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The Greatest Book Ever Written?

Discussion in 'Books and Anime Discussion' started by Arthellion, Feb 6, 2020.

  1. Arthellion

    Arthellion Lord of the Banned ~ Prestige ~ DLP Supporter

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    So, which book of all time is the best ever written? You can break it up into Fiction/Nonfiction if you wish.

    How would you have to rate such a book?
     
  2. Seratin

    Seratin Proudmander –§ Prestigious §– DLP Supporter

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    Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince.
     
  3. Blorcyn

    Blorcyn Chief Warlock DLP Supporter DLP Silver Supporter

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    Fifty Shades of Grey took the record from Deathly Hallows, if I recall correctly, as the greatest book by sales on release.

    Terrible. Yes. But great.
     
  4. Silirt

    Silirt Chief Warlock DLP Supporter ⭐⭐

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    Aeneid is the greatest book ever written in my opinion, though it might not count, being an epic of twelve books, but as the spiritual successor to the Iliad and the Odyssey, it's a serviceable standard of excellence for fanfiction.
     
  5. Celestin

    Celestin Dimensional Trunk

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    Probably The Bible by numbers and influence on the history, culture, literature and the people's way of life.
     
  6. Hymnsicality

    Hymnsicality Seventh Year

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    Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, the Novelisation.

    It's a book, based on a movie, based on a theme park ride. Trying to find joy from visualising the exact scenes from the movie, instead of watching the movie, told through uninspiring prose, which itself aimed to capture the thrill of a disney ride. The Levels of conceptual separation from the reader and the thrill the book is trying to capture...is intense. 10/10 terrible book.
     
  7. Zeelthor

    Zeelthor Scissor Me Timbers

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    Probably Lord of the Rings in terms of influence.
     
  8. Seratin

    Seratin Proudmander –§ Prestigious §– DLP Supporter

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    In all seriousness The Iliad or The Lord of the Rings.
     
  9. Ched

    Ched Da Trek Moderator DLP Supporter ⭐⭐

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    I love that DLP took this question semi-seriously and gave interesting answers rather than recommending generic paperback number 5.
     
  10. Zeelthor

    Zeelthor Scissor Me Timbers

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    Ah. Fuck. Uh... This. Let's go with this.

    https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40030359-forbidden-to-the-gladiator

    I found a copy of this in the store while browsing books. I'd never realised the local supermarket had a section for smut, but there you go. I'm a huge fan of the Roman Empire, so if this hadn't sounded quite so fucking stupid I may've bought it.
     
  11. wordhammer

    wordhammer Dark Lord DLP Supporter

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    Internationally, I think Don Quixote is considered the most popular work of fiction.
     
  12. ScottPress

    ScottPress The Horny Sovereign –§ Prestigious §– DLP Supporter

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    No no, it was already said upthread. The Bible is the most popular work of fiction.
     
  13. wordhammer

    wordhammer Dark Lord DLP Supporter

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    Maybe originally, but then the editors took out whole plot points that made it relevant for half the audience, and they tacked on a whole later section which undermined the themes of the original story, in the name of making it more 'modern' and to sell more copies.

    ... sort of like Star Wars, if you think about it.
     
  14. BeastBoy

    BeastBoy Seventh Year

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    In Search of Lost Time by Proust

    Beloved by Morrison

    2nd The Aeneid

    Just going full pretentious with it :)
     
  15. Joe

    Joe The Reminiscent Exile ~ Prestige ~ DLP Supporter ⭐⭐⭐

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  16. Utsane

    Utsane Groundskeeper DLP Supporter

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    It's hard for me to not offer up Terry Pratchett's Reaper Man as the greatest book in history, but it's not read widely enough to deserve the title.

    I think I might have to go with the Mahabharatha, even though I don't like it very much.
     
  17. KHAAAAAAAN!!

    KHAAAAAAAN!! Troll in the Dungeon –§ Prestigious §– DLP Supporter

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    1984 for 'literature'.

    Lord of the Rings (but only as a complete trilogy) for genre fiction.

    The Origin of Species for nonfiction.
     
  18. Quiddity

    Quiddity Squib ~ Prestige ~

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    I can't answer what's the greatest book.

    But my favourite is the novelisation The Revenge of the Sith by Matthew Woodring Stover. Demonstrative quote:
     
  19. Conquistador

    Conquistador High Inquisitor

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    The Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith.
     
  20. Eimim

    Eimim First Year

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    The gulag archipelago (all three books)

    Most important piece of literature I've ever read. I'll never look at my self or the people around me the same way again. These books aren't just about history, but humanity from every angle we normally don't want to see.

    Could have lived without the poetically written description of desperate cannibalism though.
     
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