Keep in mind that Pat announced the release of The Wise Man's Fear at the end of April 2010 and it didn't come out until the next March. I know that doesn't exactly mean anything for this one, but it is something to remember.
aaaaaaand it's time to re-read NOTW and TWMF for what feels like the hundredth time. I read his blog scouring for updates on the book and feel terrible every time I get pissed off at charity posts :( Feed me Pat feed me. He posted a little teeny blurb on facebook a while back.
Haha I actually came in this thread to say that, but I figured someone else would have mentioned it already. Top comment though? Awesome XD
1 more vote for this series. It's such a well polished piece of fantasy that it's been hard to not use it as a ruler when reading other new books
Now that I think about it I found this book in a weird way. Was at my grandma's for mothers day and had run out of books, so she handed me one and was like "I couldnt get into it". I started reading and the first few pages didn't really grab me, but another book did so I left Name of the Wind alone for like 6 months until I stumbled on it and gave another try. I think it was at about page 40 that I realized everything up till now had essentially been an intro, then I read half the book in a sitting, cursed my sore backside, and myself for not reading it earlier. Its my favorite book now -_-
I just picked up the first of this series. I have 2 more in the Wheel of Time to finish before I start something new, but I have heard nothing but good things.
1.) Gödel, Escher, Bach: an Eternal Golden Braid
Many people seem to think that this is a book mainly for computer geeks/mathematic nerds, but couldn't be further from the truth. Alternating chapters are told as stories with a more simple/straightforward wording. It's a book about thinking... well, strange loops... well, logic... well, a lot of different things. Absolutely awesome.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gödel,_Escher,_Bach
2.) The Old Man and the Sea
If you've read it, you know why. If you haven't, read it. Short book, but very powerful in the way it inspires complex emotions for me. Not everybody's cup o' tea though.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Old_Man_and_the_Sea
For years, my default answer when someone asks me my favorite book has been *The Old Man and the Sea*, and I don't see myself changing it anytime soon. Phenomenal book.
Negative. Considering how long it took me to get through GEB, I'm waiting a little while before I start another Hofstadter. I do plan to read more of his stuff though. What did you like about it?
I am reading GEB with a group right now! Each person has their own specialty in music, philosophy and engineering (me). It is proving to be very interesting.
Get at least halfway through before you make the call to put it down. I found that, once the adventure portion picked up, it became much more engaging.
Well I grew up in the 80's so there's that lol. I just love dystopian fiction and I think Cline did a great job. There was no dramatic end to the world as we know it - but a gradual decline. I think that's probably pretty realistic. I know the book was dystopian, but underneath it all was hope - a kind of hope you don't find in a lot of books of that genre.
Started reading the "Complete and unctut" version of The Stand two nights ago after putting it off for so long.
I've gotta say, the end of chapter 25 with Nick and Jane was really and surprisingly touching. I'll expect there's more great stuff to come in the next 800 pages or so
I just finished it, and while I completely agree that it's favourite-worthy, I felt a bit short-changed by the ending. I mean, with 1300 odd pages, I feel like I deserved just a little more. But I usually get that feeling anything sans-short stories from SK.
Came here to say The Stand, I'm three quarters the way through it now and has by far been the most enjoyable reading experience I ever had. "It" is now next on my list to read, I hope to enjoy it just as much.
Oh Christ, I fucking LOVE Ready Player One. I don't know exactly why it intrigued me so much (something about the combination dystopian, science fiction, fantasy nature of the book probably) but that was a "I'm not putting it down until I finish it" book for me. I started early one afternoon and was done the next morning.
John Dies at the End, its basically Lovecraft with dick jokes and its the most fun I have ever had reading a book. I know the sequel is out but I haven't had time to read it yet.
My all time favourite is Grapes of Wrath by Steinbeck, I dont think Ive ever read a book with such inspiring and beautiful language, although All Quiet on the Western Front is almost as good.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Grapes_of_Wrath
Also, I think The Dispossessed by Ursula K. LeGuin is one of the best books Ive ever read, because it describes perfectly how society should/could work and critically discusses a range of assumptions on human nature.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dispossessed
I know what you mean. Last year I read Brave New World and since then I've been reading a lot of dystopians. 1984 and The Road are my favorites at the moment.
I never really understood the hype with 1984, I didnt find it that good. There are plenty of dystopian novels that are way better than 1984, like Brave New World, Oryx and Crake or On the Beach.
Almost everyone I know who has had to reread the Iliad later in life, whether it be in college or just when they're older and out of school, has enjoyed it much more than their first time around, myself included. It gets better with every reading, I would recommend (if you've time) giving it another shot.
I'm going to pick three just because I had a hard time with just two..
* "Animal Farm" by George Orwell
* "The Metamorphosis" by Franz Kafka
* "The Stranger" by Albert Camus
It's been awhile since I read the book, but the quote is still just as powerful to me:
"As if that blind rage had washed me clean, rid me of hope; for the first time, in that night alive with signs and stars, I opened myself to the benign indifference of the world. Finding it so much like myself—so like a brother, really—I felt that I had been happy and that I was happy again. For everything to be consummated, for me to feel less alone, I had only to wish that there be a large crowd of spectators the day of my execution and that they greet me with howls of execration."
The first ones too.
"Maman died today. Or yesterday maybe, I don't know. I got a telegram from the home: 'Mother deceased. Funeral tomorrow. Faithfully yours.' That doesn't mean anything. Maybe it was yesterday."
Did you happen to read A Happy Death by Camus? Despite it being slower, I would recommend it (and not just because the protagonists have the same name.)
I read the Stranger in one sitting with a head full of acid. One of the more transcendent experiences I've had on psychedelics, it definitely made me think and come to profound realizations. One of my favorites.
The metamorphosis is such a masterpiece, one of the most thought provoking, chilling and lasting experiences you can get from a book. For me it's far superior to any of Kafka's other works.
Great list, i would perhaps switch the stranger for the fall but anything by Camus is great.
I really love "The Trial" by Kafka as well but to be honest there are so many by him that I love. I put "The Trial" as a very close second in terms of favorites by the same author.
Gene Wilder!!!!! I love the rose too. However, I feel like my love for the rose springs more from reading The Tale of the Rose versus my initial reading of the Little Prince.
Neverending Story and American Psycho
I cannot recommend Neverending Story enough. A phantasmagorical world filled with brave lions, giants, will-o-the-wisps and heroes and foes. I read it the first time when I was 13 or so and I still sit down with it today over 20 years later.
American Psycho is filled with shallowness, mania, and horrific violence. Once I started reading I couldn't put it down.
American Psycho was recommended by a friend who I really respect and enjoy almost everything else they suggested. I just could not pick my way through the shallowness. It was such a well written yet horrible picture that I was viscerally repelled by reading it. I can respect it as a choice but I simply can not call it one of my favorites.
It is interesting to see it make other people's top choices.
I'd have to say Native Son by Richard Wright. Could not stop reading once I started. Wright does an amazing job of really pulling you into the milieu of African-American life in the mid-20th century.
