What is your favorite book?

[chad]

I read quite a bit and it would be impossible to keep every book I read. So with that said there are certain books that are part of my permnant collection.

The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexendar Dumas

Of Mice and Men by John Steinback

and last but not least

Lust for Life by Irving Stone

What is part of yours?

Chad

[Raven]

My favourite Book so far would have to be a story a book called Malleus written by Dan Abnett.

I strongly recommend it.

The story is dark and gritty and explores the underworld of the future and all its evils at once.

Well written and very addictive.



~Raven.

[chad]

In the past I've read a lot of Science Fantasy, not really crossed over to the Science Fiction. The Dragon Lance series came close to being a permanant part of my collection.

Chad

[Sapphire]

My favorite book so far is "Eragon" by Christopher Paolini.

[Daniel]

Couldn't pick one. Either something of Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling or something by Stephen King. Maybe Salem's Lot.

[IndianaJoan]

Gravity - Tess Gerritsen

my all time favorite..i loved the characters and the space background

At one time I heard a movie was coming...i guess production stopped on it or its not being made..kinda bummed about that

:/

[xxkozxx]

I would have to say "I Know This Much is True" by Wally Lamb. I loved it. I couldn't put it down when I read it.

[Peter]

When I was growing up, Roald Dahl's "Matilda" and Stephen King's "Salem's Lot" were my two fav books. "Matilda" opened up my imagination and "Salem's Lot" just scared the pants off me. Nowadays, if I had to choose one, it would be James Kelman's "A Disaffection". I love it. But to be honest, I think I'm still searching for my all-time favourite book.

[crazycat007]

Gotta say my absolute fave is The Outsiders~ S.E. Hinton. Amazing! all her work is, for that matter. That Was Then, This is Now is a close second.

The HP books kick arse as well.

And for empowering female kick-arse books, Tamora Pierce. The best are the Trickster series!

[herminehaller]

Either Lolita or Steppenwolf.

[chase42]

Slaughter House 9 by Kurt Vonnegut was good in the fact that it was strange and moving at the same time. And the Hitchhikers Guide series was light and satirical, still havent gotten around to reading the last book, thought yet.

[Artaxes]

This is a very hard one!

One of my favourites is The Stonor Eagles by William Horwood.

While I was younger Bambi was one of my favourites, not Disney's Bambi, but the original novel by Felix Salten.

Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen will always be in bookcase as well.

[Veronica0406]

"Night" by Elie Wiesel was a wonderful book. Very easy read and yet so thought provoking. Did that in one night.

The Lake House, by James Patterson was excellent.

My favorite reads would have to be all things Jane Austen. Most recently, "The Age of Innocence" by Edith Wharton. I have come to the conclusion that I am an 19th century soul stuck in modern times.

Oh woe is me. lol :)

[Veronica0406]

My favourite Book so far would have to be a story a book called Malleus written by Dan Abnett.

I strongly recommend it.

The story is dark and gritty and explores the underworld of the future and all its evils at once.

Well written and very addictive.



~Raven.

Will definitely have to check that out. Thanks...

[Heather Louise]

my favourite books are fantasy stories. i have to say that my top couple are;

Mary Hoffman
Stravaganza: City of Masks, City of Stars (i haven't read the third in the series yet) they are brillaint books set in a parralel universe of Italy.

J.K.Rowling
all of the Harry Potter books are brilliant.

Kate Mosse
The Labyrinth, an ezcellent book that i cried at the end of :'(

heather

[ariella]

Where's Wally :):):)

Well I used to get them out of the library all the time when I was in primary school, was so much fun back then, haven't seen a Where's Wally book in a long time though, might go check the town library.

[Eoz Eanj]

My favourite book is probably Adrian Mole: The Wilderness Years. It's just funny. I like all the other adrian mole books but this one was special.

[The Reaper]

Mine is the famous lord of the rings trilogy. I love them i've read them so many different times.

[Draven]

Mine is the famous lord of the rings trilogy. I love them i've read them so many different times.

I could never get into that series. I always fell asleep when I tried to read it.

[Ferret]

Rats Saw God
Rob Thomas
Inspired me to start wrting....

[Hayvon]

My favorite book changes all the time, but right now I'd have to say

Orhan Pamuk's "Snow" or "My Name is Red"
and
Milerad Pavic's "Dictionary of the Khazars"

[Heather Louise]

i've just finished reading Memoirs of a Geisha, and i think that that is an amazing book. i also like Flying With Condors, the autobiography of a female paragliding / handgliding champion.
heather

[Magnum Opus]

Animal Farm, by George Orwell, and Of mice and men, by John Steinbeck.

[danHQ]

We had to read Animal Farm at school. Possibly the most boring quarter of an hour a day of my life.

Anything by Shaun Hutson... or the Edge Chronicles.

[Magnum Opus]

Yeah, it's not for everyone.

[Randomer 720]

Eragon is my very favourite, then Eldest and im waiting for the third one so I can add it to the list

[Frost]

The Light Fantastic - Terry Pratchet

[trace the artist]

My favourite is The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky.
after that comes Running With Scissors by Augusten Burroughs, Thumbsucker by Walter Kirn, and On Writing by Stephen King.

[newguy]

a porcupine named fluffy!
'nuff said

[Lily]

My new favourite book for this week is... 'The Time Traveler's Wife'. Great story, in my opinion, and nice for light reading. I'm also reading 'The Inner Voice' a biography on opera singer Renee Fleming, which is really well done, and a nutrition book called 'Nourishing Traditions', which is absolutely awesome!
My opinions on books change from week to week.
My staple favorite is Gone With The Wind.

[Nexus]

I have no favourite book BUT I do have a favourite bunch of series.
Anyone know the forgotten realms series's that R.A.Salvatore has done with Drizzt Do'Urden and the like. Those without a doubt are my favourite books, though I like them all equally.

Eragon and Eldest come up close but they're too childish to be my favourites.

[Onoria Westhrop]

Wow...an impossible question. I like Nabokov's Pale Fire, Borges' Labyrinths, The Arcades Project by Walkter Benjamin, A Confederacy of Dunces,The Ticklish Subject....but I think my all time number one has to be Jeeves In the Offing by P.G.Wodehouse. That man makes me laugh like a lunatic on the train in the mornings. As we say 抱腹絶倒！

[Resident Mexican]

It's not Eragon.
...
...
...
Really, It's not.

[Bluemouth]

The Stand by Stephen King ... what a journey that was.

[Fantasy of You]

Monsoon, by Wilbur Smith. Read it if you're into the epic without the fantasy. Great historical nove.

[Arktos]

Wilbur Smith.. you have a taste.

The Dark tower series here.

[DFischer]

Dune by Frank Herbert

[newguy]

Dune... indeed, one of the most excellent books to date...

Well I did love "the Pillars of Solomon" by jon land

[Mr Baatard]

Hard to pick, really. They're all pretty diverse.

Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand. Library of Congress called it the second most influential book ever written.

The deed of Paksenarrion by Elizabeth Moon

Bell, Book, and Murder: The Bast Mysteries by Rosemary Edghill.

[Crazy Ivan]

Anything by Terry Pratchett, Douglas Adams, or Diane Duane.

READ THEM.

[finnmaccool]

My two favorite books/series are The Warlord Chronicles by Bernard Cornwell and Harry Potter.

[Fiesty Kel]

My all time favourite book, especially at about the age of 16, is by an Australian author - Bryce Courtenay, and is called the Power Of One. It was eventually made into a dreadful movie, but I read my original copy til it fell apart. Over and over! It is just beautiful, and so emotive.

[Bluemouth]

I've been avoiding Bryce for some reason. But I think I'll pick up one of his books in the near future. He does get good reviews.

[Odin's Wellies]

The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy

[RobYoung]

Dune by Frank Hubert
Wizard & Glass by Stephen King (in my opinion it is the best of the Dark Tower series)
Without Remorse by Tom Clancy
War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells

[Bluemouth]

Do you really like Wizard & Glass that much? I thought it was a little boring. Not as bad as Song of Susannah. My personal favourite was The Drawing of the Three, followed by The Dark Tower (minus where King added himself in), the journey to the tower was so great. Many memorable moments.

[Gannon]

The Picture of Dorian Gray - Oscar Wilde
Although in a different league I have tremendously enjoyed recently the satire on the French that Stephen Clarke has been putting out - In The Merde, Merde Actually etc

[RobYoung]

Do you really like Wizard & Glass that much? I thought it was a little boring. Not as bad as Song of Susannah. My personal favourite was The Drawing of the Three, followed by The Dark Tower (minus where King added himself in), the journey to the tower was so great. Many memorable moments.

Yeah, I really did like it. I can see where someone could see it as a slow story. I also may have given The Drawing of the Three an undeserved knock. However, that was not what I wanted to do. I just enjoyed finally learning more about Roland as a more full character. It may also be that there was about 2+ years between Wastelands and Wizard & Glass. How could he tourture constant reader like that?

