3 Books Everyone Should Read?
468 replies / 5497 views / last reply by Melissa W. 1 month ago
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We have this in movies, so why not books?
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Charity W.
TIME AND RELATIVE DIMENSION IN SPACE,
United Kingdom
380 posts
Member since: 06/17/2011
1. Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk - loved it so much and was so sad to put it down
2. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S. Thompson - just an interesting and entertaining book
3. Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach - nice, happy story
posted Jul 5, 2011
Melissa M.
CHICAGO,
United States
23 posts
Member since: 02/10/2011
1.)Chinese Takeout
2.) Burned alive- Souad
3.) Pretty things- sara manning
also-
the perks of being a wallflower- its a fast easy read and i think almost everyone can relate.
also a book called Exit here- simply amazing.
posted Jul 5, 2011
Seung-won S.
SEOUL,
Korea
126 posts
Member since: 03/31/2011
1. Ant - Bernard Werber
2. The Catcher in the Rye - J. D. Salinger
3. The old man and the Sea - Ernest Miller Hemingway
I also love rest novels of Werber... really fascinating!
posted Jul 6, 2011
Seung-won S.
SEOUL,
Korea
126 posts
Member since: 03/31/2011
Am I not real? then I need to read it to be real person! thank you for the recommendation!
posted Jul 6, 2011
Sydney A.
United States
21 posts
Member since: 03/12/2011
Tuck everlastind- natalie babbit
Bad monkeys- ???
The narnia books- cs lewis
posted Jul 6, 2011
Alexa T.
LONDON,
United Kingdom
67 posts
OG since: 06/16/2009
1. The Alchemist, Paulo Coelho
2. The Catcher in the Rye, JD Salinger
3. The Great Gatsby, F Scott Fitzgerald
4. Tender is the Night, F Scott Fitzgerald
5. The Bell Jar, Sylvia Plath
They're all pretty common suggestions I guess, but they are (in my opinion) amazing. 1 and 2 are especially divisive but they're definitely worth a read. The Alchemist is such a quick read, and The Catcher in the Rye is too I guess. It's one of the only books I studied at school for a whole year and didn't end up despising (unlike The Color Purple, among others).
And I see a few people suggest The Perks of Being a Wallflower, which is sort of a modern Catcher (I think Catcher is much better but The Perks... is still pretty good).
posted Jul 17, 2011
Sarah B.
ASTEROID B-612,
United States
1176 posts
Member since: 10/09/2010
1. Animal Farm, George Orwell
2. Franny and Zooey, J.D. Salinger
3. Battle Royale, Koushun Takami
4. The Little Prince, Antoine de Saint-Exupery
they're all great, really.
posted Jul 17, 2011
Marianne M.
Finland
81 posts
Member since: 04/09/2011
1. Safiya Hussaini Tungar Tudu and Raffaele Maston: Io, Safiya
2. Arthur Golden: Memoirs of a Geisha
3. Kent Lindahl: Min väg bort från nazismen
posted Jul 17, 2011
Gentry- G.
THE HIP SCHANZE,
Germany
14 posts
Member since: 11/15/2010
1. Roadside Picnic - Arkady and Boris Strugatsky
2. The Trial - Franz Kafka
3. The Teachings of Don Juan - Carlos Castaneda
posted Jul 18, 2011
Helen D.
SMALL TOWN NEAR RIVER,
Russian Federation
702 posts
Member since: 07/21/2011
fight club's really cool) luv the movie either
posted Aug 12, 2011
Saj /.
KUALA LUMPUR,
Malaysia
6 posts
Member since: 07/27/2011
white oleander
american psycho
lolita
posted Aug 14, 2011
Valentina D.
ITALY / CHINA,
Italy
179 posts
Member since: 05/24/2011
1. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. Apart from saying that she is my favourite writer, this book is a classic that everyone should read at least once in a lifetime. Definitely worth it!
2. Harry Potter series by J.K.Rowling. Even though many people say it sucks,i definitely don't agree. ost of the people who don't appreciate it haven't even read it. I suggest to read it because it is a very nice series.
