Thread: Top Ten Favorite Books and Why

Originally Posted by Dr. Malone

I find that King is much more frightening when he writes about real things like abuse than when he goes for imaginary shit like evil cars.

It's the way the SOB crawls inside the head of an abused woman that gives me chills in DC. And for good measure, he actually creates other characters with depth in a first person piece. I acknowledge Mr. King can drop some real clunkers (and his clunkers clunk loud), but in Dolores, he knocked it out of the park.

Originally Posted by JosephB

Ha ha. I didn't see anything in the OP about providing an "in-depth analysis." How do you come up with this kind of shit?

Ok, maybe I didn’t hold my mouth right. “In-depth analysis” could be seen by some as another way of saying “sales pitch”. Forget the word “analysis”. Try “in-depth review,” or maybe “review that touches all the nerves, makes the reader want to rush out and buy the book.” That better?

tbs21 did ask WHY, and if you gave him a sufficiently emotional-charged reason, he might just rush out and buy one from your list.

It would be much more interesting to talk about the books than Joseph.

I almost put Heart Is a Lonley Hunter on my list. I was trying to remember the name, and had to go pull the book from the shelf to remember, so I figured that automatically disqualified it. Although I've read it several times and absolutely love everything about it. The fact that she wrote is at 22 or 23 makes it all the more amazing.

Originally Posted by Dr. Malone

It would be much more interesting to talk about the books than Joseph.

Apparently, Mermaid, Baron and OX don't think so.

I think we discussed The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter in a another thread. It may be the only book I've read that made me cry.

Have you read Member of the Wedding? I haven't yet.

No, I haven't read any of her other books. The forward to the edition of Heart is a Lonely Hunter I have suggests that her later work isn't anything special. I'd definitely give it a read if I ever stuble across it, though.

Originally Posted by Dr. Malone

No, I haven't read any of her other books. The forward to the edition of Heart is a Lonely Hunter I have suggests that her later work isn't anything special. I'd definitely give it a read if I ever stuble across it, though.

I just reserved it at the library.

I have a book that includes The Ballad of the Sad Cafe -- a novella, and five or six short stories. The characters in Ballad... are exaggerated and the story is pretty obvious. The ending was lame, almost cartoon-like. I was kind of disappointed in the short stories too -- although a couple were decent.

So I guess, that's why I haven't rushed to read Member of the Wedding.

Originally Posted by The Backward OX

Ok, maybe I didn’t hold my mouth right. .

Doubt that was the first or last time.

My list

Little Dorrit - Charles Dickens
I love this book because it deals with a subject matter that was close to the author's heart; the debtor's prison. It reads like a soap opera, jumping from one set to another, one mind to another and draws you in to each and every little sub-plot. This is a must read for anyone who wants to read Dickens

The Book Thief - Markus Zusak
I was intrigued by the idea that the story was told from Death's point of view. Based in Nazi Germany and one girls life throughout the war. I thought I would be disappointed that Death wasn't more prominent, or that he wasn't more of a character rather than just a narrator, but the end did make me cry. One of the few books that have ever done that.

Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austen
My favorite book in the world. I read it every summer. Austen has a great way of telling a story. I love the "unsatisfying ending" that a lot of people dribble on about because Marianne did not get her "true love". To my mind, she did. It would just take her a while to realise that.

The Count of Monte Cristo - Alexandre Dumas
Beautiful writer. End of.

A Novel of Fitzwilliam Darcy (trilogy) - Pamela Aiden
Always dubious of reading 'fan-fiction', but this trilogy really pulls it off. It follows the P&P story from Darcy's point of view over three books. Darcy is actually absent from a large chunk of P&P - this is what the second book deals with and would deserve to be read as it's own story and not part of the 'bigger picture' as it were. The author makes you understand Darcy in a whole new light. She writes with passion and I read the trilogy in a matter of days it was so good.

Those were the only ones that really stood out for me. No doubt others will pop into my head

The Count of Monte Cristo - Alexandre Dumas
Beautiful writer. End of.

You've just reminded of the film i watched years ago. I thought it was brilliant.

Thanks for reminding me to read the book!

