Comments on Best Books Ever - page 6

Ditto the person who commented that "one person's trash is another person's treasure." There is no accounting for taste. I hold a degree in literature but would rather read Stephen King than, say, James Joyce (or any number of writers whose works are considered "classic" or "seminal" by academics and aesthetes)...

I gather that the majority of people who voted are Mormons and teenage girls . . .

Who composed this list. Too many mormons spoil the list. How can anyone believe this list to be an overall realistic truth. Never. I'm starting to lose my faith (excuse the pun) in members of good reads.

Marla wrote: "this is the second list--worst books was the first--and i'm done. this is madness. i mean, how many mormons congregated to vote the book of mormon as a top 100 book? really?"

Yeah, this I thought was novels, not books of faith.
They don't belong here.

It' doesn't say that every book has to be a novel. It's a poorly phrased title: "Best Books Ever" doesn't specify whether they mean best comedy, best teen romance, or most influential. Everyone has their own opinions about what qualities make a book "the best".

I know it is boring.

Marla wrote: "this is the second list--worst books was the first--and i'm done. this is madness. i mean, how many mormons congregated to vote the book of mormon as a top 100 book? really?"

How many Christians really read the Bible?

heyyyyyyyyyyyy

Twilight is ABOVE The Lord of the Rings, Jane Eyre, Harry Potter and other much better books?

How many times did those Twilight fans get to vote, anyway?

It's just that there are a lot of them, Salvage.

Marla wrote: "this is the second list--worst books was the first--and i'm done. this is madness. i mean, how many mormons congregated to vote the book of mormon as a top 100 book? really?"

I find your coment offenceive. I am a mormon and I think that the book of mormon is deffinatly a tops. read it your self cupcake.

Natalie wrote: "Marla wrote: "this is the second list--worst books was the first--and i'm done. this is madness. i mean, how many mormons congregated to vote the book of mormon as a top 100 book? really?"

nico..."
I also find your coment offencive.

Larry wrote: "If this list is any indicator, it appears that a lot of people on Goodreads don't read very serious literature. Plus, the Book of Mormon, come on, seriously, you might as well put Dianetics up the..."

shut up about the book of mormon. Its truer then the stuff you listen to.

I will say this plainly and without being so pompous and verbose as some try to be:

GET OVER YOURSELF!!

If anyone truly READ the WHOLE Twilight series, WITHOUT listening to people complaining about it first, then you would realize that Stephenie Meyer does have a talent.

Its Fiction. Your job as the reader is to be open minded and realize how things would be if a vampire did exist. Love would NOT be the same for them as the love we know.

People who bad mouth Twilight,and many many books like it,should stop acting like authors such as Jane Austen and Charlotte Bronte are the only true authors. Contemporary authors should not be compared with the authors from centuries ago. Take Jane Eyre (which I like btw), if you take away the frills, its just another soppy story with less dept than a teaspoon. The time of novels like that has passed! Reading big words does NOT make you a literary expert!

Everyone has their own genre of book that they enjoy most. Just because you didnt enjoy it, doesnt mean the rest of us have to share your opinion. That doesnt make Twilight fans braindead idiots. We just like different books.

Twilight is just an example, this applies to MANY other books people feel the need to judge so harshly)

here are some more books for that hungry beast: the books I've read. Actually, a better title is "some books I've read".

I'm still not at all sure how to add books I'm reading now or have just finished.

Also, this seems to be a lot more work than I'd thought.

Beverly

everyone is like obsesed with it. my friend had a twilight party for like no reason........... it was weird

الواجهة أجمل ما قرأت قي حياتي للأديب الدكتور يويف عز الدين عيسى، أرشحه لكل مثقف الذي أعتقد أن من لم يقرأه قد فاته الكثير
Faten

Anne wrote: shut up about the book of mormon. Its truer then the stuff you listen to.

Anne also wrote: I also find your coment offencive.

Anne ALSO wrote: I find your coment offenceive. I am a mormon and I think that the book of mormon is deffinatly a tops. read it your self cupcake.

First off, fix your spell checker.

Second, 'the stuff you listen to'? you know this is a site about books right......

There is no point getting offended by the comments of others, why not tell us instead why it deserves it's place.

I have never read it so am in no position to critique, but my mind is open and I'm happy to listen to any well formed argument in defense of the book of mormon.

Saying that, it would have to be a pretty spectacular argument.

