Athena Posted June 8, 2015 Share Posted June 8, 2015 I suspect there are more that are not fond of the book, but given the overwhelming praise for it are somewhat cowed by the tsunami and feel a bit shy of mentioning their dislike. Awww, a person should never feel bad about voicing their opinion about a book . I fully understand it though, I'm also hesistant to say I liked or disliked something if a lot of other people thought the opposite. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Echo Posted June 11, 2015 Share Posted June 11, 2015 Here's my list of recommended books: Fiction/Literature Persuasion by Jane Austen Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte Shirley by Charlotte Bronte Vanity Fair by W.M. Thackeray Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery David Copperfield by Charles Dickens Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien Lady Chatterley's Lover by D.H. Lawrence Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf The Bohemians of the Latin Quarter by Henry Murger Little Women by Louisa May Alcott Ireland: A Novel by Frank Delaney The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath The Wind Up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami A Wild Sheep Chase by Haruki Murakami Sophie's World by Jostein Gaarder Hanna's Daughters by Marianne Fredriksson Siddhartha by Herman Hesse On the Road by Jack Kerouac American Gods by Neil Gaiman Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman The Enchanted April by Elizabeth Von Arnim The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton The Stand by Stephen King The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho The Stranger by Albert Camus Faerie Tale by Raymond Feist The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez Nonfiction And the Band Played On by Randy Shilts The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien Bohemian Manifesto by Laren Stover Maiden, Mother, Crone by D.J. Conway I'm sure there are more that I'm forgetting, but it's a start, at least! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kylie Posted June 14, 2015 Share Posted June 14, 2015 Great list, Echo! I see a lot of books there that I really loved (and just two I really didn't ). I'm so pleased to see you around here again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Echo Posted June 18, 2015 Share Posted June 18, 2015 Great list, Echo! I see a lot of books there that I really loved (and just two I really didn't ). I'm so pleased to see you around here again. Thanks, Kylie! I'm so glad to be back! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alicedrinkwater Posted July 13, 2015 Share Posted July 13, 2015 Paul, willoyd, bookmonkey....y'all can add me to the list of extreme dislike(rs) of The Book Thief. I suspect there are more that are not fond of the book, but given the overwhelming praise for it are somewhat cowed by the tsunami and feel a bit shy of mentioning their dislike. Here's another one that did not like The Book Thief. There are more of us than you think. ;-) Of course, I also didn't like The Shadow of the Wind or One Hundred Years of Solitude, two other novels that seemed to receive endless praise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chesilbeach Posted July 13, 2015 Share Posted July 13, 2015 Here's another one that did not like The Book Thief. There are more of us than you think. ;-) Me too. We could form an anti-fan club Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alicedrinkwater Posted July 16, 2015 Share Posted July 16, 2015 Me too. We could form an anti-fan club Since this is a thread for books we recommend, I should post a few of mine here. The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters Little, Big or The Fairies' Parliament by John Crowley Possession by A.S. Byatt Peace by Gene Wolfe Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier I have lots more, but that's a start and what I can think of at the moment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pontalba Posted July 16, 2015 Share Posted July 16, 2015 Here's another one that did not like The Book Thief. There are more of us than you think. ;-) Of course, I also didn't like The Shadow of the Wind or One Hundred Years of Solitude, two other novels that seemed to receive endless praise. Glad to see that! Yes! both of those left me gasping for air. Unfinished. Agree, def recommend Lolita, and also Nabokov's "detective" story, The Real Life of Sebastian Knight. I've only read about half of Nabokov's work, but really for anyone that has read at least that much Look at the Harlequins! is absolutely hilarious. John Banville's loose trilogy, I call it the Freddy trilogy.....The Book of Evidence, Athena and Ghosts. Then his Untouchable is a fictional telling of Kim Philby's spying and defection. Excellent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peacefield Posted July 17, 2015 Share Posted July 17, 2015 Love this thread! Here's what I could come with so far, but I'm sure I'll be back Fiction: The Count of Monte Cristo – Alexandre Dumas The Shining – Stephen King The Dante Club – Matthew Pearl The Lady and the Unicorn – Tracy Chevalier A Tale of Two Cities – Charles Dickens Instance of the Fingerpost – Iain Pears The Secret History – Donna Tartt The Goldfinch – Donna Tartt The Historian – Elizabeth Kostova Girl with a Pearl Earring – Tracy Chevalier Circle of Friends – Maeve Binchy The Fountainhead – Ayn Rand Ordinary People – Judith Guest To Kill a Mockingbird – Harper Lee My Name is Asher Lev – Chiam Potok The Outsiders – SE Hinton Ready Player One – Ernest Cline The Last Runaway – Tracy Chevalier Fiction Series: Anne of Green Gables – LM Montgomery Julian Kestrel mysteries – Kate Ross Flavia de Luce – Alan Bradley Jonathan Argyle mysteries – Ian Pears Thursday Next – Jasper Fforde Non-Fiction: Close to Shore – Michael Capuzzo Land of the Burnt Thigh – Eudora Edith Khol Bring Warm Clothes – Peg Meier The Art Spirit – Robert Henri How to Lose Friends and Alienate People – Toby Young Little House on the Prairie - Laura Ingalls Wilder (fiction or non-fiction?) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alicedrinkwater Posted July 17, 2015 Share Posted July 17, 2015 (edited) Glad to see that! Yes! both of those left me gasping for air. Unfinished. Agree, def recommend Lolita, and also Nabokov's "detective" story, The Real Life of Sebastian Knight. I've only read about half of Nabokov's work, but really for anyone that has read at least that much Look at the Harlequins! is absolutely hilarious. John Banville's loose trilogy, I call it the Freddy trilogy.....The Book of Evidence, Athena and Ghosts. Then his Untouchable is a fictional telling of Kim Philby's spying and defection. Excellent. I did finish both of those, but I was rather miffed at myself for wasting my time. I have almost all of Nabokov's books, but have read so few. I have a feeling I will love most if not all of them, though. His command of the English language astounds and awes me. Edited July 17, 2015 by alicedrinkwater Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frankie Posted July 17, 2015 Author Share Posted July 17, 2015 Possession by A.S. Byatt I want to read and love this book but it intimidates me. I know that it's going to be a difficult read, I need to have my dictionary opened Here's what I could come with so far, but I'm sure I'll be back That's the best part about the thread: you can come back with recommendations and make other people's wishlists longer A Tale of Two Cities – Charles Dickens The Secret History – Donna Tartt To Kill a Mockingbird – Harper Lee Here here! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alicedrinkwater Posted July 17, 2015 Share Posted July 17, 2015 I want to read and love this book but it intimidates me. I know that it's going to be a difficult read, I need to have my dictionary opened frankie, it's really not a difficult read once you get into the rhythm of it. I tried it twice and almost gave up on it. The third time, I got past the first 50 pages, and I was pulled into it. It had an unexpected twist ending that literally made me burst into tears. That rarely happens in my reading experience. It was so worth it. Try to put aside your notion that it's a difficult read. I thought it would be, too, but in the end it wasn't. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frankie Posted July 18, 2015 Author Share Posted July 18, 2015 frankie, it's really not a difficult read once you get into the rhythm of it. I tried it twice and almost gave up on it. The third time, I got past the first 50 pages, and I was pulled into it. It had an unexpected twist ending that literally made me burst into tears. That rarely happens in my reading experience. It was so worth it. Try to put aside your notion that it's a difficult read. I thought it would be, too, but in the end it wasn't. I'm relieved to hear that you found it difficult to get into at first, too, and almost didn't read it at all. That gives me faith And to hear that it the ending had such a great and unexpected effect on you... I'll try to go into the novel without prejudices, I'll try! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alicedrinkwater Posted July 18, 2015 Share Posted July 18, 2015 I'm relieved to hear that you found it difficult to get into at first, too, and almost didn't read it at all. That gives me faith And to hear that it the ending had such a great and unexpected effect on you... I'll try to go into the novel without prejudices, I'll try! YAAAAYYYY! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frankie Posted July 18, 2015 Author Share Posted July 18, 2015 YAAAAYYYY! Do you know the Folio Society edition? It's so gorgeous I bet you would love it. I tried googling for pictures but only found the front cover. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willoyd Posted July 19, 2015 Share Posted July 19, 2015 It looks as if it's just sold out at the Folio Society: it was on their website until quite recently, but I can't find it now. I did manage to find one of the internal illustrations, below. I can only confirm that it's a lovely edition - as that is the one which I read last year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frankie Posted July 20, 2015 Author Share Posted July 20, 2015 It looks as if it's just sold out at the Folio Society: it was on their website until quite recently, but I can't find it now. I did manage to find one of the internal illustrations, below. I can only confirm that it's a lovely edition - as that is the one which I read last year. I knew it was a Folio Society edition and tried looking on their website but couldn't find it there anymore Thanks for posting the picture, it's gorgeous!