Over on his blog Rory asks what peoples favorite book of all time is, I started to leave this as a comment but then I realized it was getting too long and I should post it over here. Rory is a fellow Vonnegut fan, so I figured he might like some of the same books I have liked, so here goes:
My favorite fiction books of all time(In no particular order)
- Catch-22 (Heller)
- 1984 (Orwell)
- Brave New World (Huxley)
- Survivor (Palahnuik) (all of his really)
- On the Road (Kerouac)
- Cat’s Cradle and Slaughterhouse-Five (Vonnegut) (all of his also)
- The Great Gatsby (Fitzgerald)
- Siddhartha (Hesse) (Steppenwolf is good too)
I also really liked Trainspotting (Irvine), anything by H.P. Lovecraft or Poe, most of Nick Hornby’s books, The Color Purple (Walker), Almanac of the Dead (Silko), All Quiet on the Western Front (Remarque), Vernon God Little (Pierre)…. well that is all I can think of right now.
(I know the question was what is your single favorite, but that was just too hard)
What are your favorites?
-James
{ 23 comments }
nice. your list is almost exactly mine. except I hated On the Road.
For Vonnegut, I absolutely loved Mother Night as well as a short story collection, Welcome to the Monkey House.
Interesting, I never really liked Catch 22, but was a big fan of most of Vonnegut’s, Palahnuik’s, and Orwell’s. I also liked Brave New World. I also liked Rand’s works (Atlas Shrugged, Anthym, Fountainhead), and Douglas Adams has some fun reads.
I read a bit of non-fiction as well. I like historical non-fiction (preferrably WWII history, although I’m not too picky), as well as everyday-Joe-friendly physics books, such as works by Hawkings and Sagan. I recently finished Fast Food Nation (http://tinyurl.com/4y9db), and would highly recommend it to all!
Scott,
I am into alot of history as well. I focus mostly on WWII and the Civil War, but will dabble elsewhere as well. A really cool semi-history focused book is called "Confederates in the Attic". Its a modern look at the impact the civil war continues to have on the south, you would probably enjoy it.
-James
I’m not following along with the above comment thread, instead suggesting one of my own favorites:
The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway
James,
Catch 22 is my favorite book of all time. I wonder what’s the common thread is between these books? What makes someone like Vonnegut, Heller, Kerouac and Irvine Welsh? There all pretty different, but somehow, there’s some common thread there. If you can find it, you can find a bunch of other stuff you like.
Anyhow, you may also like "Geek Love" by Catherine Dunn, I think that book is right up you alley.
Favorite books of mine oddly enough come in Choronicles.
Anne Rice – Vampire Chronicles
Steven R. Donaldson – The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever.
I also like 1984 by Orwell but who doesnt
.
My favorite non-fiction book is Andersons failure by PimpTighl.
So am I going to be the first one to actually admit that the LOTR are ridiculously cool, or is that too obvious and "pop culture" now?
Last of the Mohicans was pretty awesome too, and, as a kid I loved anything by Robert Aspirin.
All of the original James Bond books by Ian Flemming (little known fact that he also wrote "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang") also fed my adolescent imagination.
As for current stuff, anything by Clive Cussler rocks (especially any of the Dirk Pitt novels) along with Neal Stephenson’s stuff (can sometimes be as tedious as "The Silmarilion").
But, by far, James Avery’s articles in MSDN Magazine are the most captivating collaboration of the english language that I have ever been blessed to read… Hehe.
G-UNIT!!!!
Reading this blog really makes me want to start reading books again… But then I just turn on the TV and kind of forget… Peter Griffin and Doug Heffernen are my Heroes…
I dont even enjoy reading (blame on too many grad school textbooks)…but I loved Galapagos (Vonnegut). It was one of the few that moves fast enough to keep my attention (short attention span and slow reader – bad combo). I do envy and admire you good readers…
the best book so far is ‘A home at the end of the world’ bu Michael Cunningham. I would definitely reccoment it to everyone.
Atlas Shrugged, by Ayn Rand
Although written roughly 60 years ago, the premise of the ‘libertarian’ philosophy seems potentially more pertinent to today’s society than when it was originally written.
Not too bad, but any list of books that excludes The Catcher in the Rye, Captain Corelli’s Mandolin and any book by dostoevsky is incomplete:)
this is late but I like The Sun Also Rises by Hemmingway, and The Catcher in the Rye. I hated the Great Gatsby no offense.
one of my faviourite books is perfume – no its not a girlie love story, its about a murderer in france set in early 19th century, he describes the book through smells. Its an extraordinary and original read! sorry cant remember who it is written by.
Rebecca by Daphne DuMaurier — an absolute must-read that is thrilling, gripping and un-put-downable!
around the world in 80 days
the perfume was written by Patrick Suskind
I agree with catch-22, absolutly wonderful in its structure, content and commedy.
I have read both Catch-22 and Slaughterhouse Five. Both rather hilarious, and thanks to Kurt Vonnegut’s suggestion I am now enthralled in The Brothers Karamazov.
1.Catcher
2.Catcher
3.Catcher
4…………..Catcher
This would be a decent site if any book could come close………
One hundred years of Solitude
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