OK, so BookMama asked "What is your Favorite" But picking one book is hard. You wouldn’t ask me which was my favourite child, right? So I started writing a short list of some of my favourite books, and decided to turn it into a post.
 Catch 22: This was one of those books that I could not get past chapter 1 … numerous times I started it … Finally I decided I would set aside some time to read it and press on … It does not actually take long before you see the logic in the crazyness and you really get into the book. It is one of those books that no matter how crazy he makes it, you find yourself saying “I know someone just like that!”. The book amazingly manages to be both very funny and a cold reflection of the futility of war. |
 A Tale Of Two Cities: This was another book that is difficult to get into. A gripping account of Paris, before and during the French revolution. Engaging in terms of both the big picture of the crazy goings on in Paris and the little picture of the story of some of the people caught up in it all. I love Paris, and to think of such horrendous goings on in the very same streets is mind-blowing. |
 Charlotte Gray: Although not perfect, this is Sebastian Faulks at is very best. Interesting, engaging and in places heart breaking, the followup to Birdsong took it to another level. |
 The Whole Harry Potter Series: OK, so I get no prizes for originality, but I really did love these books. |
 To Kill A Mockingbird: Thankfully we have come a long way since this book. |
 Pride And Prejudice: On a slightly different note, this is one of the most amusing books I have ever read. It also has my favourite opening line of all time
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  Nineteen Eighty-Four: Chillingly close to reality. As much as I like to tell myself that Orwell was a overly dramatic pessimist, I frequently end up equating much of what goes on in modern society to sections of this book. So many of the concepts of this book have gone on to become part of the modern English language. |
So what else is there … what are your favourites?
Warning: Anyone recommending “Catcher In The Rye” will be shot on sight …
Richard's Blog 
I love the following books (which are not underlined and I feel bad about it): Thornbirds, Wicked, Tuesdays with Morrie, Lonesome Dove, The Physician (Noah Gordon), The Midwife (Gay Courter), Angela’s Ashes, Walk Across America (Peter Jenkins), Laura Ingalls Wilder books (all of them), and Bridges of Madison County (because at heart I am a sap.) I actually started a book group and I have many books I have enjoyed. My list could be a mile long, but these are some of my favorites. My favorite children’s books: Green Eggs and Ham, Where the Wild Things are, Polar Express, Nightmare in my Closet, Thomas’ Snowsuit, The Snowy Day, Elmer, Jan Brett Books, The Spider and the Fly, and Jez Alborough books.
Aren’t you glad you asked?
I loved “To Catch A Mockingbird,” too, and I would never recommend “Catcher in the Rye,” to anyone. My other favorites – “The Great Gatsby” (I love this book with great passion!), “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings,” the entire “Anne of Green Gables” series, and the list goes on… Sadly, my mind does not go on, so I can’t recall all my great books off the top of my head. I’m a sucker for classic literature, though, just don’t stick me with Hemingway or Thoreau, please. I do love the poetry of Emily Dickinson.
As my sister mentioned her favorite children’s books, I’m pretty fond of all things Seuss and since they amuse Little Dude so, all books by Leslie Patricelli.
Ah, I love To Kill a Mockingbird. I can still remember the moment that I read Scout saying “Hey, Boo” when she realized it was Boo Radley that had saved her and her brother. What great writing!
I enjoyed your list!
Thanks for sharing! I loved To Kill a Mockingbird, 1984, the Harry Potter series (duh), etc.
mrsvierkant – The Midwife is also one of my favorites! I’ve never known anyone (other than my mom) who read them. Did you read the sequel as well?
Seriously, I have to pick my favorites? I love reading (which is why I do what I do….teach it!)
Favorite books: The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenenger, My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi PIcoult (ANY book by her is fabulous!), The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, Death of Innocence by Mamey Till Mosley, Loving Frank by Nancy Horan, The Tapestries by Kien Nguyen, The Great Gatsby, To Kill A Mockingbird (AWESOME!), ANY book or poetry by Maya Angelou…. The Christmas Box – by Richard Paul Evans…..I could go on….and on…..but I’ll spare you.
Children’s books: As Punky’s entire room is Dr. Seuss characters that I painted on the wall, I LOVE SEUSS! I also love Tikki Tikki Tembo, The Little Match Girl, Where the Wild Things Are, Benjamin Budge and Barnaby Ball…and The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein, The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg, Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst, Strega Nona by Tomie De Paola…ok, I’ll stop there…..Again, I could go on and on.
Teen novels: The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton; Wtason go to Birmingham – 1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis, Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White, Harry Potter novels (I LOVE THESE TOO!), The Giver by Lois Lowry, Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech, Bronx Masquerade by Nikki Grimes, Touching Spirit Bear by Ben Mikaelsen, Countdown by Ben Mikaelsen, Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt, Bridge to Terabithia – by Katherine Paterson, Sounder – by William Armstrong, Forged by Fire by Sharon Draper – Ok, I’ll stop here too…..
