What is the most beautiful book you have ever read?

[umbrellabird]

I've had a tough year and just want to surround myself in good things...

Katrina Kenison, The Gift of an Ordinary Day. And Kathleen Jamie, Findings.
Both really healing books.

Silas Marner and Mrs Gaskell's Cousin Phillis - both are just divine. I feel shivery just thinking about them.

A couple that others have already said- I capture the castle, the age of innocence.

I also love Austerlitz, by WG Sebald. Its about an architectural historian and has lots of beautiful descriptions of London. It's about the kinder transports though, so quite sad.

Also, the pastures of heaven by John Steinbeck- several interweaving tales all set in the same valley. John Steinbeck captures California so perfectly- the light, air and colours. I've read it many times.

Another vote for The God of Small Things, time for a reread for me!

Also, If Nobody Speaks of Remarkable Things is just beautiful, it sneaks up and completely seduces you. Wonderful.

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness is a simply stunning book. It is very challenging emotionally as it deals with a child losing his mother but it is written with astonishing sensitivity and unflinching honesty. If at all possible get the hard copy with the original illustrations by Jim Kay which are astonishing in their own right and add hugely to your experience of the story. And whatever you do don't read the last two chapters in a public place. I was a sobbing mess when I finished it but felt completely renewed. I can't recommend it highly enough.

Agree with so many of these. I would add Huckleberry Finn for some wonderful descriptions. It can be read and re read.

Chitra Banarjee Divakaruni -Sister of my heart

Sea Glass, Anita Shreve

Pride and Prejudice, Mrs Bennett jumps out of the pages and makes me laugh.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, I think this is a modern classic. The way Haddon open's your eyes to how an Autistic boy see's the world is truly touching, but with some very ironic humour.

I thought immediately of 'God of Small Things' and but it's been mentioned several times. Sleepwhenidie my favourite phrase ever in a book comes from If Nobody Speaks of Remarkable Things.

I've read a few Kazuo Ishiguro books but not Remains of the Day yet, so I'll put that on my wishlist.

I found Five people you meet in heaven complete tosh - like reading the inside of a Hallmark card.

Also taking notes from this thread - thank-you.

Another vote for The English Patient.

Also Italo Calvino's ^Invisible Cities".

Cloud Atlas.

Room - Emma donahuge.

Have recently finished The Summer Book but wasn't as overwhelmed by it as some of my friends but it is a lovely gentle read. A recent book I loved was May we be forgiven by A M Holmes. I'm halfway though the hundred year old man who climbed out of the window and disappeared which is brilliant for taking your mind off anything. The most beautiful books Ive ever read were The Little Prince and The Velveteen Rabbit but they are kids books.

Schindlers Ark (film being Schindlers List) is a very powerful and beautiful book.

I'm surprised that no-one has mentioned The Time Traveller's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. It's one of the few books that I have read that I would love to read again but without knowing what happens, if that makes sense.

I am also shamelessly note-taking.

A Room with a View, EM Forster.

Always Coming Home! Ooh, I loaned my copy of this wonderful book to a very beautiful much younger man whom I attempted unsuccessfully to seduce about 20 years ago . Bastard never returned it. Or the book.

And yet another vote for Possession - one of my all-time favourite comfort re-reads.

In complete contrast - 'Winter's Bone' by Daniell Woodrell (made into a film starring Jennifer Lawrence) and 'The Shipping News' by Annie Proulx (film starring Kevin Spacey and Judy Dench) are both novels which are beautiful and bleak in places with uplifting and redemptive endings, written in prose that is terse, punchy and incredibly evocative.

I read 'remains of the day' today, because of this thread - what a truly lovely book. I've opened 'never let me go' as I fancy re-reading it, I love book recommendation threads

A Thousand Splendid Suns and The Poisonwood Bible are two of my favourite ever books.

lovely thread - makes me want to reread so many books, and a few for the first time too. And revisit a few I abandoned like Remains of the Day which I got bored with.

The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera.

A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini.

And another vote for anything by Haruki Murakami.

Great thread- I'm also taking notes for when I have time to read again!

I hated Lolita for what it was but it is so beautifully written.

I love the Case on family books. They're YA but something about them just grabs my heart. I've cried at every one, but not from being sad. They just...there's something about them that makes you see how lovely ordinary people can be.

Casson family, not case on!

Oh everyone i am overwhelmed by your response, I have a lovely new journal that I have wrote all of these down in and am going to try them all, I'm sure there will be many wonderful surprises in store, I can't thank you enough! I think Wintering is quite possibly one of the most beautiful I have ever read, but will think of some more.??

The alchemist

A thousand splendid suns. [as above]

Also The Bridges of Madison County, Robert James Waller. The only book I have ever read that tears actually dropped onto the pages of the last couple of chapters............