Comments on Best Books Ever - page 77

Bruce wrote: "I'm not going to argue with the Book of Mormon--either all religious texts are valid for a list like this, in which case it's merely interesting, or all religious texts should be off the list, in w..."

I have to agree w/ you about Twilight. It's all a matter of perspective, opinion, but dang...

Sara wrote: "Bruce wrote: "I'm not going to argue with the Book of Mormon--either all religious texts are valid for a list like this, in which case it's merely interesting, or all religious texts should be off ..."
Bruce, Sara, problem is, how do we define "religious texts" when, arguably, the definition of "religion" is one of the world's oldest arguments. What if, in the year 2525, if man is still alive, "Twilight" is the last word on religion?

Twilight on #4? o.O people what are doing? there are better books than that and ranked lower than this. please vote for them. :)

Manju wrote: "Twilight on #4? o.O people what are doing? there are better books than that and ranked lower than this. please vote for them. :)"
"Best" means "favorite of all ages" in this context. I know this sounds "ageist" but perhaps younger readers are more inclined to be here in goodreads and on the internet? These are the best explanations I can think of. Hope I'm not insulting older readers, especially as I am one of them.

@Greg: I know but still I don't want to see twilight there. I mean why not these young people come back here after two or three years, when they are more mature and have read better books, and change their votes. At least they can do that.

Laura wrote: "I hope my novel doesn't end up on this list!"
Well, Laura, I have mixed feelings. Meyer is rich rich rich off of "Twilight". Would you write a spoof on vampires and pass it off as a teen romance then cash the checks? I would!!! I just might!

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..."
Humm. Portnoy's Compaint vs. Walden. I'll need some alone time to think about those.

Is this a joke? Where the f is Kafka?

random. no place for comments. Billy Budd, Tess of the Durbervilles, One Thousand Acres, My Antonia, and so many more deserve a place here.
never had a desire to read the Twilight, but my daughters thoughts, " i loved that series", but after reading "to kill a mockingbird", could not return to the lousy writing.
A Passage to India, a large book, nothing by Anne Tyler, Mrs. Dalloway, so many great books are missing. must be a better system. Glad Secret Life of Bees makes the cut,and Poisonwood Bible, & the classic/brilliant Lolita.
The Hobbit appears because it is the lst of its type to breakthrough a wide audience.
would read a 2nd Tolkein book for $500-$1000, likely with enthusiasm.

why oh why oh whyyyyyyyy can we only vote for 100 books ? :(

Elisabeth wrote: "I think you people need to just relax!!! I think "you're just too high strung" and eventually the "strain will be more than you can bear.""

:) loves random movie quotes and people who recognize them

i hope i will get more good book

Well, I've read 43 of these, so most are good to great, imo. (I've even read Twilight!)

Too many to choose! I voted for Charlotte's Web since it was the inspiration for my daughter's name :)

Laura wrote: "I hope my novel doesn't end up on this list!"

Gotta say... with over 40,000 books already ON this list, are you sure it's not?

This list is not realistic at all I am very unhappy

It's annoying how many people have a problem with this list. It's just opinions people! Other peoples opinions will often differ from your own. No need to let it frustrate you.

I think ALL OF YOU should chill out!

People vote and that's how the list is made! By votes- not by some literary evaluation.

Just because the list doesn't fit your standards, don't call it stupid. I don't like how Twilight is in the top 5, and I do not agree the Hunger Games deserves to be 1st, but I don't complain.

There are books in this list that have withstood the passage of centuries (Odyssey - Illiad, Metaphysics, Antigone, etc) and others the passage of decades!

In due time, each book/creation proves its worth.

Why not Alexandre Dumas' The Count of Monte Cristo? Where is that book represented? It is a weird list, there should be categories.

I agree with Susan (above) about A Passage to India. Extraordinary book that I have read and re-read. I also loved One Thousand Acres, although I would not place it in the same category. Fun just to think about the many books we all have loved.

Morgan wrote: "Twilight is better than Narnia? THAT'S SAD!"

It's not better, it's just more popular today.

Maybe add popular to the title, but some books are absolutely evergreen.

I'm rooting for a book in german, is there a list for books in german? Anyhow, I've added it here: Die Messiasin - a story about a female Messiah! And she lives in Berlin. Things are getting interesting for her and her disciples :-)

WHAT ABOUT THE 5TH WAVE DX

Bruce wrote: "I'm not going to argue with the Book of Mormon--either all religious texts are valid for a list like this, in which case it's merely interesting, or all religious texts should be off the list, in w..."

First off, MCR does have better music than Bach. 2nd off, Twighlight is not even that good. The books are long, graphic, symple yet swollen with boardem - it sucks. What should be 1st is The 5th Wave. Not the stupid "Girl-Who-Used-Edward-To-Become-A-Vampire-Then-Left-Him" book. ;-; horrible. Just horrible.

