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Best book you’ve ever read
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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Following on from my worst book you’ve ever read thread…what’s the best book you’ve ever read? 
For me it’s these:
Jane Eyre- Charlotte Brontë
Orlando - Virginia Woolf
A Clockwork Orange - Anthony Burgess
Giovanni’s Room- James Baldwin
Women- Charles Bukowski
The Bell Jar - Sylvia Plath
So…what’s your fave book? |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Best ….. gosh
The bell jar is up there. As is Little Women
The Da Vinci code
Lovely bones |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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"Best ….. gosh
The bell jar is up there. As is Little Women
The Da Vinci code
Lovely bones"
Little Women has been on my list forever! Definitely something I want to read in the near future  |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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It was trashy but I thoroughly enjoyed “It” by Stephen King when I was 17, read it twice in the space of 6 weeks. Loved the characters in the book and heavily invested in them |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Ghostrider one
A Gift of Wings
Jonathan Livingstone Seagull
Illusions |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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When I was younger I read The Silver Sword by Ian Serraillier. Definitely one of my favourite books to this day  |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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[Removed by poster at 02/06/22 19:34:40] |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Lord of the Rings- Tolkien
Anything by Terry Pratchett
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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The art of Sexual exstasy by Margot Anand. One of the great text books on Tantra. Classic. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Lord of the Rings- Tolkien
Anything by Terry Pratchett
"
I forgot about Terry Pratchett  
Good Omens is another of my favourites |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Slow Sex: The Path to Fulfilling and Sustainable Sexuality
By Diane Richardson. Great tea time read or commute. |
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"Lord of the Rings- Tolkien
Anything by Terry Pratchett
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These and hitchhikers guide  |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Sexual Practices of Quodoushka: Teachings from the Nagu - Paperback NEW Charles,
By Amara Charles. I love her writing. She doesn't waffle, just tell you what you really need to know. |
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Nancy Boys, Neverwhere and American Gods. Actually I haven't read anything I didn't like by Neil Gaiman.
In terms of most enlightening book I have read, a few by Dave Goulson and the incredibly powerful (and lyrically wonderful) On Earth We Are Briefly Gorgeous. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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“Automated Alice” by Jeff Noon has to be up there, as is “Expecting Someone Taller” by Tom Holt.
Then there is of course “The Hobbit” by Tolkien and “This is going to hurt” by Adam Kay.
“Bravo Two Zero” by Andy McNab is another that I keep coming back to along with “Good Omens” by Pratchett and Gaiman
So many books… |
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Another vote for anything by Terry Pratchett.
But also Ballet Shoes from my childhood, and then We need to talk about Kevin. X |
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So many. But will start with:
The Buddha of Suburbia, Hanif Kureishi
The Line of Beauty, Alan Hollinghurst
The Secret History, Donna Tartt
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"So many. But will start with:
The Buddha of Suburbia, Hanif Kureishi
The Line of Beauty, Alan Hollinghurst
The Secret History, Donna Tartt
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+1 The Secret History |
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By *aizyWoman
over a year ago
west midlands |
The Hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy |
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My best book
The Chalk Man by C.J.Tudor |
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"The Hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy"
That book should get extra credit for being one of those that has inspired many other writers of bestsellers |
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By *ack688Man
over a year ago
abruzzo Italy (and UK) |
Hmm, so many, I’m sure I will miss lots here but anyway
Birdsong - Sebastian Faulks
Time travellers wife - Audrey Niffenegger
Count of Monte Cristo - Dumas
Love in the time of cholera - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
The song of Achilles - Madeleine Miller |
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By *aizyWoman
over a year ago
west midlands |
"The Hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy
That book should get extra credit for being one of those that has inspired many other writers of bestsellers"
Couldn't agree more. |
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Post Office - Charles Bukowski
Hating Olivia - Mark Safranko
Ham on Rye - Charles Bukowski
Of Madness and Folly - Graham Old
Handmaid's Tale - Margaret Atwood
Jane Eyre- Charlotte Brontë
The Chrysalids - John Wyndham
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Horton Hears A Who |
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I should have included:
A Confederacy of Dunces - John Kennedy Toole
Portnoy's Complaint - Philip Roth |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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"Post Office - Charles Bukowski
Hating Olivia - Mark Safranko
Ham on Rye - Charles Bukowski
Of Madness and Folly - Graham Old
Handmaid's Tale - Margaret Atwood
Jane Eyre- Charlotte Brontë
The Chrysalids - John Wyndham
"
I am a massive Bukowski and Wyndham fan!! Recently read The Chrysalids- LOVE IT! |
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"I am a massive Bukowski and Wyndham fan!! Recently read The Chrysalids- LOVE IT! "
Yeah, I only recently read The Chrysalids. It was a real surprise.