Rant over

I like that this list is basically the same as the worst book ever list

why the hell is twilight on this list?
thats a disgrace to all of literature.

i'm ashamed of my generation.

why the heck is new moon on this list??!!!!

two thirds of the book is basically "im depressed, i miss edward, my life sucks, i miss edward, im depressed, im so sad, life sucks...."

If you want your favorite books, up there, vote for them! Maybe someone else will maybe they won't! But don't go ripping on others opinions just because yours can't make it into the top 100. Some of my favorite aren't up there, but oh well!

Hylian Princess wrote: "If you want your favorite books, up there, vote for them! Maybe someone else will maybe they won't! But don't go ripping on others opinions just because yours can't make it into the top 100. Some o..."

gosh. thats kinda really mean.
i was just saying. theres no need for u to go and waste exclamation marks. take a pill

Hylian Princess wrote: "If you want your favorite books, up there, vote for them! Maybe someone else will maybe they won't! But don't go ripping on others opinions just because yours can't make it into the top 100. Some o..."

do you play super smash bros???

Geniuswill42 wrote: "I like that this list is basically the same as the worst book ever list "

lol

twilight is a young adult book, people should be happy that it's getting 'young adults' to read. who cares that it's sappy and has some errors in it, most books do. Anyways, its getting a lot of people reading that normally wouldn't be. And that should make you happy, because it will open these people up to other books which will hopefully keep them reading. because other wise, people will only read the books they have to for class.. hence why 3/4s the top books are all books I had to read in high school.

Some wrote: "I hate Twilight. Why is it on?"

Because a lot of teenaged girls love it.

If anybody is ready to swap Twilight with me for 'A Selection of Short Stories by Youssef Ezeddin Eassa do let me know. Youssef Ezeddin Eassa is an Egyptian Writer and this book is in English Translation (12 of his most famous short stories). To find more about the writer visit his site, www.eassa1914.com

Twilight is the best book i have ever read it makes me want to never stop reading it. i swer i love that book so much! Edward Cullen is like my dream :)

Y THE FUDGE IS TWILIGHT IN THIS!!!...is this place taken over by teenage girls who reads terrible love stories..................

Marla wrote: "this is the second list--worst books was the first--and i'm done. this is madness. i mean, how many mormons congregated to vote the book of mormon as a top 100 book? really?"

I agree. This is ludicrous. It shows how people take personal stake in promoting something they're personally attached to rather than using good logic (and being well read enough) to evaluate what are the best works of literature our society has produced. Now I can understand how Twilight would be on there, but the Book of Mormon?? (and yes, I have read it.) Come on, civilization, let's get with the program.

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..."

Just because a person votes for The Book of Mormon being a remarkable, life-altering book, does not make them a Mormon.

"quot homines, tot sententiae"

Latin meaning-There are as many opinions as there are humans.

Duh.

Marla wrote: "this is the second list--worst books was the first--and i'm done. this is madness. i mean, how many mormons congregated to vote the book of mormon as a top 100 book? really?"

I'm not Mormon, but I have read The Book of Mormon. It has some very interesting stories in it. I also plan to read the Koran soon. I am Christian, but I'm curious as to how and why others believe what they believe:).

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 ..."

I think we click on the "flag" link under the comment if we find it offensive and think it should be reviewed by a moderator.

Twilight will drop. As the initial craze dies down, people will start to go back to good literature. At least until the next shallow, bestseller. Don't judge a book on this list until it's been out at least 10 years. Otherwise it's just initial popularity, and not long-term success.

One of the things that makes art interesting is how subjective it is. To each his own, and all that - but if you look at the descriptors on the GR rating system, you'll notice that the 4-star description is "I really liked it". They need another quantifier, like "I know it was well-written and profound; the author is incredibly talented, but it depressed the living crap out of me", or something. As an example, I know that Twilight was kind of crap, but it was entertaining, so when people give it as many stars as, say, "The Time Traveler's Wife" (probably a bad example, because I loved that one), it may not be because they think it was the best book ever written, but because they "really liked it". Don't get me wrong, I love books with depth, but sometimes you want to watch "Sleepless in Seattle" instead of "The English Patient" - you know what I mean?

Twilight... best book ever. Seriously, stop using drugs and start reading some books that are not aimed for 14 old girls in hormone overdrive. I can accept that some people like the book, but saying is one of the best books ever? People should stop confusing liking with quality, just because you like something very much that doesn't mean it's extremely good. That is not only applied for twilight, there's a lot of books that suffer from the same problem.