Rob

[MeredithHans]

Love and Other Demons by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. is my favorite right now.

But anything I've read by Marquez would easily qualify for a very high position in my top.

The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro

After the Banquet by Yukio Mishima

Rahomon by Akutagawa


War and Peace by Tolstoi

The Death Blow by Marguerite Yourcenar but that's because I relate to it very much.

The Book Of Happines by Nina Berberova. It's just so light and yet complicated at the same time.

[TonyJames]

Perfume by Patrick Suskind

[shin wu]

my alltime favorite book is the curios incident of the dog in the nite timeby mark haddon it'l be hard to put down.



p.s. the author apparently malested a chicken no joke check it out
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Haddon

[Hellbent]

Mine is Hunter by James Byron Huggins. In fact my signature is a battle scene from that book.

It's about this prehistoric man-beast thing that gets loose out of a lab somewhere's in the arctic circle and runs rampant killing everything in it's path.

To stop it the military get a tracker named Nathan Hunter to track down the monster so their highly tactical and awesome team can blow the shit out of it.

Think of Predator only plotted in an arcitc desert, without Arnold telling everyone to "Run to the Chopper!" It even reads like an action movie- really fast paced. It's awethsome.

[ItalianStallion]

I would have to say The Freedom Writers is my all time favorite. That book is so amazing and its all true stories. I have not put it down... and the movie is great also... Just Wonderful

[ronoxQ]

Adverbs - Daniel Handler
American Gods - Neil Gaiman

Though most things that are written for style (Nabakov, Robbins) make it up on the list. Those two in particular stand out for me.

[Crazy Ivan]

American Gods - Neil Gaiman


*hugs*

[WhispWillow]

Little Women, beautiful story, Louis M Alcott would be one of my favourite authors, just for that book, it's great

[Sigma Omega]

My favorite book would have to Be Rainbow Six by Tom Clancy. I don't know why I can just sit down and read that book anytime; it doesn't matter how many times I have read I still enjoy reading it again.

Although I do liked the Legends of Dune Trilogy by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson. They were a really good read. I need to recheck them out from the library, as long as I can pay the fines I have.

[Isis]

American Gods by Neil Gaiman is definately on my list as well - the first time I read through it, I thought it was kind of dense but worth the effort, but it was wonderful to read it the second time through knowing more about the mythology, the illusions and allusions.

And If On a Winter's Night a Traveller [Italo Calvino] is definately my favorite out of any book I've read recently. A whole book about books and reading! And it's wonderfully written and, I suspect, another one of those books that gets better the second time through.

[Crazy Ivan]

American Gods by Neil Gaiman is definately on my list as well - the first time I read through it, I thought it was kind of dense but worth the effort, but it was wonderful to read it the second time through knowing more about the mythology, the illusions and allusions.


*hugs you too*

[Corleone]

Either The Godfather (I have just finished reading it for the third time)
Or Angels and Demonds.

[Neo]

American Psycho, without a doubt. A book which agrees with me, morally.

[Raven]

Lately mine is Flight Of The Eisenstien. Written by James Swallow

[Kit]

I can honestly say that I don't currently have a "favourite" book, i'm still looking for it... will let you know if and when I do find it though :D

Like somebody else though (can't remember who said it), my favourite book growing up was Matilda by Roald Dahl.

[Ferret]

Now that I think about it, I never enjoyed any other book as much as I did The Phantom Tollbooth.

[Sayso]

My favourites are:

The dictionary.
The thesaurus.

Sad but true.:rolleyes:

[Hot Air Balloon]

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley.

[Jaclyn]

Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky

The Fifth Child by Doris Lessing

Why Shoot the Teacher? by Maxx Braithwaite

Travels with My Aunt by Graham Greene


If I had to choose just one my head would blow up.

[.PeanutButter]

The Truth about Forever
By: Sarah Dessen

[Heather Louise]

I have recently read Red Dragon, The Silence of the Lambs, and Hanibal Rising by Thomas Harris and they are amazing. i am about to start readin Hanibal later (my mam bought me it when she went down the town earlier.)
Heather

[.PeanutButter]

Isn't 'Silence of the Lambs' a movie as well? Isn't it suppose to be a horror movie or something like that?

[Gannon]

Just reread a childhood favourite - Enid Blyton - Magic Faraway Tree - and would like to proclaim this my favourite ever book.

[krosangnomelord]

Survivor, by Chuck Palahniuk

[SeaBreeze]

The Faraway tree... I used to love that book. I really hope It didn't get thrown away. I read that book heaps of times. I gotta go find it now!

[WriterOfTheDead]

MY favorite is Twilight by Stephenie Meyer. It was her fisrts book and a major bestseller. Shes like my role-model. I hope that happens to me anyway its an absolutely amazing fiction book. A romance with a twist. I won't ruin it for you.

I like a lot of other books but theres far too many to name. :p

[*water*sprite*]

The love of my life in literature has to be Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier. When I ever feel blue I put that 1960's edition copy of that old book to my heart and all is well again.
The story is that of a painted world full of love, betrayl, adultery, mystery, suspence, suicide, murder, wisdom, and friendship.
The main character, who has no name perhaps portraying every woman's heart and intuition and youth, finds a friendship with a widowed man. The inside of his home is neat and tidy with busy maids and butlers, but the lingering effect his late wife's spirit lives on. The story unravels and our heroine faces the fact that she is not wanted by the people her husband trusts the most, it takes a long journey of selfdoubt to relize the strength within herself.
This is the greatest peice of literature written, it's better even that To Kill A Mocking Bird. I LOVE IT!:) :) <3<3<3<3

[Heather Louise]

i have recently finished reading the Hanibal series by Thomas Harris and i think that they are just excellent. i absolutly loved them. i also loved Memoirs of a Geisha and some of the old Enid Blyton books like the Island of Adventure, or the Mountain of Adventure.
Heather

[PrincessGarnet]

some of my favourites are:

notes from the underground - Dostoevsky

cider with Rosie - Laurie Lee

frankenstein - Mary Shelley

fear and loathing in las vegas - Hunter s Thompson

Catcher in the Rye -J. D. Salinger

In cold blood - Capote


I don't think I have an ultimate favourite novel ...although if I had to pick from that list it would be In Cold Blood; Capote's descriptions are inspiring and that story is so well told. It's also especially chilling as this really happened and Capote met with the murders and was researching it before they were found. I really am selling it quite poorly, but trust me it's such an exhilarating read.

[RustyHicks]

The Shinning.
What can I say. It freaked me out the first time I read it and it still freaks me out when I read it again.

[Wfire3]

My favorite book right now is"IMPROBABLE" by Adam Fower. A really thrilling and indepth dtory about chance, possibility and probablilities based on mathematical theories. Very good book! Would highly recommend it!

[Raven]

My favourite Book to date is Flight Of The Eisenstien.

[Naomi Star]

Unfortunetely, I haven't read a TON of books...but out of the ones I have read, I really rather enjoyed The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley.

I guess it was the first book I felt I connected with and really understood....not too hard of a read...it's directed at young adult readers, but... I think it's special to me. XD I know, that sounds a little lame...

[aimeefriedland2]

it's difficult to chose a 'favorite' book, but at the moment i enjoy Absurdistan (http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw/103-5257727-4438210?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=absurdistan&Go.x=9&Go.y=9&Go=Go) by Gary Shteyngart.. i also love the work of David Sedaris and am determined to match his writing style/ability...one day!

[Adri<3]

I know eh, it's definately hard to choose a single favorite... but the first that came to mind is Timeline by Michael Crichton. Actually I love a lot of his books but this one appealed to me. He does have quite a collection of books under his belt.

I love J.K Rowling's HP books as well they're really addicting. :)

[Falcatarius]

In no particular order...

-Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (whole series)

-All the original Sherlock Holmes Novels (except valley of fear)

-Catch-22

-Timeline

-Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

-The Autobiography of Malcom X (I consider it a story)

-Confederacy of Dunces

-Chronicles of Narnia (whole series)

Cheers
-Falcatarius

[Bick]

I don't really re-read any books since they tend to bore me after the first time. Though, there are two books that I catch myself re-reading all the time.

The 13 1/2 lives of Captain Bluebear by Walter Moers

and

Cell by Stephan King

Cell can keep my attention, and about the only Stephan King book I truly enjoy... I find he can't keep my attention. That book gets right to the action.

Walter Moers... it's like his books go into my mind =P When I read his books it's like perfection for my imagination. Meaning, I'm a child at heart.

[online.education]

I'm finishing Les Mis&#233;rables; I might be able to finish it by the end of the month. I think this is my new favorite now though I still have 200 pages left to read. This novel is pretty amazing ...

