S/O: What Is Your Favorite Fictional Book?

[rfoster]

It seems like a lot of people share my favorites list :-) Can't pick just one!

 

All of the books in the Outlander series

Harry Potter

Chronicles of Narnia

Lord of the Rings series

Audrey Niffenegger is also looking like she'll be contributing to my alltime favorites list quite a bit, I loved both time traveler's wife and her fearful symmetry

[littlebug42]

I love Stephanie! But I've been really disappointed in JE the last few books. She just doesn't seem to be feeling it anymore.

 

What age range is Mixed up Files for? I can't remember, but I do remember loving that book. Since we do go to the Met occassionally, I think I'd like my 8yo to read it. He'd get a kick out of it.

 

 

I understand being disappointed in the last few books. I really didn't care for the 15 one but thought the new 16 one was better although I am a Stephanie/Ranger fan and that relationship frustrates me to no end.

 

For the Mixed Up Files, I think it depends on how well your child reads. My daughter read it when she was 7 or 8 and she loved it. My soon to be 7 year old will be reading it this year for school. It doesn't however appear on Sonlight's book list until Core 100 which is for approx grades 7-11 depending on their catalog. I think I first read it in 3rd or 4th grade. I think it just appeals to such a wide age range. If your ds is familiar with the Met, I am sure he would get a kick out of it.

[kokotg]

There are a few Anne Tyler books that I love and can read over and over...The Accidental Tourist and Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant most particularly. And I think Absalom, Absalom and Delta Wedding are pretty much the best things ever, but I can't read them over and over. Especially Absalom...it wears me out.

[Carol in Cal.]

"The Lord of the Rings" became my favorite work in seventh grade, and although I've read thousands of books since then, it still is.

 

Before that it was "The Diamond in the Window," a book I still enjoy, loved teaching, and can't believe is not better known.

[MaMa2005]

Gone with the Wind. I read it the first time at age 9 and am still in love with it 40 years later.

[Tiberia]

The Caine Mutiny is my all-time favorite.

Then David Copperfield.

I also love The Count of Monte Christo.

 

It's fun to read others' responses.

[Merry]

Divine Comedy.

[NanceXToo]

There's just something about Jamie. ;) it's been almost 8 years since I read it. I think it's time for me to read it again! Her friend, Sara Donati, writes great books as well and weaves Jamie and Clair into her stories!

 

Oh yes, read it again! And then make sure you've read all the sequels too! There's another one coming out at some point. I can't wait!!!

 

I never heard of Sara Donati, I'll have to look into that!

[nmoira]

The one book I can read anywhere, anytime in any state of caffeination is Good Omens.

[sixpence1978]

I admit...basically all my reading for enjoyment might fall under the category of fluff.

 

These are the ones that chronically make it onto my nightstand:

All of the Harry Potter books

Basically anything by Frank Peretti, but mostly This Present Darkness and Piercing the Darkness

and Calvin and Hobbes :lol:

[Guest]

Right now - the top three books that I can pick up and read and re-read and re-read again without being sick of them would probably be:

 

The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss

 

 

 

I just read this, based on someone recommending it here and thought it was excellent. Bummed that we have to wait until next year for the next one to come out.

 

I love Journey to the Center of the Earth, Jules Verne.

[AMDG]

Rebecca by Daphne DuMaurier

[Kebo]

The Lymond Chronicles (all 6 of them) by Dorothy Dunnett.

[Charles Wallace]

Is there a book that you've read over and over and never get tired of? What is your favorite fictional book of all-time?

 

I think for me, it would The Thorn Birds. It's just one of those books that I've read countless times and never get tired of. My second runner-up would be Gone With the Wind.

 

You might also like Through a Glass Darkly.

[Charles Wallace]

For a single book? Michener, The Source.

 

But really ... there are SO many. If I could use a series, I'd go with the Change series by SM Stirling. If I could use an author, I'd go with Maeve Binchy.

 

Have you ever read Hawaii?

[Laura in CA]

Anything by James Thurber. I keep a collection of his humorous short stories in my nightstand.

 

Ooh, I love Thurber, too! Esp. 'Catbird Seat,' 'Memoirs of a Drudge,' 'The Day the Dam Broke,' etc., etc. ...

 

After that, I'm a total Anglophile. Books I've read too many times to count and which I enjoy more with each reading:

 

A Room with a View, and all the rest of E. M. Forster's books

The Nine Tailors, by Dorothy Sayers (& most of the rest of her books)

Hobbit/LoTR

Narnia

The Wind in the Willows

The Winnie-the-Pooh books

Alice & Through the Looking Glass

A Little Princess and The Secret Garden

 

Pretty much anything by Gene Stratton Porter but A Girl of the Limberlost is most special because it was my grandmother's favorite as well.

 

I've seen this recommended so many places! I must read it.

 

I actually prefer nonfiction, but I'll stay on-topic :001_smile:

Edited August 15, 2010 by Laura in CA

[Farrar]

I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith

 

I named my blog after it!

[Dobela]

Ooh, I love Thurber, too! Esp. 'Catbird Seat,' 'Memoirs of a Drudge,' 'The Night the Dam Broke,' etc., etc. ...

 

After that, I'm a total Anglophile. Books I've read too many times to count and which I enjoy more with each reading:

 

A Room with a View, and all the rest of E. M. Forster's books

The Nine Tailors, by Dorothy Sayers (& most of the rest of her books)

Hobbit/LoTR

Narnia

The Wind in the Willows

The Winnie-the-Pooh books

Alice & Through the Looking Glass

A Little Princess and The Secret Garden

 

 

 

I've seen this recommended so many places! I must read it.

