Greatest Books You've Ever Read

[Dr Frankenollie]

Considering the pleasing amount of bookworms on UD, I hope to see a number of replies and discussion regarding some titles mentioned.

What are the greatest books you've ever read? Or, if you lack the pomposity possibly requisite for an objective analysis of literature, what are your favourites?

My list (purely fiction):
1). 1984, by George Orwell
2). Invisible Man, by Ralph Ellison
3). The Stranger, by Albert Camus
4). The Grapes of Wrath, by John Steinbeck
5). Watchmen, by Alan Moore
6). The Wind in the Willows, by Kenneth Grahame
7). A Confederacy of Dunces, by John Kennedy Toole
. The Great Gatsby, by F Scott Fitzgerald
9). Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck
10). Orlando: A Biography, by Virginia Woolf
11). Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley
12). The Remains of the Day, by Kazuo Ishiguro
13). To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee
14). Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, by Lewis Carroll
15). Never Let Me Go, by Kazuo Ishiguro
16). The Fountainhead, by Ayn Rand
17). Lord of the Flies, by William Golding
18). Animal Farm, by George Orwell
19). Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, by Roald Dahl
20). Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury

I debated with myself on including The Fountainhead & Fahrenheit 451; the former is of course a vehicle for Rand to convey her, er, unique philosophy, one which I have objections to, but I find it enjoyable despite this. It does raise some thought-provoking points and Howard Roark is a fascinating character - an unrealistic archetype, certainly, but an unusual and intriguing one. And I think what Rand has to say about abandoning your true ambitions due to the pressures of others (I.e. in the form of Peter Keating) is very astute. Ultimately, objectivism is an ideology which understandably beguiles people, and while I sympathise with Rand's issues with planned economies, I don't think it's practical or reasonable. Still, I enjoy her prose and her characters.

Fahrenheit 451 meanwhile is an incredibly mixed bag. On the one hand, Bradbury twists language into marvellous new shapes, and his descriptions can be delightful. On the other, I think the ending is very lacklustre. After the incessant sense of anticipation that impels the reader forward, especially when Montag goes on the run from the police, the ending is one hell of an anticlimax. And I was disappointed by Clarisse's failure to reappear and be reunited with Montag/the reader.

The other books are virtually all perfect and excellent. Evidently, the best books are the ones which unite beatifically beautiful language with fascinating ideas related to individualism, ethics and life within different forms of society.

[DVDBuff1]

The Lord of the Rings (J.R.R. Tolkien)
The Great Gatsby (F. Scott Fitzgerald)
Of Mice and Men (John Steinbeck)
Dune (Frank Herbert)
To Kill a Mockingbird (Harper Lee)

[carolinakid]

I tend to prefer non-fiction but two of my favorite books of all time are
Gone With The Wind by Margaret Mitchell
The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough

[Chernabog_Rocks]

Despite having collected a large number of classics, I have yet to actually sit and read through them. Off hand, I would consider these to be some of my favorites:

1) Wheel of Time (Have not read the last one yet, but I love the series.)
2) Frankenstein - Mary Shelley
3) The Outsiders - S.E Hinton

[Cheshire_Cat]

Novels

Gone With The Wind by Margaret Mitchell
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
The House On Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime by Mark Haddon

...and the Harry Potter series is very good so far (I just started the fifth book in the series).

Short Stories

A Good Man Is Hard To Find and Everything That Rises Must Converge, both by Flannery O'Connor
The Black Cat by Edgar Allan Poe
The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin

Non-fiction

Warriors Don't Cry by Melba Pattillo Beals
The Purity Myth by Jessica Valenti
Elizabeth and Hazel by David Margolick
The Meaning of Matthew by Judy Shepard
Small Steps by Peg Kehret
A Mighty Long Way by Carlotta Walls LaNier
Night by Elie Wiesel
French Milk by Lucy Knisley

Plays

A Streetcar Named Desire and The Glass Menagerie, both by Tennessee Williams
Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare
The Crucible by Arthur Miller

[David S.]