3. Sherlock Holmes bby A.C.Doyle. His books don't even need a presentation. Just AMAZING books and stories.
posted Aug 14, 2011
Michael Paul E.
ONTARIO, CALIFORNIA,
United States
1 posts
Member since: 08/01/2011
1. infinite jest - David foster wallace
2. Farewell to Arms - Ernest Hemingway
3. On the Road - Jack Kerouac
All three are very different books that must be read :D
posted Aug 14, 2011
Yelle D.
MANILA, PHILIPPINES,
Philippines
150 posts
Member since: 03/09/2011
1. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass -Lewis Carroll
2. The Perks of Being a Wallflower -Stephen Chbosky
3. One -Richard Bach
4. Harry Potter books -J.K. Rowling
5. Tom's Midnight Garden -Philippa Pearce
posted Aug 15, 2011
Helen F.
NORTH ENGLAND,
United Kingdom
9 posts
Member since: 09/02/2010
State of Fear- Michael Crichton
The Passage- Justin Cronin
The Left Hand of God- Paul Hoffman
posted Aug 15, 2011
Kaiva D.
RIGA,
Latvia
75 posts
OG since: 04/15/2010
1. Three Men in a Boat by Jerome K. Jerome - The funniest book ever.
2. 1984 by George Orwell - Made the biggest impact on me.
3. Anything of Erich Maria Remarque - great author every book has something to take.
posted Aug 15, 2011
Serah A.
YOUR NIGHTMARES.,
United States
10 posts
Member since: 10/30/2011
1. Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan (Absolutely beautiful. It's more like poetry.)
2. NANA by Ai Yazawa (A manga series, but honestly one of the best things ever.)
3. Missin' by Novala Takemoto (Quietly disturbing. Very thought-provoking)
posted Nov 15, 2011
Clara C.
JAKARTA,
Indonesia
25 posts
OG since: 11/15/2009
1. Malory family series - Johanna Lindsey ( All of her books are so amazing! its so beautiful)
2. Princess Diaries - Meg cabot ( just a simple story like normal life, but its so great)
3. Hamlet - William Shakespear ( the best story i've ever read, i think! )
posted Nov 15, 2011
Chris F.
FORT WORTH, TEXAS,
United States
6820 posts
OG since: 06/21/2009
I like how most everyone's lists reflect a personal taste, as opposed to a broader taste of important books everyone SHOULD read. :P
"Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" by Douglas Adams - Comedic sci-fi, where an average man learns the Universe is quite huge, and is swept off the planet just before Earth is vaporized to make way for an interstellar highway. A mix of life-truths, musings, and lesson-learnings mixed in with aliens and completely inane fictional theories. You will crack up. This novel proves that run-ons are useful.
"A Modest Proposal" by Jonathan Swift - Less a book, more an essay. Has anyone ever told you that sarcasm cannot be understood in writing because there is no tone of voice? Here is the counter-argument. Swift addresses the growing child-homelessness pervading Scotland in the 18th century, and proposes an easy fix: eat the children. Not only is this one of the strongest, most convincing essays ever written, but it is also absolutely hilarious. It's probably also the first baby-eating joke ever made.
"You Don't Know Me" by David Klass - YA novel where a boy named John - named after a toilet - allows you a glimpse of his life as a high schooler. The style of writing is deep, insightful, dark, and comedic at the same time. The story touches on social outsiders, abusive parental relationships, and self-conceptualization.
"The Art of War" by Sun-Tzu - Book of ancient Chinese military tactics formulated by a master strategist of war. It can almost be read like a book of proverbs, at time. What makes this book so worth your attention is that these tactics can be applied to nearly ANY situation in your life, outside of combat. If you take the work seriously, there are strategies that can help you with almost any problem.
"Lolita" by Vladamir Nabokov - A story about a man, Humbert Humbert, who preys upon a 12 year old girl who he is infatuated. It deals with highly controversial themes, including rape and molestation, child predators, murder, and more. But Nabokov is a genius among authors. His prose is unrivaled, and this is some of the most beautiful writing you'll ever read. Furthermore, the story never tries to pander to you in a way that says "OMG HE'S RAPING A KID." This is no rape fantasy - it is represented as the reflection of a man who regrets his past actions, who is prepared to receive judgement for his deceit and cruelty.
posted Nov 17, 2011
Chris F.
