‘Uncle Tom’s Cabin’ by Harriet Beecher Stowe. Read it as a teenager when I was still building my reading habit. Fell in love with it and realised how powerful and wonderful a reading habit can be. It taught me what ‘getting lost in a book’ actually meant. The book has laid a solid foundation for my reading taste and I always keep going back to it ?
@Anupama Ender’s Game. For some reason that book has always stuck with me, even though I didn’t actually read it until after my son was born, or maybe because of that. The innocence and potential for greatness inside a person, the individual role of each person, and of course – the fact that there is no direction in space lol. I loved it, and the imagination it must have taken to create the story.
My favorite book is ‘Murutunjaya-shivaji sawant ‘ it based on most tragic Mahabharta Hero named Karna .. whenever I feel pain, depressed, anxiety anything I just reread it ..
The female of the species by mindy mcginnis, I love powerful female protagonists and I love villains or anti-heroes. In this book shes a anti-hero, her sister was raped and murdered by a man who then got off and she then kills this guy. Its also of her finally being able to feel love and bringing that wall down with the help of some new friends. Its a powerful read based on rape culture
That sounds really good. I like a little (or a lot) of dark in my books. It’s more real. And bringing forth issues that need to be faced in the light of every day makes it that much better.
My favorite is Little Women. I first read it when I was 6, and loved it, and then over the years and with every re-read I got new and different things out of it, and certain things made more sense as I got older
I loved A Wrinkle in Time too, but it puzzles me that everyone to date has mentioned the first book and not the rest of the Trilogy … A Swiftly Tilting Planet and A Wind in the Door — my favorite of the three.
A sad book that explores the creation of a character with twisted loyalties sired by a conman of a father of mythical proportions. The boy is recruited into the espionage world and naturally turns traitor to the West.
The story is told, in a human tone, by the poor spy who is holed up in a lodging after his father’s death.
Meanwhile, the search is on, on both sides of the Iron Curtain, for the spy who is in hiding.
oh it’s frikken gorgeous Brittany! I quite like all his books, although some more than others, and some are a little difficult for me to get into, but Trustee is simply wonderful.
A Prayer for Owen Meany, which I delayed reading for years because I thought it was going to be all about religion. The way everything comes together in the last few pages made me gasp out loud when I read it.
The Great and Secret Show and Everville the second book in a yet unfinished trilogy called The Books of The Art by Clive Barker. I find this story profoundly philosophical and the lessons imparted therein about love and power to be the most profound fiction I have ever had the pleasure of reading.
The Knife Of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness. It’s a YA series but WOW the message it gets across is deep. What does it mean to be human? Are we all one? With all species? Scary and wonderful and had me crying and also laughing. And did it made me compassionate for a character I hated. Now that’s good writing.
My favorite that I’ve read this year is My Best Friend’s Exorcism, Grady Hendrix. A book that can horrify me and make me laugh in the same sentence is always a keeper. A close second is The Exorcist.
Slaughterhouse Five, by Kurt Vonnegut. The writing is first rate, the plot is intriguing, the characters are unique, humane, and hilarious, and it is the best anti-war book ever written.
The Phantom of the Opera followed closely by Unspoken. I just love Phantom. Can’t really explain why. I read it once a year. Unspoken because it deals with a gorilla and an anthropologist, and I studied zoology in school, and the main character finding her faith.
My absolute favorite is Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. It’s the reason Snape is my favorite character, and every time I read it I find new details that I never noticed before. It’s my go-to book when life just gets to be too much; I can get lost in the story and forgot about whatever troubles I have
Loved that book, have been meaning to watch the mini series for years. Funny story, I used to be on one of those newsgroups things about history, back around 2001/2002 and although i’m uneducated and stupid I like to have chats about things and read a lot. (not being self deprecating, it is unfortunately true lol) Anyway, I got into a discussion/debate with someone who’s username was something like “Follet” and I asked him a question about clarifying something because I didn’t think what he said was correct, I thought it was “x” instead” of “y”. Conversation went for a few replies each with me continuing, LUCKILY!!!, to politely type out why I thought what I did and him explaining, very patiently, what he apparently thought and why. Turned out it was Ken Follet lol. I wish i’d saved the messages somehow because he really was a very patient and kind person and not only took absolutely no offense at me telling him I thought he was wrong and why but also typing out quite long messag
Ah how does one choose? Always loved On The Beach, even though it’s old-fashioned and quite scary—relates a bit to our current world. Also love Malcolm Gladwell, if you aren’t necessarily looking for fiction. He’s brilliant. I like bios-Katherine Graham, for one.