Such simplicity of writing (in some ways like Bulowski and co?), but the story just gripped me. I'd actually never heard of Wyndham, despite loving the show 'Choky' when I was a kid. |
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Not the biggest reader in the world but Lord of the Rings and Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett, will keep an eye on this thread! |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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"I am a massive Bukowski and Wyndham fan!! Recently read The Chrysalids- LOVE IT!
Yeah, I only recently read The Chrysalids. It was a real surprise.
Such simplicity of writing (in some ways like Bulowski and co?), but the story just gripped me. I'd actually never heard of Wyndham, despite loving the show 'Choky' when I was a kid."
Chocky was the first Wyndham book I read; I’m not a fan of that genre so I was surprised I liked it. After that…I just fell in love with him |
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A book I always go back to is the Corrections by Jonathan Franzen. A brilliantly insightful portrait of family tensions. |
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"Chocky was the first Wyndham book I read; I’m not a fan of that genre so I was surprised I liked it. After that…I just fell in love with him "
The genre has never appealed to me, but I should check out other books of his.
If you like Bukowski, I think you'd like Safranko. I actually prefer him to the Fantes. |
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"Not the biggest reader in the world but Lord of the Rings and Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett, will keep an eye on this thread! "
Pillars of the Earth is literally a weapon of a book. Interesting saga though |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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I love non fiction but I don't read.
A friend told me of a true story.
It was 'the girl in the box'
Lent me the book, read it in a week. Couldn't put it down. For hours I was glued to this book describing everything that happened. I feel sad for the girl and the things they did to her against her will. Great book. |
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By *onny090Man
over a year ago
blackpool and Manchester |
For me it has to be the count of monte cristo it’s a long ass book but such a good story |
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By *os19Man
over a year ago
Edmonton |
Not really a book reader unless it’s a football autobiography however a book I read in secondary school Kes was one that I really enjoyed and still think about all these years and I recently watched the film again on television |
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Hobbit by Tolkien
The Station, six book series by David Downing - life in 1930a/40s Berlin
The Rats trilogy by James Herbert
The Bone Woman by Clea Koff. True account of young female pathologist (Clea) after Rwanda & Yugoslavia
Schindler’s List by Thomas Keneally
All of these dragged me in that I couldn’t put the book down. |
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By *yronMan
over a year ago
grangemouth |
Empire of the Sun - JG Ballard. I was a very lonely teen, it made me feel better to know that I wasn't the only one. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Open water- Caleb Azumah Nelson
And The Great Gatsby  |
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Harry Potter and The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole |
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By *riel13Woman
over a year ago
Northampton |
Cujo-Stephen King
The Rats series-James Herbert
Pretty much anything by Ben Elton(I haven't read everything)
The Magic Faraway Tree and The Wishing Chair series - Enid Blyton
The House at Pooh Corner - A A Milne |
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By *riel13Woman
over a year ago
Northampton |
"Cujo-Stephen King
The Rats series-James Herbert
Pretty much anything by Ben Elton(I haven't read everything)
The Magic Faraway Tree and The Wishing Chair series - Enid Blyton
The House at Pooh Corner - A A Milne"
Oohhh and most stuff from Mary Higgins Clark |
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The name of the wind by Patrick Rothfuss.
Frankenstein - Mary Shelley.
Eragon series - Christopher Paolini. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Catch 22, Joseph heller
Shadow of the wind, Carlos Ruiz zafon
Novel with cocaine (ageyev) as a short read.
And 1984. |
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House of tribes- Garry kilworth
The hobbit/lord of the rings
The discworld series |
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By *riel13Woman
over a year ago
Northampton |
Shit! Watership Down-Richard Adams... Right... I think that's it  |
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By *yronMan
over a year ago
grangemouth |
"Cujo-Stephen King
Pretty much anything by Ben Elton(I "
I loved 'The First Casualty', one of those ones that I go back to time and again. |
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The Smallest Lights in the Universe: A Memoir by Sara Seager
Becoming by Michelle Obama
Open Heart: A Cardiac Surgeon's Stories of Life and Death on the Operating Table
by Stephen Westaby
Permanent Record by Edward Snowden
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
These are my top five at the moment.
