What's the best book you've ever read?

[Mighara Sovmadhi]

I had a list of books I remembered reading, with the most stand-out entries on the list in gold... Too bad I lost that file when my old hard drive got zapped...

From what I recall, I had The Neverending Story, A Theory of Justice, Hofstadter's GEB, Religion within the Limits of Reason Alone, Miyazaki's graphic novels, Dante's Paradiso, White Gold Wielder (purely because of "Hold Possession" and SRD's ability to stretch out the three-second-long scene where Covenant surrenders the ring into an emotional drama of nearly unparalleled depth), The Name of the Rose, and both novels of Danielewski's novels that I've read. Probably more...

But I guess then Only Revolutions I count as the best, due to the skill it must've taken to write, maybe...

[Billy G.]

TWL

[hue of fuzzpaws]

The Glass Bead Game by Hermann Hesse

[Vraith]

The Glass Bead Game by Hermann Hesse

Odd thing...I have some variation of cognitive dissonance on that book, often think it is over-rated. And yet, I keep re-reading it.

Likely I have that over books and movies in general...sometimes find myself changing my mind about liking/disliking them in the middle of talking about why I like or dislike them.

Except the Dune books, and another Herbert...Dosadi.
SRD I never dislike...but sometimes...not exactly bored, but...kinda like on cruise control on a long trip and empty highway, moments where you suddenly realize you've been zoned out/not noticing for a long time.

[sgt.null]

Harold & the Purple Crayon

[Aiden Victore]

How can one possibly choose a favorite book ever? Your favorite book is going to be in a constant state of flux depending on your frame of mind, where you’re at in life, etc…

So here is my list of books that I could (and do!) go back and read often. Not a complete list, mind you, but pretty well thought out. I urge you to read any on here you haven’t already.

1. The Lord of the Rings
2. The Wheel of Time
3. The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant
4. The Mistborn trilogy
5. The Iron Druid Chronicles
6. Any of the Serge A Storms books by Tim Dorsey
7. Ender’s Game
8. The Dresden Files
9. Anything by Christopher Moore
10. Anything by Jasper Fforde, particularly Shades of Grey (not to be confused with 50 Shades of Grey)
11. Illegal Aliens (… of the outer space variety)
12. Where the Red Fern Grows
13. The Bartimeaus trilogy


If I had to choose anything as my current favorite from that list, it would be Shades of Grey. I would recommend that you drop everything (except that child!) and go read it right now. It’s very fun and quirky, and your sense of humor needs to be in the right place to properly enjoy it.

If I had to choose one that has withstood the test of time, it would be Where the Red Fern Grows, or certain individual books in the Wheel of Time series.

[sgt.null]

One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish - Dr. Suess

[ussusimiel]

Miss Smilla's Feeling for Snow (the first half especially). This book is still my favourite after a number of years.

u.

[Iolanthe]

That's a very difficult question. The books that I've had the most joy in reading are (in no particular order)

Covenant and Mordant's Need
Anything by Thomas Hardy, Anthony Trollope, Jane Austin

But my most favourite re-read is one of the 39 (?) books in Angela Thirkell's Barchester series - Cheefulness Breaks In (set in 1939), and nothing further from Covenant could you possibly find.

[sgt.null]

Spinors in Hilbert space
[by] P. A. M. Dirac.

Published 1974 by Plenum Press in New York .
Written in English.

[Akasri]

So hard to pick an absolute favorite... I can narrow it down to a small list though

The Illearth War
Storm of Swords
Dune
The Stand
The Wounded Land
This Day All Gods Die

There are probably others, but those are the ones that pop into my head immediately

[Hashi Lebwohl]

Godel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid by Douglas Hofstadter. Although the book consists of much conjecture and opinion by Mr. Hofstadter, a lot of what he says makes sense and the way in which the material is presented is entertaining and intriguing.

Reading it is an intellectual challenge that is worth undertaking.

[I'm Murrin]

I couldn't possibly pick a best. I can name a few I've enjoyed greatly, though. A Clockwork Orange, We Have Always Lived in the Castle, House of Leaves, The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay, are the first few that come to mind.

[deer of the dawn]

I know, right: best in what way?

The Bible
LoTR
WGW may be my fave in the series as well
Little House On the Prairie books, which I read first time when I was in 2nd grade, permanently cemented my love of books and I think the first time I cried reading a book (when Laura watches the Native American tribe ride slowly by into the west and the gaze of a baby undoes her)
This is just a bare beginning....

[Obi-Wan Nihilo]

Les Misérables

[TheFallen]

TCTC obviously, with TIW being my stand-out.

The entire Discworld Chronicles by Terry Pratchett, with Reaper Man, The Thief Of Time and The Night Watch being personal favourites amongst a sheer barrowload of gems.

A Short History Of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson, the book I've re-read most of all. As fascinatingly informative as it is smile-inducing. Heartily recommended.

[[Syl]]

Moby Dick.

[Obi-Wan Nihilo]

A Short History Of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson, the book I've re-read most of all. As fascinatingly informative as it is smile-inducing. Heartily recommended.

I enjoyed that book as well.

[Wildling]

A tie between Vampire$ and Armor. Both are by John Steakley.

[[Syl]]

Armor was good. Possibly as good as, if not better than starship troopers. If you like Steakly, you should try Zindell (Neverness).