1984 by Orwell
Cat's Cradle by Vonnegut

I think I read Rebecca and The Once and Future King within a few months of each other, when I was about 14. Loved them both, but haven't re-read them since. I'm off to download Rebecca (and maybe My Antonia-- another from that year!) for my beach reading.

I think it's interesting, in these threads, to see lists, instead of single titles. There's so much praise for A Fine Balance, for example, that I thought I had to get over to Amazon pronto. And then seeing that people who liked that one also liked a bunch of books that I loathed. (No judgment... literature is so personal. Just an observation, and encouragement for more explanation for your suggestions!)

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.

Are you me?

Thanks to all of you, I just dropped about $100 on my Kindle in just a few seconds. Woo hoo! Headed into the long weekend with plenty to read.

PLUS, I found that Wally Lamb and Julia Glass both have newish books I didn't even know about - how awesome is that?! Thanks all!

And here's my vote for "A Room With a View". ABSOLUTELY LOVE that book. And anything Austen. Oh, and all Alice Munro, she is phenomenal - and also Jhumpa Lahiri (I know I spelled that wrong). Fabulous short stories. And Margaret Atwood. The list goes on and on...

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 also loved OWEN MEANY (doesn't it feel as though that is how we should type it?)

I think I love you!

I'll also second/third/whatever:
The Winds of War/War and Remembrance
A Fine Balance
All of the Murakami
A Secret History
The Things They Carried
The Power of One
The English Patient

Plus a few new ones:
The Poisonwood Bible
Anil's Ghost
Rebecca

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.

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)

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.

Anonymous wrote:Not a great literary work but A Secret History by Donna Tartt is an enjoyable summer read.

Just read this last year. Still gives me the willies just thinking about it. You might like The Poison Tree by Erin Kelly.

My Antonia by Willa Cather

I also really loved The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls

Anonymous wrote:A Prayer for Owen Meaney by John Irving

Me too! And I read about a book a week. However, I always tell people that A Prayer for Owen Meany is the only book that I would ever reread.

Lords of Discipline , Pat Conroy (read it years ago, in high school...I love all of his books)
Sea of Poppies
A Fine Balance (so, so sad...but amazing)

Anonymous wrote:Not the best - but have absolutely stayed with me and shaped how I see the world:

Fahrenheit 451 and Brave New World

This! And 1984. I recently reread all three, and found them captivating. They shaped me into the fierce individualist I remain today.

Not the best - but have absolutely stayed with me and shaped how I see the world:

Fahrenheit 451 and Brave New World