MercFavorite all time book?
October 19th 2006 22:43
What is your favorite book?
What is the book that you will never forget reading, or have read several times? Mine would be "The Cynic's Dictionary" by Rick Bayan.
The book read like a dictionary, with definitions to words twisted by the author’s dark cynical humor. Although it was short, only 198 pages or so, I'll still go back and read it again.
What is the book that you will never forget reading, or have read several times? Mine would be "The Cynic's Dictionary" by Rick Bayan.
The book read like a dictionary, with definitions to words twisted by the author’s dark cynical humor. Although it was short, only 198 pages or so, I'll still go back and read it again.
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Comment by Johanna
PCOS Mum
But one that has stayed with me for years is Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes about the after-effects of Hiroshima. I read it when I was a kid and it still affects me.
Comment by C-Blog
Australian TV (RJHH)
Comment by Homer Joyce
Perfume by Patrick Suskind (for sheer visuals; the ability to paint pictures with words; like reading and sniffing a sumptuous painting).
Catch 22 by Joseph Heller (the only book that made me laugh out loud by myself on every page) ...
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald (for sheer economy of words). [And since he stole Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness structure notes ... and flattered him with imitation ... that as well) ...
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee (for the ability to capture the 'voice' of a child) ...
Brave New World and 1984 deserve to go side-by-side due to the accuracy of their futuristic predictions ... When are the sequels going to be written?
Sorry about that ... I'd be hopeless if my house burnt down ... I'd die in the flames while I procrastinated over what to save ...
Homer ...
Comment by spain01
Juan Carlos
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Unfortunately you have not specified whether the work is one of fiction, fact or religious significance in which case the glorious Les Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry must win out. In all time this richly illustrated manuscript and treasure has never been bettered.
Known originally as "le roi des manuscrits enluminés" or "the king of the illuminated manuscripts", it was commissioned by Jean the Duke of Berry, the richest noble in France in 1413 two years before the Battle of Agincourt. It was painted by the Limbourg Brothers and left unfinished at the time of their and the Duke’s death in 1416. It was completed at the request of the Duke of Savoy before 1489.
What a masterpiece, still able to be purchased in copy and available at most very large libraries, the reader will instantly be satisfied that this is the most beautiful book ever written. Berry was the third son of John the Good of France. He helped remove the crises of the Avingnon Anti-Popes. When he died there was not enough money to pay for his funeral but listed among his riches was a pot of blue paint used to paint the “hours” a rare and impossibly expensive pigment.
Comment by Johanna
PCOS Mum
Comment by spain01
Juan Carlos
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Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Comment by The Voices in my Head
The Voices in my Head
She is not an 'important' writer, although published many times. Her books, in the hectic pace and chaos of my life read like conversations with old friends. Her observations of the mundane experience was a marvel to me. To be able to write with such elegance in utter simplicity...I could only dream of such an accomplishment. Her writing voice is very idiosyncratic, but the challenge is worth the effort. "Some Wildflowers in my Heart" is a breathtaking story of patience and everlasting love in a pure and chaste relationship. Not as profound as some of the selections here, certainly, but I have to be honest...
Voices~
Comment by Lilla
From The Home Front
Enviro Warrior
Dream Herald
Esoteric Bookshop
... every single one I've ever read ....
L
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
And I would have to include books I read as a boy, as they have just as much importance in shaping who were are as adults ...
I couldn't limit to one ... so how about ten:
One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Perfume by Patrick Suskind
Glamorama by Brett Easton Ellis
Comet in Moominland by Tove Jansson
Alltered Carbon by Richard Morgan
Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain
Satan by Jeremy Leven
The Dice Man by Luke Rhinehard
The Brass Dragon by Marion Zimmer Bradley
Jitterbug Perfume by Tom Robbins
Sheeesh, and already there are several others battling to be included ... too hard, too hard ...
Comment by JoshZ
A Simple Christian
I am going to go with a list as well, mainly listed by author though.....
The Bible
Terry Pratchett
CS Lewis
GK CHesterton
David Gemmel
Dune by Frank Herbert
Isaac Asimov
Taiko by Eiji Yoshikawa
I think I would be in your situation Homer, I'd be standing there wondering if I liked my Chestertons over my Pratchetts.
Comment by Hellvis
Earache Hotel
I've read this a few times now and every page is a door into a waking nightmare. Not a pleasant read but unique and powerful. Books rarely give me a physical reaction but this is really visceral, experimental fiction that compares addiction, sex, and the machinations of government as modes of control.
This was banned when it came out in the '50s and probably still should be. It's that good.
Comment by spain01
Juan Carlos
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And the movie is a disturbing and delightful experience as well. Cannot forget those evil scenes, rivoted in memory.
Comment by Hellvis
Earache Hotel
Director David Cronenberg worked pretty closely with Burroughs on the film. I think he did the right thing by interpreting the world of The Naked Lunch and creating a narrative loosely based on its themes, rather than trying to film the book as is, because it essentially has no story.
