Best novel you have ever read

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:American Gods by Neil Gaiman.

I love this book! I was rereading it on a trip. So excited HBO is making it into a series. Gaiman is overseeing it so I hope it is a visually intriguing as the book!

[Anonymous]

Siddhartha

[Anonymous]

The Awakening, Kate Chopin
Grapes of Wrath
The Red Tent
Great Gatsby
Memoirs of a Geisha

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Siddhartha

Also, Cormac McCarthy (especially Outer Dark, The Crossing, and Blood Meridian).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm going to have to get to the library this weekend to check out Owen Meany after all the praise on here. (although I got through maybe a third of Hotel New Hampshire and put it down and have never had the desire to pick it back up. It's in the house somewhere)

It's hard to choose a favorite, but I'm going with All the King's Men by Robert Penn Warren. Some of the most beautiful sentences you'll ever read and a gripping tale (it helps, especially, if you've any experience living in the South)

If it helps Owen Meany's case any, I listed it as my favorite and didn't get through The Hotel New Hampshire either. I've tried to like John Irving's other books but they don't even come close for me.

Also, since a PP mentioned it, The History of Love is another of my all time favorites.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow, I remember some of the books mentioned here as pure torture for me to get through in high school. I guess having to analyze every sentence takes away some of the joy of reading, perhaps I'll give them another chance.

This.

As a homeschooling mom, I can assure you that school sucks the life and joy out of fabulous literature. When Diane Rehm did a show on The Scarlet Letter, a great deal of the callers talked about how they despised to book in high school, but love it now. I come across that constantly. It is so sad, such a shame.

The Good Earth is another high school novel worth revisiting. Simple, spare language that communicates so much.

Wow - not for everyone. My middle and high school English teachers helped foster in me a wonderful love of reading - and I went on to major in English lit in undergrad because I loved it so much. Discussing books in class are some of my favorite memories of school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:American Gods by Neil Gaiman.

I love that book too. Did you go and see him @ the Press Club last week??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:.
As a homeschooling mom, I can assure you that school sucks the life and joy out of fabulous literature. When Diane Rehm did a show on The Scarlet Letter, a great deal of the callers talked about how they despised to book in high school, but love it now. I come across that constantly. It is so sad, such a shame.

The Good Earth is another high school novel worth revisiting. Simple, spare language that communicates so much.

Wow - not for everyone. My middle and high school English teachers helped foster in me a wonderful love of reading - and I went on to major in English lit in undergrad because I loved it so much. Discussing books in class are some of my favorite memories of school.

Agree -- I had wonderful English teachers all the way through elementary, middle and high school. I'm grateful to them for helping me to become a passionate and discerning reader and a good writer. I see the impact a good teacher can have with my own kids as well; even my middle son who's a math-science type has loved his English class discussions in 10th and 11th grades, reading Pride and Prejudice, Huck Finn, Of Mice and Men and other classics.

[Anonymous]

Once and Future King
Gone With the Wind
Winters Tale
Outlander series-got me through bedrest pregnancy
gatsby
Room With a View
James Michener

plus all the love[ly] classics

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow, I remember some of the books mentioned here as pure torture for me to get through in high school. I guess having to analyze every sentence takes away some of the joy of reading, perhaps I'll give them another chance.

This.

As a homeschooling mom, I can assure you that school sucks the life and joy out of fabulous literature. When Diane Rehm did a show on The Scarlet Letter, a great deal of the callers talked about how they despised to book in high school, but love it now. I come across that constantly. It is so sad, such a shame.

The Good Earth is another high school novel worth revisiting. Simple, spare language that communicates so much.

Wow - not for everyone. My middle and high school English teachers helped foster in me a wonderful love of reading - and I went on to major in English lit in undergrad because I loved it so much. Discussing books in class are some of my favorite memories of school.

This. I minored in English in college just so I could continue what my high school teachers began. I guess it depends on where you went to high school and how good your teachers were! I will say that if my own Mom had homeschooled us, I would most likely not have wanted to pursue literature...lol!

[Anonymous]

Tie between "Gone With the Wind" and "War and Peace." GWTW is considered the American W&P.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:.
As a homeschooling mom, I can assure you that school sucks the life and joy out of fabulous literature. When Diane Rehm did a show on The Scarlet Letter, a great deal of the callers talked about how they despised to book in high school, but love it now. I come across that constantly. It is so sad, such a shame.

The Good Earth is another high school novel worth revisiting. Simple, spare language that communicates so much.

Wow - not for everyone. My middle and high school English teachers helped foster in me a wonderful love of reading - and I went on to major in English lit in undergrad because I loved it so much. Discussing books in class are some of my favorite memories of school.

Agree -- I had wonderful English teachers all the way through elementary, middle and high school. I'm grateful to them for helping me to become a passionate and discerning reader and a good writer. I see the impact a good teacher can have with my own kids as well; even my middle son who's a math-science type has loved his English class discussions in 10th and 11th grades, reading Pride and Prejudice, Huck Finn, Of Mice and Men and other classics.

My apologies...I meant to say school "can" suck the joy out of reading literature, in the same vein as the previous poster's reference to needing to focus on the assignment, rather than the story itself.

Gifted teachers are a wonderful blessing. My AP English teacher was a misogynistic sadist who made my life a living hell. But then his promise to my parents that I was definitely never going to amount to anything was my motivation to love literature and history and philosophy all the more, just to spite him. And now I can bring that passion to my children, so all's well that ends well, right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow, I remember some of the books mentioned here as pure torture for me to get through in high school. I guess having to analyze every sentence takes away some of the joy of reading, perhaps I'll give them another chance.

This.

As a homeschooling mom, I can assure you that school sucks the life and joy out of fabulous literature. When Diane Rehm did a show on The Scarlet Letter, a great deal of the callers talked about how they despised to book in high school, but love it now. I come across that constantly. It is so sad, such a shame.

The Good Earth is another high school novel worth revisiting. Simple, spare language that communicates so much.

Wow - not for everyone. My middle and high school English teachers helped foster in me a wonderful love of reading - and I went on to major in English lit in undergrad because I loved it so much. Discussing books in class are some of my favorite memories of school.

THIS! I must have read To Kill a Mockingbird in two days when we were given two weeks to read it. Still had no problems discussing the book in class. . .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I seem to be in the minority here, but Owen Meaney was just not my kind of book. I haven't found any Irving book that I like, frankly. I long ago decided to that if I don't like the first third of a book that I don't have to finish it. I never finished Owen Meaney.

I agree with Fahrenheit 451 and Rebecca. I also have very found memories of The Once and Future King by T.H. White.

I am the first Owen Meany poster from pages back. I read Owen Meaney (for the first time) many years ago, when it first came out. I was in the middle of a big John Irving phase. I still clearly recall the bookstore clerk looking me in the eye and saying, "you might have a hard time getting through this book, but please stick with it. All the weird, random stuff comes together in the most amazing ending, and it is totally worth the effort." I now pass on that advice to anyone who picks up the book.

[Anonymous]

Infinite Jest. I'm about to read it again.