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/lit/ - Literature

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1150863 No.1150863 [Reply] [Original]

I've been on this board nigh 3 months, and have never seen this question posed; What is the greatest book you have ever read?

>> No.1150871

War and Peace.

>> No.1150878

The Sound and the Fury or Moby-Dick.

>> No.1150882

No Longer Human by Osamu Dazai

>> No.1150883

Atlas Shrugged.

>> No.1150886

Journey to the end of the night by LF Celine

>> No.1150888

>>1150882
WEEABOO

>> No.1150890

Thus Spoke Zarathustra, By Nietzsche (Hollingdale translation, not Kaufmann)

>> No.1150894

>>1150882
Is that a manga, faggot?

>> No.1150896

3 months? Are you sure about that? Hell, we got this question asked almost everyday.

That being said, my answer is the same as >>1150886

>> No.1150899

>>1150882
I agree with this.

>> No.1150901

>>1150894
no. no, it's not.

>> No.1150904

Not sure if it is, THE GREATEST.

But,

"The Yiddish Policemens Union"
By Michael Chabon
is fukken excellent.

>> No.1150926
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1150926

Nothing else comes close. It's the most engrossing thing ever.

>> No.1150933

"Name the greatest book you've ever read."

> War and Peace
> Moby Dick
> Atlas Shrugged
> Also Sprach Zarathustra

Not a single book written after 1960 mentioned.

Holy Kirsten Dunst, /lit/ is defending it's title as "4chans most pretentious board" tonight.

>> No.1150934

>>1150894
>>1150888
you see a jap name and you automatically say dumb shit. the japs have two nobel prize winning authors for starters. what jap authors have you read besides murakami? i thought so.

the best book ever for me was don quixote.

>> No.1150937

>>1150926
Is it really good? I've only ever read two history books:
- Shirer's The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, which was actually really good;
- MacMillan's Paris 1919, which was bland.

I don't have much time to read right now, so if Gibbon's history of Rome is genuinely engrossing as you say, I may be willing to squeeze it in.

>> No.1150940

>>1150933
Sincere expressions of taste are never pretentious..that word doesn't mean what you think it does.

>> No.1150945

>>1150934
thank you, i wasn't even going to respong but I will say that some Japanese novelists (Dazai, Mishima for instance) are among the greatest in the world--

>> No.1150952

>>1150933

How pretentious, liking things that are good but not new

>> No.1150955

>>1150934
USA has 12 doesnt mean they arent all cock suckers

>> No.1150959

>>1150933
well fuck you bro, it's just statistics

"famous" books have been written for like what, 400 years or some shit, I don't know. So like the past fifty years are just an eighth of that time. My scroll bar is still more than an inch long and you're bitching already?

I said War and Peace, you know what other books I fucking loved? The Hyperion Cantos, man, shit was so cash. There's some fucking post 1960 literature for you. Why 1960 anyways? Why not 1959?

9/10

>> No.1150961

>>1150933
The good books stand the test of time, or some shit.

>> No.1150963

>>1150940
he's implying that they are not sincere

>> No.1150966
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1150966

>Don quixote

what THE FUCK is it with you people ?

Is there like a " These are the classics, you shall read only these "-thing going ?

I love reading, and I like talking about books but every. time. i come to /lit/ people sling out the same fucking names again and again.
HUMANITIES BODY OF WRITTEN WORK IS INCREDIBLE AND DIVERSE.

If you are reading this shit to be able to say : HHuurrur I read WAR and Peace , and I loved it, you DONT LIKE READING. You just like being pretentious and moronic.
Fuck, WAR AND PIECE OF SHIT, it has like, a cast of 148 people, a ridiculously slow-moving plot, and no major philosophical points to make.

You know what was a really good book ?
The Beach. I'm not nearly kidding. Excellent.

And also, Dirk Bogarde wrote a tiny little thing called "Coming of age" which moved me to tears.
I'm done with /lit/
Fuck you all.
Sincerely - anon.

>> No.1150973

>>1150934
I can imagine the complexity of japanese characters - how long does it take before one realizes whether the protagonist is more of a tsundere type or whatnot?

>> No.1150978

My favurite book is darkness at noon by arthur koestler and from whom the bell tolls.