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By *aliceWoman
over a year ago
Birmingham |
Gravity's Rainbow by Thomas Pynchon
Great Jones Street by Don deLillo
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Riotous Assembly by Tom Sharpe
Laidlaw by William McIlvanney
Fatherland by Richard Harris
The Red Riding Quartet by David Peace
The Wrestling by Simon Garfield
The Chilian Club by George Shipway
Who Killed Enoch Powell by Arthur Wise
Look Who's Back by Timur Vernes |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Some great books above!!
My list is:
Gormenghast trilogy - Mervyn Peake
Catch-22 - Joseph Heller
The Looney - Spike Milligan
The First Day of Spring - Nancy Tucker
DUNE - Frank Herbert
Girl, Woman, Other - Bernadine Evaristo
1984 - George Orwell |
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By *ryan...Man
over a year ago
1950's Original |
The 1631 king James version of the Bible... Everyone on here should followeth the Ten Commandments laid down for us to follow.. verily..thou should seeketh this version..amen.  |
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By *riel13Woman
over a year ago
Northampton |
"Some great books above!!
My list is:
Gormenghast trilogy - Mervyn Peake
Catch-22 - Joseph Heller
The Looney - Spike Milligan
The First Day of Spring - Nancy Tucker
DUNE - Frank Herbert
Girl, Woman, Other - Bernadine Evaristo
1984 - George Orwell"
Bugger! Forgot 1984 lol |
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Stephen King's Dark Tower series. It's his way of tying in everything he has done. Just magnificent.
Pratchett's Death Trilogy. (or DEATH to those in the know).
Anything by Will Self, but novels preferably.
For dipping into, Charle Brooker has a few collections of his rants which are good fun. Also Clive James has a three in one book from his work as the TV critic for the Observer from '72 to '82. A joyous read if you grew up watching British TV when it was in its heyday.
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Some great books above!!
My list is:
Gormenghast trilogy - Mervyn Peake
Catch-22 - Joseph Heller
The Looney - Spike Milligan
The First Day of Spring - Nancy Tucker
DUNE - Frank Herbert
Girl, Woman, Other - Bernadine Evaristo
1984 - George Orwell
Bugger! Forgot 1984 lol"
When i read it as a teen i was like yeah right, as if .. Now I'm like, faacckk |
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By *riel13Woman
over a year ago
Northampton |
"Some great books above!!
My list is:
Gormenghast trilogy - Mervyn Peake
Catch-22 - Joseph Heller
The Looney - Spike Milligan
The First Day of Spring - Nancy Tucker
DUNE - Frank Herbert
Girl, Woman, Other - Bernadine Evaristo
1984 - George Orwell
Bugger! Forgot 1984 lol
When i read it as a teen i was like yeah right, as if .. Now I'm like, faacckk"
Yeah, is scary shit, eh?  |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Some great books above!!
My list is:
Gormenghast trilogy - Mervyn Peake
Catch-22 - Joseph Heller
The Looney - Spike Milligan
The First Day of Spring - Nancy Tucker
DUNE - Frank Herbert
Girl, Woman, Other - Bernadine Evaristo
1984 - George Orwell
Bugger! Forgot 1984 lol
When i read it as a teen i was like yeah right, as if .. Now I'm like, faacckk
Yeah, is scary shit, eh? "
It's unreal |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Today I feel like the best books are...
The Watchmaker of Filigree Street - Natasha Pulley
Captain Corelli's Mandolin - Louis de Bernieres
Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte
The People's Act of Love - James Meek
Dune - Frank Herbert
A Song of Ice and Fire - George R R Martin
Next week I'll have a different list.
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Four little engines ...rev w Audrey |
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Starship Troopers - Robert A Heinlein
LvM |
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By *ea monkeyMan
over a year ago
Manchester (he/him) |
"Today I feel like the best books are...
The Watchmaker of Filigree Street - Natasha Pulley
Captain Corelli's Mandolin - Louis de Bernieres
Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte
The People's Act of Love - James Meek
Dune - Frank Herbert
A Song of Ice and Fire - George R R Martin
Next week I'll have a different list.
"
Nice to see you again! |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Today I feel like the best books are...
