You HAVE to read this book.

[justanothernervousgirl]

the Twilight books.... i also like Lovely Bones... but haven't ever finished it hahaha

You should finish it. The Lovely Bones is one of my two favorites. I've read it more times than I can count.

My other favorite is The Picture of Dorian Gray.

[Snuz]

Yeah, choosing one is basically impossible. Wish I could bust out something like Paradise Lost like the rest of you brainiacs but here are a couple of favs: A Prayer for Owen Meany (we all have a purpose even if we don't understand it) and as already mentioned To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.

[crazy]

Scar Tissue was amazing - I'm not usually drawn to autobiographies, but this was awesome.  For people that don't know, it's the Red Hot Chilli Pepper frontman's autobiography.  A poster referred to it earlier.

Ender's Game is amazing as well - and I'm not generally drawn to science fiction - lol.

But my fav book of all time is still A Tale of Two Cities - so boring to choose Dickens, but I love it.

[annielestrange]

Blindness (the original title is "Ensaio Sobre a Cegueira") by José Saramago, one of the greatest portuguese writers ever who is still alive.
His ponctuation is different than the convenient one and he is strict and clear when he says something.

The book is about an epidemic of blindness that first shows up in a man when he stops in a red light in his car when he's coming back home. Soon it spreads out to people he's been with, but there is no clear cause for the spreading. Soon even the doctor he's been to becomes blind. When that doctor tries to reach the government to warn about what's going on, no one listens, but soon there is no other option: isolation. Half a dozen people are dumped in an empty and old asylum, where soon people begin to act like real animals with each other.

It's a sample of the worst attitude that humans can have.
It's an excellent book, and it keeps you tied until the end approaches.

However, I haven't read the translated english version (only read the portuguese one).
There's a movie based on the book, I didn't watch it but I didn't hear the best opinions about it. It's a 'horrible' movie, because figures appeal to the most tragical parts of the story, physical contents etc etc, but reading will be an amazing experience. (:

[Half_A_Person]

You can't pass up the book of short stories No one Belongs Here More Than You by Miranda July. You should also check out her website for some brainfood - it's called 'Learning to Love You More' (forum won't allow link post..)

Yes! No one Belongs Here More Than You was wonderful! I've got to check out more of her work.

One of my must-read books is Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates. I'm not sure if anyone has seen the movie, but if you did and didn't like it, don't let that keep you from reading the book. And the Great Gatsby, but I think most people have read that one anyway.

[Nutty]

My absolute favorite is: NONE OF THE DISEASES by S.I. McMillen M.D. This to me is a must read!!!!

I couldnt pick just one either.
My other favs are in no particular order:

The MindBody Prescription , DR john Sarno

Hope and Help for your Nerves,  Claire Weekes

Brain Lock, DR Jeffrey Schwartz

[TimDaisy]

^^ your favorite books are ones about anxiety??? that's crazy!!! haha jk

I have to add a new suggestion. Wind-up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami. I haven't finished it yet, but i can tell it's going to be a big favorite of mine.

[flannery]

Not a big Murakami fan. My book recommendation?

The World According to Garp by John Irving.

Hands down.

[flannery]

You can't pass up the book of short stories No one Belongs Here More Than You by Miranda July. You should also check out her website for some brainfood - it's called 'Learning to Love You More' (forum won't allow link post..)

Yes! No one Belongs Here More Than You was wonderful! I've got to check out more of her work.

One of my must-read books is Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates. I'm not sure if anyone has seen the movie, but if you did and didn't like it, don't let that keep you from reading the book. And the Great Gatsby, but I think most people have read that one anyway.

OH MAN, you're totally right about the Miranda July book. It's nice to see short stories getting some love.

There's something about the collection that makes it especially pertinent to anxiety and depression. My girlfriend gave me a copy and she wrote the sweetest thing inside, which I can't share, but it's about how the collection is about people who are lost finding out they're not really lost.

[TimDaisy]

I guess Murakami isn't everyone's cup of tea. I love him though, never seen someone take so much information and insight out of such random and seemingly divergent stuff. I hear that Raymond Chandler is supposed to be one of his big influences. Anyone read anything by him before? Is it any good?

[KDlady]

My choice would be There Should Have been Castles
but To Kill A Mockingbird would be #2 on my list

[abaggett2]

The best book (s) I just read and would highly recommend is:  The Shack and 90 minutes in Heaven.  Both of these books just make you feel good and also makes you look at the world differently. 

[Hanna]

I know this was an old post but I absolutely have to tell all of you that the following three books will most likely become your favorites after reading them:

Water for Elephants, by Sara Gruen: she delves into the circus world of the depression era and her ability at description will pull your mind into the actual world; plus, all of her plot lines pull the reader feverishly through... very hard to put this book down.

People of the Book, by Geraldine Brooks: she traces the 500+ year history of an ancient haggadah and takes the reader into the ancient lives of people who possessed and contributed to the book during that 500 years. Amazingly researched -- a real wow! This author is brilliant.

The Glass Castle, by Jeanette Walls: you'll be amazed that this is an actual memoir and not a work of fiction. Walls, a journalist, writes the story of her childhood where her parents are genius and crazy... making their children live in the most unfathomable conditions. Despite a childhood of homelessness and neglect, Walls grows into a strong, successful woman. Truly amazing.

Saving Fish from Drowning, by Amy Tan: her best work of fiction yet, coupled with poignant humor.

Then there's Life of Pi, by Yan Martel; The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini; and, well that's more than one title, but after you read these books shoot me a message for more titles... I'll bet you will 

[Hanna]

i have recently read these good books....twilight by stephenie meyer, the host by stephenie meyer, davinci code by dan brown, angels and demons by dan brown, jurassic park by michael crichton, lost world by michael crichton, point of impact by stephen hunter

these are kids' books, but are some of my favorites...james and giant peach by roald dahl, hatchet by gary paulsen, charlie and chocolate factory by roald dahl, island of the blue dophins by scott o'dell

Oh, if you enjoy children's books you have to read: The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, by Kate DiCamillo. Even for an adult this is a WOW, wow. I still think about how beautifully she wrote this story and what a beautiful message given in a truly creative way. This is the same author of Despereaux (the movie of which was not even half as good as the book).

[Calamy]

The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold.


"Water for Elephants, by Sara Gruen: she delves into the circus world of the depression era and her ability at description will pull your mind into the actual world; plus, all of her plot lines pull the reader feverishly through... very hard to put this book down."


Ooh I HATED that book. I couldn't get past one of the early parts with the stripper playing with her breasts. It was just so vulgar and she spent SO MANY PAGES on it.

[cmonpilgrim]

No One Belongs Here More Than You by Miranda July.

It's a book of short stories - highly appropriate for anyone experiencing anxiety-induced brain fog/lack of concentration.

Her writing is the most honest I've read. Not too dark, too fluffy, overly intellectual or empty; just real. And interesting.


#2 would be Candide by Voltaire. I was constantly amused, and that's always a nice thing.

I go through patches of reading voraciously or nothing at all. Isn't it odd...
 

[Noahs Mom]

I loved Lovely Bones and so glad it's coming out as a movie!  Such a good novel...

[emma09]

Robinson cruso! Lol

[invisible girl]

Oh Lord is this the prompt for me!  I love to read and I have heard a few of my favourites in other posts but I'll list 'em again anyway.

To kill a mockingbird - Harper Lee (One of Americas finest novels)
Hamlet - Shakespeare for his notorious dichotomy of powers battling within the individual
The Hot Zone - Richard Preston for best novelisation of true events (NOT recommended for hypochondriacs)
Jurassic Park - Michael Crichton
Poirots last case - Agatha Christie
The Australians Series - William Stuart long and Victoria Stuart Long
Summer - Albert Camus
The Rubiyat of Omar Khayyam of Naishapur (Poetry) - FAVE

Love Tennyson, Bronte, Clough, Browning, etc not such a fan of the Russians but what can u do!
Have fun all

[Outlaw Pygmy]

The Picture of Dorian Gray - Oscar Wilde

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde - Robert Louis Stevenson

[bookworm]

I can't believe that Tolkien's Lord of the Rings has not been mentioned.  They are my all-time favorite. 
I also love Pride and Prejudice and Jane Eyre.
I am a big fan of Clive Cussler and James Rollins
I read a lot of Christian fiction and am always looking for new authors

[itsbedlam]

The Virgin Suicides....nostalgic and haunting
Pride and Prejudice....read it like a million times..romantic and humorous
The NeverEnding Story....so much better than the movie
Harry Potter Series....grew up with it, love it always
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: A Savage Journey to the Heart of the American Dream....makes me wish I was on that trippy trip

[smokeycoffee]

Toss up between Jane Eyre and Madame Bovary. Les Miserables is another. And I must say, The Old Man and the Sea as well. I was quite skeptical that a book about an old man going fishing could possibly keep anyone on the edge of their seat, but I read it cover to cover, spellbound. Mad skills, Mr. Hemingway!

[MarkB]

Cat's Cradle - Kurt Vonnegut
Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck
Catcher in the Rye - J.D. Salinger
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas - Hunter S. Thompson
and
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Roald Dahl

Sorry, had to go with a few as couldn't pick just one out of those

[dbirm77]

Somone already mentioned it but.....

Viktor Frankle's A Man's Search for Meaning