What are the greatest books you've ever read? Or, if you lack the pomposity possibly requisite for an objective analysis of literature, what are your favourites?

That's what I'll go for - my subjective choice for "favorites", or at least books that have deeply resonated with me, touched me emotionally a great deal, stimulated my intellect, influenced me on some level, simply been enjoyable reads, or some combination of any of these.

First on my list has to be Le Petit Prince (The Little Prince), by Antoine de Saint Exupery. I find this book to be extremely moving and has incredibly powerful, poetic themes and imagery. And it seems to profoundly sum up everything I believe in, in an extremely moving, beautiful, and poetic way. One should not let its small size and use of illustrations fool one into thinking it is aimed just at children. I consider this work, from start to finish, the most profound and beautiful thing I've ever read. Here it is, in its original English translation:

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

I was pleased to see Cheshire Cat mention The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams. This is my favorite dramatic play, and one that I again, find very poetic both in its themes and imagery. On a personal note, I can identify with both the characters of Tom and Laura, and the symbolism of the unicorn is perfection. The final speech by Tom at the very end of the play is note-perfect; and on my short list of the most profoundly beautiful things I've ever read.

http://absolutenglish-972.pagesperso-or ... _scene.htm

On a darker level is Notes From Underground by Fyodor Dostoyevsky, which I discovered in one of my many Literature classes in college, being an English major. I responded to this one with my head more than my heart, discovering it at a time when I became fascinated by existentialist philosophy. So it influenced me a bit while in college. I prefer the first half of the book, wherein the central character and narrator, the "Underground Man", waxes philosophic about a number of concepts, ranging from aestheticism, utopian idealism, to nihilistic ennui. Also includes intriguing analysis of free will versus determinism and "twice two makes five". Considered by some to be the first existential novel.

I generally gravitate more towards the transcendentalist/individualist philosophers like Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau. Some of Emerson's best work being Nature, Self-Reliance, and The Over-Soul; Thoreau's including Walden and Civil Disobedience.

I'm a big fan of fantasy, such as The Hobbit, The Lord Of The Rings, The Wizard Of Oz, and many works that are considered "children's literature". Such as the Winnie the Pooh books, The Wind In the Willows, Peter Pan, Mary Poppins, Alice In Wonderland etc.

Getting back to philosophy, I really enjoyed Benjamin Hoff's The Tao Of Pooh and The Te Of Piglet, which are fun, easy reads that use AA Milne's beloved Pooh characters to explore Eastern Taoist philosophy.

I also enjoy reading a lot of nonfiction about my interests, such as music, theme parks, movies, animation, Disney, and animals. I enjoyed our own Aaron Wallace's The Thinking Fan's Guide to Walt Disney World: The Magic Kingdom because it focuses on more of an intellectual look at the attractions and what inspired them rather than talk about hotel room prices and all those less interesting (to me) things that Disney park guidebooks typically get bogged down with.

Lastly, as an avid animal lover and vegetarian, I recently finished reading Unlikely Friendships by Jennifer Holland, which documents 47 cases of animals of different species which went against conventional scientific wisdom by demonstrating a deep empathy, bond, and connection for one another, despite being in many cases animals that would have a natural predator/prey relationship!

http://www.amazon.com/Unlikely-Friendsh ... riendships

[Avaitor]

Dracula- Bram Stoker
Anna Karenina- Leo Tolstoy
War and Peace- Leo Tolstoy
The Great Gatsby- F. Scott Fitzgerald
The Picture of Dorian Gray- Oscar Wilde
A Farewell to Arms- Ernest Hemingway
The Lord of the Rings- J.R.R. Tolkien
Dune- Frank Herbert
The Millenium Trilogy- Stieg Larsson
The Big Sleep- Raymond Chandler

[Atlantica]

Wow, this is hard to think of...will do my best though !

