List Your Top Ten Favourite Books/Authors

[Scarred4life]

Okay, so I'm just curious about what everyone's top ten favourite books (or authors, if you prefer) are.

Here's my list:

1.The Harry Potter Series- J.K. Rowling
2. The Shining- Stephen King
3. Artemis Fowl Series- Eoin Colfer
4. Oliver Twist- Charles Dickens
5. The Hunchback of Notre Dame- Victor Hugo
6. Tweaked- Katherine Holubitsky
7. The Juniper Tree: A Collection of Grimm Tales- The Grimm Brothers
8. The Hunger Games- Suzanne Collins
9. A Series of Unfortunate Event- Lemony Snicket
10. Dracula- Bram Stoker

The first six will always be on my list, but the last ones get changed frequently. I won't make another list for authors, because it would pretty much have the same people on it, except I might have William Shakespeare there somewhere.

[UmbrellaFish]

Not a top ten, really... And I'm sure I have more.

Peter Pan by JM Barrie- I love Peter Pan. Barrie's that is. Honestly, I never been much of a fan of Disney's Pan, or really any film incarnation of the character. I've read the book at least five times, and I can always read it again and again and again. I think, why I love it so much, is because it's filled with elements that appeal to me- adventure, flying, magical creatures like mermaids and pixies, Victorian England, pirates, indians... It has it all. And it's not disjointed, either, which must be why it's so successful.

Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi- I've read Pinocchio two or three times. I can't say why I like it so much either, except maybe because this Pinocchio is so much more of an evil devil, you know? It's more madcap, more like a creepy, scary adventure.

The Two Princesses of Bamarre by Gail Carson Levine- I read this book in third grade and it thoroughly fascinated me. And, I just love Gail Carson Levine. Anything. I read way too many of her books, but I want more!

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L Frank Baum- I definitely prefer the book to the movie (not that I hate the movie, of course). I haven't actually read it in quite some time, but it's such an appealing story with appealing characters.

The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles by Julie Andrews- Oh, you think I'm just including this because of Julie? No, not at all. Okay, so maybe that's why I read it in the first place, but still, I love Whangdoodles. I will concede that it's dated, pretty dated, actually, but on the other hand, Whangdoodles was the biggest book I had ever read when I came across it, and it certainly had many thought-provoking scenarios in the book. Really, I'm not kidding! I reread it recently, and I still love it (and definitely understand a few of the "extra" things better).

The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne- So I picked this baby up when I was in the middle of a "thing". I just wasn't very happy. But then I read about Hester, how she was able to live with the Scarlet A adorned upon her chest, how people would whisper and gossip and jeer her, and then I thought, I'm really stupid. Really, incredibly stupid. This book definitely helped me, and I loved it. I guess that's why I think it's so weird that nobody likes this book! I mean, very, very few people actually enjoy this like I did! Okay, so the Prolouge is too long an unnecessary, but the rest of it... I loved it.

Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch by Gregory Maguire- Is Gregory Maguire one of the best modern day writers? I definitely believe so. His books, his stories, his vocabulary, it really astounds me. I love Mr. Maguire and I love to pick up some of his techniques and apply it to my work. As to the actual book in question, Wicked is just great. I've nothing else to add.

The Trumpet of the Swan by EB White- I read a lot of EB White growing (and a lot of Phillip K. Dick!), but this is my favorite of his, especially the beginning.

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee- Great book and I love how Lee wrote it. I've defintely heard quite a few people in real-life speak like they do in her novel. Plus, the book's not boring in the slightest.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl- Okay, so I read a lot of White and Dick, but I read even more Dahl. Tons and tons of it. Charlie is just one of the many I loved. His writing style is wonderful for a child because it's engaging and wacky.

The Magic Tree House series by Mary Pope Osbourne- I on grew up on these books. I mean, they aren't masterpieces by any means, but they're the reason I read. I love them to death. When I was looking up the books, I noticed the wikipedia page said a movie is in the works written by Melissa Rosenberg. I was excited at first, but then I realize Rosenberg writes the Twilight Movies. Oh God. Does that mean Jack is going to turn in a sparkly vampire and Annie is going to be a pathetic person who pauses too much when she speaks? Hopefully this is a rumour. Besides, I think MTH would work best as a TV series.

