I also love "Mists of Avalon" and read it so many times the cover finally fell off so I got a new one. I am an avid reader and am always looking for something, but NOT romance novels. Just no. And ITA about Oprah, a lot of what she pimps is drivel, or at least exceedingly poor beach reading.

Historical fiction is a fave of mine. I thoroughly enjoyed "The Historian" by Elizabeth Kostova. It concerns several generations of a family hunting and being hunted by Dracula. But it is NOT really a vampire story, my description tends to put off people. Another good one is "The Autobiography of King Henry VIII, as told by his fool" by Margaret George.

But I will say that my all time fave book has got to be "To Kill a Mockingbird". Have read it dozens of times and love it each time.

As for TV: QAF, Buffy, Angel, House, Bones, Star Trek, ER (for awhile), Hill Street Blues (for awhile), Law and Order, and a few more that escape me. Not a really big sitcom fan, I can usually feel my brain turning to pablum as I watch those.

Hate self-help books. The only people they help are the author and publisher.

I guess what I am rambling is that I pretty much agree with you. You are just more eloquent.