What is the best book you have ever read?
Think about that for a second…that’s a tough one.
After much thought and contemplation, I have come up with an answer and, more importantly, the reasoning behind it.
The best book I have ever read is Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck.
Why is it my favorite? Because I care about the characters in this story more than any other story I have ever read. Whenever I see the cover, hear the name, see the DVD at the video store (it’s also a fantastic movie) or talk to somebody about it, all I can think about is Lennie and those damn rabbits and George and that little shack on a few acres and…my heart wells up.
John Steinbeck drew me in and made me love those characters so much because they were imperfect, they were flawed, and in a way, they were me. They had the same desires and dreams, the same fears and apprehensions, and, at the end of the day, I wanted them to succeed because, in a way, if they did then I would.
The plot develops simply. The characters – all of them – are real and add to the story There are moments of laughter, of sadness, of hope and ultimately despair. And you want to talk about the “human condition” (as so many oft like to do) – the climax to Of Mice and Men has the most honest lecture I’ve ever read on the human condition. In some ways you see it coming and in some ways you don’t, but in the end it’s not played out as a gimmick, there is no shock value, it is pure utter sadness and pain because what happened HAD to happen…it was the only way.
Powerful!
John Steinbeck, in this very, very tiny novel, proved what every writer is taught in Writing 101 – make it short, sweet and to the point. I’m so grateful he did.
I know how it ends and yet it doesn’t change the fact that I still root for Lennie to get those damn rabbits and George to settle down in that little shack.
What a story!
What’s your favorite book of all time? I would love to hear about it.
csorensenwrite 
Ender's Game. The greatest, most engaging opening of any book I've read. I really connected with, and could relate to, the title character, Ender. I don't often get emotional when I read a story, but this one gets me. And it's one of the few I can read over and over again. And the first time you read the climax, you won't believe what happens. Another book that, by virtue of the actions and decisions of the characters, is a great mosaic of the human condition. Epic.
I have heard nothing but good things about 'Ender's Game', but have never read it. It is now – officially – on my to-do list.
Thanks!
Uh, Ender's Game. I really wanted to like it. But I was so bored with it. I had heard such great things about it. But it just was not for me, I guess?
I'm a classics kind of girl. I love Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton. Did my Junior college thesis on this book. But I would say anything by a Bronte is tops on my list, as well.
I'm not a Steinbeck fan. I did like this book, tho. Grapes of Wrath…ugh…SO boring to me.
I would say that I tend to follow the classics Brooke. And while Of Mice and Men is my favorite book of all time, I normally am not a Steinbeck fan…I tend to follow your rationale…boring and too slow.
That's what makes books so wonderful, there are some for everybody. Wouldn't it stink if there was only Ender's Game…Justin would have his favorite book, Brooke would have been bored, I still wouldn't have ever read anything:-)