FORT WORTH, TEXAS,
United States
6820 posts
OG since: 06/21/2009
I could not STAND Nick and Norah's. I liked the movie, but the book was RUBBISH. It's just the two kids whining back and forth and cussing every three seconds. All I really remember is them trying to find new and "inventive" ways of saying fuck in a YA novel. RAWR! :P
posted Nov 17, 2011
Serah A.
YOUR NIGHTMARES.,
United States
10 posts
Member since: 10/30/2011
Yes, I do agree Nick and Norah did more of their fair share of bitching. Perhaps the reason I was able to put up with it is because I'm a fellow whiny teenager.
posted Nov 18, 2011
Ashley Nicole M.
NEW JERSEY,
United States
39 posts
Member since: 05/11/2011
1. The Lovely Bones
2. What's Eating Gilbert Grape
3. Harry Potter & Twilight Series (I'm tied for both)
posted Nov 19, 2011
Michelle F.
UTAH. ,
United States
317 posts
OG since: 08/01/2010
1. 1984 by George Orwell
2. Lolita by Vladmir Nabokov
3. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
posted Nov 19, 2011
Levi Philip K.
ENGLAND (THE CITY OF YORK),
United Kingdom
932 posts
OG since: 12/07/2009
- Battle Royale - By koushun takami
- Women on top - By Nancy Friday
- Scar Tissue - By Anthony Kiedis
posted Nov 19, 2011
Guy R.
BANGKOK,
Thailand
24 posts
Member since: 10/20/2011
1/ Before I die - Jenny Downham
2/ Cherub series - Robert Muchamore
3/ A long way down - Nick Hornby
extra!
4/ The Hunger games - Suzanne Collins
5/ Fallen - Lauren Kate
posted Nov 20, 2011
Clove B.
CHICAGO,
United States
785 posts
Member since: 01/02/2011
1. The Alchemist - Paulo Coehlo
2. Jitterbug Perfume - Tom Robbins
3. The Shining - Stephen King
posted Nov 20, 2011
Style D.
MUMBAI,
India
23 posts
Member since: 10/14/2011
Tuesdays with Morrie
Freakonomics
posted Nov 22, 2011
Levi Philip K.
ENGLAND (THE CITY OF YORK),
United Kingdom
932 posts
OG since: 12/07/2009
I've never actually read The Shining just seen the movie, would you say its better than the film version?
posted Nov 22, 2011
Clove B.
CHICAGO,
United States
785 posts
Member since: 01/02/2011
Definitely! It's a lonnnng novel, but the reading is fairly simple (I read it first when I was probably 12 or 13). I'm not the world's biggest Stephen King fan, and like most of his books there are some pretty slow parts in The Shining, but overall it's pretty thrilling; an awesome read.
I watched the movie for the first time about a year after I read the book, and I was extremely disappointed. The way King builds the characters in the book - the way that he portrays them in character foreshadowing and flashbacks - really makes it. It's like, soulcrushingly awesome. :)
posted Nov 22, 2011
Levi Philip K.
ENGLAND (THE CITY OF YORK),
United Kingdom
932 posts
OG since: 12/07/2009
Yeah totally get you, books always tend to have the upper hand in exploring the character's back stories and personalities...
Thanks, I'll have to cast my eyes over it sometime.. :)
posted Nov 22, 2011
Mika P.
DOWNTOWN MANILA,
Philippines
1908 posts
OG since: 05/21/2009
this is so difficult, really. i read by author and i tend to view an author's work in its entirety so it's hard to pick.
1. frank mccourt's memoirs (angela's ashes and 'tis)
2. the sandman graphic novel series
3. love in the time of cholera by gabriel garcia marquez
posted Nov 23, 2011
Alaroy C.
