The Hobbit, or There and Back Again
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What's your all time best novel that you can repeatedly read ?
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I posted a few titles in this list a couple years ago...and now, I find, I must add a title which over-tops them all........The Slow Regard of Silent Things by Patrick Rothfuss.
Not a story ABOUT magic...a story that IS magic.
Any bookshelf without this little volume is disgracefully and unforgivably incomplete.
Paul wrote: "The Hobbit, something about that simple journey that sparks my imagination. The images I have of those characters, from long before I saw the movies, are etched in my mind. I like to read it to my ..."Interesting biographical note: The Hobbit was first conceived as Tolkein entertained his two sons (and some neighbor children) as he made up the story as he went along (guided by his familiarity with Beowulf). Later, he was encouraged to write it out and publish it. Then the pressure was on to put The Lord of the Rings into publishable form. Shortage of paper during early '50's dictated serial publishing dates for the three installments. Check Humphrey Carpenter's biography or Tom Shippey's for this info.
Small Gods by Terry Pratchett and The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster. Both remind me of what it is like to be human...
K. Lynn wrote: "Small Gods by Terry Pratchett and The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster. Both remind me of what it is like to be human..."Small Gods is perhaps his best book.
Papaphilly wrote: "K. Lynn wrote: "Small Gods by Terry Pratchett and The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster. Both remind me of what it is like to be human..."Small Gods is perhaps his best book."
It truly is.
Dracula by Bram Stoker. Children of the Night and Burning Water by Mercedes Lackey. Bride of the Rat God by Barbara Hambly and Crooked Tree by Robert C. Wilson. I re-read these nearly every year.
A Wizard of Earthsea, by Ursula K. LeGuin. I haven't read it in a while, but that's because I've already read it 12 times. It gets better with every read.
For me, it is the uber classic book : Tarzan. I have red it in different stages of my life, and it always seems to reflect to me in that current stage I am at. It is a universally classic story about being tough, about being vulnerable, about being human and beast, about not belonging and searching yourself, about natural instinct and civilized behavior etc etc. Some may think it outdated, but I just like it how it is and would not have one thing changed. Partially my reason to return to it is because I have it, and it is not too thick a book to read spontaneously. And even in my adult age, it always makes me look at trees in a certain way, if you know what I mean... :P
The Lord of the Rings for fantasy, but The Shining will always hold a place in my heart. For atmosphere and isolation, it is the only book I can recall that creates such senses of cabin fever.
The SilmarillionIt’s a bit hard to understand at first, but once you learn all the place names, people names, and battle names, it is a beautiful, haunting read.
The Idiot; no matter how often you reread this true Gem, it shall always have something fresh to teach you. Or, perhaps that’s only me!
Definitely The Catcher in the Rye. It is very entertaining and has a conflicting prose that has you questioning life itself.
I read La Fine dell'Esodo and characters sounded with me so deeply I have to read it twice. Is is not a solid story but all the moral dilemmas every time I read it I see in different angles.
If I want something to make me feel hopeful, I read Elantris by Brandon Sanderson. I love Patrick Rothfuss series for a fun fantasy but it's not a quick read. If I need a laugh and want some romance I do Sophie kinsella or Helen fielding. (Bridget Jones and Shopaholic series). I also enjoy Charmaine Harris dead until dark series for romance and each book is a quick read so easy to reread.
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For me, of all books, most truly meeting up with old friends...