List your all time favorite books if you feel like it

[ender4]

Hard to pick the best of all-time, but here's my top 10 that i read in the last 10 years (some may have been written earlier):

It is mainly Sci-fi, Fantasy or Thrillers. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited November 6, 2020 by ender4

[Withnail]

The Hyperion series by Dan Simmons have always drawn me in. Having said that not too sure if I totally “got” them. Nonetheless I found them totally engaging, engrossing and enjoyable.  He does need a better editor though. Glances at the books shelf and goes grrrrr at Drood. Crock Factory by the same was enjoyable as well. There was another (title to be added when the cat gets off me) that went into absolute minutiae about a sniper. Wind speed, angles, weights, distance, calibre, but fascinating. Thinking further, Carrion Comfort is rather a cracking on your seat read.

But look no further my friends than the veritable Jack Vance. Science fiction, fantasy, mystery. He has an incredible turn of phrase. Read Vance and in a week your whole speech pattern will change. And it will truly put a smile on your face as these little word structures tumble out without a second thought. Unfortunately for me after a time it wears off. But a quick reread, and he has a whole catalogue, you will be espousing Vancian like a pro. (True story someone came into the bookstore a couple of years ago and in conversation he said something Vancian. Which I said that sounds like Jack Vance to which he replied that he had been reading Cugel’s Saga and it must of rubbed off on him). Jack Vance can’t go wrong. Well except for the Cadwal series. (Maybe that is a little harsh)

[ender4]

12 hours ago, Withnail said:

 

But look no further my friends than the veritable Jack Vance. Science fiction, fantasy, mystery. He has an incredible turn of phrase. Read Vance and in a week your whole speech pattern will change. And it will truly put a smile on your face as these little word structures tumble out without a second thought. Unfortunately for me after a time it wears off. But a quick reread, and he has a whole catalogue, you will be espousing Vancian like a pro. (True story someone came into the bookstore a couple of years ago and in conversation he said something Vancian. Which I said that sounds like Jack Vance to which he replied that he had been reading Cugel’s Saga and it must of rubbed off on him). Jack Vance can’t go wrong. Well except for the Cadwal series. (Maybe that is a little harsh)

If I was to only read 1 book by him, which would u pick?

[Follyfoot]

Just finished American assassin by Vince Flynn, I may well read the next 16 and the series as well now, likeable rogue is Mitch Rapp and somewhat driven 

[Xann]

2 hours ago, ender4 said:

If I was to only read 1 book by him, which would u pick?

.   Amazed this isn't films already. 

The Lyonesse books are great too, but the first one is the weakest so it didn't get the vote.

[theboyangel]

Forgot to add the following

Jack Parlabane series by Christopher Brookmyre

The Mystery Man series by Bateman

The Dogs Of Winter by Ken Nunn (almost alike to the surfing version of Heart Of Darkness by Joseph Conrad) 

[maqroll]

The Adventures and Misadventures of Maqroll- Alvaro Mutis

All the King's Men- Robert Penn Warren

Another Country- James Baldwin

The Autobiography of Malcolm X- Alex Haley

Invisible Cities- Italo Calvino

100 Years of Solitude- G.G. Marquez

The Book of Embraces- Eduardo Galeano

The Buddha of Suburbia- Hanif Kureishi

The Miracle of Castel di Sangro- Joe McGinniss

The Sword of Shannara Trilogy- Terry Brooks

It- Stephen King

The Liberation Trilogy- Rick Atkinson

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Follyfoot]

On 02/11/2020 at 07:20, rjw63 said:

The Jack Reacher series.

Just got the new one, remains to be seen what they'll be like now Lee Child is handing the reins over to his brother.

What did you think, I just finished it. Not sure that because I knew his brother was writing with him but I did not think it was up to his usual standard

also is his brother a Villan? Would not make it to same if he is  not

Edited November 14, 2020 by Follyfoot

[rjw63]

57 minutes ago, Follyfoot said:

What did you think, I just finished it. Not sure that because I knew his brother was writing with him but I did not think it was up to his usual standard

also is his brother a Villan? Would not make it to same if he is  not

I have about 50 pages left, and it does seem a little "different" this time, I've not been in any rush to finish it.

[Follyfoot]

12 minutes ago, rjw63 said:

I have about 50 pages left, and it does seem a little "different" this time, I've not been in any rush to finish it.

