Do you have an all time favourite book

[askyourgran]

one that you go back to after a while and re-read it.

I have read The Riddle of the Sands, by Erskine Childers several times, the book was published in 1903 and I find it interesting for its historical fact that was eventally leading to the first world war and quite atmospheric. As well as the classics The Anaeid, the Odyssey and the The illiad, which I like to read now and again. I also liked to read the Stephen Donaldson fantasy books The Chronicles of Thomas Covanent trilogies.

[bednobs]

his dark materials

[joggerjayne]

Favourite book ... The Name Of The Rose (Umberto Eco)

Most re-read book ... Three Men In A Boat (Jerome K Jerome)

Longest re-read book ... The Lord Of The Rings (obviously)

[MarkRae]

Probably Lord of the Rings or "La Gloire de Mon Père" by Marcel Pagnol.

[joggerjayne]

La Gloire de Mon Père was made into a lovely movie ...

... atmospheric in the way that only French films can do.

[MarkRae]

Yes, it was absolutely superb. But still not a patch on the book...

[joggerjayne]

I haven't read the book.

Is there a translation?

(lazy me ... I should check that myself ... sorry)

[MarkRae]

Probably...

[askyourgran]

Haven't read The name of the Rose JJ, I'll look out for that. But your other two books are on my pile of 'don't throw or give away'. I like Philip Pullman but I have to admit I've only read one of them.

I really love reading, my favourite author atm is Tom Bradby (the bbc political reporter) his books are good too,'The Master of Rain' is a favourite.

[alexanderd]

favourite Hawaii by James michener
Most read Shogun by James Clavell

[Crazylegs]

Papillon and the follow up book Banco by Henri Charrière were great reads.

[joggerjayne]

Mere and Pere are up there with Jean and Manon

among the movies I can sit and watch over and over again.

[paddywak]

To Kill A Mockingbird and ATale of Two Cities, a pair of true classics.

[lslowry]

I like most of the books by Paul Theroux, especially his travel books.

[joggerjayne]

How can you only read one Philip Pulman, AOG ?

Don't you want to know what happens next ???????

[boxtops]

I read such lot, and my shelves are full of books I enjoyed and can't bear to move on.

[joggerjayne]

By the time I've read a paperback, Boxy, they tend to be completely knackered.

I dog-ear the pages, and fold them back on their spines to read in Starbucks.

I only really keep hardbacks on my shelves.

[boxtops]

JJ I can't do that - we're not fanatical about it, but OH is a really fast reader, he can read a book several times over in a few days and there won't be a mark on it. I lent some books to a sick colleague once and they all came back bent-spined - I was gutted. I enjoy a book better if it looks "as new" - but I do buy from charity shops as well if something catches my eye which is a bit dog-eared, but I really want to read it. I can only buy a book if I like the style of writing, if I dip in and can't get on with it (or if the heroine has got a daft name like Totty), I won't buy it.

[askyourgran]

Markrae I have The Lord of the Rings on the "save" pile but unless there is a translation for "La Gloire" I doubt I will get to read it.
Alexandred James Mitcheners books are good Shogun was very interesting.
I remember reading Papillon and Banco, they were books I couldn't put down, for some reason I can always remember the leper colony where one of the leper's fingers came off. Paddywak they are both true classics,ATale of two Cities I remember lending to a friend but never got it back, and To Kill a Mockingbird was left in an hotel.

[jno]

Childers was shot - executed - in the Irish civil wars.

[joggerjayne]

Books tend to live in my bag, Boxy, or on my passenger seat, or in a jacket pocket if I'm wearing a jacket, and the book is thin enough.

I also read books in small bites so, by the time I've dog-eared every other page, they look like fans.