So many children's novels... lol

[Scarred4life]

The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne [...]This book definitely helped me, and I loved it. I guess that's why I think it's so weird that nobody likes this book! I mean, very, very few people actually enjoy this like I did! Okay, so the Prolouge is too long an unnecessary, but the rest of it... I loved it.

I started to read that, but I got distracted and forgot about it. But what I had read, I thought was great, and I really enjoyed it. I'll have to start it again soon.

The Magic Tree House series by Mary Pope Osbourne- I on grew up on these books. I mean, they aren't masterpieces by any means, but they're the reason I read. I love them to death.

I used to love these too! I think I own all but the seven most recent releases.

When I was looking up the books, I noticed the wikipedia page said a movie is in the works written by Melissa Rosenberg. I was excited at first, but then I realize Rosenberg writes the Twilight Movies. Oh God. Does that mean Jack is going to turn in a sparkly vampire and Annie is going to be a pathetic person who pauses too much when she speaks? Hopefully this is a rumour. Besides, I think MTH would work best as a TV series.

I think a movie would be nice, (I'm more inclined to watch that then a TV show- I never remember when things are on) even though a TV show would definitely work better. But not written by her! The Twilight movies are scarier then any horror film.

[SmartAleck25]

8. The Hunger Games- Suzanne Collins

Loved the first two, loathed the third.

Anyways, here's my list (constantly changing depending on my mood).

1. The Chronicles of Narnia- C.S. Lewis
2. The Lord of the Rings- J.R.R. Tolkien
3. The Golden Compass (only the 1st one)- Phillip Pullman
4. Alice in Wonderland/Through the Looking Glass- Lewis Carroll
5. Swindle- Gordan Kormann (I love heist stories, part of why I loved TS3 so much! Well that was more of a prison break, which is even more exciting!)

Can't think of others at the moment...

[TheSequelOfDisney]

I really only have a few favorites. I've read a bunch of books, but most of them I just don't read again (even though I want to, but I just don't have the time/energy):

The Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling
The Chronicles of Narnia Series by C.S. Lewis
The Wrinkle in Time Quintet by Madeleine L'Engle (But I would read any book of hers because A Wrinkle in Time is my favorite book ever)
The Millenium Trilogy by Steig Larsson (Well, I've only read the first two, but I just started reading the first one again; Hornet's Nest is still on hold from the library)

And that's pretty much it. These are my actual favorite books that I wouldn't mind reading over and over and over again. I'm probably forgetting some of them, but these are the only major works that I absolutely love.

[Scarred4life]

8. The Hunger Games- Suzanne Collins

Loved the first two, loathed the third.

Is it really that bad? I just started reading it, and I have not been hearing very good things.

5. Swindle- Gordan Kormann

I LOVE this author, but I haven't read this one. Have you read "I Want To Go Home"? That was my favourite book growing up. (Well, it still is one of my favourites)

[avonleastories95]

10. The Diary of Anne Frank by Anne Frank
9. The Mary Poppins Book Series by P. L. Travers
8. The New Testament of the Bible
7. A Christmas Hope by Donna VanLiere
6. Alice In Wonderland by Lewis Caroll
5. Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes
4. My Lousiana Sky
3. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
2. Anne of Green Gables by Lucy M. Montgomery
1. Little Women by Lousia May Alcott
Fairy Tales (you would expect me to do this!)
10. The Emperor's New Clothes
9. Pied Piper of Hamelin
8. Thumbelina
7. Cinderella (Perrault's version)
6. A Danish Mermaid in Itlay
5. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
4. Swan Lake
3. Beauty and the Beast (Villenuve's version)
2. Tie: Mother Holle and The Little Match Girl
1. The Little Mermaid

[Lazario]

I'll have to finish this later, but the ones that jump right out:

0. Maurice Sendak
0. Roald Dahl

[David S.]

Most of my favorites are considered "children's" literature.

Rather than list 10 I will just pick one as it's the most beautiful book I've ever read, and has had a profound influence on me:

Le Petit Prince, by Antoine de Saint Exupery.

Here is the complete text of the first translation I read. (The version currently on the market is a new translation but many fans prefer this one:)

http://www.angelfire.com/hi/littleprince/

[PeterPanfan]

Whenever I'm asked what my favorite movie or book or song, etc. is, I blank.

But just from thinking about it a little now, my favorite books/authors are:

J.K. Rowling (Obviously Harry Potter)
Ray Bradbury (Some favorites are [The Halloween Tree[/i] and Fahrenheit 451)
Stephen King
Veronika Decides to Die by Paulo Coelho
Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
Charles Dickens (Great Expectations and A Christmas Carol)
I used to love The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chblosky but I don't know how I'd feel about it now.

More later, possibly.

[avonleastories95]

My Favorite Authors:
10. Emily Dickinson, of course .
9. Washington Irving
8. P. L. Travers
7. Mark Twain
6. Donna Van Liere
5. Lucy M. Montgomery
4. Charles Dickens
3. Edgar Allan Poe
2. Hans Christan Andersen
1. F. Scott Fitzgerald

[Goliath]

I don't know about a top 10, but my all-time favorite book is George Orwell's very prophetic 1984 (1948). The cultural impact of this novel can hardly be underestimated, since we still use the description 'Orwellian' and other elements from his story, like 'Big Brother', 'room 101' and 'newspeak' to name a few. Read in its original English, this was the first book that grabbed me in such a way that I couldn't put it away. Written as a warning of the totalitarian systems of its time, it's frightengly relevant to today's Western societies. But above all, it's a well written thriller about a nightmarish distopian future.

1. F. Scott Fitzgerald

You’ve been with the professors and they’ve all liked your looks
With great lawyers you have discussed lepers and crooks
You’ve been through all of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s books
You’re very well read; it’s well known

Because something is happening here, but you don’t know what it is
Do you, Mister Jones?

- Bob Dylan, 'Ballad of a thin man' (1966)

[SmartAleck25]

Is it really that bad? I just started reading it, and I have not been hearing very good things.

Now don't go scramming to Wikipedia to read the plot of this series, and if you don't want to read this hint at a spoiler, resist the urge to highlight it. RESIST IT! Suzanne Collins pulls of an Underland Chronicles.

5. Swindle- Gordan Kormann

I LOVE this author, but I haven't read this one. Have you read "I Want To Go Home"? That was my favourite book growing up. (Well, it still is one of my favourites)[/quote]
No I haven't, but I think I'll go read it soon!

[pinkrenata]

Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery is, and always will be, my all-time favorite.

A close second (and very important to me) are the Betsy-Tacy series by Maud Hart Lovelace. The books are very closely based on the author's childhood and young adulthood, spanning from 1897-1917 in a Southern Minnesota town. I live about an hour and a half away from the location of the books (many of the key places have been preserved) and I am fairly involved in the Betsy-Tacy Society. Check it:

http://www.betsy-tacysociety.org/index.php

And, since just about everyone who knows me KNOW that I did not typically rank things, I'm just going to spew out some more faves, in no particular order:

E. Nesbit, Edward Eager, Roald Dahl, the Harry Potter books, Eloise, Little House books, everything else by L.M. Montgomery, etc. Pretty much, if it's kid's lit (especially old kid's lit), I will probably read it (and really, really like it).

Of course, Dickens, Emily Brontë, and Thomas Hardy pretty much rock too.

I really should take out more time to read...

[Animalia]

A few books I recall that I really enjoy.

Frederica by Georgette Heyer-although all of her books are great, Frederica in my opinion is her best. I can read it over and over again without it losing its appeal. The book has unforgettable characters (especially the character Felix), the humor is enduring and the romance is believable.

Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine-Is probably the only book based on a fairy tale that I don't instantly compare with the Disney counterpart. It takes a whole new spin on Cinderella but it still has the magical feeling. Also Ella is a female you can look up to, she isn't a feminist but she ain't a meek female either.

My Fair Godmother by Janette Rallison-A fun read with a heroine who doesn't want to make you scream at the book because the heroine is to dumb to figure out the obvious. I also love all the stuff the author takes out of other fairy tales and then twists it and makes it her own.

To Catch a Pirate by Jade Parker-The book seriously reminds me very much of an Errol Flynn movie. A lively romance with swashbuckling, kidnapping and pirates. Need I say more?

Phoenix Rising Trilogy by Erica Verrillo-I saw the first book at a bookstore and I was interested in it but alas I forgot its name. Luckily I found it later and it was worth the wait! The characters are great especially the male lead (think of Naveen with a temper).

Dragon Slippers Series by Jessica Day George-I love how the author created an entire dragon culture. A light-hearted fantasy with a world that enraptured me.