That’s nailed it, virtually everyone before I have to finish quickly

[bickster]

On 08/11/2020 at 09:58, theboyangel said:

Jack Parlabane series by Christopher Brookmyre

The Mystery Man series by Bateman

Was about to post these. Tbh I'd add any Brookmyre and any Bateman

Also Iain Banks and Ian Rankin

[Seat68]

My wife’s favourite non Christopher Isherwood author is Colon Bateman. Leans more towards the Dan Starkey series but is happy with Mystery Man though. 

Edited November 14, 2020 by Seat68

[il_serpente]

On 03/11/2020 at 12:08, TheAuthority said:

The Alexandra Quartet - Lawrence Durrell - Fantastic piece of literature

Naked Lunch - William Burroughs

Waiting for Godot - Samuel Beckett - technically a play but had a profound effect on me when I first read it

Honorable mention for Orwell's 1984.

Although I enjoyed reading it and can't be too critical of a book that provided the name of one of my favorite bands and one of my favorite quotes (You think I am innarested to hear about your horrible old condition?  I am not innarested at all.), it's hard not to think that anyone who would list that as a top 4 favorite book has a potentiometer or two that need a little adjustment.   But then I remember that you're a trombone player and it all makes sense. 

 

[il_serpente]

A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving.   If you haven't read this or any other John Irving books you really should.   He's most famous for "The World According to Garp", "Hotel New Hampshire" and "The Cider House Rules", but Owen Meany is the masterpiece in my opinion.   All his books are good, though.

The Picture of Dorian Gray and The Importance of Being Earnest by Wilde

The Once and Future King by T.H. White

[DCJonah]

Forgot to add, The Devil All the Time

Its been made into a Netflix movie, which is good but the book is superb. 

[useless]

I am enteraining the idea of compiling a list of my favorite short stories.

[mjmooney]

2 hours ago, useless said:

I am enteraining the idea of compiling a list of my favorite short stories.

So am I. 

[useless]

Having had a think about it I'm realizing that I haven't read that many short stories, so the better ones are probably those that I haven't read yet.

[Follyfoot]

13 hours ago, mjmooney said:

So am I. 

Birmingham City -  The success years? 

[Seat68]

As short as they come but still my favourite ever written piece. Short story but hidden as its a long post.  
 

On seeing the 100% perfect girl one beautiful April morning

by Haruki Murakami 

 

One beautiful April morning, on a narrow side street in Tokyo's fashionable Harujuku neighborhood, I walked past the 100% perfect girl. 

 

Spoiler

 

Tell you the truth, she's not that good-looking. She doesn't stand out in any way. Her clothes are nothing special. The back of her hair is still bent out of shape from sleep. She isn't young, either - must be near thirty, not even close to a "girl," properly speaking. But still, I know from fifty yards away: She's the 100% perfect girl for me. The moment I see her, there's a rumbling in my chest, and my mouth is as dry as a desert. 

 

Maybe you have your own particular favorite type of girl - one with slim ankles, say, or big eyes, or graceful fingers, or you're drawn for no good reason to girls who take their time with every meal. I have my own preferences, of course. Sometimes in a restaurant I'll catch myself staring at the girl at the next table to mine because I like the shape of her nose. 

 

But no one can insist that his 100% perfect girl correspond to some preconceived type. Much as I like noses, I can't recall the shape of hers - or even if she had one. All I can remember for sure is that she was no great beauty. It's weird. 

 

"Yesterday on the street I passed the 100% girl," I tell someone. 

 

"Yeah?" he says. "Good-looking?" 

 

"Not really." 

 

"Your favorite type, then?" 

 

"I don't know. I can't seem to remember anything about her - the shape of her eyes or the size of her breasts." 

 

"Strange." 

 

"Yeah. Strange." 

 

"So anyhow," he says, already bored, "what did you do? Talk to her? Follow her?" 

 

"Nah. Just passed her on the street." 

 

She's walking east to west, and I west to east. It's a really nice April morning. 

 

Wish I could talk to her. Half an hour would be plenty: just ask her about herself, tell her about myself, and - what I'd really like to do - explain to her the complexities of fate that have led to our passing each other on a side street in Harajuku on a beautiful April morning in 1981. This was something sure to be crammed full of warm secrets, like an antique clock build when peace filled the world. 

 

After talking, we'd have lunch somewhere, maybe see a Woody Allen movie, stop by a hotel bar for cocktails. With any kind of luck, we might end up in bed. 

 

Potentiality knocks on the door of my heart. 

 

Now the distance between us has narrowed to fifteen yards. 

 

How can I approach her? What should I say? 

 

"Good morning, miss. Do you think you could spare half an hour for a little conversation?" 

 

Ridiculous. I'd sound like an insurance salesman. 

