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Post by wendyskysblue on Jul 3, 2007 14:36:57 GMT
Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass. This is wonderful and much too good for children. LAlso Peter Pan which I read and read to my kids.
But the book I read when I am sad and need cheering up is Where Rainbows End by Cecelia Ahern - its lovely and would brighten anyones day
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Post by aliceinblunderland on Jul 5, 2007 12:08:35 GMT
The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
Love it so much I have 5 different copies of it.
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Post by lenityg on Jul 10, 2007 22:37:48 GMT
Anything by Fannie Flagg which includes Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistlestop and Standing in the rainbow. They are the most beautiful subtley written books where nothing seems to happen and yet you feel part of these peoples lives tragedies and happiness and you will them to survive. I recommend her like nobody else
Catcher in the Rye. I read this once a year. It gives you hope makes you laugh and cry and makes you feel so deep within you
Louisa May Alcotts set of March family books (Little Women, Good Wives, Jos Boys, Little Men) Simple pure far too good to be true but they take me back to when I was a little girl and read them. I think it was the first time I had read about death. Who didn't cry when they read about Beth dying.
Anything by Stephen Fry. But I am a little obsessed with Stephen, in my eyes the man can do no wrong and I may need help for that.
And my all time favourite book is A kind of loving. Again its just real life so simply told so that you feel everything about these people. I first read it in Italy when I was 15 and I had never read anything quite so real. I love it.
Actually I tell a lie. My favourite book is Jonathon Day meets Jesus. But as my dad wrote that thats probably a biased opinion.
Sorry thats a few options and I am still thinking of more. I should go now
XXXX
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Post by madduck1963 on Sept 5, 2007 20:54:30 GMT
The wide sargasso sea, by Jean Rhys. Her haunting tale about Mr Rochesters first wife. I read like a maniac, around five books a weeks, this is one of the very few books I can return to with pleasure.
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Post by tigerlily on Sept 14, 2007 22:58:17 GMT
The Weirdstone of Brisingamen by Alan Garner is probably the book I loved most from childhood. I borrowed it from the library and read it then re-read it maybe four or five times.
I still read it occasionally.
Night Watch by Terry Pratchett is possibly my favourite book. The character of Sam Vimes has grown and developed from book to book in which he appears, and he just keeps on getting more and more rounded as time goes on. I love the allusions to books like Les Miserables and Martin Guerre in Night Watch, as well as the philosophical, religious and political references.
Pratchett is often far deeper than you might think. I consider myself to be reasonably widely-read, but only half-recognise some of the references and am sure I miss some completely.
It's the Classics that I'm woeful on!
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Post by tde on Sept 15, 2007 11:51:59 GMT
I have read and enjoyed so many books over the years that it's hard to say that there is just one favourite, but if pushed...it has to be the Communist Manifesto.
No, seriously - it's a toss up between 'Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance' and 'The Lord of the Rings'.
I owe a lot to the former, because it has, over the years, caused me to think in depth about: mental health; the value of logic and reason; self knowledge and appreciation of the world in which we live. I often return to it when my mental instrument panel needs recalibration.
'The Lord of the Rings' is, for me, just a damn good read. Ignore the 'fantasy' element and all the cack that has become associated with the genre, much of which has been written by plagiarists trying to cash in on the success of this book. Tolkien drew on proper Northern European mythological influences, AND he knew how to write a story. I like the way the book celebrates values such as loyalty, compassion, courage and friendship. Even the hobbit characters find ways to demonstrate that the least of us have a role to play. Hell, even Gollum is essential to the successful resolution of the plot. I'm also impressed by the way that it acknowledges that all things have their time. Nothing lasts forever, however much we may long for it.
Personal highlights for me are: the ride of the Rohirrim, one of the most stirring passages in literature I've ever read; The arrival of Aragorn with the relief force on the corsair ships; the Mirror of Galadriel, where she reveals her power, and then her awareness that it is transient in nature, and nearing an end.
If I had to choose one, it'd be the latter - but only because the former is small enough to stuff down my trousers and smuggle out too.
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Post by meltemi on Sept 17, 2007 13:56:28 GMT
Kalimera Tarquin d'Epice, I must agree with you I did not think i had a "favorite book" either & whilst not wishing to sound at all psychophantic I agree 'Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance' is one of the few books I have read at least 3 times and have actually kept. I tend to read any thing that is large in print but not too heavy to hold, nocking out some 50 novels a year, mainly crime stories.
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Post by LucyQuipment on Sept 17, 2007 14:20:27 GMT
One book that made an early impact on me was 101 Dalmatians by Dodie Smith.
The hearbreak of Pongo and Missis losing their puppies, the community of "Twilight Barking", they way everyone helps get the puppies back, and good triumphs over evil.
Oh, and Cruella DeVil and her matching hair/gowns/jewels/furs being done over by her own cat!
The film and cartoon were disappointing. I could understand the film, but why the cartoon had to diverge from the story I can't understand.
The 101st Dalmatian was Perdita's "husband".
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Post by erindawes on Sept 17, 2007 18:37:30 GMT
Am with Tigerlily! "Weirdstone of Brisingamen" by Alan Garner thrilled and scared me as a child and still love it now....
The PMD tried it recently for the first time (I'd nagged long enough!) and read it straight through, pausing to discuss it with me en route.
This sets out to be a kids' book... The PMD is 52 and earns part of his living as a writer but... he was hooked! He said some of the passages made his heart thump with excitement!
It's like a child's version of Lord of the Rings but just ... well! try reading it and I'd love to hear what you think!
After that, 'Pride and Prejudice' - the encounter last between Lizzie and Lady C de B has my hair on end! Go girl!
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Post by lindasahandir on Sept 17, 2007 20:21:30 GMT
After that, 'Pride and Prejudice' - the encounter last between Lizzie and Lady C de B has my hair on end! Go girl! Indeed! One of my favourite conversations in literature! Most of the rest of them are in P&P, too. The proposal scene? Oh yeah! And the scene where Lizzie tells Darcy about Lydia running off with Wickham. Oh, stop me, someone, or I'll run on for ever, I do declare!
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Post by faeryboots on Sept 17, 2007 20:51:17 GMT
I hate Jane!
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Post by tigerlily on Sept 17, 2007 21:06:33 GMT
I don't mind her - it's Thomas Hardy I find loathsome.
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Post by faeryboots on Sept 18, 2007 7:01:52 GMT
I don't mind her - it's Thomas Hardy I find loathsome. I adore Thomas!
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Post by tigerlily on Sept 18, 2007 7:11:52 GMT
I don't mind her - it's Thomas Hardy I find loathsome. I adore Thomas! I haven't read anything by him since I did A level English at college, which strangely enough I absolutely loathed. Which is odd, considering it was my 'best' subject at school and I loved every second of O grade and Higher English. I'm prepared to give him another go. Just never ask me to re-read Return of the Native! Or any of his poetry...
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Post by LucyQuipment on Sept 18, 2007 8:24:02 GMT
I haven't read anything by him since I did A level English at college, which strangely enough I absolutely loathed. Which is odd, considering it was my 'best' subject at school and I loved every second of O grade and Higher English. I'm prepared to give him another go. Just never ask me to re-read Return of the Native! Or any of his poetry... I really enjoyed the Mayor of Casterbridge, and Tess. But if we were all the same with the same tastes life would be a tad dull!
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Post by tigerlily on Sept 18, 2007 11:26:30 GMT
I haven't read anything by him since I did A level English at college, which strangely enough I absolutely loathed. Which is odd, considering it was my 'best' subject at school and I loved every second of O grade and Higher English. I'm prepared to give him another go. Just never ask me to re-read Return of the Native! Or any of his poetry... I really enjoyed the Mayor of Casterbridge, and Tess. But if we were all the same with the same tastes life would be a tad dull! I did enjoy Tess, and Jude. I confess to both, freely! I seem to resent anything I read because I'm 'supposed' to.
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Post by ivy noidea on Sept 18, 2007 17:21:13 GMT
But if we were all the same with the same tastes life would be a tad dull! And there would be far fewer writers around.
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Post by tigerlily on Sept 18, 2007 18:38:21 GMT
I do try to read as widely as I can, but there came a time when I had so much stuff to read that wasn't enjoyable or escapist that I began to stick to genres that I knew I enjoyed, rather than reading things for their literary merit.
There are plenty of 'classics' that are enjoyable to read as well as extremely well-written, but much of the fiction that is allegedly improving I find particularly boring. I don't like Dickens. I'm sure this must be due to some great flaw in my character. I enjoy reading Orwell and occasional bits of Shaw.
I also started re-reading Dostoevesky recently after a twenty-year or more break and found it terribly hard work, very dry and not at all how I remembered it. Maybe it was a different translation, I don't know.
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Post by Dibley on Sept 19, 2007 2:38:48 GMT
One book that made an early impact on me was 101 Dalmatians by Dodie Smith. The hearbreak of Pongo and Missis losing their puppies, the community of "Twilight Barking", they way everyone helps get the puppies back, and good triumphs over evil. Oh, and Cruella DeVil and her matching hair/gowns/jewels/furs being done over by her own cat! The film and cartoon were disappointing. I could understand the film, but why the cartoon had to diverge from the story I can't understand. The 101st Dalmatian was Perdita's "husband". Aww how sweet.. Lucy...trust you to love a doggy story... As I type, I have 101 Dalmations on the bookcase here next to me, and I wondered...Have you read the sequel "The Starlight Barking"? Its here if you want a borrow. Dibs xx
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Post by LucyQuipment on Sept 19, 2007 7:51:46 GMT
One book that made an early impact on me was 101 Dalmatians by Dodie Smith. The hearbreak of Pongo and Missis losing their puppies, the community of "Twilight Barking", they way everyone helps get the puppies back, and good triumphs over evil. Oh, and Cruella DeVil and her matching hair/gowns/jewels/furs being done over by her own cat! The film and cartoon were disappointing. I could understand the film, but why the cartoon had to diverge from the story I can't understand. The 101st Dalmatian was Perdita's "husband". Aww how sweet.. Lucy...trust you to love a doggy story... As I type, I have 101 Dalmations on the bookcase here next to me, and I wondered...Have you read the sequel "The Starlight Barking"? Its here if you want a borrow. Dibs xx Thanks Dibs - I have read the Starlight Barking. Didn't have the same impact as the original though. Very few sequels do, do they? Luce xxx
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