I don't where to begin. I was a bit taken aback with all the rather light weight-untested volumes on this list. I just assumed folks on Goodreads were literate individuals. Now I'm not quite sure. The list includes such classics as Harry Potter and the Hunger Games? Where's the Iliad, the Divine Comedy, King Lear, Don Quixote, Moby Dick, Huck Finn, Bleak House, Middlemarch, Portrait of a Lady, War and Peace, Brothers Karamasov , Ulysses , anything by Virginia Wolff, Proust , Hemmingway, Fitzgerald, Faulkner, etc etc etc.... I'm old school. If a book has been in print for over 75 years or more it's proven itself. This list reflects the short sighted nature of readers on Goodreads. The Da Vinci Code......really folks?????

Laura wrote: "I hope my novel doesn't end up on this list!"

Lol......I know what you mean!

The Help should be higher than Twilight.

The Hunger Games? Really? It's written in present tense! You know who writes in present tense? No one, 'cause it's weird!

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is the greatest novel ever written!

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

seriously, jane austen? errughhh."

I don't think so.... It's just a matter of taste, and well it looks like a there's a bigger number of Jane Austen lovers than haters.
I'm not like of Jane Austen biggest fan, but I certainly have a great respect for her

The hunger games? hahahahaha!!!! Da Vinci code? Come on! I think this list should be: 'what's hot now' as opposed to what is the best. Maybe a better list would be: What will still be read in a hundred years...

Duncan wrote: "... Maybe a better list would be: What will still be read in a hundred years..."

Try this one https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/4...

Stephen wrote: "Duncan wrote: "... Maybe a better list would be: What will still be read in a hundred years..."

Try this one https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/4..."

Stephen wrote: "Duncan wrote: "... Maybe a better list would be: What will still be read in a hundred years..."

Try this one https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/4..."

Ah Stephen, that's more like it! Yes this list looks a little bit more for the grown ups!

This list might also interest you https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...

Bruce wrote: "I'm not going to argue with the Book of Mormon--either all religious texts are valid for a list like this, in which case it's merely interesting, or all religious texts should be off the list, in w..."

Agreed on all counts.

One of the greatest books ever written has to be by far The Old Wives Tale by Arnold Bennett; a book that is so under valued and most likely lost in time - I would love to see it make the top 100 in this list - Bennett died in 1931 The Old Wives' Tale is a novel first published in 1908. It deals with the lives of two very different sisters, Constance and Sophia Baines, following their stories from their youth, working in their mother's draper's shop, into old age. It is generally regarded as one of Bennett's finest works. It covers a period of about 70 years from roughly 1840 through to 1905, and is set in Burslem Staffordshire UK and Paris. Just pure genius in simple story telling and complete escapism for the true book worm!

I'm new here, but I have the feeling that people are voting for what they enjoyed most. This is hardly a reflection of the best literature ever written. So many pop culture titles and so few brilliant works on top. It is community opinion, so I suppose anything is valid. I guess I'm just disappointed.

this list is baffling... it's primarily popular YA novels rather than the best books ever.

have you ever heard of gone with the wind its awesome!!!

Honestly, I don't like The Hunger Games, I find it way too popular, and most people haven't even read the books, they just watch the movie. The last book totally ruins the series though, I hate it almost as much as I hate Divergent. Sorry hard-core fans out there, but I just got really bored, they just seemed to drag on and on, I didn't think it was worth reading again. At all.
If anything, Clockwork Angel needs to be on this list, if you like the Mortal Instruments (City of Bones, etc.) You'll LOVE The Infernal Devices!!(Clockwork Angel, etc.)

this is the best list as voted by 12 year old girls

Laura wrote: "I hope my novel doesn't end up on this list!"

i lold

Fahrenheit 451
by Ray Bradbury

This book is on the list twice.
The votes should be totaled and one entry removed,

This list's credibility was lost on me instantly when I saw The Hunger Games as #1 and Twilight as #5. It seems more like a list of most read books. However, this is a very good list to browse through to harvest for my TBR list.

Also, American Gods anyone?

Twilight? C'mon.

I can't see why Twilight is in the top five. Ugh. C'moon guys, the only thing our little Bella did for the whole story was got married. I was baffled. No, make it puke.

Inclined to agree with Laura. Clearly one's novel ending up on this list is tantamount to the kiss of death. Edward Cullen himself might very well step out of the pages of Twilight and administer said kiss. Closely followed by that Bella chick brandishing one of the many fish her daddy recently caught in one hand, and the Book of Mormon in the other. How would you guys like them apples???!

Harry Potter and Hunger Games have been rated as the Best. This is a real joke. Most of the voters seems to have never read a Real Good Book. Rightly said by someone this list is Joke!

Conscientia wrote: "Harry Potter and Hunger Games have been rated as the Best. This is a real joke. Most of the voters seems to have never read a Real Good Book. Rightly said by someone this list is Joke!"
It seems to me that more young people are voting on this list than others.

Where is "Five Little Monkeys Jumping on a Bed"? Seems to me, considering this list, "Monkeys" should be #1.