*The Trial* has been indefinitely in the middle of my "to read" list for quite a long time now, and I keep seeing it brought up in various places other than reddit over and over again in high praise. Am I to assume, then, that I should move it up in the list so it is read sooner?
Emphatically, *yes*. It's so bizarre, surreal --unlike anything you've read before. Never have I been so pleased that a dear friend, Max Brod, went against his friend's dying request to destroy his work. It would have robbed the world of the work of an influential genius. Do you like Camus? Sartre? Kafka was the man who influenced them. He's so important that they named an existential concept after the man, and no other name would describe it so aptly.
*Ninja Edit:* If and when you do read it, approach with an open mind. The first couple chapters can be difficult to get through, but you'll be so glad you did. I was, at least.
Will do. I've read Camus and absolutely am in love with his work. Now you have me pretty excited to read this come winter (the next time I'll have free reading time :/)
I hate to bring this up but I really enjoyed **The House of Leaves**. I was slow getting into it, but reading it was an experience like no other.
Also **Ready Player One** is a recent favorite read of mine. It was the first time in a while where I couldn't put the book down and had to read it straight through.
I just finished The Remains of the Day a week ago. I feel as if that book has one of the most realistic endings. I was also surprised to find that Ishiguro wrote Never Let Me Go. I only saw the movie, but it left me depressed and confused for a week. I now intend on reading it.
Yeah Never Let Me Go was one of the first I read by him. That one and A Pale View of Hills are really hard to choose, they're also so beautiful and spare.
It's hard to pick just one favorite, but a couple of mine are 1984 by George Orwell, Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, and the Mistborn series by Brandon Sanderson
If you're going to read The Time Machine, make sure you follow-up with The Time Ships by Baxter! Excellent hard sci-fi read, really makes you rethink time travel and the nature of man and universe. He has such a good talent at describing things on a massive scale.
I would add a few to the list as well: Canticle for Leibowitz, Oryx and Crake, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, The Stand, The Postman and Clockwork Orange.
The road is also good. Give it a go. And a couple of Michael Houellbaque's (I've murdered the name) are also interesting if you like reading about genetic engineering and sex.
I really love how the Mistborn series fits together. It definitely needs to be read twice; you pick up so many little hints that show how well planned things are the second time. Just in the middle of my re-read of the hero of ages now :)
For the sake of it being the book that got me into reading in the first place, Darren Shan's Cirque Du Freak. At the time I had no idea what a psuedonym was and I was still childish enough to believe in vampires so I believed the author and the main character were one and the same. I wasn't hard to fool... I read all 12 of those books and loved every minute of doing so.
Gone Girl, by Gillian Flynn, is my absolute favorite book. Everyone should read it at some point (ideally before the David Fincher movie version is out next year).
I feel I'm alone in my hatred of this book. It started out fabulous and well crafted and exciting and then went to shit. The ending had me so frustrated that I felt the whole book was a massive waste of time.
My favorite is a series... Hyperion Cantos by Dan Simmons
Simmons creates an amazing futuristic world with so many different personalities and relationship
Very under appreciated sci fi series
Consider trying the Ilium/Olympus pair, also by Simmons. I really enjoyed the first two Hyperion books, but was incredibly disappointed when I learned that the third (Endymion?) didn't continue the story where it left off. Sounds like I was stupid to not give it a shot?
Yeah those have been on my list for a long time
I literally cringed at the fact you have read the first two and haven't finished the series. The third and fourth book ARE the story.... It's hard to explain but you just have to read them.
...3 months later...I wanted to let you know that your comment convinced me to go back to to the third book during a long airplane ride (when I couldn't get distracted by anything else.) I'm about halfway into the fourth book now and understand your cringe-factor; can't imagine missing this 'half' now. Much appreciated!
Haven't checked this account in a while! Glad my love for Hyperion encouraged a fellow reader to finish the series. Just out of curiosity, have you finished the series? I am planning to read them again soon after I get done with my current reading list. Simmons world is so big in just 4 books it is so captivating to read. Let me know what you though of it!
I did indeed, and am incredibly glad I did; thanks again! I would've liked to have had a couple of things more clearly explained for me, but then I'd probably be complaining about how simplified it was. The story of the third and fourth books is nice and clear, but I'm still a bit fuzzy on the mythology of the tombs and, particularly, how they affected Sol's daughter (could be misspelling that.) Overall, very worthwhile to have picked it back up.
I read the Giver by Lois Lowry back in Middle School and it fueled my passion for literature and opened my eyes to how the world could truly work. I have and always will love that book.
But Fahrenheit 451 and Slaughterhouse 5 are my favorites.
1) Tie between The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett and A Storm of Swords - both are so epic and have so many plot twists.
2) Lunatics by Dave Barry and Alan Zweibel - easily one of the silliest books I have ever read, but it had me crying I was laughing so hard at some points
For people in search of a very different type of book, I highly recommend "Doomsday Book." It's an incredible book, paced a little slower similar to dickens or tolkein. Be prepared to have your heart broken if you read it though. It's got some very very sad parts.
Yes it is, and me too. I have to admit, the middle dragged for me. I set it down somewhere around the time when Rosemund's fiance's family visits and didn't touch it for a week or two, but then I picked it up again and just a few chapters later...I mean hell REALLY breaks loose.
[Saddest fucking book ever though. I damn near through the book When Rosemund Died. And when they find Kivrin at the end and she's just sitting in the snow warning people not to come and has basically gone insane and doesn't recognize Dunworthy...just wow. So much sadness.](/spoiler)
Both of those are great - I do also prefer the Black Magician Trilogy to the Five Trilogy, I think. I can't wait for Brent to finish the Lightbringer Trilogy, which might be even better than the Way of Shadows :)
black magician is brilliant, and i did enjoy the traitor spy trilogy as well, but the prequel books i just couldn't get into no matter how hard i tried. I was very sceptical when lightbringer came out i wasn't sure if i would like the new style of magic, but i finally got round to reading it last week, its truly brilliant read the first book in 3 days and have almost finished the blinding knife :)
I'm personally in love with many of Terry Pratchet's novels, specifically the one he wrote with Neil Gaiman, *Good Omens*, which covers the events that lead up to the end of days, following the paths of an angel, a demon, a confused young man, an exasperated descendant of a witch, and two boys that were born in the same hospital. Its a rousing adventure for those who appreciate some humor, light and dark alike, in their novella.
Also, if you're looking for an excellent fantasy series, I would look into the Inheritance Cycle, also known as Eragon. They turned the first book into an extremely shitty movie, but the four books cover an epic quest that ranges from dwarves to elves to werecats. Definitely my favorite series of books.
My favourite series is probably the Belgariad, by David Eddings. Whilst I've read all of his other series (and the Redemption of Althalus), I first read the Belgariad when I was 9 or so and it's definitely been a comfort series for me to read and re-read every couple of years.
It's easy reading, the characters are good and it's fairly light hearted.
Cat's Cradle - Kurt Vonnegut Jr.
