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As you can get them in one book now The LA Quartet by James Ellroy. If that's not allowed I'd go with American Tabloid by him instead.
The Cartel Trilogy by Don Winslow. Again, if not allowed as it's a trilogy I'd go with the first one The Power of the Dog
Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky if I have to pick a single book as all my other favourites are series and I've not read the others in this series yet and enjoyed it just on its own.
Ooh, someone else choosing this, he’s not much read in this country I don’t think. It was a toss up between this and the Cornish Trilogy. I think the middle book of the Cornish is his best work but Deptford is better overall. Some really well developed characters in both.
Sometime in 1989 I walked into W H Smiths in Southend looking for a new book to read. I saw What's Bred in The Bone and liked the cover so bought it. I suddenly found myself interested in things I'd never for a minute have thought I was interested in. Such a brilliant writer and I love the close of his final work, I read it and realised he must have known these would be his last published words.
<h1>This is the Great Theatre of Life. Admission is free, but the taxation is mortal. You come when you can, and leave when you must. The show is continuous. Goodnight.”</h1>
The Deptford Trilogy by Roberson Davies.
Pretentious awfulness, Author and main character seems awfully "pleased with self"
Conrad – heart of Darkness is good.
Just; no.
Nam - Mark Baker, surprisingly good
Fear and loathing in Las Vegas - Hunter S Thompson, just funny
The Tour de France - Geoffrey Nicholson, one of the first cycling books I ever read and a very well written book.
Don't really read much but I would say my top 3 are
Fatherland - Robert Harris
Book about a world where Hitler never died.
The dead do not improve - Jay Caspian Kang
Set in the Bay area the book centres around gentrification and a murder
World War Z - Max Brooks
Historical account of a zombie apocalypse
The Brothers Karamazov - Dostoevsky
The Forest Unseen - David George Haskell
A Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells - AW Wainwright (assuming I can sneak in the box set of all seven books)
Best 3 ever - impossible, surely. I'll throw in three I've read a few times, avoiding many already mentioned above.
The Son by Philip Meyer - flits between three generations of Texans (Cormac McCarthy fans will probably approve)
Fugitive Pieces by Anne Michaels
Little Green Man by Simon Armitage
And for your low brow entertainment
Chicken hawk
I am pilgrim
Vulcan 607
Chicken Hawk was ok but I am pilgrim is just absolutely terrible.
If not now, when? Primo Levi- powerful and very moving about resistance at its finest, dealing in the most of horrific of circumstances by Jewish partisans in Eastern Europe. An author whom spoke so many truths.
The Ragged Trousered Philanthropist by Robert Tressell- brilliant portrayal of working class life in Edwardian England. A left wing classic. The conversations in this novel haven’t changed much, although the fashion has.
Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte- Love and passion can be very dark. Just brilliant.
Agreed about I Am Pilgrim, it’s atrocious.
Good shout above on James Elliot, forgot about his books.
The Cartel Trilogy by Don Winslow. Again, if not allowed as it’s a trilogy I’d go with the first one The Power of the Dog
Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky if I have to pick a single book as all my other favourites are series and I’ve not read the others in this series yet and enjoyed it just on its own.
Now I’m changing my three to reflect these. Children of Ruin too! The Cartel trilogy is fantastic
The Ragged Trousered Philanthropist by Robert Tressell- brilliant portrayal of working class life in Edwardian England. A left wing classic. The conversations in this novel haven’t changed much, although the fashion has.
I couldn't finish it. I got the point and I agreed with the sentiments but it's pretty heavy handed as a book. An important book but not very well written IMO.
Agree with If Not Now When? It's a cracker.
Lipstick Traces by Greil Marcus - not to every taste but I keep reading it
The Fight by Norman Mailer - journalistic writing at it's best
The Old Ways by Robert McFarlane - a lovely poetic read
Three very different books and all brilliant in their own ways
You know what's really sad, I'm 44 and I'm not actually sure I've ever read 3 books all the way through!!
I read some while travelling back in the late 90's but none memorable enough that I'm sure I actually finished them.
Only one I know I've finished is Mr Nice, by Howard Marks. As I read it in three days while on holiday in Menorca...
Actually I've read quite a few books to my kids, so I've definitely read 3, but 'room on the broom' doesn't really count!
Donna Tartt's three standalone novels
The Secret History
The Goldfinch
The Little Friend
are well worth reading.
