One of the greatest novels ever written
920473
One of the greatest novels ever written.. For a young girl growing up in the South, it is a must st read..
734155
"Trilogy of Theophil Magus - The Truth" is a splendid novel, a great literary work always and everywhere. I read this novel made by 40 tales about Man three times already. I bought this book and I offered it as a gift to my friends. Yes, I can say that I read something similar  in the Bible, or in the great old literature of India or China, or Japan. Or, I can say that something of these tales reminds me of Borges, or Adolfo Bioy Casares. But, finally I have to admit that Leonard Oprea's tales are unique in the universal literature.  Leonard Oprea is a great author and I'm very pleased to recommend to anyone his absolutely magical  work.
3235933
As the review says, I believe this is one of the best books ever written. If one has the patience to delve  into this amazing tale, they will be richly rewarded with elements like: loyalty to country, God, love, comrades, and true friends; drama; romance; action; and beautiful works of art.
1102506
Probably one of the top 5 books ever written - maybe the best novel.  It is a wonderful story with great meaning.  The story really makes you think about what you take  for granted when life offers so many opportunities.  A wonderful story of loss to fortune and from hate to forgiveness and selfishness to love.  It epitomizes the Jaycee Creed of:

That faith in God gives meaning and purpose to human life;
That the brotherhood of man transcends the sovereignty of nations;
That economic justice can best be won by free men through free enterprise;
That government should be of laws rather than of men;
That earth's great treasure lies in human personality;
And that service to humanity is the best work of life.
4889805
This is one of the great books. It works so well on so many levels. It is great realist fiction but it also paved the way for the modern psychological novel. The writing is masterful as Tolstoy alters the tone of the novel to reflect the thinking and actions of different characters. There are also recurring ideas and motifs, such as the infidelity of Stiva echoed on a much more serious level by his sister Anna, and the railway themes of arrivals and departures, beginnings and endings on their most metaphoric levels.

The 2 main protagonists are Anna Karenina, and Konstantin Levin, whose thoughts and actions mirror those of Tolstoy himself. Both are looking for love, but the loves are unique in aspect. What Anna seeks is emotional enrichment..a passion which is sorely missing in her marriage to Karenin but also unfortunately, can't be sustained in her affair with Vronsky. Levin seeks a love that will anchor his life, give it meaning and purpose. Levin seeks the truth and while he rejects society's hypocrisy, learns to adapt and function with it as he discovers a deeper meaning to his existence. Anna can't face the truth, and is victimized by that hypocrisy. She ultimately finds her existence to be empty and meaningless. The war that was waged within her, between morality and passion, between hope and despair, between the forces of light and darkness, eventually becomes too much to bear on her own.

ANNA KARENINA is the literary equivalent of a great tragic opera. There is also much more to this novel. Much of Tolstoy's philosophy (which can be overbearing and a bit trite) can be found here. His thoughts on Russian class structure, culture, religion, sociology , politics, and agronomy can be found in this novel. To get further insight into that thinking I suggest reading Tolsoy's Confession, which was written shortly after the publication of this work.
1850344
I first read this great book 20 years ago and have re read it dozens of times. Each time it brings new wonders and emotions, the endless depth allows each re reading to be fresh and new. It is a wonderful tale, the greatest fiction I have read; and I include in the comparison list, works by Shakespeare, Dickens, Tolstoy, Dante, Homer, Donaldson, Le Guin and  many others!) Tolkein is one of the greatest authors of all time, up there with the aforementioned greats.
The modern day fantasy genre owes all to Tolkien, Jordan, Eddings, Brooks and the others are but pale shadows to this masterful original, even though good on on their own. As Tolkien himself stated, if you don't like this work, no reason to feel guilty - the kind of works you probably would admires would be anathema to me, Tolkien and millions of fans.
It has great beauty in action and prose, great horrors, despair, indomitable courage, corruption, nobility, love, romance, pride, terrifying villains and monsters,  pitiful characters, admirable characters, courageous heroes, cowardly villains, lands of incredible beauty and horror, epic journeys, stupendous battles, and above all, an overwhelming sense of reality. It takes you from the depths of despair to the pinnacle of joy, but as Tolkien readily admitted (strange as it may seem to many) it is too short.
The novel is a fantasy, but in not escapist in reality, only to those with little comprehension. The themes are timeless and inspiring. The emotions it conveys cover the whole gamut of the human condition in a way that has not been equalled since or previously. Superficially it is an antiquest to desroty a great evil, but the astounding background detail lends a complete reality to the works that no one has ever achieved.
In reality, the book was not Tolkien's main life's work, rather a response to a request for a Hobbit sequel, and to understand Tolkein's masterful creation, you will need to read the other novels, but beware, they are harder to read than average modern reader is willing to put  up with. If you can put the effort in, you'll be rewarded, but only if you want to explore the huge background tapestry that underlies the LOR and that lends it such credibility.
The films have been incredible, and do justice to the book, but the books are still superior and I mean no insult to the heroic work of the film director and his crew.
602408
My title says it all. To me this is the greatest piece of literature ever written.  I had to read it in high school and even now 30 years and many more books later it is still my favorite. It is the most compassionate book I have ever read.
1379730
This novel is one of my five or so favorites, and one of a kind.  I think there is also a case for saying it is one of the best and most original ever written.  It is certainly one of a kind.  Structurally, it has some flaws, but the brilliance of its wit and its unflinching confrontation of harsh realities make it a novel to read and re-read.  I can't think of any modern writer who is prepared to look life so fully in the face, and still laugh.  You will be plunged into Georgian England, and enjoy every vivid minute of Thackery's genius.
2434653
This is a classic and one of the greatest books ever written.  A good story, crime fiction but also intellectually challenging on socio-political issues
2807119
If you are going to read only one of Virginia Woolf's many works, this is the one to read.  She is the greatest novelist, but her novels cannot be equal, some being better or more universal than others.  She really *arrives* in this one.  I first read it twenty years ago in college, but I still think of phrases, thoughts, and concepts from this book.  The novel's themes resonate the way poetry does.  Worth the reputation.  I hope no one ever tries to make a movie out of this one.
3114069
No matter what edition you have of Lord of the Rings, what's important is thast you have it.  Not three books, but in reality one whole book in three volumes, Lord of the Rings is, IMO, the greatest novel ever written.  Filled with awe and majesty that pervades the O so real world of Middle Earth, this is a tale about power, heroism, coming of age, and much more, telling the magical story of the young hobbit, Frodo, sacrificing all to do what he knows is right.  I will not reveal any more, for it is an experience that one must face alone.  I'll just say that it comes to the most climactic ending I've ever read.  Don't take the story literally of course:  everyone should know that good and evil do not exist in people the way they do here.  It is however, a picture of what goes on within us all as we try to find our inner goodness.  Lord of the Rings is essentially a god as a fairy tale is a human; an immensely enhanced form of the fairy tale for all to read and enjoy.  Don't take my word for it:  read it yourself.  It will change your life.
(note:  for best effect, read the book first, THEN see the movies)
379733
What a lark to review COPPERFIELD! I've read it many times and agree with Anne Bernays that it is perhaps the greatest novel ever written. It ranks with Dostoevsky's THE BROTHERS KARAMAZOV, Joseph Heller's CATCH-22, and  Cervantes' DON QUIXOTE: quirky, sprawling, loaded with wisdom and  sensitivity and keys to reality and the human condition itself. One must  experience the novel in its totality, savoring its sweep and depth and  scintillating characters. I admittedly loathe Dora and David's marriage to  her, yet I know the center portion of the book is a necessary link to the  stunning beginning and ending. I love the line, "Only my hair looked  drunk." I love the chapter "Tempest." If I had but three  books with which to be marooned, this would be one: it would keep the  memory of what it is to be human alive and flourishing. Read it, needless  to say.
2487294
This is, quite simply, the greatest novel I have ever read. This is the book that set the standard for fantasy-fiction, written by the man that created the language for fantasy-fiction. No amount of flattery can give  this work of art its due credit. Read it, and you'll see.
1575499
"The Plague" is perhaps the best novel I have ever read.  It combines a searing indictment of man's relentless march towards self-destruction with Camus' personal love of life and recognition of the value of love.

