When I ordered the latest Kindle from Amazon for Janet’s and my review, I didn’t pay attention to the fact that it had ads for the screensavers. When I figured this out a couple hours later, I tried to cancel the order without success. So I ordered a 2nd Kindle without the ads. My screwup is your reward as I’m giving away this Kindle e-Reader to one lucky reader. Don’t worry, if you don’t like ads, you can get rid of them by paying $30 to convert the Kindle into a non-ad version (something I didn’t know about till Janet discovered it). Full contest details after the jump.
Prize:
Kindle 4 ($79 version with ads)
How to enter:
1. Between now and Tuesday 10/18/2011 11:59PM EST, leave a comment to this post with the title, author and short description of your all time favorite book.
2. At some point on 10/19/2011, I’ll pick 1 random winner using random.org. The winner will be contacted by email and will have 48 hrs to accept their prize. If I do not receive an answer, I’ll do other random.org drawings till the prize is gone.
Rules:
1. Only one entry per person.
2. Contest is open to anyone in the world except for writers and families of The Gadgeteer.
3. the-gadgeteer.com is not responsible for any lost packages or incorrect shipping addresses.
UPDATE: The winner is #222 Mario Costa.
Gadgeteer Comment Policy - Please read before commenting
MY favourite book is probably one of the wheel of time series, great books. If I was pushed to pick one it’d probably be the third in the series “The Dragon Reborn” by Robert Jordan.
The whole series is epic fantasy similar to Tolkein, it has a well developed magic system, the characters are also well developed and varied. I don’t want to say too much about the plot in case anyone hasn’t read it and wants to. Much like Lord of the Rings only (IMHO) better.
My favorite book is Angels & Demons.
The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
A novel cataloging the journey of a family as they move from Oklahoma to California during the great depression, it shows the human side of the Dust Bowl and how a family from a small farming community changes as they move West.
Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy. It’s the essential great American Novel that’s muse is the birth of the violence of men shaping a period of our history and it’s a history and instinct that aren’t dead, just buried under. It’s the Pilgrims Progress with an unknown God. It’s America ripped open and running and it’s the scariest most memorable book I’ve ever read. It’s as powerful as any other piece of art from the 20th Century.
The Adventures of Hucleberry Finn by Mark Twain- a tale of a mischievous, untrained boy and his run-ins with life
Alice’s Adventures In Wonderland
Lewis Carroll
A curious young girl with an overactive imagination goes on a pun- and metaphor-filled stroll through a strangely familiar world.
My favorite casual book to read is Comstock Lode by Louis L’Amour. It’s one of a small number of books that I have read many times over. If I win, this would be a book I’d have on the kindle.
My favorite author is JD Robb, I love all her books.
Naked in Death, Holiday in Death, Glory in Death
She is a detective in the future and solves murders and she is married to a rich ex-con. Very good read.
My favorite book ever is The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay. It’s about a white boy growing up in apartheid South Africa. There was a movie made of the book, which wasn’t good at all. The short version of my favorite quote from the book is “the mind is the athlete” I try and read the book at least once at year. I’m annoyed though that there’s no kindle version (just an abridged one!).
The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald
Vibrant story of romance in the 20’s. Read it in high school but it still remains one of the best written books I’ve read. Really puts you right there in Long Island with them.
Favorite book is Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand.
Title: The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy
Author: Douglas Adams
Short Description: A wholly remarkable book
I already have the Kindle edition, but no Kindle. So winning this this would be peachy. Anyone who hasn’t read this series really ought to. Very silly and very funny.
Favorite book is American Gods by Neil Gaiman.
Book has a fascinating mixture of old mythology, modern culture, and engrossing plot line. The author is brilliant and I highly recommend.
Fierce Invalids Home From Hot Climates, Tom Robbins
A CIA agent named Switters embarks on an existential journey of personal discovery. While traveling from Seattle to the South American jungle to the Syrian desert he encounters family members, shamans and nuns all while taking time to enjoy his favorite recording of Send in the Clowns.
I love Eoin Colfer’s Artemis Fowl Series.
Einstein: His Life and Universe by Walter Isaacson
Isaacson does a great job telling the story of the man and making the science understandable.
Favorite Book: Black Cross by Greg Iles.
Story of a commando raid in WWII, to save prisoners of war. Plot is action packed and keeps you on edge of your seat, as do all of Iles novels.
Thanks,
Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson
This is a fast paced sci-fi adventure set in the future. The protagonist is a pizza delivery guy trying to solve a dilemma for his girl friend. I think it’s one of Neal’s best books.
My Favorite book is ‘Gulliver’s Travels’ by Jonathan Swift.
I love Lilliputians!!!
My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George
it is the story of a boy who runs away from home in New York City to live on the land in the catskill’s. It was a fourth grade reading assignment that I refussed to do. It took my dad locking me in my room to get me to read it, 30 years later it is still my favorite.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Roald Dahl
A poor boy wins a tour of Willy Wonka’s amazing chocolate factory.
1984 by George Orwell – 1948
A cautionary tale of an imaginary future where a totalitarian state controls every aspect of life, even people’s thoughts.
Of Human Bondage by W. Somerset Maugham
Mi favorite book is The Pillars of the Earth, by Ken Follet. It’s about a power struggle to build a cathedral on the 12th century.
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind: Creating Currents of Electricity and Hope by William Kamkwamba
“IT” by Stephen King. I read it the first time when I was in 7th grade. Have loved it ever since. An evil creature awakens every few years and eats kids in a small town. People love the movie… The book is SO much better!
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind: Creating Currents of Electricity and Hope by William Kamkwamba
The story of a clever boy in Malawi, Africa who built his own windmill from found materials at age 14. He is forced to drop out. In the second part of the story, doing the best he can in spite of this disappointment, He finds an elementary physics textbook in a local library and sees diagrams of windmills From this bit of information (not being able to read the text in English), he manages to build his own version from scraps of wire, an old bicycle hub, and flattened PVC pipe for blades.
My favorite book is Catcher in the Rye.
To pick only one! This one came to mind!
Favorite book: Chickenhawk by Robert Mason (helicopter pilot).
Veteran of 1000+ combat missions – This is the author’s personal story about the helicopter war in Vietnam. Great storytelling, whiteknuckle at times, and also very
Personal note: I first read this book when I was twelve years old (mid 80s), I’ve read it perhaps a dozen times since and I always find the story and characters just as engaging as the first read.
