What's the best book you've ever read?

boiledclaret · Post by **boiledclaret** » Sun Mar 05, 2017 6:54 pm

Of mice and men. Small community where nothing happens yet everything happens, the perfect book.

For whom the bell tolls: Hemmingway, another must.

!aiboforceN · Post by **!aiboforceN** » Sun Mar 05, 2017 7:04 pm

Winnie the Pooh

COBBLE · Post by **COBBLE** » Sun Mar 05, 2017 7:12 pm

It depends what you are looking for; enlightenment, inspiration or entertainment. But at the moment I'm ploughing through Jerusalem the Biography which chronicles the thousands of years of battling between the three major religions of the region. You could not make it up.

For inspiration it has to be the true story of Violette Szabo in Carve Her Name with Pride.

For a laugh I re-read Bill Bryson's Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid.

Smallpaul · Post by **Smallpaul** » Sun Mar 05, 2017 8:27 pm

A Storm of Swords - George. R.R. Martin. My favourite of the Song of Ice & Fire books

Dressinggown · Post by **Dressinggown** » Sun Mar 05, 2017 8:27 pm

The Wasp Factory - Iain Banks. His first novel. Dark, sinister and brilliantly bizarre.

Funkydrummer · Post by **Funkydrummer** » Sun Mar 05, 2017 8:33 pm

Not much of a reader to be honest, would rather be doing something, but did read
the series of Jennings books when I was a lad (boys own adventure stuff)

As an adult, I have read all Sven Hassel's books - a great insight into life in
a German panzer division. Link to his website http://www.svenhassel.net/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

"Sven Hassel's books are a testament to
the brutality of war and the singular
fight of the lone soldier for his life."

Finally, I really enjoyed The Loneliness Of The Long Distance Runner (Alan Sillitoe)
and The Carpetbaggers (Harold Robbins)

BabylonClaret · Post by **BabylonClaret** » Sun Mar 05, 2017 8:56 pm

Hard question but the one I return to a lot is Lord of the Rings (and usually followed by the Silmarillion.

Aside from "fantasy" I'd have to say 1984, Lord of the Flies, of Mice and Men. Brave New World is good too.

Final thought - Use of Weapons - Iain M Banks (dark and brooding Sci Fi)

midlander63 · Post by **midlander63** » Sun Mar 05, 2017 8:59 pm

Very difficult question - as a kid around 10 years old I used to read nothing but ghost stories and there was a great compilation called 'Ghost Stories From Around The World' I got repeatedly from our local library.

But if I had to choose my favourite book it would be The Right Stuff by Tom Wolfe.

Duffer_ · Post by **Duffer_** » Sun Mar 05, 2017 9:10 pm

The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera.

UTC!

dermotdermot · Post by **dermotdermot** » Sun Mar 05, 2017 9:13 pm

boiledclaret wrote:Of mice and men. Small community where nothing happens yet everything happens, the perfect book.

For whom the bell tolls: Hemmingway, another must.

HEMINGWAY. 1 m please.

dermotdermot · Post by **dermotdermot** » Sun Mar 05, 2017 9:15 pm

halfmanhalfbiscuit wrote:This is a tough one for me.
I've enjoyed the works of Wilde, Hemmingway, Philip k.Dick, plus more contemporary writers like Welsh, Ellis and Hornby.
But if I had to choose one book I think it would be George Orwell's Animal Farm.

Feel free to add other favorites but it would be nice to hear people's outright winner.

HEMINGWAY. 1 m please.

dermotdermot · Post by **dermotdermot** » Sun Mar 05, 2017 9:25 pm

Count Belisarius, Robert Graves.

The Threepenny Novel, Bertolt Brecht.

Black Mischief, Evelyn Waugh.

A Handful of Dust, Evelyn Waugh, the only book that I ever read in one sitting as I just HAD to know how it ended.

Dressinggown · Post by **Dressinggown** » Sun Mar 05, 2017 10:04 pm

Bought this from a Jumble Sale for 15 Pence when I was aged about 9.

Had sleeping problems for months afterwards.

Dressinggown · Post by **Dressinggown** » Sun Mar 05, 2017 10:19 pm

Best Non-Fiction book.

An account of the 1996 Everest disaster.

