Jill is going to read the around 50 books on her tbr shelves this year and not buy any new ones in 2

I've failed already by buying a book for a coach ride 1. 1 The Nation's Favourite

but I am not buying anymore books but saving the money for a holiday somewhere hot for next new year!

I love this challenge! :)

Since I was out of work most of last year, I also tried to read all the books piled up on my shelves instead of buying new ones. I did pick up a few in a used book shop, but I've gone 10 months without buying anything new. That hasn't happened since I first had a paper route at age 11. :)

Good luck with your challenge and with your holdiay fund!

Good luck! I am going to try and read some of mine, too, and successfully resisted the biography of the Queen Mother (half price in the Waterstone's sale) but my library has just started doing ebooks, so my challenge for the year is to resist buying an ereader ;-)

You guys need to take a look at this group - http://www.librarything.com/groups/booksofftheshelfchal
I've made a start on my scheduled 50 TBRs (out of about 300!) but it hasn't stopped me buying new books. If anything, it's made me worse because I convinced myself that anything bought before 01/01/10 didn't count - so I had to buy as many as possible before then. It's an illness.

HHHMMMMMMM this may take a little longer than antipated, counted 176 unread books on my shelves not counting the classics and penguins!

Yes, those unread books do sneak up on us, don't they?! I started the challenge that Booksloth links in Message 4 thinking I would read books that had been on my shelves for years. But then, I simply rounded up all the unread books I had scattered about the house, ones that never actually made it onto a shelf, and found I had close to 20 books...and my goal for the challenge had only been for 15. (I've left it at 15, so I can feel like an overachiever if I really do get all those books read an given away or onto a shelf.)

2. Saplings 1 down 175 to go!

Hi. My 50 challenge this year includes the need to read books I want to read, rather than random books that come my way. Also, like you guys, there's the need to read books already owned (it can be assumed I own them because I want to read them!)

Anyway, I just wanted to say 'thanks' to booksloth and lbradf for the link and the challenge.

>8 QuestingA:--You're most welcome. It's pleased me to see the response the challenge has gotten.
>7 jillianmarie:--Congratulations, Jillianmarie. You'll make your goal for sure at this rate!

3. On Chesil Beach

4. Wedding Babylon

That is a great idea! I am going to try to only read books I already own too or that I check out from the library or receive as a gift.

5. Reading Groups

This is so cool! The perfect challenge for me! I wish all of you the best of luck!

I'm thinking a half and half year-50 off the shelf and 50 newbies.

Arrggghh it's all going wrong instead of books I've bought a dress, that's not saving, and then on holiday I forgot and bought a book (though I think I can justify that as a souvinere)

anyway...

4. Twenty Thousand Saints set in Bardsley Island it's a magical haunting book that left me wishing I'd really paid attention in the 9 years of Welsh class so I could read more by Fflur Dafydd

5. The Mitfords: Letters Between Six Sisters Took forever to read but so enjoyable

6. What was Lost which was brilliant loved it; having worked in shopping malls and grown up in a new town where the mall is at the centre it was really evocative and also a brilliant mystery/detective story

7. complete guilty pleasure Pop Babylon

8. An Offer You Can't Refuse

#17 Really? I'd heard bad things about What Was Lost but you've made me much more keen to grab it off the TBR pile now. Thanks!

I loved it, but the person who gave it to me absolutely hated it. I don't know if it was because I had worked and lived somewhere very much like where the story was set so it was very visual but the mystery really grabbed me. IThe best sort of comparision I can think of is Sarah Water's The Little Stranger which I personally didn't like, but it's got the same sort of atmosphere is it? isn't it? ghost story.

Let me know what you think

9. i cheated I bought this (it was 2nd hand though!) Juliet Naked

10. ...and this was lent to me by a friend The Truth About Melody Browne

I've only actually read 4 of the books from my tbr shelves the rest I cheated and bought or have been lent to me, as a plan this isn't working.

Loved the Lisa Jewell

11. One Day by David Nicholls which I absolutely loved

12. Under the Banner of Heaven which again I bought I give in my name is Jillian Marie and I am a bookaholic!

Found the book fascinating and have been telling very disintrested people lots of things I've learnt about Mormons, I also found the book very respectful towards the Mormons, it was an interesting blend of In Cold Blood style investigation and the history of the development of the Mormon faith and the breakaway to fundamentalism.

Now that you've fallen off the no-buying-books wagon, I must recommend "Their Finest Hour and a Half" by Lissa Evans, which is just fantastically good. It goes beautifully with the Wartime book, and also the "Ministry of Food" exhibition (which I went to see on Wednesday - excellent). I have added One Day to my library wishlist, but meanwhile recommended it to someone who was going on holiday, on the basis that I have loved your recommendations so far. I think I might cave and buy it with the remainder of a Waterstone's gift card, because I keep seeing it advertised, and people writing about it.

13. My East End testomonials of 'East Enders' rather than the memoir of Gilda O'Neill, they came across as very rose tinted memories and very anti what the East End of London has become

14. Handbags and halos

#26 Ah, but that wagon has such a slippery surface! You make me feel so much better, jillianmarie;-)

15. The Tenth Circle just as I have realised reading Richard Yates & J D Salinger depresses me and turns me into an emo teenager I will now add Jodi Picoult to the list. I'm turning to Tolstoy for some light relief!!

16. The Children's Book I've always shied away from reading Booker nominated books, just asume to be nominated for a Booker prize you have to have written a diificult book i.e Midnights Children (never liked it but a friend of mine likes precisely because it is a hard and difficult read) and I think I'm just going to have to accept in life I'm more of an easy read chicklit kind of a girl (plus I read War & Peace so I've done enough difficult reading for one lifetime!) anyway the point being I loved this book it was magical, it was a family saga, you cared for all the characters bad and good, great take on the turn of the century and the Fabian society, women's rights and suffregettes leading to the horror of the First World War. And sometimes you can judge a book by it's cover pretty cover= excellent book!

>30 jillianmarie:: turns me into an emo teenager
Ha! Best description yet of that effect of Salinger's. Updike does it to me too. I have Picoult's My Sister's Keeper sitting here to read, and I always thought she'd be kinda Oprah/chicklit-ish. I've been warned.

I'm putting The Children's Book on my Bookmooch list after that great review. (I'm also trying not to buy anything this year.)

How did you like Juliet Naked? I love Nick Hornby, so I will read it when I can get my hands on it, but I've heard mixed reviews.

Hi madhatter

Juliet Naked I thought was OK, much better than his last three books 'cause he's writing about something he loves; music, and that comes across. But I he writes mainly from a female perspective which i don't really get (though quite well) and it's not a return to High Fidelity or About a Boy by any means, but it was a quick easy read.

I have failed miserably on not buying anything this year, I work in a second hand book shop it's just impossible and I have no will power whatsoever!

#jillianmarie - I'm sooooo sorry! Of course, if you work in a second-hand book shop I think you should be completely excused from the guilt trip. To work in one and not buy books would amount to nothing less than torture and you deserve our sympathy and understanding. (And you could always claim that your house is an extension of the shop - because I bet your no-longer-wanted ones end up there eventually so, technically, you are a kind of 'holding area'.

>33 jillianmarie:: I didn't know you worked in a second-hand book shop! Well that makes it biologically impossible for you not to buy books, so don't feel guilty. I worked in a bookstore for 10 years so I understand. And how much more difficult when the books aren't full price!
>34 Booksloth:: Love the idea of your house as a 'holding area'. :)

Alas it's a charity second hand book shop so I have to pay for all books, helps me cope with the guilt of being the only paid member of staff!

The worse thing is the books that you never would've thought to read in a million years but suddenly you need to read this book on shark attacks on the New Jersey coastline in 1914 (Close to Shore my best read of last year). But next month I will be good it's books or decorating the flat and I need more shelves!

17. Living Oprah thought it'd be sort of like Julie and Julia but not half as light hearted she really took the project very seriously and seemed to get alot out of it. Okrant comes across as quite a spiritual person anyway while I'm more inclined towards books like Bad Science rather than alternative therapies and philosophies. Still I liked Okrant and it was an interesting rather than fun read.

18. Strangeland by Tracey Emin, really brutal read.

19. Cutting it fine the reviews described it as the English Kitchen Confidential it really wasn't or English chefs just really aren't very interesting or tempermental!

...also he was mean about waiters and waitresses and having been one for many many years I don't like that, like to see most the chef's I've worked with cope with a full restaurant with only the drunk manager for help (as in keeping sitting tables down) when U2 are playing the Millenium stadium (one street away from the restaurant) that afternoon! (sorry rant over)

Love the rant. Most chefs couldn't do it. :) Have you read Waiter Rant by the way? A must for anyone who's worked in food service!

Waiter Rant came into my shop this week...but I've got a feeling that I've already got it somewhere buried in my bookshelves at home, I know i've read the first chapter?

20. Nella Last's War think Susanj67 reccomended it to me last year, really fascinating espcially how Nella changes from the beginning of the war to VJ day

It wasn't me, but I've just looked it up and I really like the sound of it! I finished the Juliet Gardiner and loved that (and her book about the Thirties is getting great reviews, I notice), so I'm on the lookout for more WWII things.

#42/43 Nella Last's War is a fascinating book and there is also a sequel, Nella Last's Peace, which I have yet to read. I'm also interested in the effect the war had on ordinary people and I can recommend a few really good books on the subject including Debs at War, Young Voices: British Children Remember the Second World War and especially How We Lived Then. Our Hidden Lives: The Remakable Diaries of Post-War Britain and Stranger in the House are two terrific books on the aftermath of war and post-WWII life in Britain.

Thanks for all the suggestions!

I was supposed to be reading Anna Karinina for a book club but just couldn't face it so went down a completely different route so...
21. All You Need Is Love by Carole Matthews complete and utter silly chick lit - there was absolutely no reason why rich Spencer would fall for Sally Freeman so quickly and want to commit within 2 weeks but to it's credit the lead character wasn't miss perfect living in London working for new media or a publisher she's a single mum living in Liverpool on a council estate. Whiled away a long coach journey

#45 Don't put it off forever (though I agree you have to be in the right frame of mind) - Anna Karenina looks a bit daunting but is a wonderful book.

Anna Karenina looks a bit daunting but is a wonderful book.

Agreed! I'm reading this now. I thought an 800+ page 19th century Russian novel would have to be somewhat of a slog to get through, but it's a surprisingly fast read.

I had read it before when I was 18 at uni, so managed to wing it at the book club, made me realise I need to read more 'classics'

22. The Lessons, which doesn't seem to exist on LT; Group of Oxford students then graduates all being very Oxfordy

23. Goodbye Johnny Thunders I read this in the early 90's and it's just so wierd how you change and reading a book you used to love just makes you cringe now as it makes you remember what a pompous horrible teenager you were!

24. American Wife Really enjoyed the first third, less so the second and dissapointed with the last third even though that was really the point of the book.

I read this last year (I think) and thought it was really interesting as I knew nothing about Laura Bush. I didn't know how much was fictionalised and which bits were true, so I did a bit of internetting afterwards. I read the same author's book Prep afterwards and didn't like it at all, and it surprised me how different they were.

It was interesting, I've just wikipediaed her, how much the author can fictionalise or not as the case maybe (I'm guessing they did slightly more research than me!)

25. The Accidental Marathon one of the strangest chick-lit books I've read a mixture of marathon training, art and art theft, father daughter reconciliations and the Yougoslavian war? very odd.

26. The Ladder of Years been reading this in the cellar for months now on my breaks, strangely compeeling though nothing much happens or really gets resolved.

It was interesting, I've just wikipediaed her, how much the author can fictionalise or not as the case maybe (I'm guessing they did slightly more research than me!)

25. The Accidental Marathon one of the strangest chick-lit books I've read a mixture of marathon training, art and art theft, father daughter reconciliations and the Yougoslavian war? very odd.

26. The Ladder of Years been reading this in the cellar for months now on my breaks, strangely compeeling though nothing much happens or really gets resolved.

It was interesting, I've just wikipediaed her, how much the author can fictionalise or not as the case maybe (I'm guessing they did slightly more research than me!)

25. The Accidental Marathon one of the strangest chick-lit books I've read a mixture of marathon training, art and art theft, father daughter reconciliations and the Yougoslavian war? very odd.

26. The Ladder of Years been reading this in the cellar for months now on my breaks, strangely compeeling though nothing much happens or really gets resolved.

Noticed you were trying to not buy any books and read ones that you already have. This was one of my New Year's resolutions (but I've been using the library a lot instead of reading what's on my shelves).

I still go to Barnes and Noble every now and then though. I find a bunch that I want, but make myself leave empty-handed.

oh I have failed my task miserably, I work in a second hand book shop and the temptation is too big so no I am buying mostly all these books, though I have stoppped buying new books but I do admire your will power!
Though I have started swapping books with one of my volunteers in a mini bookclub fashion, I need to join a library.

Wonder if it's possible to change the name of your thread to Jill isn't going to stop buying books in 2010 as she has no will power!'

27. Pledged really interesting read, something so alien to the Uk (as far as I know) suppose the closest thing to it in Chester Uni was the Christian society or the Outward Bounds lot

28. My Grandfather's False Teeth which I loved, if you liked the Imogen Parker trilogy or even One Day by David Nicholls I think you'd like this as it's in a simalar vein, tracing a Jewish immigrant from her arrival in London 1900 and following her and her family through the 20th Century and set mainly in East and North London as well as Poland, Tangiers and Israel.

(got a little ahead of myself there and put 29. instead of 28.)

29. La Cucina Water for Chocolate but published by Black Swan

30. Bait and Switch interesting read but less about the actual people going through trying to find employment, just seemed to be a lot of spending money not to find a job, which might be the major difference between the UK (where there seems to be much more help for those out of work) and the USA (where there seems to be very little help)

31. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland a re-read for the book club I have run tonight ...gulp!!

Half way through Living Dolls: The Return of Sexism then bought Glamour magazine which had no. 32. I Heart New York free with it which I unashamadly enjoyed and was a lovely appitite wetter for the new Shopaholic book 2nd September which I am soooo excited about it's quite sad, now back to the serious feminism!!

Yay I'm clever and useful mamber of society again- 33. Living Dolls: The Return of Sexism interesting read, though much of what I already knew, there is too much pink out there (I did spend my childhood in my boy cousin's 70's hand me downs very brown and orange), and made me think about sexism in my life, something I didn't experience until I was 25 which was a shock and I still experience now at 32 mixed with ageism (I look young therefore as a young girl how could I possibly be in charge of a shop?) I was taking a class in women's literature back in Uni and remember telling the older students that I hadn't felt held back or experienced sexism, I'm one of four girls, the first place I worked was almost all women managers and waitresses and quite scary to the few boys who worked there...then I moved to Cardiff and had never known anything like it, here in middle class west London it's even worse. Anyway like I said a though provoking read but doesn't really give any answers, almost like we've just got to wait for the celeb worshipping culture to fizzle out which I don't see happening anytime soon.

This one has been on my list for a while. It got lots of press when it came out and I also got the feeling that there were no answers in it, but it's interesting about the celebrity culture coming in for criticism. (There is a Marina Hyde book about this, called something like "How celebrities took over the planet and why we need an exit strategy", which is very funny (but worrying)). I wouldn't say I have experienced much sexism either, but I suppose you never know how you're being judged when nothing specific is said. I did have a client referred to me once who explained that his case was "about engines, so perhaps there's a man there who would be better able to handle it?" I relayed this to one of the partners who pointed out that he WAS a man and had no idea either ;-)

34. The Drinking Den (or L'Assomoir) by Zola, I first tried to read Zola when I was doing the Masters degree I never finished (if you keep giving me extensions I will never finish that dissertation!) and was reccomended to read Nana which since then I've been on and off struggling through for 10 years, so when a volunteer told me I should read the Drinking Den I was very sceptical...I am so glad that I listened to her, it's an amazing depressing, funny, uplifting, epic book of the rise and fall and how poverty and alcohol can ruin lives an amazing book that has got me carrying around Nana again in my handbag.

35. Handling the Undead which I liked the idea and most of the book was really good, not so scary, gory or unsettling as Let the Right One In and I didn't feel for the characters atall but it was a good read up until the end which I just didn't get or understand, don't know if it's a Swedish folk tale legend about death, but I just didn't understand what happened at the end at all

I forgot a book, which is strange because I really liked it 36. The Last Letter From Your Lover

37. How I Lived a Year on Just a Pound a Day badly written but an interesting read, has made e think about what I spend money on and some great ideas for looking for free events and getting free things....though not so sure about the hitch hiking and against raiding charity clothing and book bins that's just rude!

38. A Study in Scarlet completely jumping on the 'Sherlock' bandwagon here, I did read Holmes when I was about 11 and loved it, couldn't believe my boyfriend hadn't read them so bought a couple of penguins that came into the shop...and read them myself think I've found a new way of justifying buying books...they're a gift (which whisper quietly I'll just read first to check that you'll like it).

