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If you could only save one Book which would it be?

(144 Posts)
Humbertbear Fri 02-Feb-18 09:31:25

We told our grandchildren the basic story of Fahrenheit 451 and this led to a discussion of which book they would want to save. The 6 year old pointed out that probably the most important book was, in fact, Fahrenheit 451 as it reminds us how important is our freedom to read what we choose.
What book would you save from the fire? Mine would have to be To Kill a Mockingbird.

Tolaton21 Sat 03-Feb-18 09:50:48

Thank you DanniRea, was just thinking A Town Like Alice was the book for me, one of the first “Serious” books I read when 14, was recommended by my English teacher . Have still got the copy 46 years later,

missdeke Sat 03-Feb-18 09:53:21

What a difficult choice to have to make. Do they make all the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon in one book ? Came across this series by accident and have been hooked ever since.

Christinefrance Sat 03-Feb-18 09:56:20

Same for me missdeke Diana Gabaldon is one of the few authors whose books I can read more than once.

luluaugust Sat 03-Feb-18 10:05:40

For all kinds of nostalgic reasons it has to be Sarum by Edward Rutherford.

maddy629 Sat 03-Feb-18 10:05:45

The Lord Of The Rings by J R R Tolkien would be my choice, I love it so much.

DanniRae Sat 03-Feb-18 10:12:45

Hi Tolatan - I read "A Town Like Alice" first when I was about 14 too. I was enjoying it so much that for the first, and last time in my life, I told my mum I was ill and stayed in bed to finish it. And what an ending!! Good to know that you feel the same way about an amazing book smile

SillyNanny321 Sat 03-Feb-18 10:15:42

With you Maddy, Tolkiens Lord of the Rings. I am forever going back to it.

DanniRae Sat 03-Feb-18 10:17:21

Hi Camelotclub - I love Monica Dickens books too - which is your favourite? Mine is "Marianna" - I have read it so many times. My son's girlfriend, knowing how much I love it, bought me a beautiful new copy for my birthday last year.

BRedhead59 Sat 03-Feb-18 10:20:18

History of the world - Andrew Marr

Lindylo Sat 03-Feb-18 10:22:09

A Tale of Two Cities. It has all human emotions and angst.

kazgran Sat 03-Feb-18 10:22:39

Mine would be "Oh the Brave Music" by Dorothy Evelyn Smith. It is so beautiful and I must have read it about 20 times since the age of 10!

annodomini Sat 03-Feb-18 10:30:43

If I can't have a compendium of Jane Austen I would choose 'Persuasion'. Alternatively George Eliot's 'Middlemarch' would keep me going for years!

grandMattie Sat 03-Feb-18 10:33:20

Oh gosh, I would probably get bunered with/out my books if I had a few seconds to choose.
If i'm allowed it, the Bible. Novels - which to choose, "Marianna" by M dickens, "Nvere let me Go", "The Time Traveller's Wife", anything by Margaret atwood... As I said, I would be vapourised before I could choose!

Sourcerer48 Sat 03-Feb-18 10:33:50

if I had to save a book from a fire, it would definitely be my copy of The Snow Goose by Paul Gallico, given to me years ago by my mother. A beautiful story of Dunkirk with amazing illustrations.

grandMattie Sat 03-Feb-18 10:42:10

Burnt/burned! confused...

Craftycat Sat 03-Feb-18 10:50:17

So many books I could not bear to be without ! If it is just one then Captain Corelli's Mandolin- Louis DeBerniere. The very best ending of a book ever & all that lovely description of Kephalonia which is a place I know & love.

GabriellaG Sat 03-Feb-18 10:55:07

I'm going to try some of the books mentioned here.

Tudorrose Sat 03-Feb-18 10:59:40

The egg &I by Betty McDonald, I read it first when I was about 11 & have read it off & on ever since & laughed every time(now in my 70s).Someone who can make TB sound funny(The Plague &I) is worth reading.

Witzend Sat 03-Feb-18 11:01:49

Preferably one that makes me laugh, but the ones I'd take to a desert island - Three Men In a Boat, Lucky Jim, and Crampton Hodnet (Barbara Pym) among others - are all too short.
So it'd probably be Middlemarch, which is a favourite that even I can't get through in two days. And there is the odd little bit of humour in it.

winterwhite Sat 03-Feb-18 11:03:11

Oh, Soop, Down the bright stream. I loved that book. More than The Little Grey Men. Read it and read it. Alas unable to get any of my 3 DD or 5GDs to take more than a tepid interest in it. So good to be reminded of old pleasures by threads like this.

blueberry1 Sat 03-Feb-18 11:08:07

The Celestine Prophecy by James Redfield.

grandMattie Sat 03-Feb-18 11:25:49

Very interesting choices - a bit like making a list for a book group! Thanks, I shall investigate them for my own group.

travelsafar Sat 03-Feb-18 11:56:35

I couldn't possibly choose I have so many favourites. I would borrow one from another Gransnetter as there are so many options!!! lol

Diggingdoris Sat 03-Feb-18 12:11:21

Although I read every day, the titles that come to mind are all from my teenage years- a town like Alice, Rebecca, and of course Great Expectations which I did for my o level eng.lit.(so had to read it three times in one term)!

NemosMum Sat 03-Feb-18 12:13:42

Varian, I have, and now I'm an atheist (albeit of the Humanist variety!)