Books you think everyone should read & why

[Hollie]

Does anyone have any books they want to share or think everyone else should read? I was hoping for a proper little blurb or some such thing explaining why it's a good book to read rather than just "cause it's good". So hopefully this can become a book review thread.

[Ten]

I can elaborate on my book recommendations :)
I think everyone should read 1984, if only for the cultural references. There are many concepts inside that book that are so thought-provoking, influential, groundbreaking and visionary that they have become everyday terms (hello, Big Brother). The concept of "newspeak", for example, is fascinating and might strike an ugly chord with those of you that detest txtspk. The story itself is beautiful, the writing captures the bleak totalitarian world perfectly, and the ending will not disappoint.
Even if you do not like the book in the end, there's no chance you won't be turning some of its ideas over in your mind for years to come.

[Hollie]

I'm thinking about my offering for this thread so I come up with something that makes sense and isn't just waffle. I thought I'd say though that as people put up suggestions I'll add them to the group book shelf.

[Sarah]

I'd say Sophie's World by Jostein Gaardner. It's one of my absolute favourites. It's a novel inside a novel. It includes a history of philosophy and it helps to explain some really important and complex concepts in a way that's completely accessible. It's also really warm and humane (if that's the right word).

I love the way it makes things understandable without talking down to the reader. That's mainly acheived by having one of the main characters teach the other and develpoing ideas through discussions between them.

[Morv]

A Clockwork Orange. I has to be the best read I have ever had the pleasure of experiencing, granted it is a lot more rough and brutal in parts, but the book is so wonderfully done, it makes you feel for the character who is narrating it, the one who was part of all the violence and fighting. To be able to have a book that can get you emotionally involved (I have yet to find another that makes me feel the same way) is something very special.

[Sam]

I read this as a teenager so many times, I love the fantasy world that L.J.Smith creates in it, without giving too much away I can only liken it to Labrynth the movie in the "bad guy" sense. I always get lost in her books and really felt like it was happening to me. *I really did have an over active imagination back then* I have never read a book like it even now L.J Smith is in my top ten authors list. :)

[Katrina]

I think blacklands is a good read. It's a very thin novel that is about a young boy who starts to write to the guy that murdered his uncle. Even though its not a true story it really made me think about how serial killers think and what excites them. It only took me three days to read which was also a bonus.

[Kirsty]

Katrina wrote: "I think blacklands is a good read. It's a very thin novel that is about a young boy who starts to write to the guy that murdered his uncle. Even though its not a true story it really made me think ..."

I'm off to look up Oh and Kat - welcome back! x

[Katrina]

Kirsty wrote: "Katrina wrote: "I think blacklands is a good read. It's a very thin novel that is about a young boy who starts to write to the guy that murdered his uncle. Even though its not a true story it reall..."

Thanks

[[deleted user]]

To Kill A Mocking Bird. I love the humour and the pathos in the book. I think for its time it was quite a brave book to write. I love how the story is told through the eyes of a child .I would love everyone to read it.

[Kirsty]

Pugaloo wrote: "To Kill A Mocking Bird. I love the humour and the pathos in the book. I think for its time it was quite a brave book to write. I love how the story is told through the eyes of a child .I would lov..."

Have you read ? or

[[deleted user]]

yes I have read the Curious Incident of the dog in the night time. I was not very keen on it

[Kirsty]

Extremely loud and incredibly close is like that but taken to a new level :)