Taffy on the wing · Post by **Taffy on the wing** » Sun Mar 05, 2017 10:21 pm

Rusty Bedsprings by I.P. Nightly.

also Pale Fire by Nabokov
100 yrs of solitude Garcia Marquez
Molloy, Molone dies, and the unnamable..... although the Unnamable is a difficult read.

Braindead · Post by **Braindead** » Sun Mar 05, 2017 10:41 pm

Tough one, I tend to like epic stories so:

Battlefield Earth by L Ron Hubbard. A shite film but a brilliant book.

Papillion, as said above, the fact it's a true story is astonishing.

Shogun by James Clavell. A wonderful delve into early 17th century samurai.

cloughyclaret · Post by **cloughyclaret** » Sun Mar 05, 2017 10:50 pm

At the risk (certainty) of feeling like low brow illiterate compared to you all, my favourite books are always my 'go to every year' . They hold many memories of my life as its gone along.

Stephen King - The Stand
Harry Potter - all
Jeffery Archer - Kane and Able, Prodigal Daughter
Boy in the Striped Pyjamas
My many history books (especially Tudor)

dermotdermot · Post by **dermotdermot** » Sun Mar 05, 2017 10:57 pm

East of Eden, John Steinbeck. Truly epic. The film, although good, only covers a small section.

dermotdermot · Post by **dermotdermot** » Sun Mar 05, 2017 10:57 pm

Scoop, Evelyn Waugh.

dermotdermot · Post by **dermotdermot** » Sun Mar 05, 2017 10:59 pm

The Sword of Honour Trilogy, Evelyn Waugh.

Fretters · Post by **Fretters** » Mon Mar 06, 2017 1:05 am

Yes Man.

Everyone should read it. Not only will you laugh out loud, it will change your whole approach to life.

Don't watch the film.

Dejavu · Post by **Dejavu** » Mon Mar 06, 2017 1:45 am

The Sett by Ranulph Fiennes. He tells the story of a man who approches him to write his story.
Incredible story where you are asked to decide whether it is truth or fiction. Some of it set around Blackburn with the murdered Paul Blackledge a central character.

Rick_Muller · Post by **Rick_Muller** » Mon Mar 06, 2017 9:29 am

As a teenager for me it was "The Dark is Rising" series by Susan Cooper, it resonated with me because of the settings described in Cornwall and it has the magic of Arthurian legend. More recently I enjoyed Angels and Demons (much more than the Da Vinci Code), and a certain Mr Joseph Barton autobiography.

Of all the over hyped books I was forced to read - "Of Mice and Men" (George kills Lenny synopsis).

Chuckypad · Post by **Chuckypad** » Mon Mar 06, 2017 9:44 am

I recently read Siddartha by Hermann Hesse and enjoyed that and have just moved on to Machiavelli's The Prince

pushpinpussy · Post by **pushpinpussy** » Mon Mar 06, 2017 11:48 am

morpheus2 wrote:Wow, for those who don't know the story behind the story, I imagine The Satanic Verses would be an extremely difficult read, very difficult to understand.

For those who know of the story behind the original satanic verses with the knowledge of the 'real' historical characters such as the scribe Abdullah ibn Abi Sarh, little Aisha, Muhammad, the angel Jibreel, the goddesses Al'Uzza, Allat, and Manat - it is a fantastic read! Truly gripping!
But I would recommend a lot of historical (or mythical if you like) study into early Islamic history before you embark on this journey.

Dont let Morpheus put you off reading this book. hes trying to make out you need to be Einsteen to understand this book but he is coming accross as a bit of a smart a rse. it is completely worth the read it and it flows beautifully once you get in tune with the book. you do not need to understand the story behind it, not one bit.

Lancasterclaret · Post by **Lancasterclaret** » Mon Mar 06, 2017 12:08 pm

Crikey, probably easier if I name ten or so

Lord of the the Rings - Tolkien
Consider Phelbas - Iain M Banks (all his sci-fi is really good, but this is exceptional)
South by Java Head - Alistair McInnes
The Dragon Reborn - Robert Jordan (series too long, bu the first seven books are great)
A Game of Thrones - George RR Martin ( tv series in excellent, but the first five books are superb)
Dunkirk - Hugh Sebag-Montifeiore (great account of an utterly amazing and still hard to believe British defeat and recovery)
Red Storm - Tom Clancy (dated now, but terrifyingly realistic when it came out)
The Winter King Trilogy - Bernard Cornwell (best Arthurian series out there)
Persian Fire - Tom Holland (great history books)
Shattered Sword - Marshall and Tully (Battle of Midway, compelling read if its your sort of thing)

There are miles more, but those are ones I can read time and time again.

