Other than your religion's scriptural book(s), what are your favorite books/authors and Why ?

Answer 1

Terry Pratchett. He's a prolific British author with a dry sense of humor. His writings are both funny and profound at the same time.

I also like his views on witches, Death, and the afterlife.

Verence would rather cut his own leg off than put a witch in prison, since it'd save trouble in the long run and probably be less painful.
-- (Terry Pratchett, Lords and Ladies)

His philosophy was a mixture of three famous schools -- the Cynics, the Stoics and the Epicureans -- and summed up all three of them in his famous phrase, "You can't trust any bugger further than you can throw him, and there's nothing you can do about it, so let's have a drink."

-- We meet Dydactylos the philosopher (Terry Pratchett, Small Gods)

Cuius testiculos habes, habeas cardia et cerebellum.
-- (Terry Pratchett, Small Gods)

I AM DEATH, NOT TAXES. I TURN UP ONLY ONCE.
-- (Terry Pratchett, Feet of Clay)

I HOPE WE ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE ANY OF THIS 'FOUL FIEND' BUSINESS AGAIN.
-- Death gets summoned by the college council (Terry Pratchett, Eric)

Answer 2

Gone With the Wind:
by Margaret Mitchell
I wasn't living @ the time of the civil war, so all we could learn about it is from the history books. Or family history. It gives insight to another point of view...the human factor. The turmoil that families were in. The choices and crisis that they faced.
I read M.Mitchell's autobiography 1st, she did some amazing things during her life. Copyright laws; she started that. Hitler was stomping through Europe, her books were affected by it. She went into an International Court, won, and copyright laws begun. I'm sure there's more to it then that. But, I'm not a lawyer.

Roots and Queen:
by Alex Haley
What this man A. Haley did is just astonishing! Tracing his family tree back 200 years!! Through the time slavery, of Africans. If n/e1 reading this; understands how records were/ weren't kept. U'll realize what an amazing feat he pulled off. Families ripped from each other. Never to see or hear from each other again. The atrocities committed.
To this day...the sun Never sets on the Sons of Africa.
What he did was absolutely incredible.
The rich history of his family, the triumphs and tragedies.

Answer 3

The Bible- Really, now?

The True Beliver- Eric Hoffer. Brilliant insight into the nature and causes of mass movements, the mindset of the leaders, and the mindset of the people who lose themselves and their individuality in order to "be one thread of the many that make-up the tunic." A true, fascinating read.

All the Xanth series by Piers Anthony

Beasts- John Crowley- A future look at the world of hybrid genetics gone wrong with the creation of a race of beings half-human/half-lion and the struggles they face amidst the men who want them dead, and the men who are trying to save them.

Pretty much anything by John Grisham

National Geographic magazines

Anything about Egypt or Japan (two favorite cultures)

Answer 4

As much as I believe in the bible, for reading for pleasure I love Stephen King, Peter Straub, and now Stephen King's son, Joe Hill, who's quite good. I like writers who can put together characters with flaws, but are still the good guys, with seemingly impossible and strange obstacles to get past.

Answer 5

I love Ann Rule books they are great most true crime is boring but her's is not.

Answer 6

Enid Blyton's. Her books are about friendship. When she describes food, you feel like going & trying it out... ;-)