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The best book you’ve ever read?

224 replies

ICECream821 · 14/06/2021 18:51

There we go! Sorry if there is a thread like this…but what’s the best book you’ve ever read? Or I guess the book that left you thinking about it for days after?

For me I would say The Kite Runner

OP posts:
regthetabbycat · 14/06/2021 21:01

@Labradabradorable

I’m not sure it’s the best book I’ve ever read (novel-wise that’s The Secret History for me), or the one that’s moved me the most (That’s The Choice by Edith Eger I think). However, the book I return to again and again, when I’m blue, tired or want to escape is Armisted Maupin’s Tales of the City. I love how I absolutely lose myself in it, every single time. I even have my own room, imagined in exquisite detail at 28 Barbary Lane.
Years after first reading Tales of the City, I suddenly found myself wondering how Michael and his friends were as if they were real people with continuing lives! I have now read it so many times.
BluebellsareBlue · 14/06/2021 21:03

The Stand by Stephen king

AMBOG · 14/06/2021 21:03

I love all the Anne Patchett books and Anne Tyler. Another vote for the heart’s Invisible furies and Hilary Mantel. Also loved A Gentleman in Moscow and rules of civility by Amor Towles.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

TheTuesdayPringle · 14/06/2021 21:03

I too love Olive Kitteridge.
Also The Shipping News and
Once In A House On Fire

BeBraveAndBeKind · 14/06/2021 21:04

@Labradabradorable

I’m not sure it’s the best book I’ve ever read (novel-wise that’s The Secret History for me), or the one that’s moved me the most (That’s The Choice by Edith Eger I think). However, the book I return to again and again, when I’m blue, tired or want to escape is Armisted Maupin’s Tales of the City. I love how I absolutely lose myself in it, every single time. I even have my own room, imagined in exquisite detail at 28 Barbary Lane.
I absolutely love The Tales of the City books. It would just be so much fun to hang out with Mouse and Mrs Madrigal.

Aside from TotC, I often think about Life after Life by Kate Atkinson and Station Eleven by Emily St John Mandal. You'd never think that a book about a pandemic could be beautiful and uplifting but it is.

Kindlethefourth · 14/06/2021 21:04

A Little Life was the only book I have ever set an alarm to get up early to read. Tully by Paulina Simons is one I reread every decade and I understood her choices more as I got older

CarrieMoonbeams · 14/06/2021 21:06

My absolute favourite, and the book I return to again and again, is A Scots Quair by Lewis Grassic Gibbon. It's cheating a bit because it's a trilogy (Sunset Song, Cloud Howe and Grey Granite), but it's just so beautifully written and I got really caught up with the characters.

My second favourite is Tess of the D'Urbervilles. I sobbed at several stages of this book, and cheered at others.

If I can sneak in an extra one here too, it has to be The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro. Just wonderful, and I absolutely loved the film too.

What a great thread. I've written down some others to try once I'm finished my current read, Jane Eyre.

AriadnetheSpider · 14/06/2021 21:09

Kate Atkinson Life After Life and Human Croquet.

To Kill A Mockingbird.

Five Quarters of the Orange by Joanne Harris. Really under-rated, I think it’d make a brilliant film.

Lollipopbubblegum · 14/06/2021 21:12

Sheer easy enjoyment....A Room with a View. Love it.

Stayed with me, couldn't put down ... Wild Swans. I knew nothing about China when I picked it up.

Favourite ever..... Little Women.

Sssloou · 14/06/2021 21:12

The Collector. John Fowles

Alicesweewonders · 14/06/2021 21:12

His Dark Materials trilogy - Philip Pullman

The movie was awful!!

Middlefadiddle · 14/06/2021 21:13

The Shipping News, life affirming & beautiful
Rites of Passage and sequels by William Golding
Pride and Prejudice
Yes to Station Eleven, read recently
Gone To Soldiers by Marge Piercy

LikeAbatOutOfHell · 14/06/2021 21:13

So glad To Serve them all my Days has been mentioned. I loved this book when I was a teenager.

