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»What is your personal favourite book?«







I would make this a poll only that would be FAR too limiting.

posted by fatpie42
  

in-my-opinion.org -> Entertainment & Sports -> Entertainment & Art (Assorted topics) -> What is your personal favourite book?

Nineteen Eighty Four by George Orwell



Every part of that book is perfectly written. It's exciting, profound, clever and it all feels frighteningly real.

Recently the book "Thus Spoke Zarathustra" by Nietzsche has really changed my life, but it's not really a novel so I didn't think it counted.

Anyone like books on this forum? (Remembers Liberal Slayer "read a book!")

posted by fatpie42
  

Read a book



Quote:
Anyone like books on this forum? (Remembers Liberal Slayer "read a book!")

That guy is missing since 80 days. Maybe he reads a book. White laugh


posted by knn
  

oh man



i have loads

empire of the sun and high rise by JG Ballard

filth and porno(sequel to trainspotting) by Irvine Welsh

american psycho by Bret Easton Ellis

i also liked the hannibal lecter trilogy

posted by the anomaly
  



My favourite at the moment is Memnoch the Devil by Anne Rice. Intresting read on heaven and hell, the Devil & God's relationship. Creation through to the birth of christ. And how the devil blames his damnation on his refusal to accept human suffering as part of God's divine plan. A bit different to some of Anne Rice's other books which some people find a turn off because of the religious aspects. But I thought it was great Thumb Up

posted by zesja
  



there should be an opportunity to tell one's favourite books in different genres? Like a favourite sci-fi, favourite fantasy, favourite (English) classic, favourite non-fiction, etc.? Sorry if I am being too pedantic here... Very Happy

My favourite book is a Russian one, called Doctor Zhivago, by Pasternak. There was a movie based on it, so you might know it...

I have some favourites for some perios of time, but since 15 this one is an always-favourite one.

posted by mymla
  



Favourite sci-fi: Nineteen Eighty Four by George Orwell

Favourite funny novel:
Thing My Girlfriend And I Have Argued About by Mil Millington
AND
Catch22 by Joseph Heller
(it's SUCH a close tie)

Favourite philosophy book: Thus Spake Zarathustra by Friedrich Nietzsche

Favourite Terry Pratchett novel (am I the only person who thinks this is a worthwhile category?): Small Gods

Favourite serious novel (non-sci fi): Ian Banks 'Dead Air' OR Ian Banks 'The Business' (I can't choose - aaaagh!)

Ooooh almost forgot! Favourite Russian Novel: 'We' by Yevgeny Zamyatin

posted by fatpie42
  "The beauty of the Superman came to me as a shadow. What are the gods to me now!"

Other favourites



I probably only read Sci-Fi novels the most. So
Favourite sci-fi:
I don't have a particular favourite but definately the Novels and short stories by Philip K Dick who you may know inspired the movies Blade Runner, Total Recall, The Minority Report etc.

Also love The Handmaids Tale by Margret Atwood, its set in the near future after the US has undergone a nuclear war and the government has been destroyed. Men have made women into second class citizens and use them as slaves for making babies as ferility is extremely low due to the nuclear fallout. Excutions and public hanging is in, womens rights are out. Another good read if you haven't already read it Thumb Up

posted by zesja
  

My favourite book.



My favourite book is the telephone book White laugh

posted by knn
  

Warning!



Despite the coolness of Philip K. Dick's ideas it must be noted that his books are quite dated now (and nothing dates faster than sci-fi). It must be admitted that the book I was trying out was Ubik and that may not be his best, but I found the story rather too slow. Just a quick second opinion for anyone thinking of looking into his stories. (maybe you'd like to say which stories are the best Zesya?)

While on the subject of old sci-fi writers I came across Alfred Bester's novel "The Stars My Destination" (sometimes known as "Tiger, Tiger") and this is one of the best sci-fi novels I have ever read (doesn't beat 1984 though Wink)! If the main character weren't a complete bastard it might even be made into Schwaarzenegger movie or something. (Please God don't let Vin Diesel star in the movie! What a shocker that would be!)

Ooooh, also if you like books about nuclear apocalypse, the classic is of course the novel "Brother In The Land"

posted by fatpie42
  



Quote:
Despite the coolness of Philip K. Dick's ideas it must be noted that his books are quite dated now

(maybe you'd like to say which stories are the best Zesja?)

Haven't read that many of his, but I particularly liked Eye In the Sky. As you say, they are pretty dated. Eye In the Sky was first published in 1957 I learned something new, I guess

Have you read it Fatpie42?


posted by zesja
  



I've read nineteen eighty four by George Orwell...maybe it was because I was reading it for a class...or I just was not old enough, but I thought it was boring until near the middle to the end. And I didn't like the ending. But that's just me.

I don't know if these books are considered "easy reading material" but these are my favorites:
Historical Fiction: Mara, Daughter of the Nile; The Shakespeare Stealer

Sci-Fi: Ender's Game (this is definitely not considered easy reading); Artemis Fowl

Futurisic type books: the Among the Hidden series

Ender's Game is my favorite though...I THINK. It's got so much emotion and stuff in it...especially when the main character is only 6 years old.

posted by nocturnal_anonymous
  "NO CAPES!"



I've read Ender's Game. It's pretty good. It must be said though that it is damn easy reading for an adult. I even saw it sold in the children's section of a bookshop recently.

On the subject of 1984, the ending is shocking. I didn't like it when I first saw it either, but you must remember that this is a depiction of a future without hope. If it ended any other way then it would just feel naff. If anyone has seen the movie Equilibrium, that is basically 1984 with fight scenes and the sad ending taken out. I don't know about you, but I thought that the revolution at the end seemed far too easy for a society so carefully controlled.

posted by fatpie42
  

I love books!



Quote:
Favourite sci-fi: Nineteen Eighty Four by George Orwell
...
Ooooh almost forgot! Favourite Russian Novel: 'We' by Yevgeny Zamyatin

Good choice Smile but these two are very similar, don't you think so? I mean I've read both within a short period of time and they were very much alike. I like "Animal Farm" by Orwell more than 1984. At least I've read it more times, and that means something. Well, maybe I've read it more just because it's shorter. White laugh

My favourite Sci-fi is Dune by Frank Herbert. I lloved it. A favourite short story might be "True love" by Azimov.

My favourite fantasy used to be books by Anne McCaffrey.

Anybody has a favourite book by Stephen King? Or the one that made the most striking impression?

Oh and my favourite English classics is probably the Vanity Fair by Thackeray.


posted by mymla
  

Favourite Short Story



I think that perhaps my favourite short story is "The Machine Stops" by E.M. Forster

and it just so happens that it is online!



posted by fatpie42
  



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