Special mention for Peter F Hamiltons "Pandoras star" and "Judas Unchained"

Wile E Coyote · Post by **Wile E Coyote** » Mon Mar 06, 2017 12:15 pm

bobinho wrote:Papillon by Henri Charriere.

Awesome. Couldn't put it down. It's a good film, but the book is something else. True story of a mans absolute refusal to give in and accept incarceration.

Disappointingly, the follow up 'Banco' (what happened after freedom was attained) isn't a patch on it.

I felt the same, the thing is though, I researched Papillon a little bit, seemingly it is no more than a fanciful tale by the author.
I was saddened to read that having believed it to be a true story. Film was on tv last night, still pretty good.

Joey is no kant · Post by **Joey is no kant** » Mon Mar 06, 2017 1:41 pm

Johnny got his gun,Dalton trumbo.

gandhisflipflop · Post by **gandhisflipflop** » Mon Mar 06, 2017 5:34 pm

Razzle.

bartons baggage · Post by **bartons baggage** » Mon Mar 06, 2017 5:45 pm

halfmanhalfbiscuit wrote:That almost made me choke on my bacon butty.

Of Kosher did.

morpheus2 · Post by **morpheus2** » Mon Mar 06, 2017 5:56 pm

pushpinpussy wrote:Dont let Morpheus put you off reading this book. hes trying to make out you need to be Einsteen to understand this book but he is coming accross as a bit of a smart a rse. it is completely worth the read it and it flows beautifully once you get in tune with the book. you do not need to understand the story behind it, not one bit.

Not at all old bean, just trying to be helpful, I'm impressed that you found it so easy and enjoyable.

I found that there are more metaphors involved in Rushdie's impression of the Satanic tale than there are in the original sources that served as the inspiration. Having said that, in the Islamic world to the non Muslims and potential reverts, we pretend that most of our scriptures are metaphorical, this is our attempt to try hide the fact that there are so many embarrassing instructions, contradictions and scientific errors in the sources. Unfortunately the exegesis of the early scholars, tafsir writers and other commentators tell a different story, most of the scriptures are meant to be taken very literally.

So I'm very sorry, but I do still think it's a good idea to get a bit of background information to help get the general gist of things, the original Satanic verses is afterall a fascinating story in itself, you should look it up, you'll be able to relate to it really well seeing as you understood Rushdie's book.

Holmeclaret · Post by **Holmeclaret** » Mon Mar 06, 2017 6:14 pm

The Qu'ran and 'What is Sufism' Martin Lings.
Life changers.

Putneyclaret · Post by **Putneyclaret** » Mon Mar 06, 2017 6:34 pm

" La Peste" by Albert Camus: existential philosophy tempered by harsh reality.

Siddo · Post by **Siddo** » Mon Mar 06, 2017 6:47 pm

TheTime Travellers Wife, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and The Cartel. Audrey Niffenegger, Ken Kesey and Don Winslow.

Claret&Green · Post by **Claret&Green** » Mon Mar 06, 2017 7:00 pm

Wyrd Sisters by Terry Pratchett, or in fact anything by the master of fantasy mirth.

KLClaret · Post by **KLClaret** » Mon Mar 06, 2017 7:04 pm

A million little pieces by James Frey.Absolutely outstanding account of one man's struggle with addiction and attempt at rehab. The only book that's brought a year to my eye.

boatshed bill · Post by **boatshed bill** » Mon Mar 06, 2017 7:30 pm

conyoviejo wrote:The Bible,its absolutely full of crazy tales of doom and gloom..

I was made to read the Bible. At first it was a bit of a chore, but I got into it, a great read despite the outdated grammar.
Unfortunately the new testament didn't quite match up to the old.

PhilC · Post by **PhilC** » Mon Mar 06, 2017 7:51 pm

Papillon is up there for me as well, but is pipped by The day after tomorrow by Allan Folsom

Beagleheart · Post by **Beagleheart** » Mon Mar 06, 2017 7:52 pm

If push comes to shove, The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins although I love all his work, much more than his friend and contemporary Charles Dickens who was no slouch.