[sorceress]

The Kite Runner

[soujiroseta]

The Devil's Teardrop by Jeffery Deaver

[leopharry]

The Outsiders was a favorite. It's still a movie I'll throw in when I'm bored. =] S.E. Hinton was a good writer. =]
When I was younger, I rememer The Tale of Despereaux was a favorite, too.
The RedWall series. I NEVER get too old to love Mattimeo. ^-^
Harry Potter. The ONLY one I didn't like was the Order of the Phoenix. It was too... I don't know. I didn't like that one.
Twilight, New Moon, and Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer. Possibly the only vampire series I'll ever love. I'm also thrilled by the fact that Robert Pattinson is playing Edward. ^-^
Maximum Ride. I still have to read the 4th one!!
Pendragon. I've lost my place in that one (how many are even out now?!?).
And I'll never be too old to enjoy a good ol' Nancy Drew mystery. =P

Edit: I completely forgot!!!! A Great and Terrible Beauty, Rebel Angels, and The Sweet, Far Thing by Libba Bray. I'm surprised at myself!!

[mikespread1988]

I don't read too much which is weird for a writer, but being a huge fan of Douglas Adams and Terry Pratchett I have to say its between Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy and Mort. Both are brilliantly funny and entertaining and I love the random and weird events that happen. These two books are the main reason I got into writing, because I'd like to become soryt of the new kid on the block for this type of storytelling.

I also read some Terry Brookes novels which are more intense and fantasy like, but there's something about his writing that annoys me and I aren't entirely sure what it is. Probably that I'd wish he'd chill out and make it a bit more uplifting rather than deep and depressive.

[Oasis Writer]

A Study in Scarlet - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. :D

[wildflower]

sense and sensibility - Jane Austen

[slippingfrenchgirl]

The series of Harry Potter books have been my all time fevourite, also most Dean Koontz books, my favourite one of his "The Taking". Et voila, my favies

[para_noir]

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

It'll prolly change to New Moon once I read that. ;)

[KP Williams]

I absolutely love anything by Ted Dekker. Definitely my favorite author.

My favorites of his would have to be Showdown, Saint, and House (which he co-authored with Frank Peretti). I honestly can't pick the best out of those three.

[Alex_Hartman]

The Twilight series all the way. I dont know many people who dont like these books. well, I dont know many guys who have read them, but every girl in the world has read at least the first one, which makes you want to read all of them. Do it. Read the Twilight Series.

-Alex

[Alex_Hartman]

[QUOTE=leopharry;149277]Twilight, New Moon, and Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer. Possibly the only vampire series I'll ever love. I'm also thrilled by the fact that Robert Pattinson is playing Edward. ^-^[QUOTE]

I am personally not thrilled with Robert Pattinson playing Edward. Edward is suppose to be gorgeous. Read the book, a movie could never compare.

-Alex

[ChimmyBear]

Beach Music by Pat Conroy and The Silence of The Lambs by Thomas Harris.

[tambourineman]

"On the Road" by Kerouac is a long time favourite.

[Kaij]

Twilight series by Stephenie Meyers
Signs of the Zodiac series by Vicki Pettersson
Women of the Otherworld series by Kelley Armstrong
All books by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
All books by Laurell K. Hamilton

Yes, those, I believe, are my top favs XP There's no way I can pick just one.

[jfisher120]

One flew over the cuckoo's nest


I usually don't read books too often but I really found time to sit down and read this one once I got started, but that's because it's awesome.

[Nodin]

The memory brings a smile to my face. Senior year in high school: I'd read hundreds of science-fiction novels, but never anything of 'quality,' and I was being forced by the English teacher to do a book report on most anything except science-fiction. I wandered downstairs to the school library, experiencing mild shock and repulsion at the sight of all those 'quality' hardback books, and I quickly formulated the plan to find the smallest book so as to lessen my book report ordeal.

To my delight I found an itty-bitty book that was no more than about five inches square and about half an inch thick. At the time I was going to college in the mornings, going to high school in the afternoons, and I did all my college homework at high school. I figured I could have the little book read within one study hall.

The Good Earth was the title. The book exposed me to what I interpreted to be quality writing, and because the book became an important turning point in my life of reading, it remains my favorite. I've read no science-fiction since.

[silverfrost]

The Ice People by Rene Barjavel. It broke my heart and made me think differently about love- namely that it could be perfect. :P It's wonderful.

[Daniel W]

Rangers Apprentice: The Oakleaf bearers.

I got the first book of this series' in a book club oder in grade 5. I cried when i finished this book because it was so wonderfully excellent that i didn't want it to stop. I greatly anticipated the next book, and the next, and finally, the Oakleaf bearers. This book was amazing. It was so exciting, the war was so descriptive and excellently written... and more. words can't describe how good this book was. Anyone reading this post, i recommend you read every single rangers apprentice book. In australia, there are 7 books, which is the most in any county, so you might not be able to get your hands on all 7 if you are in another country.
I've read every single of one these books from the series on the day i could get my hands on them. They are simply wonderful.

[Hulk]

The Amulet of Samarkand by Jonathan Stroud. Simply the best book ever written.

[Ramblling]

'Magician' Raymond.E Feist - Greatest book Ive read so far.

& one that I forgot the title too, but was {I granted it as a seriously good book, probably cause' it was the first real book I ever read} about Acient China, a slave girl that's master had to look after some of the last dragons in China. And so on so forth, you can guess what happend. It was still good though.

[Gone Wishing]

I find it very difficult to choose favourites when it comes to things like books and such.

In amongst my favourites, though, are:

Getting Used To Dying, by Xian Xang Liang - revolutionised the way I look at the value of words.

Across The Nightingale Floor, by Lian Hearn - The first in the series and one of the most absorbing books I have ever read.

The Ends Of The Earth, by Lucius Shepard - A collection of short stories that are - to me - science fiction/fantasy perfection. Every story is like an ever increasing heartbeat. ;)

Red Azalea, by Anchee Min - I love this book because it's an autobiography that only succeeded in being written when the author learned a new language (English) and was able to write in the freedom that it gave her, I'm endlessly fascinated by that concept.

The BFG, by Roald Dahl - Storytelling perfection, in my humble opinion. :)

[juniofegalon]

This is going to sound really cliché but I am in love with the Twilight Saga!! I cannot wait for Breaking Dawn to come out!!

Anyone who is with me two thumbs up!!!

If you haven't read it... I reccomend reading at least the first two chapters... it will pull you in and you won't be able to stop until you read the last word of Eclipse(the 3rd in the series) :):):):)

[juniofegalon]

The Amulet of Samarkand by Jonathan Stroud. Simply the best book ever written.

I enjoyed this series too... the ending upset me but did not suprise me as much as the reviews said it was going to... :)

[Ehdom]

I really enjoyed House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski. I plan on rereading it this summer, as my first read through was a bit sporadic.

[princess K]

Fav book with out a doubt = P.s I love You by Cecelia Ahern. beautiful x

[Sayuri]

There are so many... there are always ones that I've forgotten, but I'll do my best:

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See
Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister by Gregory Maguire
The Secrets of Jin-Shei by Alma Alexander
Til We Have Faces by C.S. Lewis
The Secret River by Kate Grenville
Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden
The Constant Princess by Philippa Gregory
The Hours by Michael Cunningham
The Dogs of Babel by Carolyn Parkhurst

Graphic novel series:
Sandman, Neil Gaiman
Transmetropolitan, Warren Ellis

Short stories:
Ficciones, Jorge Luis Borges
Animal Crackers, Hannah Tinti

Non-fiction:
Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs, Chuck Klostermann
The Lady and the Panda, Vicki Constantine

[Rogue]

The Maximum Ride Series By James Patterson ^^
and I use to be a fan of the Dragon's in our Midsts series by Bryan Davis

[Edwould1991]

Has anyone read the Outcast by Sadie Jones.

If it's not the best book I've ever read in my life, i don't know what is.

Worst book is easily the Tempest.

[psyence53]

Cannot choose ONE but here's the dominant ones (in no particular order):

Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov
Snakes and Earrings - Hitomi Kanehara
Piercing - Ryu Murakami
See-Saw - Deborah Moggach
Choke/Haunted - Chuck Palahniuk
A Long Way Down - Nick Hornby

[arron89]

Cannot choose ONE but here's the dominant ones (in no particular order):

Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov
Snakes and Earrings - Hitomi Kanehara
Piercing - Ryu Murakami
See-Saw - Deborah Moggach
Choke/Haunted - Chuck Palahniuk
A Long Way Down - Nick Hornby

High five for Ryu Murakami! And chuck, and nabokov, but everyone likes them...but you like Ryu Murakami!! YAY!!

[psyence53]

High five for Ryu Murakami! And chuck, and nabokov, but everyone likes them...but you like Ryu Murakami!! YAY!!

