Comments on Best Books Ever - page 82

Well, anti-war books have been generated in the 1st World War and we have examples of all the European countries taking part in it. The most famous ones are LE FEU by Henri Barbusse and ALL QUIET IN THE WESTERN FRONT by Erich Maria Remarque. CATCH 22 can also be considered in this genre.as well as SLAUGHTERHOUSE 5.

This is definitely the worst best book list I have ever seen.

Michele wrote: "This list should be called "Most popular books on goodreads" instead of "Best book ever""

That is exactly the problem/resolution. It's fine to call this list "Goodreads Favorite Books Ever" because the subset of world readers, Goodreads, names their favorite books ever. That's fine, and that's what this is. I don't think there can ever be a list called "Best Books Ever". That's like "Best 10,000 Suns in the Milky Way." Who will every know enough to say? And to even say any book is the best book ever is ridiculous. One can say, "On July 19, 2018, I feel right now that the best book I have ever read is "My Pet Goat" because President Bush read it while America was being attacked by terrorist and if it's good enough for Bush, it's good enough for me."

Florin wrote: "1. Clearly this is a popularity list - it has less to do with the quality of the books, so the title of the list should reflect that.
2. One book appears more than once (votes should be cumulated)
..."

Florin, great point, to vote, a person should be qualified to vote. They should have read at least 1200 books (like me) and should read a little of everything, from Twilight to Anna Karenina (like me) and should be as hot and smart and modest as me.

Nerijus wrote: "Twilight, Harry Potter, Hunger Games, Chronicles of Narnia at the top 10. These really are Best books EVER according to you? This is more sad, than funny, that people don't know anymore that is a g..."

I love that books like Twilight (I read the first one) and Hunger Games (I read all three) and Harry Potter (i read the first 3) inspire people to love to read: that's the most important thing. And if Twilight inspired a generation of readers to love to read, then Stephenie Meyer (sp?) deserves a Nobel Prize for advancing the education of the world! Because it's true, it's been proven: if you read more, you are smarter than the average bear.

Imran wrote: "This list contains two editions of Fahrenheit 451. In number 45 and 90; one of the should be removed"

There are probably a thousand versions in a thousand planes of existence and we know of only two. Simple.

This is a junk list. So many fluff books. Two kids in their dorm room came up with this list.

Hint to internet users look at the source of your information.
Do you trust this website?

For a real list go to :
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2...

https://www.theguardian.com/books/201...

https://www.esquire.com/entertainment...

I find there are in this list far too many writers with english as their native language, and, it somehow leads me to think it was not made with a proper knowledge of literature in other languages, as spanish, for example.

where is the aeneid? do assume that all these books are better?

At lease Les Miserables is 19........:)

Why aren't there any suspense or psychological thrillers in the Top 100. ? Very strange.......and eerie..........

I See that there are YA books on here so why no Leigh Bardugo. She is my favourite author of all time- I love her writing style. I would read a book by her about anything even if it was about a trash bag.

People just can't stand that twilight is on this list but really the amount of twilight fans is insane and so many of us absolutely love this series including books and the movies. It was A phenomenon when it came out and that went on for years. The fans still love it and its still so special to me and everyone else. It deserves to be on this list!!

Nicole wrote: "People just can't stand that twilight is on this list but really the amount of twilight fans is insane and so many of us absolutely love this series including books and the movies. It was A phenome..."

I just could not disagree more. A book being a "phenomenon" or the "fans still loving it" does not a good book make.
Most people dont want it on the list because (a) the writing is terrible (b) it glorifies emotional abuse as romantic and (c) Bella is nothing more than a Mary Sue.

Sorry for being so regressive, but I consider Anna Karenina one of the best written books I've ever read. I prefer this Tolstoy epic to War and Peace. At times it reads like a dream and at other times the lives depicted in this story are very real characters created out of the Russian soil. It was a easy read for me. I finished reading it the first time over one long weekend. I've returned to the book twice more over the decades.

