What's the best book you have ever read and why ?

Question

Thankyou for answering, i love reading and am very fascinated about people's views on books however obscure !!!

Hey! Thankyou for all your answers this is GREAT!!
I have SO many more books to check out now!!

Answer 1

Dear Pure:
If you had asked me this question a few years ago I probably would have said "The Catcher in the Rye." It tells the tale of Holden Caulfield who in the space of a few days sees his whole life unravel, so much so that he winds up in an asylum. It deals with teenage angst including peer pressure, academics, parents, etc. It's fairly short, you can breeze through it in a couple of days.
And if you had asked me last year, I would have said "Moby Dick." It's more than a fish story, it's about being an American in the mid 1800's and a lot of the issues are still relevant today.
But right now my favorite book is "The Things They Carried" by Tim O'Brien. It tells stories about US soldiers in Vietnam. But more to the point, it's his wonderful story-telling style that is the highlight of the book. And his language is dead on. It's a collection of related short stories and I challenge anyone to figure out which ones are true stories and which ones are "war" stories. If you only read one story in the book, read "How to tell a true war story." And then read "Sweetheart of the Song Tra Bong." I defy you to tell me that never happened somewhere, or that it couldn't happen somewhere, even if it was only in Mr. O'Brien's mind.
As my teacher used to say, "It's a great day for reading." Let me read another story and then it's time for "Heroes".

Answer 2

The best book I have ever read is Jurassic Park. I read that book AT LEAST once a year; sometimes more. I like it because Michael Crichton has a way of writing, that makes you believe what he is writing about. Reading the scientific portions of that book, you almost believe that we can actually make dinosaurs.

P.S. Those books by Dave Pelzer are a couple of the very few books that almost bring me to tears. To hear that there are monsters out there under the guise of parents, that would actually treat children like that is a terrifying thought. What is this world coming to?

Answer 3

I loved the Great Gatsby b/c it is so drenched in symbolism. Nothing is in there by accident. I also really like David Sedaris' books b/c they are so funny and so off the wall. Finally I'm also a big fan of Anne Rice's work b/c while at first glance it seems a little occultish, for me its more like reading an exciting history text. Her characters move through centuries of earth's civilizations, so reading the books is almost like reading about living in old time periods. She is also very good at asessing and dissecting human emotion and interaction which is interesting.

Answer 4

I have 2 favorites, To Kill A Mockingbird is an absolute wonderful book.
A boy called IT by Dave Pelzer is also very good, it is about a boy who is terribly abused, yet manages to still find a reason to go on. There are 2 others that follow but the first is the most gripping.

Answer 5

I am 15 and many ppl think it is weird that i love to read so much but i absolutely LOVE to read. I actually like pretty much all the books i read but i loved To Kill a Mockingbird because it was just so well written and i could relate to the characters. I also love the two books in the unfinished trilogy by Libba Bray. they are called The Great and Terrible beauty and Rebel Angels. They are so great! Bray really makes the characters pop and they are easy to relate to. also it has the coolest plot.
I also love ppl's views on books!

Answer 6

Right now I'm reading "women who run with the wolves," by Clarissa Pinkola Estes, Ph.D. It's very fascinating...the author tells numerous stories and fables that have been passed down for centuries and centuries, and she describes in depth what these stories really mean. You realize how complex and in depth these stories really are! The stories that she includes in the book all have to do with what she calls the Wild Woman archetype. It's a brilliant way for women (and men) to study the many powers and skills that woman have within their psyche. Very brilliant, and the books helps women get in touch with their Wild Woman within!

Answer 7

The best book I've read in awhile is "Good Omens" by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman. It is so funny. It is a satirical take on the Apocalypse. I'm only halfway through the book, and it is already my favorite book. I'd definitely recommend it, look it up on amazon.com to find an overview of the book.

Answer 8

"So many books, so little time" I love your question because I love reading! The answers here are interesting too. I loved "Peter and the Starcatchers" it is the prequel to Peter Pan and just so well written it keeps your interest. My all time favorite is "Sarah" by Orson Scott Card about Sarah, Abraham's wife,
from the bible. I also loved Stephen King's the STAND not the tv show but the book was great!

I'd love to hear what your favorite book is?!?

Answer 9

The best book i ever read was When You Look At Me by Undra E Biggs i loved this book because it was telling you how a struggle went on between a teenage mom and her mom to decide what her outcome of life would be and it also made me want to read it twice.

Answer 10

Don Ruiz, The Four Agreements

It has the key to dealing with people through dealing with yourself and can be applied no matter what your religion.

In truth the Bible has had the most influence on me personally but not every one is a christian and its hard to read if you're not a christian as it requires the Holy Spirit for interpretation.

Ruiz's book is for everyone and is wisdom in its simplicity and accessibility, as well as its basic truth. Enjoy!