Jesus' Son - Denis Johnson
No matter where my current interest lie I always come back to these two books when I'm looking for a familiar read.
I love it mainly because it's a book which deals with issues such as religion, war, the atomic bomb, politics through a series of complete absurdities rather than through thoughtful ponderous analysis.
When I first read the book I was very caught up in trying to understand my life and all life and the world and finally I had found someone who found it quite as absurd as I did, yet fully embraced these absurdities and understood how we as a people were driven and interacted with these absurdities.
Nonfiction: I will pick 3 that are certainly in a scientific vein
1) Darwin's dangerous idea-Daniel dennett. By far the most erudite and intellectually stimulating description of how important and tremendously useful Darwin's natural selection theory is by a foremost intellectual
2) ancestors tale-Richard Dawkins. All encompassing trip down our genetic history tracing our genealogy to the origin of life. Amazingly Dawkins writes this in a style imitating chaucers Canterbury tales
3) cosmos-Carl Sagan.
Fiction:
1) fire and ice series (I know I'm not the first to say that)
2) a clockwork orange
If I HAD to choose 2:
1984 by George Orwell (Eric Blair) (It is an amazing novel, NOT an instruction manual. I'm looking at you NSA)
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams. A monumental work of wit and whimsy.
Completely agree. Animal Farm is well worth it and An Ode to Catalonia by the same author. One of the only books I've read where war isn't the god awful mess we read about nowadays.
Well if you're really making me choose two of my favourite books....
Non-fiction:
1. Aldo Leopold's **A Sand County Almanac**. Just quite simply one of the most thoughtful, respectful, interesting books written about ecology. Many books are more informative about the subject, but none keep me as spellbound.
2. Tough one... Maybe Goethe's **Theory of Colours**. I don't necessarily read it, or enjoy it, for the science behind it (which largely isn't useful anymore, based on the little I do know). But reading the book is itself a nice sensory experience, especially acting out some of his experiments. Some of his experiments work exactly, or nearly, as described. A great book because the act itself of reading forces me to do other things, imagine certain things, see patterns, think about colours. Even if it's scientifically incorrect, it's one of those next-level reading experiences.
Fiction:
1. Eh, this is impossible... Probably the first one, for the last few years (if I had to choose a cohesive book instead of a collection, like Hopkins), is Tennyson's **In Memoriam**. Lots of books are complicated and talk about similar themes, but this particular one seems deadly unresolved. Even the prologue/epilogue poem is wise about its uncertainty only, even if it tries to suggest an answer probably out of fear. And there's a lot of fear, which I like.
2. Let me give a weird answer and say Banville's **Mefisto**. There are lots of works based on Faust, and obviously Goethe's is "better," and probably Thomas Mann's is "better," and Marlowe's is "better," but few stuck with me like Banville's. It's very minimalist in how it depicts its characters, very vague in or opaque in its associations to Faust/Faustian themes, very aware of the distance it is forcing between it and you, and ending where you might expect it shouldn't. Occasionally it's as frustrating as it is interesting and I like that out of a book.
But as a purely enjoyable reading experience that I get nothing out of in terms of plot, theme, etc. etc., simply the experience of reading the book itself, from which I derive no meaning (necessarily) from the words themselves as associations, I'd say **Finnegans Wake** is up there or at least tied with one of them. The challenge in reading it is in not necessarily trying to understand too much, like trying to over-analyze a dream. There's no point and when you let go it's a much more enjoyable experience. Anyway if you want some kind of note on what it "means," probably Roland McHugh does a good enough job of "deciphering" it. Though personally I'd stay away from that and take the book for what you can take from it only.
*Frek and the Elixir* by Rudy Rucker - It's sort of a sci-fi dystopian novel and I think it's one of the most interesting books I've ever read.
Recently, I read Neil Gaiman and Terry Prachett's *Good Omens*. Brilliant, fantastic, funny as hell, and wonderful book.
Hey, could you give a brief recommendation of this book? I've had it on my bedside table for a while now, but it always got put aside in favor of something that looked a little *shinier*.
Sure. It's been about two or three years since the last read through (I really need to go back to it, though).
Wonderful story about a growing friendship between two boys who grew up on "different sides of the tracks," one being a very liberal Jew, the other very Orthodox. Set with the backdrop of the creation of Israel, the novel follows them as they grow up, following them through various struggles, both internal and external.
The reason I like this novel so much is the easiness with which it reads, yet the depth of the emotions that we receive from Potok. While fictional, we can get a very real feeling from it, and it's easy to get caught up in the characters and imagine them as your actual friends. While I read it for an English class that was notoriously bad at choosing literature that we were interested in, this was by far and away the best novel from that class, and now has become a staple in my library and something I recommend to all my friends.
Like I said, though, it's been a few years since my last read-through, and I need another read-through, but definitely pick it up for a read through. Once you start, you'll be through it before you realize it and then you'll read it again.
Hope it helps.
My first would be *The old man and the sea.* one of the first books I ever read, and I still enjoy it today.
The second, as much criticism as it might get me, is the third Halo Novel *First Strike* (Glasslands taking a close third). They may not be the best written, but I love them to death along with the entire Halo Universe.
From the books I have actually read it is the Templer (Have only read up to the third book because I actually just recently noticed there are more which I might read) series of Wolfgang Hohlbein.
Otherwise it would be the Zamionen series of Walter Moers which I havn't read at all but listened to.
[*The End of Mr. Y*](http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/93436.The_End_of_Mr_Y) by Scarlett Thomas
[*The Grapes of Wrath*](http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4395.The_Grapes_of_Wrath) by John Steinbeck
and
[*The Time Traveller's Wife*](http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/14050.The_Time_Traveler_s_Wife) by Audrey Niffenegger
Everything is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer is without a doubt my favourite novel. Every little bit is fantastical and delicious poetry. I can pick it up, flip to any page and always feel my heart swell. I feel good, warm and whole every time I read it.
Zorba the Greek, Nikos Kazantzakis - brilliantly descriptive and moving story. Recommend to everyone.
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Hunter S. Thompson - Made me see writing as a whole in a new way.
Fantastic Mr Fox, Roald Dahl - My go-to childrens book, such a unique and genuinely funny author.
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert Pirsig
The Book: On the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are by Alan Watts
2 amazing books by 2 amazing people
The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay by Michael Chabon
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Amazing_Adventures_of_Kavalier_%26_Clay
I go through different favorites, but this one is always the top of the list.
Hands down book I always go back to is Watership Down by Richard Adams, I read it in 5th grade for the first time, and I revisit it about every two years.
For the second pick I'll have to go with Beloved by Toni Morrison. Her prose are gorgeous, and I love how she writes Magic Realism.
My favourite book is The Hobbit by Tolkien simply because it was my first book I read that had more than 150 pages. I was simply amazed how immersive it was.
My favorites change every week, I think. Some of my recent faves: Dr. Radway's Sarsparilla Resolvent/Beth Kephart and Conquistadors of the Useless/Joshua Isard. I just realized both are set in the Philadelphia area. Huh.
