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

Portnoys Complaint. I read it as a teen, and it is hilariously rude and funny.

Like grandMattie I'd probably die while choosing! I've far too many books and far too many favourites.

I'm enjoying other peoples' interesting choices, though.

Very difficult to choose - there are so many! I have read and loved amany mentioned here. I didn't think the Bible would be allowed (it isn't on Desert Island Discs!) Books that have had the greatest infuence on me are futuristic books warning us of possible things to come eg Brave New World, 1984, The Handmaid's Tale and also Flight Behaviour by Barbara Kingsolver. All disturbing books! But for simple pleasure if we are allowed compendiums I'd take the complete works of Jane Austin!

winterwhite Both books were read aloud when I was in primary school. I was enthralled. I bought copies for my son. The same books now belong to his son.

Rebecca, Daphne du Maurer. “Last night I dreamt I went to Manderlay again”. Loved the film, love the book.

Small Island by Andrea Levy. A perfect story imho

All of Margaret Atwoods books. They are a warning from future histories and Lord if the Rings as I’ve loved it since I was a teenager and have re read it countless times.

Quaker “Faith and Practice”.

Never let Me Go .... Kazuo Ishiguro

For purely nostalgic reasons: The House of Arden by E Nesbitt. It captures the magic of children's imagination. (She also wrote te The Railway Children and other great children's books.)

Holy Bible.The one I have belonged to my grandfather given him as a child and shows presented by the church in 1878.I have a friend who, unlike myself, never fails to go to church on Sunday. Over cuppa's our conversations usually refer to' why is this or that happening' which then brings us to the bible.I now find myself turning to the scriptures on days when hearing of the tragic events taking place in todays world. Whether what I observe in this book is what is now actually happening or just how I perceive gives food for thought.This book has no ending.

Have you actually read the whole of the Bible from start to finish sarah? If so, how old were you when you read it all and how long did it take you?

Although I lot of Thomas Hardy novels are quite dark and depressing my favourite book is The Mayor of Casterbridge.

Jonathon Livingstone Seagull, gave a copy to all my children

Tudorrose, thank you for reminding me about The Egg & I. One of my late mother’s favourite books!! The importance of a sense of humour.

I think I ought to say 'War and Peace' as it is one I've meant to read to ages. If it were my only book I might actually do so! However, much more likely to choose Miss Austen or Shakespeare.

Oh this is such a good question and as I read through the choices I spotted many I might have put at the top and would be sad to lose.
However, my granny gave me a replica of the Kilmarnock edition of Robert Burns's poems, reproduced by the Scottish Daily Express in 1938. It includes works published in Rabbie's lifetime and later works, some of which were written by others and added to in the same style by Mr Burns. My reasons are 1) It would take ages to work through the Lallans Scots, even with the copious explanations; 2) those notes are stories in themselves; 3) all human life is here in these pages. I do realise he was not the best hero for us to have in his personal life, but if only one literary treasure is allowed, this would be mine.

Diana Gabaldon...but it was with Cross titch, then it was Americanised and became Outlander. I loved that book and series.

But my favourite for a while has been, 'Cutting for Stone' by Abraham Verghese.
A wonderfully written tale, and I could read it over and over.

Not cross titch but Cross Stitch!

Homo Deus by Yuval Harari.
To keep me thinking.

Definitely The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady.I have had my copy for over 20 years and pick it up most months to compare nature and weather then and now.

Diary of a Provincial Lady by E M Delafield. I could re-read it 100 times and still love it.

BBbevan Margaret Forster is my favourite writer (so sad she is no longer with us).

The Bible. I have read it all the way through too. I generally read some every day.

Second choice: a large poetry anthology.

(I also love Jane Austen and Margaret Forster.)

I'm with chrissyh - I love Thomas Hardy, so evocative & stirring. I'd take The Return of the Native. I've always loved Graham Greene's Brighton Rock too - totally different but conjures up the seedy undercurrent of Brighton as it was and the seething menace that was Pinkie Brown. Unfortunately, it's relatively short so I'd have to stick with Hardy!