Comments on Best Books Ever - page 85

Hi

Suelle wrote: "this is obviously the list of what's popular, not the best books ever. Those would be more or less classics"

Soooo true!!!!

I think I just looked at the first two books on the list - the Hunger Games and Harry Potter - to decide this was a futile exercise. Popular books certainly, but the best books ever? You have got to be joking!

Peter wrote: "I think I just looked at the first two books on the list - the Hunger Games and Harry Potter - to decide this was a futile exercise. Popular books certainly, but the best books ever? You have got t..."

You should think about which demographics are most likely to be using goodreads and especially which would be contributing to these lists. It's mostly 16-25 year old women plus some middle aged people. Don't be surprised the list is full of YA, classics assigned in primary school and other crap.

At least this list is not only American authors they put in some classical Europeans too.

... Why is there so much hate on this one list? If you don't like it, just go make your own. With whatever specifications you want... Or go make a group or something... I dunno... Just please don't hate on it? It's just one list? Does it really matter that much?

Sunny wrote: "... Why is there so much hate on this one list? If you don't like it, just go make your own. With whatever specifications you want... Or go make a group or something... I dunno... Just please don't..."

There are two main reasons why this list has so much hostility built in.

One is it's the oldest and the largest list on the site. For years, it was the goto places to find the top reads as decided collectively by the community. There has been a lot of debate, new writings, changes in the world and changes within ourselves over the years. It's easy to forget this is a 12 year old list that's been evolving all this time. People come and go, different friendships and rivalries will linger over such a long time.

The second reason is the major one. This used to be the goto list. As more and more opinions were added, the list got longer. But the number of people actually voting or discussing what should or should not be here dropped dramatically. So there are titles here which people accept are good or otherwise influential, but no actual curation as to whether these titles should be considered "best". The top 50 has largely gone unchanged over the last decade, with only a positional difference here or there.

What people aren't understanding is these aren't really problems that can be "solved", if you even want to call them problems. It's just the majority clientele of the site. The average person is probably going to reach for the current popular works or ones that have been repeated over and over again during public schooling over anything else, and the list reflects that. You'll find a lot of the sci-fi lists have been having similar issues over the last several years as long held mainstays of the genera are being overtaken by more recent releases, mostly because the people voting are of a younger generation. Sun rise, sun set.

This is an impossible list to even consider really. I would argue that, in terms of great novels, works by Dickens ought to be right up there. The fact that they are not, tells you something. But then this is really about best selling books, not best literature. I am a little saddened that so many books on this list and indeed, on other popular lists, reflect recent populist trends in supernatural and fantasy. I do blame JK Rowling for that. However, at least those children that bought her books learnt the pleasure of reading. Hopefully, they will move onto to other genres.

TWILIGHT?!
SERIOUSLY?!
Whatever, I don't care.
If you like Twilight, I don't think you're sane.
um... no offence.

To the people who love Twilight,
that book is just plain rotten and disgusting!
Stephenie Meyer really needs to improve her writing!
if you're Stephenie, I'm sorry, but it's true.

RENEGADES all the way!

just one of those books most people haven't ever heard or ever will.... but it is SOOOO good.

Eragon and Twilight are good to..

and so are ALOT of books that I've read...

Ashley wrote: "To the people who love Twilight,
that book is just plain rotten and disgusting!
Stephenie Meyer really needs to improve her writing!
if you're Stephenie, I'm sorry, but it's true."

That was unnecessary, can't you just give some constructive criticism and leave. No need to be rude.

The rockabilly werewolf from Mars wrote: "Twilight has no place on this list. Whatever clowns voted for this ought to read some proper literature."

And what would you suggest "proper literature" is? Why are there so many books in the world? I think it is because so many people have so many different ideas and/or lessons to be taught they would like to share through words. Just because you don't like a book doesn't mean the whole world doesn't like it either. It sure is a good thing there are so many book written, maybe you will find something you like, and maybe then you will stop wasting your time hating on other books. Just wondering, have you ever even read Twilight?

Ashley wrote: "TWILIGHT?!
SERIOUSLY?!
Whatever, I don't care.
If you like Twilight, I don't think you're sane.
um... no offence."

Offence taken

Ella wrote: "Seriously? Why isn't the Selection series on this list? It is easily one of the best series I have read!"

Thats what Im talking about!!! The Selection is easily my favorite book series👑

People all have their dislikes and likes, I don't like eggs, my siblings do, I like Twilight, Harry Potter, and a host of other books.... Just please keep the harsher criticism to yourselves?

(All though it is kinda funny reading you guys go at it.....)

Some of these books do deserve a place in this list but I am not convinced these all are the best books ever written. Plus, it'd be a crime to mix up all books like this without at least breaking them into genres.
A list for each genre would make more sense already.

Ordinarily I leave keyboard warriors to their own mobile devices, but like many here, I'm a bit surprised at the ranking for these titles. However, there is no need for people here to be quite so spiteful to each other, even if it is only in these apparently pointless messages.