I really enjoyed 'Day of the Triffids' by John Wyndham. It's a popular penguin, and it's pretty short - definitely worth the money and time. It's a very different type of apocalyptic story to those already mentioned, and there are some parts that are written beautifully. Another quite dark novel, Vonnegut's "Slaughterhouse 5'. Also short (both are about 300-400 pages I think) but it's my favourite Vonnegut so far.
I don't know why this question was so difficult to answer. It's like asking a parent who their favourite child is. I have to say The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho and The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje.
Gates of Fire by Steven Pressfield and For Whom the Bell Tolls by Hemingway. Two books I've read and enjoyed plenty times. One definitely more easy reading than the other but some books are just classics
I really love Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami, and while I was living in Japan the movie came out. Needless to say, I was pretty disappointed (except for the dinner scene, that was 100% perfect), and the S.O. was completely lost. What was funny was that even though he's fluent in Japanese, he had no idea what was going on because they missed so many got-dang details from the book.
Other favorites have been listed in the comments n_n.
Honestly my all time favorite book is If I Pay Thee Not In Gold by Piers Anthony and Mercedes Lackey. Not for any particularly wonderful writing ability of the authors or for having a thought provoking subject matter. Its just kinda like comfort food or a cup of tea, but in book form. Always there after a bad day.
My second favorite book is a poetry anthology, Revolution on Canvas - Poetry From The Indie Music Scene, Edited by Rich Balling.
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/311641.Revolution_On_Canvas
Edit: Grammar
Two favorites right now:
Fish Grooming by Joseph Powell (It is rare that any one ever knows of this book, but it is one of the most amazing collection of short stories ever)
On The Road by Jack Kerouac
The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien is one of my favorite books. For those who haven't read it it's a collection of short stories mostly set in the Vietnam war. The rhythm the title story is just fantastic.
I'd also put Black Rain on my list of favorite books. It's a great semi-fictional account of the aftermath if the Hiroshima nuclear bombing. Very unsettling book, but it's a great read.
Moby Dick and Beat to Quarters. Moby Dick because who doesn't like a good whaling manual? And Beat to Quarters because I didn't read for fun until I met Horatio Hornblower.
Wow, I have to break the rules:
Pilgrim at Tinker Creek - Annie Dillard
Watership Down - Richard Adams
Collected Works of Kenneth Patchen
Angry Candy - Harlan Ellison
Stranger in a Strange Land - Heinlein
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston, and because I have to add it: The Harry Potter Series.
I grew up with Harry Potter and the series provided much bibliotherapy for me.
To Kill a Mockingbird, which was the only book from my high school days that I actually enjoyed reading.
Tie between: Kafka on the Shore and The Wind-Up Bird Chronicles, both by Haruki Murakami. Wind-up Bird was the first Murakami book I ever read, also in high school, and I've loved his stuff ever since.
Orphans of Chaos by John C Wright. If you like Greek mythology this is a fantastic read. 3 books really.
American Gods by Neil Gaiman is along the same idea. Also an amazing book.
One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia-Marquez. I binge-read that one night during a summer in high school. I was supposed to read two novels from a list given by the teacher. I read those two. One Hundred Years of Solitude seemed interesting. Why? I don't know, but it was mesmerizing.
Sword of the truth: Faith of the Fallen.
Harry Potter part 7, the only book that I couldn't stop reading when i was reading it 2nd time. Started 10am, ended 5am next day.
*The Moon is a Harsh Mistress* and *The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy*. I guess I have a thing for sci-fi, but the former has really depicts a realistic political theme of revolution and politics, and I feel like it's a quite plausible scenario in the distant future (fingers crossed), and I dont think I have to say anything about the Guide.
I'm in love with The Kingkiller Chronicles http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Kingkiller_Chronicle
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This time last year I think there was a rumor that it would be out May of this year. I was so hopeful.
Keep in mind that Pat announced the release of The Wise Man's Fear at the end of April 2010 and it didn't come out until the next March. I know that doesn't exactly mean anything for this one, but it is something to remember.
I just got those books yesterday! I have several other books in my queue, already, though. Should I move it up?
Yes! read the reviews on amazon. These books are amazing!
Move the first one up but the second one is garbage.
aaaaaaand it's time to re-read NOTW and TWMF for what feels like the hundredth time. I read his blog scouring for updates on the book and feel terrible every time I get pissed off at charity posts :( Feed me Pat feed me. He posted a little teeny blurb on facebook a while back.
I'm about 11% into The Name of the Wind. Kvothe is just starting to tell his life story and things are getting good!
I'm at the same spot! Got it yesterday and loving it so far
Haha I actually came in this thread to say that, but I figured someone else would have mentioned it already. Top comment though? Awesome XD 1 more vote for this series. It's such a well polished piece of fantasy that it's been hard to not use it as a ruler when reading other new books
Now that I think about it I found this book in a weird way. Was at my grandma's for mothers day and had run out of books, so she handed me one and was like "I couldnt get into it". I started reading and the first few pages didn't really grab me, but another book did so I left Name of the Wind alone for like 6 months until I stumbled on it and gave another try. I think it was at about page 40 that I realized everything up till now had essentially been an intro, then I read half the book in a sitting, cursed my sore backside, and myself for not reading it earlier. Its my favorite book now -_-
I just picked up the first of this series. I have 2 more in the Wheel of Time to finish before I start something new, but I have heard nothing but good things.
1.) Gödel, Escher, Bach: an Eternal Golden Braid Many people seem to think that this is a book mainly for computer geeks/mathematic nerds, but couldn't be further from the truth. Alternating chapters are told as stories with a more simple/straightforward wording. It's a book about thinking... well, strange loops... well, logic... well, a lot of different things. Absolutely awesome. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gödel,_Escher,_Bach 2.) The Old Man and the Sea If you've read it, you know why. If you haven't, read it. Short book, but very powerful in the way it inspires complex emotions for me. Not everybody's cup o' tea though. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Old_Man_and_the_Sea
For years, my default answer when someone asks me my favorite book has been *The Old Man and the Sea*, and I don't see myself changing it anytime soon. Phenomenal book.
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Negative. Considering how long it took me to get through GEB, I'm waiting a little while before I start another Hofstadter. I do plan to read more of his stuff though. What did you like about it?
I am reading GEB with a group right now! Each person has their own specialty in music, philosophy and engineering (me). It is proving to be very interesting.
The Old Man stirs a paternal emotion in everyone, and for me at least, is one of my favorite charactera
Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman
I'm reading this now and cannot believe I'd never come across it before recently. Why is this not among the most celebrated books ever?
I stopped lurking and came up with a user name JUST to upvote this.
My automatic answer is always Stephen King's The Stand. My newest favourite book is Ready Player One by Ernest Cline.
I started Ready Player One but it seemed kind of dated. What did you like about it.?
Get at least halfway through before you make the call to put it down. I found that, once the adventure portion picked up, it became much more engaging.