I hadn't actually read this one (just the short stories) and really enjoyed it espcially the Mormon part after reading Under a Banner of Heaven

39. Mr. Rosenblum's List: Or Friendly Guidance for the Aspiring Englishman I was really looking forward to reading this; it was good though there was a dip in the middle where I just felt really dissapointed in it, it wasn't really what I was looking for, I wanted a more period peice but it just seemed to be an awful lot about golf (which as a daughter of a golf obsessive I have a deep hatred for anything golfish), but then it started to grip me towards the end and loved Mr and Mrs Rose-in-bloom by the end and was rooting for them!

I did try to read Major Pettigrew's last stand it had glowing reviews and by-lines on the cover and I did try and persevere with it, but I had to admit defeat, it seemed ot me a mix of Joanna Trollope and the Wilt books which I really don't like or get.

Next up for the Book Club which has become increasingly too intellectual for the likes of me it's The Black Book which has very small writing so I'm reading total trash first so I'll be thirsting for intellect Luxe with the great by-line 'Like the O.C but with bigger dresses' by Sugar magazine, it's like 19th Century gossip girl

40. The Luxe I actually really liked it, good frothy fun .... now on to more serious fare, I don't think I'm suited to book clubs I really resent being told what to read

Just realised I've forgot another one, 41. I heart Paris ridiculouslu easy silly read on a coach journey (not as good as I heart New York)

42. No Need For Speed brilliant inspirational book that's made me feel much better about being well a rubbish runner

43. Cell oh Stephen King why do come up with really good ideas and then over write then and rubbish endings? As always great idea great start and then meanders into sillyness

>74 jillianmarie:: It is a mystery, isn't it? SO many horrible endings. (25 years later I'm still annoyed at him for It.) He has a much better track record with short stories. Mostly good ideas without enough time for them to deteriorate.
Still, I'll probably read Cell eventually. At least now I won't have false hopes for a great finish. :p

I've read most of what King's written, but I have to say that of all of it, I think Cell was by far the worst. On the other hand, I think Lisey's Story, his work with Peter Straub, and The Shining are all pretty amazing :)

I haven't read Stephen King in more than 10 yrs. When I was in my teens and 20's Stephen King was what I read the most. I didn't like Rose Madder or The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon and Gerald's Game was a bit lame. I think after he had his accident something happened and he got weirder, not a good weirder. I have a few of his books from early 2000, but I haven't read them yet.

Maybe I should try some of his earlier books, I;ve only read Salem's Lot which dragged, Tommyknockers and Pet Cemetry years ago (which I liked), seen alot of bad TV films of his books but amazingly have never read or seen the Shining!

44. Little Girls in Pretty Boxes: Making and Breaking of Elite Gymnasts and Figure Skaters interesting read espcially for the comparision of the US team in the 70's to the US team in the 90's, quite shocking espcially with the injuries

#78: Both the book and movie of The Shining are fantastic. If you're looking at his earlier work (what would that be now? Pre-'90s?) I'd recommend The Eyes of the Dragon, Misery, and all of the short stories and novellas. I liked Carrie and The Dead Zone too, but can't remember for sure if the endings were disappointing. The Stand was one of his best I thought - until the end. Still, the ending wasn't It or Tommyknockers bad. The rest of the book was engrossing enough to make it worth reading.

#78: Both the book and movie of The Shining are fantastic. If you're looking at his earlier work (what would that be now? Pre-'90s?) I'd recommend The Eyes of the Dragon, Misery, and all of the short stories and novellas. I liked Carrie and The Dead Zone too, but can't remember for sure if the endings were disappointing. The Stand was one of his best I thought - until the end. Still, the ending wasn't It or Tommyknockers bad. The rest of the book was engrossing enough to make it worth reading.

The Shining was the first one I read. I was in the 6th grade or 7th grade and I remeber I couldn't take it to school with me because the principal had made an issue about the students reading age appropriate books. One girl in my classs got in trouble for bringing Kramer vs Kramer with her. The principal put the book in a manilla envelope and told her not to bring it back to school. I know, now days that sounds like nothing.