  I highly recommend reading "The Stranger" first, if only to appreciate the evolution of Camus' writing stlye and outlook.  Whereas "The Stranger" was published in 1946 and was perhaps a pessimistic reaction to the horrors of WWII, "The Plague" (1948) has a much more reflective and philosophical feel to it and at offers hope through the inate goodness of many of its characters.

  Certainly "The Plague" can be viewed as an allegory for man's never-ending brutality, and perhaps specifically, the ever-present prospect of senseless war.  For that reason alone, the book is timeless and relevant and should find a place in any personal library as well as any concientious list of books that have the power to change the way we think.  Based on this assessment, Albert Camus must be included with such profoundly influential and philosophical writers as Plato, Shakespeare, Voltaire, Thoreau, Kafka, etc,.  Those not moved by the contents of this book should check their pulse.
2121116
The Grand Inquisitor chapter is one of the most important passages in literature. Dostoevsky's Grand Inquisitor's critique of humanity is one of the most insightful and powerful critiques ever written. Eric Fromm revisits these and similar ideas in his Escape from Freedom. This novel is full of insights and shows Dostoevsky not only to be a great novel but also great thinker. Readers of this novel will encounter a multitude of ideas. This novel covers the philosophy of religion, psychology, faith, freedom, nihilism, existentialism, and many, many other topics. This is a novel that I expect to return to many times in the future.  Highly recommended!!
3989829
I'm not sure what I'm going to add by writing this review.  This story is one of the classics that everybody should read.  Apart from that, its the greatest story ever written in the fantasy genre.  If Tolkien wasn't the one who invented this genre then he is quite easily the most influential writer in it.  Period.
The story is a continuation from the Hobbit.  Bilbo is still involved but the main character now is Frodo Baggins, Bilbo's relative.  Frodo is joined by several friends (including Gandalf) and sets off on a journey that is just slightly more important than Bilbo's saving the Dwarves ancestrol home: Frodo must save the world.
Being a long story you may find yourself constantly looking back in the book to remember place names and characters.  Its worth it, however, as you can tell that Tolkien inserted each tiny detail with a maximum amount of care and precision.
It has been said that Tolkien's intent was to create a "mythological" history for England.  I would say that he succeeded.
4402337
Who would have thought that a 1037-page, 80-year-old novel about a spoiled, petulant teenager in petticoats would completely suck me in, and turn out to be one of the greatest novels of all time?

Everything about this book is beyond superlative--vivid characters, settings that live and breathe, but especially Margaret Mitchell's prose. It would be worthwhile for any writer to study her sentences, every one of which flows with living motion, without a single flowery word. The dialogues between Scarlett and Rhett make sparks fly off the pages!

One could criticize the liberal use of racially offensive terms and the portrayal of happy slaves, but I would disagree. Within the world so meticulously created by the author, a bygone world, for all its faults, that was seen as being in equilibrium before its downfall, to have done otherwise would have been false.

This is truly the Great American Novel, in the top 5 of the greatest books I've ever read, and I suggest that you will thank yourself for reading it. My only regret about finishing Gone With the Wind is that now I can never again read it for the first time.