What is the best book you've ever read?

[JessicaR]

The Lovely Bones was one of my favorite reads. I also really enjoyed these: So many more, just so hard to name only 1!

The Great Gatsby
My Sisters Keeper
The Bell Jar
The Fountainhead
The Master and Margarita

Looking forward to all the replies!

 

[WDWBarb]

The best book I have ever read was The Stand, without question.

I'd have a hard time picking a second, or a third. I really enjoyed Anne Rice's Interview With a Vampire series when I was a teenager. My favorite most recent book was The Art of Racing in the Rain. Loved every minute of it.

 

[luvmy3]

My favorite book is The Time Traveler's Wife. I also really love The Five People You Meet In Heaven.
I'm currently reading 11/22/63 and I think I'd have to put that on my favorites list too.

I don't think any of them would appeal to a foreign teenager though

 

[Lemonademouth]

11/22/63
Ender's Game and Ender's Shadow (same story told from different POV)
Her Fearful Symmetry (by the author of Time Traveler's Wife, and definitely on Kindle)

It's near impossible to pick just ONE favorite book.

I was going to say the Ender series. Orson Scott Card has been one of my favorite authors forever. I made my husband read Ender's Game and he had read all of the older series within the week!!

 

[PeterPanic]

From high school until this year (a long, long time) my favorite was a book titled, "Wind from the Carolina's" by Robert Wilder.

This year I read 11/22/63 by Stephen King and was blown away by his writing and imagination and story telling as well as his ability to tie everything up at the end. Wonderful Story about Time Travel.

I have known that King was a very prolific writer and to be honest most of his stuff was not to my taste, but this one hit the button.

 

[Tosie]

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

I also loved Under the Dome and 11/22/63. Duma Key is another favorite (also by Stephen King).

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn was terrific- not at all what I thought it was going to be.

 

[Talking Hands]

The Hobbit
Chesapeake by James Michner
Night By Weisel

For fun any of Joanne Flukes mysteries.

 

[OceanAnnie]

I've seen titles I have really enjoyed on this thread.

I haven't seen, The Life of Pi, mentioned. I loved it. Kept me on the edge of my seat at times. It's a surreal mix of intense adventure, the mundane, and lots of reflection. I haven't seen the movie yet, but I plan do plan to see it.

 

[dmiller64152]

Ocean Annie ... Just saw the film. Catch it in 3D if you can, astoundingly beautiful and very true to the book. Whoever said Art of Racing in the Rain, I second. Fabulous book.

 

[OceanAnnie]

Ocean Annie ... Just saw the film. Catch it in 3D if you can, astoundingly beautiful and very true to the book. Whoever said Art of Racing in the Rain, I second. Fabulous book.

Thanks! I will definitely do it!

 

[2girls4me]

She's come undone. Wally Lamb

 

[pixi3ness]

I love anything by Sarah Addison Allen though my favorite is The Girl who Chased the Moon.

 

[dbarker]

Jane Eyre
Twilight series

 

[shortbun]

"The Secret Life of Bees" by Sue Monk Kidd, delicious.

 

[*tinker*bell*]

My top three all time favourites, books I have read over and over again would be:

White Oleander
My Sisters Keeper <it's absolutely horrible how they changed it for the movie, it's not even the same story imo>
The Lovely Bones

 

[Lanshark]

From high school until this year (a long, long time) my favorite was a book titled, "Wind from the Carolina's" by Robert Wilder.

This year I read 11/22/63 by Stephen King and was blown away by his writing and imagination and story telling as well as his ability to tie everything up at the end. Wonderful Story about Time Travel.

I have known that King was a very prolific writer and to be honest most of his stuff was not to my taste, but this one hit the button.

I felt the same way. Just finished 11/22/63 and loved it. I am not a fan of Stephen King but also liked Green Mile.

 

[Ginny Favers]

Probably Boy's Life or Swan Song by Robert McCammon.

 

[JLiz]

The Prince of Frogtown by Rick Bragg

It's so good, one of those that stays with you for a long time but it is sad.

 

[wvjules]

My favorite of all-time is The Book Thief. So I would definately recomend that since it is also a YA book.

It’s just a small story really, about among other things: a girl, some words, an accordionist, some fanatical Germans, a Jewish fist-fighter, and quite a lot of thievery. . . .

Set during World War II in Germany, Markus Zusak’s groundbreaking new novel is the story of Liesel Meminger, a foster girl living outside of Munich. Liesel scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing when she encounters something she can’t resist–books. With the help of her accordion-playing foster father, she learns to read and shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids as well as with the Jewish man hidden in her basement before he is marched to Dachau.

This is an unforgettable story about the ability of books to feed the soul.

Another recommendation is 13 Reasons Why.

Clay Jensen returns home from school to find a strange package with his name on it lying on his porch. Inside he discovers several cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker - his classmate and crush - who committed suicide two weeks earlier. Hannah's voice tells him that there are thirteen reasons why she decided to end her life. Clay is one of them. If he listens, he'll find out why. Clay spends the night crisscrossing his town with Hannah as his guide. He becomes a firsthand witness to Hannah's pain, and learns the truth about himself-a truth he never wanted to face.

Thirteen Reasons Why is the gripping, addictive international bestseller that has changed lives the world over. It's an unrelenting modern classic.

And another nod for The Fault in Our Stars.

Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel’s story is about to be completely rewritten.

Insightful, bold, irreverent, and raw, The Fault in Our Stars is award-winning-author John Green’s most ambitious and heartbreaking work yet, brilliantly exploring the funny, thrilling, and tragic business of being alive and in love.

I'm going to also add Hopeless to that list.

Sky knows Holder is nothing but trouble and tries to keep him at a distance, but he is adamant about learning everything he can about her. Sky finally caves to his unwavering pursuit, but she soon finds out that Holder isn't the person he's been claiming to be. When the secrets he's been keeping are finally revealed, every single facet of Sky's life changes forever.

 

[mjkacmom]

Jane Eyre
Twilight series

While I think the Twilight series are probably the worst written books out there, they appeal to teens, unlike many books on this thread (most of which I have read, and loved, but probably wouldn't have in high school).

I think you'd be better off asking the teen set for book recommendations. I was (and am) I big Stephen King fan, and back in HS, LOVED trashy novels- Jackie Collins, Daniel Steele.... Can't stand them anymore, though.