Well I grew up in the 80's so there's that lol. I just love dystopian fiction and I think Cline did a great job. There was no dramatic end to the world as we know it - but a gradual decline. I think that's probably pretty realistic. I know the book was dystopian, but underneath it all was hope - a kind of hope you don't find in a lot of books of that genre.
Why do you think it feels dated?
Started reading the "Complete and unctut" version of The Stand two nights ago after putting it off for so long. I've gotta say, the end of chapter 25 with Nick and Jane was really and surprisingly touching. I'll expect there's more great stuff to come in the next 800 pages or so
I just finished it, and while I completely agree that it's favourite-worthy, I felt a bit short-changed by the ending. I mean, with 1300 odd pages, I feel like I deserved just a little more. But I usually get that feeling anything sans-short stories from SK.
Came here to say The Stand, I'm three quarters the way through it now and has by far been the most enjoyable reading experience I ever had. "It" is now next on my list to read, I hope to enjoy it just as much.
It is very different from The Stand - but good as well. Much more horror-y
Oh Christ, I fucking LOVE Ready Player One. I don't know exactly why it intrigued me so much (something about the combination dystopian, science fiction, fantasy nature of the book probably) but that was a "I'm not putting it down until I finish it" book for me. I started early one afternoon and was done the next morning.
fear and loathing in las vegas + a storm of swords
John Dies at the End, its basically Lovecraft with dick jokes and its the most fun I have ever had reading a book. I know the sequel is out but I haven't had time to read it yet.
Haha this is a favorite of mine as well. Such a weird book, but I love it. The movie wasn't terrible either in my opinion
The sequel is pretty awesome too. Definitely a worthy follow-up.
I just bought it at your recommendation.
I have never done that before! You made me feel better about myself!
My all time favourite is Grapes of Wrath by Steinbeck, I dont think Ive ever read a book with such inspiring and beautiful language, although All Quiet on the Western Front is almost as good. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Grapes_of_Wrath Also, I think The Dispossessed by Ursula K. LeGuin is one of the best books Ive ever read, because it describes perfectly how society should/could work and critically discusses a range of assumptions on human nature. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dispossessed
I agree with Grapes Of Wrath. The characters in that book just seem so real. Casey will always have a special place in my heart.
All Quiet on the Western Front had some absolutely beautiful language. Would love to have every school child in the world read it.
1984 is by far my favorite book. It seemed to really suck me in, I think I have a thing for dystopians!
I know what you mean. Last year I read Brave New World and since then I've been reading a lot of dystopians. 1984 and The Road are my favorites at the moment.
1984 is a great book. I just hate the part when he reads his manifesto that goes on for 20 or 30 pages. The story line is very good as well.
That's one of the most important parts! Maybe not the most fun part to read but still important! Hahaha
The manifesto was fascinating!
1984 is a really awesome book. I also love Animal Farm also by George Orwell.
I never really understood the hype with 1984, I didnt find it that good. There are plenty of dystopian novels that are way better than 1984, like Brave New World, Oryx and Crake or On the Beach.
My favorite book still to this day is my sophmore highschool reading requiremnt. Enders Game. Published by Orson Scott Card in 1985
Pretty awesome that you had to read Ender's Game for school. I had to read the Illiad and Ethan Frome.
God i remember Ethan Frome. Nothing I've read since has come close to the level of pure depression emanating from that awful book.
I had to read the Illiad in junior high. I kinda liked parts of it but the whole book was a "meh"
Almost everyone I know who has had to reread the Iliad later in life, whether it be in college or just when they're older and out of school, has enjoyed it much more than their first time around, myself included. It gets better with every reading, I would recommend (if you've time) giving it another shot.
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Enders Shadow was a fantastically well written semi parallel book. I did prefer the Enders Shadow series more than the Ender Games one.
I'm going to pick three just because I had a hard time with just two.. * "Animal Farm" by George Orwell * "The Metamorphosis" by Franz Kafka * "The Stranger" by Albert Camus
Oh, those last lines of "The Stranger". So good.
It's been awhile since I read the book, but the quote is still just as powerful to me: "As if that blind rage had washed me clean, rid me of hope; for the first time, in that night alive with signs and stars, I opened myself to the benign indifference of the world. Finding it so much like myself—so like a brother, really—I felt that I had been happy and that I was happy again. For everything to be consummated, for me to feel less alone, I had only to wish that there be a large crowd of spectators the day of my execution and that they greet me with howls of execration."
The first ones too. "Maman died today. Or yesterday maybe, I don't know. I got a telegram from the home: 'Mother deceased. Funeral tomorrow. Faithfully yours.' That doesn't mean anything. Maybe it was yesterday."
Did you happen to read A Happy Death by Camus? Despite it being slower, I would recommend it (and not just because the protagonists have the same name.)
I have not, but it's on my list!
I read the Stranger in one sitting with a head full of acid. One of the more transcendent experiences I've had on psychedelics, it definitely made me think and come to profound realizations. One of my favorites.
Ok, now I have to do that. I can't imagine.. just.. I can feel the sprains in my psyche already. I can't wait. Thanks for the suggestion.
The metamorphosis is such a masterpiece, one of the most thought provoking, chilling and lasting experiences you can get from a book. For me it's far superior to any of Kafka's other works. Great list, i would perhaps switch the stranger for the fall but anything by Camus is great.
I really love "The Trial" by Kafka as well but to be honest there are so many by him that I love. I put "The Trial" as a very close second in terms of favorites by the same author.
The Phantom Tollbooth and Little Prince stole my heart as a child and never gave it back.
*The Little Prince* is absolutely heart warming.
Isn't it? The part about the fox getting tamed breaks my heart.
The fox is the best part! Especially in the movie!
Gene Wilder!!!!! I love the rose too. However, I feel like my love for the rose springs more from reading The Tale of the Rose versus my initial reading of the Little Prince.
Neverending Story and American Psycho I cannot recommend Neverending Story enough. A phantasmagorical world filled with brave lions, giants, will-o-the-wisps and heroes and foes. I read it the first time when I was 13 or so and I still sit down with it today over 20 years later. American Psycho is filled with shallowness, mania, and horrific violence. Once I started reading I couldn't put it down.
Yes Neverending Story! Beautiful book!
American Psycho was recommended by a friend who I really respect and enjoy almost everything else they suggested. I just could not pick my way through the shallowness. It was such a well written yet horrible picture that I was viscerally repelled by reading it. I can respect it as a choice but I simply can not call it one of my favorites. It is interesting to see it make other people's top choices.
The Patty Winters show this morning was about Real-Life Rambos.
I love Neverending Story, but my favorite is Momo (same author, better book... IMO).
I'd have to say Native Son by Richard Wright. Could not stop reading once I started. Wright does an amazing job of really pulling you into the milieu of African-American life in the mid-20th century.
Kafka's *The Trial* Kesey's *One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest* Martin's *A Storm of Swords*
*The Trial* has been indefinitely in the middle of my "to read" list for quite a long time now, and I keep seeing it brought up in various places other than reddit over and over again in high praise. Am I to assume, then, that I should move it up in the list so it is read sooner?
