posted
I'm always looking for a good book to read. Something riveting. So I'd like everyone to post his or her three favorite books. You don't even have to annotate your reply if you don't want to. And there's no limit on genera. It doesn't even have to be a novel. A short story, play, or epic poem would be fine too. I'll read just about anything except erotica. My only criteria is that it's a piece of fiction. (If this works well, I'll open a similar topic for non-fiction.)
To keep it simple, try to keep your response to three items. And don't worry about repeating what others said. Multiple votes indicate the power of a work.
Here are my three, in no particular order:
Evelyn Waugh, Brideshead Revisited. A stunning novel about an aristocratic English Catholic family between the two World Wars. If you into deep characterization and religious themes--especially the theme of conversion--this one's for you.
J. R. R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings. I'm somewhat embarrassed to admit that I'm 28-years old and have just read this novel. I absolutely loved it. It's perhaps my favorite piece of literature. At times, I had to get up and walk around the house just to catch my breath. I think what I like most about it is the deep faith and hope the characters have amid great and seemingly hopeless darkness. A very important piece of literature, considering the post-modern nihilism of our age.
Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird. The inimitable novel of childhood. The ending--when Scout Finch is standing on Boo Radley's porch and sees her hometown from a different perspective--is my favorite part. It's a beautiful scene symbolizing the meaning of the story: that truth is found in trying to see things from another's point of view.
(If you haven't noticed, I like stories that have a didactic level.)
[This message has been edited by Balthasar (edited August 30, 2002).]
My point was to keep it simple. I'd have a harder time coming up with ten novels than three becasue I haven't even read a fourth novel that I'd put on my all-time favorite list. (I'm very selective.)
But I'd like to keep it that you list your favorite novels or stories, not merely the author. What if the author is Stephen King? Salem's Lot was great, but from all I've heard, The Dreamcatcher was awful.
So list as many or as little as you'd like, but please list your favorite works of fiction, not just your favorite authors.
[This message has been edited by Balthasar (edited August 30, 2002).]
posted
I'll break a rule with the first one: Any airline disaster book by John J. Nance: Blackout, The Last Hostage, Headwind.... In keeping with a certain other thread, Nance is an aviation specialist and licensed aerospace attorney, etc., etc. I'm an airline disaster aficionado. (Took a plane to Florida and read Terminal Event by James Thayer en route there and back.)
Follow the River-James Alexander Thom Historical fiction based on the captivity of Mary Ingles by Shawnee Indians in 1755. What that woman endured, especially during her escape, put any problems I have to shame. The death of the horse scene still gives me chills...and the ice and snow without proper clothes and shoes...and the buzzard scene.... Great book.
Waikiki Beachnik--H. Allen Smith Maybe this isn't fiction, since Smith is telling about his trip to the islands, but it reads like fiction. Some light-hearted name-dropping and lots of fun.
Atlas Shrugged--Ayn Rand 1100 plus pages and I devoured it in 3 or 4 days. As the introduction states, "What happens to the world when the Prime Movers go on strike."
1984--George Orwell This book will forever be the iron voice saying, "You are the dead."
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland--Lewis Carroll Children can never appreciate this one. It's brilliant.
Pippi Longstocking--Astrid Lindgren Another one for adults to appreciate the nonsensical.
Bill Bergson (3-book series)--Astrid Lindgren They don't write kids' fiction like this anymore.
The Borrowers (4-book series)--Mary Norton Ditto
Alaska--James Michener The freezing of the river scene just memorable.
Hawaii--James Michener
The Screwtape Letters--C.S. Lewis Brilliant.
Snoopy and "It Was a Dark and Stormy Night"--Charles Schultz Always a writing pick-me-up.
posted
I feel sort of bad everyone has these really highbrow suggestions, but here's mine in no particular order.
Enchantment by OSC: No, I'm not kissing ass. This book is incredible. Card brings an uncanny sense of subtlety to a love-at-first-sight relationship. The hopeless romantic (/weepy-eyed school girl ) in me can’t resist this book. The only Card book that can come close to touching this one is Hart’s Hope---if you haven’t read them, do so. You’ll be a better person for it.
Young Goodman Brown by Nathaniel Hawthorne: Ok, it’s a short story, but you can put all of Hawthorne’s short stories up there, but this is the best. It’s really messed up and totally bleak. The allegory is so blatant you might miss it, (the main character may or may not have caught his wife, Faith, at a satanic ritual and he exclaims. “My Faith; My Faith is gone.”) but you have to respect it.
Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger: Yeah, I know someone else was probably planning on posting this, but the book is awesome, and I’m not even a serial killer. (Paraphrasing: “Even if you had all the time in the world, you couldn't wipe out half the ‘f—k you’ signs.” You said it, brother)
I’m sure there’s countless others, but those are the one’s I can think of right now.
JOHN!
[This message has been edited by JOHN (edited September 01, 2002).]
posted
Hmmm, so many books, so hard to choose. Okay, going with those that were just plain fun, brisk pleasure reads:
The Wild Cards series by George R R Martin: Cool, alternate universe saga. Some stories are better than other (each "chapter" is written by a different author), but overall fun and cool take on the origin of superheroes/villains.
Swan Song by Robert McCammon: Though similar in theme to The Stand, I thought this book moved faster, had more interesting characters, and was an overall more involving story.
The Winds of War and War and Rememberance (oops, blanking on author!): Really long books that I read nonstop from cover to cover inside of a week. Great epics set during World War II. Don't let the pathetic-by-comparison miniseries put you off.
Different Seasons by Stephen King: Wow! When King turns it on, he's truly amazing. This contains The Body, the story on which Stand By Me was based, as well as Apt Pupil, one of the most insightful investigations into the nature of evil.
That's all that comes to mind off the top of my head. There are so many more goodies out there, but I'm sure you all will come up with them.
Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert Heinlein: Anyone that read Starship Troopers (another great book) and think Heinlein is a facist should read this book and you opinion will be immediatley changed. The book is simply put is awesome.
posted
I have been around a long time, and most of my favorite authors have passed on. As have some of my fond memories of the Sci-Fi I have read over the years. I like to re-read some of my favorites every ten years or so to refresh my memories. This is a sprinkling of the fifty or so I would like to list.
posted
Should we break this into two threads? Classics, and new authors? The Asimovs, Heinleins, Clarkes, (Poul) Andersons and Nivens are all excellent, but the current generation is also making good fiction.
Greg Bear (FORGE OF GOD, ANVIL OF STARS) and Geoff Landis (MARS CROSSING) are both destined for Heinlien-esque status... amongst others.
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In keeping with a certain other thread, Nance is an aviation specialist and licensed aerospace attorney, etc., etc. I'm an airline disaster aficionado. (Took a plane to Florida and read Terminal Event by James Thayer en route there and back.)
) in me can’t resist this book. The only Card book that can come close to touching this one is Hart’s Hope---if you haven’t read them, do so. You’ll be a better person for it.
