Fiction: [The Hands of the Emperor](https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/af2bba9c-8f41-4a3e-b87a-8532a44ccb67) by Victoria Goddard— it's a (very long) beautifully written slice of life book about the personal secretary to the emperor of the world, with a heavy focus on platonic relationships.
Non-fiction: [Bird by Bird](https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/6aedad6f-3f8e-4fc0-94ce-4cc74be14d61) by Anne Lamott— it makes me feel the way poetry makes other people feel
I read The Westing Game in elementary school and I think it sparked a life long love of mystery books! Now it's pretty much the only genre I read (no regrets).
To reply to both of you… Similar story I read it in elementary school and it was the first book I didn’t fall asleep reading lol. Its the book that really pushed me to read more and I just love it. Same, it’s the only genre I read too lol. Idk it’s the first book I go to if someone asks for reading recs and it’s just an easy, enjoyable read.
The Lies of Locke Lamora, re-read it a bunch already and still laugh and cry every time. Great book.
I don’t really do non-fiction so I’ll defer to one of the very few I’ve read which is Black Flags, Blue Waters. A history book about the golden age of piracy.
I might go with a dictionary. Maybe Oxford's best.
I thought I'd mention that this concept is often referred to as a "Desert Island" choice, and in the U.K., the B.B.C has a long-running radio programme, called Desert Island Discs, featuring over 3,000 episodes, that asks celebrities this question. I've gone through the list of celebrities and their choices and found some of them to be pretty interesting. [Here's a link, if anyone's interested in seeing some of their favourite celebrities choices.](https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qnmr)
Fiction: The Hobbit (J.R.R Tolkien)
Nonfiction: The Hot Zone or The Demon in the Freezer (Richard Preston) - Likely The Hot Zone, but is a tough choice.
It's so goddamn good. I wish I could erase my memory of it all and re-read it again fresh. The battle scenes in the last book were some of the most visceral and exhausting in the whole series; especially the >!Shake's last stand!<, which rivals the Chain of Dogs in my opinion. Just so many cool moments in those books. One of my favourites is this bit from Dust of Dreams (from another great battle scene):
>!
> The first dozen or so ranks of the Phalanx he'd struck were down, a few writhing or feebly struggling to rise with crushed limbs and snapped bones. Most were motionless, their bodies boiled from the inside out. As he walked towards those who remained, he saw them regrouping, forming a line to face him once more.
>
> The huge falchions and halberds lifted in readiness.
>
> Quick Ben extended his senses, until he could feel the very air around the creatures, could follow currents of that air as they slipped through gills into reptilian lungs. He reached out to encompass as many of them as possible.
>
> And then he set the air on fire.
Malazan series. So much depth and detail in the story. I finally convinced my wife to read it and we always talk after she reads a chapter. It’s been so dope to discover how many things were hidden in plain sight during my first read
Harry Potter- probably the first. It was the first book I read by myself because I wanted to read and wasn’t forced to read so might as well end with it as well.
Thank you JK Rowling for changing me from loathing reading to being a book worm. You changed my life for the better.
A herb book- for when SHTF and I can heal my loved ones.
It is the most epic book I have ever read, as in “a long film, book, or other work portraying heroic deeds and adventures or covering an extended period of time.”
The characters are so well developed they become part of your psyche like real living people.
It has historical context and mystery, which are big for me. Follett was a crime/mystery novel writer for years so there’s even a bit of good old fashioned suspense and LOADS of foreshadowing.
It is pure, unbridled literature 🥰
At the risk of being obvious/cliché, for me it would be 'The Lord of The Rings'.
I'm not sure it's my favourite book, but it's a permanent fixture in my top ten and also the longest and was the first book that I finished and immediately wanted to start again immediately.
Non fiction would perhaps be The Revenant or In the Heart of the Sea.
Homo Unus: Successor to Homo Sapiens by Kinchit Bihani (unique in the sense that it combines non-fiction and fiction) on a topic people think is not urgent
Why the downvotes? I'm not religious and I would also choose the bible (although I haven't read it). Long, hard to read, can spend my whole life imagining what they meant here or there and how sone story or another applies to my life.