>> No.1150979

>>1150966
You're just too stupid to understand and appreciate classics, I feel sorry for you. Go read Twilight.

>> No.1150981

>>1150933
The only good book that came out in the last decade was The Road, and even that wasn't that great.

>> No.1150986

>>1150966
>
If you are reading this shit to be able to say : HHuurrur I read WAR and Peace , and I loved it, you DONT LIKE READING. You just like being pretentious and moronic.
Fuck, WAR AND PIECE OF SHIT, it has like, a cast of 148 people, a ridiculously slow-moving plot, and no major philosophical points to make.


fuck you, War and Peace moved me to tears

>> No.1150991
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1150991

>>1150986
>green text fail

>> No.1150994

>>1150863
OP i am fucking loving that book
i'm only like 1/7 through it though

>> No.1150995

what the dicks

protip: the moment you see the word "pretentious" used as an insult, just ignore the entire post

>> No.1151026

>>1150966
>>1150933
I don't why it's so unfathomable that these classics are actually enjoyed or loved by many people. I moreover don't understand why the word "classic" in reference to literature is stigmatized by anyone who disliked their English or philosophy professor. When I say the best book I have ever read is written by a man who died in 1900 it's not to leverage power; it's not to assert superiority; heck, the thought of turning any loved classic into a simple tool for combating all the Twilight lovers is just immature. Not all writing styles are for everyone. It just happens to be that some people are not fit for the classics. I wouldn't call you a moron for only reading Stephen King.

>> No.1151033

>>1151026
NOPE

>> No.1151224

My favorite book?


Probably The Three Musketeers, or The Silmarillion by Tolkien.

They are neither the greatest works of fiction of all time, but in the case of the former, it's like watching a well-loved movie, with likable characters, a swift plot, and plenty of exciting action...

While with the latter, it simultaneously satisfies my love of fantasy, mythology, and history into one sweeping saga.

Honorable mentions to Wells' Invisible Man and Bradbury's Martian Chronicles.

Like I said, these are not the pinnacles of literature, but these are the books I've enjoyed no matter how many times I've read them (and unlike most books, I've read these all multiple times- I don't do that often).

>> No.1151251

>>1150878
This. Right on bro.

>> No.1151263

1984

>> No.1151287
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1151287

Cliche, yes. But Catch-22.

>> No.1151291

>>1151224
>implying 95% of The Silmarillion wasn't written by Guy Kay

>> No.1151294

Gravity's Rainbow. I still don't understand large chunks of it, and I don't think I ever will, but my God that doesn't mean I can't fucking love it.

>> No.1151301

>>1151291
>Cause it wasn't

>> No.1151325

Anyone who complains about people liking old books is incapable of basic math. People have been writing novels for hundreds of years; therefore the majority of novels were not published in the last few decades, and therefore even if people's favourite books are evenly distributed by publication date the majority of books chosen would be considered old.

>> No.1151332

I don't read...

>> No.1151336

>>1150933
>defending it's
>defending it is
Be gone with your uneducated blabber, you rotted waste of a human.

>> No.1151361

On Heroes and Tombs by Ernesto Sabato

>> No.1151364

>>1150933
>Literature has been around for over 2000 years, but if your favorite works aren't written in the last 40 years, YOU MUST BE PRETENTIOUS!

>> No.1151389

>old books, pretentious
how about Infinite Jest, you cocksuckers?

>> No.1151395
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1151395

>>1151389
that book changed my life bro.

>> No.1151404

I think the way OP phrased the question is going to lead to what responders are calling pretentious answers.

>What is the greatest book you have ever read?

My favorite book, for personal reasons, is The New York Trilogy. But it's far from the greatest book I've ever read, the greatest work of literature. That would have to be something classic, like (yes) Don Quixote or The Sound and the Fury.

>> No.1151411

I would say war and peace too.
There is a reason it's considered a classic, its freaking good.
One of my pals was hurhdurh'ing when I talked about war and peace. Then in spite he tried to read some of it, and it hooked him bad. Now we are often discussing the characters and the story.
If you have a sliver of humanity war and peace will move you.