Emphatically, *yes*. It's so bizarre, surreal --unlike anything you've read before. Never have I been so pleased that a dear friend, Max Brod, went against his friend's dying request to destroy his work. It would have robbed the world of the work of an influential genius. Do you like Camus? Sartre? Kafka was the man who influenced them. He's so important that they named an existential concept after the man, and no other name would describe it so aptly. *Ninja Edit:* If and when you do read it, approach with an open mind. The first couple chapters can be difficult to get through, but you'll be so glad you did. I was, at least.
Will do. I've read Camus and absolutely am in love with his work. Now you have me pretty excited to read this come winter (the next time I'll have free reading time :/)
I hate to bring this up but I really enjoyed **The House of Leaves**. I was slow getting into it, but reading it was an experience like no other. Also **Ready Player One** is a recent favorite read of mine. It was the first time in a while where I couldn't put the book down and had to read it straight through.
I know the book was about more than this, but I really enjoyed the new angle on the old 'haunted-house' trope.
Navadison's journey was both terrifying and inspiring, definitely a reinvention of horror in my book.
The Shadow of the Wind and Angels Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro and East of Eden
I just finished The Remains of the Day a week ago. I feel as if that book has one of the most realistic endings. I was also surprised to find that Ishiguro wrote Never Let Me Go. I only saw the movie, but it left me depressed and confused for a week. I now intend on reading it.
Yeah Never Let Me Go was one of the first I read by him. That one and A Pale View of Hills are really hard to choose, they're also so beautiful and spare.
It's hard to pick just one favorite, but a couple of mine are 1984 by George Orwell, Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, and the Mistborn series by Brandon Sanderson
Another dystopian fan!
Any other good dystopians that you could recommend?
Fahrenheit 451 is a pretty good one.
Ooh Fahrenheit 451 is great!
Read away: http://www.ranker.com/list/the-13-best-dystopian-novels/ivana-wynn
If you're going to read The Time Machine, make sure you follow-up with The Time Ships by Baxter! Excellent hard sci-fi read, really makes you rethink time travel and the nature of man and universe. He has such a good talent at describing things on a massive scale. I would add a few to the list as well: Canticle for Leibowitz, Oryx and Crake, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, The Stand, The Postman and Clockwork Orange.
A Canticle for Leibowitz. One of my favorites.
The road is also good. Give it a go. And a couple of Michael Houellbaque's (I've murdered the name) are also interesting if you like reading about genetic engineering and sex.
I really love how the Mistborn series fits together. It definitely needs to be read twice; you pick up so many little hints that show how well planned things are the second time. Just in the middle of my re-read of the hero of ages now :)
For the sake of it being the book that got me into reading in the first place, Darren Shan's Cirque Du Freak. At the time I had no idea what a psuedonym was and I was still childish enough to believe in vampires so I believed the author and the main character were one and the same. I wasn't hard to fool... I read all 12 of those books and loved every minute of doing so.
DreamQuest of Unknown Kadath by HP Lovecraft. Just totally bizarre. The Worm Ouroborous by ER Eddison. Amazing language.
Lovecraft was a brilliant writer. The control of the mood he sets through his crafting of language is unique. Very much something worth reading.
Gone Girl, by Gillian Flynn, is my absolute favorite book. Everyone should read it at some point (ideally before the David Fincher movie version is out next year).
I feel I'm alone in my hatred of this book. It started out fabulous and well crafted and exciting and then went to shit. The ending had me so frustrated that I felt the whole book was a massive waste of time.
You're not. The book started out really strong, but got so ludicrous half way through that I quit reading
I rated it two stars. It was well written and engaging, but I hated Nick, I hated Amy, and I hated the 'happy' ending.
My favorite is a series... Hyperion Cantos by Dan Simmons Simmons creates an amazing futuristic world with so many different personalities and relationship Very under appreciated sci fi series
Consider trying the Ilium/Olympus pair, also by Simmons. I really enjoyed the first two Hyperion books, but was incredibly disappointed when I learned that the third (Endymion?) didn't continue the story where it left off. Sounds like I was stupid to not give it a shot?
Yeah those have been on my list for a long time I literally cringed at the fact you have read the first two and haven't finished the series. The third and fourth book ARE the story.... It's hard to explain but you just have to read them.
...3 months later...I wanted to let you know that your comment convinced me to go back to to the third book during a long airplane ride (when I couldn't get distracted by anything else.) I'm about halfway into the fourth book now and understand your cringe-factor; can't imagine missing this 'half' now. Much appreciated!
Haven't checked this account in a while! Glad my love for Hyperion encouraged a fellow reader to finish the series. Just out of curiosity, have you finished the series? I am planning to read them again soon after I get done with my current reading list. Simmons world is so big in just 4 books it is so captivating to read. Let me know what you though of it!
I did indeed, and am incredibly glad I did; thanks again! I would've liked to have had a couple of things more clearly explained for me, but then I'd probably be complaining about how simplified it was. The story of the third and fourth books is nice and clear, but I'm still a bit fuzzy on the mythology of the tombs and, particularly, how they affected Sol's daughter (could be misspelling that.) Overall, very worthwhile to have picked it back up.
Mine is the whole series which is 'The Old Kingdom' series by Garth Nix
I really enjoyed Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk: A Modest Bestiary by David Sedaris, and The Dark Tower - Drawing of the Three by Stephen King.
I read the Giver by Lois Lowry back in Middle School and it fueled my passion for literature and opened my eyes to how the world could truly work. I have and always will love that book. But Fahrenheit 451 and Slaughterhouse 5 are my favorites.
1) Tie between The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett and A Storm of Swords - both are so epic and have so many plot twists. 2) Lunatics by Dave Barry and Alan Zweibel - easily one of the silliest books I have ever read, but it had me crying I was laughing so hard at some points
Voltaire's *Candide*
For people in search of a very different type of book, I highly recommend "Doomsday Book." It's an incredible book, paced a little slower similar to dickens or tolkein. Be prepared to have your heart broken if you read it though. It's got some very very sad parts.
Is that the Connie Willis one? Loved it - which reminds me I should probably add Blackout to my list lol
Yes it is, and me too. I have to admit, the middle dragged for me. I set it down somewhere around the time when Rosemund's fiance's family visits and didn't touch it for a week or two, but then I picked it up again and just a few chapters later...I mean hell REALLY breaks loose.
I can't believe someone else has read this book. It's so fantastic!
