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Original poster

Tell me your absolute number 1

242 replies

mrssunshinexxx · 31/12/2017 22:06

Favourite book doesn't matter what genre ... 2018 resolution get off my phone and get my head in books again I used to love reading.... thanks in advance

OP posts:
Bixg · 16/02/2018 08:16

I liked The Secret History, but loved The Goldfinch. I fell in love with Boris! I plan to read more over Lent as I've given up Facebook til Easter Grin I think I'll revisit the Secret History, then the Goldfinch and reconsider my position.

missmorleyme · 16/02/2018 08:06

If You Could See Me Now-Cecilia Ahern
The Sign Of The Cross-Chris Kuzneski
The Lovely Bones-Alice Sebold
Me Before You-Jojo Moyes
My Sisters Keeper-Jodi Picoult
Tje Difference A Day Makes-Carole Matthews
The Last Song-Nicholas Sparks

mrsreynolds · 16/02/2018 08:04

Jane eyre and the name of the rose! How could I forget them!?

EssaysOfElia · 16/02/2018 07:59

Books I always recommend:
The Guernsey Literary and potato peel pie society
The night circus
Anything by Kate Atkinson

mrsreynolds · 16/02/2018 07:50

The Thorn birds
Capt corellis mandolin
Great expectations
Sense and sensibility
The hand that first held mine
Behind the scenes at the museum
Wolf hall
IT
The code of the woosters

cleofatra · 16/02/2018 07:48

oops, wrong thread!!!

Definitely not my number 1!!

cleofatra · 16/02/2018 07:47

I also remember loving the Dune Trilogy when I was at school. I think it was that day's Harry Potter in some ways. We waited and waited for the next edition and lined up to get it first

magimedi · 15/02/2018 22:41

I would agree with so many of the ^ choices.

Just to introduce something else:

The Forsyte Saga by John Galsworthy.

Such a great look into the Victorian age & on into the early 20th century.

Anyone who has enjoyed Elizabeth Howard's Cazlett series would almost certainly enjoy this one.

plus3 · 15/02/2018 21:10

Another (annoying) person who finds it hard to state my absolute favourite book...The Goldfinch, Captain Corelli’s Mandolin & Far from the Madding Crowd are right there at the top

But if I had to save 1 book from a fire it would be my childhood copy of
‘Five on a Treasure Island’ for making me fall in love with reading

nuttyslackster · 15/02/2018 18:14

The Secret History is my #1

cleofatra · 15/02/2018 18:09

Still Life with Woodpecker. Tom Robbins.
Ok I was a teenager and it struck me and I will never read it again in case I don't like it now.

windchimesabotage · 12/02/2018 00:45

Steppenwolf by Herman Hesse

I just find it really comforting. Ive read it loads of times whenever im feeling a bit sad. Its so compassionate and positive. I know its supposed to be about older age but I really related to it when I first read it at 20. I think It has this appeal for anyone going through a transition in their attitudes about life. Or anyone whos starting to get a bit disillusioned and down on themselves.

Linnet · 12/02/2018 00:43

Life after life by Kate Atkinson
The secret keeper by Kate Morton
The light between oceans m.l stedman

muppet1969 · 12/02/2018 00:37

Mara and Dann - Doris Lessing
Angels and Men - Catherine Fox
Have read both of them many, many times.
The sequel to Mara and Dann is a big let down though...

Littlewhistle · 08/02/2018 21:20

As a child I absolutely loved The Woolpack by Cynthia Harnett. I still read it now.

As an adult, anything by Barbara Pym - I love the cosiness of her books and the characters - my favourite would be A Glass of Blessings

TealStar · 08/02/2018 21:16

And The Handmaid’s Tale, Birdsong, A Little Princess, Forever Amber. Too many!

TealStar · 08/02/2018 21:14

Also loved Captain Corelli, Rebecca, Burial Rites, The Red Tent, The Keeper of Lost Things...

TealStar · 08/02/2018 21:13

Cat’s Eye
The Miniaturist
Tess of the d’Urbervilles
Love in a Cold Climate

ReadingwithTea · 08/02/2018 20:58

Jane Eyre

tactum · 06/02/2018 14:09

Burial Rites - Hannah Kent (can't believe I haven't seen it mentioned)
Mudbound, Hilary Jordan
Watership Down, Richard Adams
The Snow Child, Eolwyn Ivy

Head and shoulders above everything else, which would start with A God in Ruins, Kate Atkinson

auberginesrus · 06/02/2018 10:19

The Crow Road
A Prayer for Owen Meany
Life after Life
To Kill a Mockingbird

All previously mentioned but books I go back to again and again. Surprised no one has mentioned the Cazalet Chronicles by Elizabeth Jane Howard, I first heard of them on a MN thread and have now read them all twice. Also love Kate Atkinson's Jackson Brodie books. And more recently have really loved All the Light We Cannot See.

babybythesea · 04/02/2018 23:13

I haven't read the thread yet and I'm scared to because I can see my wish list growing....

My contributions are:
An Equal Music - Vikram Seth
A Short History of Nearly Everything - Bill Bryson.

I will also give an honourable mention to The Shell Seekers. It is a book my gran loved, and because of the association with her, so do I. There are echoes of her story in that of the lead character, Penelope, and it also recalls snuggly Sunday afternoons watching the film with her.

Loads of others are in the top ten: Goodnight Mr Tom, Emily of New Moon, The Map of Love (Ahdaf Soueif), Jane Eyre, Rebecca....

Missingthesea · 04/02/2018 22:20

Neverwhere - Neil Gaiman

and The Dark Is Rising Sequence.

CanIhavedessertfirst · 03/02/2018 23:11

Rachel's Holiday by Marian Keyes, it's funny and sad and so incredibly real, plus the Walsh family are hilarious!

AsuraGuardian · 02/02/2018 18:21

The Night Circus - Erin Morgenstein

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