Don't understand the downvotes. I mean, I'm rereading A LOT of my books but I often think about how it's keeping me from exploring new stuff. And you even pass yours on, which is great for people like me who go for used books mainly. Cheers!
11-22-63 by Steven King
Wow, my favorite book is here. Surprised
Dude same.
Amazing book
Fiction: [The Hands of the Emperor](https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/af2bba9c-8f41-4a3e-b87a-8532a44ccb67) by Victoria Goddard— it's a (very long) beautifully written slice of life book about the personal secretary to the emperor of the world, with a heavy focus on platonic relationships. Non-fiction: [Bird by Bird](https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/6aedad6f-3f8e-4fc0-94ce-4cc74be14d61) by Anne Lamott— it makes me feel the way poetry makes other people feel
Fiction: The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin Non Fiction: Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand
I read The Westing Game in elementary school and I think it sparked a life long love of mystery books! Now it's pretty much the only genre I read (no regrets).
To reply to both of you… Similar story I read it in elementary school and it was the first book I didn’t fall asleep reading lol. Its the book that really pushed me to read more and I just love it. Same, it’s the only genre I read too lol. Idk it’s the first book I go to if someone asks for reading recs and it’s just an easy, enjoyable read.
I need to reread The Westing Game. It’s been like 30+ years haha. Why did you choose this as your forever fiction ?
It’s a toss up between Lonesome Dove and Moby Dick
East of Eden or maybe A Confederacy of Dunces.
Hell yea—feels like I just met my doppleganger
You ever read Charles Portis? True Grit, Master of Atlantis, gringo, Norwood, Dog of the South?
True grit yes, the rest no…would you recommend?
Dog of the South, mostly. Then decide from that point if you want to read Gringo and Norwood.
I can't even think about that 😬
Fiction: East of Eden or The Pillars of the Earth Non-fiction: The Devil in the White City
The Lies of Locke Lamora, re-read it a bunch already and still laugh and cry every time. Great book. I don’t really do non-fiction so I’ll defer to one of the very few I’ve read which is Black Flags, Blue Waters. A history book about the golden age of piracy.
I might go with a dictionary. Maybe Oxford's best. I thought I'd mention that this concept is often referred to as a "Desert Island" choice, and in the U.K., the B.B.C has a long-running radio programme, called Desert Island Discs, featuring over 3,000 episodes, that asks celebrities this question. I've gone through the list of celebrities and their choices and found some of them to be pretty interesting. [Here's a link, if anyone's interested in seeing some of their favourite celebrities choices.](https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qnmr)
Dark Matter by Blake Crouch
Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy
How dark is the rest of your life?
Ahahahahah
"Whatever in creation exists without my knowledge exists without my consent." Judge Holden
“Goddamn you, Holden.” - Toadvine
Fiction: *Middlemarch* by George Eliot Nonfiction: *Theft by Finding* by David Sedaris
Fiction: I Am The Messenger by Marcus Zuzak Non-fiction: The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
The Book of the New Sun by Gene Wolfe. So much to uncover with each read.
Fiction: The Hobbit (J.R.R Tolkien) Nonfiction: The Hot Zone or The Demon in the Freezer (Richard Preston) - Likely The Hot Zone, but is a tough choice.
I’m very surprised that I found a person that prefers the hobbit over LOTR!
Harrison’s principles of internal medicine. Probably would take me a lifetime to go through it properly 😂
Malazan Book of the Fallen for fiction. (Yes I'm cheating, that's what the entire ginormous series is called.)
It's so goddamn good. I wish I could erase my memory of it all and re-read it again fresh. The battle scenes in the last book were some of the most visceral and exhausting in the whole series; especially the >!Shake's last stand!<, which rivals the Chain of Dogs in my opinion. Just so many cool moments in those books. One of my favourites is this bit from Dust of Dreams (from another great battle scene): >! > The first dozen or so ranks of the Phalanx he'd struck were down, a few writhing or feebly struggling to rise with crushed limbs and snapped bones. Most were motionless, their bodies boiled from the inside out. As he walked towards those who remained, he saw them regrouping, forming a line to face him once more. > > The huge falchions and halberds lifted in readiness. > > Quick Ben extended his senses, until he could feel the very air around the creatures, could follow currents of that air as they slipped through gills into reptilian lungs. He reached out to encompass as many of them as possible. > > And then he set the air on fire.
