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.

I broadly agree with you, Frieda, but Charity Girl is ... less so. And Grafton fits on here.

(I am not currently reading any rubbish. This may change when I decide what book to start re-reading tonight.)

Rivals is the best Jilly Cooper.

I've recently finished the newest Marian Keyes. She was prescribed when I was too anxious to read anything more highbrow.

When I've been mentally under the weather in the past, I've turned to children's books: real crapola like the Malory Towers series, the Drina ballet books, and (as I recall them) the even sillier Wells ballet series. There were some pony books too, oh dear.

Now I'm older, perhaps I'll be ready for Marian Keyes when the paralysing anxiety state hits again. Makes note to stock up soon, just in case.

Or perhaps I'll just work my way through the Arthur Ransome books. I really enjoyed going back to The Big Six and Picts and Martyrs a couple of years ago.

I am reading "The Lake house" by Kate Morton. Pretty much all her books involve someone in the present investigating a mystery attached to a large country property, which ends up being a tragic family secret experienced by the upper middle class owners of said property at the turn of the century.

Grafton is very good at what she does. I've read A-K (and S) so far and I think J was one of her best.

I read S on a holiday and then went back and started from the beginning.