High five back! Hands up, I've only read that one, but I want to read more. Piercing is definitely a contender for the top. Never thought i'd find anyone else though! :D Awesome!

[poetic.beauty]

The Neverending Story, The Harry Potter Series, Sputnik Sweetheart, and The Count of Monte Cristo are a few that top my favorite books' list.

[arron89]

High five back! Hands up, I've only read that one, but I want to read more. Piercing is definitely a contender for the top. Never thought i'd find anyone else though! :D Awesome!

I've read Audition and In the Miso Soup....Miso Soup was terrifying, so surreal and tense and well-written.....higly recommended! I'll have to pick up a copy of piercing next i think...

[The Viendish One]

Harry Potter, The Inheritence Cycle, The Hobbit, and Watchmen.

[Zieki]

If you enjoy fantasy it all I think that the "A Song of Ice and Fire" series by George R.R. Martin is a must read. It is brutally real at times and full of intrigue, romance, battles, humor, and more. Just wish he'd finish the books faster...

[summer_breeze]

I like Steinbeck's shorter novels such as Cannery Row and The Pearl...Cannery Row and Sweet Thursday are both really good.

[bumboclaatjones]

I think I have read Ender's Game more times than anyone ever should. I identified like crazy with Ender when I was like 12, and it probably was my favorite book until I was like 17.
The Three Musketeers I read at 9 or 10, and I loved that until I read Ender's Game. Count of Monte Cristo is up there, too. The Godfather is another all time favorite (and, of course, one of the best damned movies ever made). And finally, The World According to Garp. Damn, I wish I could write like that.

[Bongo Mongo]

Most definitely The Watchmen (If it counts). Utter perfection.

[lilybrianne]

The Alanna series by Tamora Pierce, and the Terrier series of her later ones.

His Dark Materials by Phillip Pullman.

Lately I've been stuck on Robert Jordan, what an overwhelming universe.

[Idiot]

The Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger
The Thrawn Trilogy by Timothy Zahn
and The Watchmen, if it counts

[InAGreyWorld]

i really like "the secret life of bees" by sue monk kidd
and also "a seperate peace" by john knowles.
and "to kill a mockingbird". that is such an amazing book...i could read it all day for weeks.

[kikd84]

I don't really have a favorite. After just reading "Avalon" by Anya Seton, I really like that one and I am going to look into her other books.

[Green Faery]

I could never choose, but my top ones:
All the Harry Potter books, His Dark Materials trilogy, Memoirs of a Geisha, Angels and Demons, Undone, Vampire Academy, and Bram Stoker's Dracula. Those ones I probably re-read at least once a year.

[Jobeykobra]

I'd have to go with either 1984 or American Psycho. Both greatly illustrate how society is headed in the wrong direction, but one is more of a serious story of love and rebellion against the Government while the other is a dark satire told from the eyes of a conformist in the yuppie society who's in a way rebelling against it in the worst way possible.

[Zaylee]

I have quite a few, but narrowing the list down and it would have to be...

That Devil Called Love - Lynda Carter
My Sister's Keeper - Jodi Picoult
Second Glance - Jodi Picoult
The Pact - Jodi Picoult
Nancy Drew books - Carolyn Keene

[Republic21]

I also have quite a few and many of them are those i recently read.

Twillight-Stefenie Meyer.
Harry Poter3- J.K.Rowling.
Harry Poter4
Harry Poter5 and 7.
Also the Inheritanse series are some of my favorite books.
I mostly read fantasy and adventure books.

[arron89]

I also have quite a few and many of them are those i recently read.

Twillight-Stefenie Meyer.
Harry Poter3- J.K.Rowling.
Harry Poter4
Harry Poter5 and 7.
Also the Inheritanse series are some of my favorite books.
I mostly read fantasy and adventure books.

lol you might not find many friends here XD

[Hidesunderrocks]

lol you might not find many friends here XD

Hey, there is nothing wrong with enjoying Twilight. I found many flaws with it, but I still thoroughly enjoyed reading it. I'm sure there are lots of Twilight fans in hiding on this site just to keep people from picking on them!

[arron89]

<< didn't wake up today...the sparkly vampires got him...

[Sinbad]

It's hard for me to pick favorites because I think every book I've read is special and has altered my life for the better. I think one of the most precious pieces of writing I've read is Walden by Henry David Thoreau. I cannot say enough about this excellent work. It takes the spirit for a drive down the purist track of human experience, and it has made me think about things in a new light as well as reinforce old beliefs.

[samessex]

Junk, by Melvin Burgess without a doubt

[tbeverley]

Tertium Organum, by Ouspenkii.

I had a conversation with a friend while sitting in a library. We were discussing the nature of reality, and we agreed that our reality must be the third dimension. Then, we wondered what the fourth dimension was.

I looked up "fourth dimension" on the school computer. There was a book named "Tertium Organum," which I then searched for on the library shelves.

The book, when I found it, was like a great ancient tome: It's binding was worn; it's cover was black with the title in thick crimson lettering, as if written in blood; the pages had yet to be separated (older books were printed with two pages joined together, which were then cut by either the printing press or the first reader: this book had obviously never been read, as all the pages were still joined).

I carried the giant tome home. Then, a magical world opened. Before the school year was out, my life was irrevocably changed and I spent the next ten years reading and thinking about the nature of reality.

I will always remember that book as if it were sitting in a wizard's laboratory on a giant pedestal: When the first pages open a great gust of glitter-dust sprays outward and mesmerizes the reader, ultimately transporting him from the realm of the ordinary to the realm of the miraculous.

But, it was just a book. Or was it?

[SingToMeMuse]

It's a toss up between Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey and Persuasion, which coincidentally were originally published in one volume. If I HAD to pick one though I think I'd lean a little more toward Northanger Abbey.



Hey, there is nothing wrong with enjoying Twilight. I found many flaws with it, but I still thoroughly enjoyed reading it. I'm sure there are lots of Twilight fans in hiding on this site just to keep people from picking on them!

I'm guilty! Though I wouldn't say they are my FAVORITE books but I do thoroughly enjoy them...being a lifetime Washingtonian though I think it's like a birthright. It was like falling into an adventure written in my own backyard.

[ChaseRoberts]

I've actually not read Twilight. Saw the film, that was okay, but a bit generic.

I used to read the Point Horrors (do you still get them, btw?) and quite enjoyed them. I've always been more of a werewolf sympathiser myself though.

I remember reading two books when I was young (I did in fact read more than two, but I've been thinking about these ones recently). The first was called 'When the Moon Turned Blue'. I can't remember what it was about much, except for two sisters had to rescue their father from some such predicament, but it must have been good because I read it about five times in a year (I was about six or seven at the time).
The other one is killing me, because I want to re-read it, but I can't remember the author or the title, which is, of course, a major help in finding the book. It was about a young boy and a younger girl, possibly called Anna, who was French, who lived in a Dark Imposing Hall until it burned down and they were made homeless and destitute. They went into the city to find work. First they picked up old cigarettes discarded on the ground, and then made them into new cigarettes, but then a bully figure stopped them. The young lad then turned his hand to working in the sewers, where he found all sorts of trinkets and junk, whilst Anna went to work in a cotton factory. It ended well, with the boy finding the will that stated their inheritance to the family fortune thrown into the sewers by the Villan.
Does anyone know the book? I really enjoyed it.

Other than that, I was a huge fan of the Hardy Boys and the Three Investigators. I still have some I've foraged from charity shops over the years, that I read over and over. And A Little Princess. I love that book.

There's really too many books to totally pick a favourite out of them all, but (currently) my top three are:

1. A Little princess Francis Hodegson Burnett
2. The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy- Douglas Adams (first read when I was fourteen, had a copy, lost it, got another copy, lent it to a friend, eventually procured a copy from the library back in 2004, and have so far failed to return it)
3. Les Miserables- Victor Hugo. We had a (very) abridged version of Jean Valjean's story in our Level 10 reading book at school, which I read when I was about seven, having developed a voracious appetite for literature. I then discovered the musical, and when I was twelve, I got the book. It took me forever to read, being that I struggled a bit with some of the concepts and words, but once I'd finished, I knew I'd be reading it again. Now of course I just whizz through it, but oddly, it's one of those books where you get something new out of it every time you read it.

[Mercurial]

Tertium Organum, by Ouspenkii.

I had a conversation with a friend while sitting in a library. We were discussing the nature of reality, and we agreed that our reality must be the third dimension. Then, we wondered what the fourth dimension was.

I looked up "fourth dimension" on the school computer. There was a book named "Tertium Organum," which I then searched for on the library shelves.

The book, when I found it, was like a great ancient tome: It's binding was worn; it's cover was black with the title in thick crimson lettering, as if written in blood; the pages had yet to be separated (older books were printed with two pages joined together, which were then cut by either the printing press or the first reader: this book had obviously never been read, as all the pages were still joined).

