Favorite books

[Julianking93]

I know this has been done before, but I'm searching for more books right now since I've been lacking a lot of reading matierial so that is when I turn to the Escapist and ask all of you what your favorite pieces of literature are in an attempt to broaden my literate spectrum.

In other words, what are your favorite books/short stories/novellas/poems?

For me, my top 3 would have to be:

3. Watchmen - Alan Moore (it's just fucking awesome)

2. Simulacra and Simulation - Jean Baudrillard (trippiest book on philosophy you will ever read)

1. La Divina Commedia [The Divine Comedy] - Dante Alighieri (most epic thing ever. If you're looking to read this, I recommend getting the John Ciardi translation as it retains the poetic form and is very easy to read while staying as literal to the original as possible)

So, what about the escapist's top 3 favs?

 

[Hazy]

1. Lord of the Flies

2. Catcher in the Rye (Incoming Holden Caulfield hate 3... 2... 1...)

3. Watchmen as well.

 

[dududf]

Dresden files, Night Side, Enders Game, Patient Zero, Dragon Factory, Infected, Contagious, World War Z,Strain, Dune,Monster Island and much much more.

Also, wasn't Watchmen a graphic novel, and not a "book" per se?

Because if Graphic novels are allowed, I'm adding Watchmen as well.

*Edit

OH YEAH! I just read an awesome book called Daemon I recommend it to any computer nerd who likes mystery/action.

 

[Cody211282]

Lord of The Rings-J.R.R. Tolkien

Dune-Frank Herbert

The Stand-Stephen King

 

[DefunctTheory]

1. Divine Comedy. We share a favorite I see.
2. Ulysses S. Grants Memoirs. Excellent read.
3. Eisenhorn. Because 'trash' sci-fi is awesome, and Dan Abnett is the shit.

 

[Julianking93]

Also, wasn't Watchmen a graphic novel, and not a "book" per se?

Because if Graphic novels are allowed, I'm adding Watchmen as well.

I count it as a book and I said any piece of literature, so yeah, it counts

 

[I Resurection I]

2. Cirque du Freak by Darren Shan
1. Demonata by Darren Shan

I dont really have a top three but here are my top 2 favorite book series.

 

[Acier]

1. Sex Drugs and Cocoa Puffs.

Like seriously, I read that book at least once a year. It just strikes an excellent chord withe me

2.Phantom Tollboth Yeah it's a kids book? SO WhAT?!

3. The Glass Castle/Life of Pi. Not sure really. I just needed a 3rd one

Watchmen is probably up there too

 

[xHipaboo420x]

Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas - Hunter S. Thompson

Animal Farm - Orson Welles

Enjoy!

EDIT: Before you point out the obvious, consider the following...

I think you mean George Orwell.

Indeed I did! I would edit my post to redact my outrageous mistake, but I think I'll let it stand as example of How Not To Do It. Thanks for correcting me.

 

[HaloHappy]

1. Halo: Fall of Reach
2. Halo: First Strike
3. Halo: Ghosts of Onyx
.......I don't read much, sry.

 

[Paulie92]

1. Steppenwolf
2. Dracula
3. The Farseer trilogy by Robin Hobb (particularily Assassin's Quest)

and hundreds of other fantastic books and pretty much everything else mentioned here apart from what I haven't read yet (about half), I still have a booklist the size of the sun

 

[ReincarnatedFTP]

Neuromancer-William Gibson

Snow Crash-Neal Stephenson (I think)
First two are because I'm a cyberpunk fan. First one is sort of nihilistic/noir action. Second takes more of a over-the-top campy/parody action/mystery approach.

J-Pod- Douglas Coupland. Liked all the ridiculous twists and quirks in the storyline, and the fact that the author was intentionally promoting himself and being a complete dickbag.

Watchmen-Alan Moore (My first [and only so far] graphic novel, loved the storyline and alt history, made heroes seem like people with actual problems, albeit soap opera drama scale problems, but still)

American Gods-Neil Gaman. Just a nice story with good pacing that ends pretty awesomely.

Dracula-Bram Stoker. Takes a a bit of drudge here and there, but really good visual sensory descriptions and very entertaining.

Dorian Gray-Oscar Wilde.Just a fun book with interesting themes.

Crime and Punishment-Dostoevsky. Interesting plot with cool characters and twists.

Oh yeah! And......
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies
Sense and Sensibilities and Sea Monsters
Classic literature turned into fucking awesome.

Also, the Horus Heresy and Gaunt's Ghost series.

 

[Luke5515]

1. "heir to the Empire" star wars series by Timmothy Zahn
2. The Oath which is a book about a man who visits a town and there are rumors of a mythical beast that lives there. Turns out, it's a dragon with metal scales and the ability to blend with it's surrondings like a chameleon. long read though.
3.I, Strahd. A vampire book. but real vampire. kills and such.

 

[TheNumber1Zero]

Well, I'm not much when it comes to picking Favourites, so I will do mine in no particular order

3) Natural Selection.
I found it to be an interesting tale that reminded me of when I was a wee lad and watched good Sci-Fi channel movies with my Uncle.

2) The Brother's Grimm.
While it may be a collection of short children's tales, I have them fit together nicely in 1 big book, and found them simply delightful.

1) Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Bad Beginning.
While the ending frustrated me to little end, this was among my favourite reads as a Child, leading to the rest of the Series and leaving a special place in my heart for the Author.

 

[Wadders]

I cant rate a top 3 cos there are too many to choose from, but I can list 3 of my favourites.

The Gormenghast Trilogy - Mervyn Peake. I can't really describe it, you have to read it
Suffice to say, it's a pretty unique read.

Good Omens - Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman. Awesome apocalyptic comedy weirdness, as one would expect from those 2 authors

The Godfather - Mario Puzo. Its the book the film was based on. Say no more

Animal Farm - Orson Welles

I think you mean George Orwell.

God damn I use " " too much.

 

[SwimmingRock]

Lit:
- Faust - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
- At Swim-Two-Birds - Flann O'Brien
- Cat's Cradle - Kurt Vonnegut

Comics:
- Sandman
- Lucifer
- Hellblazer
- 100 Bullets
- V for Vendetta

Poems:
- Prometheus Unbound - Percy Bysshe Shelley. Best book ever. I hurt people if they try to touch my copy without permission.
- Divine Comedy (John Ciardi translation). Paradise was my favourite part, oddly enough. Most people think it's boring.

I also like quite a few works by Samuel Beckett, but I'm not sure what category those fall under. Sure, the plays are plays, but "That Time"? A monologue, I guess?

 

[xHipaboo420x]

I think you mean George Orwell.

Indeed I did! I would edit my post to redact my outrageous mistake, but I think I'll let it stand as example of How Not To Do It. Thanks for correcting me.

 

[Xpwn3ntial]

The Horus Heresy series has a few gems in it.
Anything by H.G. Wells will also work.

 

[lacktheknack]

Thr3e: World's. Best. Plot twist. EVAR.

The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat: Yes, you read that right. It's about various extraordinary mental problems experienced by Oliver Sacks.

The Portable Edgar Allan Poe: Poe is an excellent writer. I recommend Berenice and The Black Cat, along with The Bells.

The Bible: Yes, really. Oh, hush.

 

[Wadders]

I think you mean George Orwell.

Indeed I did! I would edit my post to redact my outrageous mistake, but I think I'll let it stand as example of How Not To Do It. Thanks for correcting me.

Dont worry, I'm just annoyingly pedantic when it comes to things like that