I've never been drawn to the Twilight books. Somehow, I think I'll survive. I have to admit that I'm a fan of Harold Bloom's "Western Canon". Some might describe me as a literary elitist and I'm damn proud of it!!

Just my opinion, Tom

Amazing how Twilight is still rated so high even after all this time.

At least that Fifty Shades/Master of the Universe garbage isn't among the first 100 best books.

Tom wrote: "Sorry for being so regressive, but I consider Anna Karenina one of the best written books I've ever read. I prefer this Tolstoy epic to War and Peace. At times it reads like a dream and at other ti..."
Anna Karenina has been on my "To Read" List for a long time. I've read Dostoyevsky books but never Tolstoy yet. I've seen all the movie versions and have it on audible and paperback. I plan to read very soon. Thanks for the inspiration.

Megan wrote: "Nicole wrote: "People just can't stand that twilight is on this list but really the amount of twilight fans is insane and so many of us absolutely love this series including books and the movies. I..."

But that's your Opinion i understand its not like the Lord of the rings or something like thats I'm just saying why i think its on the list i loved it idk why i just did but i get its not the best written book its on the list because so many people have read and rated it and there are alot of fans its a very popular series but i do understand what ur saying

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.

"
well, Book of Mormon is a work of fiction.

It's not a "best books" list, it's a popularity contest.

Nicole wrote: "Megan wrote: "Nicole wrote: "People just can't stand that twilight is on this list but really the amount of twilight fans is insane and so many of us absolutely love this series including books and..."

Again, just because it's popular does not make it a good book.

Defending Jacob. Wish i could find more like this read

Fahrenheit 451 twice????? what's up?

I didn't read many from this list. My favorite, of the books I read, from the list, would have to be Tale of Two Cites by Charles Dickens.

Catherine wrote: "I didn't read many from this list. My favorite, of the books I read, from the list, would have to be Tale of Two Cites by Charles Dickens."

Excellent choice my dear

Thank you.

Alright....who the Hell is voting on this thing?!

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.""

I generally make a habit of not commenting, but... did you just quote Doc Holliday?

Stupidest list ever.

I guess it depends on who write the list.

NO Henry Miller! NO Pat Conroy! NO John Steinbeck! or Nelson B. DeMille? How about Anita Diamante - The Red Tent?! How about Dalhgren or any PK Dick?? Oh this is SOO lacking in my eyes. I am sure the Younger readers Love Twilight.... they are the "rulers" of Social Media - which probably explains that - I personally couldn't even watch the movie. I'd rather read anyway, but I couldn't get through Chapter one of the Book. This list just made me Sad, the most intelligent, enlightened people I know are well read in the classics and the book lists of their High School English LIt and College Lit Suggested Reading Book Lists! There are very little of those here - SOME but very little, it scares me for the up and coming generation to miss out on the best literature that can be found on our planet, and how about the Odyssey and all of those novels, and prose that so expand the mind? I am afraid this reading will be a lost art! And along with it, higher learning, thinking and intelligence!

I don't know how Twilight ended up on the list.

I AGREE! And in all fairness, I tried to read it. I couldn't force myself to finish one book. And I've read some horribly written stories just to have completed them, just to find out if there were one redeeming quality or revelation to the entire story. But Twlight, NO, could not finish! Could barely get started!

I find the books that don't get that much write up, are the best. I totally enjoyed What We Find by Robyn Carr and I can't wait to read the rest in the series.

The Twilight book series is for the very young romance readers. The movies were not for me. But everyone has their own taste.

I have read the books but I didn't like the 2nd book. The movies were good, but they're more for young adults.

I have read some young adult books. I loved If There's No Tomorrow by Jennifer L Armentrout and Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon. They were very good books and I enjoyed them.
And, if you like Jodi Picoult you might like her latest book, A Spoark of Light

gonna add this to my 'list of trash lists'

The Jodi Picoult book is called A Spark of Light

Rima wrote: "Why aren't there any suspense or psychological thrillers in the Top 100. ? Very strange.......and eerie.........."