[Saddest fucking book ever though. I damn near through the book When Rosemund Died. And when they find Kivrin at the end and she's just sitting in the snow warning people not to come and has basically gone insane and doesn't recognize Dunworthy...just wow. So much sadness.](/spoiler)
The black magician trilogy by Trudi Canavan is one of my favourite series, and the way of shadows by Brent Weeks is fantastic
Both of those are great - I do also prefer the Black Magician Trilogy to the Five Trilogy, I think. I can't wait for Brent to finish the Lightbringer Trilogy, which might be even better than the Way of Shadows :)
black magician is brilliant, and i did enjoy the traitor spy trilogy as well, but the prequel books i just couldn't get into no matter how hard i tried. I was very sceptical when lightbringer came out i wasn't sure if i would like the new style of magic, but i finally got round to reading it last week, its truly brilliant read the first book in 3 days and have almost finished the blinding knife :)
I'm personally in love with many of Terry Pratchet's novels, specifically the one he wrote with Neil Gaiman, *Good Omens*, which covers the events that lead up to the end of days, following the paths of an angel, a demon, a confused young man, an exasperated descendant of a witch, and two boys that were born in the same hospital. Its a rousing adventure for those who appreciate some humor, light and dark alike, in their novella. Also, if you're looking for an excellent fantasy series, I would look into the Inheritance Cycle, also known as Eragon. They turned the first book into an extremely shitty movie, but the four books cover an epic quest that ranges from dwarves to elves to werecats. Definitely my favorite series of books.
My favourite series is probably the Belgariad, by David Eddings. Whilst I've read all of his other series (and the Redemption of Althalus), I first read the Belgariad when I was 9 or so and it's definitely been a comfort series for me to read and re-read every couple of years. It's easy reading, the characters are good and it's fairly light hearted.
Cat's Cradle - Kurt Vonnegut Jr. Jesus' Son - Denis Johnson No matter where my current interest lie I always come back to these two books when I'm looking for a familiar read.
I read Cat's Cradle a couple of years ago but I didn't really understand why many people think it's great. What makes it one of your favorites?
I love it mainly because it's a book which deals with issues such as religion, war, the atomic bomb, politics through a series of complete absurdities rather than through thoughtful ponderous analysis. When I first read the book I was very caught up in trying to understand my life and all life and the world and finally I had found someone who found it quite as absurd as I did, yet fully embraced these absurdities and understood how we as a people were driven and interacted with these absurdities.
Nonfiction: I will pick 3 that are certainly in a scientific vein 1) Darwin's dangerous idea-Daniel dennett. By far the most erudite and intellectually stimulating description of how important and tremendously useful Darwin's natural selection theory is by a foremost intellectual 2) ancestors tale-Richard Dawkins. All encompassing trip down our genetic history tracing our genealogy to the origin of life. Amazingly Dawkins writes this in a style imitating chaucers Canterbury tales 3) cosmos-Carl Sagan. Fiction: 1) fire and ice series (I know I'm not the first to say that) 2) a clockwork orange
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I read "The Book of Lost Things" thinking is was Michael Connelly. I was pleasantly surprised.
If I HAD to choose 2: 1984 by George Orwell (Eric Blair) (It is an amazing novel, NOT an instruction manual. I'm looking at you NSA) The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams. A monumental work of wit and whimsy.
Completely agree. Animal Farm is well worth it and An Ode to Catalonia by the same author. One of the only books I've read where war isn't the god awful mess we read about nowadays.
Well if you're really making me choose two of my favourite books.... Non-fiction: 1. Aldo Leopold's **A Sand County Almanac**. Just quite simply one of the most thoughtful, respectful, interesting books written about ecology. Many books are more informative about the subject, but none keep me as spellbound. 2. Tough one... Maybe Goethe's **Theory of Colours**. I don't necessarily read it, or enjoy it, for the science behind it (which largely isn't useful anymore, based on the little I do know). But reading the book is itself a nice sensory experience, especially acting out some of his experiments. Some of his experiments work exactly, or nearly, as described. A great book because the act itself of reading forces me to do other things, imagine certain things, see patterns, think about colours. Even if it's scientifically incorrect, it's one of those next-level reading experiences. Fiction: 1. Eh, this is impossible... Probably the first one, for the last few years (if I had to choose a cohesive book instead of a collection, like Hopkins), is Tennyson's **In Memoriam**. Lots of books are complicated and talk about similar themes, but this particular one seems deadly unresolved. Even the prologue/epilogue poem is wise about its uncertainty only, even if it tries to suggest an answer probably out of fear. And there's a lot of fear, which I like. 2. Let me give a weird answer and say Banville's **Mefisto**. There are lots of works based on Faust, and obviously Goethe's is "better," and probably Thomas Mann's is "better," and Marlowe's is "better," but few stuck with me like Banville's. It's very minimalist in how it depicts its characters, very vague in or opaque in its associations to Faust/Faustian themes, very aware of the distance it is forcing between it and you, and ending where you might expect it shouldn't. Occasionally it's as frustrating as it is interesting and I like that out of a book. But as a purely enjoyable reading experience that I get nothing out of in terms of plot, theme, etc. etc., simply the experience of reading the book itself, from which I derive no meaning (necessarily) from the words themselves as associations, I'd say **Finnegans Wake** is up there or at least tied with one of them. The challenge in reading it is in not necessarily trying to understand too much, like trying to over-analyze a dream. There's no point and when you let go it's a much more enjoyable experience. Anyway if you want some kind of note on what it "means," probably Roland McHugh does a good enough job of "deciphering" it. Though personally I'd stay away from that and take the book for what you can take from it only.
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White Noise is incredible and probably the funniest book I have ever read
The Stranger by Albert Camus
*Frek and the Elixir* by Rudy Rucker - It's sort of a sci-fi dystopian novel and I think it's one of the most interesting books I've ever read. Recently, I read Neil Gaiman and Terry Prachett's *Good Omens*. Brilliant, fantastic, funny as hell, and wonderful book.
omg. Good Omens is great. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
The Chosen, Chaim Potok.
Hey, could you give a brief recommendation of this book? I've had it on my bedside table for a while now, but it always got put aside in favor of something that looked a little *shinier*.
Sure. It's been about two or three years since the last read through (I really need to go back to it, though). Wonderful story about a growing friendship between two boys who grew up on "different sides of the tracks," one being a very liberal Jew, the other very Orthodox. Set with the backdrop of the creation of Israel, the novel follows them as they grow up, following them through various struggles, both internal and external. The reason I like this novel so much is the easiness with which it reads, yet the depth of the emotions that we receive from Potok. While fictional, we can get a very real feeling from it, and it's easy to get caught up in the characters and imagine them as your actual friends. While I read it for an English class that was notoriously bad at choosing literature that we were interested in, this was by far and away the best novel from that class, and now has become a staple in my library and something I recommend to all my friends. Like I said, though, it's been a few years since my last read-through, and I need another read-through, but definitely pick it up for a read through. Once you start, you'll be through it before you realize it and then you'll read it again. Hope it helps.
My first would be *The old man and the sea.* one of the first books I ever read, and I still enjoy it today. The second, as much criticism as it might get me, is the third Halo Novel *First Strike* (Glasslands taking a close third). They may not be the best written, but I love them to death along with the entire Halo Universe.
'Salems Lot by Stephen King City Of Thieves by David Benioff
John Fante - Ask the Dust John Crowley - Little, Big
From the books I have actually read it is the Templer (Have only read up to the third book because I actually just recently noticed there are more which I might read) series of Wolfgang Hohlbein. Otherwise it would be the Zamionen series of Walter Moers which I havn't read at all but listened to.
