Set aside a few months for it. Honestly, it's a huge chore, but I think it's one of the best things ever written.
I'm a bit like that at the moment. I'm reading Alasdair Grey's 'Lanark', a book based in my home city of Glasgow. It is a read of some merit and one which i am enjoying but it's taking it's time to get through. Some books I can devour in a matter of days and others, whilst still marvellous works, just don't demand the same page turning urgency of you as a reader.
I would have to say "And Then There Were None" by Agatha Christie. Survivor-style mystery before the survivor-style theme became as popular as it is now...
"Animal Farm". My parents actually met while they were both students in communist-dominated Poland, so these themes have been present all my life.
I'm really into Ellen Hopkins books. She's got quite a bit but i like the Crank series. There are 10 so far. What i like about them is tat it is almost written in poems. There are very quick reads and so intriguing. The Hunger Games are really good. The Uglies series by Scott Westerfeld is also absolutely amazing.
Pride & Prejudice is my #1, though I love most of Austen. No matter how many times I read it, it stirs up the same feeling of anticipation as it did the very first time. No other book has allowed me such a gift. The Count of Monte Cristo is a close second...adventure and historical fiction rolled into one? Pure love. My #3 causes me discredit in many circles where my taste is truly questioned. Alas...Angels & Demons was thrilling for me. Dan Brown is not the best writer, no question about that, but as I read that book before The Da Vinci Code came out, let alone before its popularilty/controversy erupted, I feel no shame in loving that novel. It was interesting and kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. I eventually got the illustrated collector's edition and it was even better with photographic visuals of the amazing Vatican City. I've since read the other 3 'Robert Langdon' books but none did for me what Angels & Demons did.
My favourite book (so far that I have read) is 'The God Delusion' by Richard Dawkins. I read non-fiction only, though.
What I regard as the best/greatest book and my favorite book are different, but I believe the answer is- Artemis Fowl. It is my favorite.
Oh my gosh... this is a hard one. I can't just list one, that would be like picking the favorite of my children. (which I don't have, by the way) Based upon the number of times I have re-read them, I'd have to say my favorite books would be The Tao of Pooh by Benjamen Hoff and Sophie's World by Jostein Gaarder. The former is a book I have read when my life was at its worst and I needed the support. It's a comfort. The latter one I read, originally, when I was twelve years old and it freed my mind. It was my first step into the wonderful world of philosophy. However, if I was to pick from my favorite fiction based upon quality of the fiction, I'd have to pick either The Ocean at The End of The Lane by Neil Gaiman or Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling. The former is one of the most unique stories that I've ever read, and it works! The second is an example of a masterful, beautiful plot. Keep in mind that I've only been an avid reader for a couple years, so these are bound to change as I read even more.
I was going to say, I thought it was far superior to 'The God Delusion'. Hitchens was a beautiful writer whereas Dawkins, whilst engaging, being a scientist was far more methodical and rigid in his approach.
I think part of the reason why Hitchens was good at writing was because he was friends with Martin Amis and Salman Rushdie.
That and his journalistic work in the Middle East made him a formidable source of knowledge on religious doctrine and its failings. Sadly missed.
@sunsplash : I love The Count of Monte Cristo it's one of my all time favourites too! Have you read The Three Musketeers? It was the first Dumas book I fell in love with No shame in liking Dan Brown's novels. I'm a great believer in books needing to be interesting and the Da Vinci Code is one of the books that made me want to become a writer. The plot was, in a way, the most perfect page turner.
@jazzabel No, I haven't. I have a terrible time getting through books that I've seen movies made from already...the visual is completely ruined and if I get bored at any part, knowing what eventually happens just kills my motivation to continue. Maybe someday after more time has passed I'll give it an honest go!
@sunsplash : That is a pity, but I totally understand. I can't read Charlene Harris' novels because I've seen True Blood.