This is one of my favorite books too! I’m originally from NE, so I feel so connected to her stories. I just got One of Us from the library book sale, and am looking forward to reading it!
I have a weird Willa Cather story: Years ago when I had never read her books and didn’t even know if she was a living author or a deceased author. (I did know she was an author.) I woke myself up one night at 4:00 am by saying “Willa Cather ” out loud. I wasn’t having a dream that I could recall but it was so weird I started laughing which woke my husband up. So the next day I got one of her books from the library and she has been my favorite author ever since. All I can figure is that Willa was traveling around that night and introduced herself.
Oh! I left off the 2nd part. Woodrell is a poet and it shows. This book is raw, brutal, and beautiful. The movie adaptation is one of the best I’ve ever seen, but still can’t capture the soul.
The one book I will read over and over is Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris. It’s a book of personal essays both about his growing up with a lisp and learning French as an adult. It makes me laugh out loud every time I read it, while also being genuinely reflective of real people and real situations. It reminds me to look for humor in the everyday.
Lord of the Rings I read it before it was fashionable when I was a teenager nad i just love it never tire of re-reading in my opinion it is the blueprint for all the ones that have come after
A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry because a) I love books set in intriguing foreign places and b) it is a true testament to the human spirit. Many years later and I still think about it.
Mists of Avalon. I love that it tells the King Arthur story from the women’s side and from a different perspective. This is where this was supposed to go.
I can’t choose between The Cirque Du Freak and Demonata series by Darren Shan. I fell in love with the authors imagination in middle school and still haven’t found any books up to par.
Riddley Walker, by Russell Hoban, because there isn’t another book like it. Yes, I’m sure there are other books using invented language, but I dare say, none so cleverly done (if you love wordplay, this is it). And probably because I read it after having lived in England, so realizing that I could figure out the iconic places and ideas pretty easily was so much fun. I’ve challenged all my reading friends and family and, so far, no one had taken me up on it. Give it a try.
Nights at the Circus by Angela Carter. Am a big fan of magical realism, enjoy the escapism, and this is the best book of that genre. I am a fan of all her books, love them all, and although I love many other authors and novels I haven’t yet found one to beat her!
My favourite is not an English book. The title is “Warisan” (legacy). This story spans three generations – from colonial day Malaya to around 1980s. It’s about an Englishman named Edward, who returned to Malaysia to search for his mother, who he was made to believe died when he was young.
One book? Since we did five favorites last week I will stop putting enjoyment first and consider richness of prose and pure genius: Melville’s Moby Dick.
‘Uncle Tom’s Cabin’ by Harriet Beecher Stowe. Read it as a teenager when I was still building my reading habit. Fell in love with it and realised how powerful and wonderful a reading habit can be. It taught me what ‘getting lost in a book’ actually meant. The book has laid a solid foundation for my reading taste and I always keep going back to it ?
I haven’t read that one. But you’ve definitely talked me into adding it to my list!
@Brittany Which book is your favorite?
@Anupama Ender’s Game. For some reason that book has always stuck with me, even though I didn’t actually read it until after my son was born, or maybe because of that. The innocence and potential for greatness inside a person, the individual role of each person, and of course – the fact that there is no direction in space lol. I loved it, and the imagination it must have taken to create the story.
I haven’t read it. Now very interested. Adding it to my TBR.
Non fic:when nations fail by acemoglu, political order by fukuyama, guns germs steel.
Fic: i am pilgrim
Comedy: jim gaffigan’s food (currently reading it now)
I am learning I am way less diverse than I thought! I need to read some of these. Thanks for commenting!
My favorite book is ‘Murutunjaya-shivaji sawant ‘ it based on most tragic Mahabharta Hero named Karna ..
whenever I feel pain, depressed, anxiety anything I just reread it ..
That sounds sad. Sometimes I reread Beautiful Creatures just because the words soothe me, so I think I understand.
The female of the species by mindy mcginnis, I love powerful female protagonists and I love villains or anti-heroes. In this book shes a anti-hero, her sister was raped and murdered by a man who then got off and she then kills this guy. Its also of her finally being able to feel love and bringing that wall down with the help of some new friends. Its a powerful read based on rape culture
That sounds really good. I like a little (or a lot) of dark in my books. It’s more real. And bringing forth issues that need to be faced in the light of every day makes it that much better.
My favorite is Little Women. I first read it when I was 6, and loved it, and then over the years and with every re-read I got new and different things out of it, and certain things made more sense as I got older
I really have no idea why I never read this. I guess its time to take a look!
It’s pretty good 🙂
A Wrinkle In Time.
This I have read, and loved!
I loved that book when I first read it at probably about age 11.