Foundation Trilogy by Issac Asimov
A series of science fiction novels where behavior of human masses can be predicted by mathematical formulas.
I’m a big fan of David Sedaris – I could read his books over and over again…
The Te of Piglet by Benjamin Hoff.
I like Tao of Pooh as well, but something about Piglet just appeals to me.
Favorite book: On A Pale Horse
Author Piers Anthony
Description: Suicidal man sees Death come for him as he’s about to kill himself. He, out of fear, then shoots and kills Death and becomes the NEW Death.
I don’t consider it the GREATEST book I’ve ever read — by a long shot, but it is near to me heart as the FIRST book I read that got me hooked on reading.
My favorite book is Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry. The depth of the character descriptions and story of the cattle drive from Texas to Montana help to pull you into the story, and you just never want to leave. I’d definitely stick this one on the Kindle!
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling. I can only pick this one over book 6 because of Harry’s time in Diagon Alley. It would be so cool to have several days to browse and shop there.
Parliament of Whores, by PJ O’Rourke. Its a series of his articles in rolling stone on the effort and efficacy of goverment, and how we waste millions (at the time). Relevant then as it is today, for pointing out wasted efforts while overlooking funding for areas that are effective.
As I was about to post my favorite book, I saw Stephen with Lonesome Dove which is my second favorite, then I scroll up one post and see my first favorite book,
On a Pale Horse by Piers Anthony.
WOW jhon, I have never met anybody who has ever read this series much less put it as their favorite book.
Can’t. Pick. One. 😉
But a turning point in my reading as a teen came with “Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency” by Douglas Adams – described by the author himself as a “thumping good detective-ghost-horror-who dunnit-time travel-romantic-musical-comedy-epic” LOL!
Working at a University in my 20’s it helped me to understand the professors and grad students around me =)
Thanks for the great contest!
My favorite book is The Last Dancer, by Daniel Keys Moran. It’s actually the third book of a series (originally planned for thirty-odd books in 1986, but currently holding at four), and reading the previous books is highly recommended. They’re all available from the author in non-DRM ebooks even!
Anyway, quick summary – humanity is actually the result of tinkering from our own time-travelling descendents (ah the paradox!), who have some sort of nanotech that allows them to live for thousands of years. Unfortunately, they couldn’t duplicate that when their ship got stranded here in the Pleistocene, so we get to burn out fast in contrast. This overarching premise is merged with the near-future development of radical genetic engineering which produces telepathic people, and the rise of true artificial intelligences which infest the interplanetary computer network of the future. And then there are space opera components with the United Nations acting as the big bad guy and rogue asteroid miners and all sorts of other adventures.
Great series, and Last Dancer is the longest and most fully-formed of the lot.
The Trial by Franz Kafka
It’s really a bit dry for most people, but appeals to me. Any book that’s basically about oppressive and inscrutable bureaucracy probably shouldn’t appeal to most people. The main character is accused of a crime, but never told what he’s done. But he’s expected to participate in the process, so to speak even if it’s pointless.
I’m also fond of That Hideous Strength by C.S. Lewis and Solaris by Lem…which makes sense if you think about my taste.
The Hungry Hungry Caterpillar, best book ever made and still love it now.
Favorite Book: A World Lit Only By Fire
Author: William Manchester
A quick read and very entertaining. It gives great insight into how we have (or haven’t) evolved from the Dark Ages.
This is a great idea to read the comments and add to my ‘book list.’
Neuromancer by William Gibson. An AI fighting for consciousness, a down on his luck hacker trying to get his life back, an orbiting vacation retreat for the super rich, a gang of street punks who use misinformation as a weapon of mass destruction.
The Thirty Nine Steps, John Buchan
A spy/suspense/chase novel set on the eve of World War I. It was also written at the time with the result that there is the early 20th Century ethos.
I love Haruki Murakami’s Wind Up Bird Chronicles. It was simply a great novel with so much detail and wisdom. Psychedelic at times, but the characters are believable and I love Japan.
The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand.
Read it for the first time as a sophomore in high school and it was my first exposure to Rand’s philosophy and the idea of anti-collectivism at all costs hit home.
Mitch Albom’s The Five People You Meet in Heaven is profound in its simplicity yet avoids any semblance of the mundane or trite. No one we encounter in life is meaningless. We all play a role in each other’s existence which comes together as you hopefully enter heaven. I often find myself thinking is this person going to be one of my five because of what he/she just said or did or will I just let is pass without noticing?
Geek Love by Katherine Dunn (i have several hard copies and even a digital copy!)
A sideshow family creates their own freaks. Dysfunctional?? You betcha!
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith.
The story of 11 year old Francie and her family in the early 1900’s, living in poverty, dealing with an alcoholic father and how, in spite of all that was against them, they came out in relatively good shape in the end. Enjoyed this book so much as a teen – it really made me want to read more.
I couldn’t come up with only one book but a series.
Incarnations of Immortality by Piers Anthony
SciFi and Fantasy mix up together and explore what happens when the personifications of Death, Time, Fate, War, Nature, Evil, Good change the person in office.
Sophie’s World by Jostein Gaarder
This is a novel about the history of Philosophy.
Loved this book so much i had to read it again after almost 10 years from the first time i finished reading it. Which actually reminds me, it’s time to read it again with a Kindle this time. I hope. 🙂
Donald you are the third person to mention that series.
Starship Troopers by Robert A. Heinlein. Great military classic on the Commandant’s Reading List.
Catch-22 by Joseph Heller. I loved that book when I first read it for the first time in 1969. I’ve read it several times since.
The novel demonstrates the futility of attempting to deal with certain of the military’s non-existent regulations in WWII – which probably also works quite well for Der Homeland security state of today.
“Catch-22 states that agents enforcing Catch-22 need not prove that Catch-22 actually contains whatever provision the accused violator is accused of violating.” -Joseph Heller
Don quijote de la Mancha no doubt, even though some parts are a little hard to understand even for spanish-speaking people, i´m not from Spain,but a worthwhile book anyway!
Man — tough choice — very tough choice.
The Holy Bible
Or if I had to pick a fiction book then perhaps Elfhunter by C.S. Marks
Hitch-hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams.
I can reread it 100 times and still laugh at all the jokes.