Persuasion - Jane Austen : Never touted as one of her greatest (I feel it gets lost in the more filmed/televised versions of her works), but it is without a doubt my favourite book of hers. The titular character, Anne, is beautifully written; the whole idea of being given a second chance, and to never give up hope is just so powerfully conveyed, in the usual Austen style.

Alice In Wonderland / Through The Looking Glass & What Alice Found There - Lewis Carroll : One of the most intricate, thoughtful, silly, confusing and beautiful books to be be written. I can't add any more to what others have said, but I find something new every time I read either book - it would be my desert island read for sure! I also collect old editions of it as well; I have 12 now, the oldest going back to 1899 from my great grandmother.

The Rutshire Chronicles - Jilly Cooper : I don't know if it is published in the rest of the world, but these books formed my teenage years (and now!) of the glamourous and sexy word of the extremely rich and gorgeous social elite ... horses, polo, sex, money, beauty ... these books have it ALL. I know it sounds deeply vapid, but Cooper writes with a hysterical sense of humour, and I love disappearing off into this beyond fab world.

Those are probably my top three ... random, and not connected in any way. Maybe that's just my personality ! There are loads more, but they are my top three.

[Wonderlicious]

The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger:
I remember the first time I properly set eyes upon this masterpiece, just over two years ago in the English-language section of a bookshop in France. It was an American edition, with the original cover art from the 1950s edition (the UK edition). I read the opening paragraph and fell in love with it. If any young man has never identified with Holden Caulfield at any point in their life, I don't know what planet they're on.

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland/Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll:
These really need no explanation. The fantasy is wonderful, the wit is timeless and Alice is a truly relatable character. In many senses of the word, an immortal classic.

The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway:
I will admit this is the only Hemingway novel I've ever read, but I think it was a pretty good place to start. A wonderful, brilliantly told fable.

The Rights of the Reader/School Blues by Daniel Pennac:
Two brilliant discourses on various aspects of education by one of France's most popular novelists, who for many years was a very successful teacher. The former is an exploration of reading phobias, while the latter is part-memoir part-essay on the need for positive reinforcement in schools (among other things). The subject matter may be about France, but the issues are universal. Both exist in English translation, and are worth a read.

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck:
A beautiful, richly told and relatable novel. Though I had to read and re-read it again for English class at school, it was a pure joy every time. I keep meaning to pick it up again, and to also have a go at illustrating it for pleasure.

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens:
There's that quote about fairy tales not existing to tell children that dragons exist, but rather they can be defeated. The greatness of A Christmas Carol is that its fantasy has relevance in our lives, even though it was penned nearly two centuries ago. It's magical, concise and poignant - actually what a lot of Dickens' books aren't as far as I'm concerned.

His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman:
Wonderful, original, enchanting and engaging high fantasy. A true breath of fresh air from the usual Tolkein wannabe material that floods the genre.

Fairy Tales by Hans Christian Andersen:
I love a great deal of fairy and folk tales, but if I had to pick a favourite author of fairy tales, Andersen would probably win. Not only are his tales timeless and universal pieces of fantasy, but they stand out in the genre as being the true personal workings of a tormented yet brilliant mastermind. In many a sad and happy time in my life, I have turned to these particular tales as solace, and my Penguin Classics copy of them is so worn that I may end up having to buy a replacement copy. Sombre in many ways, but strangely uplifiting even in their darker moments.

"Moomin" books by Tove Jansson
These series of novels aren't well known in the USA, but they're just delightful pieces of children's literature that adults can easily enjoy (I didn't actually read them until adulthood). Gorgeously illustrated by the author, they're truly fantastic tales with good helpings of wisdom and whimsy along the way. I think my favourite is Moominland Midwinter. It's quite sombre in places, but I read it during a particularly stressful part of my life, and its message of there being light in darkness really helped me through.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory/Fantastic Mr Fox/The Magic Finger by Roald Dahl:
Any child born after 1960 in the UK most likely would have grown up with the absurdity and wit of Dahl's books. There are so many that I could choose from to include, but I think I'll go with these ones. The Magic Finger and Fantastic Mr Fox are wonderful little stories, whereas Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is a sheer masterpiece of fantasy literature in its own right.

