What is the best book you've ever read?

[violetrose]

Our neighbors have a foreign exchange student coming to stay next week, she has bought the girl a Kindle and is trying to fill it with great novels for her to read while she is here. She has asked the neighbors for their favorite book. As a teacher and a former reading teacher I found it so hard to narrow down to just one! In the end I had to go with The Stand by Stephen King.

What is your favorite book? Can you pick just one?

 

[Breezy_Carol]

There are so many. I really liked Water for Elephants.

Also have to say that I strongly disliked The Stand but everyone has their own tastes.

 

[violetrose]

There are so many. I really liked Water for Elephants.

Also have to say that I strongly disliked The Stand but everyone has their own tastes.

Really? What did you dislike about it? I was a little hesitant to name it since it's so long but she asked us to choose our favorite and that was mine. My husband doesn't read so I made him choose To Kill A Mockingbird which was my second favorite, in case the girl doesn't like The Stand.

I also enjoyed Water for Elephants. The movie did not do it justice!

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

I can't pick just one, but the books that have really stuck with me and I have read many times are:

The Giving Tree
The Great Gatsby
Dante's Inferno

 

[zippingalong]

"A Thousand Splendid Suns"

or

"The Red Tent"

 

[Jennasis]

How old is the girl?

 

[mombrontrent]

I also really enjoyed Water for Elephants. While the movie was also good it in no way compares to the book. It glossed over so much and left major parts/story lines out as wall as major characters. However most books to movies are like this as they have to fit it into a 2 hour or so window.

 

[violetrose]

how old is the girl?

16

 

[phorsenuf]

Some recent books I've read that I really liked where 11/22/63 and Under the Dome by Stephen King. Killing Lincoln and Killing Kennedy by Bill O'Reilly (not of fan of his per se but his books are fantastic. He used to be a history professor.) and right now I am reading The Shoemakers Wife.

Check out these threads for some other ideas.

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3039056

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3023940

 

[emer95]

My all-time favorite is A Tree Grows in Brooklyn.

 

[Mickeynutty]

Wow, that is tough. I think I would have to go with The Good Earth, by P. Buck, for a classic, and The Help, for a current book. Love them!

 

[Christine]

The Fault in our Stars is excellent AND, as a bonus, it is a young adult book.

If you go over to the 2013 Book Challenge thread there are several great reviews for it. Never met a person yet who did not love this book.

 

[Disneylover99]

MoonFleet by J.Meade Falkner

 

[Sorsha]

For a 16 year old...

The Hobbit
To Kill a Mockingbird

And my 18 year old says "Anything by John Green". Her friends would agree, he is all the rage for the high-school-age crowd.

For me...

The Hobbit
All of Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series
All of Elizabeth Peters' Amelia Peabody series
Laurell K. Hamilton's books, both Merry Gentry and Anita Blake series (NOT for kids)
and just because they always make me LOL - Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum books.

I am a "fluff" reader, and not ashamed to admit it. Books with deep messages and soul-serching meanings bore me.

 

[Buzzsgramma]

Gifted Hands.....life story of Dr Ben Carson

To Kill A Mockingbird....

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Death In The Long Grass

Though it's non fiction and probably wouldn't interest a teen girl unless she's fascinated with African animals and/or hunting.

 

[Christine]

And my 18 year old says "Anything by John Green". Her friends would agree, he is all the rage for the high-school-age crowd.

Yep, that's The Fault in Ours Stars author.

 

[dmiller64152]

Grapes of Wrath. <3 Steinbeck

 

[zippingalong]

Death In The Long Grass

Though it's non fiction and probably wouldn't interest a teen girl unless she's fascinated with African animals and/or hunting.

That sounds depressing.

But it reminds me of another book I couldn't put down. "Zoo Story. Life in the Garden of Captives".

 

[mrsdon]

A Dogs Purpose