Do you have an all time favourite book

[askyourgran]

one that you go back to after a while and re-read it.

I have read The Riddle of the Sands, by Erskine Childers several times, the book was published in 1903 and I find it interesting for its historical fact that was eventally leading to the first world war and quite atmospheric. As well as the classics The Anaeid, the Odyssey and the The illiad, which I like to read now and again. I also liked to read the Stephen Donaldson fantasy books The Chronicles of Thomas Covanent trilogies.

[Jan1957]

Where did you come from ttfn? Hope you are well. xx

[ttfn]

It was a very large gooseberry bush Jan. Had a few rough days but a bit better today thanks. Any news on OH's op date yet?

[naomi24]

Craft //....I may get some funny looks asking for those 2 books......... //

Ha ha! I know ...... but both well worth reading. As I said, unforgettable.

[jake-the-peg]

Huge fan of Umberto Eco - read Foucault's Pendulum about 3 times.

Jayne if you've not got it already you should invest in this:

http://www.themodernw...m/eco/review_key.html

[paddywak]

Good morning everybody, I've just scanned through all the previous posts I missed since last night and I'd like to thank you all, I've now got a reading list that will last me years

[rowanwitch]

I have read and enjoyed a huge range of books over the years from Terry Pratchett via most of the detective/forensic writers/ Tolkien/ and all sorts of other stuff... Faves Memoirs of a geisha, The Ship Who Sang by Anne McCaffrey my first foray into female sci fi, the Left hand of Darkness Ursula le Guin, Fallen Order Karen Liebriech about 17th century catholic paedophile scandals and Hengeworld by Michael W Pitts and Tsunami by Walter Dudley and Min Lee, the last three were full on non fiction but well written and accessible

[mccfluff]

love LOTR i think i've re read this every couple of years since i was about 10 or 1. terry pratchetts books and douglas adams, i find myself goign back to them again and again

[China Doll]

Sorry gran, I went to bed! Christopher Brookmyre (I'm sure I'm spelling that wrong) has written such classics as 'a big boy did it and ran away' and 'one fine day in the middle of the night'. I wouldn't say they're necessarily great literary classics but they are damn funny! http://www.brookmyre.co.uk/

I also forgot to mention The Wasp Factory and The Crow Road by Iain Banks last night as well. Both very good.

[mosesg]

My favourites are A Town Like Alice - Nevill shute, To Kill a Mockingbird, best book we ever did at school and I also still love the Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton. Unfortunately don't have mcuh time to re-read these as there are so many new books to read, can't get enough!!!!

[ethandron]

patricia cornwell, nicci french, jodie piccult - always enjoy their books.
the loving spirit by daphne du maurier has a great emotional link for me
middlesex by jeffrey eugenides is my all time favourite book, not about middlesex the county but about the life of someone whose sex was not clear at the time of birth.
i rarely read a book twice and always read the last few pages before starting any book. that way i know what happens in the end so can relax and enjoy the read.

[overthetop]

Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand is a thought provoking read. Did read it several times, but don't think I could tackle it again now. On a lighter side, early Penny Vincenzi novels were pretty good.

[askyourgran]

Mosesg you've reminded me of the Nevile Shute book, On the Beach I read that and it haunted me for weeks about the aftermath of the atomic bomb. After I'd gone to bed I remembered, all the Thomas Hardy books I have, I re-read them earlier this year, but I still haven't got Jude the Obscure. I've also got Candide, The Turn of the Screw and The Cherry Orchard.I think it's time for a clear out of some. I enjoy Peter Robinson and Reginald Hill's Dalziel and Pascoe books, they both write about detectives from Yorkshire, Joanne Harris Chocolat and Blackberry Wine, ..........Hi ttfn.
I could go on, and its nice to know there are so many booklovers among us on AB.

[ethandron]

gran, i've read a number of joanne harris books and enjoyed them. best one was coastliners, and the worst by far was gentlemen & players - ever read it? really odd book. must admit i'd forgotten how much i liked her books and have just had a look on-line. 'blue eyed boy' looks very interesting, think i may have to treat myself.

[askyourgran]

ethandron, I haven't read the two joanne harris books you mention, gentleman and players or coastliners, but I will look out for coastliners. She signed Blackberry Wine for me but it's only a paperback though so don't suppose it will ever be worth anything.
The book you mentioned called middlesex sounds interesting. Like paddywak said earier I too have got a list of books now that I wouldn't have thought of buying.

[Tizzi24]

I'm with boxtops on this one. I have about 600 books, 500 of which I have read and read. If I find a really good book, I won't get rid of it because I know I'll read it over and over. I don't lend books about because I have found that friends either don't return them or don't look after them. I hate books with the corners turned over and the spines "cracked". My favourite author is Nelson DeMille, so any book by him is a favourite.

[askyourgran]

I know what you mean about damaged books, I like to read them when there are no turned corners or cracked backs. Quite a few of the books I have are from Charity shops and most are clean. I can't afford to buy books from Oskars, or Waterstones as much now.

[piggynose]

anybody read jennings when they were kids, i did at the age of 10

[askyourgran]

I don't think I've ever read Jennings, I usually had the Famous Five books bought each Christmas and then the Secret Seven, Enid Blyton was a favourite of mine, all innocent jolly hockey sticks stuff when I was 10.

[ethandron]

i tend to buy books on-line now, much cheaper (richard and judy ones worked out at about £3 each bought on-line). or at costco, i've had a number of sets of 8 books from them for around £8.99 which is really cheap. good authors too, at the moment i'm working my way through a set of crime fiction by female authors - lynda la plant, clare francis, etc., and none has let me down yet.
i'll only lend books to certain people, never throw any away or get rid, just can't bear to even though i rarely, if ever, read them again. they just keep stacking up in the spare room. i did have a major clear-out a couple of years ago but it felt like i was giving my children away.

[woofgang]

favourite re reads are by Robert Jordan, Terry Pratchett, Guy Gavriel Kaye, Elinor Brent Dyer, Arthur Ransome, Dorothy Sayers. Stephen Donaldson and marjorie Allingham in the second division. Most read book? Wind in the Willows.