Favorite book of all time

[HI SPEED]

What is your favorite book of all time?

No qualifiers needed. No judging.

It doesn't need to have the best prose, or be the most controversial book ever written.

Just your favorite book of all time, and a small blurb on why.

For me it is Neuromancer by William Gibson.



This prophetic book is credited with starting the cyber punk era. It doesn't quite stand up as well as some of the other novels of the genre, but it still is quite relevant today. Reading this book got me into reading, and also shaped my love of technology. It is pretty mind boggling how many predictions of Gibson's were pin point accurate, considering the internet was just a glint in Al Gore's eye at the time he wrote it.

Great book pick it up. It will appeal to you even if you are not a huge Sci-Fi fan.

[VDubby18]

Old but good!

[Crash6]

The Count of Monte Christo

[robw_z]

Not a very original choice, but true. I really hate the image on the cover though.

-Rob

[Laser04]

Coolest Characters and Plot ever. Plus you knew someone was going to post this or LOTR.

[EK20]

Oh man, what a difficult choice to make. I'm not sure I could pick just one, but I could probably narrow it down to 3 or 4 books.



If I had to pick one, it would probably pick Wizard's First Rule. Hidden subtly under fantastic fantasy is a really good message (inspired heavily by Atlas Shrugged) brought to life by some of the most vivid and engaging characters of modern fiction. I jumped into Wizard's First Rule (and subsequently the rest of the Sword Of Truth series) as someone who hadn't read much fantasy up to that point and still really enjoyed it.

The runners up:

[evosky]

wow i hated jane eyre, most boring book ever. then again, that was in high school.

i think my most recent favorite is



though the classics that i must also mention are:
- Redwall series
- Deathstalker series
- Where the Red Fern Grows
- John Bellairs books

... too hard to pick, so many good books out there.

i just finished The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Good casual read, nothing profound though. Solid entertainment.
currently going through Stephen King's The Dome

[johnnyOcho]

old school and public domain on my phone

[Big M]

I can never pick a favorite book/movie/song/etc because I like so many for different reasons. For example, how can you compare a compelling account of Cold War espionage to a classic novel?

That said, I tend to use Breakfast of Champions as my default answer when asked what is my favorite book.

[pdoel]

[TurboZen]

Pure genius. Was the first book for my kindle as it was free. Sure I studied the Theory of Evolution in grade school and college but never read his original work. It's the best science literature I've ever read.

2nd favorite: Neal Stephenson's Anathem. Epic science fiction adventure.

[$JoMoney$]

These were full of chuckles and very addicting...



One of my all time faves though

[Ryan D]

I can never pick a favorite book/movie/song/etc because I like so many for different reasons. For example, how can you compare a compelling account of Cold War espionage to a classic novel?

That said, I tend to use Breakfast of Champions as my default answer when asked what is my favorite book.

I have the same problem when trying to choose a favorite book. When someone asks me I usually say the last book that I read.

[My Big]

Eldest by Paolini

[AlisonAshley]

A Tree Grows In Brooklyn & Gone With The Wind are two of my favorites. I'm a huge Stephen King fan too, and It was his first book I ever read so its high up on the list too.

[Vamped]

Coolest Characters and Plot ever. Plus you knew someone was going to post this or LOTR.

This

[22AudiQ]

Catcher in the Rye

9 Stories

Both by Salinger

1984 comes in a close second.

To Kill a Mockingbird comes in a close third.

The Great Gatsby comes in a close fourth.

They're all about equal, honestly.

[CoolChick]

Hard to pick one favorite. Some in the running would be Jane Eyre, Great Expectations, A Christmas Carol, The Little Prince. Many more I could add.

[GreenandChrome]

Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton.

The thought of cloning extinct creatures is one of those cutting-edge scientific breakthroughs, so why not go with dinosaurs? Maybe we could find out why they went extinct (comet/no comet theories). Philosophically, the book has some great lines that can apply to many things in the world.

Paraphrase/examples: Scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to see if they should. Scientists stood on the shoulders of the scientists before them, they take no responsibility for their power, like an angry husband who purchases his "power" in the form of a .38 special. Unlike the karate master who's has years of training to become responsible with his power.

[nutcracker]

I don't read many books these days but I remember that James Clavell's Asian Saga novels were some of my favorite books growing up, especially Shogun and Noble House. They made TV adaptations of some of these books, but none were very good.

[Ryan D]

Catcher in the Rye

9 Stories

Both by Salinger

1984 comes in a close second.

To Kill a Mockingbird comes in a close third.

The Great Gatsby comes in a close fourth.

They're all about equal, honestly.

I really, really enjoyed both The Catcher in the Rye and 9 Stories.

I read both 1984 and To Kill a Mockingbird in high school (along with The Catcher in the Rye) and instantly enjoyed them both.

My next favorite book would have to be The Hobbit. I first read it when I was in elementary school.

[falundafa]

Pride and Prejudice, it's a masterpiece of all time.

[Minimaul]

There, there. There, there.

[brownhornet]

this...


or maybe

this...


it changes

[Spinnaker]

As has been mentioned, too many to list. My favorite series is the Aubrey/Maturin books by O'brian (I love nautical literature)


Though my fall back is usually On the Road by Kerouac.

Basically defines the restlessness in me.

[smittyATL]

I read this one every few years.

It always gives me a warm feeling and motivation in life when I finish it, though it starts a bit slow.

[Spinnaker]

Pride and Prejudice, it's a masterpiece of all time.

Do you know how I know you're gay?

[Bustov]

A few contenders

[MrRoboito]

pleasantly surprised to see some one else enjoying these books. I read the first one at 13 and got hooked. Read the whole series, cought up to #6 i think and then had to wait as each came out. If you liked the sword of truth series, check out The Law of 9's. lots of reference to TSOT series By Terry Goodkind.

Oh man, what a difficult choice to make. I'm not sure I could pick just one, but I could probably narrow it down to 3 or 4 books.



If I had to pick one, it would probably pick Wizard's First Rule. Hidden subtly under fantastic fantasy is a really good message (inspired heavily by Atlas Shrugged) brought to life by some of the most vivid and engaging characters of modern fiction. I jumped into Wizard's First Rule (and subsequently the rest of the Sword Of Truth series) as someone who hadn't read much fantasy up to that point and still really enjoyed it.

[EK20]

pleasantly surprised to see some one else enjoying these books. I read the first one at 13 and got hooked. Read the whole series, cought up to #6 i think and then had to wait as each came out. If you liked the sword of truth series, check out The Law of 9's. lots of reference to TSOT series By Terry Goodkind.

I keep meaning to pick up Law Of Nines, but always forget to look for it at the book store whenever I am there. Definitely will be picking up The Omen Machine though.

[monkey7247]

I love the Wheel of Times series. Cant wait for it to complete.

[Bustov]

I love the Wheel of Times series. Cant wait for it to complete.

Apparently Robert Jordan could't wait either.

[monkey7247]

Apparently Robert Jordan could't wait either.

True. So far Brandon Sanderson has handled the completion role well, I think.

[xoxoGINA]

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley and The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom.

[cryption]

If you liked the Sword of Truth series give the Wheel of Time a read. Both have their ups and downs, but I ended up reading Wheel of Time more then Sword of Truth.