Yeah, I loved the film too. The un-abridged version can be a bit long-winded at times as he likes to meander into the back-stories of various characters, but stick with it. When you least expect it, he throws out a brilliant line that makes you think "wow".

I've just seen the page count, 1312, which I wasn't expecting. It isn't a bad thing I just expected it to be shorter

I'm going to give it a whirl and just hope it lives up to my expectations after the film.

Screw a buncha novels. Here's my top 11 favorite stories. No particular order:


Space-Time For Springers -- Fritz Lieber

Lieber's masterpiece in my opinion. The ultimate cat story, neither sentimental nor cute. In fact, it begins as a lighthearted jape and descends into something deeply tragic. I still can't read that amazing final line without tears threatening. It can also be read as an allegory for growing up and growing jaded to the wonders of the ordinary world.

A Saucer Of Loneliness -- Theodore Sturgeon

Another one that pulls tears from me no matter how many times I re-read. This may be a perfect example of true science fiction. The entire story rests on a speculative element, but the subtle fireworks unleashed by Sturgeon are all human emotion centered. Contains the best depiction of the difference between interior self and exterior appearance that I've ever read. Lovely and hopeful.

The Big Front Yard -- Clifford D. Simak

The very first story I ever read on my own and still one of the best. A different sort of first contact story, beautifully told by SF's master of the pastoral tale, and the champion of ordinary folks. The moral of the story -- that trade is the goal of civilized folk, has never left me. Nor has the protag's dedication to his dog.

The Last Castle -- Jack Vance

Vance's sloppiest story is better written than 99% of literature, and this is one of his best. Decadent humans start getting their asses kicked and a lesson in the evils of slavery when their indentured servant race turns on them. Can humanity get off it's high horse long enough to fight back or are they nothing more than the shadow of a once great species? Suspense, grandeur, moral lessons and Vance's trademark elegance.

Creation -- Jeffery Ford

In addition to Ford's usual genius with words, this story is deeply touching and a wonderful paen to fatherhood. Ford creates something soul deep here, and this story will haunt you for weeks after you read it. In the best of ways.

The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas -- Ursula K. Leguin

Another one that leaves me weeping. This story serves as a capsule review of my own philosophy, and a warning that almost every 'civilization' rests on pain and misery for SOMEONE. Will you accept the premise or will you walk away from Omelas? A decision we all have to make, eventually.

Riders Of The Purple Wage -- Phillip Jose Farmer

Pyrotechnics and social satire. Farmer's ode to individuality in the face of the easy life is as fresh as tomorrow. A truly dangerous vision and the most hilarious, stylish argument against the welfare state ever penned.

Along The Scenic Route -- Harlan Ellison

Other Ellison stories are better known, more powerful, better conceived -- but none of them are as fun as this one. Ellison prophesized road rage and gave a remedy. But the cure is worse than the disease sometimes, just like winning can often make you the real loser...

All Pieces Of A River Shore -- R.A. Lafferty

Prime Lafferty, which means it will stand up against any story ever written. Gentle, lovingly evoked, masterfully stylish shaggy dog story that fails to even produce the shaggy dog. The ending is unexpected and strangely disturbing.

"All You Zombies..." -- Robert A. Heinlein

Heinlein's finest piece of short fiction. Equal parts comedy, tragedy and puzzle. A textbook example of structure and pacing. Bizarre, brilliant and beautiful.

Gonna Roll The Bones -- Fritz Lieber

My second favorite Lieber story. Style as pretty as it comes, a wonderful main character, and attention to even the smallest details make this a joy to read. The final revelation is laugh-out-loud good, and the MC's decision on what to do about it is wonderful.


If you've never read these stories, then I envy you.

Trainspotting is another of my favorites. He makes heroin addiction hilarious and narrates the whole thing with Scottish dialect.

Originally Posted by Dr. Malone

All Quiet on the Western Front: Best war novel.

Birdsong? Regeneration?

Nope.

Originally Posted by Dr. Malone

Nope.

What I am saying is that you should give a reason why, not just a statement. In my opinion, the writing in "All Quiet On The Western Front" is inferior to the other two novels, certainly in comparison to Faulks who writes on the subject beautifully.