Comments on Best Books Ever - page 55

To Alan, Deon & others moaning & groaning about religious books being on this list: the list is titled "Best Books Ever." And as such, is subjective. Your best books ever are not mine.

You are not alone in your assessment of The Book of Mormon. Mark Twain called it chloroform in print. Isn't it great we each have our list of favorite reads - whether they be fiction or non-fiction.

I find the popular books of the day are not books I want to read. Nor have I read a lot of classics, as they are "chloroform in print" for me.

This list is so wrong. Seriously.

The Hunger Games and Twilight are the best books ever? How could that possibly be.

Well, I'm going to puke. Till next time then.

Personally, my top three choices are Eragon, Harry Potter, and the Book Thief. I might think of others later though. I also think my opinion may change when I read more. But I wil always love and support those series/novel. :)

I can only speculate on why the list is as trashy as it is. My prime suspicion is that it's based on votes to a website which excludes most people over the age of 60. It also includes most of the generation whose primary media is television and dvds. Come on kids, your missing out on some good stuff and being sucked into the marketing. Here's a tip, most of the most amazing and best books you can read, are on your Kindle or iPad for free and you'll probably struggle to find the title at VideoEzy or on iTunes. The other tip is, do some proper research into what a good read really is. Reading a book purely for entertainment is getting only half the joy. Good luck or God save this planet.
I think if you take Harry Potter, Twilight and Hunger games out of the list it doesn't look too bad...apart from the odd fly in the ointment like Da Vinci Code.

Angelmae wrote: "I can only speculate on why the list is as trashy as it is. My prime suspicion is that it's based on votes to a website which excludes most people over the age of 60. It also includes most of the g..."

I don't think this site "excludes" anyone. Most people over 60 just don't register and vote on sites like this, that's all.
And if kids nowadays are "being sucked into the marketing" and can't tell the difference between quality and mediocrity, is it really their fault? Or the "marketing"'s?
God save this planet indeed, my friend (and this from an atheist, mind you)...

Too bad there isn't a like button Bill. You'd get my vote.

I'm not sure which made me want to throw my computer into a wall more--number one or number two. Is this seriously the best that people think literature has to offer?

Richard wrote: "Only in the USA would "the most popular" be confused for "the best". How many people have read Philip Roth's "Portnoy's Complaint" about masturbation? Compare that to how many people have read Thor..."

I read that book years ago, it was different and interesting a classic really

Lorena wrote: "I am rooting for "The Perks of Being a Wallflower."
I can understand how "The Book of Mormon," is on that list but before The Bible? No way..."

do you know what rooting meaans in australia ?? hehe

Bill wrote: "Angelmae wrote: "I can only speculate on why the list is as trashy as it is. My prime suspicion is that it's based on votes to a website which excludes most people over the age of 60. It also inclu..."

Hi Bill, I guess what I'm saying is that list is probably not a true reflection of the spread of the reading demographic. The art, the literature, the music that gets votes on sites such as this are pretty much defined by how well they are marketed not by any historical theories of whats "good" but by television and Hollywood. I for one think this is a shame.

The shack was the best I've read in a long time. Some may have thought it to be a bit out there , but if you have faith, it is believable!

The Kite Runner, was a fantastic book! The second book , a Thousand Splendid suns was also great!

oh comon.
ignoring the book of mormon crap, can most of these even constitute on a list of 'greatest ever' just because they sold a bunch to either children or goth-vampy-werewolf loving teens?
Greatness, by its very definition should imply something so monumentally original and spellbinding and filled with RELEVANT subject matter of the deepest and most profound nature.

I hardly think either Harry Potter, or Twilight series...any of them...constitute as "Great"...at all.
popularity alone doesn't make it so.

just saying.

Have you read the book "Fighting for Road Apples?" It's an easy read, and I promise you will not put it down till the end.

Lorena wrote: "I am rooting for "The Perks of Being a Wallflower."
I can understand how "The Book of Mormon," is on that list but before The Bible? No way..."
your serious? The book of mormon but not the bible?

Iliana, To be fair, the Bible has 37 different Hebrew authors and maybe 10 Greek, so Joseph Smith should only have to compete with individual authors. Of course, he'd lose to them all, starting with the Bk of Job, Solomon, David of the Psalms, Two Books of Kings, Jeremiah, even Micah. And how's he going to compete with John, Luke, Mark, Matthew and Paul? Maybe he can compete with Asaph, who wrote a dozen of the Psalms. Maybe not.

Michael wrote: "oh comon.
ignoring the book of mormon crap, can most of these even constitute on a list of 'greatest ever' just because they sold a bunch to either children or goth-vampy-werewolf loving teens?
Gre..."

Hear hear!

Well, I am quite appalled at Twilight being so high up on this list, for it seriously lacks a plot and any character development.

The Hunger Games did have me so enthralled I only put it down to drive and sleep. Though my heart an love does reside int the Harry Potter series. Don't misjudge me, for I am highly open to many things. Not many young adults can say they enjoy more mature books Such as The Red Tent, QueenMaker, Sarah's Key and such.

I've read the majority of the books on this list and I do find that the list in good taste. Classics and new novels mixed together- I can concede it.

But, I do wish for there to be a shakeup in the list maybe in a few months time...Maybe a new author who wrote a lovely new book made the top 50, or, heck, an old, long forgotten novel coming back into light. Much like The Awakening was.

Jami wrote: "as of this comment, mormons are over-represented by more than three-fold, demographically. either some of the voters here are cheaters (boo!) or mormons are disproportionately the sort of big read..."

Jami, I think we just read a lot. :)

Annette wrote: "Jami, I think we just read a lot. :)
..."


Annette, I agree!!!!!!!!!!

I love The Twilight Saga. Hahaha. BACK OFF HATERS. >:D

Jazmine wrote: "Twilight is the best book I've read in my entire life! It is awemazing! I love the whole saga and Edward Cullen!"

Yeah. I do like "The Twilight Saga" too. :)

There are so many haters of "The Twilight Saga" here, why would you bother to criticize Stephenie Meyers' work? People are entitled with our own uniqueness and interests, so back off and don't be so judgmental. like duh. As if you could write a book better than what's here on this list.

Best book plus best epic movie ever. So, BACK OFF HATERS. >:D

Jade wrote: "I agree with Becca and Elizabeth.

Endre:Is there a moderator that could eliminate the vulgar comments as above?

I don't see anything wrong with the Book of Mormon being in the list. I don't thin..."


Absolutely right. :)

A moderator would be very appropriate.

A moderator is a nice idea. As for religious texts, it depends on the type of list being created and the type of site Goodreads aspires to be. If Goodreads is attempting to be a literary site, then religious texts do not fit, unless you wish to judge them against other works of fiction on the merit of the writing. If Goodreads goal is to be a site with a religious mien, then by all means add on all the religious texts. But comparing To Kill a Mockingbird to The Book of Mormon seems a bit odd.

A moderator is a terrible idea, the fact that there are no moderators is what I like most about this site. I can say how I truly feel about something without having to worry that a mod is going to ban me.

As someone with an English degree, I've had a silly number of discussions about what makes a book "great" and which deserve to be included in the canon or on lists like these. There is no correct answer. No one has the same criteria as anyone else against which they're judging the books. This list is just a popularity contest, in which case it is absolutely accurate.

Angelmae wrote: "I can only speculate on why the list is as trashy as it is. My prime suspicion is that it's based on votes to a website which excludes most people over the age of 60. It also includes most of the g..."
I want to retract my comment about Hunger Games for the time being. My children convinced me to at least watch the movie and it wasn't too bad. I'll probably force myself to read it over the holidays. It will take a mighty effort though to be my number 1 over so many others but I'm open to trying.

WOW are my eyes playing tricks on me are "twilight" and "the hunger games" really above "to kill a mocking bird" i mean i get that they are good books but seriously thats just sad. smh

Twilight is the best book

Have you read To Kill A Mockingbird?

Greg wrote: "Wow, some of these folks need to read more. Or age more. Or go to school, or something. I mean, really."

I agree!

I am sincerely curious, not meaning to be disrespectful to the Twilight enthusiasts. I would really like to understand if they have read To Kill A Mockingbird or East of Eden and having read them believe Twilight superior. Alternatively I would be interested to know if they have not read To Kill A Mockingbird.

Also, Jessa, if you are upset with those, like myself, who see To Kill A Mockingbird and books of that ilk as superior to Twilight, I do not believe “like duh” is going to persuade us that Twilight is a superior work of literature. What would be interesting is to hear some of your reasoning. In what ways do you find the writing, character development, and plot in the Twilight saga superior to” To Kill A Mockingbird”? I am just curious. I do not mean that you should not enjoy Twilight or any other book that has brought you reading pleasure.

lol, there are a lot of things I could say about this list but in the end I'll just say, where's Dante's Divine Comedy? I added it.

Popularity and quality are often two different things. This is a prime example.

You got that right Delway.

Where are the Meg Cabot Books?! Come on people

Jazmine wrote: "Twilight is the best book I've read in my entire life! It is awemazing! I love the whole saga and Edward Cullen!"

No, those books are annoying

Without looking at the list, I thought it would be fun to add my top five. I was quite pleased to see all of them in the top one hundred...Then I saw the top three.
Whoops, Oh well I,ll just have to take heart from Delway's wise words. ( And no. I haven't read To kill a Mockingbird, just added it to my to read list though)

Twilight, number 2.. really?

Erica wrote: "Twilight, number 2.. really?"

that's what i said

On the road- Jack Kerouac...Birdsong - Seb Faulks

Ame wrote: "Erica wrote: "Twilight, number 2.. really?"

that's what i said"

i know right like twilight should be #22

Amara wrote: "Ame wrote: "Erica wrote: "Twilight, number 2.. really?"

that's what i said"

i know right like twilight should be #22"

Or lower

Twilight as the best book ever?! Oh, man! :(

I'm a literature student who is no longer using Goodreads. Most of the top 20 are a valid reason why.