The best book you ever read was...
Discussion
Weaveworld - Clive Barker
The Shipping News - Annie E Proulx
Both books I've bought a number of times because I keep giving them away to people to read.
Also, there was a short story written by one of the Russian classical authors, I think it was Dostoevsky. It was about a child that was going to school in Moscow and had to travel from his village out in the country. He catches a ride with the hay caravan going to the city. On the way, there is a huge thunder storm where they hide beneath the wagons. You know that taste you get in the air just before an electrical storm? The writing was so visceral that I actually got that taste in my mouth when reading that certain passage.
Stunning prose. I can't seem to find it again so if anyone recognises it, please let me know.
The Shipping News - Annie E Proulx
Both books I've bought a number of times because I keep giving them away to people to read.
Also, there was a short story written by one of the Russian classical authors, I think it was Dostoevsky. It was about a child that was going to school in Moscow and had to travel from his village out in the country. He catches a ride with the hay caravan going to the city. On the way, there is a huge thunder storm where they hide beneath the wagons. You know that taste you get in the air just before an electrical storm? The writing was so visceral that I actually got that taste in my mouth when reading that certain passage.
Stunning prose. I can't seem to find it again so if anyone recognises it, please let me know.
db said:
it arrived today, will get stuck in tomorrow.
I liked it but it turns a bit self indulgent at the end IMO. It did point me in the direction of a few others though:Low Level Hell: A Scout Pilot in the Big Red One - Hugh Mills
Xin Loi, Viet Nam - Thirty-one months of War - Al Severs
The second being the better of the two. I preferred Xin Loi to Chickenhawk, but both the above equal it.
The Bourne Identity is a truly brilliant book. I enjoyed the film (and watched it first) but it didn't do the book any justice, and having seen the film didn't spoil the book - the storylines are very different. It really surprised me by how good it was.
But desert island scenario, it'd have to be Small Gods by Terry Pratchett. I like most of the Discworld books but Small Gods is the best of them. Followed by Thief of Time and Night Watch.
Best books I have ever read, as in - books I can and do return to and always get more from on re-reading:
Pepy's Diary
and
The Periodic table - Primo Levi.
- both by turns insightful, unguarded, funny, moving; even profound, for different reasons. If I had to pick just one, it'd be The Periodic table.
Pepy's Diary
and
The Periodic table - Primo Levi.
- both by turns insightful, unguarded, funny, moving; even profound, for different reasons. If I had to pick just one, it'd be The Periodic table.
tenohfive said:
I liked it but it turns a bit self indulgent at the end IMO. It did point me in the direction of a few others though:
Low Level Hell: A Scout Pilot in the Big Red One - Hugh Mills
Xin Loi, Viet Nam - Thirty-one months of War - Al Severs
The second being the better of the two. I preferred Xin Loi to Chickenhawk, but both the above equal it.
thanks, will look for them. amazon time Low Level Hell: A Scout Pilot in the Big Red One - Hugh Mills
Xin Loi, Viet Nam - Thirty-one months of War - Al Severs
The second being the better of the two. I preferred Xin Loi to Chickenhawk, but both the above equal it.
Good topic OP!!! The best book I ever read was:
Non-Fiction - Think and Grow Rich by Napolean Hill. (Can I get a thumbs-up from those of you who have had the liberty of reading this book!)
Fiction - For me fiction varies by my mood and depends on what genre I am 'in to' on any given day but; hmmmm I can't decide really, too many to list, it is like choosing your favorite movie, there are far too many top tens. But I would say my favorite genre is horror, and I enjoy reading horror anthologies, I have a whole lot of those.
Non-Fiction - Think and Grow Rich by Napolean Hill. (Can I get a thumbs-up from those of you who have had the liberty of reading this book!)
Fiction - For me fiction varies by my mood and depends on what genre I am 'in to' on any given day but; hmmmm I can't decide really, too many to list, it is like choosing your favorite movie, there are far too many top tens. But I would say my favorite genre is horror, and I enjoy reading horror anthologies, I have a whole lot of those.
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