What is your favourite novel, and why?

Jane Eyre and Rebecca

I could not possibly choose one book, or even one author.

I regularly re-read all of Jane Austen, all the Brother Cadfael books, all of Dornford Yates, any fiction or non-fiction about India I can get my hands on, and all of the Harry Potter books, and of course the first book I fell in love with when Daddy read it to me when I was three: Winnie-the-Pooh!

All these novels sound a bit highbrow and literally for me!!
I like those in the Seven Sister series by Lucinda Riley.
Also any by Hilary Boyd because her characters are ‘older’ !

Ahhh well.... this is a very easy question to answer.

My own novels that I have written. 😉

The Grapes of Wrath
The Ragged Trousered Philanthropist
Birdsong
Lessons in Chemistry
American Dirt
Anatomy of A Scandal
War and Peace

To name a few

Gone with the wind by Margaret Mitchell. Was reading it on a bus in London going to work in the 1980s and just became immersed in the story. I could almost heat the civil war and feel the fear. Looked up and I had missed my stop and gone miles out if my way. That is powerful writing.
Bless the author; I read she was accidentally knocked down and killed when young so only one novel.

Sara1954

When I was at college everyone was reading Tolkien, but I could never get into it, tried later, but could never see the appeal

I used to haul my Lord of The Rings up to London on my daily commute to work, I really enjoyed it back then aged 18 or so, not a book I'd revisit now, I was Tolkiened out long ago, particularly after the films, fantasy is no longer a genre that appeals.

MadeInYorkshire
I too loved Katherine, I remember having to choose a book to review for an exam at school, and I chose Katherine.
I haven’t read it for more than fifty years, I wonder if it’s still in print?

Frost in May by Antonia White
A Short Walk in the Hindu Kush by Eric Newby
Fortunes Rocks by Anita Shreveport
Anything by Barbara Trapido
Anything by Emile Zola
I could go on and will also orobabky change my mind tomorrow.
Having a lot of fun at the moment recommending books for my young adult granddaughter who has caught the reading bug and enjoys the same sort of books as me.

Rebecca is one of my favourites. Every time I read it again I see a different way of looking at the characters. As I have got older I have more sympathy for Rebecca and I dislike Maxim more. Another novel I love is one by Daphne du Maurier, My Cousin Rachel. I like the way we are kept wondering what the truth is about Rachel. I love the ambiguity of Daphne du Maurier's characters.

When I was at college everyone was reading Tolkien, but I could never get into it, tried later, but could never see the appeal

grannyactivist

As a child, from age 7-14 I used to lose myself in books and the very sensitive librarians at my local library really encouraged me and led me to choose books I may have overlooked, including many of the ‘classics’ already mentioned.

I read Anya Seton’s Katherine, as a young adult and it has never really been supplanted as a book that I can read and re-read and still thoroughly enjoy.

Another book that I’m surprised hasn’t been mentioned is Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett. It’s a weighty tome, but the characters and storyline are very engaging.

Oh good, another fan! Only book I have EVER read twice (and more ....!)

I read avidly as a child, under the covers - mostly Enid Blyton and 'pony books'. Up until the age of about 50, I read every night before bed. It became though that I would read last night's page again as I had forgotten what happened, read two or three more pages before falling asleep! Sadly as time has gone on, I am no longer able to hold a book, (tried book rests etc to no avail, and I can't get a long with audio books ....

I do miss it dreadfully, but make do with TV nowadays. As I can rarely sleep more than a couple of hours at a time, I can watch a whole series overnight, one night it was two series!

Oh goodness! Sk many but the ones that spring to mind apart from my favourite from childhood, The Secret Garden. I have read Germinale by Emile Zola, given to me by an English teacher that I had a torrid affair one summer with! I have read it so many times and The Goldfinch another favourite. There’s so many but these two would definitely be on my list.

Lord Of The Rings - JRR Tolkien closely followed by any Terry Pratchett novel! Seems I am the only one on here that likes them! No other Fantasy lovers around anymore ?

Katherine by Anya Seton

It tells the story of the historically important, C14th love affair between Katherine Swynford and John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, the third surviving son of King Edward III.

I named my daughter after her, although I spelled with a C rather than a K.

She eventually Married John of Gaunt and became the Duchess of Lancaster.

They owned the manor house in the village where I used to live and had their crest on the Fireplace which was nice. to go and have a look at.

She was buried in Lincoln cathedral and went there once many years ago.

A fascinating story ....

Who else, like me, is writing a long list of books (from gransnetters on here) for next library visit.

LadyGaga
I am totally with you regarding the Rabbit books, I love John Updikes writing, but these are his best.
I love the characters, I could read them over and over.
I also agree with Steinbeck, although my favourite is ‘The Grapes of Wrath’ and love Wilkie Collins, my favourite is Armadale.

My favourite, I've read it so many times and always find something new, is "The Vizard Mask" by Diana Norman. It's such a rich story set in the time of the Restoration and the Great Plague, with enough material for 3 cracking books and mixes imaginary characters with real people such as Aphra Behn and Prince Rupert. My second is "Hatter's Castle" by A J Cronin. I first read this as a teenager when it made a huge impression on me. I was always reluctant to reread it in case I would find it disappointing second time around, but bit the bullet recently and found it just as moving, this story of a coercive bully and his downtrodden family and his descent in life.

I’ve enjoyed reading all your choices - but so hard to pick. I’ve been through phases in my life with reading. When I was younger I was obsessed with John Steinbeck, my absolute fave was East of Eden. I then had phases of Henry James, Wilkie Collins, Evelyn Waugh (my fave was Brideshead) More recently I discovered Melvyn Bragg. I think he is one of my favourite writers. I loved The Maid of Buttermere. I think if I had to choose I would say the Rabbit books by John Updike. Nothing has beat them yet. Oh, and I love the Forsyte Saga by Galsworthy! So many books so little time

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
Wonderful film too

Another vote for "A Thousand Splendid Suns" by Khaled Hosseini.
The sadness I felt when I finished this book has stayed with me to this day.
But it has also always made me realise just how many things I have to be thankful for.

I learnt a lot about life in my early teens after reading Jane Eyre, Little Women and Lady Chatterley's Lover. Jane Eyre will always be my favourite.

My three top favourite books are Tolkien’s ‘Lord of the Rings,’ ‘Pride and Prejudice ‘ and one you will never have heard of ‘The Belle Fields’ by Lora Adam’s. Takes me away from it all, love it.

There's two that immediately spring to mind.
Billy by Albert French...a story of racism at it's worst in 30s America. It broke my heart.
Dr Zhivago by Pasternak, just a magnificent piece of writing and yes, I love the film too!

It's hard to pick out an actual favourite book but I do like most of Thomas Hardy's books (and poems), and many modern Irish writers - Maggie O'Farrell, Edna O'Brien, Sebastian Barry to name just three of many. It must be my heritage - I'm a Dorset girl who was educated by Irish nuns!