What is the most beautiful book you have ever read?

232 replies

umbrellabird · 21/10/2014 06:01

I've had a tough year and just want to surround myself in good things...

OP posts:

GrouchyKiwi · 21/10/2014 09:25

The Blue Flower by Penelope Fitzgerald. About the German poet Novalis.

I also find AS Byatt's Possession a beautiful read, as well as The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery, and The Humans by Matt Haig.

When I'm feeling low, or things have been going badly, though, I almost always turn to Georgette Heyer to cheer me up.

MissPB · 21/10/2014 09:21

The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy is beautiful. The imagery she uses and her choice of words is incredible. It is a beautiful but sad story so not sure if it will be a good time to read it.

Kakaka · 21/10/2014 09:16

Hunting midnight by Richard Zimler. Just beautiful.

LottieMumofWilfJenkins · 21/10/2014 09:16

For me it is Flowers For Mrs Harris by Paul Gallico. It is about a 1950's London "Charlady" who sets her mind on something and goes all out to get it. It was a truly beautiful book!

Takver · 21/10/2014 09:06

Specifically beautiful, I think it would have to be The House of the Spirits, by Isabel Allende.

My other choice, though very, very different, would be Mansfield Park, as a work of absolute perfection in writing and characterisation.

I would also agree with Always Coming Home as a good book for a hard time when you need inspiration and encouragement.

StairsInTheNight · 21/10/2014 06:21

The summer book, Tove Jannsson. Or always coming home by Ursula le Guin.

imip · 21/10/2014 06:20

www.goodreads.com/book/show/1406870.The_Service_of_Clouds

I don't read all that often, was not brought up in the kind of house that an outraged reading for pleasure, I now have 4 young dc and don't have time. I read this book about 15 years ago, at first I tried and put it away, then I came back to it a couple of years later. It is absolutely beautiful. Not really all that happy though. But beautiful...

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