>> No.1151435

Mine would be The Brothers Karamazov. No, I am not pretentious, I just found it surprisingly well done. Ivan's discussion with satan is my favorite scene out of every book that I have ever read.

>> No.1151442

>>1151435
>No, I am not pretentious

yes you are

>> No.1151457
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1151457

The Wheel of Time.

Fuck yeah.

>> No.1151473

>>1151442

pre·ten·tious/priˈtenCHəs/
Adjective: Attempting to impress by affecting greater importance, talent, culture, etc., than is actually possessed.

I am not attempting to impress you. I could not but the book down once I got into it. Every single character is beautifully characterized and wonderfully flawed. So many morals are presented subtly, and not so subtly, and yet far from feeling like a disjointed philosophical discusssion it blends quite well into, in my opinion, an engrossing story.

I am not pretentious, I just really enjoyed the book.

>> No.1151475

>>1151473

my mistake, "put the book down"

>> No.1151485

>>1150926
Yes! I just started reading this last week and I can't put the big bitch down. It's amazing.

>> No.1151512

A collection of Voltaire's writings, including Candide, Zadig, and the Philosophical Dictionary.

>> No.1151515

>>1151473
>>1151475
broseph, the pretentiousness is just BOILING off of you

>> No.1151583

Fine, you want a modern book I enjoyed? Memoirs of a Geisha?

Still too pretentious?

Ender's Game
Speaker for the Dead

I am also a fan of the Pendergast series

Perhaps I am taking your opinion of me too much too heart, perhaps this is just the nature of 4chan for someone who loves Dostoevsky to be called pretentious, someone who loves manga to be called weaboo, or someone who loves Neutral Milk Hotel to be called hipster, that it people don't like things because they sincerely like them; they only enjoy it to further their identity. I always thought /lit/ was above that.

>> No.1151596

>>1151583
oh wow, please, cut it out. You do know that you can kill someone with too much pretentiousness? Please, before I die, tell my girl I love her.

>> No.1151604

Gravity's Rainbow

>> No.1151672

Would everyone please stop feeding the trolls? Has Fagolee gone Anon or something?

I assumed OP meant 'The book you believe to be the greatest you have read' rather than 'The book that everybody else believes is the greatest'

For me it would have to be Crime and Punishment. I just could not put it down.

>> No.1151689

>>1151672
>Crime and Punishment

y so pretentious?

>> No.1151690

>>1151689
Great book

>> No.1151707

>>1151689
>>1151689

Go to bed fagolee

>> No.1151712

>>1151596

meh, can't beat him so might as well say this

I love reading in coffee houses so everyone can see what a cultured and pretentious prick I am.

I wear sunglasses in doors and when I go to parties I bring a book because I know that all the boors attending will just bore me with their outstanding lack of culture.

Growing up in High School, I sat alone at lunch with a 19th century novel and would hate it when one of my friends, or someone attempting to be my friend would sit next to me and try to strike up a conversation. It got so bad that I made a sign saying "Please do not talk to me" to strike down any attempts to bring me into the social fray.

Philistines, philistines the lot of you!

>> No.1151718

>>1151712

Stop feeding the FUCKING TROLL YOU MORON!!

>> No.1151720

>>1151712
I saw this one kid trying to sit at a party and read Descartes

I took his book and burned it and called him a dumbass. You better hope I don't see you at a party

>> No.1151722

>>1151672
But, imo, the novel that you enjoy the most is your favorite. there is a distinction in my mind between things you think are good and things you enjoy, and so itt you should be posting the novel you think is best, and a lot of times that is going to align with critical consensus

>>1151712
i like your trip. please be funny.

>> No.1151724

House Of Leaves

>> No.1151727

>>1151583
>Ender's Game.

You can guess my favorite book.

>> No.1151746

>>1151727

Twilight?

>> No.1151754

>>1151727
The Red and The Black

>> No.1151768

>>1151712
ZOMG I do all of these. It's frelling cash.

>> No.1151779

The Stranger by Albert Camus

but I've only been reading for like two weeks. My to-read list is other Camus shit, The Trial, Anna Karenina, War and Peace, Dostoevsky shit, and Thus Spoke Zarathustra. Maybe some of those will be better.