I've got a few more I could add to the list, but shall do another time...

[moviefan2k4]

Being a fan of Michael Jackson since I was eight years old, and growing up in a super-religious family, I was heartbroken when the molestation allegations first started in the 1990s. Not knowing the truth was bad enough, but my folks made it worse by standing firm with "anyone who pays out is guilty, period".

I continued to enjoy his music, and again wasn't sure what to believe during the 2003 trial. I was relieved when he was found not guilty on all 14 counts, but my folks still insisted that just meant there were fans on the jury. I guess I'll never know the whole truth this side of life, but one book helped answer a lot of the questions I had. It was written in 2006, and called Michael Jackson: Conspiracy.

The author is journalist and crime reporter Aphrodite Jones, who admits right away that in 2003, she followed the "guilty until proven innocent" media pack without question. However, she began to doubt the facts in 2005, and was granted near-unrestricted access to the court transcripts and evidence by judge Rodney Melville. The book is told mostly from a third-person perspective, with quotes lifted directly from those court documents. While some of it is difficult to read (like the details of the 1990s strip search or Gavin Arvizo's accusations), Mrs. Jones noted repeatedly that she was only after the truth, and her research led her to believe Michael was being set up by multiple parties. Chief among those responsible in her view are the Arvizos, district attorney Tom Sneddon, and to a lesser extent, Michael himself for trusting people who were only after his money.

The book also contains quotes from many celebrities like Chris Tucker, Jay Leno, and Macaulay Culkin, who all testified at the trial. In the end, Aphrodite's stance seems to be, "here's the evidence, make up your own mind what to believe". A foreword is included as well, written by MJ's defense attorney Thomas Mesereau, Jr.

[Dr Frankenollie]

My original list requires some amending, now that I've recently enjoyed:

Stoner, by John Williams; in essence, it's the anti-Gatsby, and moves from the titular hero William Stoner's life from youth in 1901 to his death in 1956. It's a remarkably tender book published in the 1960s that suddenly became popular in the last year.

From Hell, by Alan Moore; another transcendent piece of storytelling within the most under-appreciated artistic medium.

[TheSequelOfDisney]

Here are just a few (in alphabetical order), and I'm sure I'll add more later:

A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
Animal Farm by George Orwell
Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling
King Lear by William Shakespeare
Light in August by William Faulkner
Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov
Long Day's Journey into Night by Eugene O'Neill
Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey
The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein
The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde
The Millennium Trilogy (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Girl who Played with Fire, and The Girl who Kicked the Hornet's Nest) by Steig Larsson
The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

[pinkrenata]

Anne. Of. Green. Gables.

[Kyle]

I'm not much of a reader at all, the only ones I ever took to were the Animorphs series. I have a favorite but I don't remember which number, just that it involved torturing Tobias.

I don't know what it is but I have trouble getting into any book that's not in first person. Animorphs was the first example I remember finding out about.

[ajmrowland]

1984(George Orwell)
Animal Farm(same)
The Catcher in the Rye
The Great Gatsby(F. scott Fitsgerald)
The Secret Life of Bees
To Kill A Mockingbird(Harper Lee)
Harry Potter(J.K. Rowling)
The Chronicles of Narnia(C.S. Lewis)
The Giver
The Hunger Games(Suzanne Collins)
The Simpsons/Futurama: Crossover Crisis(technically a comic, but still a book and hilarious)
Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events(Daniel Handler)
The Golden Compass(but not the sequels. Philip Pullman)
The Outsiders(S.E. Hinton)
A Game of Thrones(George R.R. Martin)(after which I was somewhat turned off to reading by some bigot who "advocates" for reading)

[Scarred4life]

Oh man this is tough.

