Comments on Best Books Ever - page 33

Jay wrote: "Rosie wrote: "why is twilight considered the BEST BOOK EVER? i demand justice!"

Rosie: It's considered the best book ever because the people most likely to vote on these lists are ignorant teenage..."

Well said Jay, well said.

Dave wrote: "Jay wrote: "Rosie wrote: "why is twilight considered the BEST BOOK EVER? i demand justice!"

Rosie: It's considered the best book ever because the people most likely to vote on these lists are igno..."


I agree, well said

I can`t understand why Twilight and co are in the first. but I am happy that Gone with he wind are 6st

I think the title of this list is a misnomer. It appears to be more about what is popular than what is good and, yes, I do think there is objective criteria for knowing the difference. A hundred years from now (or even a decade from now), people will still be reading Jane Austen but I doubt anyone will remember Twilight - at least, I hope not. Personally, I love Steven Erikson but I know he ain't no Shakespeare - 'favourite' may be subjective but 'best' isn't. Great literature survives because it is just that - great. Funny thing is, it's rarely popular.

Maxine wrote: "I think the title of this list is a misnomer. It appears to be more about what is popular than what is good and, yes, I do think there is objective criteria for knowing the difference. A hundred ye..."

VERY well put.

Pal wrote: "Why, may I ask, is TWILIGHT number 1?
I wouldn't have cared if it was ANY other book, but Twilight? Come on..."

Easy one !
Its the best book ever. ;] x

Pal wrote: "@Sarah -- Erm... I guess we'll just disagree on that one."

-shrugs- Oh well ^-^ x

I enjoyed Twilight, but, "the best book ever"...come on!

Sarah wrote: "Pal wrote: "@Sarah -- Erm... I guess we'll just disagree on that one."

-shrugs- Oh well ^-^ x"

I'm not certain Twilight could be the best book ever if it were the only book ever. But that's just me.

What most people here are voting on is whatever their favorite books might be instead of the quality of said book. And most of the people voting for Twilight will be voting for something else entirely in a year or so, which completely invalidates the value of this list.

Jay wrote: "Sarah wrote: "Pal wrote: "@Sarah -- Erm... I guess we'll just disagree on that one."

-shrugs- Oh well ^-^ x"

I'm not certain Twilight could be the best book ever if it were the only book ever. Bu..."

Hmmm... "...invalidates the value..." You'd think I could have come up with a better phrase than that, but apparently you'd be wrong... Oh well...

Personally I don't think its the best book ever [There are plenty more great books out there], but I think its funny when people that aren't Twilight fans get mad at it being number one on all the lists;] x

Sarah wrote: "Personally I don't think its the best book ever [There are plenty more great books out there], but I think its funny when people that aren't Twilight fans get mad at it being number one on all the ..."

I think it's funny, too. Especially since that's going to change whenever the next big thing hits the bookstore shelves.

I've read Twilight so I'm allowed to give an opinion on it
seriously, was this some April Fool's joke? (today is April 3 so change it back now please!)
Okay fine, put it in the list, there are people that like it, but best book ever? I think not!

Pal wrote: "Why, may I ask, is TWILIGHT number 1?
I wouldn't have cared if it was ANY other book, but Twilight? Come on..."

I think people thought the title said "WORST" book ever. and that's why they voted Twilight. must have been some sort of mistake. A lot of the other books are excellent though. and also, I love Harry Potter but I don't consider it "BEST." So, don't think I'm just trolling because my favorite books aren't in the top spot.
This is probably just a misunderstanding...the title should be changed...I mean, on what criteria are we judging these books? I don't even approve of comparing books at all. I think a lot of books are great.

Ria wrote: "Pal wrote: "Why, may I ask, is TWILIGHT number 1?
I wouldn't have cared if it was ANY other book, but Twilight? Come on..."

I think people thought the title said "WORST" book ever. and that's why..."

It's just a popularity contest, no matter what the name of the list is. This is why I called the only list I've created "Urban Fantasy Favorites." Not best, just favorite. Lots and lots (and lots) of teenagers don't really know the difference; if they really like it then, by definition, it's the best.