>> No.1151782

I can't choose, I hate these sort of questions. I'm half way through the count of monte cristo though, so far its been amazing.

>> No.1151803

>>1150966

I loved The Beach, man. A real page turner.

Women by Bukowski makes me laugh my ass off. I think that's my most enjoyable read so far.

>> No.1151810

>>1151779

I read The Plague by Camus recently. Excellent read.

>> No.1151827

>>1151810
Glad to hear it. Checked it out just today and was actually just about to start reading.

>> No.1151834

Neverwhere

>> No.1151859

The Old Man's War Trilogy(Old Man
's War, The Ghost Brigades, The Last Colony) by John Scalzi.
I've yet to meet another person who's even heard of it, unfortunately.

I'll admit it's slightly pulpy in some places but for whatever reason, I can't help but love the series.

>> No.1151862

I can't pick just one FAVORITE BOOK EVER, I read entirely too much for that.

I think for combination of technical quality and interesting plot, the cream of the crop for me is Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency. This is

>> No.1151865

>>1151746
No, but good try.

>>1151754
Stendhal? No, but I do want to read it. Thank you for reminding me.

>> No.1151872

1985 is my favorite book ever.
>hugeorsonewelles.jpg

>> No.1151874

I'm amazed Camus could write something as poetic and insightful as The Stranger and then churn out shit like The Plague. What an awful book.

>> No.1151894

>>1151874
I feel the exact opposite--i'm surprised that Camus could craft one of the best political novels of all but also write such a trite peace of YA nihilism-lite like The Stranger. opinions are funny like that, i guess.

>> No.1151898

>>1151865
is your favorite book dracula

>> No.1151916

>>1151898

Jesus Christ what a horrible novel.

I'm thoroughly convinced that only time in history that vampires were ever awesome was in the mtg zendikar block.

>> No.1151919

>>1151898
No, not really. But thanks.

>> No.1151922

>>1151712
goddamn you are so fucking pretentious

do you like, suffer from a disorder or something

it's alright if it's genetic, just stop posting here goddan

>> No.1151928 [DELETED] 

>>1151919

I've got it! You're favorite novel is xenocide!

>> No.1151932

>>1151919

I've got it! Your favorite novel is xenocide!

>> No.1151933

>>1151727
>>1151727
Stranger in a Strange Land?


That's my favorite, you grokk?

>> No.1151935

Gravity's Rainbow or Blood Meridian.

>> No.1151942

SO MUCH PRETENTIOUSNESS IT MAKES ME WANT TO DIIIIE

>> No.1151969

If on a Winter's Night a Traveler

>> No.1151994

>>1150904

"Not sure if it is, THE GREATEST.
But,
"The Yiddish Policemens Union"
By Michael Chabon
is fukken excellent."

I agree, just finished reading it, it won a Hugo and a Nebula the year it came out.

I am now reading his Pulitzer winning _The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay_

Truely epic.

>> No.1152015

I haven't read enough to be able to comment really, but I read 'One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest' recently and thought it was a beautiful book.

It's hard to choose a favourite though really. I used to say it was 'The Catcher In The Rye', it's still important to me, but whether or not it's the best I've read. . .

Bukowski always struck me as an idividual. He definitely thought, or KNEW, he was the best. He was very convincing lol his books and poetry were a beautiful read though.

>> No.1152019

Tlon, Uqbar, Orbis Tertius(short story) by Jorge Borges, Pale Fire by Nabokov, and 2,666 by Roberto Bolano.

>> No.1152026
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1152026

I've not read many books, but of the books I have read this one is my favorite.

>> No.1153042

>>1151754
That's an excellent book! I read it while visiting France. I know, quite the romantic I am.

>>1151485
Oh man I've been doing research on this book. So far the Everyman's Library editions look best and are apparently one of the best available. Which ones do you have? Is it really that good???

>> No.1154045

>>1152015
Cuckoo's Nest is just what you said, beautiful. It rockets back and forth between extremely uplifting and just immeasurably bleak. It shows you the way out, and then lets you watch the door start to shut. Then just as the way out is closed seemingly for good, it reminds you that you can just kick the door right off it's fucking hinges and walk through. Breathtaking, heartbreaking, and most importantly, just real.