Best book you've ever read

[JulieYS]

Sorry, slight diversion from book of the month.
But I'd really be interested in finding out what was one of the best books you've ever read.

Particularly:

• What you loved about it
• What was the hook that kept you reading at every spare moment
• What characters you fell in love with, and why.

If, like me, you find it hard to pick the absolute best, then any book that you really enjoyed.

One of the books that I really enjoyed was The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck - which I read twice. I was amazed that the author's actually American, yet her writing was so beautiful and descriptive that it instantly transported me to another time, another place. She obviously lived in China for a while, which is why she was so familiar with the culture.
I couldn't help greatly admiring the protagonist, O-Lan, who, despite being born into disadvantage (a female slave), worked hard, with great resilience and fortitude, to better her life both for herself and her family. Their struggles through the Great Famine were heart-breaking. The interplay between her, and her husband, gave much food for thought. And the impossible life decisions she had to make were excruciatingly painful to read. And such a bitter-sweet ending.

I'm hoping to read more of Buck's novels, though because this book was so heart-rending, I'm guessing they're going to be emotional rollercoasters...

the subtle art of not giving a f was the best for me

Oh yes, I love "the good earth"!

The Great Gatsby - every word is perfect - its utterly evocative. Love it

Diary of Provincial Lady - so astutely observed and amusing.

Calvin and Hobbs - smart and funny.

The Dark by Lemony Snicket- ok its a children's picture but has such a lovely rhythm. I genuinely like it!

Ok, I never answered your questions I realise - sorry!

On the Beach - Nevil Shute

So well written, simple yet unbelievably powerful

It left an emptiness

A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini. I loved everything about it, the characters, the storyline, the writing... just perfect and my all-time favourite read.

Other books that I've loved and would recommend are:

Choke Chain by Jason Donald
Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell
Milkman by Anna Burns
American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins
Days Without End by Sebastian Barry
The Heart's Invisible Furies by John Boyne
The 19th Wife by David Ebershoff
From a Low and Quiet Sea by Donal Ryan (actually anything by him, I love him!)

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier.

There's something about the writing which is so evocative and beautiful without being at all overdone. I don't particularly like any of the (very flawed) characters except Maxim's sister so it's not that I relate to it empathise with any of them especially but I think they're really well drawn while being sparse enough to allow you to speculate about their true inner lives.

The end quarter or so is a bit mad but I'm so invested by then and frankly it just gives a lot more to think and talk about to make sense of it for the characters.

I love it and I've read it so many times.

Flowers In The Attic by Virginia Andrews. I remember not wanting to put this book down once I started reading it.

Wuthering Heights the ultimate gothic love story. It's beautifully written with such flawed characters. And extremely brave when you consider when it was written. It deals with adultery, death, alcohol addiction.
Closely followed by the Bronze Horseman by Paulina Simons. An epic story set in Russia in WW2. I cried when I finished the book. It left me feeling bereft.

I loved A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth. The characters were engaging, loveable, sometimes infuriating, from the first page to the last. I felt like they were MY family. I was so sad to get to the end and say goodbye to them!

I have this but not read it yet. Is it really good?

My Family And Other Animals by Gerald Durrell.

He has a way with words that make you 'see' everything he is he is telling you ( and no one else ) about.
It is laugh out loud funny and sad too .

I have read many more of his books that are very good , inc The Aye Aye And I, but My Family is the best imo.

I always wanted to go to his zoo too .

Three that immediately spring to mind are:
A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving. One of the few books I've read several times.

The Book Thief by Markus Zuzak. Took me a little while to get into but then I was hooked.

Papillon by Henri Charriere.

Ducks, Newburyport by Lucy Ellman. Such an incredibly clever representation of modern America through the eyes of a "normal" woman.

John Banville's The Book of Evidence. It's narrated by a man incarcerated for a murder.

Three things drew me in:

• the shock value of realising that I had initially been convinced by a narrator who is totally unreliable;
• the fabulous language and imagery;
• a shocking and surreal murder scene where life, art and notions of love and intertwine in quite a grotesque way.

I wouldn't say that it's the most enjoyable book that I have ever read - it's actually really disquieting - or that I loved any of the characters, but it has definitely stayed with me.

Another recent favourite is A Gentleman in Moscow. I just loved the whole atmosphere of it - especially the characterisation of "The Bishop" from start to end. I was also really surprised by the ending, which was a nice change.

Watchers by Dean Koontz. Terrified me but absolutely gripping for the first paragraph.

The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever. Amazing books, I re-read regularly.

Testament of Youth: Vera Britainn. Heartbreaking, clever, evocative: true. changed my life

Mister B Gone by Clive Barker

What I loved about it - It’s dark and unusual but very entertaining and funny.

The hook was the writing style, the main character is directly talking to you, the reader. His humour, sarcasm really pull you in. The story is very descriptive and I had no issue with imagining each scene as I read along.

Well the main character of course, he is a complete arsehole, he insults you but he is also charming and funny. It sold scenes you really feel for him, in others you think he is a monster.
He takes you through his life story and it’s quite an interesting one!

As said by pp, Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier. I remember reading it when I was 17 and being totally entranced. There was something so beautiful about the book. I'm going to read it again!

My Favourite is
How to spot the journalist doing their homework by asking questions on a forum.

The hook? It keeps happening.

Pride and prejudice
The Handmaid's Tale
Hamnet
All the light you cannot see
A history of loneliness
The book thief

In each case just beautiful, compelling writing that drew me in and kept me captivated to the very end.

I will say my book of choice isn’t anything special or life changing as some on here but it’s a unique one that’s always stood out to me!

Half of a Yellow Sun
by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie - I loved the writing, the story, all the characters.

I also enjoyed learning about a culture I had previously known very little about- my only previous knowledge of Biafra was being told to eat my dinner because the starving children in Biafra didn't have any food 😳

I loved it so much I couldn't read anything else for ages after - I always have at least 1, if not 2 or more, books on the go, so this was unprecedented for me. The story was just so strong in my head.

The Crimson Petal and the Light by Michel Faber, think it was made into a film. He's such a seductive writer

Oh my goodness. I read this years ago and had completely forgotten it. You are right, really is gripping, and many emotions.