Fiona sez: Isn't popularity what many people fight for until their death?
I think a favorite would be the best in someone's opinion. My favorite books are the ones I find to be the best I've read.
Us teenagers do know the difference; if we really like it then, by our own definition, it's the best.

Yeah... Thank you for making my point for me.

And no, not everyone in the world is looking for more popularity. Some of them aren't interested in it one way or the other. It's like arguing; winning an argument doesn't make you right, and being popular doesn't make you a good person. Just because a television show is popular doesn't mean it's worth watching (witness this Dancing with the Stars crap on ABC right now). And just because a book is popular doesn't mean it's any good.

Jay wrote: "And no, not everyone in the world is looking for more popularity. Some of them aren't interested in it one way or the other. It's like arguing; winning an argument doesn't make you right, and being popular doesn't make you a good person. Just because a television show is popular doesn't mean it's worth watching (witness this Dancing with the Stars crap on ABC right now). And just because a book is popular doesn't mean it's any good...."

I must, once again, agree wholeheartedly.

Dave wrote: "I must, once again, agree wholeheartedly."

Thank you, sir! }:-)

6289 people voted for twilight being the best book they ever read...... I guess this says a lot about this site being frequented by "avid" book readers.

Sourya wrote: "6289 people voted for twilight being the best book they ever read...... I guess this says a lot about this site being frequented by "avid" book readers."

I think you meant to say "rabid" book readers.

What I meant to say was that if a piece of pop literature got so may votes, it would go on to demonstrate the reading depth of the majority of us, who are oxymoronically linked to a site called "goodreads".
But I guess your comment covered all of that neatly.

Sourya wrote: "What I meant to say was that if a piece of pop literature got so may votes, it would go on to demonstrate the reading depth of the majority of us, who are oxymoronically linked to a site called "go..."

Maybe. But I was just making a joke in my last comment, so...

Your point is quite valid. A lot of people who are members of Goodreads aren't really reading anything good, but they are quite adept at voting.

Point taken Jay :D

Sourya wrote: "Point taken Jay :D"

}:-)

Jay wrote: "Sourya wrote: "What I meant to say was that if a piece of pop literature got so may votes, it would go on to demonstrate the reading depth of the majority of us, who are oxymoronically linked to a ..."

I think it's not just that they're adept at voting, but that the pop-lit readers are more likely to vote. There is a current real argument that readers are more likely to take a side with, much more so than with books published a long time ago (or at least before the level of mass communication that exists today)

Laura wrote: "There is a current real argument that readers are more likely to take a side with, much more so than with books published a long time ago (or at least before the level of mass communication that exists today) "

What?

Jay wrote: "Laura wrote: "There is a current real argument that readers are more likely to take a side with, much more so than with books published a long time ago (or at least before the level of mass communi..."

Argument being "twilight iz so awesomeeee!!!!" vs. "Twilight is stuuupid!!!"
People are much more likely to care because it's a new thing and you just can't get away from it because the media sticks it EVERYWHERE. As opposed to a book published 70 years ago where people that aren't in academia just don't care that much.

nicola wrote: "proof that the truth is not democratic =/

seriously, jane austen? errughhh."

I'm concerned that you're worried about Jane Austen when Twilight and Harry Potter make up the top 5.

Dave wrote: "nicola wrote: "proof that the truth is not democratic =/

seriously, jane austen? errughhh."

I'm concerned that you're worried about Jane Austen when Twilight and Harry Potter make up the top 5."

Now THAT's Funny!

Is every single moron who voted for Twilight mentally incapable of seeing past Jacob's abs and Edward's glorious face? FFS like! I enjoyed the book but this is the ''Best Books EVER'' list ... emphasis on the EVER!!

can someone explain why twilight is even on this list. please.

The fact that Twilight is 'the best book ever' makes me weep.

Fiona wrote: "Jay wrote: "Ria wrote: "Pal wrote: "Why, may I ask, is TWILIGHT number 1?
I wouldn't have cared if it was ANY other book, but Twilight? Come on..."

I think people thought the title said "WORST" b..."

If you honestly believe that your favourite is, by definition, the best then I suggest you look up the definition of egocentrism.

As for popularity, trust me, most of us would fight for our families, some of us would fight for our country, very few of us over the age of 16 would fight for popularity.

