Out of ALL the books published over the years the BBC have a list of the top five
Which are

Pride and Prejudice WHY?
Jane Eyre Not too bad
The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe At least this has something going for it. BUT it is ONLY the LW&W not the series which includes better reads IMHO
Nineteen Eighty-Four Depressing or what?
To Kill a Mockingbird Have not read this one - any comments??

What happened to the REALLY good books??
Quincunx - Not even in the Long - shortlist
LOTR - maybe a bit of an obvious choice but good none the less?
Birdsong - should be read by everyone
The 39 steps - fantastic book from an author who wrote a large number of excellent reads.
The Curious Case of the Dog in The Night-Time - A good read with a different view of reality :D

Which are YOUR top 5 books??

Hi LD. ASL?

H Rider Haggard, "She". The original Indiana Jones!! My copy was published in 1887 (Belonged to me grandfather)

Erskin Childers, "Riddle of the Sands". I just cannot believe this man was later exercuted for treason!

Nick Hornby, "About a Boy". You need to be a man to apprecate this one.

John Windom, "The Outward Urge". A frighting glimse of the future.

Got to go with you on the "39 Steps" though maybe "Witch Wood" is better.

Best wishes, John

1. One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich, Alexander Solzhenitsyn ( one day in  the life of prisoner at a Siberian Prison camp - despite the depressing subject this book is one of those you cannot put down - very powerful)
2. Lord of the Rings      - It won the BIG read - and deservedly so
3. Wilt, Tom Sharpe     - very, very funny - especially the police interrogation.
4. The Pickwick Papers - In my opinion Charles Dickens best. Brilliant funny characters, and excellent baddies.
5. A Midsummers Night Dream.    Shakespeare at his most accessible. Brilliantly written, funny and very easy to read for a Shakespeare play.

Nothing deeply cultural here :) but all things I go back to again and again - might give people something different to read (in no particular order):

1. Memoirs of a Geisha (Arthur Golden) - real insight into a different culture, don't know anyone who's read it and didn't like it
2. The Woman In White (Wilkie Collins) - don't know why really, just love it
3. The Prince Of Tides (Pat Conroy) - what use of language, if you haven't read Pat Conroy give him a try
4. Take Me With You (Brad Newsham) - love travel books, this one was 'different' and I started reading it again as soon as I finished
5. Watchers (Dean Koontz) - I know, totally unfeasible ... or is it ;) ... but had me hooked

M.

I understand there is a third in the seriese, "Watchers" and "Seize the Night" to come out soon, If you remember the last was left open.

Regards, John

John Wyndham  The Midwych Cuckoos
John Wyndham  The Chrysalids
CS Lewis  The Lion The Witch and the Wardrobe (and the rest of the series)
Most books by Terry Pratchett
All books by Tom Holt

:D

Agree with you Melody most books by Terry Pratchet though my favourites are the Guards series with Carrott, Vimes and the rest and IMO the pratrician is one of the most funny characters in the books. IT by Stephen King one of the scariest books ever written, Dragonlance Chronicles by Margaret Weis and Tracey Hickman if you love magic and dragons. Lord of the Flies is also a good book.

Nikki

I KNEW I misspelt John Wyndham in my in my selection Mel. I'd put it right if this dammed editing would only allow! ;)

Best wishes, John

i have loved books ever since i learned to read at the age of 4. far too many for me to pick favourites. i read at least one a week and cant imagine life without them. strangely enough my twin brother was diagnosed as being dyslexic at the age of 6. even now he struggles to read a sentence.....i just cant imagine what it must be like.

A young fella at work, (early 20's) told me that he had never read a book since leaving school. I have a bit of a library in a filing cabinet and he asked me if there was anything "Interesting" in there. I lent him one of the "Vampire Wars" series and he has not stopped reading ever since! I like books to be an escape from the real life. I read everything, poetry to si fi and all points between.

Regards, John

You've been looking at my bookshelves, Mel! Add to those the 'Dynasty' series by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles and remove Tom Holt, and add the rest of John Wyndham's sci-fi books, especially Chocky, and we can settle down for a real read!
:)

remove Tom Holt???

ARGHH Are you MAD woman?

I know Tom ...lovely chap ..and his books are great :D :D

There are no books by John Wyndham that I dislike ...I have them all , including a couple (somewhere in the attic) by John Beynon (his alter ego :D )

Was it Tom Holt who wrote Gormanghast, or am I losing my grip on reality?

LOSt rather than losting ;) Mervyn Peake I seem to remember ;)

That's the chap! Well done - you passed my little test! ;) :o

Melodysk

Did you listen to The Midwich Cuckoos on Radio 4 last week and the week before.

1st time I have listened to a serial (only 2 parts) and R E A L L Y enjoyed it

Dawn

No I missed it ...I love the old black and white film based on the MC ...Village of the damned ....so corny and SO unlike the actual book , but fun anyway ;)

Midwich Cuckoos on R4 was the scariest thing Ive heard in a long time, and great for me as I wouldnt have read it under my own steam. I also enjoyed Hard Times on R4. Its funny how youre never too old to have a story read to you. :) My birthday book token went on The Crimson Petal and the White which is terrific, it really drags you into Victorian London.

BTW John, I loved About a Boy it had me in stitches mostly, as did High Fidelity. Just finished How to Be Good by Nick Hornby which I thought was rubbish, a terrible disappointment.

AAAAHH   BOOKS :) :)

What beats me is how anyone can pick a BEST BOOK out of all of the wonderful books out there - easier to pick a worst book!! :)
like John, I love anything well written (I would love to read The Outward Urge!) from poetry to Sci Fi, the only books I'm not keen on are Horror and those 'written for' the Booker prize (Rushdie etc.) which never seem to make any sense.

Does anyone else argue with the Author though?

Dill

I love books. There are very few books which are bad books. There are books which I haven't liked, but that's probably my problem.

You're never alone with a book.
:)

:D

ahhhhhhhh books...........lovely lovely books........I wouldnt be who i am without books! as a kid i used to stay up til 3 am reading, my dad actually used to take the bulb out of my light when he went to bed or i would stay awake ALL night!

I read Lord of the Flies when i was 7 and loved it, stood me in good stead for when i read it again for GCSE..

One of my favourite books lately has been The Bone People by Kerri Hulme, fantastic read, really enjoyed it.

I love Terry Pratchetts earlier stuff, but some of the later stuff i dont find as funny........mebbes its just me.

I need to re read Zen and the Art of Motorcycle maintainence, i was too young when i first had a bash at it, and i skipped all the Zen bits! hehehehehehe

Em

I loved Kronk and The Kraken Wakes. I think Kronk was a John Beynon.

A scary read but excellent is The Poet by Michael Connelly.
Also anything by Jeffery Deaver
Annieee :) a huge bookworm

I love science fiction and fantasy, besides factual books about how we as humans exist, think and behave. So my best read has been the Dune series - everything is there - fantasy, politics, sociology, philosophy and an wonderfully bizarre story. They are the only books that I have read several times, each time gaining a different enjoyment. I guess it didn't matter which book won as long as it encourages children and adults alike that there are other past times besides the television, play station and dare I say it - the computer!
Sandy

I can't believe no one has mentioned Dylan Thomas, I absolutely adore Under Milk Wood and can go on to The Hobbit, Wuthering Heights, Chocolat (Joanne Harris) and for lighter reading all Patricia Cornwall (except the Ripper book and cook book?) and Michael Connelly (Harry Bosch - my hero), Minette Walters, Kathy Reichs and have just discovered Harlan Coben.
Fi xx

BOOKS....I just love them!

I have to admit, I did enjoy 'to kill a mockingbird' which I did in English at school (a long time ago) but have read since.

I also love these girlie books that are about lately.   I just love being able to sit down with a glass (or a bottle!) of wine and completely lose myself in one of those.  They're easy reading and certainly a good way for me to relax.  I love Wendy Holden and Fiona Walker, but out of all of them, Jilly Cooper is my favourite.  I read and re-read her books!  It's sad, I know, but I can't help myself....sheer indulgence!!

I think one of my favourites has to be 'Gone with the wind'  I've never seen the film, only read the book, and I loved it.  It was one of those books that you never want to finish!!

I really do read to escape from reality for a while!!  And I'll read absolutely anything...but being a sad cow, I love my romance novels!!

Take care

Lisa

Used to get withdrawl symptomes if I left the house without a book in my handbag, in case a few minutes popped up when I had nothing to do!  Still love reading - all time favourite probably Wuthering Heights, anyone else read the Dorothy Dunnet Lymond & Niccolo books - compulsive (if a little hard to get into the first time).  I do a re-read every 3 or 4 years.  Oh, and for a totally different theme  anyone else read the "Cat Who....." series by Lillian Jackson Braun?
bye
Gwen

I loved Dorothy Dunnets Niccolo series although I got a bit lost when it came to The Unicorn Hunt. How does it all end?

Hi,

If you like the 'girlie' ones at times, have you read any Anna Maxted?  I thought 'Getting Over It' was great.

M.

I must admit I love all books, but my all time favourite is also 'Gone with the wind'.  I think I read it as an impressionable, romantic teenager and it has stuck with me ever since. (I also saw the film and loved Clark Gable).  My dad always said that any type of book can be interesting as long as it is well written and I think I have only ever found one I did not enjoy, no matter what the subject.  Horror books though are NOT for me! All three of my sons love books and my eldest was recently described on the school noticeboard as the 'school bookworm' (much to his disgust) for reading 'Harry Potter - the Order of the Phoenix' the fastest in the whole school.

Fiona and Saffy

I agree with Patricia Cornwell. Have you read Linda Fairstein.
Also James Patterson.

Speaking of SciFi, have you read any Robert Heinlein? Stranger in a Strange Land was excellent. I can't remember the others but I've read loads and really enjoyed them. I agree, the Dune series was fantastic.

I really can't get into Terry Pratchet - which do I start with?
Has anyone read Anne McCaffery? Again where to sart?

I've never read any Science Fantasy and don't know which to start with (I did read LOTR years ago and loved it)
Anniee :)

I would start with the one that tells you of how they got top Pern, Dragonsdawn I think it is, then the Chronicles of Pern (First Fall), then the rest you can read in any order really.

The whole set of books deals with the dragons that were used to fight a menace that came every 70 years.

It is about a feudal society that enetged from the survivors of a Space Settlement, but after many generations all technology and how they got there had been forgotten.

I read the book of the expedition and creation of the Dragons first (written later than many of the books) and liked it that way.

Now I wish they would make films of these and the Dragon riders esp with their dragons.

I was so impressed with Ann McCaffrey's dragons that it began a life long fascination with the noble creatures. So much in fact that not only do I have several dragon ornaments but I also have a small comic dragon tattoo! ;)
Sandy

Right who knows some film producers and script writers and get them turned into films.  With all the new technology they would make great film.  I loved how they did the Dragon in Dragonheart, with good old Sean Connery's voice.

I love reading anything.  Ive read a book about the English legal system (massive took me 9 weeks). Physcology books and more recently behaviourist, training, country walks, wine, food oh and my favourite history.  At the moment Im reading a Life of Pi and Lord of the rings.  I love taking on information.  If I don't know about something I will get a book read it and then find it opens other doors for more.  Knowlege is power. 

You would enjoy Terry Brooks Shanara series, same sort of thing as Lord Of the Rings.  Also good are the Magic Kingdom ones.

I love Anne McCaffrey books and have most of them :D My mother started me off on them many , many years ago. Also like Patricia Cornwall and Minette Walters ....most good phsycological thrillers in fact :D :D

Jilly Cooper books are great chewing gum for the eyes and I have read all of hers too

So many books , so little time :D

Anyone else read Miss Read books? Village Green , Thrush Green ...etc etc?

My grannie used to read the Miss Read books, and I would borrow them. I can quite see why she liked them - they are very easy but real. Sort of Miss Marple without the murders! A comfortable way to spend some time.
:)

Oooo Yes!!! Must get out my copy of Village Christmas to reread :-)

Well I dont think you can beat David and Leigh Eddings or what about Julian May,yes quite liked Terry Brooks, then there is  Jean M Auel and for something entirely different James Patterson :) Gillian

I don't think i could pick my top favourites - there are so many!

I loved "She" too John! and "Jock of the Bushveldt" can't remember the author. "White Fang" and "Call of the Wild" by Jack London - only read a few times, very raw and disturbing. But good.

Black Beauty
My Friend Flicka, Thunderhead and Green Grass of Wyoming by Mary O'Hara
Narnian Chronicles
Elidor, The Weirdstone of Brisingamen and The Moon of Gomrath by Alan Garner. Brilliant!
Mavreen by Claire Lorrimer
The Romney Marsh books by Monica Edwards
The Dark is Rising series

Lots of others - but i seem to have gone back to my childhood looking at this list :) I love lots of books but ones like To Kill a Mockingbird and Lord of the Flies sort of depress me and uplift me in turns, same with the True History of the Elephant Man: i wouldn't be able to call them favourites although excellent! Agree 1984 is just so, so depressing! Prefer to live in more of a fantasy world :) these days. Pride and Prejudice was fun to read.

I've just been given a book on serial killers - it was so horrible i had to chuck it :( Although i do have a Jack the Ripper one i enjoyed, partly because of the sheer mystery of who he actually was. And it was long ago now so seems less scarey.

I do love books. I used to work in a public and mobile library and got to read loads of new books after the waiting lists had gone down! It was great!! :)

Lindsay