2007-03-19 02:59:07 · 19 answers · asked by R 3 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Books & Authors
Here's the short list:
John Irving's "A Prayer for Owen Meany" -- wonderful story, richly drawn characters, heartbreaking ending. I read it over and over.
Louisa May Alcott's "Little Women" -- a timeless story of coming of age in the face of hardship. We have all experienced what these girls do.
Robert Heinlein's "Stranger in a Strange Land" -- Simply the finest sci-fi writer ever.
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2007-03-19 03:48:47 · answer #1 · answered by Chickyn in a Handbasket 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Wow, it is so hard to name just one.
Moby Dick - It is so deep. Sorry if that sounds corny, I am not sure how else to put it. It can be read on so many different levels.
One Hundred Years of Solitude - Similar reasons to Moby Dick.
Les Miserables - Tremendous moral dilemmas and great historical accuracy.
1984 - Makes you think
Catch 22 - I used to work for the US Government. This book is hilarious and hardly fictional. There is a subplot where the planes bomb the wrong town. In order to cover it up the Army gives everyone a medal. Without going into details, I have seen such a thing happen while working for the US Government.
I am now reading Paradise Lost. It is a tough read but very good already.
2007-03-19 10:47:57 · answer #2 · answered by Adoptive Father 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I actually have three because two of them make up a series and the other one I just loved to read, Angels & Demons, Da Vinnci Code and Digital Fortress all Dan Brown Books. He happens to be my favourite Author of all time he is just a genous. I like contriversial books that are fast paced and that you can't put down.
My favourite childhood author was Enid Bylton and my favourite book was The Far Away Tree, I liked to get last in my books of fantasy, and this was one of those fabulous books to get last in.
2007-03-19 10:50:47 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Gosh...there are so many.
1. _Ulysses- by James Joyce. My thesis relied heavily on it. It's not an easy read, and it is always a lot of work, but it was well worth it.
2. _Bridge to Terribithia_ by Katharine Patterson. My favorite book as a Child, I still re-read it every now and then.
3. _The God of Small Things_ Arundhati Roy. Exquisite.
4. _Lamb_ by Christopher Moore. Hilarious.
5. _The End of the Affair. Graham Greene. Also a great book on the nature of belief.
2007-03-19 10:49:15 · answer #4 · answered by carwheelsongravel1975 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Haunting of Alaizabel Cray by Chris Wooding because, its a well-written, mindboggling horror story that doesn't try too hard to be scary - it just is.
Catcher in the Rye -- personally, i'm a huge fan of depressing angst, and not only is this novel a good depiction of that, but anyone can relate to it at some point in their lives.
Stranger Inside -- normally, I'm not an overt fan of sci-fi, but this one caught be because of its in-depth imagery, and the fact that the author makes it seem like this could very well happen in real life -- all without really trying to make it seem that way.
The Black Dagger Brotherhood Series -- an awesome, probably the best, vampire series I've ever read and will ever read. Its content may be adult, but the characters -- their names alone make you want to love them [Rhage, Zsadist, Wrath, Tehrror, Vishous, Rehvenge, Phury, and Tohrment] -- are fun, blunt...and well, its just a really hot vampire series.
2007-03-19 13:05:22 · answer #5 · answered by Khrysten R 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think that my all time favorite book would have to be two books, Gone With The Wind and Scarlet, because when reading it the characters seem like someone you know and it seems like what is happening could happen to you. What I'm trying to say is that the books seem to portray real humans (not fictional people) and the books deal with real human emotions and seem to be a good example of what humans go through and how they handle hard times. It seems to explain the strenght we find in ourselves when needed and it seems that the characterists of the characters can be found in those we know.
When reading it, I found characterists of myself in the characters in the book.
I would recommend reading it. It may be long for some of you but it is great and I think that you may like it. I loved it and I believe that you should try and read it. It portrays humans, especially women, really good. You may be surprised and enjoy it.
2007-03-19 10:31:48 · answer #6 · answered by tigerbaby 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I loved Earth Abides. One of the main themes is that we need to realize what we can change and not change in life, and to accept that once we know. I also love the philosophical comments throughout the book. It's a thought-provoking novel with imagination and emotion.
2007-03-23 14:01:52 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
OF HUMAN BONDAGE by W. Somerset Maughan. I really identified with the main character, Philip, when I first read this book. At a time when I felt that I had my life on a one-way track to Nowheresville, this gave me hope that I had a lot of living to do, and I could change my destination at any time.
2007-03-19 10:09:12 · answer #8 · answered by Maddog Salamander 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The Celestine Prophesy by James Redfield.It is called a "fictional adventure" but it is much more than that and essentially brought me back to where I needed to be spiritually. Inspired much thinking, contemplation and meditation. It doesn't endorse any particular religion or means of spirituality but it will certainly get a "searcher" to wake up!
2007-03-19 10:51:04 · answer #9 · answered by June smiles 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That is such a hard question to answer...
I have so many for so many different reasons.
The closest I can come to an answer, is anything by James Joyce.
Poetry.. Anything by Rilke.
Spiritual... The Kybalion
Philosophy. Sartre.
2007-03-19 12:05:29 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