5 ONLY books that MUST be read.

[Hullygully]

Any era, any genre.

No crap.

Go.

Now I want Peter Hoeg's 'Smilla's Sense of Snow' (that translation, not the one called 'Miss Smilla's Feeling for Snow' which is quite different. But I don't know which one of the others to swap it for.

And it strikes me that we may be a nest of vipers but by gum we are well-read and literate vipers!

pointyfangs you are right. A lot of us seemingly spend out time reading good literature instead of messing about on the internet.

This thread has added far too many books to my to-read list. And to my re-read list.

our not out, obviously

If This Is A Man
Tender Is the Night
The Corrections
The Grass Is Singing
Oryx and Crake

Some of the worst most tawdry and illconceived books I've ever read are on this list - namely Time Traveller's Wife, Cloud Atlas, and The Book Thief.

Is there a clever spreadsheet person who could do a count up and find out which five are the most chosen so far? Eg P&P would be there, I think - and possibly Mockingbird.

Wild Swans
A Fine Balance
I Capture the Castle
The Grapes of Wrath
Goodbye to All That (or maybe Testament of Youth)

Gah! Only five (or six?)

Oh and I forgot:

South: Ernest Shackleton

Bugger!

I've been pondering Fahrenheit 451 for a while. The number of lists it's on I think I'll go ahead and buy it...

It's excellent, Giraffe's.

Just thought, Hully - we should have a separate non-fiction list.

Ive been lurking for a while and decided to join you

The Voyage of the Beagle - Charles Darwin - I could so see myself doing that journey but maybe not being able to see the world through his colourful eyes though.

Pride and Predjudice - Jane Austen - Thoroughly enjoyed this book and it was also the first classic I had read since school.

The Old Man and the Sea - Ernest Hemingway - He captured the mans pride and stubborness so well that I cried

Scarpetta Series - Patricia Cornwell - I loved these and couldnt put them down.

The Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown - These gave me a taste of conspiracy theories which led to me reading............

smeakily adding one more to the list......

The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail - Michael Baigent et al - Fascinating!

Five schmive.

No way could I choose. Though I see neither can you!

oooo oooo one more

The Woman in White - Wilkie Collins - A fab psychological Thriller which had me hanging on to the edge of my seat.

I think I may be done now

His Dark Materials Trilogy

Hitchhikers guide to the galaxy trilogy

Notes from a small Island (can substitute almost any Bill Bryson book here)

TKAMB

LOTF

juneau South is an incredible book. If you enjoyed it then I would recommend Nansens Farthest North . I listed it as one of my top five books earlier in this thread.

I think its as spellbinding and South .
If you read it make sure you get a copy which includes the maps and photos.

Agh - how did I forget King Wilkie? I'd go with 'Man and Wife' or 'No Name' I think - because he loves women and anybody who thinks that Dickens could write, should read Wilkie to realise that Dickens is a boring and misogynistic knob in comparison.

And for the 'South' and 'Nansen' lovers, don't forget, 'The Worst Journey In The World' which is the main reason why I want a non-fiction list too.

My v. quick and unscientific count of this thread says that mumsnetters top 5 to read are: 1. To Kill a Mockingbird 2. Pride and Prejudice 3. Jane Eyre 4. Lord of the Ring 5. The Grapes of Wrath.

Ohh, I have read The Worst Journey in the World Its un-put-downable.

Pointyfangs - I loved The Hotel New Hampshire too, more than The Cider House Rules. But Garp was my first Irving and it remains my favourite. But I don't understand the widespread love for Owen Meany. I hated it and it's one of the reasons I stopped reading him - do I need to re-read it?

Final choice- numerous John Irving novels mentioned already..... so I'll go with Far From the Madding Crowd - a true classic.

I keep meaning to read Lord of the Rings. Is it like The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings?

Vanity Fair - Dickens.

Wolf Hall - Hilary Mantel
Slaughterhouse 5 - Kurt Vonnegut
Rebecca - Daphne du Maurier
We need to talk about Kevin - Lionel Shriver

I love The Hotel New Hampshire!

I'm never sure how anyone can like Little Women-yawnsville