Have never read this, but remember a friend reading it as a child. It’s now on my TBR for 2018. ??
I loved A Wrinkle in Time too, but it puzzles me that everyone to date has mentioned the first book and not the rest of the Trilogy … A Swiftly Tilting Planet and A Wind in the Door — my favorite of the three.
11/22/63 by Stephen King
I second that^!!!!
One of King’s best, indeed.
One of his great ones!
The Black Tulip by Alexandre Dumas
I’ll have to look that one up.
Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children
Have that and the sequel. Just haven’t read them yet.
I’ve reread this one several times! It’s soooooo good!
I can’t pick a favorite as I’ve loved so many. But, I Know this Much is True by Wally Lamb has stayed with me.
I’m going to look it up!
“A Perfect Spy” by John le Carré.
A sad book that explores the creation of a character with twisted loyalties sired by a conman of a father of mythical proportions. The boy is recruited into the espionage world and naturally turns traitor to the West.
The story is told, in a human tone, by the poor spy who is holed up in a lodging after his father’s death.
Meanwhile, the search is on, on both sides of the Iron Curtain, for the spy who is in hiding.
That sounds really intriguing, I’ll have to pick it up.
I have millions of favourites but there are some i can read again every few years.
The first one that springs to mind is Trustee From The Toolroom.
Adding it to my list!
oh it’s frikken gorgeous Brittany!
I quite like all his books, although some more than others, and some are a little difficult for me to get into, but Trustee is simply wonderful.
Lea Miserables. Read it 60 years ago. Epic. I was in a fugue for days afterward, couldn’t read anything else.
A Prayer for Owen Meany, which I delayed reading for years because I thought it was going to be all about religion. The way everything comes together in the last few pages made me gasp out loud when I read it.
The Great and Secret Show and Everville the second book in a yet unfinished trilogy called The Books of The Art by Clive Barker. I find this story profoundly philosophical and the lessons imparted therein about love and power to be the most profound fiction I have ever had the pleasure of reading.
I read them years ago and often confuse TGASS with Weaveworld in my head sometimes but yes, I concur.
The Knife Of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness. It’s a YA series but WOW the message it gets across is deep. What does it mean to be human? Are we all one? With all species? Scary and wonderful and had me crying and also laughing. And did it made me compassionate for a character I hated. Now that’s good writing.
That really does sound good. Adding it to my list!
Yay @Brittany! It’s a trilogy so be ready!
My favorite that I’ve read this year is My Best Friend’s Exorcism, Grady Hendrix. A book that can horrify me and make me laugh in the same sentence is always a keeper. A close second is The Exorcist.
I’ve never been a huge fan of horror, mostly because I am such a scaredy cat, but I am going to look this one up!
It’s a bit over the top, but a lot of fun! The ending was one of the best. ❤️
Slaughterhouse Five, by Kurt Vonnegut. The writing is first rate, the plot is intriguing, the characters are unique, humane, and hilarious, and it is the best anti-war book ever written.
Great choice!
I’m going to put that on my list. Cat’s Cradle, also by Vonnegut, was certainly the funniest book I’ve ever read.
The Phantom of the Opera followed closely by Unspoken.
I just love Phantom. Can’t really explain why. I read it once a year.
Unspoken because it deals with a gorilla and an anthropologist, and I studied zoology in school, and the main character finding her faith.
My absolute favorite is Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. It’s the reason Snape is my favorite character, and every time I read it I find new details that I never noticed before. It’s my go-to book when life just gets to be too much; I can get lost in the story and forgot about whatever troubles I have
Sheila o Flanagan’s… My favorite good bye.. Superb book..page Turner…
Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate.. absolutely beautiful it leaves you with questions and is based on many facts.
I loved it!
Three Men In A Boat by Jerome K. Jerome. Because it is so funny. I first read it fifty years ago and it still makes me laugh.
I agree that it’s funny every time you read it!
I have to read it now!
Pillars of the Earth, Ken Folett love the history and characters
Loved that book, have been meaning to watch the mini series for years.
Funny story, I used to be on one of those newsgroups things about history, back around 2001/2002 and although i’m uneducated and stupid I like to have chats about things and read a lot. (not being self deprecating, it is unfortunately true lol) Anyway, I got into a discussion/debate with someone who’s username was something like “Follet” and I asked him a question about clarifying something because I didn’t think what he said was correct, I thought it was “x” instead” of “y”.
Conversation went for a few replies each with me continuing, LUCKILY!!!, to politely type out why I thought what I did and him explaining, very patiently, what he apparently thought and why.
Turned out it was Ken Follet lol.
