If you could make everyone read ONE book...

[Chloe]

Oooo... I really like the idea of a Shantaram group read! I've been wanting an excuse to reread it for years!

[Susie]

Hello! This is my first post outside the "newbie" post.

I think that my highschool covered a lot of the "important" books, but somehow I missed A Brave New World. I didn't love this book, but I do appreciate it's message and I think it's an important one.

Also, I loved To Kill A Mockingbird and The Great Gatsby. Those have to be my two favorite books from forced highschool reading.

If it's a book strictly for fun and not for political/societal statements, then I would pick The Time Traveler's Wife.

[Kirsty]

If I could make everyone read one book it would be The Butterfly House by Marcia Preston. It's such a wonderful story about different relationships between women, and the effect that these reltionships can have on other people. Very emotional.

[Dianne]

Well, besides my own book, 'Hitler and Mars Bars' - sorry, I couldn't resist that comment!...I guess my choice would be Lord of the Rings - I just got so lost in the world Tolkien created - I wanted it to be real! It's marvellous to have a book take you to a completely different place and you find you want to be there.

Dianne Ascroft,
'Hitler and Mars Bars'

[[deleted user]]

I would have to go with "To Kill a Mockingbird". Excellant book. Great plot.

[Charity]

I agree. One of the best books of all time!

[The Book Whisperer (aka Boof)]

It would be The Magus by John Fowles. Has anyone else here read that besides me?

When I read it 5 years ago it absolutely blew me away! It's about a young man who goes to a Greek Island to teach English and gets befriended by a strange character who basically messes with his mind. There are so many twists that just when you think you have it sewn up, it takes another turn and rips wide open again. It is such a head mess but totally brilliant. It's my favourite book of all time but I have hardly found anyone else who has read it.

[[deleted user]]

Boof: sounds like a good book. I will have to add it to my "To Read".

[The Book Whisperer (aka Boof)]

Yay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Chloe]

Boof, I loved The Magus but have to admit that I had no idea what was going on for a solid third of the book. It's one that I can't wait to reread.

[Bluedaizy]

A book I found surprisingly very inspirational was Virginia Woolf's, A Room of One's Own. I'd really make my sisters and nieces read it, but hey, if I get to make everyone else read it, too...coool! (Bart Simpson inflection)

[Stacie]

Bluedaizy, I totally agree with you. That was one of those essays that I read the first time a bit reluctantly and have read it several times since and really pick up a new feeling about it every time. I have read several of VW's books and this is a great essay...If I could suggest one of her novels to read, I would say To The Lighthouse.

[[deleted user]]

Boof - I'll have to read The Magus now. I really enjoyed The French Lieutenant's Woman. I found with Fowles I needed a dictionary nearby, moreso than other authors.

[Charity]

I am also interested in reading The Magus. I have a copy of The Collector that I've leafed through and was completely enthralled with his words. Fowles seems like a winner to me.

[[deleted user]]

I think his favorite book may have been the Merriam-Webster.

[Charity]

Ha!

[The Book Whisperer (aka Boof)]

Charity, yes you must read Fowles!! Both The Magus and The Collector are in my all time top 10 and I hardly know anyone else who has read him. Let me know what you think if you try either of them.

[The Book Whisperer (aka Boof)]

Jeremy, didn't see your comment, sorry. You don't need a dictionary for The Magus like you do with FLW but be prepared to tear your hair out instead.

[[deleted user]]

That's just great considering my hairline is already a little further back than I would prefer!

[Bluedaizy]

Hey Stacie, thanks for the suggestion. While I loved A Room of One's Own, I'm still a wee bit leery of reading Woolf, so I appreciate the encouragement. :) It's going on my TBR pile right now.

[Liesl]

Okay, I'm coming to this thread really late, but I would make everyone read Les Miserables. It's such a beautiful, beautifully written story and brings so many life lessons (truth, honor, compassion, forgiveness, and so many more)to the reader. It's a pure pleasure.

[Bluedaizy]

I just finished reading Clockers by Richard Price last weekend. It would be refreshing to read about truth, honor, compassion, forgiveness and other life learning lessons. Clockers was such a depressing read. I'm adding Les Miserables to by TBR list, too. thanks!

[Liesl]

Bluedaizy - You should know that just because Les Miz brings those positive life lessons to the reader doesn't mean that ugly things don't happen in the book -- they do. But for me they are very much outweighed by the positives.

[Michelle]

Easy - The Giver. Didn't even have to think about it.

[Spudsie]

Without a doubt.....

"Life of Pi" by Yann Martel

I loved it sooooo much that I'm afraid to write a review for it. (Which is a little silly.) It really hit a nerve with me. I now own mutiple copies so I can loan it to friends.

It bill's itself as "a book to make you belive in God." Yet I don't think it really does that.

