Thread: Best book you've ever read.

Hitchhikers guide to the galaxy

To kill a mockingbird

The Discworld Series

The Bible. No really, that book is comedy gold.

It is comedy, right? Oh shi..

There is no way I could only pick one, and two have already been mentioned, so here are my favorites:

Memnoch the Devil by Anne Rice; I only have to add that the story encompasses the devil's involvement in man's fall from grace and also a trip to heaven and hell. Just awesome!

Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand; her masterpiece and perhaps my ultimate favorite book.

Stardust by Neil Gaiman; hands down the very best high fantasy book I have ever read. Gaiman's first novel, Neverwhere, comes in a close second. Though these two aren't as sprawling as his American God's or Anansi Boys they are much more faithful to the original high fantasy genre, with much of Stardust even taking place within Fairie and the Witch Queen as the villain. Gaiman's control of narration and seamless interweaving of the ordinary in with the fantastic is just without par in the fantasy genre.

"The Sword of Truth" series by Terry Goodkind; well, it's my kind of story, huge storyline, spanning 11 books and counting, with as much action as any fantasy-adventure I've read; but where this series stands alone is that much of the subject matter is philosophical in nature. The title I just finished, Faith of the Fallen, tackled the subject of living one's own life and personal responsibilty, a'la Ayn Rand.

Sartor Resartus by Thomas Carlyle; the seminal novel of the Victorian Age, widely credited with marking the transition from the Romantic to the Victorian period. It's hard to put into words, but he discusses how man's destiny is shaped by ideas and the nature of idea's and how man's very nature is merely a creation of symbols, from the words we use, thoughts we have, even the institutions of government and religion and the entire makeup of human society. And it's still a strictly fictional work, following an imaginary philosopher's life and imaginary book on the nature of clothes. It shaped how I think to this day.

Sartor Resartus and Atlas Shrugged are probably my two favorite books of all time.

Originally Posted by Marvo

The Bible. No really, that book is comedy gold.

It is comedy, right? Oh shi..

I've actually read large chunks of the Leviticus for its entertainment value .

The Hitchikers guide series (Duglas Adams -cant be matched),

Terry Pratchets discworld series

Spectre (Steven Laws)

Originally Posted by Elwood

The Voyage of The Jerle Shannara All of the series! 3 in that one. The best fantasy books ive EVER read!!

Which book should one start with? There are lots of books in the Shannara series. Should I start with the prequel "First King of Shannara" or should I start with something else?

I absolutely love the Dune series, but I haven't read Frank Herbert's books yet. I love the LOTR series. I just finished with the 6th book of the Harry Potter series and I like it too. I can't pick a single book I really like. Each book is great in its own way.

Chess for zebras by Jonathan Rowson
Alternatively all three books by Thomas Harris or Immortal engine.

I thought people didn't read books anymore. The worst books ever would be romantic novels, please don't read them ever.

Catcher in the Rye FTW

We had to read it in school, so yeah...and i don't read much, so Catcher in the Rye it is.

Originally Posted by kramari

Which book should one start with? There are lots of books in the Shannara series. Should I start with the prequel "First King of Shannara" or should I start with something else?

I absolutely love the Dune series, but I haven't read Frank Herbert's books yet. I love the LOTR series. I just finished with the 6th book of the Harry Potter series and I like it too. I can't pick a single book I really like. Each book is great in its own way.

I would start with the prequel. Thats one of the best books, but The Voyage series is really really good.

To Kill a Mockingbird (ahh the beloved class text. I'll probably start getting sick of it when we study it in a few months and shred it to bits)
Lord of the Rings (how could you not love this )
and random psychoanalytical short type... The Yellow Wallpaper (okay maybe not the best book but it stuck in my mind for a while)

Hobbit---I liked this book, it wasn't as long as the LotR but it was just long enough. It also didn't take itself too seriously.

Catcher in the Rye---good book, I had originally had to read it for school, but I enjoyed it. The way Salinger wrote the character of Holden was very realistic and I ca relate to him.

Wise Children---Another book I had to read, I just lik all the hidden menings in it and the interesting narration techniques.

This is an easy one for me:

Godel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid by Douglas R. Hofstadter

It has the best Fun-to-read/Depth ratio of any book ever printed.

I thought Phillip Pullmans Dark materials trilogy was very good, hope the movie doesn't spoil it though *looks to Eragon and shoots self*.

someone Please Tell Me About Dune!!!!

I forgot a couple...

"The Man In The High Castle", and "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" both by Philip K Dick

Originally Posted by Elwood

someone Please Tell Me About Dune!!!!

What do you want to know about it?

It's probably the greatest science-fiction novel ever written. It's not what you would call "light reading" and comes with what is more of a dictionary than a glossary and you'll be flipping to it all the time, especially through the first hundred pages. It's an absolutely brilliant interplay between technology, economics, religion, and politics in a futuristic setting.

The first book is about a man named Paul Atreides, son of Duke Leto Atreides and Lady Jessica, a woman from a sisterhood known as the Bene Geserit. They are sent by Emperor Shadam IV to a desert planet known as Arakkis (sp?) which is the only source of "the Spice," a substance with unique properties around which revolve a number of elements of society. At the same time there is a heated rivalry between Duke Leto and the Baron Harkkonen, the former ruler of Arakkis, which developes into a huge series of intrigue and subterfuge. At the same time, on Arakkis is a group of people known as the Fremen, the native population of Arakkis, who are waiting for their messiah, a man they know as Muad'dib.

I can't say much more about it without giving away some important bits of the story. Just read it and take your time with it.

Originally Posted by Elwood

someone Please Tell Me About Dune!!!!

Dune. Was that so hard?

The Harry Potter series - DUH!!

Originally Posted by Burns

The Harry Potter series - DUH!!

You know, I have thoroughly enjoyed all the HP books, but wouldn't even come close to ranking them among the best I've ever read. In my humble opinion, JK Rowling is BRILLIANT at character creation and development. She is only fair at weaving truly tight and compelling stories together.

The characters are SO good, though, that it makes up for the rest and then some. I've read 'em all and anxiously await the last one.

Ok - back to your normal thread.

Originally Posted by tiddlywink101

The Discworld Series

That is a great series of books i must agree.

Stephen King - The Bachman books

every 12 year old needs these to properly warp his mind

Hmm im not really keen on Steven King, my mum has loads of his books, its just he takes way to long to get his point across. Although i loved quitters inc and Thinner.

Originally Posted by pj

You know, I have thoroughly enjoyed all the HP books, but wouldn't even come close to ranking them among the best I've ever read. In my humble opinion, JK Rowling is BRILLIANT at character creation and development. She is only fair at weaving truly tight and compelling stories together.

The characters are SO good, though, that it makes up for the rest and then some. I've read 'em all and anxiously await the last one.

Ok - back to your normal thread.

I reason I ranked it the best I've ever read is because they are the only books that I've ever read multiple times (at least 10 times each). I wouldn't read any other books that many times. There's just something about the world that she creates that makes the books so addicting.

Originally Posted by Burns

I reason I ranked it the best I've ever read is because they are the only books that I've ever read multiple times (at least 10 times each). I wouldn't read any other books that many times. There's just something about the world that she creates that makes the books so addicting.

Agreed! She has constructed a fascinating and convincing world. She's fabulous at it.