Reddit ask What's THE Best Book You Have Ever Read??

[theemii]

I know this is from reddit but I thought this could be a fun post, so reddit user Jayshozie asked "(what's)THE Best Book You Have Ever Read" and it got over 1,400 comments, I picked some at random but if you wanna read the full thread you can click on the source.

- The Secret History by Donna Tartt
About: Under the influence of their charismatic

Comments

[ellie_andrews]

well my favorite is We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson.

i think the book that emotionally affected me the most was The Push by Ashley Audrain. it's so dark and sad. it literally affected my mood. i was newly postpartum when i read it so i really connected w it.

idk if i'd call it a favorite though because it's so heavy. but like my goodreads review says "this book ruined my life 5 stars."

[little_vienna]

'The Push' came to mind for this post for me. The author was either pregnant or had just had a baby when she wrote it (can't remember which) which I think speaks volumes about why/how it managed to capture the MC's experience so well.

[meganlynn09]

well my favorite is We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson.

Coming in to post the same thing!

[nichtsmuss]

Me three!

[waxandstrings]

i really want to start reading more. i need to get more sleep and i know not having blue light screentime too close to bed is a good way to improve sleep, so i figure reading is a good thing to do instead. but does anyone know if ereaders that aren't backlight (so front or side or the backlight can be turned off) count as that kind of tech to avoid before bed?

also, anyone that has any book recs about f/f couples, combative/complex sisters or just complicated dynamics between women in general, please do share.

[ellie_andrews]

sister recs:

My Sister the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite
We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson
The Turnout by Megan Abbott

[ginainabottle]

My sister the serial killer is FANTASTIC. I loved the author's writing style.

[shittysoup]

Oh good to know - I've had that on my wishlist for ages. I should add it to my cart.

[swimbee]

My favorite book is a toss up between The Book Thief by Markus Zusak and Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta.

[__nocturna]

man The Book Thief made me cry so hard :c

[ellehcimbelle]

yeah The Book Thief is my fave too

[qween_tartii]

lol i cried so hard reading The Book Thief that my husband came in and asked if i was okay (it is highly out of character for me to cry at books, tbf...)

[astrofisica]

Whoever said The 7 Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid should be ashamed.

[ginainabottle]

C'mon it's no big deal. Some people are just very simple.

[astrofisica]

And I happen to think the book's horrible. Some people aren't.

[ginainabottle]

If shaming people for the harmless shit they enjoy gets you off by all means go for it.

[therearewords]

I read too many to give just one title, and could probably name several per genre. In some cases, even per age group.

I barely do any rereading as well, so can't be sure if a book is the right thing at the right time or just Really Good. Some books even need time to settle with me: recent example is Drive your plow which for me went to "haha what" to "oh shit she did the work on this".

I also feel like there is a difference between 'favourite book' and 'best book you've ever read' while some people disagree and can barely articulate what satisfied them in a novel or nonfiction.

I like thinking and talking about this though, so bring it on 🙌

[ginainabottle]

Drive your plow is my next reading, I've read so many interesting things about it. I'm all for weird shit, especially when done well.

[therearewords]

I really felt led along. Like - shouldn't I've seen it coming ages ago but distracted by the language and style. A fun experience.

[potter_lover456]

I feel like "favorite book" would hit a lot of emotional points for me. Like Percy Jackson is a series that I love, it reminds me of a really good time in my life and the joy I felt reading it, but I wouldn't qualify it as the best book I've read.

For something to qualify as best, it would probably have to hit my emotions and have a high level of writing, which is hard to hit for me.