 

I actually prefer nonfiction, but I'll stay on-topic :001_smile:

Wow, are you my double?? I also prefer nonfiction as well as what you have listed although it has been quite a long time since I have read Sayers or Forster. And, in case you are interested, my name IRL is really Laura. Are you a redhead by chance LOL??

[Imprimis]

I really couldn't name just one...

 

Some of my favorites:

 

Katherine by Anya Seton

The Count of Monte Cristo Alexandre Dumas

The Eight by Katherine Neville

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

The Harry Potter Series J.K. Rowling

The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

Tess of the d'Urbervilles Thomas Hardy

Annette Vallon James Tipton

Little Women Louisa May Alcott

To Kill a Mockingbird Harper Lee

 

And, I'm sure there are many that I can't think of right now....:001_smile:

[Retired]

Gone With The Wind -

Pride and Prejudice

[oldskool]

The Chosen.

[Perry]

The only book I can think of that I've read more than once is Candide.

 

Some of my favorites:

Jane Eyre

Pride and Prejudice

The Source

Pillars of the Earth and World Without End

Rebecca

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd

The Stand

Handmaid's Tale

[Forget-Me-Not]

Wives & Daughters by Elizabeth Gaskell

Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen

Any of Maeve Binchy's books.

[GraciebytheBay]

Little Women

 

Jane Eyre

 

Oops, I think you only asked for one so I'll stop there.;)

[NightOwlMama]

A few of my favorites...

 

The English Patient - Michael Ondaatje

 

The Secret History - Donna Tartt

 

 

The Garden of Eden - Ernest Hemingway

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fall on Your Knees - Ann-Marie MacDonald

 

 

my favorite of all the books I read in 2009 was The Help - Kathryn Stockett

[Crissy]

The English Patient - Michael Ondaatje

 

 

 

I LOVED the movie. I don't know why I haven't read the book yet...

[NightOwlMama]

Crissy - The book is SO much better! Enjoy:)

[Peela]

I can't remember ever reading a book more than once other than good children's literature that I have read out loud to my kids, such as the Hobbit and the Narnia series- which I also read as a child.

 

Many of the books others have mentioned are also favourites of mine, with a place in my heart...but I still only read them once.

I am like that with movies too.

[radiobrain]

The Baron in the Trees~ Italo Calvino

 

One Hundred Years of Solitude~ Marquez (I read this every 2-3 years since 1987)

 

I Claudius/ Claudius the God~ Graves (same as above except 1989)

 

Ones that will be in the running:

 

East of Eden

Neal Stephenson's Baroque Cycle

[Jane Elliot]

Kristin Lavransdatter by Sigrid Undset (Tiina Nunnally's translation is better, IMO.)

[SailorMom]

Oh - too many to choose from. I don't know how to rank these,,,,

 

The Once and Future King

Poisonwood Bible

Harry Potter Books (guilty pleasure)

1984

Life of Pi

 

I could go on and on....

[Mama Geek]

I don't reread books either...but one of my favorites was Atlas Shrugged.

[3littlekeets]

Margaret Atwood's Cat's Eye is #1 and A.S. Byatt's Possession: A Romance is #2

[Guest]

Kristin Lavransdatter by Sigrid Undset (Tiina Nunnally's translation is better, IMO.)

 

I haven't read this in thirty years, but you've inspired me to pull my old copy off the shelf and re-read it. I did love it the first time I read it.

[nmoira]

 

I haven't read this in thirty years, but you've inspired me to pull my old copy off the shelf and re-read it. I did love it the first time I read it.

Give the new translation a try. Reading Nunnally's notes on the errors and omissions in the original translation, as well as the deliberate choice to use old fashioned stilted prose when the original work was apparently anything but, convinced me to give hers a try. I couldn't believe how much of a page turner it was... for all 1100 of them. :lol:

[Mejane]

I don't reread books either...but one of my favorites was Atlas Shrugged.

 

I've always felt like a literary loser because I just could not get through that book. :confused:

[kalanamak]

Kristin Lavransdatter by Sigrid Undset (Tiina Nunnally's translation is better, IMO.)

 

 

Yes, yes, and again yes.

[sarawatsonim]

The Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean M. Auel.

 

I've read it at least once a year since I was 12. It was probably a little young to read it but I wanted to read everything then. My copy is literally falling apart.

[Laura in CA]

Wow, are you my double?? I also prefer nonfiction as well as what you have listed although it has been quite a long time since I have read Sayers or Forster. And, in case you are interested, my name IRL is really Laura. Are you a redhead by chance LOL??

 

Hi, Laura! Oh, that is too funny! Sorry, I'm not a redhead (dark brown). But you must be the sister I never had :001_smile:

 

I'll look out for your posts from now on -- we obviously have similar tastes!

 

~Laura

[ScoutTN]

Tie: LOTR and Jane Eyre

[KidsHappen]

For a single book: The Stand by Stephen King.

 

If the Harry Potter series was considered a single body of work then it would win by a long shot.

[Audrey]

Germinal by Emile Zola truly changed my life.

 

But... Foucault's Pendulum by Umberto Eco is the book I re-read frequently.

[nmoira]

 

But... Foucault's Pendulum by Umberto Eco is the book I re-read frequently.

I know more than one person who ended up infuriated by this book, but I loved it. Of course, I'm the only one I know who, upon finishing Infinite Jest, didn't throw it across the room -- though to be fair, the sample size is two. :lol: