What is your favorite book and why?

Red Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson.

I have many actually, but the last one that I read to join my list was George Orwell's "1984." It was truly wicked

1. "Pride & Prejudice" - Jane Austen
2. "Gone With the Wind" - Margaret Mitchell
3. "Sense & Sensibility" - Jane Austen
4. "Howards End" - E.M. Forster
5. "Anna Karenina" - Leo Tolstoy
6. "Pale Blue Dot" - Carl Sagan

My goal is to get through "War & Peace", but everytime I try to read it, I get so confused my the names I can't finish. I also just finished "Bridget Jones's Diary" which was pretty good.

I don't have any.

Any of the Harry Potter bocks, because they are very well writen.

The Srimad Bagavatam http://www.webcom.com/~ara/col/books/CLAS/bhag/

Tuesdays with Maury. It is the most insperational book i've ever read. It made ma laugh, made me cry and made me look at life a little differently.

There are too many to list.

Stones from the River by Ursula Hegi. Why? Because it's about a young woman who is a dwarf (I'm not, but I am rather short)and is the librarian of a private rental library set in Hitler's Germany. It tells how she is rejected by her mother, how she deals with being different which in turn results in her aiding Jews who are fleeing from the SS because they are "different".

Popcorn: Ben Elton
Empty World: ??

Because these are pretty much the only 2 books I have read in my life!!

Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace. Because it's brilliant.

The Secret History by Donna Tartt.

I love too many to pick one.

Noooooooooooooooo! I can't think of just one!

But reading's good!

I don't think I have a favorite book these days... there are quite a few I like a lot. Possibly "The Bread Bible" is my favorite... or Harold McGee's "On Food and Cooking"... or possibly "Illuminatus!"...

Never got into at school so I guess I have to go on here to learn!!

Favorite novel - "The Stand" by Stephen King.
But I have lots of favorite nonfiction books.

Don't know.

Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess

Tough one. I'll go with "To Kill a Mockingbird". I feel very strongly about that book...I always have.

Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh. It's wonderful, sharp and witty.
Memoirs of a Geisha by what's-his-name. It's really compelling.

'Alchemist'
I'm trying to recall who wrote it, but I can't.

I thought Harriet the Spy was really funny when I was much younger, and just bought another copy of it a couple years ago, and still liked it.

If anyone wants to discuss books with me and (hopefully) some of the LICC people, http://www.homestead.com/nccybersoaps/chatroom.html is available. And, ignoring this blatant plug, I should point out it is far less annoying than the SC chatroom. None of that annoying flashing, and your messages usually go up right away!

I love that book!

But the movie version of it was bad.

"The Atonement Child" by Francine Rivers. It's the only book to ever make me cry.
I also really enjoyed "In His Steps" by Charles Sheldon and "The Hiding Place" by Corrie Ten Boom.

I read and enjoyed "Tuesdays with Morrie", as well. What an inspiration!

Isn't it wonderful?!?!?! Did you see the movie? Wow... What a tear jerker.

I like Harry Potter, but I don't reallt have a favourite, I like different kinds.

You should try reading the Biggles books I just read that loads of them are being reprinted (some of them for the first time)! I *have* to buy them all!!! Need money!

Just bought Umberto Eco's new book: Baudolino. And he was in the store, so he signed it for me.

It's great! I really identify with Harriet, even though the book was published about 15 years before I was born.

You're right. Most movie versions suck!

I know what you mean. I think almost anyone could relate to the things Harriet and her friends do. There are just certain things that all kids do. And no, I am not calling you a kid.

I learned a lot from that book.

No, I haven't seen the movie. But I saw parts of it when Oprah did a show about it. I'd love to see it!

anything by Robert A Heinlien -- escape!

I am sort of a kid. I'm only thirteen! Another thing I like about the book are the illustrations. They're very "real".

Yeah, the illustrations are great. When I read the book, I could really picture in my mind what the people looked like and were doing, especially Ole Golly. As for you being a kid, I just meant I didn't want to be talking down to you. You are really smart and mature for 13.

Taylor Caldwell's 'Prologue To Love' is my favorite book. I loaned it to an acquaintance and SHE LOST IT ON ME!!! I've been trying to replace it ever since. It's out of print long ago. My only hope is second -hand stores. I tried a few of those, with no luck. I've tried on the internet, with no luck. I'm so steamed every time I think of it. I also like Anya Seton's 'Green Darkness'.I like a lot of books but I like those more.

