There's always a couple of them isn't there?

The books you think about reading for years - they've been recommended by everyone and are rapidly turning to dust on your shelves... yet you still don't find the time...

Well, I found the time and the Bookseller of Kabul was one of those books - thank goodness I finally read it...

Oh, it's not like me to get excited about a book and blog on it before I've even finished it, is it?

Oh no - because I'm sensible enough to realise I could go home tonight, turn over a page and find the book has descended into dire and is now destined only for the dump.

Ha, yeah right! Generally, the book I'm reading is always the one I'm aching to blog about - because the moment I've finished it is the moment I'm onto the next one...

I've started this year with a PILE of nice crisp new books to read (one of the best reasons to have Christmas methinks)

I tend to choose a new book based on either a friend's recommendation or a cursory glance at the jacket (I know this is wrong, but I don't like reading sypnoses - they always spoilt the plot)

Anyway, I'd like to know what's on your 2010 'books to read' list please - it might inspire me. Here's mine... just in case it does the same...

Don't you just love January?

Okay, so you might struggle to agree with me on that one - what with all the snow and ice on the ground, the belt tightening and the constant health and fitness chatter.

But this is a great month for book lovers. Turn the reasons above into an opportunity to curl up with a good book and gorge yourself on all those novels you've been longing to read...

It's seriously cold outside and the first credit crunch Christmas is approaching.

Now is definitely the time to start compiling your book 'wish list' and clear some space so you can curl up on the sofa and unwind.

Perhaps you fancy getting your hands on a fantasy tale like The Sad Tale of the Brothers Grossbart?

Thanks to ECHO reporter Gary Stewart for this review...

Apologies for imposing an asterisk - but, the Daily Post and Echo is a family newspaper and we don't condone swearing - you could say bad language smacks of a lack of imagination and we're above all that!

Still, life is about freedom of speech and Frankie Boyle can call his book what he likes.

Now being an innocent and entirely virtuous 'young' woman, I couldn't possibly review this book myself...

I always read the comments people make about books.

India Knight (Sunday Times) said the A-Z Guide to Perfumes was "dazzling" and one of the best books she had ever read.

John Lanchester (of the New Yorker, one of my many weaknesses) said it was "ravishingly entertaining"

Did we read the same book? 

There is no doubt the people who read this blog read books - otherwise it wouldn't make a whole lot of sense.

But I wonder how many of you have a half finished novel, short story or scratched out feature languishing at home?

With that in mind, I thought help should be at hand - perhaps to give you the motivation to carry on and complete what you've started...

Book Club has a new rule.

The implementation was controversial - but the majority ruled in the end.

Those of you who are in book clubs will understand the problem we faced.

When it comes to selecting next month's book, there is so much debate, discussion and compromise - you end up veering to the middle of the road...

By day I am a hard-nosed journalist, trotting the streets of Liverpool to sniff out the news the people in this city demand to read.

By night I am a 6ft chicken  - frightened of horror films, the dark, roller coasters, sky diving, spiders and generally all things not wrapped in cotton wool.

In short, over cautious about fairly mundane things.

For that I am happy to blame my childhood. Or more, specifically, my childhood reading...