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
I dig the whole beat poet thing and the novels by Burroughs Bukowski, Hunter S Thompson etc had a huge effect on my teen years.
Thought I would add a few other books I dig, trying to cover different genres:
Shibumi by Trevanian
The Art Of War by Sun Tse
The Life of Pi by Yann Martel
Mindhunter by John Douglas and Mark (Cant remember his last name)
Survivor by Chuck Palhunick
SpyCatcher by Peter Wright
The Time Machine by H G Wells
Tarzan of The Apes by Edgar Rice Burrough's
Comment by Damo
For the Sake of Argument
My Apologetics
A Midsummer Night's Dream by Shakespear
Crime and Punishment by Dostoyevski
City of Joy by Dominique Lapierre
Illusions by Richard Bach
Comment by historylass
The Written Word
History Lass
Comment by Hellvis
Earache Hotel
I also love almost anything by Keruoac, Last Exit to Brooklyn by Hubert Selby Jr, 100 Years of Solitude by Gabrial Garcia Marquez, American Psycho by Brett Easton Ellis, Slaughterhouse 5 by Kurt Vonnegut, and plenty of others I can't remember right now.
Comment by spain01
Juan Carlos
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Fatal Shore by Robert Hughes you mean?
Comment by historylass
The Written Word
History Lass
Comment by work-at-home
Comment by KarenC
Genghis Gal
Paula, Isabella Allende - one of my favourite authors to begin with but this takes you through an amazing personal journey as she loses her daughter to a rare disease. Illuminating, honest, compelling. Not sure if I could read it again though. One of hers I could read endlessly? Eva Luna. A magical journey.
Pride & Prejudice, Jane Austen - I could read this and watch Colin Firth play Darcy time and time again. I've read the book about 20 times (and I'm not exaggerating). I also love anything else she's ever written.
The whole "Lunch With" series by Derek Hansen - Generals and Mussolini are undoubtedly the best, but I do love the Stationmaster and Soldier as well. And he's a local - northern beaches of Sydney - which is always inspirational.
Lord of the Rings - I first read it as a 12 year old and it's never lost its wonder.
Samurai William by Giles Milton. As a serious Asiaphile I was fascinated by this story of a 17th century Englishman stranded in Japan.
And Johanna - I just love Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes. My sister's birthday is August 6 and every time it comes around I think of this book.
Comment by JoshZ
A Simple Christian
Comment by Brenton
Dr Spin
Tales From The Other Side
Downwrite
Blip Blog
Gadget Museum
Comment by Nathan P. Mahney
NerdBlog
The Comic Nerd
I could have said A Clockwork Orange, or maybe Slaughterhouse Five. Both awesome books. Ten years ago I would have said The Crystal Shard by R.A. Salvatore, the book that introduced Drizzt Do'urden, but that's my inner 15-year-old talking. I don't think I've ever enjoyed a book more than A Storm of Swords by George Martin, but it's too enmeshed as part of a series. There's always Watchmen, a graphic novel by Alan Moore, and the only book I've ever finished and started again straight away. But no, for sheer reread enjoyment, for the effect it's had on my life, for sheer "just because I adore it"-ness:
The Warlock of Firetop Mountain, by Steve Jackson and Ian Livingstone.
It's true. All the best books require dice rolling.
Comment by Always Eighteen
Always Eighteen: Japan Edition
As a teenager, my favourite book was Hearts In Atlantis, by Stephen King.
As a young adult, my favourite books are:
The Informers and Less Than Zero, by Bret Easton Ellis
and
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, by Jonathan Safran Foer
and
Reasons to Live, by Amy Hempel
Comment by Aaron
Aaron.
Comment by Ash
Australian Traveller
Flashes of memories
I had to read it during Uni and there is just something about it that grabbed me. Brilliant!
Ash
Comment by spain01
Juan Carlos
spain again
While your'e about it
Viva l'difference
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Cities dying of thirst.
Read it, Madame! And Barcelona, and Barcelona The Enchantress and Shock of the New and CUlture of COmplaint. Who has not read them. If not, do so immediately.
Comment by K.L. Almeroth
Motherhood
To InsideTheCynic,
The Romantic Writer is here! There will be no literary mention of books...sorry!
My all-time favourite would have to be Judith McNaught's Paradise...I must have read it at least 20 times...I read it once a year, every year, and am reading it again right now!
I think its my favourite because I love the characters...I wish I could write as well as McNaught...and I love the success the female character has created for herself...something I spend my whole life striving for...
And, of course, Dean Koontz...The Watchers, or From The Corner of His Eye...
K.L.
Comment by Hellvis
Earache Hotel
Comment by Luke
Book Club
Old Movies
Cane Toad Warrior
Cat's Cradle
Dune
Lord of the Rings
His Dark Materials trilogy
Comment by Legally Brunette
My Wedding
The Catcher In The Rye - JD Salinger
Comment by Johanna
PCOS Mum
I too love Jane Austen, especially Pride and Prejudice. I think I would have made a great lady in those English novels!
Comment by C-Blog
Australian TV (RJHH)