Riders is THE ONE [...] Though Polo is worth a look.

Polo has always been my favourite of that series, probably because it has the nicest hero in a major storyline (in some of the later ones, I always feel that there's a nominal main couple but they take a back seat to the continued adventures of bloody Rupert).

I have read every Sven Hassell book. Probably twice.

My brother's house when he was between wives was great for rubbish reading. There were stacks of paperbacks everywhere - Douglas Reeman, Wilbur Smith, Bernard Cornwell, Sven Hassel: essentially men in historical combat situations. A weekend at his place would involve me reading chapters at random from the closest book to hand and the resultant alcohol - fuelled dreams were full of heroic yet flawed heroes, salt of the earth sergeants and the odd Stuka attack on a 19th century frigate.

Cross post Tada. I've read them so many times it's unbelievable. I cried when Porta died. There, I said it.

Those letters in the LRB are just great, Shadrack. I think I'll subscribe.

The problem with the post Riders stuff is that she rehabilitated Rupert. She needs a thorough bastard and she had one but let him go.

It's the old 'first make me care, then make me worry'. We don't have to confuse 'care' with 'like'. Hoping a villain gets his comeuppance generates just as much narrative oomph.

and the odd Stuka attack on a 19th century frigate.

I just finished a nice little book from the Dollar Store, Scent of Secrets by Jane Thynne, about an actress working in pre-War Berlin who is also (gasp!) a secret agent for the Brits. A pretty good story, the author's research is extensive. I wouldn't exactly classify it as rubbish, but I gave it away as soon as I'd finished it.

This is the thread for me! I am currently reading a not brilliant historical adventure set in olde Scotland. The author is trying to make Andrew Moray the big hero instead of Wallace or Bruce. He has just fallen in love with a feisty redheaded daughter of a friend and married her in one day.

It's not bad enough to give up on but I won't be reading anything else in this series.

All Douglas Reeman's books are identical - only the era, type of vessel and theatre of war vary:- Lieutenant is shafted and disgraced by cowardly commanding officer, Commodore/Admiral keeps faith with him and promotes him to command a ready-for-the-scrap heap smaller ship in which he covers himself in glory by seeing of a cruiser/battleship. He then gets the girl and a medal.

The Amber Spyglass.

I loved Robert Merle's Fortunes of France series when I read it some years ago, at least the first six books or so. Only the later ones felt a bit samey.

The 'rubbish' I indulge in are the cheapo Kindle romances that are perfectly for cheering up on a gloomy day. And if they (rarely) turn out a bit too silly, it's not much money wasted.

I'm reading L is for Lawless by Sue Grafton (trying to work my way through the alphabet before she publishes Z) and Charity Girl by Georgette Heyer.

I've had to put L aside until I'm in the mood for it, and Charity Girl is my current commute book. Faro's Daughter after I've finished.

Oh and excellent idea for a thread Rosy.

Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, though the grief parts don't seem too rubbish so far.

I'm re-reading all the Poirot books, in order of when they were set. Currently I'm on "Black Coffee" which Christie wrote as a play and someone later rewrote as a particularly crap novel which basically describes the stage blocking for no obvious reason ("she moved down to the other end of the sofa, he walked across the room and paused"). It's great.

King kung-fu series by Marshall MacaoGreat series of martial arts pulp.

Wrong thread, Helbel. At least to me, all the regency Heyers are much loved favourites and sort of classics (as in 'must have read those').

Fanny by Gaslight.

All the modern world has to do now is redefine 'by' and we've got a set.