What are your top 5 most favorite books of all time?

[Jillpie]

I know there is a reading challenge thread, this is different. I absolutely love to read, have read many, many over 62 years. But I'm always in search of my next favorite. I use a Kindle, but love the library too. So when I say favorite, I mean, can't put down read all night kind of book, the kind that stays with you long after you read it. Here are mine, starting when I was young up till now.

1. Cashelmara-Susan Howatch
2. Anne Frank's Diary
3. And Then There Were None-Agatha Christie
4. Nightingale-Kristen Hannah
5. Shoemakers Wife-Adriana Trigiani

Those are my most favorite, but I have many, many more. How about you?

 

[Cogswel_Cogs]

1)Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams (Every book in series but Restaurant at the End of the Universe if I had to pick one
2)Outlaws of the Marsh by Shi Nai'an(Author), Sidney Shapiro (Translator) - read two and a half translations but prefer this one.
3)Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas bu Hunter S,Thompson
4)Harry Potter all of them Book seven if I hasd to pick one
5)There's a drop off here I guess Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole, or many others, or my own book Three Twigs for the Campfire by Joseph Cognard.

 

[dcassetta]

As the Lord of the Rings is a trilogy, this is my list

Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer
Emma by Jane Austen
Katherine by Anya Seton
The Stand by Stephen King
A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

 

[flyingdumbo127]

The Holy Bible first and foremost. I also enjoy reading Jesus Calling, a daily devotional.

Reading, being able to do so and enjoy, is such a blessing that I thank God for daily. Love books here, dad does, too. Some favorites of mine include:

Love Inspired Romances such as The Mistletoe Secret, The Risk of Loving, and most recently I enjoyed rereading Brenda Minton's Mercy Ranch series.

Children's books such as The Boxcar Children, My Secret Unicorn, and Baby-sitters Club. Also at Christmastime, Santa's Favorite Story.

James Herriot's books, which I need to reread.

I enjoy some of the Chicken Soup for the Soul stories and similar books.

 

[CdnCarrie]

I easily read 50-60 books a year. No way I can pick favs.
As for literature (rather than easy reads) I enjoyed Anna Karenina.

Easy reads love Louise Penny, JK Rowlings Strike Corman series, Cathy Kelly, Sheila O'Flanagan and Liane Moriaty.

 

[ShirikiUtundu]

Some I included are sequels or series

1. The Count of Monte Cristo
2. The Handmaid's Tale / The Testaments
3. Arc of a Scythe
4. Fortune's Rocks
5. Off Course
6. The Dark Tower

 

[Dan Murphy]

I love reading but do not generally read books.

But did want to say it's great to see you, Jill.

 

[NannyBeBe]

After the Bible:
1. A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23, by W. Phillip Keller. This book changed my life.
2. Gone With the Wind
3. Roots -- had to lay the book down and cry several times
4. Beautiful Joe
5. All of the Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

 

[BayouQueen]

Ones I've re-read many times so make the list:
Harry Potter
Lord of the Rings
Kristin Lavransdatter Series
Chronicles of Narnia Series
A Dance to the Music of Time Series

 

[Lumpy1106]

I only have 3 standouts;
Catch-22
Art of Racing in the Rain
Ready Player 1

 

[evilmommie]

So many favorite books…here are a few from throughout the years.

All of the Mrs. Piggle Wiggle books (still own my childhood set)

The Little House on the Prairie series (Have held onto that set, as well)

To Kill a Mockingbird

The Good Earth

Where the Crawdads Sing

 

[Cogswel_Cogs]

I only have 3 standouts;
Catch-22
Art of Racing in the Rain
Ready Player 1

I forgot Ready Player 1. Maybe that would be # 5.
Only Ready Player 2 and Meta have turned me slighty against it.

 

[Minnesota!]

I have read soooo many books over my lifetime, but only a handful stand out:

1) Winds of Skilak
2) Return to Skilak
3) A Gentleman in Moscow
4) 11/22/63
5) A Walk Across America

 

[Praying Colonel]

The ones that immediately come to mind:
The Count of Monte Cristo
Truman
John Adams
The Hunt for Red October
The Autobiography of Malcolm X

 

[Dotluvsdisney]

Love this!
*Kite Runner
*All the Light We Cannot See
*A Prayer for Owen Meany (especially now that I work with those with dyslexia)
*Cutting for Stone
*When Breath Becomes Air

I love literature but read lots of lighter and faith based fare too.

 

[Jillpie]

These are great everyone, thank you! Its so interesting how individual tastes play into it, and see so many diverse books that you all like.
Hi Dan so good to see you too! I've been here all along, just traveling the world now and not so much Disney. Although we stay there every few months, not so much the parks so don't have the need to check the boards often. But this will always be my second home!

 

[LSUmiss]

Love this!
*Kite Runner
*All the Light We Cannot See
*A Prayer for Owen Meany (especially now that I work with those with dyslexia)
*Cutting for Stone
*When Breath Becomes Air

I love literature but read lots of lighter and faith based fare too.

Prayer for Owen Meany! Yes! On my list too!

 

[Jillpie]

So many favorite books…here are a few from throughout the years.

All of the Mrs. Piggle Wiggle books (still own my childhood set)

The Little House on the Prairie series (Have held onto that set, as well)

To Kill a Mockingbird

The Good Earth

Where the Crawdads Sing

Its funny you mention Little House, I never missed one single episode back in the 70's, it was my most favorite show. But, as a young person who loved the library in the early 70's, I was never introduced to the Little House books, and so so regret that!! I read everything from the Bobbsie Twins to others, but never saw these books. I would have devoured them. I wonder if at age 62, I'd like them lol. And you mentioned Where the Crawdads sing, I tried to read this about a year ago, but couldn't get past when she met that boy and they fell in love. It just didn't do anything for me, and I lost interest. But I want to love this book and go back to it. It is so well reviewed, please tell me it gets better after I read that far? Should I pursue it again?

 

[Jillpie]

Love this!
*Kite Runner
*All the Light We Cannot See
*A Prayer for Owen Meany (especially now that I work with those with dyslexia)
*Cutting for Stone
*When Breath Becomes Air

I love literature but read lots of lighter and faith based fare too.

I LOVED All the Light we cannot see, that would have made my top 5 if I could. So, so good. The Kite Runner is on my to do list, this took place in the middle east, right? it was a page turner yes? thanks!

 

[JAMIESMITH]

The Eyes of the Dragon (Stephen King's under appreciated best work IMO)
The Count of Monte Cristo (this one seems to be popular!)
Jane Eyre
The Phantom of the Opera (the musical is great, but the book it was based on is just so amazing!)
The Night Circus

It's so hard to limit to just 5 as there are others that I would also name as my favorites.