I carried the giant tome home. Then, a magical world opened. Before the school year was out, my life was irrevocably changed and I spent the next ten years reading and thinking about the nature of reality.

I will always remember that book as if it were sitting in a wizard's laboratory on a giant pedestal: When the first pages open a great gust of glitter-dust sprays outward and mesmerizes the reader, ultimately transporting him from the realm of the ordinary to the realm of the miraculous.

But, it was just a book. Or was it?
Well, now, look what you've done! I've got to find this gem. :)

I'm not quite through Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged yet (I'm about halfway through part two of three), but I find myself thinking about it when I'm not reading it and applying its philosophies to my every day life. When I'm not doing that, I'm talking about it to anyone who will listen! :p This woman was probably the most brilliant author who ever lived. I've got to get my hands on The Fountainhead, which I've learned is actually somewhat of a prequel, next. My only regret is that I hadnt picked it up sooner. With the dry bookjacket and sheer size and small print, I figured the book would be very dry. She is a bit longwinded (IE Francisco d'Anconia's speech about how money is not the root of all evil --man is, and money is just a tool man uses to accomplish his dirty deeds-- could have been condensed to maybe two pages --not five), but I suppose her mastery makes up for that. ;)

In the same vein, I really like John Green's Paper Towns. It's for a completely different audience (Green is generally regarded as a YA author as most of his characters are in high school) and is not politically charged, and the purpose of the book is probably to entertain, but I like how he also emphasizes the importance of individuality throughout the novel (and throughout all of his novels, actually).
I love novels like these --the ones that teach you something; they accomplish the task to keep you entertained and withdrawn from the real world, but their lessons are so impacting that you apply it to your real world... That's cool. :)

I cant pick a favourite. Probably one of the two mentioned above.

[MYSTERY MAN]

1. "IT", by Stephen King.
2. "Swan Song", by Robert R. McCammon.

[Strike The Dog]

1: Warrior Cats Rising Storm

2: Warrior Cats into the wild

4:Warrior Cats Forest Of Secrets

5:Warrior Cats Fire and Ice

[ManhattanMss]

I love novels like these --the ones that teach you something; they accomplish the task to keep you entertained and withdrawn from the real world, but their lessons are so impacting that you apply it to your real world... That's cool. :)

I cant pick a favourite. Probably one of the two mentioned above.

I felt exactly the same way you did about Rand when I first read her books. There's a little book called IF ON A WINTER'S NIGHT A TRAVELER by Italo Calvino, which I thought was perfectly fascinating. It's a fictional story about a fictional story. It's so unique and so well done and fascinating enough to read again and again. If you like learning something while enjoying a story, I'll bet you'd love it. I don't usually have favorite books either, but favorite authors, myself. This book almost changed my mind, though.

Ouspensky's stuff does look interesting, doesn't it? I read Flatland by Edwin Abbott a long, long time ago, which has also stuck in my mind as a fascinating take on dimensionality. It's a teeny little book, though (or at least a good deal less than a tome).

[arron89]

Ouspensky's stuff does look interesting, doesn't it? I read Flatland by Edwin Abbott a long, long time ago, which has also stuck in my mind as a fascinating take on dimensionality. It's a teeny little book, though (or at least a good deal less than a tome).

Haha I just read Flatland this year, its such a cute little book. But then, its also really quite deep, and it influenced basically every science fiction book ever written (whether the author knows it or not...)...I wouldn't say it was my favourite book (or even Top 10), but its definitely an interesting book, particularly if you're interested in the origins of scifi.

[Anders Backlund]

The Neverending Story

Thank you! I was beginning to despair.

Neverending Story has been my all time favourite book for many, many years, with Ende's other masterpiece Momo as a close second.

I sorta consider them companion stories, though, one dealing with imagination and the other dealing with time. Both need to be read by everyone, everywhere. Period.


The Twilight series all the way. I dont know many people who dont like these books. well, I dont know many guys who have read them, but every girl in the world has read at least the first one, which makes you want to read all of them. Do it. Read the Twilight Series.

-Alex

I'm in the middle of reading the first book right now. Honestly, aside from the horrible, horrible prose, it's not nearly as bad as I'd heard it was. It's even kinda fun.

Absolutely not one of the best books I've ever read, though.


If you enjoy fantasy it all I think that the "A Song of Ice and Fire" series by George R.R. Martin is a must read. It is brutally real at times and full of intrigue, romance, battles, humor, and more. Just wish he'd finish the books faster...

I've heard a lot of praise for Martin's writing, but I'm avoiding those books specifically because they are described as brutally realistic. I think I would end up hating them for that reason alone.

Call me childish, but I prefer my fantasy to be mercifully unrealistic. ;)

[Ferb]

The Twilight series all the way. I dont know many people who dont like these books. well, I dont know many guys who have read them, but every girl in the world has read at least the first one, which makes you want to read all of them. Do it. Read the Twilight Series.

-Alex

I read the series mostly out of curiosity. I found the second and the third book somewhat bearable (didn't bother with the fourth book since Bella getting pregnant at 18 was just too weird for me), but I'm not sure how the first book is supposed to make you want to read all of them. Virtually nothing happens throughout the 400+ book. And when I say nothing, I mean nothing.

I can see why many girls would like the series, though. It's like a weird fantasy come true.

As for my favorite book, I can't say I have one. I'm not too picky, so it changes every week.

[13YrOldWriter]

My favorite? Well, that would have to be the Twilight Saga! I <3 that Book Series sooo much! XD

[jwatson]

harry potter 6

[Gigi_GNR]

I love Twilight a lot, and it's not cuz it's some "weird fantasy" for me. It's not. It's awesome. But that's my OPINION. *waits for Wall Of Death-like beatdown* Lol, I've always wanted to do a Wall of Death. But anyway.... I also love the Bronte sisters, Charlotte and Emily. My faves are Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights, those are incredible. Pride & Prejudice (sp?) is good, too.

[rkn]

I really loved "Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man" by James Joyce. Not because its a "classic" but the parallels between early 20th century Ireland the modern Philippines are staggering. ;)

[ravin.sawhney]

Hi ,

Mine favourite book is zero limits. most of all time i read non fiction like books. I like to read them. they are like self help books. I love them.

It is written by famous writer Dr. Joe Vitale.

:)

[chrisrozwod]

The World According to Garp by John Irving

That's the book that got me interested in reading again...I'd gone on hiatus from the ages 11 to 18.

[LunarKnite]

I'd have to pick between 3. Two of which are actually a series. The first is the Redwall series by Brian Jacques. It may be targeted at a younger audience, but I just love the world with its personified animals and mouth-watering foods. It's all very formulaic, each of the books, but it makes them just a comforting read.

The other series would be Chronicles of the Necromancer, a fantasy series, by Gail Z. Martin. It's just a good read with enjoyable characters and an interesting world.

The last is a classic, Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, of course. I found it very interesting as it reminds me of what our society is and what it may become. Also doing my senior research paper on it let me able to appreciate even more.

[Operaghost]

rather difficult list really as it can change, so no favourite exactly, but i have just finished Animal Farm and absolutely loved it, and obviously as my username suggests i am a fan of a certain novel by monsieur Leroux, However one of the best books i have read in a long time is The lovely Bones by Alice Sebold, i wasn;t so impressed with her follow up, but her non-fiction accoutn of her own rape "Lucky" was also a fantasitic (if somewhat difficult read) I also love Prozc Nation When i was younger i was a fan of Christopher Pike, but its also great to see people mention Diane Duane here as i was a fan of the wizadry books, which predated HArry Potter! (which i also like)

[Gigi_GNR]

I don't have just 1/2/3 favorite(s), I have around 10-15, and they're all on my Favorite books shelf.

[murphcas]

I really don't have only one favorite book. There are too many for me to name but I'll list a few:
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
The Perks of Being a Wallflower
Harry Potter series
Ella Enchanted
The Chronicles of Chrestomanci
Inkheart

and the list could probably go on for ages haha but those are books that I could read over and over again and never get tired of.

[Gigi_GNR]

The Inkheart series is on my favorites shelf. Ella Enchanted was also good, but not good enough IMO to make it on the shelf.

[Silver Penny]

Haha I just read Flatland this year, its such a cute little book. But then, its also really quite deep, and it influenced basically every science fiction book ever written (whether the author knows it or not...)...I wouldn't say it was my favourite book (or even Top 10), but its definitely an interesting book, particularly if you're interested in the origins of scifi.

I read that myself a few years back and was stunned the interesting complexities and parallels to humanity...You can read a lot into that book.

Some of my faves include:
My Sister's Keeper - Jodi Picoult
Life of Pi – Yann Martel
Blindness - José Saramago
The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini
The Art Thief - Noah Charney
The Shack - William Paul Young
The Road - Cormac McCarthy

These are books that weren't easy to read, but affected me in emotional ways. I have many more but these are a few off the top of my head that I would read again.

[Kamille]

I've read to much trying to live up to the expectations of others to be able to say that I actually have a "favorite" anymore, but I love Frank Herbert's "Dune" and have read it several times. I also like Joyce's "The Dead" quite a bit, as well as some of the other stories in "Dubliners."

[hopey]

A Quiet Belief in Angels by RJ Ellory.

A beautiful book to read with an excellent plot. It's not often you get both, in fact I would say that I've never read a book that had so much of both. An absolute masterpiece.

I feel really sorry for people that haven't read it.

[Maxtina]

What are the THREE best books you have ever read?
What were your top three books about?!

[thirdwind]

It's so hard choosing only three. One of my favorites is Catch 22, and it's wonderfully written. A couple other choices would be some of Faulkner's and Hemingway's novels. I think those two really helped make American literature what it is now. Both of them are very influential and good writers. Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men is amazing, too. I think I may be biased since most of the stuff I read is American literature.

This thread gave me an idea. Perhaps we could create a WF's best 50 novels or something like that. People could nominate novels, and we could then rank them based on how many nominations/votes they got. It would be interesting to see what novels make the list.

[p.sawyer]

i have one no doubt about it favourite book of all time; 'wuthering heights' by emily bronte.

it's just so passionate, dark, angry, moving, sorrowful, every emotion possible. it doesn't have a fairytale ending, it's hard and honest. there's no easy ride for true love, it makes no excuses, it questions what true love is.

[wiccaryan]

My Favourite book of all time?

Dolores Claiborne by Stephen King - masterfully written, engaging plot, interesting characters! I honestly don't know why, but just something about it i love.

[SarahBrightmanfan]

Jane Eyre.

I just adore the plot and characters.

Moe of my favourites are:
Labrinth- Kate Mosse
Emma- Jane Austen
To Kill a Mocking Bird- Harper Lee
Tess of the D'urbervilles- Thomas Hardy
The Picture of Dorian Gray- Oscar Wilde
Monsoon- Wilbur Smith

And anything by Harlan Coben and Tess Gerristen

[garrett-k]

My current favorite is "Miles From Nowhere" by Nami Mun. It's very cultural and gritty, I love it.

[SayWhatNow?]

The Stand. Intriguing characters, interesting plotline, descriptive writing, plot twists, it's got everything.

Though the uncut edition was so long that you almost have to read the original first.

[Joran Selemis]

Blindsight by Peter Watts.

Finalist for the Hugo award. Something that had pissed me off for a while was that sci fi as I knew it was starting to stagnate, however, once I read Blindsight my love for the genre was rekindled. It's the first book I've ever read where the story actually transcended the words on the page and I saw everything that had lead up to that moment fit together in a huge harmonious jigsaw of meaning and depth.

I spent the rest of the day walking around, nigh-zombified, because I couldn't stop thinking about the book. A must-read, and don't be fooled by the poor writing quality. It's all a ploy...

[Joran Selemis]

Blindsight by Peter Watts.

Finalist for the Hugo award. Something that had pissed me off for a while was that sci fi as I knew it was starting to stagnate, however, once I read Blindsight my love for the genre was rekindled. It's the first book I've ever read where the story actually transcended the words on the page and I saw everything that had lead up to that moment fit together in a huge harmonious jigsaw of meaning and depth.

I spent the rest of the day walking around, nigh-zombified, because I couldn't stop thinking about the book. A must-read, and don't be fooled by the poor writing quality. It's all a ploy...

[marina]

^ Just looked up Blindsight on Amazon.com. It looks fascinating. I'll put it on hold at my library.

[Joran Selemis]

^ You won't be disappointed. But like I said; stick with it. It's unimpressive at first, but improves as it goes along.

[Faith*Hope*Love]

Dreamland- Sarah Dessen

[sprackles]

My favorite book at the moment is 'Outlaw' by Angus Donald. I am a Robin Hood freak so its no suprise :cool::cool:

[Gigi_GNR]

I loved Atonement when I read it, and I love All the King's Men. It's so un-linear but I love it because it's so different. :D

[Yum Tasty Words]

The First Law Trilogy is a trilogy but if you read it you'll know why I don't pick just one. They all hold their own appeal and each have their problems but I love the ideas behind them and style of writing he uses. His characters are all quite dark and evil and he isn't afraid to hurt them. Everyone should give it a look.

[Banzai]

The First Law Trilogy is a trilogy but if you read it you'll know why I don't pick just one. They all hold their own appeal and each have their problems but I love the ideas behind them and style of writing he uses. His characters are all quite dark and evil and he isn't afraid to hurt them. Everyone should give it a look.

Joe Abercrombie?

I just won the trilogy in a competition in the magazine Interzone.

[Yum Tasty Words]

Really? Thats great cause it means you get three wonderful books for free. Oh, I should warn you that its a quite additcive series especially since he throws you into the land as soon as possible.

[Gigi_GNR]

I'm finding Lolita very good so far. :D

[arron89]

^ There's a lot of good to find. Make sure you read it slow, take your time with it.

[Marcelo]

Probably not the place to ask, but I'm searching for something in the style of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Big Fish and Forrest Gump. I don't know why, but these kind of books (or films) have a great appeal.

[arron89]

Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides? That's the only one that comes to mind right now...

[Gigi_GNR]

^ There's a lot of good to find. Make sure you read it slow, take your time with it.

I will, thanks. :D And after this I have Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? to read. After that I'm reading all the new books I bought but didn't have a chance to read yet.

[katsparrow]

Favorite books ? There are so many, and in so many different categories!
Here is what comes to mind at the moment:

Favorite Novel: The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough

Favorite Non-fiction: A Grief Observed by C.S. Lewis

Favorite Classic: Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

Favorite Children's Book: Now We Are Six by A.A. Milne

Favorite from American Literature: The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne

Favorite Play: Our Town by Thornton Wilder

Could go on and on!!!!:redface:

[Mulgan]

1984- Georgio Orwellious

[Pallas]

I haven't read much literature as an adult, besides heaps of textbooks. Most of my favorite books are probably the ones of my youth and those that were part of my NYC public education:

Portrait Of The Artist
The Pearl
Lord Of The Flies
Hamlet
Othello
Pride and Prejudice
Redwall
Goosebumps
The Greek Classics.....

[screw]

Do I have to pick one? I love so many! :D

Well, I love The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy "trilogy". I know it has very little plot, and seems just drifting somewhere, but c'mon, the writing just completely makes up for that. It was hilarious

Lord of the Rings. I finally read the book, and well, no need to say that I was astonished. A masterpiece, without a doubt.

I'm a big fan of Tonke Dragt's two books De brief voor de Koning and Geiheimen van het Wilde Woud. I haven't read them in a long time, but these books were what I listened to when I was in kindergarten. Even if I would find them less fantastic after re-reading them now, I just have to give them credit, after all the happy years together. :)

Last, but not least, Thea Beckman's Crusade in Jeans. This book may not be a literature masterpiece, but it is really entertaining, and I really look up to the amount of research. It was so surprising to hear, that almost everything was accurate: even their names.

[twinstargemini]

I agree with katsparrow.

There are why too many favourite books for me to choose. But If I had to pick, it would be for now:

Favorite Novel: Birdsong by Sebastian Faulks

Favorite Non-fiction: Goodbye to All that by Robert Graves

Favorite Classic: Moby Dick by Herman Melville

Favorite Children's Book: Holes by Louis Sachar

Favorite from American Literature: The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

Favorite Play: The Caretaker by Harold Pinter, Doll House by Henrik Ibsen

Favourite Poems in poetry books: William Blake Songs of Innocence and Experience

I could continue, but this whole page will be filtered up.

[Sabreur]

My favorite non-fiction has to be the memoirs of Nathaniel Fick; One Bullet Away, the Making of a Marine Officer.

The man is clearly intelligent and makes me proud to be an American. He is an upstanding role-model.

My favorite novel at the moment is The Road by Cormac McCarthy. Such an incredible work of literature. I really do need to read more of his work.

My favorite bit of "light" reading is probably Titanicus by Dan Abnett or Legion by Dan Abnett. I love the Warhammer 40,000 universe (I really am a nerd) and he is probably the only writer in that fictional settings repertoire that is actually talented to the point that people who are not fans of 40k would read him.

[twinstargemini]

I found the Road really well done, but so harrowing. I cried near the end, it is a must read book, it will really make you think about family and the end of the world. It is so well written.

[Gigi_GNR]

I love Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre. Also Pride and Prejudice.

[TheBaconThief]

Favorite books? Hmmm....

Have to say It's Not Easy Bein' Me by Rodney Dangerfield is definitely a book I've read several times.

The Hobbit is the first book out of school that I actually enjoyed. Every chapter pulled me wanting more. For some reason, Lord of the Rings Trilogy I got bored of. I only remember the part where Sam is rescuing Frodo after defeating Shelob.

My Boring Ass Life by Kevin Smith was a very enlightening read about his daily rituals.

Lastly, this is a guilty pleasure of mine that very few people in my life know about. It's a paranormal romance series called The Black Dagger Brotherhood by J.R. Ward. It's full of vampire romances that puts Twilight into shame. There are 7 novels in this series and every single one is as engrossing as the next. Plus with humor too.

[Faith*Hope*Love]

hmm, how can I possibly decide what book I like the best. I would have to say Wuthering Heights.

[Mercurial]

The Hobbit is the first book out of school that I actually enjoyed. Every chapter pulled me wanting more. For some reason, Lord of the Rings Trilogy I got bored of.
Word.
I hated Lord of the Rings trilogy --I had to force my way through. I very much enjoyed The Hobbit however, and read it all in one sitting.
Probably had something to do with the length, but also the fact that The Hobbit had a better plot.

I've already posted my favourites a number of pages back, but I'm reading Ayn Rand's The Fountainhead right now. I wish I had read it before Atlas Shrugged, as it's apparently a precursor (and Atlas Shrugged supposedly outshines The Fountainhead), but it's still quite good.

Whether you agree with Rand's beliefs or not, it's worth a read.

[Gigi_GNR]

hmm, how can I possibly decide what book I like the best. I would have to say Wuthering Heights.

Word. :cool: :D


I'm reading Lolita now--I really like it.

[Pallas]

Well from my high school days, I quite enjoyed The Pearl.

[twinstargemini]

Word. :cool: :D


I'm reading Lolita now--I really like it.

Lolita is a good book, worthy of the title "Literature", but it is so sad and harrowing that I won't read it often, but that's because it's one of those books that make cry.

[DownUnder]

I don't have a specific favourite, but during Hover Car Racer by Matthew Reilly I found myself cheering on the mc: "come on, come on..."

[Everlasting Undead]

I'm a fan of some of Clive Barker's work - I like The Hellbound Heart and Cabal, and a few of the stories in his Books of Blood anthologies are quite good: A lot of his other works are kinda 'samey', but I normally give them a shot to see what they're like. I prefer his writing style to Steven King - I just finished the Stand last week, which took me about 4 years to read: I just couldn't get into it, but felt like I'd started it, and had to slog through until the end. It was only the last 30 pages I really got into it.

I really enjoyed the Necroscope saga - I got through all those books in the space of about a year and a half, and thoroughly enjoyed reading them all. They were all about 700 pages long, more or less, but I'd happily read through them all again, even knowing how they end.

[Gigi_GNR]

Anything by Edgar Allan Poe. :D

[ciara]

the bell jar by sylvia plath, nothing is perfect but this is as close as it gets in my opinion. i've read it at least once a year since i was about twelve.

[alchemy]

Less then Zero - Brett Easton Ellis

House of Leaves - Mark Z. Danielewski

Women - Charles Bukowski

[Gigi_GNR]

I really like Jerry Spinelli. Especially the book about the library card. That always stuck with me for some reason.

[Kirvee]

Ever since I read it in 7th grade, Things Not Seen has been my all-time favorite. There's just something about that story that makes me love it....

I also love pretty much every book that Dennis L. McKiernnan has ever written.

[Never Master]

Oh man, it is entirely too difficult to choose just one!

Emergence by David R. Palmer was absolutely fantastic. I am so utterly disapointed that he died after writing his second book, Threshold. His work in Emergence was nearly flawless. The entire novel is written in Pitman shorthand. A feat in and of itself but it follows a young girl as she 'emerges' from a shelter into a post-apocalyptic America and believe me, he was entirely unique in presenting this overdone theme. Very Heinlein-esque with the portrayal of his characters.

Speaking of him, Heinlein's Sixth Column (also known as The Day After Tommorrow) was my favorite of his classics. What a truly revolutionary way to overcome an occupying army...

Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman's Legend of the Twins Trilogy was most likely the reason I yearned to express myself through creative prose in the first place. The first trilogy in the Dragonlance series (Dragonlance Chronicles) was fantastic however you could most certainly hear the D&D dice rolling behind everything the characters did. The Legends broke away from that and in my mind, is one of the best fantasy series ever written.

Finally, I simply must mention Tom Clancy's Without Remorse. Easily his best novel in my humble opinion. It is considerably more tragic than most of his work, and perhaps that is why it has become a favorite of mine, but it really is a must-read.

[ranke]

Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal

by Christopher Moore.

So good.

[Kayliss]

For me, it's a toss up.

My favorite book was Superfudge as a child.

Then I discovered Piers Anthony, and the Xanth novels. I also read Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy about the same time. I've never been able to rate A Spell For Chameleon over Hitchhiker's, or vice versa. I still read both yearly, as I find them to be like very old comfortable friends. That, to me, is the essence of what a good book should be.

[yournamehere]

Just finished reading Life of Pi by Yann Martel. One of the most suprisingly ingenious works of literature I've ever read. Cerainly the best contemporary fiction novel I've read in recent memory.

peace,
-nick

[Zcreative]

My favorite book is most likely Timeline by Michael Crichton.
I love the way he writes his novels, chronological, yet in such a way you really are surprised when something happens! (or that is what it feels like to me). I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys history...or science...or both! Its a great book overall and is one of the few I would actually attempt to read again.

[soujiroseta]

The Devil's Teardrop by Jeff Deaver
Cradle and All by James Patterson
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

[RobT]

Hard to pick just one but When The Lion Feeds by Wilbur Smith.

Also up there is the Lord of the Rings trilogy, anything else by Wilbur Smith but especially the Courtney novels and The Bourne Identity by Robert Ludlum.

[Irish87]

My favorite novel now that I've reflected a bit is Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand. Not only did it influence me to better myself, it was also the first long novel that I ever read and I did it in about three days. It also ended up encouraging me to read books that I would have otherwise passed up - such as Fahrenheit 451 and 1984.

The biggest downside is knowing how many people immediately dislike me because I actually like Ayn Rand novels.

[FoxZero]

The best book I ever reader was The Bourne Supremacy by Robert Ludlum, it was an intricate masterpiece. The plot was so complex with so many things woven together yet I didn't get lost. Both Jason Bourne and David Webb are extremely dislikable, which is why I love them. David webb is a depressed professor who doesn't do much and his alter ego Jason Bourne is just a cold blooded killer fueled by absolute rage. The movies were great but they made the Bourne character such a wuss, why doesn't he like guns? The real Jason Bourne always found a piece or some kind of knife, and he wasn't afraid to kill people.

But for my favorite I'd have to pick X-Wing: Isard's Revenge by Michael A. Stackpole. I first read it in forth grade over ten years ago and probably read it over a dozen times since. It's just a damned good story. It's intense and very brutal for a Star Wars book. I like how he changed the Star Wars universe to his liking and how close he stuck to the game it was based off of. The way the politics played out in this one was so amazing. It ends on an absolute cliff hanger and leads into a sequel. Did we get a sequel? No, we got some horrible, half-assed, uninspired mess of a series continuation by Aaron Alston. He may be a better writer, but his stories suck and he writes the most unrealistic character development ever. I think he literally killed the series.

I've outgrown the series anyway and I'm into straight up non-fiction these days or more realistic sci-fis and thrillers. Some close seconds for me.

Prey by Crichton, he takes a far out concept and makes it believable, and he knows how to do intense action and believable characters, I literally read his book in one sitting. No didn't sleep lol I couldn't put it down!

Black Hawk Down, this book just makes me wanna go out and kill some bad guys. This is just an amazing true story of courage and insanity.

Old Man and the Sea by Hemingway, I love fishing and I love Hemingway's crystal clear details.

Donny Brasco by Joe Pistone, the pacing never slows and it never stops being interesting for one second. He manages to tell a true story and still have a very good moral.

[yournamehere]

Prey by Crichton, he takes a far out concept and makes it believable, and he knows how to do intense action and believable characters, I literally read his book in one sitting. No didn't sleep lol I couldn't put it down!

Prey was a great novel. I sometimes forget how good Crichton was.

[Blue.]

My favorite novel now that I've reflected a bit is Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand. Not only did it influence me to better myself, it was also the first long novel that I ever read and I did it in about three days. It also ended up encouraging me to read books that I would have otherwise passed up - such as Fahrenheit 451 and 1984.

The biggest downside is knowing how many people immediately dislike me because I actually like Ayn Rand novels.

I have yet to delve into the pages of Atlas Shrugged, but I am a fan of Ayn Rand.
The Fountainhead was a good read, but I'd have to say my favorite book was Anthem.The writing style she used was very interesting and the way she presented her message was just superb.