The Watchmaker of Filigree Street - Natasha Pulley
Captain Corelli's Mandolin - Louis de Bernieres
Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte
The People's Act of Love - James Meek
Dune - Frank Herbert
A Song of Ice and Fire - George R R Martin
Next week I'll have a different list.
Nice to see you again! "
Hey (waves) |
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Tender is the night
To kill a mockingbird
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50 Shades trilogy, much better than the movies.
Terry Pratchett's Discworld series... all 41 books! |
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"Tender is the night
To kill a mockingbird
"
"Tender..." is a beautiful book... |
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By *ea monkeyMan
over a year ago
Manchester (he/him) |
Oh god this is hard!
1984/Animal Farm - George Orwell
Catch 22 - Joseph Heller
Emma - Jane Austen
We Need to Talk About Kevin - Lionel Shriver
Room - Emma Donoghue
A clockwork Orange - Anthony Burgess
…
I’m sure that there are so many more |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Oh god this is hard!
1984/Animal Farm - George Orwell
Catch 22 - Joseph Heller
Emma - Jane Austen
We Need to Talk About Kevin - Lionel Shriver
Room - Emma Donoghue
A clockwork Orange - Anthony Burgess
…
I’m sure that there are so many more"
Oh i loved the film - we need to talk about kevin.. Didn't realise it was a book! |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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I tend not to read much,but when I do it's always factual. Two spring to mind one, RV Jones Most Secret War, British Scientific Intelegence 1939-1945
The other was the book the Thatcher government tried to ban. Peter Wright Spy Catcher. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Steppenwolf by Herman Hesse
The Outsider by Albert Camus
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By *ea monkeyMan
over a year ago
Manchester (he/him) |
"Oh god this is hard!
1984/Animal Farm - George Orwell
Catch 22 - Joseph Heller
Emma - Jane Austen
We Need to Talk About Kevin - Lionel Shriver
Room - Emma Donoghue
A clockwork Orange - Anthony Burgess
…
I’m sure that there are so many more
Oh i loved the film - we need to talk about kevin.. Didn't realise it was a book! "
Yes! In my opinion the book is so much better than the film |
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By *ea monkeyMan
over a year ago
Manchester (he/him) |
"Today I feel like the best books are...
The Watchmaker of Filigree Street - Natasha Pulley
Captain Corelli's Mandolin - Louis de Bernieres
Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte
The People's Act of Love - James Meek
Dune - Frank Herbert
A Song of Ice and Fire - George R R Martin
Next week I'll have a different list.
Nice to see you again!
Hey (waves) "
I don’t want to derail the thread but I hope that you’re doing well |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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My Dark Vanessa
Dr Sleep
Sleep with me |
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The Farseer Trilogy by Robin Hobb sticks in my mind |
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By *uicy jonesMan
over a year ago
near a big hill in s/ shropshire NOT in |
Haynes manual on Mercedes 230  |
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A place of Execution - Val Mcdermid |
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Can't remember as it would have been when I was at school.
No time for reading since adulthood.
Mr |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Dawn thief |
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Best - Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes
Most thought provoking: The Kindly Ones by Jonathan Littel |
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"Hobbit by Tolkien
The Station, six book series by David Downing - life in 1930a/40s Berlin
The Rats trilogy by James Herbert
The Bone Woman by Clea Koff. True account of young female pathologist (Clea) after Rwanda & Yugoslavia
Schindler’s List by Thomas Keneally
All of these dragged me in that I couldn’t put the book down. "
--I read The Rats as a teenager, it was pretty tight I thought. Herbert was a decent writer. |
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By *olmaMan
over a year ago
Kettering |
To kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee
1984 - George Orwell
Brave New World - Aldous Huxley |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Fiction
Ubik - Philip K dick
Exhalation - Ted Chiang
Project Hail Mary - Andy Weir
House of Leaves - Mark Danielewski
A gentleman in Moscow - Amor Towles
Second foundation- Asimov
Non fiction
The End of Everything - Katie Mack
Into Thin Air - Job Krakauer
Phantoms in the brain - V.S Ramachandran
Special mention to Brothers Karamazov by Dostoevsky which I am reading now. Over half way through and I know it will be one of my favourites. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Written in bone- Simon Beckett |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Dune by Frank Herbert/ read it first 20 years ago, better than Star Wars, abuse will come shortly )
The Egyptian by Mika Waltari
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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There's so many good books though...
Here's my list.