#81 Sounds like nothng? You're kidding - that sounds terrible! You'd think any teacher worth the air they breathe would be delighted to find kids reading way above their age level. There are some wonderful teachers around but there are others who leave me amazed any of their pupils ever learned to read at all!

jillianmarie,

Do you bookmooch? I have a copy of The Dead Zone I would be happy to send you.

#82 This was the beginning of the 80's. The principal thought the things discussed in these books horror and divorce and adult issues were inappropriate for middle school students. The one thing that got the principals goat was that the other girl's parents were not upset that she had borrowed the book from an older sister and that they were council members at our church.

Wow! Thanks, no I'm not on Bookmooching, but a big donation of Stephen King books just came into my shop (I manage a charity book shop) so I got all excitable like....not one of your suggestions in there, you've got to hand it to the man he's prolific!

45. Goodbye to Berlin loved loved loved

It's brilliant, isn't it? I love Isherwood's writing style.

46. Running Made Easy is it just me or are training plans really not easy to understand?

47. Sophie's Bakery for the Broken Hearted

48. Balthazar Jones and the Tower of London Zoo brilliant!

49. Salaam Brick Lane it's taken me forwever to read this as I'vem moved shops so no more 3 hour communtes each day, but that does mean half an hour reading on the tube each day so I feel like I've been reading this forever!

It's a read that grows on you

I loved this when I read it a few years ago. I was thinking about it the other day and wondering what happened to the author. The landlord was so outrageous - it was a very funny read. You must be pleased not to have such a terrible commute any more, but I know what you mean about reading time. I used to have about 45 minutes each way, and got lots read, but now it's about 10 minutes on the tube (if I time it right) or 15 on the bus, which is often so full that I can't get a seat and read anything.

I much prefered the On Brick Lane which I read last year which was more about the history, but it was interesting about the ideas of prejudices as I really took a dislike to the author at the start; mainly his name, where in London he had grown up and his initial attitude to East London, but the more I read the more I liked him, the fact that from the start he was getting to know the people around him, from Mr Ali the landlord from hell, to the locals in the local pub and his neighbours. I was in Whitechapel yesterday and it really made me open my eyes and love where I live.

It's time to turn off rubbish telly and re-embrace reading at home again I think (really there is no need for me to watch repeats of Don't Tell the Bride, the day after it was first shown, I know I've got a short memory but that's ridiculous!)

50. The Introvert Advantage I don't usually go in anyway for self help books but I'm on a management course where I've been classed as an introvert while everyone elae is an extravert which has completely unhelpfully set me apart from everyone else (got to love putting people in boxes grrrr) anyway I came across this and thought it's worth a go, but I found it really ungelpful a bit patronising (espcially being referred to as an 'innie' throughout the book) basically if you're an introvert tough your quiet, you can't change it and the majority of the world is extravert so deal with it with helpful tips like hanging a notice round your neck letting people know that you want to be alone. What I mostly objected too is as an introvert I'm supposed to have no energy and want to withdraw from people to reenergise! Maybe I'm not acting like a proper introvert but I like being on the go all the time, it just made introverts sound really odd and weak, when really I'm just not into showing off!

51. Her Fearful Symmetry finally I've read a book!!! it feels like it's been ages, trying to find something I could get into, did help that because of something in Milton Keynes a 2 hour journey back into London took 6!!!

I haven't read anything by Niffenegger before and I really enjoyed it, the setting, the quirky characters especially Martin the OCD sufferer and his absent wife, I hate to say it but I think I might be growing up, been trying to read Mini Shopaholic which I was so excited about coming out I even bought it new hardback but this time Becky Bloomwood's just not doing it for me, what was once endearing is really annoying and I can't really relate to having an amazingly spoilt child (not saying that if I accidentally had a child it wouldn't be amazingly spoilt...I just wont have a child) and a really rubbish husband (ditto) so 'Her Fearful Symmetry' just felt a million times more thoughtful and clever than Shopaholic, I think I'm quite sad if my chicklit days are over?

It doesn't have to be over necessarily. All chicklit is not created equal. Some of it can be fun and not make you annoyed with yourself and the author for wasting your time at the end of it. :) I haven't read the Shopaholic books, but if they're anything like the movie they're mind-numbingly boring and shallow and silly, and just as there are better guilty pleasure chick flicks out there, there's better chicklit as well. You know ... if you're going to be sad about it. :)