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Your all-time favorite book

SFG75

SFG75

Well-Known Member
Darren's favorite author thread is one that I have been reading and re-reading as of late. I have come to the conclusion that my favorite book doesn't coincide with who I think my favorite author of all time is. I've been forming a post after post, only to scrap it is I've felt very conflicted about what author deserves that "honor":rolleyes: The jury is still out as to who my favorite author of all time is-I think that should go to the person whose books I truly enjoy. I don't believe a single great work qualifies that given author as being my "favorite," but at any rate, I would like to focus on another aspect-that being, what your favorite book of all time is.

For me, my all time favorite book has to be The Grapes of Wrath. I'm constantly re-reading portions of it and I enjoy it immensely. I love the religious metaphors, the different dialects of the characters, not to mention the politics of it. The Great Depression is my favorite area of history to study and read about. My grandfather told me a lot of stories about it when I was a kid in the mid-80's. In a way, this book has a personal touch to it as I remember him and his accounts of it every time I read the book. It's almost like the Bible to me in regards to meaning and remembering who my grandfather was.

How about you?, what is your favorite book of all time?
 
I may have to think about this one for a while. I know my immediate and obvious answer, but that is simply the book I have read the most and enjoyed each time. I'll have to search my memory for a book that made more of an impact on me.
 
Hot damn, I hate that question. I can never decide, and my decision always changes. For now, I shall say The Thorn Birds because it's one of the hardest books I read. Everyone kept dying left and right, and it made me so hopelessly sad. It was, however, for a book report, so I had to finish it, forced myself to do so, and surprised myself by picking it up to read again within a year. Such a pretty book.
 
Funnily enough, I recently compiled a few lists of my top 50 films, books, albums etc.

Top of the book list, was Gabriel Garcia Marquez's 'One Hundred Years of Solitude'. The New York Times said of it that it was "the first piece of literature since the Book of Genesis that should be required reading for the entire human race", and I wholeheartedly agree with half of that statement.

Critiquing has never been a strongpoint of mine, so it's difficult to explain just why I adore this book so. The ambition shown has to be admired. Detailing a century in the life of a family is no easy feat, especially when said family consists of close to 20 members. Keeping each character interesting and unique is next to impossible, but is managed with aplomb here. The characterisation of a number of townspeople is also very strong.

The language with it's mix of the fantastical with the mundane, and the surprising touch of humour is perhaps the central reason I fell in love with the novel, but there's so much more. The themes of time, and it's cyclical nature. Ideas of immortality and the eternal soul are discussed, even as central characters begin to age and eventually pass on. So many allegories and metaphors are embedded in the plot - the gypsies represtenting creativity and progress; the red ants; Remedios' picture, to many to mention, but so fun to find and interesting to discuss.

That's enough about that I think - JUST READ IT.

Incidentally, the second book on my list was 'M/F' by Anthony Burgess. Perhaps the greatest narrative poem of recent times.

If you're wondering what was third, look at my signature.
 
I have many books that I have both enjoyed and recommended, or snoozed through (ie. the book I read now, the book of air and shadows by Michael Gruber. However I am compelled to finish) and forgotten. However, a handful of favorites are hard to come by.
My personal favorites; as a child I liked Island of Dolphins the author escapes me, but you can google can't you!?​
During highschool I did a book report on Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad. An impressive look at the digression of man via metaphor of schooner through the heart of uncharted Africa.​
A book for intellectuals who enjoy learning why your neighbor does what he does and what his actions mean during the period of 'does'. Read Blink! by Malcolm Gladwell. Excellent, inciting, and definitely thought provoking. All in all a great read I lent out to have never returned...sigh....​
 
Catch-22! I've never enjoyed a book more. I loved every bit of it. I'm kind of scared to read anything else written by Joseph Heller because I'll probably be dissapointed following that.
 
I suppose it would have to be the first book I ever loved, Pride and Prejudice. For me it's one of those books that is so familiar, reading it is like re-experiencing my favorite childhood memories. Sigh. :)
 
I think my favourite book changes with the years, so I'll probably give a diferrent answer next time, but at the moment it is :

Talking it Over by Julian Barnes. Why?

Beacuse it is the book that has most connected with me on a personal level, it felt like Julian Barnes had got inside my head and then told what he found there to the world. I guess we all feel the same kind of stuff, this book gives it voice.
 
I've had this conversation with myself many times, but always I come back to The Long Walk by Richard Bachman. I try to think of something more intellectual, but frankly, I just can't. I adore The Long Walk and have recommended it to so many people, lent it to them, then jiggled about waiting for them to return it so I can re-read it.

Until I read it, my favourite was probably The Folk of the Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton! Fond childhood memories!
 
I don't really know what my ONE favorite book is. I have many. Most recently, my favorite book is Virgin Blue by Tracy Chevalier. I don't know why, except it was an emotional roller-coaster and I like books like that.

Growing up, though, my favorite book was The Great Gatsby, again emotional roller-coaster.
 
Growing up, though, my favorite book was The Great Gatsby, again emotional roller-coaster.
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Interesting choice. At one time, I just hated that book. Tried to read it more times than I can count, just never finished it. Finally read it last year around this time as a matter of fact, definitely a great book-it also helped that I wasn't so busy with other things.
 
As a child, my favorite book was A Wrinkle in Time, and I still love it today. As an adult my favorite book is Lions of Al-Rassan by Guy Gavriel Kay
 
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