Title: The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy
Author: Douglas Adams
Short Description: A man explores the galaxy and knows where his towel is.
Favorite book in the fiction category is actually part of a trilogy:
The Space Trilogy by C. S. Lewis
My favorite is the first one: “Out Of The Silent Planet”
WAY ahead of its time space adventure.
By the way, the Kindle, if I win, is for my daughter.
Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach.
It’s an odd and fascinating account of the role human cadavers have played in advancing science and human endeavor – from testing France’s guillotines to providing new surgical procedures. It’s not overly gross but if you’re squeamish on subjects like this probably best to pass. The tone is dry wit, a bit of irreverance mixed in with the academia.
Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen. The title speaks for itself but it’s basically a love story impeded by Elizabeth & Mr. Darcy’s preconceived attitudes and presumptions of each other based on their societal positions.
Favorite Book: The Structure of Scientific Revolutions
Author: Thomas Kuhn
Examines how ideas entaer and become accepted in our culture.
A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole…probably the greatest story ever told…
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy and all subsequent books in the series by the late Douglas Adams. All wonderfully written. I miss his writing.
My favorite book: The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
Author: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
I love mysteries, and this classic is one of my favorites! I also love all the other books in the Sherlock Holmes “series”.
My Favorite Book: The Lord Of The Rings
Author: J.R.R. Tolkien
Classic story of good versus evil, and the struggles that ensue. Frodo Baggins sets out on an adventure to destroy the powerful One Ring!
So hard to pick a favorite book, but I guess for right now it would still be Snow Crash, by Neal Stephenson. I was given the book as a gift from a friend and had never been exposed to that style of science fiction. It blew me away; Stephenson was truly ahead of his time. I actually have a few copies of the book (I just buy it whenever I see it used at Goodwill or something) so that I can give it to friends who haven’t read it yet.
My favorite book is De Ontdekking van de Hemel by the last year deceased Dutch novelist Harry Mulish. Fortunalely the book has been translated in English: The Discovery of Heaven.
Big fan of The-Gadgeteer since the times of the Palm Pilot.
My Favorite book: Childhoods End
Author: Arthur C. Clarke
The story of mans first contact with an alien race, who for once aren’t trying to destroy them, but lead them into a golden age of prosperity. Touching on the destiny of mankind, the next stage of evolution, and many other things I’d rather not spoil, this book is simply fantastic.
My favorite book is Magic’s Price by Mercedes Lackey. I love all of her Valdemar books, but this was the first I read which makes it stand out. It’s the start of a trilogy with a coming of age story.
I love the Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis. I read them when I was young and am getting to relive the stories now with my daughter.
While I’ve read a lot of books over the years, Watership Down by Richard Adams is still my favourite. While the main characters may all be rabbits, the epic journey they undertake, with all its perils and camaraderie, is still touching to me even after more than a decade since the first read.
My favorite? Hard to narrow down…
“The Silence Of Adam” by Larry Crabb
Great book about the concept of Adam being present (but silent) when Eve was tempted and took the fruit!
Book draws a connection between men’s tendency to be silent when they need to speak.
Great read! Life changing!
“The Source” by James Michener
Read and reread many times. Always find something new and interesting. One history of man’s struggle to understand himself and his place in the world.
I think my all time favorite is Sinbad and Me by Kin Platt. It’s a kids book, but I still have the battered paperback copy I bought at the bookmobile at school for 60 cents in 1970. 41 years later, after untold readings, it’s still a fun story. Ghosts, pirates, treasure, mystery, a lovable bulldog, gangsters, codes to solve, and yes, T-men, you can’t hardly beat it. It was voted “Best Juvenile Mystery of the Year” by The Mystery Writers of America when it came out.
Such a shame it is long out of print and is in rare book status. Has 5 star reviews on Amazon.com. But the price of a paperback copy is usually over $60 these days. It’s that good of a story! I saw a guy post on a board that if it was ever in digital form, the guy would go buy an e-reader just to read it again.
Oh Gosh it’s Friday! So I try again;)
Book: Parallel Worlds
Author: Michio Kaku
Anchor Books
About: The Universe and the Cosmos. An amazing read describing the forces of the Universe and how our understanding has changed and improved over the last 100 years. Like the problem of the cat in the box. Is it dead while the box is closed, or dead only when I open the box and view it. Or indeed does it exist at all until I view it…… In fact is everything around me only “real” when I view it (and you). Tis means that the forum The Gadgeteer does not exist until I visit the URL…………. So why did I bother to make all my corections when it is only I who will be iewing the end product and then only when I open the forum….
I need another cup of hibiscus “tea”, which of course it not real “tea” by all definitions…
Have a nice weekend:)
Good to Great by Jim Collins
A great book describing years of research into why some companies are good and why others make the leap to great. It’s extremely well written and enjoyable even if you’re not into business. I read it once a year just for fun!
I can’t settle on one book but I will give you a book and a series:
Emergence by David R. Palmer. About a 11-year-old orphan girl surviving living in a post-apocalyptic world with just a few survivors left roaming the world.
A series called ‘The Codex Alera’ by Jim Butcher is a great series. It is about a boy coming-of-age who doesn’t have any magic powers in a world where everyone has magic. He uses his brain to get out of sticky situations.
The Pale Horseman by Bernard Corwell, the second book from the The Saxon Stories.
A story about the “birth” of England, about the reign of Alfred the Great, about Danish(vikings) invasion of Britain who tries to gain control of Wessex over the Anglo-Saxon already in place. Bernard Cornwell is a master author in historical novel. It is also one of the rare novel about vikings and the Dark Ages of Britain.
My favorite book is Erasure by Percival Everett. It’s about an author whose books are…underappreciated. He’s more than a little turned off by the current glut of urban-styled literature so he writes just such a book himself – purely as a parody. Imagine his horror when his parody is a smash it.
Some of the language is definitely not for the kiddies, but a good read.
My favorite book is “The Rise of Endymion” by Dan Simmons. It’s actually the last book the the Hyperion/Endymion quartet (quadrology?), so unfortunately you’ll have to read the other 3 first. It’s the continuing sci-fi, space saga of Endymion, a man sent to protect Aenea, a girl who’s destined to change the future of all mankind. Sounds pretty hokey, but I laughed and cried as I read the book and I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough to find out what happens next.
my favourite book would have to be The Hitch-hikers guide to the universe by Douglas Adams……..its just so funny, every time i read it i laugh out loud, i had originally bought it to read on the bus it was a spur of the moment thing……..and all the way home i giggled and held in the laughs and got no end of stares from the other passengers and i still love to read it and it still makes me laugh
My favorite book is Pilgrim At Tinker Creek by Annie Dillard. The author’s rambles around Tinker Creek and her musings on the natural world and spiritual connections, this book won a Pulitzer prize in the mid-1970’s. I’ve read it annually since 1976.
The “Ender’s Game” and complementing “Ender’s Shadow” series are my all-time favorite 8 books. Orson Scott Card does an amazing job telling the story of a young boy’s journey through “battle school” in the first Ender’s book, and then the ensuing political, religious, and cultural stories that follow in the next three books. Then, as only a genius writer could do, the author creates an equally unique and intriguing storyline that parallels Ender’s story in the whole 4-book “Shadow” series, focusing on a character from “Ender’s Game,” named Bean. I can’t emphasize strongly enough how lost you become in these books – the storylines are reflective of modern times, as well as historic events in our own world, and told in a way that make you forget you’re reading science fiction, and realize – it’s just good writing, pure and simple.
My favorite book is also The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, by Douglas Adams. It is about a hilarious space adventure involving very few earthlings.
My favorite:Don Camillo e Peppone.(The Little World of Don Camillo.) by Giovannino Guareschi.
Back ground is post WWII Italy, small town where priest and town’s mayor who is communist always get on each other due to difference of ideology but work together also. Liberals and conservatives can learn from this though it may sound over simplified, these books show what author thought war torn Italy would needed. Very funny, moving short stories.
My favorite book is “Ghoul” from Michael Slade. Its a series about a team called Special X which is a part of the Canadian Mounted Police who go after serial killers. The books is very much into the mind and criminology of this killer.
I really can’t say much about it because it would be giving it away and every page of this book is a gem. Great writing by Michael Slade who is actually a series of writing writing under this name. They’re lawyers who specialize in serial killers.
My favorite book is “To Kill A Mockingbird”, Most everyone knows the story of Scout, her brother and friend. The Crime and an accused black man defended by Scout’s father (Atticus Finch). this is the perfect halloween story and one of the great pieces of american literiture.
My favorite book is A Million Little Pieces by James Frey. It is a book about a drug addict’s struggle with recovery. Very emotional book!!
My favorite book is: Shogun by James Clavell
It ‘s an adventure, travel log, and wonderful love story set in Japan.
They made it into a multi-nite TV movie. Knowing that didn’t have a TV, this guy I knew invited me to his place to watch it. That was the beginning of our life together. Thank you Mr. Clavell!
Julie, what a great idea! I’m making a list of the books that seem interesting to me. This is a contest that everybody wins!
Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett
A hilarious apocalyptic adventure. I’ve re-read it many times, it has such great characters and writing.
My favorite books are The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien. It’s about how a large group of people conspire to keep someone from getting back a piece of jewelry that was robbed from him a long time ago.
Hi
My favorite is th catcher in the rye
Thanks,
Nice Day
My all time favorite book is ‘The Name of The Rose’ by Umberto Eco. It tells the tale of mysterious murders in a fourteenth century abbey and the efforts of a visiting monk to solve them.
My Favorite book is “The Return of the King” by J.R.R. Tolkien. Tolkien’s third and last book in the Lord of the Ring series closes off a long sought journey of a small group of hobbits who travel out of their lands and have an adventure that they would never have dreamt of, and in the end save all of Middle Earth.
There are all sorts of hard Sci-fi and cyberpunk books I was tempted to name, but after some thought I decided to plump for “Danny, the Champion of the World” by Roald Dahl – simply because of the great times I’ve had reading it with my kids. Ostensibly a story about a bizarre method of poaching pheasants, it’s really about the love between a father and his son.
Quozl. By Alan Dean Foster
Bunny looking aliens living in the northern American wilderness underground. Awesome.
Tom Clancy’s “The Hunt for Red October”…as a former Navy officer from that era, it brought the drama of modern Naval combat to life for non-sailors…
Jacqueline Carey, Kushiel’s Dart. I picked this one after a friend suggested it. I thought it was be a romance novel or something but it turned out to be great. I don’t want to try to describe it because I’d do a horrible job and you wouldn’t check it out. Sort of alternate history-fantasy-sexiness.
The draw date is my birthday, coincidence?! I think so!
My favourite book, probably, is Small Gods by Terry Pratchett. It really shows anyone, believer or not, what one should and should not believe in.
_Farewell My Lovely_ by Raymond Chandler. Saw the movie, then read the book, then RE-read the book aloud to my girlfriend on the beach during our (extended) first date. (That was 27 years ago, and she’s still with me–GOOD book!)
Native Son by Richard Wright is my favorite novel. It is about a young man coming of age at a time when everything is changing drastically in his life, socially, politically and personally.
My most memorable book has to be “Bright Lights Big City” by Jay McInerney & later turned into a movie staring Michael J. Fox. I’d love to win this updated version of the Kindle!
“When the Eagle Screams” by Stephen Bowman. A non-fiction work written to warn America that the age of terrorism is upon it.
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams.
Not a book, but a series.
Hyperion Cantos by Dan Simmons
Soft sci-fi at it’s best. Heavy reading, but oh so good.
Memorable book? “Master and Commander” by Patrick O’brian. I don’t generally read historical fiction, but after reading a short excerpt of this book I dug up a copy and immersed myself in it. I got hooked, and eventually bought all 20 of the books in his series.
I’ve probably read the full series of books 4 or 5 times. Something in the Aubrey-Maturin relationship speaks to me, and I retrun to the books over and over.
Matt Ruffs Bad Monkeys, Secret organization you do not know for sure. Crazy, but my favorite.
Foucault’s Pendulum by Umberto Eco. A great conspiracy theory about conspiracy theories! Philosophy, religion, secret societies – all around a fantastic book!
Favorite Book? Dune by Frank Herbert. A sweeping story of mankind’s struggle and triumph over a harsh and unforgiving environment.
I must not fear.
Fear is the mind-killer.
Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.
I will face my fear.
I will permit it to pass over me and through me.
And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path.
Where the fear has gone there will be nothing.
Only I will remain.
All Time Favorite – “Dune” by Frank Herbert – still relevant after all these years!
Thanks Julie!
A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson about a little girl who makes up fantastical stories as her life goes from enchanted to desperate. One of the few books I still reread twenty years later 🙂
Favorite Book? James Joyce’s ULYSSES – I re-read it every 4 years and even visited Dublin to walk the journey that the book recounts (brass sidewalk markers note actual places that from the book).
I wouldn’t mind not having the keyboard.
Randomize me….
I wouldn’t mind not having the keyboard.
Randomize me….
Favorite book? Gotta be “To Kill a Mockingbird”. Helped me start to grow up in the pre-integration, pre-busing South as a kid who moved down from Michigan.
A Storm of Swords by G.R.R.Martin. Civil War, scary monsters, and babby dragons!
the missing piece meets the big o. Silverstein, Shel
My favorite book is Dormia by Jake Halpern, which describes a journey deep into the Ural Mountains to save an ancient civilization.
The Monkey Wrench Gang by Ed Abbey – a fun read that makes you think about wilder times in the American West and environmental issues.
My favorite book is My Sweet-Orange Tree by Jose Mauro DeVasconcelos. I read this book in Spanish in my early 20’s and by far it’s the most compelling book I’ve read. It encapsulates all the dazzling elements of being a child. A lovely story highlighting the essential moment that we cease from being naive children and open our eyes to the harshness of this world. I believe that everyone should read this book at least once in their life.
Going Bovine by Libba Bray
It’s about a kid with Mad cow disease named Cameron who goes on a mission to save the universe with a dwarf named Gonzo, a yard gnome/Norse god named Balder, and a punk angel named Dulcie
Radical Forgiveness by Colin Tipping. A way to truly and thoroughly forgive everyone in your life the easy way, unlike traditional forgiveness which is quite difficult. Being able to truly forgive is the most freeing action possible! The information and process (worksheets) make it amazingly simple, easy and permanent! A life-changer.
My favorite book is Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger. It was the first book I read more than once.
Getting Things Done by David Allen. A methodology of achieving deliriously pleasurable productivity. Mindfully, successfully, whilst having a darned good time at that.
Getting Things Done by David Allen.
A methodology of achieving deliriously pleasurable productivity.
Eye of the world by the late Robert Jordan
I have so many but what comes to mind is:
The Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah
It’s about a mother’s relationship with her two grown daughters. She is distant from them and it is grief that brings them together, and enables the mother to open up about a secretive past. She has a heartbreaking past that is set in war-torn Leningrad.
Its hard to pick a favourite. But if I have to, currently I would say
Title: How to Get Lots of Money for Anything Fast
Author: Stuart A Lichtman
Description: It is basically a self improvement book, and is about consciously controlling your unconscious mind….
Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card. A super fantastic novel with the deceptively cliche plot about a young genius trying to save Earth from alien bugs. My first SF book!
Book: Stranger in a Strange Land
Author: Robert A. Heinlein
Description: A retelling of the Jesus myth set in the future, as seen from the 1960’s.
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien…. Captured my imagination in 7th grade, and have not looked back since
Any book by Edward Abbey
All time fav book is A Tree Grows in Brooklyn…
written in 1943 by Betty Smith.
The story focuses on an Irish-American family in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, New York City.
The book addresses many different issues–poverty, alcoholism, lying, etc.–its main themes is the need for tenacity: the determination to rise above difficult circumstances. The Nolans are financially restricted by poverty but yet find ways to enjoy life and satisfy their needs and wants.
This book was a real eye opener for me as a teenager and well worth reading.
_War For The Oaks_ by Emma Bull. This is probably the proto-urban fantasy, and it’s also set in the late ’80s with lots of references to fashion and music, which makes me happily nostalgic every time I read it, since I grew up in the ’80s. Heroism, true love, and evil gets its comeuppance, with a great soundtrack – what’s not to love?
Asimov The Foundation
Title: A Song of Ice and Fire
Author: George R R Martin
Desc: A fantasy based war novel, it offers a unique story of politics, love and struggle for power without the regular good vs evil Prespective.
“Winter is coming”
Have Space Suit—Will Travel, by Robert A. Heinlein. This book was old when I was young, yet I have read it many times in my life. A light read, but still has me wishing for my own space suit to play with.
My favourite book was from when I must have been around ten years old. It was by John Christopher called ‘The City of Gold and Lead’. Set in the future it was about a different Earth many years after it was taken over by an alien civilisation called the masters. A group of young teenagers set out to free earth from this enslavement and destroy one of the many domed cities the masters reside in. It was the first book that got me interested in reading.
It by Stephen King. I read it when I was about 12 years old and it scared the crap out of me. Read it all alone at home, at night, with only the table lamp switched on. Managed to finish the book in one night.
title : dealers.of.lightning
author : michael.a.hiltzik
my all time favorite book is the Christ commission by og mandino. i have read this book several years ago… still in college and have been waiting for amazon to have it on digital format. when i heard its availability on amazon, i immediately purchased it and read it again for the nth time. its about a man, an author, who is working on a book that would prove that Christ actually was resurrected, but unable to finish it because he wasn’t convinced that he actually have resin. until he made a wish and get his chance to go back in time and conduct interviews to people who have known him to collect evidence of his divinity and left to come to his own conclusions. its a great book and i love reading it all over again.
The Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham. Plants take over the world! Specifically, deadly human engineered plants turn on their creators.
“I Can Jump Puddles” by Alan Marshall
It’s biographical book. Thought that goes through every page of it is “even with unequal starting position one can succeed and be a great person”. Book tells a story of author – kid who couldn’t walk due to poliomyelitis. Nevertheless he hang out with other kids and managed overcome his weaknesses. It’s about friendship and dreams, family and sympathy. Great book that you can give to kids (if he/she is smart enough) or enjoy as a grownup.
Have read a lot of books lately but i must say i am loving “Dead World” by Bryan Smith.
Lots of talk about apocalypse and the end of the world, this book really showcases what humans will end up with, when 90 percent of world population is gone and when the government is gone. Really scary and hair raising. Really realistic and worth a read!
The Appeal by John Grisham
My favorite book is “One Hundred Years of Solitude” by Gabriel Garcia Marquez.
Book: The Hobbit
Author: JRR Tolkien
my favorite book is zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance by robert pirsig.
A Game of Thrones, George R.R. Martin – beginning of the epic series which now on HBO (haven’t watched it) that takes you to a world where dragons were real and there is a giant wall to protect the people from… something. It drags you in and makes you want more, but we had to wait 6 years for the latest installment!!
Le Petit Prince (The Little Prince) by Antoine de Saint-Exupery. Such a seemingly simple book with a powerful message behind it. The narrator, crash-landing in the desert, meets a little prince who has something to teach us all about what is important in life.
Hitchhikers guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams. Just absolutely brilliant. “Don’t panic and bring your own towel” .
Mind Prey by John Sanford
When I was 12 , I read the books about Old Shatterhand and Winetou by Karl May, and in the following years I must have read them again about 4 to 5 times I guess they where my favourite then. Since then (almost 30 years ago) I must admit I don’t read as much anymore. If I would have to choose a favourite now I would choose the Lord of the Ring trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien
Funny I was going to say Le Petit Prince too, is short but to this day is the book that always come to my mind, and that’s probably Why I would love to use a Kindle to share this book with my daughter.
Le Petit Prince is by Antoine de Saint-Exupery is the about the journey of whats is really important in life.
My favorite book is Nobody’s Boy (Original French’s title: Sans Famille), written by Hector Mailot in 1878 (yes, it is an old book). The book follows the adventure of a little boy travelling across France to England in search of his family. I read this book as a boy in Vietnamese, now in English.
I have 3 favorite authors whose work is so good that I can reread each book over and over. First is Louis L’Amore whose Sackett saga is terrific. Second is W.E.B. Griffin whose Brotherhood of War and The Corps are both reach out and grab you series. Third and to my mind one of the best authors I’ve ever encountered is Anne McCaffrey and her Dragon Riders of Pern series is a wonderful fantasy/sci-fi series. I wish I had Ruth the white dragon by my side, but I will accept this Kindle and use it to reread the series again.
“The Good Earth”, Pearl S. Buck and “A Tree Grows In Brooklyn”, don’t recall the author, I read it when I was 12; I also like “The Diary of Anne Frank.” Hmmm, now that I look at these titles, I have to wonder about myself. They’re not exactly cheery stories, are they?
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith. Pride and Prejudice set in a zombie-infested Regency England. I like regular Pride and Prejudice, but zombies make it much funnier.
Pillars of the Earth…by Ken Follett
1000 pages long and you would wish it to be 2000 pages… Generations of families build the best cathedral in all of England. Fabulous characters..great story…great author….
Love it. Will look and read great on a kindle. Hope to win
Ender’s Game By Orson Scott Card.
Great book (and series) about war and how it is not what it seems.
A quick read, but a gem – 84 Charing Cross Road by
Helene Hanff.
What a great contest! I *love* hearing
of other folks’ favorite reads.
Even if I don’t win the prize, I’ve still
received something of value. Thank you, Gadgeteers!
I love all of Kim Harrison’s books. I’ll go with Outlaw Demon Wails by Kim Harrison. – It is about the adventures of a witch, vampire, and a pixie, as they work as a PI firm and to stay alive.
It’s almost impossible to pick one favorite book but one of them would be:
Book: The Foundation Trilogy
Author: Isaac Asimov
Description: A science fiction about how mathematical sociology (psychohistory) can predict the future …
Tough to pick, so I’ll just have to choose one….
Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger. A great “coming of age” book.
It’s ridiculously hard to pick just one (I’m an English teacher, after all) , but for the moment I have to pick Of Mice and Men, since I just read it four times, one with each class, and it gets more brilliant the more times I read it.
George and Lennie are bindlestiffs working the ranches of California, but Lennie’s incredible strength, combined with his mental handicap and love of soft things often gets him in trouble. I can’t ruin what happens, but you won’t regret reading it.
“A Year in Provence” by Peter Mayle
What’s not to like about an Englishman who buys a farmhouse in southern France and chronicles his experiences (some would say trials and tribulations) with the locals and their customs?
A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin.
While it is the first in the series of ‘A Song of Ice and Fire’, I was woefully ignorant of the series until HBO’s Game of Thrones series. After watching the season I immediately grabbed the first book and am now starting the fourth. I highly recommend it, full of intrigue, backstabbing, cunning plans, lots of twists and turns. You can’t say much without giving things away.
I love the novel “The Last Samurai” by Helen DeWitt. It has nothing to do with ancient Japan. It’s set in modern London.
Must be The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks. It’s a romance-suspense story about a woman who must learn to trust again in order to allow herself to love again.
The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins
It’s the rush, the gore, and the truth of what our human race would become in the not so far future – savages. When I first laid my hand on the first book,The Hunger Games, I knew it would have a very profound effect on how to survive in this f**ked-up world. So far, I’ve made my other friends follow Suzanne Collins approach on a very radical way to size-up our Young Adult readers by introducing the series to them and discover a reading treasure in the trilogy. Salut!
The Great War by Les Carlyon. Australia’s role in WWI written by a great storyteller and insightful historian/journalist.
The old man and the sea, Ernest Hemingway. Keeps me in tune with the fishing life here where I live.
Douglas Adams – The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy
Arthur Dent tries to save the Earth from demolition – hooks up with Ford Prefect – great slap-stick sci-fi humor.
I enjoyed Din Pipers book, Ninety Minutes in Heaven, as it scared the daylights out of me into truly realizing my mortality. He is a walking miracle, and this book led to my interest in meeting him personally, which I did recently.
My favourite book of all time would have to be The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. It shows the reader the importance of following your dreams, but never forgetting where your journey in life began.
The best book I’ve read this year:
“Reamde” by Neal Stephenson
Best I’ve ever read?
I’ll go with
“The God Delusion” by Richard Dawkins.
One of my favorites is The Lazy Man’s Guide to Enlightenment. Simple but deep ponderings on the true nature of our consciousness. Someday I want to write The Enlightened Man’s Guide to Laziness!
The Fountainhead – Ayn Rand
IMO a story about the importance of always doing your best and not compromising your own vision despite what others might say.
My favorite book, which I carry with me all the time (digitally) is Finnegans Wake by Joyce. Why? You either get it or you don’t. Transcendent, illuminating, a concentrated dose of pure linguistic pleasure whenever, wherever I dip into it.