It's an impossible question really, but I guess I would go with:
- Middlemarch (George Eliot), which to me is probably the greatest novel written in the English language (certainly that I have read). I have a particular dislike for books that are pointlessly long (see below) but Middlemarch completely earns its 800/900 pages.
- Love In The Time Of Cholera (Gabriel Garcia Marquez). I completely accept that 100 Years Of Solitude is Marquez's masterpiece, but I find it more difficult to love as a whole. LitToC (as no-one calls it) has a wonderful sweeping romantic vision that had a big impact on me.
- For a third, I guess I'd go with a "Great American Novel". Many American authors seem to have been obsessed with trying to write the Great American Novel for more than a century, and unfortunately, to me at least, too many have confused something that is long with something that is good (yes, I'm looking at you Donna Tartt), which given that The Great Gatsby clocks in at just over 200 pages...... So I'd either go with The Great Gatsby or something from some of the authors mentioned above, for example:
- John Irving, whose books are long but never feel stretched
- Norman Mailer, probably Naked And The Dead
- James Ellroy who proves you can write thrillers that are also great literature
Yes, it's impossible really.
the three books I've reread the most times are all by Stanislaw Lem
1)Tales of Pirx the pilot
2)More tales of pirx the pilot
3) Eden
Intelligent science fiction more about humanity than aliens or robots. Never get tired of rereading them.
Totally impossible, but have we really got into page two with no mention of Dickens or have I not been paying attention?
I’ll throw in A Tale of Two Cities. If nothing else you don’t get many novels that both start and end with a quotable quote.
One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich is short, powerful and left a lasting impression.
For something lighter English Passengers by Matthew Kneale is a good read.
But it would change again tomorrow and to be honest I’d struggle with a top 20 let alone a top three.
Nothing wrong with Room on the Broom by the way 😀
I have never been a big reader, probably peaked with Lord of the Rings when I was a teenager. Got about 10 pages into crime and punishment before I got bored. Enjoyed Steinbeck and once read die Blechtrommel by Gunter Grass in German! BUt if I had to be stuck with just 3 books, they would need to be ones that I really enjoyed and have re-read many times. For me that would include something by Tom Robbins, probably "Jitterbug Perfume" as it was the first I read and had me hooked from page 1. Then I would include "Shibumi" by Trevanian, a simple adventure novel that I never tire of. And finally I would include some real-life daring-do WW2 story, probably "The Colditz Story" which I must have read 5 times (and been to the castle and done the tour just after the Iron Curtain fell).
Its a different day so a different 3
Fear and loathing in Las Vegas
All quiet on the Western Front
A day in the life of Ivan Denisovitch
The Boardman Tasker omnibus: Hours of adventuring brilliance.
Consider Phlebas: cos it’s the best.
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy: because I’ve read it countless times and STILL can’t work out how Smiley works out who is who. There’s a couple of chapters 2/3rds of the way through where I get lost every time...maybe some hours on a beach would help me finally get it clear on my head!
Down and Out in Paris and London
The Wasp Factory
Trainspotting
Brothers Karamazov - Dostoyevsky
The Kindly Ones - Littell
The Trial - Kafka
And in spite of what someone said a few posts ago about Davies being pretentious, I want to express my thanks to those who listed him among their favourites. I love Davies, and can’t understand why he isn’t more appreciated here!
This is a tough one! But I'm surprised we're this far in and Margaret Atwood hasn't been mentioned. The Oryx and Crake trilogy is brilliant.
For three fiction books not in a trilogy:
Imajica, Clive Barker. Totally immersive (at least for me) fantasy.
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? Philip K Dick. Way better than the film, which I quite enjoyed, but the point of the book is lost in translation.
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. Ken Kesey. Just a tremendous read.
The Shipping News by Annie Prouxl
A Secret History by Donna Tart
The Grapes of Wrath by Steinbeck
Oooo! Just read the previous post. One flew over the cuckoos nest is indeed a great story.
And in spite of what someone said a few posts ago about Davies being pretentious,
I can understand why people would think that. He is a bit in places however, there's so much else that is wonderful about his work that I can forgive him that.
If we’re allowed trilogies I’ll go for the ten book ‘Brentford Triangle’ trilogy by Robert Rankin.
‘Good Omens’ by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman.
‘The Magic Faraway Tree’ by Enid Blyton.
One flew over the cuckoos nest is indeed a great story.
Anyone else read 'Sometimes a Great Notion'? A bit long and rambling but also pretty good.
The Shipping News by Annie Prouxl
If you liked that as much for the Newfoundland thing as Prouxl's writing then Wayne Johnston is worth checking out. Wouldn't put it in my top 3 but Baltimore's Mansion is very good. I also enjoyed 'Colony of Unrequited Dreams' but the 'Divine Ryans' which is probably his best known I didn't like nearly so much.
We did a month bike touring in Newfoundland in 2010. Had a fantastic time but couldn't honestly recommend it!
okay skimmed the thread and it's clear that 98% of the books read by blokes are written by blokes. Bar George Elliot (not long after meeting a then recent eng. lit. graduate I told her I'd not read any of his books. My now wife, thanks George) and Donna Tartt (Essex pornstar and best writer around). (Okay and Ursula K and Atwood. And now Prouxl ^^^ I see. All exceptions proving the not at all shaky looking rule...)
Anyway. Desert island books are ones you can reread, surely? By which token ones on my list to be reread include probably,
The Goldfinch (Donna), the Bone Clocks probably (David Mitchell - I could make a case that as all his books are part of the same story I'd take 'em all in one binder?) and I dunno, Lucky Jim, K Amis to see if it's still funny. Part of my er hinterland I guess.
James Clavel – Shogun
I read all of Clavell's stuff when I was a teenager. Early last year I saw Shogun in a 2nd hand bookshop for 99p and sat down to re-read it, for the first time in 35 years probably. God, it was terrible. Proper supermarket best-seller, trashy, shallow, brainless rubbish with cardboard characters, Robin Hood action sequences and far too many pages. Shame - I remember his books with affection.
okay skimmed the thread and it’s clear that 98% of the books read by blokes are written by blokes
Skimming through any of the book threads would also lead you to believe that most people buy books while shopping in Tesco, and that lots of people who post on MTB forums read far too much science fiction in their youth. (Like me! 😀 ) And it's no secret that men tend to buy books written by men, and women are less likely to buy books with SAS 'heroes' on the front. ;D
okay skimmed the thread and it’s clear that 98% of the books read by blokes are written by blokes.
The three I picked are all written by men and I picked them for the impact they had on me at the time of reading them. If you asked me to just go and get all the books of my shelves that I've really enjoyed then it might well be 50:50 for male and female authors.
I like the occassional Jodie Piccoult - Small Great Things changed the way I think on race.
James Clavel – Shogun
I read all of Clavell’s stuff when I was a teenager. Early last year I saw Shogun in a 2nd hand bookshop for 99p and sat down to re-read it, for the first time in 35 years probably. God, it was terrible. Proper supermarket best-seller, trashy, shallow, brainless rubbish with cardboard characters, Robin Hood action sequences and far too many pages. Shame – I remember his books with affection.
Oh man - I just came here to say how much I loved that book. 🙁
Oh man – I just came here to say how much I loved that book.
Try and re-read it. I'd be more than happy to be told I'm wrong, but genuinely saddened that I hated it last year!
I am pilgrim is just absolutely terrible.
Wait until you read the sequel.
okay skimmed the thread and it’s clear that 98% of the books read by blokes are written by blokes.
And? Go on Mumsnet and ask the same question there. Do you think you would be surprised at the results?
Try and re-read it. I’d be more than happy to be told I’m wrong, but genuinely saddened that I hated it last year!
I, err.... I bought a new copy last year as I'd read my original one to tatters and, err... Still loved it. 🙂
I am pilgrim is just absolutely terrible.
Yes!
Love the mention of the Forever War by Joe Haldeman.
For me, Only Forward by Michael Marshall Smith
Probably something China Mieville - The City and the City, or the Scar
Possibly the complete Flashman (which I bought as one book on my Kindle)
I don't think it would go in my top 3 but right now I'm very much enjoying 'Travels with a Donkey in the Cevennes'.
okay skimmed the thread and it’s clear that 98% of the books read by blokes are written by blokes.
And? Go on Mumsnet and ask the same question there. Do you think you would be surprised at the results?
Just an observation. On our shelves you've a 9/10 chance of guessing who bought what based just on gender of author.
Not sure I have three books that stand out but one does and it simply the best thing I've read.
'Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Journey' by Alfred Lansing.
An outstanding survival story that still amazes me every time I read it.