Step into the BBC Lancashire's Literati Lounge, a chilled out space to hang out and wax lyrical about your passion for reading. Whether you're barmy about biographies, get your kicks from thrillers or it's fantasy fiction that floats your boat, share it here with your fellow literatistas (can you tell we're making these words up as we go along?!) It's easy peasy, just fill in the form below and we'll do the rest... Paul from Colne... Favourite book - Though there are many books I've read, 1984 by George Orwell is one that sticks in my mind. Life changing - no... only lots of cash will do that! Last book that made you laugh out loud? - Small Island by Anne Levy... I think! Last book you couldn't finish? - James Joyce's Ullycees Favourite book from your childhood? - Any Famous Five | "Some rude bits from a Jackie Collins book can make your eyes water. " | |
Most shocking book you've ever read? - I don't really do shocking Which fictional character would you like to be? - Flashman Mike from Bolton... Favourite book - The Chrysalids - John Wyndham. Life changing - The bible has already been said, so possibly Pilgrim's Progress (John Bunyan) which I read in a modernised version before going back to the original Last book that made you laugh out loud? - anything by Terry Pratchett Last book you couldn't finish? - I got about half way through "A complete history of almost everything". and I almost gave up on "The Rule of Four" by Ian Caldwell and Justin Thomason. Favourite book from your childhood? - Either "Earthdark" or "The Ghosts", but I read a lot of Heinlein too. Most shocking book you've ever read? - Pet Semetary by Stephen King - or maybe Rats by James Herbert Which fictional character would you like to be? - I think it would be fun to be almost anyone attending Hogwarts, though perhaps not one of the main characters. Maggie from Burnley... Favourite book - Of all time has to be - "Pride and Prejudice" but I have read so many great books - "The Poinsonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver: "Haunting by Numbers" by Helenka Gulshan (but I don't think you can get it in the shops): "Memoires of a Geisha" and of course all the Harry Potter books are brilliant! Life changing - The Bible Last book that made you laugh out loud? - I don't tend to read funny book but I recently read a book by Sandi Tostvig that was very amusing! Last book you couldn't finish? - "War and Peace"! I just couldn't remember all the names! and any Terry Pratchett Favourite book from your childhood? - Heidi Most shocking book you've ever read? - Stephen King - don't like gore or psychological type books that get inside your head. Which fictional character would you like to be? - A hobbit Keris from Blackburn... Favourite book - The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay. It's the story of a white boy growing up in South Africa in the 1940s. We meet him first aged five and at boarding school where he is mercilessly bullied (‘I had had no previous warning that I was wicked and it came as a fearful surprise’ ), his only friend a rooster he names Granpa Chook. You won’t be surprised to hear that the chicken doesn’t make it to the end of the book. But Peekay - Peekay becomes a champion boxer - and I fell completely in love with him. It's a stunning book and everyone should read it. (I wouldn't bother with the film, though.) Life changing - The Big Leap by Suzy Greaves inspired me to give up my job and become a writer. Last book that made you laugh out loud? - Mil Millington's Things My Girlfriend And I Have Argued About is embarrassing-looks-in-public-places funny. Frank Skinner's autobiography is hilarious too. Last book you couldn't finish? - I'm struggling with Rococo by Adriana Trigiani at the moment, which is odd because I've loved her other books. I didn't used to like 'giving up' on books, but now I think there are too many books I want to read to waste time on one I'm not enjoying. Favourite book from your childhood? - Any of Enid Blyton's Malory Towers series. It was reading Enid Blyton that first made me want to be a writer. Apparently, Jackie Collins says the same (seriously!). Most shocking book you've ever read? - Either An Evil Cradling by Brian Keenan or Is That It? by Bob Geldof. Both shocking, but also brilliant, inspiring and ultimately uplifting. Which fictional character would you like to be? - It'd be cool to be Thursday Next in the Jasper Fforde books and get to travel through literature (and have a pet dodo). Only for a while though, her life is threatened too often for my liking! John from Clitheroe... Favourite book - Flower O' The Heather. I've re-read it twice over a number of years. I am certain that there's a bit of the 'Covenanter' in me.