The Elderling Chronicles by Robin Hobb
My Cousin Rachel by Daphne du Maurier
The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien
The Color Purple by Alice Walker
The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
Wise Children by Angela Carter
Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams
The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune
Nobody Told Me by Holly McNish
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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J. R. R. Tolkien‘s The Lord of the Rings  |
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"Cujo-Stephen King
The Rats series-James Herbert
Pretty much anything by Ben Elton(I haven't read everything)
The Magic Faraway Tree and The Wishing Chair series - Enid Blyton
The House at Pooh Corner - A A Milne"
Enid Blyton was the first author I ever really loved! I was obsessed with The Magic Faraway Tree and I collected the Famous Five books!
C x |
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I’m a huge fan of Lorenzo Carcaterra, I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve read Sleepers, and Apaches is just dying to be made in to a film or series.
I also thoroughly enjoyed Michael J Fox’s first autobiographical book (I’m a big fan!)
I like Jonathan Kellerman, particularly the Alex Delaware books as they’re an easy read usually.
I went on a bit of a Stephen King binge last year and loved Misery and 11.22.63 so much.
C x |
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Anything by James Lee Burke the Robicheaux series - best crime fiction author by a mile in my humble opinion.
John Sandford is also good and an easy read.
I like Kellerman too, his earlier stuff was better.
To Kill a Mocking Bird
Children of a Lesser God
Of Mice and Men
The Count of Monte Cristo
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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A small selection of my faves are :
The Malayan Book of the Fallen by Steven Erikson. A fantasy series that just blows everything else out of the water with its scope, humour and emotional impact.
Flowers for Algernon by daniel Keyes. The kind of soft sci-fi I would never have read as a kid. You know a book is good when some schools teach it and other schools ban it.
The Drenai Saga by David Gemmel. I read these as a kid and I think 80% of my moral code comes from them. Plus theyre just pure epic. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Bah autocorrect. Malazan* |
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On the Black Hill by Bruce Chatwin
A novel that deals with the timelessness of a small farming community in the Welsh Black Mountains. |
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"Harry Potter and The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole"
I read this as the title of a Harry Potter book, it made me chuckle |
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So many great reads this is an excellent topic.
Reading a few of the posts I'd been put off reading Terry Pratchett by the number of diskworld books. However I've started the Going postal / Moist von Lipwig books and they're great. I think the best advice when coming to Pratchett is to start with a character and read their books rather than all in order.
A firm favourite of mine is Hannibal by Thomas Harris, a great book with a wonderful romantic twist.
The Maigret stories, Count of Monte Christo / Musketeers trilogy, John le Carrie and Frost novels are always easy to read and re read |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman. "
Have you read the books as part of the new trilogy? |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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I read all of the James Bond novels in publication order, really enjoyed that. I was always a big fan of Tom Clancy and the Jack Ryan novels. When he passed and I realised there be no more books it felt like I’d lost a few really good friends. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Autobiography of a werewolf hunter or the long walk both fantastic books. |
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I dont think anyone has mentioned The book thief yet, and in that theme also The diary of Anne Frank is a must read. X |
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I can’t pin down a shortlist. It’s terribly difficult. I do read Vanity Fair every year so maybe that. |
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"I dont think anyone has mentioned The book thief yet, and in that theme also The diary of Anne Frank is a must read. X "
I really struggled with the book thief, the writing style just wasn't for me. It's a shame as it sounds like a really good book |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"I dont think anyone has mentioned The book thief yet, and in that theme also The diary of Anne Frank is a must read. X
I really struggled with the book thief, the writing style just wasn't for me. It's a shame as it sounds like a really good book"
No question...the Bible |
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To kill a mockingbird and the five people you meet in heaven. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Cujo-Stephen King
The Rats series-James Herbert
Pretty much anything by Ben Elton(I haven't read everything)
The Magic Faraway Tree and The Wishing Chair series - Enid Blyton
The House at Pooh Corner - A A Milne
Enid Blyton was the first author I ever really loved! I was obsessed with The Magic Faraway Tree and I collected the Famous Five books!
C x"
Me too as a kid i remember setting up tents under my duvet with a torch so I could keep reading after I'd been sent to bed |
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Lyonesse by Jack Vance.
Neuromancer by William Gibson.
I was really pleased to see someone mentioned Robin Hobb, what a heartbreaking series that is. |
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"Lyonesse by Jack Vance.
Neuromancer by William Gibson.
I was really pleased to see someone mentioned Robin Hobb, what a heartbreaking series that is."
Ohhhh I missed that, I've read her Fitz trilogy of trilogies, they were good but quite sad in places |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Lyonesse by Jack Vance.
Neuromancer by William Gibson.
I was really pleased to see someone mentioned Robin Hobb, what a heartbreaking series that is."
Robin Hobb is definitely up there with my favourite authors. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman.
Have you read the books as part of the new trilogy? "
I've read the first two but I don't think the last one has been released yet? |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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The book that has stuck with me all my life has been the billy goats gruff |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"So many great reads this is an excellent topic.
Reading a few of the posts I'd been put off reading Terry Pratchett by the number of diskworld books. However I've started the Going postal / Moist von Lipwig books and they're great. I think the best advice when coming to Pratchett is to start with a character and read their books rather than all in order.
A firm favourite of mine is Hannibal by Thomas Harris, a great book with a wonderful romantic twist.
The Maigret stories, Count of Monte Christo / Musketeers trilogy, John le Carrie and Frost novels are always easy to read and re read"
I got told off for suggesting I might read them out of order! I've read The Colour of Magic and The Light Fantastic but I'm not that bothered. I prefer books with more character development, I think. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"The book that has stuck with me all my life has been the billy goats gruff"
That's because you're an old goat |
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"So many great reads this is an excellent topic.
Reading a few of the posts I'd been put off reading Terry Pratchett by the number of diskworld books. However I've started the Going postal / Moist von Lipwig books and they're great. I think the best advice when coming to Pratchett is to start with a character and read their books rather than all in order.
A firm favourite of mine is Hannibal by Thomas Harris, a great book with a wonderful romantic twist.
The Maigret stories, Count of Monte Christo / Musketeers trilogy, John le Carrie and Frost novels are always easy to read and re read
I got told off for suggesting I might read them out of order! I've read The Colour of Magic and The Light Fantastic but I'm not that bothered. I prefer books with more character development, I think. "
Try going postal and making money from Terry Pratchett they're very good and it's nice to see Moist develop |
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"I dont think anyone has mentioned The book thief yet, and in that theme also The diary of Anne Frank is a must read. X "
I can't read Anne Frank. I started it twice but leaves me with a grim outlook on humanity, despite Anne being such an inspirational person. |
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Wind in the willows
Now we are six |
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"Iain Banks - Crow Road "
This is great, so close to including it my list too. The TV adaptation was brilliant too! |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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I read "The English Patient" by Michael Ondaatje many years ago and I don't know if I could re-read it because I want the magic to remain in my head forever. That's how good it was. |
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"Following on from my worst book you’ve ever read thread…what’s the best book you’ve ever read?
For me it’s these:
Jane Eyre- Charlotte Brontë
Orlando - Virginia Woolf
A Clockwork Orange - Anthony Burgess
Giovanni’s Room- James Baldwin
Women- Charles Bukowski
The Bell Jar - Sylvia Plath
So…what’s your fave book?"
Catch-22 |
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"Cujo-Stephen King
The Rats series-James Herbert
Pretty much anything by Ben Elton(I haven't read everything)
The Magic Faraway Tree and The Wishing Chair series - Enid Blyton
The House at Pooh Corner - A A Milne
Enid Blyton was the first author I ever really loved! I was obsessed with The Magic Faraway Tree and I collected the Famous Five books!
C x
Me too as a kid i remember setting up tents under my duvet with a torch so I could keep reading after I'd been sent to bed "
I did exactly the same! We had a local market every Sunday and there was a book stall run by a lovely couple, they knew me by sight and first name and would stash all the Enid Blyton books to one side for me!
C x |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"The book that has stuck with me all my life has been the billy goats gruff
That's because you're an old goat "
i am not im the troll get off my bridge or il gobble you up |
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To Kill a Mockingbird- Harper Lee, first book to have a real impact on me and eventually how I saw the World.
Carrie - Stephen King, first book I sat down and read in one sitting.
Jaws - Peter Benchley, after the film came the book. Added extra to the film and a different version to what I’d seen, both as good as each other.
The Godfather- Mario Puzo, more than just a gangster story.
Hitchhikers guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams, just really funny and bloody clever.
The Delta Star / The Black Marble - Joseph Wambaugh, US Police detectives trying to do the right thing and fucking up.
Eureka Street- Robert McLiam Wilson, Northern Ireland novel the troubles add to a story about likeable characters in Belfast just trying to get by.
