[Rational Thinker]

1) Animal Farm (the economical use of words, the truth it told about capitalist and communist societies, the fact that it exposed perfectly the evil Joseph Stalin and his and Lenin's as well as Mao's corruption of commmunism and how communism while good in theory has been pretty awful in practice at the same time showing how also destructive capitalism is and being set in the context at the start of one of the most dysfunctional periods of humanity the Cold War makes Animal Farm even more relevant)

2) Lord Of The Flies (it shows the truth of humanity how humans destroy the environment, how the supposed better people can do the most wicked things. How people will do evil things just because they are told to)

3) 1984 (it shows how a dystopian society can come about how a society can do evil things, all the more relevant today when freedom of speech is being silenced under the guise of offending people)

[LucyJ12]

All 4 of the Twilight books. The reason for this is because they're entertaining and it's one of those books you cannot stop reading.

I bet I will get negged for this 8-)

COULD YOU STOP NEGGING ME NOW !! :/ It's getting annoying.

[Alix23]

1) The Book Thief, Markus Zusak
relatable, heart wrenching, a view on the war most British people never look at. Interesting personification of Death
2) Birdsong, Sebastien Faulks
Interesting, vivid details, sad. I'm very into war books!
3) Homage to Catalonia, another Orwell
Again a war book, but an autobiography and one that really gives you an idea of what it was like to be there. A strange connection to the writer. Not sure really how to describe this one, you have to have read it really.

EDIT: 3) Before I fall, Lauren Oliver
This is an amazing book, made me think about consequences of us. Incredible plot idea!

[Alix23]

(Original post by LucyJ12)
All 4 of the Twilight books. The reason for this is because they're entertaining and it's one of those books you cannot stop reading.

I bet I will get negged for this 8-)

Know what you mean, I find the Twilight books really hard to put down, despite the **** storyline. Stephanie Meyer is an amzing writer with annoying characters and plot.

[MMoor18]

Mine are series rather than books

first the masters of Rome series by Colleen McCullough, 7 books of historical fiction about the fall of the late republic.

second probably A song of ice and fire (game of thrones etc) also 7 books (5 book 2 of which are split in half) by George R R Martin

then the warlord chronicals by Bernard Cornwall which is a trilogy about Arthurian Britiain, but set in about 500 AD and about warring with the saxons rather than the magic quest for the holy grail etc

[Clip]

Red Storm Rising. Tanks, fighter planes, missiles and nuclear submarines. The commies get spanked.

Starship Troopers. This, people - is science fiction. Vietnam before Vietnam. Hi tech vs low tech, political diatribe and an uncannily accurate vision of the future of war from as seen from the 1950s.

Ender's Game. To quote Orson Scott Card : "A young kid growing up in an oppressive family situation suddenly learns that he is one of a special class of children with special abilities, who are to be educated in a remote training facility where student life is dominated by an intense game played by teams flying in midair, at which this kid turns out to be exceptionally talented and a natural leader. He trains other kids in unauthorized extra sessions, which enrages his enemies, who attack him with the intention of killing him; but he is protected by his loyal, brilliant friends and gains strength from the love of some of his family members. He is given special guidance by an older man of legendary accomplishments who previously kept the enemy at bay. He goes on to become the crucial figure in a struggle against an unseen enemy who threatens the whole world." No wonder he was upset with JK Rowling.



Speaking of JK Rowling, one book I would like to see is the Harry Potter series re-written by George RR Martin. I would expect Harry to die in ignominy toward the end of the first volume, and Hagrid frequently forcing himself on Ron.

[uktotalgamer]

(Original post by LucyJ12)
All 4 of the Twilight books. The reason for this is because they're entertaining and it's one of those books you cannot stop reading.

I bet I will get negged for this 8-)

You do realize as a girl that these books are the worst setback to feminism since the sandwich?

[txo]

The Catcher in the Rye.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower.

19 Minutes.

I need to read more I really haven't read enough books, I found it a struggle to pick three favourites.

[.Scout.]

1. To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee
2. On the Road - Jack Kerouac
3. L'Etranger - Camus

[jaime1986]

The Faraway Tree - Enid Blyton (Favourite, not most recommended reads, right? I read this book endlessly as a child and still keep it in my bedside draw for sleepless nights)

The Bell Jar - Sylvia Plath (I could read it over and over - the main character fascinates me)

Less Than Zero - Brett Easton Ellis (Started my obsession with Blank Fiction and Postmodernism, causing me to undertake a research Masters in the area)

[Rational Thinker]

(Original post by jaime1986)
The Faraway Tree - Enid Blyton (Favourite, not most recommended reads, right? I read this book endlessly as a child and still keep it in my bedside draw for sleepless nights)

The Bell Jar - Sylvia Plath (I could read it over and over - the main character fascinates me)

Less Than Zero - Brett Easton Ellis (Started my obsession with Blank Fiction and Postmodernism, causing me to undertake a research Masters in the area)

Faraway tree is an awesome novel.