What I would say about this list is that it reflects the Goodreads population voting on this list, and that is all it represents. It appears there are many Twilight and Jane Rowling fans here. I feel happy for them, because there are hundreds of wonderful books that they have yet to experience, and if Goodreads is still around a decade from now, and if this list is still going, I imagine they'll update their preferences when they've read them. For now, I will vote for one book only (Great Expectations), and maybe I'll update that one in time. I mean, I've never read Twilight.... 😉

Well said. And a brilliant first choice.

I agree on all counts Simon. Btw, is that apple pie?

Seeing Dan Brown in 15th place made me spit my tea out. But I agree with Simon and have lent my support to Great Expectations.

Simon the Pieman wrote: "Ordinarily I leave keyboard warriors to their own mobile devices, but like many here, I'm a bit surprised at the ranking for these titles. However, there is no need for people here to be quite so s..."

I totally agree. Still a good list, especially on page 2. A lot of the YA literature has displaced some of the better classics (imv) for now. Nice that Goodreads is attracting new readers - one of the positives that can be deduced from the 1st page.

Why can't everyone remember that these lists are based on heterogeneous thoughts that may not match your own? These tabulated novels are present due to the global "votes." (Different people who go on Goodreads vote for these thing.) Anyways, I voted for Jane Eyre, which is evidently my favorite book. (This is the "Best Books List," so that statement is pretty obvious).

Well...
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone being on this list seems acceptable, but it's a bit childish for me. Twilight being on the list makes me wanna vomit. Stephenie Meyer doesn't even know how to write. By the way, I'm not voting forMidnight Sun in the best books of 2020.

Personally I wouldn't touch any of the Harry Potter books with a bargepole. Nor any of the Twilight series. But then, I am definitely not one for Fantasy Stories. On the other hand, if they get young children into reading, then that must be a good thing. But "Best Books Ever?" well that's a different matter entirely.

Dr wrote: "Personally I wouldn't touch any of the Harry Potter books with a bargepole. Nor any of the Twilight series. But then, I am definitely not one for Fantasy Stories. On the other hand, if they get you..."
Yes, these are all just raw opinions. They can't literally be viewed as the "Best Books Ever" There was never any strong empirical evidence or scrupulous research relating to psychology when it comes to these lists. Books are just voted. You may find these books to be non-propitious. For example, Twighlight, according to rumors, is just plain bad. I think I'd avoid the entire series!

I hope that Divergent wins!!!!!!

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!"
So true but I took a test to see what team I was on and it said team Jacob!! But Edward will always be my favorite.

im rooting for city of bones. because i have never read the book but something like it and so i'm curious.

This is not a contest. This is a silly compilation of books that has existed for quite some time. How can anything be "best"? It's quite subjective. There is also a list for "worst". Once again...

I wasn't aware there was a "worst" list. Perhaps that ought to be "most disappointing" as, like most people, I do tend to read authors whose previous books I have enjoyed. However, sometimes these can be more than a little disappointing.
The last Lee Child novel would be a good example. Had that been his first Jack Reacher story, the rest might never have been published.

Almost Home

I think they missed alot of great books in my opinion, no hate :)

Kevin wrote: "This is not a contest. This is a silly compilation of books that has existed for quite some time. How can anything be "best"? It's quite subjective. There is also a list for "worst". Once again..."

i completely agree with this, like come on people theirs enough hate in this world without you being rude to each other

How did Twilight even get on here.

I remember I saw a “Worst books” list and it was almost similar for the top books on this list hahahaha

Soroush wrote: "I remember I saw a “Worst books” list and it was almost similar for the top books on this list hahahaha"

So true! LOL!

all i'm wondering is, respectfully, why divergent is here.

tiassa♡ wrote: "all i'm wondering is, respectfully, why divergent is here."

I wondered the same~

hey! divergent is decent!

there are about 5 books i actually like in here..

Samara --Lil' Perce is cute squad-- wrote: "hey! divergent is decent!"

Yes, I gave it 5 stars but it is not a greatest book ever! However, I see that 8,404 people think it is! They are probably very young.

"You've read 0 of the top 100 books and 0 are on your to-read shelf."

Considering I have well over 100 books on that to-read shelf, that says a lot about this list.

triskellionquinn wrote: ""You've read 0 of the top 100 books and 0 are on your to-read shelf." Considering I have well over 100 books on that to-read shelf, that says a lot about this list."

It gets better after the first 100. The young adult literature fans have pushed the true classics down a page or two. But at least they're reading something!

Alex wrote: "hmm this makes me question what is my favorite book?"
I know right! I so torn!

Hard to take a list seriously that places Twilight as the 5th best book of all time.

dude, wtf. seriously, i only heard of like, 3 of these books. besides hunger games, THESE SUCK

There are a lot of great books on the list; e.g., "To Kill a Mockingbird" and a lot of other classics.

T.C. wrote: "There are a lot of great books on the list; e.g., "To Kill a Mockingbird" and a lot of other classics."

Mm. I forgot Pride and Prejudice and Gone with the Wind. Those are like a 3.5 or 4 to me. But I personally don't really like "To kill a Mockingbird". I respect your opinion though! Thanks