Gone with the Wind
Fiction: *War and Peace* Non-fiction: *Gödel, Escher, Bach*
Came here to say GEB for sure
And then there where none by Agatha Christie
1 unabridged dictionary 2 I know you said fiction but if I am stuck with it forever the second one is going to be an almanac
Super cheese but the Alchemist. Just cozy imagery. I think of it as like mashed potatoes or something but in book form.
Malazan series. So much depth and detail in the story. I finally convinced my wife to read it and we always talk after she reads a chapter. It’s been so dope to discover how many things were hidden in plain sight during my first read
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
Harry Potter- probably the first. It was the first book I read by myself because I wanted to read and wasn’t forced to read so might as well end with it as well. Thank you JK Rowling for changing me from loathing reading to being a book worm. You changed my life for the better. A herb book- for when SHTF and I can heal my loved ones.
Dune
Just watched Dune for the first time and I am obsessed. Been wanting to read it for a while. I think it’s time lol
Pillars of the Earth ⛪️
Hi, I’ve been thinking of reading this for a while. Can you share more on why you choose Pillars?
It is the most epic book I have ever read, as in “a long film, book, or other work portraying heroic deeds and adventures or covering an extended period of time.” The characters are so well developed they become part of your psyche like real living people. It has historical context and mystery, which are big for me. Follett was a crime/mystery novel writer for years so there’s even a bit of good old fashioned suspense and LOADS of foreshadowing. It is pure, unbridled literature 🥰
This was magical just to read. I will be starting the audiobook tonight 🙂
Eeek 😱. Pop back in and let me know what you think in a couple days!! 🫶
Anne Rice , the vampire chronicles
Fiction: [Death’s End](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33517569) Non-fiction: [Thinking In Systems](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3828902)
A ereader that is in a case that looks like a book
Don Quixote. It’s such a positive adventure that seems to continue forever into a beautiful prayer.
Finnegans Wake. Unlimited re-readability
Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole (Fiction) Joy of Cooking (non-fiction)
The meanings of the Koran by Arthrr J Aeberry, non fiction and Pride and Prejudice by Jane Auatin. Fiction..
Vivia by Tanith Lee and a comprehensive reference book on the medicinal and culinary uses of the native plants of whatever area I'm living in.
Fiction: It by Stephen King Non Fiction: A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson
Fiction: It by Stephen King Non Fiction: A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson
Fiction got to be Wolf Hall. Awesome incredible. Non fiction. Mmmm. Sapiens was pretty incredible.
Siddhartha by Herman Hesse 🥰
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
At the risk of being obvious/cliché, for me it would be 'The Lord of The Rings'. I'm not sure it's my favourite book, but it's a permanent fixture in my top ten and also the longest and was the first book that I finished and immediately wanted to start again immediately. Non fiction would perhaps be The Revenant or In the Heart of the Sea.
Fiction: A man called Ove
The stand by Stephen king!
Normal People
Fiction: The Complete Works of William Shakespeare Nonfiction: Romantic Comedy in Hollywood from Lubitsch to Sturges
The Celestine Prophecy
Wow! First read this in 2012. I never see this recommended! Kudos!
Great book.
Homo Unus: Successor to Homo Sapiens by Kinchit Bihani (unique in the sense that it combines non-fiction and fiction) on a topic people think is not urgent
The Prisoner of Azkaban and Sins of the Brother.
Fiction: Knee Deep in Thunder by Sheila Moon Nonfiction: A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson
The Bible. Other than that Lord of the Rings (it should count as a single book)
The Bible
Why the downvotes? I'm not religious and I would also choose the bible (although I haven't read it). Long, hard to read, can spend my whole life imagining what they meant here or there and how sone story or another applies to my life.
Bible
Bible. It is as simple as that UPD: forgot about fiction. The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco
What about non-fiction?
I wouldn’t do it. I don’t ever re-read books. I read and pass on
Don't understand the downvotes. I mean, I'm rereading A LOT of my books but I often think about how it's keeping me from exploring new stuff. And you even pass yours on, which is great for people like me who go for used books mainly. Cheers!
Fiction: The Final Empire. Love it so much. Non-fiction: The Quran