Life changing - Black Elk Speaks. Convinced me that my relationship with God is a personal one.
Last book that made you laugh out loud? - Hitler. My Part in His Downfall. Crazy, like me.
Last book you couldn't finish? - The Da Vinci Code. Not my cup o'tea.
Favourite book from your childhood? - Any of the Biggles books. Grew up with them after the War.
Most shocking book you've ever read? - The Sand Creek Massacre. I couldn't come to terms with how evil a man of God could be
Which fictional character would you like to be? - Back to my childhood for this one..... Biggles. Nick Rowe... Favourite book - The Da Vinci Code - compelling. I hadn't realised before that such a cover-up *could* be possible.
Life changing - The Da Vinci Code. It has made me want to look at art, and take a theology course.
Last book that made you laugh out loud? - Notes From a Small Island - Bill Bryson. Very funny book and its all true!
Last book you couldn't finish? - The Bourne Ultimatum by Robert Ludlum - too big, couldn't be bothered, too confusing as two main characters have nearly the same French name.
Favourite book from your childhood? - Asterix books, gave me a love of history that lasts to this day (even though I know its not factual).
Most shocking book you've ever read? - American Psycho - very disturbing, won't be reading that again.
Which fictional character would you like to be? - Harry Potter without a doubt, would love to live in that wizarding world. Kevin Taylor from Horwich Favourite book? - Any of Clive Cussler stories
Any books changed your life? - Stories from the Bible
Last book that made you laugh out loud? - The Defence Diaries of W. Morgan Petty
Last book you couldn't finish? - Les Miserables, difficult to get into never mind finish it.
Favourite book from your childhood? - Wind in the Willows
Most shocking book you've ever read? - I'm shock proof!
Which fictional character would you like to be? - Dirk Pitt from the Clive Cussler novels Steve Glover from Accrington Favourite book? - The amazing (and amazingly large) A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth which is fantastically well written, also very considerately as chapters are very short. I was bought this for a present and read a bit before setting off on a cycling tour. As it was about 5 inches thick I used to cut off the pages I had read so that it became increasingly easy to read in bed and less of a burden on the bike. A fantastic author. Has he burnt himself out with that monster tome?
Any books changed your life? - All of them to some extent although it's the fact that you live in someone else's skin for a while which stops you needing to change!
Last book that made you laugh out loud? - William and the Evacuees by Richmal Crompton. It was written during the war and transmits a fantastic feel for the period along with lots of laughs. William of course wasn't originally written for children.
Last book you couldn't finish? - Can't remember the last book I couldn't finish but it was undoubtedly some beautifully covered Booker Prize nominee or more likely winner.
Favourite book from your childhood? - It was a huge collection of Richard Scarry stories; the images entranced me and then it disappeared and I really missed it. None of the classics which I later read to my own kids, but all Enid Blyton, Bunter and Biggles.
Most shocking book you've ever read? - Book on the "facts of life" from the library when my mum refuse to divulge them to me. Oh my God! I thought children were conceived through eye contact and so was this a shock!
Which fictional character would you like to be? - Jeeves from the PG Wodehouse books as he gets to have a fantastic time staying at posh country houses, eating the fat of the land, going abroad at Bertie's expense-at the same time as being able to laugh up his sleeve at the vacuous upper class twits who surround him. Andrew Bush from Melling Favourite book? - Gerard Woodward - I'll go to bed at noon.
Any books changed your life? - About Grace, We need to talk about Kevin, Time Travellers Wife, Electric Micaelangelo, Curious Incident, Blind Assasin. These are some of the best books I've read in the last twelve months, they have given me something to focus on while I have been ill.