United States
418 posts
Member since: 01/21/2011
1 The Zahir by paulo cleho
2 The gone series (If yu love ction, and superpowers this is THE book)
thats more than 3 right there with the goe series
posted Nov 23, 2011
Cassandra D.
MANILA,
Philippines
66 posts
Member since: 12/19/2011
Battle Royale, ZOMFGGGG 0_0... I love your choices, except for Franny and Zooey, because I haven't read it yet. Better than Catcher in the Rye?
posted Jan 21, 2012
Cassandra D.
MANILA,
Philippines
66 posts
Member since: 12/19/2011
I love Neil Gaiman. Sandman is the only graphic novel series I actually strove to buy, with my own money, in order till the last one.
I'm actually kinda depressed from not having read any Gaiman in a while. Have you heard of Lucifer?? Wondering whether I should repeat the cycle with it.
posted Jan 21, 2012
Cassandra D.
MANILA,
Philippines
66 posts
Member since: 12/19/2011
1. Battle Royale by Koshun Takami [the darker, grittier, modern-day Lord of the Flies (by William Golding)]
2. A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin [the show Game of Thrones is based from his series. Nowadays, looks like anyone who reads books gets HBO programming in advance.]
3. American Gods by Neil Gaiman [this book is so awesome, it's nearly impossible to answer the question, "What's it about?" when people ask me. Read it. Just please.]
Damn it, I love so many books. I'd list more, but... But... Books = <3
posted Jan 21, 2012
Cassandra D.
MANILA,
Philippines
66 posts
Member since: 12/19/2011
I loved Exit Here. And I borrowed it from a friend who hated it.
I don't get why, I found it to be pretty good.
But instead of discouraging sex and drug use, the book just made it sound that much more fun.. Except for when it wasn't.
posted Jan 21, 2012
Sarah B.
ASTEROID B-612,
United States
1176 posts
Member since: 10/09/2010
it's quite similar, seeing as it's also by J.D. Salinger, but it really is very good as well. mayyyybeeee better. maybe. i highly recommend it, in any case.
posted Jan 22, 2012
Vanessa A.
NEW YORK,
United States
96 posts
Member since: 01/06/2012
The Catcher in the Rye, Dewey, Blink
posted Jan 22, 2012
Alexe G.
MONTREAL,
Canada
1932 posts
OG since: 03/22/2009
Animal Farm - Orwell
Mister God, This Is Anna - Fynn
All Quiet on the Western Front - Remarque
The Outsiders - Hinton
A Fine Balance - Mistry
posted Jan 23, 2012
Julia A.
THE SUMMER OF LOVE,
United States
251 posts
Member since: 08/29/2011
A Moveable Feast- Ernest Hemingway
As I Lay Dying- William Faulkner
Maus- Art Spiegelman (technically a graphic novel but whatever)
Everything is Illuminated- Jonathan Safran Foer
Crime and Punishment- Fyodor Dostoevsky
argh, wish there were more women on this list. feel like such a horrible feminist for not including my favorite women authors. Also I would've put up Kafka but someone already put up The Trial on this thread (kudos to them!)
posted Jan 23, 2012
Katia V.
MONTREAL,
Canada
51 posts
Member since: 06/04/2011
1. "The Hunger Games" serie
2. "Uglies" serie
posted Jan 24, 2012
MaryAlice M.
WONDERLAND,
United States
811 posts
Member since: 09/14/2011
1. Alice's adventures in wonderland
2. Leonardo Da Vinci, The artist and The man
3. On Hitler's mountain
posted Jan 25, 2012
Charlotte S.
ENGLAND,
United Kingdom
655 posts
OG since: 05/16/2010
1. The Lion The Witch And The Wardrobe
2. Owl Babies
3. The Hungry Caterpillar
4. Stormbreaker
5. Gorges Marvelous Medicine.
Good fun children's books.
posted Jan 27, 2012
Kate D.
DALLAS, TEXAS,
United States
49 posts
Member since: 04/02/2011
1. Perks of being a wallflower
2.The Catcher in the Rye - really makes you think
3. To Kill a Mockingbird - LOVE THIS
posted Jan 28, 2012
Vera S.