 

"Pardon me, but would you happen to know if there is an all-night cleaners in the neighborhood?" 

 

No, this is just as ridiculous. I'm not carrying any laundry, for one thing. Who's going to buy a line like that? Maybe the simple truth would do. "Good morning. You are the 100% perfect girl for me." 

 

No, she wouldn't believe it. Or even if she did, she might not want to talk to me. Sorry, she could say, I might be the 100% perfect girl for you, but you're not the 100% boy for me. It could happen. And if I found myself in that situation, I'd probably go to pieces. I'd never recover from the shock. I'm thirty-two, and that's what growing older is all about. 

 

We pass in front of a flower shop. A small, warm air mass touches my skin. The asphalt is damp, and I catch the scent of roses. I can't bring myself to speak to her. She wears a white sweater, and in her right hand she holds a crisp white envelope lacking only a stamp. So: She's written somebody a letter, maybe spent the whole night writing, to judge from the sleepy look in her eyes. The envelope could contain every secret she's ever had. 

 

I take a few more strides and turn: She's lost in the crowd. 

 

Now, of course, I know exactly what I should have said to her. It would have been a long speech, though, far too long for me to have delivered it properly. The ideas I come up with are never very practical. 

 

Oh, well. It would have started "Once upon a time" and ended "A sad story, don't you think?" 

 

Once upon a time, there lived a boy and a girl. The boy was eighteen and the girl sixteen. He was not unusually handsome, and she was not especially beautiful. They were just an ordinary lonely boy and an ordinary lonely girl, like all the others. But they believed with their whole hearts that somewhere in the world there lived the 100% perfect boy and the 100% perfect girl for them. Yes, they believed in a miracle. And that miracle actually happened. 

 

One day the two came upon each other on the corner of a street. 

 

"This is amazing," he said. "I've been looking for you all my life. You may not believe this, but you're the 100% perfect girl for me." 

 

"And you," she said to him, "are the 100% perfect boy for me, exactly as I'd pictured you in every detail. It's like a dream." 

 

They sat on a park bench, held hands, and told each other their stories hour after hour. They were not lonely anymore. They had found and been found by their 100% perfect other. What a wonderful thing it is to find and be found by your 100% perfect other. It's a miracle, a cosmic miracle. 

 

As they sat and talked, however, a tiny, tiny sliver of doubt took root in their hearts: Was it really all right for one's dreams to come true so easily? 

 

And so, when there came a momentary lull in their conversation, the boy said to the girl, "Let's test ourselves - just once. If we really are each other's 100% perfect lovers, then sometime, somewhere, we will meet again without fail. And when that happens, and we know that we are the 100% perfect ones, we'll marry then and there. What do you think?" 

 

"Yes," she said, "that is exactly what we should do." 

 

And so they parted, she to the east, and he to the west. 

 

The test they had agreed upon, however, was utterly unnecessary. They should never have undertaken it, because they really and truly were each other's 100% perfect lovers, and it was a miracle that they had ever met. But it was impossible for them to know this, young as they were. The cold, indifferent waves of fate proceeded to toss them unmercifully. 

 

One winter, both the boy and the girl came down with the season's terrible inluenza, and after drifting for weeks between life and death they lost all memory of their earlier years. When they awoke, their heads were as empty as the young D. H. Lawrence's piggy bank. 

 

They were two bright, determined young people, however, and through their unremitting efforts they were able to acquire once again the knowledge and feeling that qualified them to return as full-fledged members of society. Heaven be praised, they became truly upstanding citizens who knew how to transfer from one subway line to another, who were fully capable of sending a special-delivery letter at the post office. Indeed, they even experienced love again, sometimes as much as 75% or even 85% love. 

 

Time passed with shocking swiftness, and soon the boy was thirty-two, the girl thirty. 

 

One beautiful April morning, in search of a cup of coffee to start the day, the boy was walking from west to east, while the girl, intending to send a special-delivery letter, was walking from east to west, but along the same narrow street in the Harajuku neighborhood of Tokyo. They passed each other in the very center of the street. The faintest gleam of their lost memories glimmered for the briefest moment in their hearts. Each felt a rumbling in their chest. And they knew: 

 

She is the 100% perfect girl for me. 

 

He is the 100% perfect boy for me. 

 

But the glow of their memories was far too weak, and their thoughts no longer had the clarity of fouteen years earlier. Without a word, they passed each other, disappearing into the crowd. 

 

Forever. 

 

A sad story, don't you think? 

 

Yes, that's it, that is what I should have said to her.

 

 

Edited November 27, 2020 by Seat68
Long