Any other books you should read before you die?

[ROBERT]

There are some good choices there. I think I will add an historical fiction one. Historical fiction is often left off of great books lists. I think it is because the prose takes a backseat to the story. Less literary license.

Ken Follett's the Fall of Giants, the first in his Century Trilogy, is a great book. I have to admit that I like my history with a spoonful of sugar in the form of historical fiction. It goes down more smoothly.

Follett's The Pillars of the Earth was another great one.

In terms of my all time favorite books that people feel have literary merit, my two favorites our The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay and the Prince of Tides by Pat Conroy.

[Carol]

Robert wrote: "There are some good choices there. I think I will add an historical fiction one. Historical fiction is often left off of great books lists. I think it is because the prose takes a backseat to the s..."

I loved the first book in the Trilogy. Haven't tried Pillars (but saw the show on TV), yet.

[layal]

The Alchemist by Paulo coelho
everyone should read it <3

[Diane]

There is a book I read in junior high, that although is juvenile fiction, is a great "coming-of-age" story that adults would enjoy. The book is Up a Road Slowly by Irene Hunt. Although told by a girl, the book gives an interesting account of growing up that most anyone would enjoy.

[Riaan]

'Goodnight Mr. Tom'
what an amazing read!

[ROBERT]

Carol wrote: "Robert wrote: "There are some good choices there. I think I will add an historical fiction one. Historical fiction is often left off of great books lists. I think it is because the prose takes a ba..."

I actually liked Pillars of the Earth better. It read at a time when I just could not get into reading (grad school) and probably spent a year on the first chapter. Then the phase passed and I read the remaining 700 or so pages in two days. The Fall of Giants is just more current history so I thought it would interest people more.

[George]

The books by Dan Brown: The Da Vinci code,Angels and Demons,The Lost Symbol,Digital Fortress,Deception Point,Inferno.....I absolutely love his style of writing.

[Arash]

It's a heavy and dense one that took me a while to read. It wasn't one I wanted to pick up and read, but it was a book about a family I wanted to unders

[Krysta]

The Power by Naomi Alderman I knew this book was going to be excellent going in - it had already received awards & recognition including praise from Margaret Atwood, and while I was reading it I was entranced.

To be honest though, it wasn't the characters that pulled me in. I mean yes, they were intersting, but nothing crazy amazing, unique, or fantastical at ALL.

The genius of Alderman's writing, of this book in particular, is how she puts her characters in situations that provoke you to question your own internalized bias's. I'm going to do my best to explain this in vague words as to avoid spoilers, I'm not sure how successful I'll be but here goes!

One example of this early on in the book is when parents are enforcing curfews for their Sons, makking sure they're never walking around after dark alone, wear hoods over their heads etc. When you read this at first you think "Yes this is crazy - those people should be protecting their sons!"

Then you snap out of it, stop & think NOPE. NO. This is what women do, what women think about ALL the time. Buddy systems, hands over cups in bars, clothing & hiding themselves. That realization & connection to a very real thing that is so embedded with in us that most don't thinkg of it's issue opens a a can of worms, let me tell ya!

A whole new wave of anger rushes over you - a real life anger, not just one created by fictional provocation.

This happens throughout The Power, all the way through the final sentence, which is the SINGLE MOST IMPACTFUL closing of any book I've ever read. I think men would also be able to feel the weight of this, have that same realization, in reading this book.

That's how Alderman's writing in The Power serves as so much more as entertaining fictional sci-fi.

[Sophie]

So intriguing to read your comment Krysta. I'd not heard anything about that book.

[Krysta]

Sophie wrote: "So intriguing to read your comment Krysta. I'd not heard anything about that book."

I fully recommend !

I'm very relieved to hear that my comment made sense to at least one person / wasn't a complete rambling disaster :-) so thank you!

[Sophie]

Not at all a rambling disaster :) I found it thought-provoking!