JohnMcGreal · Post by **JohnMcGreal** » Mon Mar 06, 2017 8:29 pm

1984 by George Orwell
The Leopard by Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
Stalingrad by Antony Beevor

grapidianclaret · Post by **grapidianclaret** » Mon Mar 06, 2017 8:30 pm

Claret&Green wrote:Wyrd Sisters by Terry Pratchett, or in fact anything by the master of fantasy mirth.

I love Pratchett. Witches abroad is incredibly funny, as is guards guards!

Middle-agedClaret · Post by **Middle-agedClaret** » Mon Mar 06, 2017 9:11 pm

I agree with dermotdermot - "Scoop" by Evelyn Waugh. It is still laugh-out-loud funny, 40 years after I first read it.
"A Star Called Henry" by Roddy Doyle.
"Burmese Days" and "Down and Out in London and Paris" by George Orwell

karatekid · Post by **karatekid** » Mon Mar 06, 2017 9:29 pm

D-Day by Stephen Ambrose. Read it in one day , unputdownable.

The pianist- Wladyslaw Szpilman , upsetting, brilliant, awe inspiring.

A hard life in football - Stan Ternent , hilarious.

Stalbansclaret · Post by **Stalbansclaret** » Mon Mar 06, 2017 10:00 pm

Middle-aged claret...totally agree about Scoop and Handful of Dust is another genius Evelyn Waugh novel.

Dressing gown..YES..Into Thin Air is a fantastic read and Jon Krakauer's other great book, Into The Wild, is equally brilliant .

Some tremendous books featured in this thread.

Claretmatt4 · Post by **Claretmatt4** » Mon Mar 06, 2017 10:20 pm

Stevie2112 wrote:I too really enjoyed this,and also the trilogy that followed,The Century Trilogy.

Also voting for Pillars of the Earth too.

I'm onto the third Century Trilogy book and just can't get into it.

Handful listed below...

His Dark Materials trilogy by Philip Pullman (was superb when I was a kid)
Fight Club, Haunted and Lullaby by Chuck Palahniuk
The Stand by Stephen King
1984 and Animal Farm by George Orwell
A Song of Ice and Fire series
The Prosecution of George W Bush for Murder by Vincent Bugliosi for some real crime.

I tell what is a terrible book though. War of the worlds. Nothing really happens.

dermotdermot · Post by **dermotdermot** » Mon Mar 06, 2017 10:28 pm

So many great Evelyn Waugh books written in quick succession and just so funny.

Put Out More Flags is a good shout as well. I personally think that Brideshead Revisited is overrated though.

Black Mischief. Would/could that be published now?

Braindead · Post by **Braindead** » Mon Mar 06, 2017 10:41 pm

karatekid wrote:D-Day by Stephen Ambrose. Read it in one day , unputdownable.

The pianist- Wladyslaw Szpilman , upsetting, brilliant, awe inspiring.

A hard life in football - Stan Ternent , hilarious.

D Day is a hard hitting but fantastic insight into that historic day and the build up and aftermath.

On a similar vein, the Forgotten Voices series chronicling WW1, WW2 and the Falklands are chronological oral histories of each major battle of the conflicts, taken from British, American, Canadian, German and French perspectives for the WW versions and interesting insight from the Argentina pov with regards to the Falklands.

Lance Romance · Post by **Lance Romance** » Mon Mar 06, 2017 11:09 pm

"The Hyperion Omnibus" by Dan Simmons. It's better than "Dune".
"The KLF - Chaos, Magic and the Band Who Burned a Million Pounds". I like the KLF.
Any of the "Modern Toss" books are good.
And if you haven't read anything by Don Winslow, why not? His drugs war books are astonishing.

Flatline · Post by **Flatline** » Mon Mar 06, 2017 11:21 pm

IT by Stephen King. Probably my favourite horror book,very creepy throughout with some top characters.
Notes from a Small Island by Bill Bryson. Very humorous observations of an American wandering around Britain.
Lord of the Rings by Tolkien. Takes a bit to get going,maybe a hundred pages or so but amazing once you get into it.

kindonesque · Post by **kindonesque** » Mon Mar 06, 2017 11:56 pm

Wuthering Heights for its unique humour