Yeah, isn't that an awesome book? I take it you read the long version? I really like Stephen King's books. I don't like short stories, though. I can't figure out why I only like thick books.Just one of the many quirks of being me, I guess.

Yeah, I read the unabridged version. Very in depth with the characters. So real.

Thank you
I love Ole Golly. I wish more people like her existed. Rephrasing; I wish at least one person like her existed!

me too

I couldn't even try to decide on just one favorite.

star wars/ trek collection...trek and wars rock!!!!!!!!

Crime and Punishment - Dostoyevsky

It was only on t.v. once. I wish I would have recorded it but I was certain they would play it again. If you happen to find it in a movie store or something let me know!!

Okey Dokey

After a lifetime of reading, I discover that The Bible is not only The Good Book, but a good book overall. Still my favorite.

Too many to name.

Amen to that.

I am still very much a student of the Bible. I enjoy the enlightenment received from others. What is your favorite book, passage, phrase, etc.?

If you are "13" (or possibly slightly older), why would have Orwell's 1984 appealed to you? It was a early 1900's book about a potential future earlier than you were borne.

(Of course, I enjoy Jules Verne and Sir Arthur Connen Doyle, who wrote in the 1800's...ahh...a decade or two before I was borne.)

My question stands: why?

Why "To Kill a Mockingbird"? Please explain the emotions it invokes in you, if you would be so kind.

The book, but not the movie? Please explain why the book impacted you so?

Maarten, you met Umberto Eco? Kewl. I loved the "Name of the Rose" and all the history therein. Does Baudolino have the same detail of history in it? What is it about?

confetti, you sound a bit more sophisticated than 13. Anyone who uses the word "compelling" falls in the category of mature. So, what are you reading lately? Or more specifically, what are you reading to further develop that wonderful mind of yours?

I love the movie. The question asked for favorite book.
As for the book, the writing style was fresh and funny...I loved the nadsat. The theme of turning men into nothing more than biological machines(mechanical animals/clockwork oranges) is one that I have always been drawn to. I compare it to religion trying to temper man's natural desires and drives with fear of punishment in the afterlife. I am fascinated by my own base drives and desires and why I find myself repressing them so much.
We're all basically sheep in one way or another, afraid. Following the rules even though our nature's scream at us to break out.
There's a little Alex in all of us. Some of us just don't respond as well to societal aversion therapy.

Proverbs is my favorite book to read because it holds so much wisdom for me & how one should treat their fellow man.'Proverbs 17:22"A cheerful heart does good like medicine,but a broken spirit makes one sick." I just love that whole book. Ecclesiastes 3 "There is a right time for everything."The list goes on.Ephesians 4: 2&3Be humble & gentle.Be patient with each other,making allowance for each other's faults,because of your love.How about you?

Interesting. Why do you feel that you are repressing base drives? That is, what are you not doing that you want to? Like rob a bank? Rape your mother? Kill a public official? Bounce checks?

What would you really do with the ultimate freedom to do anything, regardless of punishment now or in the after-life?

Are you really an "Alex"? Your writing tone and temperament don't suggest that. (That which I have read since I got here.)

Hmmm. My favorite Biblical book, passage or phrase?

Book - Proverbs, whose premise is "Fear of the Lord is the beginning of all knowledge"

Passage - Matthew 18: 1-5, whose premise is "Man is but a child before God. Until Man humbles himself as a child before God, Man can not have the openness of heart to receive God's blessing."

Phrase - Acts 9:6 "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?", whose premise is "God has a plan for each of us."

Two thumbs up!! I like those also.Although Proverbs will always be my favorite book. Are you new here? I've never seen your name before.

What does age have to do with it? I could find that question very offensive. I could be 3 years old and still learn from a book like that. Just because i'm young (17) doesn't mean that i am an ignorant and know nothing of the past and how things were back then. So, can you please repeat the question?

Yes, I did. He's a nice guy.
Baudolino also is historical story set in the 13th century. But I haven't read it yet. I first want to read another book before I start reading Eco.

There was no offense in the question, Kris.
I have seen more "vigorous" exchanges on this website.

I found it curious that you were attracted to "1984". It shows a maturity beyond your years. It was not an insult "to your years".

So, what was the most memorable part of "1984" for you, and why?
Do you see the potential of the world to end up in a "2084"?
Are we better or worse today than the images portrayed by Orwell?

Your opinion does matter to me. Would you please be so kind as to share it?