[brendonbackflip]

The Book Thief - I like stories set in Hitler's Germany anyway, and it's probably the first book where I actually appreciated how it was written. Markus Zusak write beautifully.

The Perks Of Being A Wallflower - I read this quite recently when I heard about "that new film with Emma Watson in it" and I really liked it. I liked all the music references as well.

The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night Time - Something different to what I've read before, was a really nice voice to autistic people imo.

(Original post by jaime1986)
The Bell Jar - Sylvia Plath (I could read it over and over - the main character fascinates me)

Good, because I'm about to start reading it

[daisydaffodil]

Jane Eyre - read it for higher English, then again for Advanced Higher. I've never enjoyed a book more, in so many ways it's incredibly sad but has a very uplifting ending as well, a must read to be honest.

Tess of the D'Urbervilles - a difficult read and damn depressing (what Hardy book isn't?) but fantastically well written and amazing imagery.

To Kill a Mockingbird - Atticus (along with Jane and Tess!) is my book-hero. Was given a copy from my nan years ago and have read it over and over again.

[WhyteBoar]

Jane Eyre - I hated this book when I was 14 and was made to read it at school. A few years later I picked up a copy to see if it was as awful as I remember, I was hooked! I do find Jane a little whiney at times, but Mr Rochester makes up for that.

Gone with the wind - Having seen the film lots of times I decided to give the book a go. I couldn't put it down and took it everywhere until finished it. The style of the writing is so vibrant and draws you into the character's world.

Really struggling to narrow down to only one more, but I am going to go with...

Mayor of Casterbridge - This book is so tragic. I cried when I got to the end and still don't know if I feel sorry for Mr Henchard.

Other contenders were: Pride and Prejudice, The Sunne in Splendour, Rebecca, and Watership Down

This was posted from The Student Room's Android App on my HTC One X

[LucyJ12]

(Original post by Alix23)
Know what you mean, I find the Twilight books really hard to put down, despite the **** storyline. Stephanie Meyer is an amzing writer with annoying characters and plot.

Yeah Bella is annoying but it is entertaining regardless. LOL

[LucyJ12]

(Original post by uktotalgamer)
You do realize as a girl that these books are the worst setback to feminism since the sandwich?

Yes, but it doesn't bother me that much.. :/

[uktotalgamer]

(Original post by LucyJ12)
Yes, but it doesn't bother me that much.. :/

Strong female logic. Gender has spend years battling for rights. Book destroys them "It doesn't bother me."

[Alexx53]

1. The Catcher in the Rye - Very down to Earth, nicely written. Loved Holden, could relate to him a little bit

2. Junk - Such a fun book. Interesting hearing about all the issues from loads of different perspectives

3. It changes Atm, Martyn Pig - So many red herrings and plot changes, had a good storyline.

[la-penseur]

I really need to read more but so far my favourite books are The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, L'Etranger by Albert Camus and the Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien

Edit: Forgot to say why haha. Gatsby is probably number 1 because I love how it deals with idealism and the American Dream and how it ultimately fails. Love the story as a whole and the symbolism is really great L'Etranger - I just loved how it explored a different sort of mind set and philosophy and it actually really made me think about the way a view life, and death. The Lord of the Rings, while it was long and tedious at times, I found to be overall a great, epic story which really touched me I sound so cheesy in all of this!

[battycatlady]

1) Emma- Jane Austen. I just love it so much. Austen said that 'no one would like' her heroine, but I adore Emma Woodhouse <3 She may have her faults, but for me this is what makes her loveable. And obviously I love Mr Knightly an insane amount.

2) The God of Small Things- Arundhati Roy. I was blown away by this novel. The author uses language in such a different way. It's funny, heart-breaking and what makes it especially awesome is the fact it's told mainly from the point of view of a child.

Omg, third choice is so difficult.

I can't decide between Jane Eyre, The Tiger's Wife, the Book Thief and The Art of Racing in the Rain.

I'll probably go with:

3) The Tiger's Wife- Tea Obrhet. I love the mix of folklore and realism and it explores the relationship between a grandfather and his granddaughter so well.