Kate wrote: "When i was young i read all of Jackie Collin's books. I loved them. My favourite was the Lucky Chances series which they made into a mini series. "

These are the books I'd be the most embarrassed to say I not only read, but re-read and re-read and LOVED!
Chances
Lucky
Lady Boss
all by Jackie Collins of course.

The story was killer and the graphic "intimate" scenes were fascinating for a 12 year old, lol. I haven't read them since my late teens but I've hung onto them...

Otherwise, I hate it if the cover on my book looks too much like a romance novel. I'd be mortified if people saw me reading one.

I suppose some people would call me a book snob, but my guilty pleasures are fantasy books!! I loved The Magic Faraway Tree as a kid and anything else by Enid Blyton that now I find myself drawn to magicians and dragons. I still read YA, mainly because my 12 yo son loves fantasy too and we share books. I only read these books in bed so no one but my husband knows what I'm reading!

lol, Miss GP... I KNEW IT!

I collect childrens books and for some reason im really fond of the old school girl books like Chalet School. I'm not embarassed about reading them but I dont think I would read it on the bus.

Erin_88888888 wrote: "Emma wrote: "I think being 32 yrs old and enjoying young adult books can be a little embarassing, ..."

If you're embarassed by young adult books, try this: I'm 31 and I will admit that I still ..."

Dr. Seuss is wonderful literature! He writes verses that makes children love reading, I'm certain of it. He just makes it plain fun. I don't think reading children's lit is something to be embarassed about; those are the books that are generally hardest to write, so good children's lit is a token of excellent workmanship, and should be appreciated by all ages.

Does it show that I'm gonna do my master's degree in children's literature? =D

Erin_88888888 wrote: "Emma wrote: "I think being 32 yrs old and enjoying young adult books can be a little embarassing, ..."

If you're embarassed by young adult books, try this: I'm 31 and I will admit that I still ..."

I see absolutely nothing embarassing about that. I have the books that I read over and over to my children on shelves in what was our playroom and I from time to time go in and pick a favorite up, read it and remember those fun times of snuggling with a young child. And yes, I am saving them hoping at some time in my life to be able to share those same books and snuggles with grandchildren.

Emma wrote: "I think being 32 yrs old and enjoying young adult books can be a little embarassing, ..."

If you're embarassed by young adult books, try this: I'm 31 and I will admit that I still have 2 Dr. Seuss books stashed away in a hidden corner of a closed bookshelf. I take them out and read them maybe once every two years when I am feeling a bit depressed or nostalgic.

I can't wait to hear what all of you think of Brideshead. I just loved it.

LemonLinda wrote: "I felt no embarrassment whatsoever in reading the Harry Potter books. I felt that Rowling's imagination was mesmerizing and was totally into the series, reading each book shortly after it came out...."

I agree so many adults read, qeued for hp there can not be any guilt in reading them unless you I suppose at the time of reading there are people in front of you who who think that you should read only "real literature"

I totally agree I loved HP, and Twilight books.

I felt no embarrassment whatsoever in reading the Harry Potter books. I felt that Rowling's imagination was mesmerizing and was totally into the series, reading each book shortly after it came out. Really most any type of reading is better than no reading at all. Maybe those who start with chick lit or romance or young adult books will grow and expand into other genre. I just do not see those books as guilty pleasures - only as pleasures for those who read them.

This is such a great thread!!! In my circle of peers I'm known for reading really intellectual history fact packed books. BUT, in my spare time, I read anything! I guess my real guilty pleasure is a YA series by Louis Rennison that stars Georgia Nicholson. They are like Bridget Jones (which I also love) but shorter, so you can get a fix really quick!!!! I was embarrassed when I read Twilight too. Read all four books. Great story, not really great writing. I LOVE Harry Potter too. (I have a lot of guilty pleasure books!)

Emma, I'm 70 years old and adore both Harry Potter and the Twilight books. My embarrassment has been sexy romance novels. Kids read "grown-up" books all the time. So fair is fair.

Mary wrote: "I find no shame in the fact that I love to read what most people call "fluff"-lots of romances and cozy mysteries. I read to escape from the stress of life. And reading about cholera epidemics an..."

You don't find cholera epidemics escapism?! heh

I think being 32 yrs old and enjoying young adult books can be a little embarassing, although some of YA books are extremely good. I remember when Harry Potter came out and being on holiday, as I was sitting around the pool I saw all these mums & dads with their head stuck into copies of HP. If something makes a good story and is enjoyable who is to say that only YA can read it.Another example is the Twilight Series, aimed at YA but how many adults have actually read it.Lots I presume.