The Dark Tower Series (Stephen King)
Just After Sunset (Stephen King)
Harry Potter (JK Rowling)
His Dark Materials (Philip Pullman)
Fahrenheit 451 (Ray Bradbury)
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (Ken Kesey)
To Kill A Mockingbird (Harper Lee)
Oliver Twist (Charles Dickens)
Great Expectations (Charles Dickens)

Just to name a few. I'm sure I'll think of more as soon as I hit submit.

[Vlad]

I have a lot of favorite books, but my top four are

1. Gone With the Wind, by Margaret Mitchell
2. Les Misérables, by Victor Hugo
3. Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen
4. Eugenie Grandet, by Honoré de Balzac

[ProfessorRatigan]

There are quite a number of books that have changed my life in some way. I suppose that my favorite would have to be "OUTER DARK" by Cormac McCarthy. It was the first book that truly enveloped me and made me identify with all of the emotions it presented. I'm usually a very stoic reader. For whatever reason, prose doesn't tend to resonate with me in the same way films or music do. But, Outer Dark had me trembling and shaking. It was a powerful experience. It made me want to be a writer. It made me want to be a GREAT writer.

"Slaughterhouse-Five" by Kurt Vonnegut would be my second favorite. I re-read it often and cherish its wit, humanity and never fail to laugh my ass off. Vonnegut was one of the greats and he doesn't get nearly enough critical respect. Words don't do this one justice. It's so unique and clever. Read it!

Speaking of someone who doesn't get enough respect, Thomas Harris is another writer whose work really sparked my imagination growing up. "The Silence of the Lambs" has been my all time favorite film since I was 12 and when I found out it was based on a novel, I got my hands on it and the others in the series, "Red Dragon" and "Hannibal." This trilogy of novels rank among my all-time favorites. I read them over and over. But, easily, the best of the lot is "RED DRAGON." For me, anyway. The character of Francis Dolarhyde is so frighteningly fleshed out and human and pitiable... It influenced my approach to creating credible back story for my OWN characters in a lot of ways.

"Brain Droppings," "Napalm & Silly Putty" and "When Will Jesus Bring the Pork Chops?" all three by George Carlin. George Carlin was and still is my idol. I can't say enough wonderful things about the man and his brilliant work. These three books of essays, comedy material and idle thoughts are every bit as entertaining as his stand-up. Definitely check these out if you're in the mood for a good laugh. Discovering these books and his stand-up at age 15 was the greatest 'education' a misanthropic teenager could hope for.

Speaking of teenage misanthropy: "THE CATCHER IN THE RYE" by J.D. Salinger. This book, despite ALL the hype, is truly great. If you're at all cynical or dark or 'different' I'm sure you'll find it as funny and affecting as I did growing up. That's the thing the academics never tell you about this one: it's got a real biting edge to it. It's a riot. At least, I thought so....

The works of David Sedaris. ("Barrel Fever," "Naked," "Me Talk Pretty One Day," "Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim," "When You Are Engulfed in Flames," "Let's Explore Diabetes with Owls") Any David Sedaris is good. Just pick one at random. He writes hilarious, self-deprecating autobiographical essays that are at times poignant and heartwarming. He's one of the most consistent writers working today. He's also a prince in real life. He's the only one of my heroes I've ever had the good fortune of meeting. (I went to a signing and he was so gracious and funny in person. He even gave me a souvenir!)

"The Mayor of Castro Street" by Randy Shilts. A biography of Gay-Rights activist and politician Harvey Milk, Shilts's book is also an oral history of the entire Gay Rights movement in America up to the 1970s. One of the most important 'gay' works of the 20th century, it is also incredibly easy to read and, ultimately, heartbreaking. If you don't know the story of Harvey Milk, I urge you to seek out this book, the documentary "The Times of Harvey Milk," (which is available through the Criterion Collection label) and the biopic "Milk" which starred Sean Penn. (And SHOULD have won the Oscar for Best Picture in 2008. Damned "Slumdog Millionaire"... Grr...)