It is an amazing story and helped me view faith a little differently, a little stronger. But if you didn't believe in God before reading the book, I don't think "Pi" will change your views.

But whadda I know? ;-)

[Allison]

The Princess Bride by William Goldman. LOVE that book!!! :)

[Kellie]

I love how Lori starts these threads and they just take off like a rocket...

A lot of you mentioned "A Prayer for Owen Meany" I loved that book. It was wonderful. There is a movie called "Simon Burch"
This movie was actually made with "Owen Meany" in mind.
I loved them both.

Here is my 2 sense on the MUST READ
Infidel by Ayaan Hirsi Ali
This is an eye opener on the topic of Islam.
Fascinating book!

[Mandy]

Ah, Kellie, that's on my list of to buy books and has been for ages so I guess that'll be bumped up my to buy list. Man, my lists are going crazy with all this bumping and adding!

[Kellie]

Jockeying for position...
My TBR list, Book want to read list and Home library is long enough to paper my kitchen

[Sherri]

I'm so glad someone said What is the What a few screens ago...that's an amazing book and I think everyone should read it!

[She'Davia]

The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger. This is my favorite book of all time.

[Bluedaizy]

I loved Catcher too. I don't understand why people don't like that book. I haven't read it in years though. I should reread that one soon.

[Mandy]

Wow...so many good books to choose from.

Only one book...hmmmmm.

To Kill A Mockingbird. Although so many newer books have hit me so hard.

[Leslie]

To Kill a Mockingbird is definitely my "one book". I teach it every year in my 9th grade English class so I get to re-read it every year. It is powerful and moving and I often tell people that if they could only read one book in their lives, that should be it.

[Julianne]

Spudsie,

I agree with your view of Life of Pi. I was blown away by this book--not knowing anyone who'd read it, I was captivated. Though, I finished the book at 10pm, and fluttered around the house for a while b/c I had no one to talk to about it. I handed the book off immediately so someone else I knew could finish.

If it doesn't have to be a fiction book, I would also suggest The Tipping Point

[Chloe]

I love Catcher in the Rye quite a bit. She'Davia, have you read Salinger's Nine Stories? If possible it's even better than Catcher. The opening story, A Perfect Day for Bananafish, gets me every time.

[Jaime]

Logan, The Catcher in the Rye is one of my favorite books and then I read Franny and Zooey and I didn't like it nearly as much...I had heard of Nine Stories before but was a little leery seen as I did not enjoy Franny and Zooey as much as I thought I would...but where as you think it maybe be better than Catcher I may have to check it out...

[Julianne]

Leppaluoto,

Thanks for the suggestion! I just added it to my reading list (as if I needed one more thing.....)

[Catamorandi]

I,too, would have to go with To Kill a Mockingbird. It is very powerful.

[She'Davia]

Logan, I havent read Nine Stories yet, but I will put it on my TBR list. Thanks! :)

[Sharon]

"The Mists of Avalon" by Marian Zimmer Bradley is one of the only books I've ever read more than once.

I read it every year.

The spirituality and the intricacies of the story just carry me away.

[Linda]

I would make everyone read The Story of Edgar Sawtelle. There are so many ways to think about what goes on in this book, my mind keeps expanding on all that I learned.

[[deleted user]]

Sharon, I thoroughly enjoyed Mists of Avalon. Sadly I have not read any of her other books.

[Andrew]

Okay so currently I have three booksthat everyone MUST read.

1. Eye Contact-Cammie McGovern: This is the story of a murder with only one witness. The witness is an autistic boy you doesn't talk. The way the story goes, and the way old characters and new characters intertwine, is amazing and everybody should read this book.

2. Frankenstien-Marry Shelly: No need to tell you about his book, but it iw completly different then the movies portray, simply amazing.

3. 1984-George Orwell:Again, pure genious in book form. I know that what happens in this book could easily take place anyday. It is just really good!

That is my Two Cents!

[Cicero]

"Le Petit Prince" by Antoine de Saint-Expupery

Something about this book...I don't know it affects me in a way no other book has or probably will.

[alicia]

There are so many I could suggest but the one I always come back to and re read is Little Women.I read it in Jr high and have read it every couple of years since.I guess since i have sisters it just speaks to me.

[Liz]

Andrew, your comment about Frankenstein reminds me of reading "The Phantom of the Opera" - shed a totally different light on the play and the movie!

[Liz]

I totally agree Cicero about "Le Petit Prince" - I was speechless after first reading it!

[Ivana]

The Collector by John Fowles - but since a lot of people would have read that brilliant story, I would love for people to read 'A Decent Ransom' for obvious reasons, cheers Ivana

[Krista]

Andrew - Eye Contact sounds fantastic! I'm adding to my list!!!!