“Time Enough for Love”
by Robert A. Heinlein
The book follows the life of Lazarus Long (aka Woodrow Wilson Smith) who at 2000 years old, is the oldest living human being. This character has shown up in previous Heinlein books like Methuselah’s Children & Orphans of the Sky.
My favorite book is “Carter Beats the Devil,” by Glen David Gold. It’s an amazing story of a magician that pulls off the worlds greatest illusion, and is just fantastic.
Please enter me in the contest. My favorite book is ‘The Count of Monte Cristo’.
My favorite is Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte.
Any Vince Flynn book, but primarily “Term Limits”. A great book in the Mitch Rapp saga.
His Master’s Voice by Stanislaw Lem: it’s written as an autobiography of a brilliant mathematician, who was head of an effort to decipher a mysterious transmission from the stars. Considering that this effort eventually fails [don’t worry, this wasn’t a spoiler], the book reads more as an account of the people and dynamics involved. The Sci-Fi side of the story is brilliant, as is usual with Lem, but it’s the depth of characters and psychological details that makes HMV on par with the best of mainstream classics.
I’m not sure if this is really my all-time favorite book, but it was the first one to pop up in my head when I was reading your post:
Imzadi (Star Trek: The Next Generation) by Peter David
It’s about how Riker and Deena first fell in love. The story actually takes place in the future when Riker and Deena or no longer together. The book involves flashbacks and time travel (via the Guardian of Forever time portal).
Sophie’s World by Jostein Gaarder was interesting … a walk through the history of philosophy through the eyes of a 14 year old Norwegian girl…
Magic’s Price by Mercedes Lackey is the final book in her “Last Herald-Mage” series. A fantastic fantasy book.
Maharishi Mahesh Yogi on the Bhagavad-Gita. Finally someone who has the wisdom and intelligence to understand the real meaning behind this epic story.
One of my favorite books of all time has to be “A Conversation with my Atheist Friend” Written by Dr. Mustafa Mahmoud. Briefly, it shows you how people of a certain faith often take things for granted, never thinking why, how, or what the point is of this or that. This book might not answer most questions that cross our minds, but it answers the important ones at least. And the fact that the author was skeptic himself made him even more credible to write such a book. Provides room for contemplating a variety of different issues in life.
not embarrassed to say I loved Harry Potter every time I read them! My favorite was The Prisoner of Azkaban because so much was added to the back story of Harry’s parents.
Harry the Dirty Dog by Gene Zion. It is a childrens book about a dog who doesn’t want a bath and his journey to avoid one. My mom read this to me growing up and when I got pregnant for the first time she bought me a new copy which I read to my 3 kids.
I love a lot of books, so it’s difficult for me to pick just one. So I’m going to go by how many times I’ve reread this one: Dune by Frank Herbert, about power, prescience, fate and a mind-altering drug.
I would have to say my all time favourite book is Artemis Fowl
by Eoin Colfer it is a story about how a teenage criminal mastermind (Artemis Fowl) and his bodygaurd (Butler) kidnap a fairy (Holly Short) for gold to pay for a team to search for his father.
“Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban” J.K Rowling. This is my most memorable book because it catapulted me into reading for fun.
My fave book was Catcher and the Rye by JD Salinger. Back in high school we had to read it but i found it really memorable and re-read it again later in life 🙂
To pick one book I couldn’t put down would have to be “Snow Crash” by Neil Stephenson.
I have to give a shout out to Harry Harrison for the “Stainless Steel Rat” series. Great stuff.
My favourite book is “The Swarm” from Frank Schätzing. It is a science fiction novel. In this novel, full of twists, turns, and cliffhangers, a team of scientists discovers a strange, intelligent life force called the Yrr that takes form in marine animals, using them to wreak havoc on humanity for our ecological abuses. Soon a struggle between good and evil is in full swing, with both human and suboceanic forces battling for control of the waters.
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis.
To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee. Outside of the major themes, racial injustice and coming of age or loss of innocence, the writing is just superb. The main characters, especially Scout and Atticus Finch, are so well drawn that you almost feel you are with them as the story unfolds.
I love “Wintergirls” by Laurie Halse Anderson. About a girl (Lia) who suffers anorexia and the struggle of her family against her disease.
Thank you for this international giveaway!
My fave book was “It” by Stephen King;first reason is it was the first King’s book I readed and after this I bought all the others,the second is It was the first of this genre and after it I started to love all this kind of writes.
It’s a book I really suggest.
My favorite book is “1984” by George Orwell. It covers the comings and goings of Winston Smith as he deals with living in a totalitarian regime.
It manages to cover politics, language and issues of privacy while still including love and emotion.
My favorite book is Dune by Frank Herbert. A science fiction book that is incredibly detailed and has many original concepts. It has spawned many sequels, a couple movie adaptations, video games and god knows what else.
The Stand by Stephen King. Stephen King is the only author I can read a 1,000 page book and not get bored with.
Dear Mom: A Sniper’s Vietnam
Joseph T. Ward
The letters Joseph Ward, one of the elite Marine Scout Snipers, wrote home to his mom reveal a side of the Vietnam war seldom seen.
Manchild in the Promisedland…Claude Brown. I was assigned to read it in a law class in high school 18 years ago (eek!)…the only assigned book I bothered to read in HS. As a suburban, middle class teen, I was fascinated by the daily life experiences of Mr. Brown in the most difficult neighborhoods of New York. Now, as an inner-city middle school teacher, I use the book as a teaching tool with my own students!
The Way We Live Now by Anthony Trollope (1875). Trollope’s characters were always shades of grey. The “heroes” were never perfect; the “villains” were never utterly wicked. All were subject to human frailties. And even as Trollope savaged the greed and venality of his day, he never lost sympathy with the folk he peopled his tale with. This is the great, high-Victorian novel, packed with characters and sub-plots galore, all woven into a compelling whole by Trollope’s insightful and ironic storytelling.
Water for Elephants – book great – movie not so much…
Roger Zelazny’s “Jack of Shadows”. It’s about tragic love, a world divided between magic and technology, a destruction of a dream, of hopes and all life .
The Lotus Caves by John Christopher: Rebelling against the monotonous life of the moon colony, two boys go beyond its boundaries and discover a series of caves ruled by a super-intelligent plant-like being.
