What are your favorite books?

1. 79

   Ivana Divacposted 3 years ago

   Let's discuss some of your favorite books, and the talented authors behind them! What are your favorite authors, favorite books, and why?

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   1. 60

      CHRIS57posted 3 years agoin reply to this

      I like humor in books. So - to start with English writing authors:
      - John Steinbeck: Cannery Row
      - James Michener: Caravans.
      Politicians (Soviet, Americans..) should have read Caravans before seeking questionable adventures in Afghanistan.
      
      Then there are non English authors:
      - Rafik Shami, a Syrian German writer and story teller who connects interwoven stories like in 1001 nights with modern times. Actually i discovered this treat while reading children books to my kids and grandchildren. My favorites are: "Damascus Nights" and "The Calligrapher´s Secret". Read the books in German, don´t know how good translations are.
      
      - Ilf and Petrov, Russian Journalists and Writers, the 2 came up with some of my favorite books:
      - TheTwelve Chairs,
      - The Little Golden Calf,
      Possibly known is also: One Storied America or Little Golden America.
      
      Of course there is much more to read.
      
      Before i forget: one of the worst writers: Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, unbelieveable how this guy got the Nobel Prize, was purely political.
      
      When it comes to international literature, a great deal of reading comfort has to be attributed to translators. An example from children books: "Winnie the Poo" by A.A.Milne.
      In English a great book, easy to read, very entertaining. In German: poor translation, was never really popular in G.. Then on the contrary the Russian translation is very good, carries the spirit.

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2. 79

   Noel Penaflor7posted 3 years ago

   I love horror, but I'll read almost anything.

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   1. 79

      Ivana Divacposted 3 years agoin reply to this

      Me too! But horror is amazing, honestly.

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3. 62

   Communicakeposted 3 years ago

   My favorite book right now is A Game of Thrones because it made me fall in love with reading and lore all over again. I don't know what my overall alltime favorite book is though. My favorite book series for a while was called Cirque Du Freak. They were good books all the way through.

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4. 61

   TessSchlesingerposted 3 years ago

   Rider Haggard.  His best book by far was Alan Quatermain. He  was the original Indiana Jones. And I love good English.
   
   Frank Herbert. Dune was amazing. Didn't like the sequels. Paul Atreides will forever live in my heart. I loved his characters and his world-building.
   
   Roger Zelazny. He was the most amazing novelist. If you weren't widely read, you didn't recognize the names of his characters or the phrases he used. I am so sorry he passed so  young.
   
   Asimov. Not even justifying that.
   
   Tolkien. I read Lord of the Rings in 1975 while making my way across Europe. it was the best part. His depth of world-building and characterising was the best.
   
   Sherilyn Kenyon. Love her League series, and I'm peeved that for personal reasons, the next one in the series has not yet come out.  I'm a romantic at heart. I love dashing heroes and great love stories.
   
   Christine Feehan. Love her Carpathan, Torpedo Ink, SeaHaven, Drake Sisters, Leopard, and Ghostwalker series. As with Sherrilyn Kenyon, I love heroes and great love stories.
   
   Clive Cussler. Sorry he passed. Loved his Numa series. He was a shitty writer, but one helluve storyteller.
   
   Agatha Christie. Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple are wonderful.
   
   Arthur Conan Doyle. I read them all. Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson are stars.
   
   Alexander Dumas. The Count of Monte Christo and The Three Muskateers are wonderful stories. I'm a romantic at heart. What can I say? I love my heroes who fight injustice.
   
   Leslie Charteris. It's a pity that the character of the Saint was never carried over from the books. He is the ultimate anti-hero, and the humour is superb. Not a single ounce of that comes through in any of the series or movies.
   
   Leon Uris, Paul Brickhill, Neville Shute, Alistair McLean, Geofrey Jenkins, John Wyndham, James Mitchener, Sergeanne Golon, John Creasy, and a thousand other authors have dominated much of my life. I've probably forgotten most of them.
   
   I started reading at the age of seven and for my school years read between two and four books a day. (I read 500 pages an hour, and gifted people do read at that speed), and I still read a book a day.
   
   The worst books I ever read were Ayn Rand (I read them all), Celestine Prophesy, 50 Shades of Grey, How to Win Friends and Influence People, Think and Grow Rich, Conversations with God (I was sent two copies in the post by two different people), Love Story, Jonathan Livingstone Seagull, The Late Great Planet Earth, and more.
   
   I have also read a good deal of non-fiction, probably about 600 books in the self-help and psychology, psychiatry, and neurology genres. Wanted to know WTF was wrong with me that I didn't function the way other people did. Turns out I did very well on the Asperger's test.
   
   Read many business books, science books, etc.

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5. 0

   Lorna Lamonposted 3 years ago

   I have recently read a book which I couldn't put down. Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts. Set in the slums of Bombay it is full of vibrant characters. The author's own life is very colourful, however, he established a free medical clinic for the slum dwellers and a charitable trust to care for them. He also lived with them for many years. I also enjoy the classics - too many to list.

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6. 52

   Olumisin Tolulope Tinuoyeposted 3 years ago

   I have so many but I like at Arm's length by Gail Sattler. I read it a very long time ago but the characters are so vivid and real to me that I can still discuss it now.

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7. 79

   Hertha Davidposted 3 years ago

   I favourite books are comics, romance, history and life lesson type of books or one that I can find peace in such as those by Shunryu Suzuki and so many authors that make you feel like you are actually really there and in the moment.

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8. 83

   EL Dollposted 3 years ago

   I have really enjoyed reading The Grace Year, Handmaids Tale, the Shatter me Series, and The Darkest Part of the Forest, just to name a few. I enjoy dystopian but like a realistic fiction or fantasy book sprinkled in too.

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