Last book that made you laugh out loud? - Lionel Schriver, We need to talk about Kevin. I must be a Sicko given that its about school shootings. Stuart Mclean's Home from the Vinyl Cafe is a more conventional hoot.
Last book you couldn't finish? - The American Boy by Andrew Taylor, if the early Victorian middle classes really spoke like that we should have had a revolution.
I've just managed to flog it on Amazon, yippee!
Favourite book from your childhood? - Beano Book 1967.
Most shocking book you've ever read? - Helga Schneider, Let me go. There is a constant media overload about the holocaust but this is different, it is taken from the Nazi perspective, I don't know which is more shocking, the treatment of prisoners or the way the woman dumps her family.
Which fictional character would you like to be? - Shrek. Ketlan Ossowski from Lancaster Favourite book? - Life, A User's Manual by Georges Perec. Beautifully written with a classic and vicious twist.
Any books changed your life? - The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold. Comforting, frightening, tragic but ultimately life-enhancing.
Last book that made you laugh out loud? - The Enderby trilogy by Anthony Burgess. Brilliantly done and a classic (though mostly appalling) character.
Last book you couldn't finish? - E. M. Forster's 'Where Angels Fear to Tread'. Ghastly and deeply depressing. Put me off Forster for life. Oh, and anything by Victor Hugo.
Favourite book from your childhood? - Any of the William books by Richmal Compton, or Lord of the Rings.
Most shocking book you've ever read? - American Tabloid by James Ellroy. An excellent book but reading it is like being hit in the head repeatedly. Powerful and excruciatingly vivid stuff for those who remember the pre-Kennedy assassination era.
Which fictional character would you like to be? - The writer, Kenneth Toomey, from Earthly Powers (also by Anthony Burgess). Margaret Hilton from Blackburn Favourite book? - No favourite book many authors Ken Follett, Frederick Forsyth, Lesley Pearce.
Any books changed your life? - Truthfully, no.
Last book that made you laugh out loud? - Licence to live - Margaret Grimshaw's autobiography.
Last book you couldn't finish? - Wild Swan - by Jung Chang.
Favourite book from your childhood? - A Peep Behind The Scenes - by L M Alcott.
Most shocking book you've ever read? - The first book by Martina Cole, although I enjoy them now.
Which fictional character would you like to be? - Any hero in one of Ken Follett's books. Preferably a Spy. Anita from Accrington Favourite book? - The most addictive book I have read recently is The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown.
Any books changed your life? - The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. Makes you think.
Last book that made you laugh out loud? - Ozzy Unauthorised by Sue Crawford. Brilliant biography with some amusing tour stories.
Last book you couldn't finish? - Angels and Demons by Dan Brown. Rather gory!
Favourite book from your childhood? - I used to really enjoy Enid Blytons.
Most shocking book you've ever read? - The Marilyn Manson biography, I can't remember who wrote it, but it wasn't pleasant.
Which fictional character would you like to be? - Gandalf from the Lord of the Rings. Karen from Clayton le Woods Favourite book? - The Green Mile by Stephen King, made me cry lots but still read it about 5 times!
Any books changed your life? - When I first read The BFG and stayed awake late into the night reading..it made me into the bookworm I am today!
Last book that made you laugh out loud? - Harry Potter & The Half Blood Prince..are you getting the idea that I am big kid at heart!
Last book you couldn't finish? - I keep picking up 5 people you meet in heaven but not making it past chapter 4.
Favourite book from your childhood? - The BFG...I loved that book and I wanted to be Sophie.
Most shocking book you've ever read? - A Child Called It by Dave Pelzter. I couldnt believe that someone could be so cruel to a child.
Which fictional character would you like to be? - Miss Dashwood in Sense & Sensibility. Vicky from Preston Favourite book? - Harry Potter and the HBP.
Any books changed your life? - The Outsider.
Last book that made you laugh out loud? - The ultimate book of truths.
Last book you couldn't finish? - Terry Pratchett's Guards Guards Guards.
Favourite book from your childhood? - The little wooden horse.
Most shocking book you've ever read? - Wilt by Tom Sharpe.
Which fictional character would you like to be? - Dr Scarpetta from Patricia Cornwell's series. Anne from Rawtenstall Favourite book? - Loads, I tend to have favourite authors. Robert Goddard has some really imaginative (twisted?) plots, I also like Libby Purves & Joanne Harris at the moment.
Any books changed your life? - The Bible - start with the book of Romans or John's gospel.
Last book that made you laugh out loud? - Bill Bryson's "Big Country" the section on cricket!
Last book you couldn't finish? - "Lord of the Rings" even after several attempts.
Favourite book from your childhood? - Famous 5's, "The little princess", "Black Beauty", the list goes on...
Most shocking book you've ever read? - Maybe "The diary of Anne Frank" with the observations of life under Nazi occupation.
Which fictional character would you like to be? - Charlie in the chocolate factory! Katie from Leyland Favourite book? - The Snow Spider Trilogy. I loved the stories and first read it as my family moved to Wales so I took the legends very seriously.
Any books changed your life? - Through a Glass Darkly, by Jostein Gaarder. I read this when I was a teenager and it prompted me to Sophie's World which lead me to study philosophy.
Last book that made you laugh out loud? - Journey to the South, by Annie Hawes. She writes about her life as an Englishwoman in Northern Italy and fondly observes her adopted but totally alien community. Also, Harry Potter 6, I've just finished reading it and it does have some cringesomly funny scenes.
Last book you couldn't finish? - Bonfire of the Vanities. Actually I could barely start this book, let alone finish it. I'm having another go this summer.
Favourite book from your childhood? - It's hard to choose. It's possibly a tie between Angelina Ballerina and any Famous Five book.
Most shocking book you've ever read? - The books that shock me most tend to be true stories and biographies.
Which fictional character would you like to be? - Anyone who got to time-travel. Amina from Preston Favourite book? - Tess of the D'Urbervilles.
Any books changed your life? - The Quran.
Last book that made you laugh out loud? - 'Me Talk Pretty One Day'. It's very funny.
Last book you couldn't finish? - 'Me Talk Pretty One Day'. Funny, but not enough push factor to make me finish it.
Favourite book from your childhood? - I loved the Roald Dahl books. They were so imaginative.
Most shocking book you've ever read? - Hmm. I haven't been shocked yet.
Which fictional character would you like to be? - It hasn't been written yet. I'm waiting... Hannah from Up Holland Favourite book? - I have so many! Harry Potter springs to mind because I'm anxiously awaiting the new book.
Any books changed your life? - Bill Bryson's various travel books have influenced my holiday plans.
Last book that made you laugh out loud? - Vernon God Little is quite funny in places
Last book you couldn't finish? - War and Peace - But only because I haven't had enough time yet.
Favourite book from your childhood? - Enid Blyton - Famous Five and Secret Seven books.
Most shocking book you've ever read? - The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold is about a little girl who is raped and murdered.
Which fictional character would you like to be? - Miss Marple! Emma from Darwen Favourite book? - It's a bit sad to admit but I do like Harry Potter, you just get dragged into the story. In fact I have to buy two so I don't have to fight over them with the kids.
Any books changed your life? - My Next directory.
Last book that made you laugh out loud? - I've been reading one of my ten year old son's books - Neville the Devil by Michael Lawrence. The author was describing an embarrassing mum and it sounded very much like me... also Join Me by Danny Wallace about a man who started a cult by accident, it's not as rubbish as it sounds it IS very funny.
Last book you couldn't finish? - Wuthering Heights, hated it, found it totally depressing. I like to read for fun.
Favourite book from your childhood? - Anything by Enid Blyton.
Most shocking book you've ever read? - Some rude bits from a Jackie Collins book can make your eyes water.
Which fictional character would you like to be? - Elizabeth Bennett from Pride and Prejudice - I'm a bit soft. | 