A book that I am embrassed to admit I like is Ulterior Motive. It starts off slow but it's a really good book.

pianogal wrote: "Yeah, I was gonna. I emailed the seller - it wasn't Amazon - but she never got back to me. I thought about pressing it further, but I think it only cost me a buck or two as a used copy, so I didn..."

sometimes I think its the principle-hope you left negative feedback

Yeah, I was gonna. I emailed the seller - it wasn't Amazon - but she never got back to me. I thought about pressing it further, but I think it only cost me a buck or two as a used copy, so I didn't really care.

Not till the middle of the book I am afraid, once she is taken to the castle, even then the "telling not showing" is mainly in play. Rice is going for the telling, the story, not the sex I am afraid.

Amelia -- does the author ever get over the "telling not showing" thing that she had going on in the first fifty pages or so. Because I wasn't drawn into the story, I simply didn't care and it was almost like reading a software manual...I had no idea you could make BDSM boring!!

Pianogal, I would have thrown a fit about missing pages and demanded they refund my money (so I could buy something better!).

pianogal wrote: "Jensownzoo wrote: "When I read the question, I couldn't think of any book that I would be embarassed admitting that I had read and enjoyed. There are some books that I would be embarrassed to be s..."

Hi Pianogal. The book was missing 50 pages? Did you return the book to Amazon? I would have had a fit.

Marbear

pianogal wrote: "In fact, the book I ordered from Amazon was missing about 50 pages in the middle and the story was so bad at that point that I didn't even care...."

Wow. You know you don't like a book if you don't care that pages are missing from the story!

Jensownzoo wrote: "When I read the question, I couldn't think of any book that I would be embarassed admitting that I had read and enjoyed. There are some books that I would be embarrassed to be seen reading in publ..."

I tried "The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty" but couldn't get much farther than you did. In fact, the book I ordered from Amazon was missing about 50 pages in the middle and the story was so bad at that point that I didn't even care.

Cynthia - Stephanie Plum rules~! Evanovich's books are hilarious. I've everything she's written, including the early "romance" books which were very funny, too. Gee, maybe I should have been embarrassed about my Evanovich fixation, too. Have a great reading weekend.

I liked the series but the main character is nieve and silly for most of the first book, there is some graphic scenes though.

When I read the question, I couldn't think of any book that I would be embarassed admitting that I had read and enjoyed. There are some books that I would be embarrassed to be seen reading in public, though, and Miss GP mostly hit it on the head with "erotica" although a treatise on venereal disease would probably make the list also! If I wasn't looking to get into any arguments, I probably would do my reading on inflammatory issues at home too.

While we are sort of on the subject, has anyone read The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty by A.N. Roquelaure (Anne Rice)? I picked the trilogy up at the thriftstore and read the first fifty page but was bored silly. Does it get any better further along or should I just stop now?

Well, I guess I share some guilty pleasures with the rest of you (J.D. Robb "...In Death" series), but I have 2 others that I haven't seen mentioned.

The first is the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich - it's so ludicrous that I can't help laughing out loud periodically.

The second is comfort food for (my) brain - the Georgette Heyer Regency romance novels. I read all of them in junior high and high school; every once in a while I still go back and reread a couple when I truly need a comfort fix.

Nope! I'll have to take a look.

Miss GP wrote: "OK, gotta admit I like the occasional bit of "erotica" -- so I'm glad I've got an e-book reader! LOL! (TOLD ya I was a dirty old woman!)"

Have you read any of the bronzed horseman by paulina simmons?

Sandra wrote: "Dear Meghan, I was only 17 years old at the time, so I didn't think ANYONE over a certain had sex."

LOL.

It's one thing to read about fictional sex, it's another to imagine someone you know actually having it.

I'm going to put Lady
Chatterly's Lover on my TBR list!

Jan, you must read Lady - just for the shock of seeing what some people thought was too obscene for our delicate sensibilities.

Dear Meghan, I was only 17 years old at the time, so I didn't think ANYONE over a certain had sex.

Sandra wrote: "Jan, I ADORE Roarke and the "Death" series are among my favorites. As for old Henry being more acceptable, maybe it is snobbish of me. I am not crazy about Anais Nin, though. Do you think "Lady ..."

I haven't read Lady Chatterly - but maybe now I will!!!! LOL!!!! ;)

Jan, I ADORE Roarke and the "Death" series are among my favorites. As for old Henry being more acceptable, maybe it is snobbish of me. I am not crazy about Anais Nin, though. Do you think "Lady Chatterly" is acceptable? It was my first truly sexy book and was being passed around sneakily because this was a long time ago and the book was banned and some people were just reading the "naughty bits." I read the whole thing and thought it was so romantic and tragic. I still think it is one of the most erotic books I've ever read.

Why would you think Henry Miller to be more acceptable erotica? Because he has earned some literary distinction? I suppose that is true, also of Anais Anin. Hmmmmmm did you ever see the movie based on one of her books? Uma Thurman was in it and it would definitely be classified as erotic!

Sandra wrote: "Okay, Jan. This is only YOU I'm telling, right? Promise? The two sexy writers are (drum roll, please): Nora Roberts and Linda Howard. I have read more acceptable erotica, of course - "Lady Cha..."