Catch-22 is infinitely more entertaining than anything Stephanie Meyer has ever written,

If you add "popular" to "best" or even "sentimental favorite", the list might start making more sense.

If you did this list back in the 1970s, the Godfather (the No. 1 bestseller of the decade) and Love Story (among the top 5 bestsellers of that decade) would be in the top positions. Now, no one would seriously think of adding either.

That might account for Twilight and Angels and Demons, neither of which will likely be on anybody's top 100 list or top 10 list in 10 years.

Many of those on this list will fade in time.

I thought Catch-22 was the greatest book I ever read - when I read it back in the 1960s. Yes, it's a great book, and was very influential, but I'm afraid it doesn't hold up as well.

Gone With the Wind is certainly iconic, a classic in popular fiction, and definitely a sentimental favorite that millions have enjoyed reading. But it wouldn't make my list of the BEST, since it isn't a very well written book, just a great read. I define "best" by the classic standards of literary criticism and Gone With the Wind doesn't cut it. But then I'm an elitist.

I think all in all, about 75% of the books on the list are worth being there and the rest are worth arguing over.

Endre wrote: "Otis, this is a great idea to find the best book. I have to think about this in more detail to narrow it down in my own mind.Too bad we can not vote for three or four and then narrow down the list...."

this list makes no mention though that this has to be just a list of classics, just so you are aware.

SERIOUSLY, Stephenie Meyer? Oh, please. Also ignoring Harr Potter books.

The Game of Kings by Dorothy Dunnett is the first in a series of six. Set in 16th Century Scotland against a backdrop of border conflicts with England, the author paints a graphic picture of the hero, Francis Crawford. Dorothy Dunnett's research into 15th and 16th Century history is compelling and highly regarded by academic historians, but don't let that put you off. She tells a gripping story and once you are hooked, you are well and truly hooked. The Lymond and Niccolo series (15th Century) should be compulsory reading for discerning people who do not want bodice-ripping historical novels. Highly recommended.

Clearly, a lot of Mormons are members of goodreads for whatever reason. They are taught to value education. In fact, they are taught to seek learning from the "best books". It probably just so happens that they have invited friends of their faith to join goodreads and a lot of them ended up becoming members (domino effect). If any disproportionate number of people of other faiths were members of goodreads, their books would probably be higher on the list. The Book of Mormon and the Bible contain teachings and stories about the purpose of life and our relationship with God and Jesus Christ. Most Mormons genuinely love both books for the meaning they bring into their lives. It only makes sense that they would vote for The Book of Mormon and Bible as the best books. I don't think it has much to do with how "well written" they are, the literary style, or the entertainment value. It has more to do with the truths they believe to be contained in the books. Though Mormons may be relatively small in numbered when compared with some of the world relgions, their faith has grown rapidly. Begun in the early 1830s, it now has over 13 million members worldwide. The Book of Mormon has had significant impact on the lives of many through out American history and worldwide.

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!"

I agree! Love the Twilight Saga! And I'm on Team Edward!

Paul wrote: "The Book of Mormon? You gotta be kidding me. I'd put "Where the Wild Things Are" as being more "literature" than that book.

I agree, this list is loaded and biased.

"

You know what! You are completely wrong. It is the best book, and you are ignoring it, because you KNOW it is true. You are foolish to say such a thing.

Todd wrote: "Best and worst list are certainly not meant to be definitive. Best and worst are so subjective. They are merely meant to elicit conversation and thought which they obviously have done. But the B..."

You know what? It IS the best book. You are ignoring it because you know it is true. I bet you haven't even read it. Read it. It IS the best book. It WILL change your life.

Josef wrote: "Todd wrote: "Best and worst list are certainly not meant to be definitive. Best and worst are so subjective. They are merely meant to elicit conversation and thought which they obviously have don..."

I agree COMPLETELY with you. It really changes your life, and it IS true. Anybody that are willing to read, I really recommend this book. I know that for anybody who has read this, LOVE this book. I have read it multiple times, and I am touched. Respect The Book of Mormon.

Elizabeth wrote: "If you're groaning or confused about The Book of Mormon being at #1, I ask - have you ever read it? It's a fair question... I do agree w/the Twilight comment though - UGH. But hellooo, Farenheit ..."

I completely agree with you on the Book of Mormon comment.

i know!!!! and i dont really like the books ubove.