What's your greatest novel of all time?

‘Diary of a Drug Fiend’ by Aleister Crowley…

Why should we scowl? Each to his own……………….:)

I’m gonna be scowled at here … but for me – the series of Harry Potter.

To Kill a Mockingbird

I’m sure many will agree with me when I say ‘To Kill a Mockingbird‘ is one of the greatest novels of all time. It’s a story of growing up, of a father trying to raise his motherless two children inculcating in them the values of justice, compassion and understanding. And what is unique is that he doesn’t do so through lectures or sermons – but by action. Atticus Finch is the epitome of all the good qualities in human nature. Set during the Depression in a small town in Alabama, the main theme revolves around racial discrimination. In spite of the odds against him, Atticus defends a black man wrongly accused of raping a white girl. We must remember that it was a time of discrimination against blacks. Finch’s character is truly inspirational. Shmoop’s a great site if you need help in understanding the depth of Atticus’ character.

This Thing of Darkness by Harry Thompson. It’s about Robert Fitzroy,captain of the Beagle,opponent of Darwin,governor of New Zealand,pioneer of weather forecasting,a fascinating character who ultimately committed suicide.
For a more girly book,Howard’s End by E.M.Forster.

War and Peace.

I lean between two,
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy
and
To Kill a Mockingbird
Both different but in away similar.

Kev,
The Zone books were by James Rouch and are out of print. You can get them from Rouch’s website in pdf form, however. Where’s the fun in that?

Sat2.

That’s it! The Zone series. They were indeed an entertaining series of books. I’ll have to try and get them again. Also read the other two you mentioned.

Regards,

kev35

I think Shaara’s Killer Angels comes close. I suspect J. Boyle will have read the book, he’s certainly seen Gettysburg and will perhaps agree with me regarding the way in which Shaara really brings to life the pages of history.Regards,

kev35

Yes, I’ve read it and I agree with your assessment.
It’s a great writer who can flesh out and make relevant, events of 150 years ago… (of course, a century and a half is fairly recent history in your great country).

Sadly, a life (mis?)spent reading more Putnams, histories and biographies than novels leaves me ill equipped to offer my own definitive opinion. I’ve never gotten around to reading many of the “classics” and some of the standards you have to read in school left me fairly unimpressed.
(Though in reviewing recommendation presented, I’ve read more than I first remembered).
Recreation aside, why read Moby Dick when I already know not to let an obsession destroy you? Many of the common allegories seen in novels seem rather obvious to me.
If I want to read tragedies, sadly, many recent non-fiction histories will suffice. As Moggy points out, there is enough pain in history that I don’t need to read fiction.

Recently I’ve re-read the complete series of O’Brian’s Master and Commander series. Not only were they beautifully written, their level of research into UK military and social history, geography, politics, food, period language and sailing details left me hugely impressed.

Based on your recommendations, I’ll try to get to Covenant With Death.

Kev,
Are you thinking of The Zone series of books?
I read them whilst serving in BFG, along with Don’t Cry for me Sergeant-Major and Try not to Laugh Sergeant-Major.
Not the deepest of books but entertaining nonetheless.

You are a lucky man – sadly I have had to shed about 500 books in the last year and I now operate a strictly one in one out basis so I too have a backlog but also lose a few old favourites from time to time.

‘Down to a sunless sea’ read it twice on the trot in my cold war bunker back in 79, last fiction book I ever read.:eek:

That is on I must read again but at the moment I have a back log of about 2 years reading to get through. The only problem is that friends and family know how much I love my reading so every time I think I’m making progress my birthday or Christmas comes round and I end up with more books:D It’s a vicious circle but I’m not going to complain.

Greatest novel? I’m not heavily into literature and haven’t read many that are on some lists of great novels. My criteria would be a book which makes a deep impression on me, leaves me with a sensation of satisfaction upon finishing the last page, and which stays in my mind for a long time after reading.

There are a few books named above that I’ve enjoyed, like To Kill a Mockingbird, Birdsong, Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, but some others that I’ve thoroughly enjoyed reading (but which might not all be literary masterpieces) are:

Dune – Frank Herbert
The Day of the Jackal – Frederick Forsyth
Goodbye Mickey Mouse – Len Deighton
Earthly Powers – Anthony Burgess
A Perfect Spy – John Le Carre
Inversions – Iain M Banks
The King’s Commisar – Duncan Kyle
The Name of the Rose – Umberto Eco

Elliott – I do not think that the film of Charlotte Gray did justice to the book and neither it would seem has the currrent stage production of Birdsong, in London.

The Radcliffe is deeply excellent in its own way. Living in the area it has a special poignancy – our airstrip pub has a picture of a young English lad, proudly dressed in a scaled-down 8th Air Force uniform meeting top brass on their visit to the field. He is still alive and still in the village.

I enjoy the David Fiddemore ‘Charlie’s War’ series. But they are a fun read rather than great novels.

Moggy

Birdsong (Sebastian Foulkes) is a brilliant book and would have got my nomination but for Kev’s intervention.

Wholeheartedly agree – one of my top nominations. There are some very powerful moments throughout, but Stephen’s visit to the prostitutes (and his encounter with the young French woman there) is absolutely heartbreaking.

There’s a film in development (well…there was; not sure what the craic is with it at the moment) but personally, and perhaps selfishly, I hope they don’t follow through with it. My own visions of the book are so fully formed and perfect that I can’t see how any film would do them justice. I also don’t trust any actor to pull off the complexity of the Wraysford character. They’d probably cast Orlando Bloom in the main role. :rolleyes:

As an aside, I actually studied the book for my A-level coursework, alongside ‘Under An English Heaven’ by Robert Radcliffe. Haven’t read the latter since, may have to revisit it over the winter.

I forgot On the Beach – Neville Shute – chilling and the film did the novel a huge disservice.

I read that one too. Quite chilling, and I expect even more so where you read it.

There was a series of books in the late 70′ and early 80’s about a mixed unit fighting the Third World War on the North German Plain. They were pretty good but I’ve never been able to remember what they were called.

Regards,

kev35

‘Down to a sunless sea’ read it twice on the trot in my cold war bunker back in 79, last fiction book I ever read.:eek: