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Best book you’ve ever read...

140 replies

Beautyschooldropin · 09/07/2021 11:57

Wanting ideas for summer reading really. What’s the best book you’ve ever read? Do you have a book that you go back to and read again and again? Do you listen to audiobooks? Would you recommend them?
TIA!!!📚

OP posts:
kittlesticks · 09/07/2021 22:22

My favourite book of all time is Middlemarch by George Elliot because it's a brilliant story about humanity, and history and life.
But yeah it's not... a fun summer book.

lazylinguist · 09/07/2021 22:22

My favourite book is The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss. It's the incredibly well-written first book in a fantasy trilogy. Amazing world-building. Unfortunately we're (still) waiting for the final book in the trilogy!

AdaColeman · 09/07/2021 22:18

A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth, without doubt one of the great books of recent times.

Katefoster · 09/07/2021 22:15

Harry Potter 🙈 I had never read them and my husband (then bf) brought me the set and said I'd love it and just try it. Was absolutely hooked! I'm such a book lover but I hate hyped up books so I never gave them a chance.
Sorry I know people will have better suggestions but they're my ultimate comfort book

BrightShark · 09/07/2021 22:06

A thousand splendid suns

CaribouCarafe · 09/07/2021 22:06

The one I found the most interesting is probably "The Eyre Affair" by Jasper Fforde (which I thought was quite fun and creative - it's part of a series so if you enjoy the first there's more). Part of the appeal for me is that it uses "Jane Eyre", which is one of my favourite books as well, for part of its plot-line as well as lots of other literary references that I'm fond of.

I also really love the "His Dark Materials" trilogy by Philip Pullman - one of those series that I can't stop re-reading.

Passthesauce · 09/07/2021 21:49

And for your second one, I am not an audiobook person. Love all spoken word radio except drama - I just find it full of overacting and heavy breathing.

Passthesauce · 09/07/2021 21:47

Bleak House by Charles Dickens Is my all-time favourite.

But if I'm being honest, I'd probably go for a Sophie Kinsella as a holiday read. I can't cope with much sadness since having DC.

But Bleak House is awesome.

ElizabethinherGermanGarden · 09/07/2021 21:37

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier is the one I can happily reread over and over. I read it very differently now I'm older than Maxim, though!

Blackcountryexile · 09/07/2021 21:35

To Kill a Mockingbird is probably my all time favourite.
A more recent book I've loved is The Sealwoman's Gift by Sally Magnusson.

IsolaPribby · 09/07/2021 16:44

My favourite book ever is Time Traveller's Wife, by Audrey Niffenegger.

Acrasia · 09/07/2021 16:38

Best book in the last year, which has shot straight into my favourites of all time is Betty by Tiffany McDaniel. Too hard to choose a best ever!

littlepeas · 09/07/2021 15:22

Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell is still my favourite book - I have never enjoyed anything as much.

I tend to listen to more challenging books on audiobook when driving and read lighter stuff in bed before going to sleep. I always buy a hard copy of any book I listen to as well (providing I enjoyed it).

Beautyschooldropin · 09/07/2021 12:39

🙄 ‘ever’ is a big ask... thanks for the suggestion!

OP posts:
Zerogravity · 09/07/2021 12:04

Ever, ever is asking a bit much but the best book I read over the last year was a modern classic - Abigail by Magda Szabo (I think).

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