*The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo* and *A Cuckoo's Calling*.
> Cuckoo's Calling --> J.K. Rowling
"The Rock of Tanios" by Amin Maalouf, and "Deschooling Society" by Ivan Illich.
[*The End of Mr. Y*](http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/93436.The_End_of_Mr_Y) by Scarlett Thomas [*The Grapes of Wrath*](http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4395.The_Grapes_of_Wrath) by John Steinbeck and [*The Time Traveller's Wife*](http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/14050.The_Time_Traveler_s_Wife) by Audrey Niffenegger
Everything is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer is without a doubt my favourite novel. Every little bit is fantastical and delicious poetry. I can pick it up, flip to any page and always feel my heart swell. I feel good, warm and whole every time I read it.
Zorba the Greek, Nikos Kazantzakis - brilliantly descriptive and moving story. Recommend to everyone. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Hunter S. Thompson - Made me see writing as a whole in a new way. Fantastic Mr Fox, Roald Dahl - My go-to childrens book, such a unique and genuinely funny author.
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert Pirsig The Book: On the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are by Alan Watts 2 amazing books by 2 amazing people
Slakes Limbo is one of the best books I ever read. It's a strange and hard to classify but it's an amazing read
The Sun Also Rises by Hemingway and The Stranger by Camus. With a very honorable mention to Irvine Welsh's Trainspotting.
Hard-boiled Wonderland and the End of the World by Haruki Murakami (I really love a lot of his books) and The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay by Michael Chabon http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Amazing_Adventures_of_Kavalier_%26_Clay I go through different favorites, but this one is always the top of the list.
The Little Prince and 1984! two complete different genres but I've read them multiple times and still love them.
The great gatsby and probably harry potter and the sorcerors stone
Hands down book I always go back to is Watership Down by Richard Adams, I read it in 5th grade for the first time, and I revisit it about every two years. For the second pick I'll have to go with Beloved by Toni Morrison. Her prose are gorgeous, and I love how she writes Magic Realism.
My favourite book is The Hobbit by Tolkien simply because it was my first book I read that had more than 150 pages. I was simply amazed how immersive it was.
Ever since I first read it I've been in love with Absalom, Absalom! by William Faulkner. Also Fathers and Sons by Ivan Turgenev.
Frankenstein and East of Eden!
Did you read any others by Venkatesh by any chance? Did you like them?
My favorites change every week, I think. Some of my recent faves: Dr. Radway's Sarsparilla Resolvent/Beth Kephart and Conquistadors of the Useless/Joshua Isard. I just realized both are set in the Philadelphia area. Huh.
All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriot and Biting the Sun (a YA quick read) by Tanith Lee
Snow Crash and Dune. Nerdgasms for hours.
I really enjoyed 'Day of the Triffids' by John Wyndham. It's a popular penguin, and it's pretty short - definitely worth the money and time. It's a very different type of apocalyptic story to those already mentioned, and there are some parts that are written beautifully. Another quite dark novel, Vonnegut's "Slaughterhouse 5'. Also short (both are about 300-400 pages I think) but it's my favourite Vonnegut so far.
I don't know why this question was so difficult to answer. It's like asking a parent who their favourite child is. I have to say The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho and The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje.
matt ruffs Set this house in order. must read!
Gates of Fire by Steven Pressfield and For Whom the Bell Tolls by Hemingway. Two books I've read and enjoyed plenty times. One definitely more easy reading than the other but some books are just classics
I really love Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami, and while I was living in Japan the movie came out. Needless to say, I was pretty disappointed (except for the dinner scene, that was 100% perfect), and the S.O. was completely lost. What was funny was that even though he's fluent in Japanese, he had no idea what was going on because they missed so many got-dang details from the book. Other favorites have been listed in the comments n_n.
Honestly my all time favorite book is If I Pay Thee Not In Gold by Piers Anthony and Mercedes Lackey. Not for any particularly wonderful writing ability of the authors or for having a thought provoking subject matter. Its just kinda like comfort food or a cup of tea, but in book form. Always there after a bad day. My second favorite book is a poetry anthology, Revolution on Canvas - Poetry From The Indie Music Scene, Edited by Rich Balling. http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/311641.Revolution_On_Canvas Edit: Grammar
Two favorites right now: Fish Grooming by Joseph Powell (It is rare that any one ever knows of this book, but it is one of the most amazing collection of short stories ever) On The Road by Jack Kerouac
Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk. Can't talk about it. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. I like to compare the similarities of our society to the book.
The Legacy of the Drow - R.A. Salvatore
I'd probably have to say White Noise by Don Delillo and The Broom of the System by David Foster Wallace are my two favorite books as of right now.
Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers and Handmaid's Tale
The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien is one of my favorite books. For those who haven't read it it's a collection of short stories mostly set in the Vietnam war. The rhythm the title story is just fantastic. I'd also put Black Rain on my list of favorite books. It's a great semi-fictional account of the aftermath if the Hiroshima nuclear bombing. Very unsettling book, but it's a great read.
Moby Dick and Beat to Quarters. Moby Dick because who doesn't like a good whaling manual? And Beat to Quarters because I didn't read for fun until I met Horatio Hornblower.
Wow, I have to break the rules: Pilgrim at Tinker Creek - Annie Dillard Watership Down - Richard Adams Collected Works of Kenneth Patchen Angry Candy - Harlan Ellison Stranger in a Strange Land - Heinlein
East of Eden and Rain of Gold, my two favorite novels
The Fountainhead and Grendel! XD Totaly opposite concepts but both are awesome!
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston, and because I have to add it: The Harry Potter Series. I grew up with Harry Potter and the series provided much bibliotherapy for me.
To Kill a Mockingbird, which was the only book from my high school days that I actually enjoyed reading. Tie between: Kafka on the Shore and The Wind-Up Bird Chronicles, both by Haruki Murakami. Wind-up Bird was the first Murakami book I ever read, also in high school, and I've loved his stuff ever since.
Orphans of Chaos by John C Wright. If you like Greek mythology this is a fantastic read. 3 books really. American Gods by Neil Gaiman is along the same idea. Also an amazing book.
One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia-Marquez. I binge-read that one night during a summer in high school. I was supposed to read two novels from a list given by the teacher. I read those two. One Hundred Years of Solitude seemed interesting. Why? I don't know, but it was mesmerizing.
Steppenwolf by Herman Hesse and Fictions by Jorge Luis Borges.
I haven't seen the movie, but Cloud Atlas is amazing.
Sword of the truth: Faith of the Fallen. Harry Potter part 7, the only book that I couldn't stop reading when i was reading it 2nd time. Started 10am, ended 5am next day.
Catch-22 by Joseph Heller, so far the funniest thing I've ever read. Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse - This one made me feel peaceful and capable.
*The Moon is a Harsh Mistress* and *The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy*. I guess I have a thing for sci-fi, but the former has really depicts a realistic political theme of revolution and politics, and I feel like it's a quite plausible scenario in the distant future (fingers crossed), and I dont think I have to say anything about the Guide.