High Fidelity- Nick Hornby, great film but even better book, absolutely understand the lead character and felt he really talked to me. |
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By *yronMan
over a year ago
grangemouth |
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The Delta Star / The Black Marble - Joseph Wambaugh, US Police detectives trying to do the right thing and fucking up.
"
If you like Detective stories, have you ever tried Ian Rankin or Stuart Macbride? |
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One to bookmark see if there's any worth ready. Those that come yo mind for me
Conn Iggulden Conqueror and Emporer Series
Ken Follett Pillars of the earth Series
Jeffrey Archer wrote some good ones
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Around World in 80 Days Jules Verne |
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"
The Delta Star / The Black Marble - Joseph Wambaugh, US Police detectives trying to do the right thing and fucking up.
If you like Detective stories, have you ever tried Ian Rankin or Stuart Macbride?"
I read all of the Inspector Morse (Colin Dexter) books, but that’s only because I loved the TV series. I like a variety of genres but it’s a character that’ll get me interested first. So the more fucked up and broken they are the more I’ll empathetic I’ll be |
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"I dont think anyone has mentioned The book thief yet, and in that theme also The diary of Anne Frank is a must read. X
I really struggled with the book thief, the writing style just wasn't for me. It's a shame as it sounds like a really good book
No question...the Bible "
And your non-fiction choice ? |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"I dont think anyone has mentioned The book thief yet, and in that theme also The diary of Anne Frank is a must read. X
I really struggled with the book thief, the writing style just wasn't for me. It's a shame as it sounds like a really good book
No question...the Bible
And your non-fiction choice ? "
I beg your parden |
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White Tiger by Aravind Adiga. The film doesn't come near.
I say White Tiger each time we have one of these threads.
No idea if it will ever change. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"
The Delta Star / The Black Marble - Joseph Wambaugh, US Police detectives trying to do the right thing and fucking up.
If you like Detective stories, have you ever tried Ian Rankin or Stuart Macbride?"
Both. Quite fond of MacBride McRae and Steel series. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Clive Barker's The Great and Secret Show.
Jennifer Lynch The secret diary of Laura Palmer.
Jonathan Holt's The carnivia Trilogy.
I am surprised that the Carnivia Trilogy hasn't been adapted for the screen.
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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She comes first |
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Book that changed my life was called unchangeable reminded me of myself |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Angela's Ashes. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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The hungry caterpillar. |
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By *host63Man
over a year ago
Bedfont Feltham |
All of the Chronicals of Narnia books.
I have read so many good books I have too many to pick out. I get through 1 or two books a week |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Some great books above!!
My list is:
Gormenghast trilogy - Mervyn Peake"
The first two are astounding, I’ve never read anything like them. The third is awful, he was half mad, never finished it (I think his wife did from his notes?) and it lessens the story arc. It ends perfectly at the end of book 2 and if I’d never read the last I’d be happier |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Lyonesse by Jack Vance.
Neuromancer by William Gibson.
I was really pleased to see someone mentioned Robin Hobb, what a heartbreaking series that is.
Robin Hobb is definitely up there with my favourite authors. "
The Fitz trilogies are superb works of art, the rain wild trilogies I could take or leave to an extent though. But the Fool/Amber storyline was fantastic stuff |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"
The Delta Star / The Black Marble - Joseph Wambaugh, US Police detectives trying to do the right thing and fucking up.
If you like Detective stories, have you ever tried Ian Rankin or Stuart Macbride?
Both. Quite fond of MacBride McRae and Steel series."
Have you read any of the Harry Hole series by Jo Nesbro |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Catch 22, Joseph heller
Shadow of the wind, Carlos Ruiz zafon
Novel with cocaine (ageyev) as a short read.
And 1984. "
Good to see another Shadow of the Wind fan.
That's my #1 pick.
I'm a big fan of Anthony Beevor, so pretty much anything by him.
Jeder stirbt für sich allein (Alone in Berlin) by Hans Fallada. The book is MUCH better than the movie, which was too rushed. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"
The Delta Star / The Black Marble - Joseph Wambaugh, US Police detectives trying to do the right thing and fucking up.
If you like Detective stories, have you ever tried Ian Rankin or Stuart Macbride?
Both. Quite fond of MacBride McRae and Steel series.
Have you read any of the Harry Hole series by Jo Nesbro"
Not yet, will need to look them up. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Fantastic Mr Fox
Due to before reading that book I hated reading but after I fell in love with reading |
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Nearing the end of Shantaram, one of the best I've read for a long time.