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alicedrinkwater Posted July 20, 2015 Share Posted July 20, 2015 Do you know the Folio Society edition? It's so gorgeous I bet you would love it. I tried googling for pictures but only found the front cover. It looks as if it's just sold out at the Folio Society: it was on their website until quite recently, but I can't find it now. I did manage to find one of the internal illustrations, below. I can only confirm that it's a lovely edition - as that is the one which I read last year. That edition is gorgeous! I definitely don't have that one. Funny, though. The copy I did have I replaced after reading the book, as I wanted a more pleasing cover. The first copy I owned had a picture from the movie, and I thought it was awful . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JudyM Posted May 29, 2016 Share Posted May 29, 2016 I have just added Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout to my must read list. It's about a small community in Maine and has a really curious structure. It's not so much a novel but a series of short stories with some characters appearing in some of the stories. it is about nothing much really, but about everything. Love, betrayal, tricky parent and children relationships, loss and the realisation of impending mortality. Can anyone recommend any of her other novels? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anna Begins Posted May 29, 2016 Share Posted May 29, 2016 That is a beautiful cover! Almost makes me want it! I hate when they change covers for movies (looking at you, The Marian lol). I hate the huge picture of Matt Damon! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
therealapollo Posted June 22, 2016 Share Posted June 22, 2016 My recommendations below from what i enjoyed reading and re-reading my whole life. All these authors, for those books with authors, are an inspiration for me as i am embarking on my own journey to write a fiction. What better way to spend your time than to read and think about the pursuit to destroy the one ring or Arthur Dent's the adventures in the galaxy or the thoughts that one great man penned on his letters. Whenever i feel down, i just read one of these books to get back on track.The Lord Of The Rings - Jrr TolkienTo Kill A Mocking Bird - Harper LeeThe Surangama SutraThe Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy - Douglas AdamsHarry Potter - Jk RowlingTruth Vs Illusion - Joy SuThirukkural Pearls Of InspirationMy Name Is Red - Orhan PamukThe Prodigal Daughter - Jeffery ArcherTo The Lighthouse - Virginia WoolfJRD Tata: LettersElon Musk - Ashlee VanceHow To Develop A Brilliant Memory - Dominic O'brien Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roo Posted August 5, 2016 Share Posted August 5, 2016 Oooh, useful list thanks! as an English teacher I'm always looking for good books. Any good teenage titles? My stduents are between 12-16 (bilingual). Thanks Roo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lau_Lou Posted June 8, 2017 Share Posted June 8, 2017 Hi Roo, Holes by Louis Sachar Just one book but may be able to think of others later. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eimanton Posted September 6, 2017 Share Posted September 6, 2017 Hello all, I have rediscovered the joy of reading a couple of years ago whilst doing my degree, and would love to hear from you about your favourite books ever. Have you ever read a book that has completely altered the way you perceive the world, or one which has truly shocked you? Which books have you never wanted to place down, or would simply recommend as absolute must-reads? Thanks, and I hope to hear from you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Talisman Posted September 15, 2017 Share Posted September 15, 2017 Goodness I don't know where to even start. I must have read over 1000 books during my lifetime which is far from over (at least I hope not). These books include children's classics, mind, body and spirit, alternative history, popular science, political and economics, religious books and texts, general fiction, travel books and of course the odd biography (and some of them have been very odd). I suppose the books that have most changed the way I view things are the mind, body and spirit books. Books such A Course in Miracles, which I spent close to year studying, the Conversations with God books by Neale Donald and of course Eckhart Tolle. Some of the political and economics books have changed the way I view things as well - in particular Owen Jones 2 books Chavs and The Establishment. My politics are very different to Owen's but I still find myself agreeing with a lot of what he talks about. One of the things I have been doing for the last 4 or 5 years is the Around the World Reading Challenge and this has introduced me to a lot of world literature and authors from countries that a lot of people have probably never even heard of. I have read a lot of books as part of this challenge on different wars and conditions for both men and women in refugee zones and so on. Three books that really stand out for me though have been one on the Rwandan/Burundian genocide by American author Tracey Kidder entitled Strength in What Remains, one by another American Dave Eggers on the so-called lost boys of South Sudan called What is the What (Eggers other fictional work The Circle is also really good) and one from the small west African country of Togo called Do they Hear You When you Cry. This was written by an exceptionally brave young woman called Fauziya Kassindja whose case made legal history as the first woman to successfully claim asylum to the US on the grounds of FGM and forced marriage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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