I have been a big fan of Nora Roberts and hav read a few Linda Howard's as well. Funny but I wouldn't have called Nora Robert's romance books erotica although she does get very descriptive in the sex scenes and create mental images without using offensive (possibly) language. To me, that is what a romance book is all about and hers seem to always have good character development and story with a happy ending!!!! That's what makes romance books so relaxing - great happy endings! Also, Sandra, have you followed Nora Roberts writing as J.D. Robb in the "In Death" series? OH MY GOODNESS!!! Roarke is a character to be desired right up there with Jamie from Outlander. I love that series as well! Throw off your shame/embarrassment! LOL! Nora Roberts is a highly respected author - and although not in the same category as Cormac McCarthy, for example, we dearly need the relief of her kind of writing from time to time. I am less familiar with Linda Howard, but I'm certain the same could be said for her.

Sandra wrote: "he was such a nice old guy and I remember being stunned to think that he even HAD sex, let alone so adventurously."

That is icky in a really, really, really funny way.

Okay, Jan. This is only YOU I'm telling, right? Promise? The two sexy writers are (drum roll, please): Nora Roberts and Linda Howard. I have read more acceptable erotica, of course - "Lady Chatterley's Lover" and all of Henry Miller, mostly because he actually was a neighbor of ours when I was a teenager - he was such a nice old guy and I remember being stunned to think that he even HAD sex, let alone so adventurously.

Miss GP wrote: "OK, gotta admit I like the occasional bit of "erotica" -- so I'm glad I've got an e-book reader! LOL! (TOLD ya I was a dirty old woman!)"

What is an e-book? Is it like a Kindle?
I guess I'm not embarrased to like reading some dirty book scene, I'll admit it is pretty hot sometimes :P But I won't leave it out for anyone to see it that comes to viset. I've never read erotica though is there a good author that writes it well? I used to be embarrased to like the Twilight and Sookie Stackhouse books just because I thought if I admitted I loved them people would think I was a little devil of some sorts cuz I love Vampire books . Most of my book loving friends are on here so I'm not embarrased to like eye candy in books. I only have two friends that like to read that I swap a few books with but none read Vamp books just whatever they find at Wal-mart where as I'm a book huntress Grrrrr.....

Miss GP wrote: "Oh PuLEEZE - Outlander is pretty tame, really. "

I agree! the sex scenes in Outlander are tame compared to what is out there in some books, but they are oh so beautiful! The love between Jamie and Claire is what drives all of these books and I don't think they would be the same without those scenes, but in my opinion they are beautifully done! I love Jamie!!!!!! What a man!!!!

Sandra wrote: "I'm even embarrassed to name the books - I'll just say that there are certain "romance" novelists who write the sexiest stuff. I discovered this once on a trip on which I somehow left my book(s) a..."


Well, Sandra, you are brave to admit your "guilty pleasure" so I will pop in and say that I also enjoy the same stuff now and then. Do please share these two favorate authors with us!

I hate to say my guilty pleasure is re-reading old favorites. I have three or four I could quote that get pulled out when I get stressed out.

Amelia, that's a difficult question. I continue reading two particular authors regularly and in my opinion, the erotica is well written. Both are women writers and I think that generally women write better sexy stuff for women than men do (not P.C. of me, I apologize in advance). If my back was to the wall, I would have to say "yes," to well written. And when you get right down to it, both of these women write a pretty good story, too.

Yes but is it well writen erotica? Those are the ones I love.

I'm even embarrassed to name the books - I'll just say that there are certain "romance" novelists who write the sexiest stuff. I discovered this once on a trip on which I somehow left my book(s) at home and was staying with a family member who is not a reader (unbelievable, huh?). She had two romance novels though, with heroes and heroines with very unlikely names and situations. I read both the first night and now read them between my more unembarrassing books. I guess I'm a snob, but I do wish the cover art was not quite so . . . . well, embarrassing.

Donna wrote: "...it was nice to break away with a VC Andrews...."

Oh yeah. Add her to the list for me! It's beyond me why anyone would want to read her stories, and yet, I find I can't help myself.

Miss GP wrote: "OK, gotta admit I like the occasional bit of "erotica" -- so I'm glad I've got an e-book reader! LOL! (TOLD ya I was a dirty old woman!)"

How about Jean Auels' "Earth's Children" series? Educational, and smutty, too!

Ok rather than "embarassing books" we called these "escape fiction" in school-while reading 4 or 5 "classics" or "non escape" fictions a week, it was nice to break away with a VC Andrews. Smut, smut, smut. Simply irresistable.

I wish you could have seen the looks I got when reading "The Sex Lives of Cannibals" on a plane! It was embarrassing just to carry the book around. (By the way, not much sex, no cannibals, but a funny travelogue!)