GERMANY,
Germany
217 posts
Member since: 01/03/2012
1. Harry Potter, ALL of them *_*
2. Desert Flower
3. Extremely Loud And Icredibly Close
posted Feb 5, 2012
Jacquelyn S.
VANCOUVER,
Canada
221 posts
Member since: 09/01/2010
The kite runner
A thousand splendid suns
the girl with the dragon tattoo
posted Feb 6, 2012
Emma P.
MANCHESTER,
United Kingdom
19 posts
Member since: 11/08/2010
1. Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov (my favourite book of all time!)
2. Life of Pi - Yann Martel
3. Finnegan's Wake - James Joyce (I am reading this now and the language blows your MIND!)
Books are tops :)
Emma
posted Feb 6, 2012
Angelica G.
CALIFORNIA,
United States
94 posts
Member since: 09/13/2011
01) The series of unfortunate events books by Lemony Snicket
02) Looking for Alaska
03) The Bible
posted Feb 6, 2012
Alexandra L.
GIURGIU,
Romania
55 posts
Member since: 11/07/2010
Hm,
Catcher in the Rye - JD Salinger
Anna Karenina - Lev Tolstoi
Harry Potter - JK Rowlling
posted Feb 7, 2012
Minda K.
WASHINGTON,
United States
189 posts
Member since: 08/27/2011
1. Life As We Knew It.
2. Deadline.
3. Airhead.
Ps. I agree with reading Harry Potter!!!
posted Feb 8, 2012
Yiseol Y.
SEOUL,
Korea
13 posts
OG since: 02/11/2010
Tropic of Cancer by Henry Miller
The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje
Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut
The Screwtape Letters by CS Lewis
(not a novel but I love!) Howl by Allen Ginsberg
posted Apr 1, 2012
Katri A.
Finland
192 posts
Member since: 01/22/2012
A Game Of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
Pet Sematary by Stephen King
The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown
The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown
Eragon by Christopher Paolini
posted Apr 1, 2012
Noah ..
A PLACE WHERE I LONG TO FORGET,
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
108 posts
Member since: 12/30/2011
I can't think of 3, but I'll say Le Petit Prince just because that book got me into reading.
posted Apr 1, 2012
Helen C.
ENGLAND,
United Kingdom
1211 posts
OG since: 07/02/2010
I consulted my sister on the matter, because she's more qualified than me to recommend books (she's doing a degree in English Literature at Cambridge university).
Virginia Woolf - To the Lighthouse
George Elliot - Middle March
F. Scott Fitzgerald - The Great Gatsby.
posted Apr 1, 2012
Gemma O.
Australia
70 posts
Member since: 12/14/2011
1. possession by nancy holder
2. a great and terrible beauty by libba bray
3. they came on viking ships by jackie french.
posted Apr 3, 2012
Roselinni C.
GREENFIELDS,
Philippines
185 posts
Member since: 11/13/2011
snow falling on cedars by david gutterson
chosen by a horse by susan richards
a thousand days in venice by marlena de blasi
they're all true stories...
posted Apr 4, 2012
Nico A.
MANILA,
Philippines
21 posts
Member since: 03/17/2012
Love In the time of Cholera- Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Water for Elephants- Sara Gruen
The Help- Kathryn Stockett
*I love the hunger games series too and time traveler's wife
posted Apr 5, 2012
Maria G.
MADRID,
Spain
2 posts
Member since: 10/30/2011
Pride and Prejudice, Hunger games and at least one book for Shakespeare
posted Apr 6, 2012
MaryAlice M.
WONDERLAND,
United States
811 posts
Member since: 09/14/2011
Children's book that will make you sob more than you have ever in your life.
"Love You Forever."
amazon.com/Love-You-Forever-Robert-Munsch/dp/0920668372/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1333826961&sr=1-1
posted Apr 7, 2012
Melissa W.
MIDDLE EARTH,
United States
21 posts
Member since: 10/13/2011
Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
The Similarion by JRR Tolkien
posted Apr 8, 2012