Kewl, but just as long as you know that maturity is not about physical growth, rather, it's about inner growth.

I find "1984" to be a clear vision or life today. It's just that we're all so blinded by everything that we fail to realize it. The best part of the book was the last sentence. That made the book, the greatest book for me. It depicts reality, in that no matter how hard you try, you are still part of "Big brother," and i say this from experience. So what did you think of the book?

Wow, what did I think of the book? (blush) It's been twenty years since I read it. However, I remembering feeling "enclosed" by its message. Depressed at the idea that I would be observed, registered, controlled and brainwashed.

As it turns out, none of that has happened, because I chose to work internationally where I have a lot of freedom of decision, because most folks (especially Americans) won't take the risk to dive into unknown environments.

From my perspective outside the USA, I see Americans as very brainwashed. Mostly that their solutions are the only solutions to global problems. That is the worst kind of mind control: self imposed.

I absolutely agree with you. What kind of work do you do?

I hope you read it, or this won't make much sense to you. The beauty in which H. Lee portrays a little Southern town, ugly things at all, really rings true to someone who likes wry description, like me. And I actually cried over Boo at the end. It really touched me.

I am 14 now...I feel you are stereotyping young teenagers like me. Just a thought. Anyhow...right now I am reading "War and Peace" and some Homer, French version (it's more fun, for some reason )

I absolutely LOVE "1984"! It's one of my favorites! Good taste!

There are so many things I would do if they weren't illegal. I have drives that compel me towards things most civilized(HA!) people consider offensive, taboo and downright repulsive and yet....I really believe many people, if asked to look deep inside themselves, have these same drives. I am titillated by that which "normal" people would deny being titillated by. I am fascinated by the repulsive and obscene.

I temper these emotions and drives. I am publically cordial and a real nice gal to be around.
Luckily my mind is my own, my thoughts and fantasies are not policed and my dreams uncensored and not punishable.

I have no fear of punishment in the after-life. It doesn't work that way in my belief system. I do however fear jail in this lifetime and being taken away from my loved ones or having my loved ones taken from me as a punishment if I ever acted on said......drives.

I refuse to share particulars with you, I refuse to tell you what I would do if I had the ultimate freedom to do it. Because I don't....
If my tone suggests I am so much different than Alex, then obviously the aversion therapy our society dishes out(be it much more subtle than what dear Alex was subjected to)...is working.
Maybe the real question is, Why did it work on me?...and not Jeffrey Dahmer?

There ARE way too to list. But off hand...I loved Stephen King's "The Stand". I have read both versions a couple of times a piece. Other works by King are really good as well. He's got some really great short stories and a really great poem entitled "Paranoid: A Chant". Also, "Hearts in Atlantis" is truely awesome.
LOVE all works by Carlos Castenada!!!
"Celestine Prophecy" was cool, for it was refreshing to FINALLY read a book that shares my ideas.

I've been putting off answering this, because my answer is the NRSV translation of the Bible, and it just sounded so boring to write that, but it's true. It's the only book that I've been interested in reading for most of my life and the only book that still interests me, still holds new stories, and still teaches me something new when I read it.

"Shibumi" by Trevanian.

What does NRSV stand for?

New Revised Standard Version.
It was a translation done by theologians from all mainstream denominations in the 1980s. It's regarded as the most accurate (although not terribly poetic) translations of the Bible by most Christian theologians.
Oh, except that some Christian fundamentalists I know seem to think it's some sort of "devil's spawn Bible"....

That was my guess, but I wasn't really sure. If less poetic, is it perhaps a little easier to read and understand? Has the language been modernized at all? I remember reading some of The Living Bible when I was a teenager. I don't know if that's even in print anymore.

The NRSV is not difficult to understand, but the Good News Bible is the easiest (but less accurate). Sometimes I think it's only over-educated snobs like me who worry about the inaccuracies in the Good News Bible.
If I was trying to read the Bible for the first time again, I'm honestly not sure what I would try. The New International Version is pretty good, but it does have a bias toward Evangelical/Fundamentalist interpretation, but again, I'm probably more picky than others. If you do decide to read it again, let me know, and I'll help you pick which books to start on. Going from the beginning to the end is tough work.

Thanks for the offer! I'll let you know if I ever feel like I have time. Right now I have four books waiting to be read, and a long list for the near future. There just aren't enough hours in a day!

I have the same problem with books... so much to read... so little time!

I've answered this at least 3 times already.