Before I read A Dangerous Liaison, I will repeatedly read through Horrid Henry (good) and the horrendous money machine of the Rainbow Magic series (very bad) - bedtime stories you understand.
Surprising respite has been provided by my wife's childhood copies of Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House on the Prairie and Little House in the Big Woods - which tell the story of growing up at the forefront of 19th century America's westward encroachment. These books just make me want to grow some corn, build a log cabin and smoke a peace pipe with the locals.
Best of all are the vivid and scary Garth Williams illustrations - and a far cry from the saccharine representation of the books in the old TV series and the Wilder heritage industry.
Here are a couple from the Little House in the Big Woods - apparently Charley ( that's him in both pictures) had it coming to him for telling lies!
