love jane austen, the bronte"s, elizabeth gaskell, enid blyton, bonnie byrannt, charmed and sabrina books. i never tire of these books and can read them over and over again.  

Like the historical fiction such as James A michener, Edward Rutherfurd, and others such as Tom Clancy, Bernard Cornwall, some Colleen McCullough( should see the interview with Andrew Denton on Enough Rope) some Bryce Courtney.

Recently, been getting into Matthew Reilly.  I know it is not he best books in the world, but it is an enjoyable read for action fans.  I use him to encourage many boys who don't like reading to read.

My favourite would have to be Anais Nin.  Her writing is daring, sensual and poetic.

Some would consider her writing as pornographic.  Wasn't she a bigamist?

I have merely answered the question that has been posed.  Anais Nin is my favourite writer not my personal literary role model.

It would appear I have previously insulted your choice of adding Harry Potter to your high school curriculum.  May I ask what you know of J.K. Rowling's personal life and how does one's personal life impact on one's ability to write?

My favouirte is Hemingway and he was an alcoholic...Henry David Thoreau, Oliver Wendall Holmes, Sr., Oscar Wilde, William James, Walter de la Mare, and R.H. Ward had experiemented in drugs... Who cares.  They are all great writers.

Pornographic is in today's fashion, music and tv - that's society.  Raising bigamy is a foolish accusation to raise on the internet and certainly totally unrelated to the topic.

My favourite is Anais Nin too because she opened my eyes to things people are too afraid to speak of.  She is certainly no saint but who is these days.

Yeah, that's a bit harsh making the "bigamist" remark.  I am not here to debate on any mans ethics or morals. I think this is dangerous territory. Morals and ethics are abstract concepts. As with anything abstract everyone interprets it differently. There are no universal ethics and morals we can go based on the rule of thumb. So I find it extremely discouraging that a monitor would raise something about abstract concepts which cannot be defined.  And certainly on a totally unrelated topic.

I'll start off saying that my favourite author back in high school was Isaac Asimov. I don't get enough time to read much these days to reassess that. He really opened me up to reading and then all the absolute garbage we had to study for English at school turned me off again.

So Anais Nin (the author) was an adulterous bigamist. That's no secret. She received an honourary doctorate and many artistic accolades and postings during her life. Would you go out of your way to not read her work based on your dislike of someone who does? Perhaps because she explored her sexuality in a way that challenges you?

Quoted from AnaPent

My favourite is Anais Nin too because she opened my eyes to things people are too afraid to speak of.  She is certainly no saint but who is these days.

Yeah, that's a bit harsh making the "bigamist" remark.  I am not here to debate on any mans ethics or morals. I think this is dangerous territory. Morals and ethics are abstract concepts. As with anything abstract everyone interprets it differently. There are no universal ethics and morals we can go based on the rule of thumb. So I find it extremely discouraging that a monitor would raise something about abstract concepts which cannot be defined.  And certainly on a totally unrelated topic.

I too remember AnaisNin.  As a kid she was someone we weren't allowed to talk about or that we revered.  Why is asking was she a bigamist harsh?    And what is so abstract about it?  I eventually did a search on her.  She was a bigamist, but allegedly no-one knew until after she died.

... Derek Hansen who happens to be both a friend and a favourite author of mine.  Has anyone read his "Lunch with the Generals"?

Yes I read it and enjoyed it but wouldn't rave about it. I found the book more of a soapbox about the author's own personal experiences but I sort of know Derek Hansen's background so the things in the book I had seen before when he was splashed everywhere in the advertising industry. My hubby was a huge fan of Derek's advertising agency and a bit of the reason why he wanted to start his own publication.  His book Sole Survivor was more interesting for me but I'm a big saga fan.

I have deleted and modified some of these posts in an attempt to promote harmony in the festive season.  This was not my idea, but that of one of our members here.  I take full responsibility for making the decision to do as was requested, and hope we can all move forward from here on.

On with the debate...

That's cool Paula, Thank You!

Anais, I'll have to borrow Lunch with the Generals from you once I've finished by current Matthew Reilly.

Next time we drive past "that intersection" I'll know what you mean.

Haha... I swear Derek sketched my favourite scene based on Edgecliff.  He described it so well in that final chapter.  I have Lunch with Mussolini too.  It's definitely better written but the plot is too predictable.