So many memories my aunt was, and still is, a great reader and used to lend teenage me books she thought I would like.

We both liked what we called a good family saga.

The same Aunt introduced me to the Poldark books which I also loved.

Am off to check my library out now as I fancy re reading some, to see if I still love them all nearly 50 years later.

Middlefadiddle · 14/06/2021 21:14

A God In Ruins

Sssloou · 14/06/2021 21:16

As a child it was “Una and Grubstreet” by Prudence Andrew - quite disturbing. Recently tracked down a copy and re read it - even more fascinating through the eyes of an adult.

AnneElliott · 14/06/2021 21:18

Persuasion (of course)

Also the tenant of Wildfell Hall

funtimefrank · 14/06/2021 21:18

Too many - watership down and the hobbit as my dad used to read them aloud with me in bed and my brother perched on the end. He was a lyrical Welshman and I miss him very much.

The Worst Witch. The first proper 'book' I read to myself where I really got steeped in it and triggered my own emotional response.

Pride and prejudice and then persuasion. Also Jayne Eyre. The emotions seem relatable (maybe not the mad wife bits).

Secret History - read in university, loved the story and the intense ness. Also the crow road read at a similar time.

Behind the scenes at the museum. Ruby is one of my favourite characters ever

Love in a cold climate and the pursuit of love. The Code of the Woosters.

Some historical fiction - Sharon Penman especially her welsh novels.

And then there were none by Agatha Christie.

We need to talk about Kevin for reasons I choose not to dwell on!

Recently song of Achilles and Hammet.

I never liked the poison wood bible or any further Donna Taarts which was gutting as they are the kind of things I should by rights love.

Oh and yes to the Rivers of London series but mostly cos I fancy the lead character

Redyellowpink · 14/06/2021 21:18

Elena Ferrante, Neapolitan novels.
Also, another vote for The Red Tent and The Poisenwood Bible

Petalpup · 14/06/2021 21:19

I know it’s divisive but I adored a Little Life and even put myself through it a second time just so I could spend more time with the characters.

I also preferred the Goldfinch to The secret history but like all her books

Life after life was great

Loved the hearts invisible furies

American dirt was fabulous too.

I think the Harry Potter books might rank quite highly on my all time favourites just because of the thrill of reading them for the first time, the later ones as soon as they came out

I love the cormoran strike ones too

Kite runner and a thousand splendid suns both beautiful.

I mainly just love books!

LunaNorth · 14/06/2021 21:20

Olive Kitteridge and Olive, Again by Elizabeth Strout.

Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozie Adichie.

The Wolf Hall trilogy by Hilary Mantel.

Beyond Black by Hilary Mantel.

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck.

Beloved by Toni Morrison.

The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson.

Middlemarch by George Eliot.

OhWhyNot · 14/06/2021 21:21

Withering Heights Emily Bronte
Giovanni’s Room James Baldwin
Bonesetters Daughter Amy Tan

Are my three favourite books.

I also love The Invention of Wings, Where the Crawdads Sing, Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, The Colour Purple, Of Mice and Men (I love Steinbeck books) and Kite Runner

LunaNorth · 14/06/2021 21:23

I really enjoyed Music and Silence by Rose Tremain, too.

partyatthepalace · 14/06/2021 21:23

Just to avoid repeating well known books, I just found the one below on my shelf tidying up. Haven’t read it for years

The True and Amazing Adventures of the Hunt Sisters, by Elizabeth Robinson - not very well known I don’t think but hilarious, and sad and it rips along.

CHILLLADIES · 14/06/2021 21:23

Every time I see this sort of thread I try to get people to read the Far Pavilions. It's an absolutely brilliant book.

OhWhyNot · 14/06/2021 21:24

And Americanah was great best audio book I’ve listen too

Adrian Mole 13 3/4 had to be on the list too it’s so funny and though

And The Hearts Invisible Furies

So many to choose from ....