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Peter Stringfellows auto biography, "The King of clubs." I couldn't put it down because, although I was never in the night club business, the parallels in his life and my life were such that I could have written that book! |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Brb |
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By *yway60Man
over a year ago
Gamlingay |
[Removed by poster at 06/06/22 05:59:48] |
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By *yway60Man
over a year ago
Gamlingay |
Skallagrigg by William Horwood.
Unlike anything else I have read. At times heart achingly sad but also funny and full of hope. |
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By * nicstimMan
over a year ago
Hemel Hempstead |
Cry.The Beloved Country....by Alan Paton.
A small amount but powerful read |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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She comes first a must read |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Short history of everything "
This. Assuming it's a short history of nearly everything by Bill Bryson?
And anything by Terry Pratchet.
Sapiens
To name a few.
Mr |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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I still enjoy reading The Little Prince and the illustrations are lovely as well. |
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life at the bottom By theodore dalrymple
Up from dragons By Skoyles and Sagan
A short history of nearly everything By Bill Bryson
Information By James gleick
The Hour Between Dog and Wolf By John Coates
Thinking fast and slow By Daniel Kahneman |
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The lovely bones
There are however countless books I love and re read |
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"The lovely bones
There are however countless books I love and re read"
Indeed, I dont think that I can choose a single "best book" that I've read. |
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"I read "The English Patient" by Michael Ondaatje many years ago and I don't know if I could re-read it because I want the magic to remain in my head forever. That's how good it was. "
I agree...beautifully written book....and erith gets a mention too |
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"Some great books above!!
My list is:
Gormenghast trilogy - Mervyn Peake
The first two are astounding, I’ve never read anything like them. The third is awful, he was half mad, never finished it (I think his wife did from his notes?) and it lessens the story arc. It ends perfectly at the end of book 2 and if I’d never read the last I’d be happier "
I always wondered why the last book was a bit weird..and not in a good way |
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The Expanse series of books.
But, a a favourite is the final reflection by John M Ford. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Another vote for anything by Terry Pratchett.
But also Ballet Shoes from my childhood, and then We need to talk about Kevin. X "
I was a real bookworm as a child but Ballet Shoes was my no 1 favourite. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"I still enjoy reading The Little Prince and the illustrations are lovely as well."
That was one of my daughters favourite books when she was small. A few months ago in France they had a special anniversary celebration. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Love some of the lists here and was surprised that some were in and others not mentioned
The Crow Road - already got a mention but I just love it! I fell in love with Verity based on her description in the book, but the TV series didn't live up to my imagination
Catcher In The Rye - read it, didn't understand it, surprised it makes you want to shoot anyone other than yourself for wasting time on it.
The Master and The Margarita- by Mikhail Bulgakov. Brilliantly eccentric and bizarre and insightful.
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Great thread OP! Really enjoyed reading people's lists. A few of mine include;
Millennium trilogy Stieg Larsson
Doughnut economics Katie Raworth
Why we kneel,how we rise Michael Holding
Empireland Sathnam Sanghera
Shantaram Gregory Roberts
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Gypsy Boy and it's follow up. Heartbreaking. It's being made into a film. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Gypsy Boy on the run. Both by Mikey Walsh |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Nearing the end of Shantaram, one of the best I've read for a long time.
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I've re read it three times! The follow up book, Mountain Shadow, is also a fabulous book. |
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The great casino heist by Richard Marcus. Well worth a read |
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"When I was younger I read The Silver Sword by Ian Serraillier. Definitely one of my favourite books to this day "
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Wolf Hall- Hilary Mantel
The Sound and the Fury/ Absalom, Absalom- William Faulkner
Bleak House- Charles Dickens
Mrs Dalloway- Virginia Woolf
Middlesex- Jeffrey Eugenides
Beloved- Toni Morrison
In Cold Blood- Truman Capote
Shuggie Bain- Douglas Stuart
There'll be a load more but these are the ones I'd generally recommend to people. |
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The little prince - Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
The master and margarita - Mikhail Bulgarkov
Mort - Terry Pratchet
The case for working with your hands - Matthew Crawford
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By *ubal1Man
over a year ago
Newry Down |
Snakes in suits; when psychopaths go to work.
Paul Babiak.
This book changed my life! |
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Jack kerouac - On the Road.
Graham Greene - On the Road |
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