I love to tell people how much I enjoyed the latest experimental art novel. But I am not without my fair share of guilty pleasure novels. Everyone who reads for fun has them; they’re the books we go back to time and again but would never bring up when we’re trying to show off how well read we are. We may not be ashamed, or maybe we are, but a few brave (or foolish) York Vision editors and writers, have agreed to divulge their favourite guilty pleasure books.
Caitlin Hyland
The Harry Potter Series
The cringe fandom surrounding the Harry Potter series makes me ashamed to admit how often I re-read them. When I was little my dad used to read them to me and my sister and so they fill me with a warm nostalgia whenever I read them.
Charlie Gaskell
Roy of the Rovers Annual: 1983
I was given this by my Dad at a young age and there was a strong period of my childhood where I would read this thing back to front every single night. And, still, if ever I fancy it, I can pick this bad boy up and read through the whole thing yet again. There’s always that same feeling of childish joy.
Charlie (again)
Diary of a Wimpy Kid (2007)
I don’t even know if this would class as a guilty pleasure because it’s an accepted fact that this book series is gold. And do I feel guilty about spending hours reading Diary of a Wimpy Kid aged 20? Absolutely not.
Luke Horwitz
Interview with the Vampire (1976)
Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice has developed a reputation as slightly trashy, poorly written erotica. That being said, I must have read Interview with the Vampire four or so times. As far as vampire novels in the past fifty years go, this is certainly one of my favourites.
Will Rowan
The Guinness World Records 2009 (2008)
The Guinness World Records series is full of books filled to the brim with the weird and wonderful. The 2009 edition is easily the best of them, starting from the mind-bending green cover to the 3D mania within. It’s a bizarre yet brilliant time capsule of a time when iPhones had only counted to three and long fingernails were oh so cool. Heavy enough to kill a man and yet light enough for some enjoyable bedtime reading; I can’t get enough of it.
Matt Igoe
The Pokemon Diamond/Pearl Scenario Guide
I don’t know why I enjoy reading this every single time. There’s some primal childlike joy that’s reignited in me every time I read this book, cover to cover. Pokemon Diamond singlehandedly defined my childhood, and this book gives me all that sweet, sweet nostalgia without having to actually play through a game which I now find just a bit slow.