Hatrack River Forum: The Best Books Ever (according to goodreads users)

This is topic The Best Books Ever (according to goodreads users) in forum Books, Films, Food and Culture at Hatrack River Forum.

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Posted by Threads (Member # 10863) on :

A rather interesting list...

I think I have to go with the first comment on the page:

quote:
proof that the truth is not democratic =/

seriously, jane austen? errughhh.

Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :

Listopia is fun, but actually one of the least useful bits of Goodreads, IMO.

Hey, Threads, are you a GR member?

Posted by Nighthawk (Member # 4176) on :

Twilight beat The Lord of the Rings ?!?

List = FAIL.

Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Nighthawk:
Twilight beat The Lord of the Rings ?!?

Teen members of GR vote EXTREMELY disproportionately on lists like that. I find it far more interesting to see what my friends have voted for than the results of such lists overall.

Posted by Strider (Member # 1807) on :

Other more specific lists are more interesting.

Like the best science fiction books.

Posted by Threads (Member # 10863) on :

quote:
Originally posted by rivka:
Listopia is fun, but actually one of the least useful bits of Goodreads, IMO.

Hey, Threads, are you a GR member?

I am as of today [Razz]

Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :

Not with the email listed in your Hatrack profile, you're not. [Razz]

Edit: I take that back!

Invite incoming. [Smile]

Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :

Weird list.

I'm not against a lot of the books on it, but the ordering is wacky.

Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :

The ordering is based on who voted for what, and tells you more about the subsection of GR that voted than anything else. [Wink]

Posted by Threads (Member # 10863) on :

quote:
Originally posted by rivka:
Not with the email listed in your Hatrack profile, you're not.

Edit: I take that back!

Invite incoming.

Thanks! I won't have much time to update my book list until the middle of next week since I have four finals between now and Tuesday [Mad]

Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :

Dude, priorities! [Wink]

Good luck with your finals. [Smile]

Then I look forward to learning what you like to read besides poker books. [Wink]

Posted by scifibum (Member # 7625) on :

I enjoyed the list. I was gratified to be familiar with most of the books on it. And I don't see why Twilight can't be one of the best books ever, since 'best' is not well defined. Some of the ways it could be best:

Carbon sink
Furniture Unbalance Correction Tablet
Evidence that dreams can come true
Handy social taxonomy visual aid
Reason for yet another special category on bestseller lists

Posted by Selran (Member # 9918) on :

I just joined. I'm now trying to remember what I've read. I'm also deciding whether or not to include all the Star Wars books and cheesy D&D novels I've read.

Posted by Tara (Member # 10030) on :

I have nothing against Twilight, but...

All of the Twilight books on the first page?
And ahead of Harry Potter?
REALLY???

Posted by Selran (Member # 9918) on :

I find it funny Twilight is number two on the best books list and number one on the worst books of all time list.

Posted by Nighthawk (Member # 4176) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Strider:
Other more specific lists are more interesting.

Like the best science fiction books.

That makes more sense to me than the original list, at least.

Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Selran:
I find it funny Twilight is number two on the best books list and number one on the worst books of all time list.

quote:
Originally posted by rivka:
The ordering is based on who voted for what, and tells you more about the subsection of GR that voted than anything else.

It also tells you that you can't vote AGAINST a book on any list, only FOR other books.

Posted by umberhulk (Member # 11788) on :

Have you guys ever made a list?

Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :

Which "you guys"?

Posted by scifibum (Member # 7625) on :

The last list I made was an IN list for a SQL statement. It was pretty boring.

Posted by umberhulk (Member # 11788) on :

quote:
Originally posted by rivka:
Which "you guys"?

hatrack

Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :

Yup. There are quite a few lists running around here someplace.

Posted by Occasional (Member # 5860) on :

Two observations:

The list continually changes, from what I gather from comments here. That means next week or even a few days from now "best" is going to be different. This isn't about the literary qualities of books, as commentators seem to think, but what GR voting participants feel they like. It says less about the books and more about the voting audience. I am not sure, actually, what a proper "best" would mean? What defines best other than what someone likes?

Second, there must be a lot of Mormons who are active on GR because I can't think of any reason The Book of Mormon would be on a "best" list. Not that I, as a believing Mormon, don't think it deserves to be on a list like this. Rather, I put it in a whole different category much like I do the Bible, the Quran, or any other religious Scripture.

I am not, however, surprised that Mormons make up such a large group on GR, because how it operates. A good portion of Mormons do read and they also like to share with other Mormons. They aren't known for their organizational skills for nothing. I am aware of a vibrant Mormon GR community.

Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Occasional:
It says less about the books and more about the voting audience.

I think I said that already. [Wink]

quote:
Originally posted by Occasional:
Second, there must be a lot of Mormons who are active on GR

Yup. Tons.

Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Nighthawk:
Twilight beat The Lord of the Rings ?!?

List = FAIL.

Amen. (Pun intended....BoM? I don't THINK so, agenda read strong and clear)

Posted by Tara (Member # 10030) on :

After getting indignant about Ender's Game being near the top of the "Worst books of all time", I realized it was number one on "Best Sci-fi books." [Smile]

Posted by Humean316 (Member # 8175) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Tara:
I have nothing against Twilight, but...

All of the Twilight books on the first page?
And ahead of Harry Potter?
REALLY???

I would put Twilight ahead of a few of the Harry Potter books, including Chamber of Secrets and Prisoner of Azkeban, but as a series overall, I agree.

Twilight is a good series, though the final book was a bit of a disappointment (I have no idea how they make that book into a movie without getting an R rating).

Posted by Occasional (Member # 5860) on :

Kwea, have you ever read the Book of Mormon? As I said, it probably goes into a different category because its purpose is, like all religious texts, of a different nature. However, I would still put it into a top spot on this list (if not the top ten) because I find it a powerful literary work. The grammar might be stilted and slow paced, but the epic stories and characters are very memorable from the strong willed and faithful Nephi, the heroic and passionate Captain Moroni, to the lonely and resolute Moroni named after him. There are both direct and subtle Biblical allusions matched only in use by Milton and William Blake. Frankly, it outdoes "Pilgrims Progress" in its allegory of personal religious development. At the same time it explores personal progress while also examining the rise and fall of civilization. All of this besides the point that it is believed to be a Holy Book that has influenced millions.