You should NEVER get me started on books! I love them! 😉
You mentioned 1984 which I LOVED.. but very similar and also by Orwell – Animal Farm. There is just something about Animal Farm that really gets to me…
Daisy
Ive got a few,
The house of Spirits by Isabel Allande, still havent seen the film as I usually end up dissapointed by films of my favourite books
The children of green knowe, I loved the tv series as a child and re read the series of books while I was pregnant with Luke and wasnt dissapointed.
The Stand By Steven King, Always freaks me out the fact that the virus could actually happen!
The Rice Mother by Rani Manica,I just enjoy it!
Any of the Deptford mice books by Robin Jarvis, Brilliant books for younger teenagers who like something a bit different but quite gory in places. I could never understand why his books werent more popular.
The Empire of the sun. Do I really need to explain why?
Of course I love the Harry Potter books, Doesnt everyone?
Theres probably hundreds more I can write about and I’ll probably post his and kick myself about one Ive forgottne. I was a total bookworm when I was younger
Unrelated to this post, I just wanted you to know that we’re suddenly having problems with the TV turning itself off randomly. Steve turns to me last night, eyes narrowed and says: I blame you and whatever force field it is that you have. LOL!
I loved the Harry Potter series too. Loved. it. And TKAM. I never could force myself to read A tale of two cities. I fell asleep after: It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…..
mrsvierkant:
I am ashamed to admit that I have read none of your gown-up books. Although some of them are in my list of “Must Reads” (I added a few too) (And yes I really am geeky enough to keep an electronic list of “Must Reads” with me at all times)
I remember looking forward to reading “Where the Wild Things are” to Bart and Lisa, as it had been so well regarded, but it never really turned into a favourite like The Gruffalo, or Dear Zoo. Jez Alborough is great though … we must have about 4 copies of Hug and a stuffed BoBo somewhere.
RC:
It is very hard to come up with these off the top of your head isn’t it … I could not believe it managed to Skip the all things Douglas Adams. As for Emily Dickinson I can only think of “If I Can Stop” which I do really like, but again I am ashamed admit my fondness for poetry seems to be concentrated in the familiar.
As for Dr Seuss, although I remember there was always a copy of “The Cat In The Hat” at school, Dr. Seuss totally passed me by as a child, so we are only now discovering the amusement of his books.
Bob:
I love the building tension throughout. When Jem goes back to get his trousers and they are repaired and folded neatly in a pile, the carving of Scout and Jem etc … I just needed to know the whole story.
BookMama:
Sorry for the blog theft ;-). And I have added A Tree Grows in Brooklyn to my Must Reads. As for having books spoilt by being forced to read them at school, I was way too much of a science dork to pay any attention to Fiction in school so came to reading as a young adult relatively unscathed.
tendrils:
I have had the first three as audiobooks sat on my iPhone for nearly the last six months … I keep meaning to start them 🙂
I also love Charlotte’s Web and almost disowned my son when he failed to cry when dies, and he does not realise that this is why I have refused to read the later Harry Potters to him.
Daisy:
January 15, 2009 at 6:09 pm edit
I liked Animal Farm too, but much more as a type of fable. I found 1984 chillingly real. I think it may also be a case of 1984 being my first Orwell read.
Nemma:
I agree. I usually make a point of avoiding films of books that I have enjoyed. They so rarely do the book justice. And yes I know how full of myself that makes me sound!
I have a bookshelf of Isabel Allande books as Mrs Geek read many of them for her Degree, but I have yet to start them. The problem is that many of them are still in Spanish 🙂
imhelendt:
You truly are a freak of nature!
As for A Tale Of Two Cities, I love the book, but I do struggle to see where the “best of times” were in it!
I’m a Jane Austen girl, so many of her books top my chart. My husband got me the BBC miniseries version of P&P – the one with Colin Firth – for Christmas. He has now watched it. Twice. Once by himself.
I’mnot supposed to tell…
I don’t think he’d actually read it, but my macho guy loved it.
BeThisWay: I got the Colin Firth series for Mrs Geek a while back, but we have yet to watch it. I can understand why he is reluctant for you to share his secret 😆 I have many such secrets that I am willing to share through the veil interweb anonymity 😀
Okay, now that I got that out of the way, Some of my favorites from childhood to today…
Little Women
Anything by Jane Austen
Anne of Green Gables
The Little House Books
The Boxcar Children series
The Endless Steppe
Just to name a few…
It’s funny that none of the books I’ve read as an adult have gripped me the same way that these books did. I’ve always been a voracious reader, but more often than not the plots seem to be on a chip in my brain that gets erased as soon as I read the next book.
BeThisWay: I can totally relate to that, but for me I think it is just a function of age. I can remember books like Of Mice And Men and Treasure Island in intimate detail, yet I get to the store and have to phone my wife to ask what I should be buying!
Just wanted to say thanks Richard… Ive rediscovered the library this week after this post got me thinking about how much I miss reading good books!
I’ve also taken the kids to the library too, Lukes been before for rattle and rhyme sessions vbut Im ashamed to say Jack has never been.
Since monday we’ve been twice lol. Its the new favourite place to go!