The "Must Read" Book List

[Minnie's Pal]

List any books you have read, loved and would suggest to someone else. (And not the "just okay" books - the ones you know you want to read again. The ones you couldn't bare to put down until you finished it and you wish you knew someone else who had read it so you could talk to them about it.)

Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers

Twilight series (Twilight, New Moon, etc.) by Stephenie Meyers

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Water for Elephants: A Novel by Sara Gruen

 

[NMAmy]

I have a lot but here's some that I've loved so much that I passed them on as gifts to others:

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Settenfield
Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl
The Secret History by Donna Tartt
The Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
The Outlander books by Diana Gabaldon
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
The Thursday Next books by Jasper Fforde

I'm sure there are many more that I'll be slapping my head and saying DUH when I think of them!

 

[PeterPan09]

To Kill a Mockingbird-Harper Lee
In Cold Blood-Truman Capote
East of Eden-John Steinbeck
The Stand-Stephen King
Dead Man Walking-Sr. Helen Prejean
Beach Music, The Great Santini, The Prince of Tides, The Water is Wide, and The Lords of Discipline-all by Pat Conroy
The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings Trilogy-JRR Tolkein
The Seven Story Mountain-Thomas Merton

 

[DSNY4ever]

Oh gosh so many...

The Kite Runner- get your tissues ready
Everything by Jane Austen
Little Women
Daisy Faye and the Miracle Man
The Woodlanders
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall

Ahh my mind is blanking, there are too many!

I just read a book called Escape about one of the big polygamist colonies (true story) and I have to say I couldn't put it down! It isn't the best book of all time, but it is so crazy I definitely read it fast and wished I had someone to talk about it with...now everyone I know is passing it around.

 

[SereneOne]

The Bible

A Thousand Splendid Suns by the same author that wrote Kite Runner.

Several of the ones already listed.

Will add later...

 

[Karibeth19]

The Thursday Next books by Jasper Fforde

I thought I was the only one who loved those books! (I know I'm not, but I rarely hear of people who know what they are, much less have read them.)

 

[LukenDC]

Of Human Bondage by W. Somerset Maugham
Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
Pamela by Samuel Richardson
The Mysteries of Udolpho by Ann Radcliffe
Brokeback Mountain by Annie Proulx

 

[Jennifer823]

Wow - there are so many. I just have to second the nomination for the Twilight series though... they are so engrossing. I started reading "Twilight" on Saturday, and just finished the third book this afternoon. I am actually afraid to start "Breaking Dawn," the last book, because I don't want it to end! . Can someone point me to a Twilight support group? I think I might need help...

 

[Youarehere]

Outlander- Diana Gabaldon
The Voyage of the Jerle Shannara- Terry Brooks

There are alot, but these 2 are my all time favorites.

 

[Jeafl]

Anytime I need a huge laugh, I read the Jen Lancaster books. Bitter is the New Black, Bright Lights, Big A**, and Such a Pretty Fat. She also has a new one coming out this month which I can't wait to read.

 

[redlight]

To Kill a Mockingbird... so good!

Flowers for Algernon, it's really sad, but I love it.

A Prayer for Owen Meany.

 

[froggygrrrl]

The Book Thief
Water for Elephants
The Lovely Bones
The Time Traveler's Wife
The Picture of Dorian Gray
The Stand

I'm sure there are many more, but these are the ones off the top of my head. I'll have to give this some more thought!

 

[friendofgusgus]

A few more for the list:

The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck

The Godfather by Mario Puzo - what a wonderfully written and fascinating book! I read this recently after watching the movies again and I'm so sorry I hadn't read it sooner.

My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult - although any of her books will do, but everyone should read one of them

A recent favorite of mine is We Bought a Zoo by Benjamin Mee

Hmmm... there must be a million more...

 

[cathyce2]

The Thorn Birds (Colleen McCollough), Summer Sisters (Judy Blume) and The Five People You Meet in Heaven (Mitch Albom) are the first ones that come to mind, but I may add more later.

 

[Pooh's Pixie]

I know there are more, but here's a first pass:

These are books I want to pass the word on to people:

Gone With the Wind
The Poisonwood Bible
Molokai'i
These is My Words
We Need to Talk About Kevin
A Map of the World
The Kite Runner
Year of Wonders
Pillars of the Earth

 

[Minnie's Pal]

The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See

 

[NMAmy]

I thought I was the only one who loved those books! (I know I'm not, but I rarely hear of people who know what they are, much less have read them.)

They are just really FUN books, aren't they? I love them--and I love all the literary references in them.

You're not alone, Karibeth!

 

[mouseclick1]

A Thousand Splendid Suns
The Kite Runner
I Know This Much is True
A Long Way Gone
The Lovely Bones
A Separate Peace
Middlesex


Currently reading The Book Thief, which just might end up on this list but it is a little too soon to tell!

 

[disneydiva58]

The Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon........The best series ever...can't wait till the fall for the next book.

 

[DISUNC]

Angelas Ashes by Frank McCourt
The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling