What is the best book you have ever read?

Belwiz..I also loved Down and Out in Paris and London !

But for the Grace of God by Paul Grzegorzek

As a child - a traveler in time by Alison Uttley.

As an adult best non fiction Graven with Dimonds by Nicola Schulman a biography of Thomas Wyatt

Best fiction probably still Lord of the Rings.

So many, it's hard to know where to start. Lots of mine have been mentioned but a few others not-
The heart is a lonely hunter- Carson McCullers
Orwell- Down and Out in Paris and London. Not so much that i was blown away at the time but it has never left me
A Fine Balance- Rohinton Mistry
The Line of Beauty- Hollinghurst
Poison wood Bible- Barbara
Kingsolver (love all her stuff)
Iris Murdoch- Under the Net/The Sea the Sea
The Master- Colm Toibin
The Elena Ferrante series - My Brilliant Friend etc
Middlemarch- possibly my favourite and just perfection
Persuasion
The Night watch by Sarah Waters
To the Lighthouse-Virginia Woolf
Rebecca
The Seige- Helen Dunmore
All the Light We Cannot See- Antony Doerr
Goldfinch
All Maggie O'Farrell
Of Human Bondage- although I did want to shake him at times!
Definitely inspired to seek out Owen Meaney now - read Garp years ago

I love the way The Goldfinch feels so well researched re art and antiques, and how the narrative takes so many unexpected turns. I loved the depiction of New York, and Vegas, as well as the Amsterdam chapters. It's really immersive. And almost impossible to answer the question "what's it about?" As it's about everything!

How could I have forgotten the Wolf Hall books?

"His children are falling from the sky." Quite an opening line.

The best book I have ever read is 'The Poison Tree' by Erin Kelly. It had me hooked within the first chapter. And it has a twist that I really did not see coming. A close second has got to be 'The Sick Rose',also by Erin Kelly. I love her style of writing and her plot twists are amazing.

Stone Cold by David Baldacci... it's a book about ex government assassins being killed. Great book! Yes, I should have been born a man!

I was going to say East of Eden, but honestly in terms of what I've gone back to, my favourite book is The Lost Continent by Bill Bryson. My 20 year old copy has literally fallen apart I've gone back to it so much. I love all of his travel books. The only other book I own which looks so 'loved' is Tess of the D'Urbervilles. It took me a long time to realize what a fucked up story it is.

A lot of the books mentioned here kind of traumatized me to be honest... Poverty, murder, sexual violence. I can appreciate they are 'good' books, but I was glad to finish them and move on. I think I'm just too soft! For me to go back to a book it has to have humour, and heart, and a journey (literally if possible).

southeastdweller
One of the many remarkable things about The Goldfinch is that Donna Tartt elicits huge amounts of compassion and empathy for a very flawed protagonist (he's almost an anti-hero). And I mean to the extent that I was almost crying when reading this book. In general the writing is exquisite, and the character's superbly well-drawn. It's also one hell of a page-turner.

I'd like to borrow your comments and apply them to George Eliot's Middlemarch.

(possible spoiler ahead...)

Middlemarch is beautifully written and observed, with well developed characters whose stories intertwine, and a marvellous, measured, incredibly perceptive and humane commentary from the author, who shows great empathy for and understanding of her flawed characters and the inner workings of their minds. Lots of themes are done justice in this book and although it's a work of fiction I thought the story of Lydgate offered a fascinating insight into some rather entrenched opinions and practices from medical professionals at the time. Drama wise, I loved the chapters leading up to and following the death of Featherstone, his funeral and the matter of his will(s). George Eliot is spot on in her assessment of human nature.

Impossible to choose one...lots that others have mentioned are on my list:

• The Handmaids Tale
• the God of Small Things
• To Kill a Mockingbird
• A Thousand Splendid Suns

Another Betty Macdonald fan here, the one I loved first was The Plague and I, but I've probably read Anybody can do Anything most often. Didn't know there was a biography! [googles]

Cold Comfort Farm - Stella Gibbons
Wuthering Heights- Emily Bronte
The Poisonwood Bible - Barbara Kingslover
The House of Spirits - Isabelle Allende
Alias Grace - Margaret Atwood - love her but this one stays with me and unsettles and fascinates me long after reading or rereading
And Hilary Mantel's writing in general - I'm in awe of her. L

I'm sure there are more but the above are all ones I love like they're part of me!

Yes I've recently re read all Betty's books and also read her biography. I will get to Vashon Island one day

I went to Seattle last summer and I did see Vashon Island from a boat! I also met a local lady and had a good discussion about what it was like, especially in the 40s when Betty Macdonald was there. Haven't read the thread yet, but The Plague and I is a favourite of mine, too. Such good observations about the selfishness of illness...

TheNiffler Onions in the stew has left me with a lifelong desire to visit Seattle - I'll be retiring in 5 years so I think I'll treat myself then. DH doesn't want to go!!

roselover I love Brother of the More Famous Jack too (and most of her other work as well) I was working through this thread and was thinking noone has yet mentioned Barbara Trapido Also really loved the Cazalet chronicles and have re read several times. Have read most of what is on this thread but need to try A Suitable Boy again. Guilty pleasure is rereading Georgette Heyer

Can anyone explain why they are so good, or which I should try first?

One of the many remarkable things about The Goldfinch is that Donna Tartt elicits huge amounts of compassion and empathy for a very flawed protagonist (he's almost an anti-hero). And I mean to the extent that I was almost crying when reading this book. In general the writing is exquisite, and the character's superbly well-drawn. It's also one hell of a page-turner.

Her writing in The Secret History isn't quite as deep but she still draws you into the main character's journey and psyche, and the story is suspenseful and absorbing. I found this book pretty thought-provoking in that the certain awful acts some characters commit feel somehow logical and necessary.

Redbullblood Yes! The Road and Blood Meridian. He's dark but he writes like poetry or scripture. Stunning.
My favourite book though, I did my MA thesis on: Norman Maclean's 'A River Runs Through It'. Written by a hugely successful English teacher when he was in his 70s, a lifetime of skill went into it.

Great thread - I'm looking for a book to download and may try Owen Meany based on all the recommendations. I also downloaded a few Bronte books after the drama at Christmas, but hadn't gotten round to reading them yet - I will soon.

The one I go back to all the time is Pride & Prejudice (of course) - I read it with my DCs a couple of years ago and am re-watching the BBC series with DD.

Most of my reading lately is non-fiction/history, so I don't otherwise have much fiction in my repertoire, but A Suitable Boy really blew me away when I read it on my honeymoon in India 13 years ago. It actually taught me a lot about Indian history and made me see cultural differences in a whole new (I like to think better-informed) way - for example, that not all arranged marriage is necessarily evil interference by grasping parents.

It was hinted in the thread that if you liked A Suitable Boy you'd like The God of Small Things - I didn't find that was the case.

I also loved the Wolf Hall books, once I got past the confusion with the constant use of "he".

Thanks OP!

Wolf Hall, a proper book with depth of characters and gaps that make you think.

The goldfinch too for boris
The secret history

Also the secret life of bees and a thousand splendid sons, the help. Anything that taught me something.

ENko
Gosh yes forgot about Jean Auel
Loved her books,still got them all!