[FoxZero]

Prey was a great novel. I sometimes forget how good Crichton was.

Was? I take it his newer stuff is pretty bad? I still have yet to read Jurassic Park and Lost world.

[MC94]

I don't have a favorite book per say, but I read a good book lately called: "The Surrogate" by Judith Henry Wall. It's about a young 20 year-old that's in need of money, and ends up signing a contract to become a Surrogate Mother for some rich evangelist named Amanda Hartmann. It's really good, especially once you hit the middle of it, after all the detailing and stuff.

[Twisted Inversely]

All time favorite book? Hmm tough one…

I’d say the Hobbit. I’m not too fussed on Lord of the Ring’s. It’s alright and you do have to give it points for kick starting the modern fantasy genre, but it’s not what I’d call a gripping read. But the hobbit…well I grew up with that book; had it read to me when I was five, read it myself a few years later, re-read every so often and it’s still fun. So while it might be nostalgia talking I’m going to say “the Hobbit” is my number one book.

[Gannon]

The two favourites I've read this year are Nabokov's Lolita (courtesy of wf.org's fine and fledgling book club - thanks arron) and JG Ballard's High-Rise. Lolita is so dangerously engaging and scandalous that it's impossible to put down, and Ballard's anti-Animal Farm portrayol of fine society descending into bestiary is ingeniously sharp as to question the point of most other social commentaries.

[yournamehere]

Was? I take it his newer stuff is pretty bad? I still have yet to read Jurassic Park and Lost world.

He died in '08.

[FoxZero]

He died in '08.

Ah that sucks. I never do much research on anybody I admire. The exception was Robert Ludlum but that's because I did a report on him.

EDIT: Thanks for letting me know.

[Kayliss]

But for my favorite I'd have to pick X-Wing: Isard's Revenge by Michael A. Stackpole. I first read it in forth grade over ten years ago and probably read it over a dozen times since. It's just a damned good story. It's intense and very brutal for a Star Wars book. I like how he changed the Star Wars universe to his liking and how close he stuck to the game it was based off of. The way the politics played out in this one was so amazing. It ends on an absolute cliff hanger and leads into a sequel. Did we get a sequel? No, we got some horrible, half-assed, uninspired mess of a series continuation by Aaron Alston. He may be a better writer, but his stories suck and he writes the most unrealistic character development ever. I think he literally killed the series.



I had forgotten all about "Iceheart" until you mentioned it. I need to go dig that book out of the attic.

[Jobeykobra]

Less Than Zero by Bret Easton Ellis is my favorite novel, and has been for about 8 months now. The character of Clay is both unlikeable and yet at the same time sympathetic, and when I read it for the first time I was already feeling the apathetic emptiness Clay was feeling in the novel about everything, and I could totally relate. It was the ultimate portrait of the decadent MTV generation of early eighties L.A., where bisexual sex and cocaine use was so casual it wasn't even thought about by those involved, as they had endless amounts of money and didn't care about anything. Not only did I enjoy it, but it inspired me to write my own novel about my generation which I am now beginning to submit to agents.

[LingGrad]

Undoubtedly Lolita. I can't get enough of the aesthetics of the language, the word play, the trickery, the games, the endless attempts to locate Dolores in Lolita and the ease with which we forget, as readers, the Dolores exists as a separate entity at all. It's one for rereading and reevaluating. I'm not sure I'll ever get bored of it.

[thirdwind]

^ Our September book of the month was Lolita. Too bad you missed it. We had a pretty good discussion about it, too. I agree with you that it's an amazing book written by an amazing writer.

[FoxZero]

I had forgotten all about "Iceheart" until you mentioned it. I need to go dig that book out of the attic.

Stackpole wrote the best villains ever! She was such a manipulative bitch, and the way he wrote her I actually felt bad for her! I mean she was believable. The emperor can stay dead for all I care, Iceheart is the true evil of the empire! lol

Who was Horn's nemesis? That guy was pretty damn good too. Someone you could really hate, yet somehow relate to (shudder). I really wish he lived, I still don't know if he really turned good or he was just trying to weasel his way out.

If it wasn't for the underdeveloped supporting cast and Stackpole's tendency to kill them off before we got to know them I'd pick up X-Wing in a heart beat. Isard's Revenge was the only one where I felt it lacked glaring flaws, well that one and Rogue Squadron was pretty epic too.

[doomshd]

One of my favorites when I was younger was "The Giver" by Louis Lowry. Now days I think one of my favorites is "The Time Traveler's Wife" by Audrey Niffenegger.

[LingGrad]

^ Our September book of the month was Lolita. Too bad you missed it. We had a pretty good discussion about it, too. I agree with you that it's an amazing book written by an amazing writer.
It's perhaps a good job I missed it; I'd still be typing. Back in the day I wrote a dissertation on the quasi-metafiction of Lolita in comparison to the self-conscious metafiction of Pale Fire. Nabokov's work is so varied and interesting.

[arron89]

The most heated literary debates I've ever had were regarding the metafiction in Pale Fire....good times, good times....

[Gigi_GNR]

The Giving Tree. Yes, that kid's book. I just thought it was bittersweet.

Oh, and Bunny's New Shoes. Because I loved those red and blue shoes. LOVED. THEM.

[arron89]

Lol Gigi, how many favourite books can one person have? :P

[Leviathanos]

No doubt my favourite books are:
_________________
|The Satanic Bible
|----------------Connected
|The Satanic Rituals
___________________
The Devils Notebook
Satan Speaks

And soon to read
Satanic Witch

Okey don't take me for a freak now. I love Anton Lavey (They are all written by him).
They are written in an intresting way and open your mind to see the world and people in different views. Also it's a real good difference from the Christianity they teach at my school.

[FoxZero]

I always wanted to pick up some book about Satanism. That way I can know more about my music artists are talking about lol. Problem is there's so many different kinds!

[InkDream]

I have favorites for different genres:

Science Fiction:
Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
Sphere by Michael Chrichton

Fiction:
the Host by Stephenie Meyer
Kiss of Shadows by Laurell K. Hamilton

Fantasy:
Song in the Silence by Elizabeth Kerner
Stardust by Neil Gaiman

Non-Fiction:
No Angel by Jay Dobyns [great, crazy read]

[noddy]

the Picture of Dorian Gray, Oscar Wilde.


:)

[Nephy929]

Shogun by James Clavell.

[CaliWriterWV]

What's my favorite book?

That has to be Alexandre Dumas' "The Three Musketeers" or "Man In The Iron Mask."

They're just two really great books that everyone should read.

[hesam]

rebecca jane eyre gone with the wind magellen

[LadyLazarus]

the bell jar by sylvia plath, nothing is perfect but this is as close as it gets in my opinion. i've read it at least once a year since i was about twelve.

This. Oh how I do love The Bell Jar.

[Gigi_GNR]

Lol Gigi, how many favourite books can one person have? :P


Oh, I've got many more......

(pulls out mile-long list)

[Evil Flamingo]

Life of Pi by Yaun Martell

[Tallyp `]

the best book ive read is fingersmith by sarah waters its a amazing and can read it over and over again

[LadyLazarus]

the best book ive read is fingersmith by sarah waters its a amazing and can read it over and over again

Oh my squee, that book is awesome! The BBC mini series of the same name based on it, is also fantastic.

[SayWhatNow?]

May I change mine to "the Catcher in the Rye?"

I finished it three days, totally hooked to the easy-to-follow writing and fast pace, yet still maintaining sadness and depth. Though I suspect that I am going to hell because I brought it on a church retreat to finish :P

[Lemex]

V. - Thomas Pynchon.

I love it!

[writewizard]

A friend at midnight - Caroline B. Cooney
Things Fall Apart - I forget who it's by

[Lemex]

Also: Johnny Got his Gun - Dultan Thumbro.

An amazing book, one of the few that really scared me, deep down.

And ...

A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man - James Joyce.

[Cosmos]

With how many books I read and have it would be nearly impossible to say which is my fav, but if I had to venture a guess I'd say Huma's Legend in the Dragonlance universe. So totally perfect with what I enjoy in the fantasy universe. Other than that I enjoyed Revenge of the Sith of the Starwars universe, Pilgrimage of the Sacred and Profane of the Vampire Hunter D universe and Homeland from Forgotten Relams.

But honestly there's so many books I bet I'm forgetting a number of really exceptional ones.

[Gigi_GNR]

American Pastoral. I read it and couldn't get enough. It was just perfect storytelling, amazing characters and realistic settings all the way through. :) Exact same with All the King's Men. I swear, those two books were written just for me, because they're perfect! :D


Also, I loved Animal Farm and Atonement. Wuthering Heights, Jane Eyre and Pride and Prejudice are just some of my favorites.

[Angel-Eyes]

My favorit book is Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer. I know it is almost cliche, another Twilight-lover...