I wish i’d saved the messages somehow because he really was a very patient and kind person and not only took absolutely no offense at me telling him I thought he was wrong and why but also typing out quite long messag
quite long and interesting messages explaining his point of view.
So not only is he a good author but he’s a very good random teacher as well!
Deception Point by Dan Brown
Throne of Glass …. I like novels with strong female characters
A novel (( a smile of a girl in love )) for an Iraqi novelist who named” Farid Atif”
I don’t know. There’s too many that I’m in love with
Ah how does one choose?
Always loved On The Beach, even though it’s old-fashioned and quite scary—relates a bit to our current world.
Also love Malcolm Gladwell, if you aren’t necessarily looking for fiction. He’s brilliant.
I like bios-Katherine Graham, for one.
Loved Outliers!
Me too ~
My Antonia by Willa Cather, beautiful writing, excellent stories. Her books speak to me.
This is one of my favorite books too! I’m originally from NE, so I feel so connected to her stories. I just got One of Us from the library book sale, and am looking forward to reading it!
I have a weird Willa Cather story:
Years ago when I had never read her books and didn’t even know if she was a living author or a deceased author. (I did know she was an author.)
I woke myself up one night at 4:00 am by saying “Willa Cather ” out loud. I wasn’t having a dream that I could recall but it was so weird I started laughing which woke my husband up.
So the next day I got one of her books from the library and she has been my favorite author ever since. All I can figure is that Willa was traveling around that night and introduced herself.
That is such a funny story! I guess she decided it was time for you to read your favorite book.
“The Good Earth” by Pearl Buck.
You by Caroline Kepnes
Winter’s Bone by Daniel Woodrell
Oh! I left off the 2nd part. Woodrell is a poet and it shows. This book is raw, brutal, and beautiful. The movie adaptation is one of the best I’ve ever seen, but still can’t capture the soul.
Just started
The one book I will read over and over is Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris. It’s a book of personal essays both about his growing up with a lisp and learning French as an adult. It makes me laugh out loud every time I read it, while also being genuinely reflective of real people and real situations. It reminds me to look for humor in the everyday.
Les Miserables. Victor Hugo
Lord of the Rings I read it before it was fashionable when I was a teenager nad i just love it never tire of re-reading in my opinion it is the blueprint for all the ones that have come after
City of glass by Cassie Clare
It’s the third book and it’s sooo goood?
Homers Odyssey, because you can read it a million times and pick up on something that you never did before.
So many great books to choice from! I’m going to say Peace like a River.
Yes!
Mu answer will always be even if I’m 100..Hans Christian Anderson fairy tales…
To me it is like having to choose your favorite child. Can’t do it.
One Hundred Years of Solitude. It made me wish i could read it Spanish. But I do have others I revisit more often because it was a tougher read.
A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry because a) I love books set in intriguing foreign places and b) it is a true testament to the human spirit. Many years later and I still think about it.
To Kill a Mockingbird
The graveyard queen series by amanda stevens
Mists of Avalon. I love that it tells the King Arthur story from the women’s side and from a different perspective. This is where this was supposed to go.
ooh, I read that YEARS ago and remember loving it.
God, I was only about 14 I think.
11/22/63 by Stephen King because it gave me a view of what the country was like during that time (I was 5 yrs old). And it was a love story.
I loved it, it’s a beautiful love story.
I can’t choose between The Cirque Du Freak and Demonata series by Darren Shan. I fell in love with the authors imagination in middle school and still haven’t found any books up to par.
Riddley Walker, by Russell Hoban, because there isn’t another book like it. Yes, I’m sure there are other books using invented language, but I dare say, none so cleverly done (if you love wordplay, this is it). And probably because I read it after having lived in England, so realizing that I could figure out the iconic places and ideas pretty easily was so much fun. I’ve challenged all my reading friends and family and, so far, no one had taken me up on it. Give it a try.
Nights at the Circus by Angela Carter. Am a big fan of magical realism, enjoy the escapism, and this is the best book of that genre. I am a fan of all her books, love them all, and although I love many other authors and novels I haven’t yet found one to beat her!
My favourite is not an English book. The title is “Warisan” (legacy). This story spans three generations – from colonial day Malaya to around 1980s. It’s about an Englishman named Edward, who returned to Malaysia to search for his mother, who he was made to believe died when he was young.
There’s an English translation.
http://www.booksonline.my/index.jsp?pageid=publicBook&type=BOOK&b_id=1501
One book? Since we did five favorites last week I will stop putting enjoyment first and consider richness of prose and pure genius: Melville’s Moby Dick.
And Then There were none because of its well written and the plot keeps you thinking.
The Dispossessed by Ursula Le Guin.