» The Godfather by Mario Puzo
Revolving around the New York's mafia gang wars, The Godfather is Mario Puzo's ageless work. The thing I liked about this novel is its capability to grip your mind and stay there forever. "I'm going to make him an offer he can't refuse" is one of the most quoted statement of this amazing novel. If you are new to reading you can start with this novel but beware, you might get addicted.» The Catcher in the Rye by J.D.Salinger
The Catcher in the rye is the protagonist Holden Cualfield's narrative of what he goes through when expelled from school. When you pick this novel you feel like reading it at one go because right from the very first page you feel connected with the author's blunt narrative. Though this book has remained bit controversial, I feel it's a literary masterpiece.Excerpts from the book:
- I was half in love with her by the time we sat down. That's the thing about girls. Every time they do something pretty, even if they're not much to look at, or even if they're sort of stupid, you fall half in love with them, and then you never know where the hell you are. Girls. Jesus Christ. They can drive you crazy. They really can.
- I don't even know what I was running for - I guess I just felt like it.
- I'm the most terrific liar you ever saw in your life. It's awful. If I'm on my way to the store to buy a magazine, even, and somebody asks me where I'm going, I'm liable to say I'm going to the opera. It's terrible.
» To kill a mocking bird by Harper Lee
Read the first chapter of this book and you'll soon reach the last. After finishing this American classical you'll realize why it always manage to make it to the 'worlds top books' list. Though the book is much known for the protagonist Atticus Finch's racial heroism, I was much impressed by the value it gives to the ethics. This book is much more than a mere story and it has greatly helped me in the situations where I was unable to take a decision.Excerpts from the book:
- It was times like these when I thought my father, who hated guns and had never been to any wars, was the bravest man who ever lived.
- I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It's when you know you're licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what. You rarely win, but sometimes you do.
» Love Story by Erich Segal
I underestimated this book due its small size but by the end of the story I got my eyes wet. If you've not yet experienced the power of love this book will definitely make you experience it. By the end of the story a lot many changes would have taken place inside your heart and you'll definitely be a different person. If you are a romanticist, this one is a must read for you.Excerpts from the book:
- “Love means never having to say you're sorry.”
- What can you say about a twenty-five-year-old girl who died?
» How to win friends & influence people by Dale Carnegie
Published in 1936 this is the greatest of all self help books. One remarkable thing about this book is Dale Carnegie's style of writing, you feel as if you are interacting one on one with him.This book will not only help you manage people but will also help you in becoming a better person- which is desirable by everyone.
If you have a copy of this book, i'm sure you'll never need any other book on people management.
Excerpts from the book:
- Remember that a person's name is to that person the sweetest and most important sound in any language.
- Talk about your own mistakes before criticizing the other person.
» Justifying the title of this post only 5 books could be listed here but still few other good books are:
Inspirational:
An autobiography of a yogi by Paramahansa Yogananda,
The monk who sold his ferrari by Robin Sharma.
Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach
Investing & Money management:
The intelligent investor by Benjamin Graham,
One up the wall street by Peter Lynch,
Rich dad Poor dad by Robert.T.Kiyosaki.
Fiction:
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas,
Man woman & child by Erich Segal,
Crime & Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky.
A tale of two cities by Charles Dickens,
Animal Farm by George Orwell.
Photography:
Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson.
I dont know how anyone can read Dotoyevskii or Dickens more than two times!
Well I'll give you my list: Harry Potter all of them, I think I'm already down to 20!
And I also wanna read Lord of the Rings once more in my life. At least ONCE more!
Hey hey! :) I have not read any of those books.. even though I have heard of the Godfather (well dah, the movie) and To Kill A Mockingbird ..
I yet to muster up my non lazy mood and start reading them :)
Thank you for sharing and giving me that little push towards grabbing a book.. any book for that matter :D haha..
Take care,
Ingrid
Not read a single book mentioned above!!
I identified with the protagonist so much that I was almost in tears when his sister asks him towards the end - What do you want ,what you really want to do and he says " well nothing really i just want to be in a field of rye with lots of kids and catch them as they run around - I want to be the catcher in the rye.
It's been some 10 years since I read the book and I think I will pick it up again this wekend thanks to you.
Salinger was a nuerotic and he seldowm came out of his mansion.I think he ha just written a couple of books one of them being this one which had almost a cult status in the US for a long time in the 60 's if I am correct.
@Sanket:
I agree, due to their old style of language Classics generally are for reading once or twice. That is why I've mentioned them in the good books list and not in the 100 times. I made the list for my friends who keep asking for book suggestions. :)
@Ingrid:
:) You'll definitely appriceate the beauty of reading once you finish any novel. I would reccomend The Catcher in the Rye for you. :)
@The Survivor:
I'm sure you might have read other good books than these. Coz your writing style is really good. :)
@Aahang:
Thanks for taking out time for me. Salinger admitted that he loves the company of kids and he has more child friends than those of his age group. He has written couple of short stories but as far as I know this is his only novel. Happy weekend and enjoy Reading :)
So good to see another reader!!! I posted an entry in my own blog about books from the BBC's 100 Books you must read, and have been slowly but surely ticking them off since then (I'd read 75 off the list at that time). I have read each one of the 5 you write about and I think my favorite is "To Kill a Mockingbird" (though the MOVIES from Mario Puzo's work are in my top 10 Movie Favorites, definitely!) The entry is BBC's 100 Books You Must Read - Thursday, July 16th 2009 1:33 PM, in my blog
cherylsolis.bravejournal.com
Just click the Archive link in the upper left of the page.
Comments welcome!
@RoseInBloom:
Thanks for taking out time to visit my blog.
You've really shared a valuable piece of information. I'll check your blog & dig out more about the books.
Thanks once again. :)