actually, any of the Wodehouse books are brilliant but as they are usually a very quick read the omnibus option lasts that much longer. The new Penguin edition mentioned above has three hilarious novels in it. A great introduction if you've never...

And the less frivolous answer is 'yes', it's pronounced exactly the same. Iain is the Scottish spelling.:)

To Kill a Mockingbird is a very good film. The book is better but the film gives it a good run for its money. I also think the TV series of Das Boot captures the mood of the book superbly. Again the book has the edge over the film but only just.

I tried reading several books at a time but couldn't cope. Typical male - can only do one thing at a time!! So generally I only read one novel at a time but I can read a non-fiction book at the same time, usually history.

PS Forgot to mention I'm also a fan of Rugby Union. The Six Nations Championship starts tomorrow so the next few weekends are going to be spent in the pub with a few pints watching the matches on the big screen.

Thanks to all for your generous welcome. Booker I hope that I'm not preaching to the converted here. Glad you liked Amsterdam. His latest book, 'Atonement', is in my opinion his weakest so far. If you haven't tried them look into some of his earlier stuff. 'The Cement Garden', 'The Comfort...

I loved Gormenghast despite getting stalled halfway through 'Titus Groan' first time round. When I tried a second time I couldn't put it down. I know that Gormenghast is based on ancient Chinese court life but is a creation of a seperate world which for me makes it fantasy (but without all...

A - Z Books A Fine Balance - Rohinton Mistry Rohinton Mistry is an Indian living in Canada and has been nominated for the Booker Prize several times now. He writes about contemporary India. 'A Fine Balance' is a story of four people (a widow, two tailors and a student) who are thrown...

OT - Das Boot Hello Ell I've not seen the movie version but I have seen the extended TV series ( six 1 hour episodes) from which the movie was extracted. I think it is the most powerful war drama I have ever watched. It was having seen Petersen's series that made me want to read the...

I've just finished Philip Pullman's 'His Dark Materials' trilogy which was excellent. Very involving and full of inventiveness. I've just started 'Lady Chatterley's Lover'. Something I should have read ages ago but have only just got round to.

When I'm not reading I go Scuba Diving. I dive with the local club and we travel all round the British coast during the summer months. I've also been lucky enough to dive in the Carribean, the Med, the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean (in the Maldives). I'm also a fan of history and archaeology...

You could also try 'The Cider House Rules' which along with 'Garp' and 'Owen Meany' were my favourites by Irving. I recently tried his new one 'The Fourth Hand' and gave up after 50 or so pages. I just couldn't get on with it. It stretched reality too far for me. I felt he was trying too hard...