Rima, I read over 200 "Mid-20th Century North American Crime" novels in 2018. I'll never think of noir or pulp fiction as anything but the some of the best American writing ever. Mickey Spillane at one time had 7 of the top 10 best-selling books ever in America. Spillane is sensational. People don't think in terms of "pulp fiction" and "best". If I said Spillane's "My Gun Is Quick" is one of my favorite books ever, people would turn away. Crime fiction has never received its deserved literary cred.

JesRed wrote: "NO Henry Miller! NO Pat Conroy! NO John Steinbeck! or Nelson B. DeMille? How about Anita Diamante - The Red Tent?! How about Dalhgren or any PK Dick?? Oh this is SOO lacking in my eyes. I am sure t..."

JesRed, according to the Kincaid reading scale, in the 1950s the average fiction bestseller was authored at a 12th grade level. Today, 7th grade. So, yes, bestsellers and most fiction books are geared to 13 year old readers. Fact.

BB wrote: "It's not a "best books" list, it's a popularity contest."

And that's why 'best' should be 'favorite'. Then this list would make sense.

The biggest problem i have with this list is you can vote on collections. Like you should not be allowed to vote for all of the Harry Potters , Hunger games and even Shakespeare.

I mean all of Shakespeare should not be an option. Hamlet and Romeo and Juliet are two different stories which have nothing to do with one another.

All best books should probably have a ten to twenty year waiting period also. This will eliminate all the fad books that people voted on.

That said, i do enjoy looking at this list so i can choose the next book to read

Greg wrote: "JesRed wrote: "NO Henry Miller! NO Pat Conroy! NO John Steinbeck! or Nelson B. DeMille? How about Anita Diamante - The Red Tent?! How about Dalhgren or any PK Dick?? Oh this is SOO lacking in my ey..."

Well, Greg, that's very sad, and what does it say about our Nation's intelligence in general?! at 13 I had full access to my parents library and was reading what I find now are still some of the best books I have ever read. Thank God I had highly intelligent/reading parents!

Where is the Inheritance Cycle on this list? I don't why it's not on here!

John wrote: "The biggest problem i have with this list is you can vote on collections. Like you should not be allowed to vote for all of the Harry Potters , Hunger games and even Shakespeare.

I mean all of Sh..."

JOHN, I agree that Series of books should not be listed, as you stated ALL Shakespeare, that's many different books and some would and should rate much higher. I would not however put a hold on any books for 20 years or for any time length. The Handmaid's Tale for instance, brand new and worth every letter written to be in the "best of" categories, so excellent a book, should not be excluded. Maybe instead additional categories for that type of series, for a certain age range with respect to things like the Harry Potter or Twilight series, neither of which I could enjoy at all, but are however, beloved by millions of people. Just seperate that type of series from what I consider to be the more "serious" works of art in the writing genre?

I can not comment on The Handsmaid Tale as I never read it. It could be amazing as you say. However, right now its popularity is affected by the tv show. Much like the Game of Thrones books.

Not sure how you really alter or limit this

Stop tearing down authors and books if u don't like it ok cool but shut the hell up no one cares!!!! I still love Twilight i know its not a masterpiece but its my favorite!!! Should it be on this list Idk maybe it should because it was so popular and there's so many that adore it!!! But you know what there's going to be books you don't like Period because that's what reading is all about we all read the same book but with our own thoughts and experiences. That's what so special about reading so please get it together people im sure twilight is not the only book on here that's not a classic or a literary masterpiece. Twilight was fun and interesting and that's why its so beloved!!! The fan Base is so huge and that's probably why its on this list!!!

OMG. Not sure what thats all about but everyone has a right to express themselves about authors and books.

John wrote: "I can not comment on The Handsmaid Tale as I never read it. It could be amazing as you say. However, right now its popularity is affected by the tv show. Much like the Game of Thrones books.

Not ..."

Haven't seen the Show the Handmaid's Tale, and there is to my knowledge only one book, it was excellent. Game of Thrones, I read them all and I watched every episode, Read them all first - my preferred way. I don't think a movie should have any bearing on a book's standing. With a movie, they could just get it all wrong - or all right. But a book is a Book.