My favorite book of all time is The Green Mile by Stephen King. Technically, a series of 6 smaller books, together they make a fascinating story of life, death, and the moral dilemma behind executions and “God”. Granted, I saw the movie first, but that made me go back and read the books which to this day I cant read all the way through without crying. On a more recent note, everyone reading this should go read “Ready, Player One” by Enrest Cline.
Many Lives Many Masters
Brian Weiss
Its about reincarnation, based on true story of the Psychiatrist (author) and his patient…
Ender’s Game, by Orson Scott Card.
It’s not every day that an 11 year old boy is responsible for wiping out an entire sentient race and saving the human race from invasion. Only he doesn’t actually do either.
The Hobbit
J.R.R Tolkien
A tale of heroism found in unlikely places. The Hobbit distills everything that is great about fantasy novels. It transports you to a world of fantastical beasts, wizards, and magic rings. Once started it is one of those rare stories that you cannot put down till the back cover greets you
Jhereg by Steven Brust
The story of a quick-witted young man growing up in a world where one’s House determines your fate, your innate characteristics, and your past. Unless you’re human, of course. Then it gets complicated…
The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley: A brilliant young British sleuth in pigtails with an obsession for chemistry, especially the nature of poision, stumbles upon a murder and goes to work on solving the crime.
One of my favorite books is the classic Emma by Jane Austen.
It is about a wealthy, sophisticated match-maker having troubles making matches. Then, as she matures, she herself finds true love. It’s a sweet and humorous story.
I also really enjoyed the movie.
I’d love to have that kindle… my wife would love me for it 🙂
Oops misread the requirements… my favourite book is Philip K. Dicks “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?” which started my journey into Science-Fiction fandom! Genius writer along with Asimov, Clarke and Hubbard!
Favorite book …
The Carpet Makers by Andreas Eschbach
A fantastic multi-world sci-fi about the production of carpets handwoven from the finest human hair. The story is created from multiple vignettes and character threads which keeps the pace rather quick and spontaneous.
My favorite author didn’t actually write the book, but he translated it. Joseph Smith and The Book of Mormon.
It is a book that provides another testament of Jesus Christ.
Catch-22 by Joseph Heller. Seems like I run into catch-22 situation way too often than I like.
Wonderful Giveaway.
Gabriel Garcia Marquez is my favorite author, and the book 100 Years of Solitude my most favorite novel, where a family saga’s story is shown as one of the most realistic yet mysterious, fantastic happenings I have ever read or even imagined. xx
Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen. It was the book that got me interested in reading as a teenager. Before then, reading was a chore. But now, I do it all the time!
Easy.
The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger
🙂
The Deathworld Trilogy, by Harry Harrison.
Deathworld centers on Jason dinAlt, originally from an agrarian planet Porgorstorsaand, a professional gambler who uses his erratic psionic abilities to tip the odds in his favor. He is challenged by a man named Kerk Pyrrus (who turns out to be the ambassador from the planet Pyrrus) to turn a large amount of money into an immense sum by gambling at a government-run casino. He succeeds and survives the planetary government’s desperate efforts to steal back the money. In a fit of ennui, he decides to accompany Kerk to his home, despite being warned that it is the deadliest world ever colonized by humans.
There and Back Again, A.K.A. The Hobbit, by J. R. R. Tolkien. Immersive story and world. My gateway book into a SciFi/Fantasy book addiction.
So many, How do I choose? My choices of favorite have shifted as I go through life. I doubt I could choose just one. I really liked “The Boyfriend School” by Sarah Bird. It is about a reporter for a tiny paper in Texas that goes to cover a romance novel writers convention and then makes friends with some of the writers and also decides “Hey, I can do that!” and sets about trying too. Meanwhile a bunch of other stuff happens.
It was written in the 80’s, but I still think it would be a fun and enjoyable read. In 1990 they made a movie of it with some awful title and starring Steve Guttenberg and Shelley Long and was probably horrible. I didn’t watch it of course since I really liked the book.
Joseph Finder, Paranoia. Become a corporate spy or go to prison.. Great read!
My favorite book is Rule of the Bone by Russell Banks. It tells the story of 14 year old chappie who drops out of school only to go around and getting into trouble with people he meets along the way. Including a bike gang and a Jamaican Rastafarian Migrant worker by the name I-Man, who he meets in new york, living in a bus. They fly to jamaica together until I-man is killed by a man named Jason. Great book
Pompeii by Robert Harris. A novel set in Pompeii while Mount Vesuvius is getting ready to blow its top.
An oldie but a goodie… JD Salinger’s “Catcher in the Rye” or “The Chrysalids” by John Wyndham !
The Ingenious Gentleman Don Quixote of La Mancha
by Miguel de Cervantes
I have a kindle ;<), I need something to read books with.
Not an entire book but parts, why I am not a christian and other
writings by Bertrand Russell, particularly about the agrument from analogy for other minds. Not for the reasons most people think, because it helped me form ideas about how to create characters to tell stories and to question everything for the pure mental exercise. Since I did this in my early teens, I can't really even remember what I read that well, but it started me on a long path for causing trouble that I really enjoy.
Slaughterhouse Five, Kurt Vonnegut
In a combination of satire and science fiction Vonnegut’s main character Billy Pilgrim explores human nature in time of war while travelling through time and space. We also get to meet Kilgore Trout a science fiction writer that also stars in Breakfast of Champions by Vonnegut.
Bill the Galactic Hero by Harry Harrison. Wickedly funny misadventures of a bumbling oaf who becomes the hero in an intergalactic military war.
The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón
Never had so much fun reading a book about books. 🙂
“Kim” by Rudyard Kipling (although it’s really hard to narrow it down! But I do come back to it often). It follows the adventures of an English boy growing up in India living as a native – fascinating look at the country, its history and religion, and a “ripping yarn” to boot!
(If I win, my son gets it – we are running out of room to store his traditional dead-tree books!!)
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. The transformation of Jane and the view of the world from Jane’s eyes is spectacular. It challenges societal norms and analyzes personalities. I felt connected to Jane through the entire book, it really is fantastic.
My all time favorite is 12 Ordinary Men by John McArthur about the lives of the apostles and how Jesus chose simple, ordinary men to change the world. The point of the book is that you don’t need to be an executive, politician, rich, or anything other than who you are to change your life and others for the better.
The winner is comment #222 Mario Costa.
Thanks to everyone that entered and all the great book recommendations!!!
I’m closing the comments on this post.