Expecting an exceptional list of books I could get my teeth into (no jest intented) compiled by the avid readers at Goodreads, I could not believe the top five supposedly best EVER books. My guess is that the 'readers' who voted for these have not read anything else. I'm not saying just because I love a book, it should by no. 1 or because I don't like one it should be on another list - no egocentricity here, but really ... Twilight, nothing like dumbing down what should have been a brilliant list with all the books being reviewed on this site. Someone recommend a better 'Best Ever' book list for me please.

Narnia is on there ?

more like worst book of all time.....

Some books that are on this list are on the "Worst books Ever" list aswell!
Doesnt make sense!

I just want to point out, the term "best" is relative. For instance I am an avid book reader, and I have read the classics like Cather in the Rye and 1984 and Watership Down, but when votingI think of the term "best" as meaning 'most entertaining' or 'favorite' as opposed to 'best written' or 'intellectually challenging/stimulating' so i vote for a book like City of Bones over 1984. It seems that the point most of you are making is that you would put 1984 at the top of the list because it is a classic has profound ideas and is better written. Maybe you should make a more clear list?

Kaitlin wrote: "I just want to point out, the term "best" is relative. For instance I am an avid book reader, and I have read the classics like Cather in the Rye and 1984 and Watership Down, but when votingI think..."

It is a list called, "The Best Books Ever." I believe the fact that it is a list including all of the books ever written, it is assumed that users will be voting not for their favorites, but for what they think are the best books EVER...because that's what its name clearly states. It is not called the "most entertaining books ever" or "favorite books." If that were the case, I could see the confusion.

On the other hand, it is also not called "Best Classic Literature," though truly, classics tend to be classics because of how well-written they are and the effects that their words have had on the world. But there are many classics that I do not consider particularly brilliant, and that is where I would tend to lean toward one part of your argument: that this list is relative, to some extent. But this list should never be considered so relative that we argue that our favorite books are the best merely because they are our favorites.

Dave wrote: "Kaitlin wrote: "I just want to point out, the term "best" is relative. For instance I am an avid book reader, and I have read the classics like Cather in the Rye and 1984 and Watership Down, but wh..."

Definition of best (adj):

1.of the highest quality, excellence, or standing: the best work; the best students.
2.
most advantageous, suitable, or desirable: the best way.

I think of best as the most suitable or desirable to my reading tastes. Therefore I think that City of Bones is 'better' than 1984 although I liked both of them and respect the quality and excellence of 1984. See what I mean when I say 'best' is relative? It can be interpreted two different ways. I see it as way #2 and you prefer #1

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Fire-fish wrote: "May be there should be a list of "Books for Mormones" on this website.. "

its MORMON!!!

Why is it that four of the five top books are the Twilight series? WHAT IS THIS WORLD COMING TO?

Literature has gone down the poop-shoot.

Double post, Patrick

""I'm sorry but overall this is a very weak list. The Hobbit, and none of the the Lord of the Rings books are on this list which were ranked as the top books of the 20th century by the NY Times. The Harry Potter books are the most overrated books ever, and don't even belong on this list! Twilight #1 are you kidding me!! The best book by far on this list is Angela's Ashes! Just one persons opinion but a very weak top 100!!

Kaitlin wrote: "Dave wrote: "Kaitlin wrote: "I just want to point out, the term "best" is relative. For instance I am an avid book reader, and I have read the classics like Cather in the Rye and 1984 and Watership..."

I missed the part of your definition which states "to my reading taste". However, if, as you say, 'best' is relative, then this list is completely subjective and, therefore, useless, unless its only purpose is to tell us what people are presently reading. I already know what I like to read so why would I need this list? It will constantly change as books like Twilight are forgotten and City of Bones is relegated to the bargain bin, and they are replaced on the list with the newest fad. Again, why would I need a list to tell me that - I've never found it hard to discover the latest 'big thing' - the hard part is avoiding it. However, I think the fact that the list is titled Best Books Ever, as opposed to Best Books In My Opinion, puts the intent of the list squarely in the first half of your own definition. There are objective reasons why people still read 1984 70 years after it was written while most of the hundreds of popular books written at the same time have been completely forgotten.

has anyone noticed how similar this is to the worst books ever

Yes.

Yes.