Fave most engaging and moving novels ever! (in no order)

A Listmania! list by P A Eyles
 
The Crimson Petal and the White
1.  The Crimson Petal and the White by Michel Faber
The list author says:
  "One of the best historical novels I've read (and I've read quite a few). Don't be put off by it's size, the riveting narrative ensures that you get through the 800+ pages in no time."
Used & New from: £0.01
4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (183 customer reviews) | 1 customer discussion

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Fingersmith
2.  Fingersmith by Sarah Waters
The list author says:
  "A must-read, fantastic in every way, a real page-turner with surprising twists antd turns and a real sense of character and atmosphere. Superbly captures the grimy underworld of  the 19th centuy"
Used & New from: £0.01
4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (117 customer reviews) | 1 customer discussion

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Catch-22 (Vintage Classics)
3.  Catch-22 (Vintage Classics) by Joseph Heller
The list author says:
  "A book the EVERYONE has to read. It captures the insanity of war superbly and is in turns absolutely hilarious,(one of the funniest books ever!), and poignantly moving with powerful images of war"
£5.59   Used & New from: £0.01
4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (332 customer reviews) | 2 customer discussions

Mrs Dalloway (Penguin Modern Classics)
4.  Mrs Dalloway (Penguin Modern Classics) by Virginia Woolf
The list author says:
  "One of those iconic classics. Read it non-stop in about 3 days. The stream-of-concious narrative gives it real psychological depth and you really get to know the characters as intimate friends."
£6.29   Used & New from: £0.01
3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (48 customer reviews)

The Portrait of a Lady (Oxford World's Classics)
5.  The Portrait of a Lady (Oxford World's Classics) by Henry James
The list author says:
  "Amother master of the psychological narrative, with a central character that you really feel for. Although essentially quite tragic it is also full of witty satiric observations of 1890's society"
Used & New from: £0.01
3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)

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Madame Bovary (Penguin Classics)
6.  Madame Bovary (Penguin Classics) by Gustave Flaubert
The list author says:
  "Another 19th century psychological classic (absolute sucker for them). A central flawed character (that I find entirely relatable even now) gives this novel great realism."
£6.29   Used & New from: £0.01
4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews) | 1 customer discussion

Jane Eyre (Oxford World's Classics)
7.  Jane Eyre (Oxford World's Classics) by Charlotte Brontë
The list author says:
  "Need i say more about this truly great classic, you've all heard about it, now do yourself a favour and actually read it, you won't regret it."
Used & New from: £0.01
4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (200 customer reviews) | 2 customer discussions

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1984 Nineteen Eighty-Four
8.  1984 Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell
The list author says:
  "Another book everyone has to read, the world would indeed be so much better if everyone did. Undoubtably the best dystopian novel ever and one of the best books ever, guaranteed to make you think."
£12.93   Used & New from: £3.04
4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (363 customer reviews) | 3 customer discussions

Birdsong
9.  Birdsong by Sebastian Faulks
The list author says:
  "A book you owe it to yourself to read, Faulks is a historical genius and this is him at his very best, there are scenes that will make you cry, gripping, harrowing and relentlessly realistic."
£4.79   Used & New from: £0.01
4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (392 customer reviews)

The Lord of the Rings (3 Book Box set)
10.  The Lord of the Rings (3 Book Box set) by J. R. R. Tolkien
The list author says:
  "Epic in scope and extremely entertaining despite the recent sexist and feminist criticisms. Doesn't seem that long at all despite the 900+ pages, essential."
Used & New from: £11.00
4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (601 customer reviews) | 1 customer discussion

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The Catcher in the Rye
11.  The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger
The list author says:
  "A book that grows on you, so stick with it , it's so worth it."
£4.99   Used & New from: £0.01
3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (386 customer reviews)

Vanity Fair (Penguin Classics)
12.  Vanity Fair (Penguin Classics) by William Thackeray
The list author says:
  "Another essential classic, full of wit and acute observations of regency society."
£6.39   Used & New from: £0.01
4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (37 customer reviews) | 1 customer discussion

The God of Small Things
13.  The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy
The list author says:
  "Wonderfully inventive prose and imagery that stays in the mind, extremely poetic, moving and funny. Captures India's exoticism and also it's dark politics."
£5.89   Used & New from: £0.01
4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (212 customer reviews)

Man and Boy
14.  Man and Boy by Tony Parsons
The list author says:
  "Charming and touching, a real human story where you care for the characters, also bloody funny."
£4.52   Used & New from: £0.01
3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (245 customer reviews)

The Rotters' Club
15.  The Rotters' Club by Jonathan Coe
The list author says:
  "One of the best contemporary novels ever, really captures the struggles of youth, and doesn't wallow in nostalgia instead presenting the harsh enoch powell politics of the time+ v. funny."
Used & New from: £0.01
4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (49 customer reviews)

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On the Road (Penguin Classics)
16.  On the Road (Penguin Classics) by Kerouac
The list author says:
  "A real iconic classic, pacy, edgy and full of a reckless passion and youthful energy for, life, music and adventure. Really captures the times."
Used & New from: £3.47
4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)

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Lady Chatterley's Lover, Including 'A Propos of Lady Chatterley's Lover': A Propos of Lady Chatterley's Lover (Penguin Modern Classics)
17.  Lady Chatterley's Lover, Including 'A Propos of Lady Chatterley's Lover': A Propos of Lady Chatterley's Lover (Penguin Modern Classics) by D. H. Lawrence
The list author says:
  "Very erotic (as is suggested by title) especially for the time when it was banned, but in an un-trashy way. Beautifully and lyrically written."
Used & New from: £0.01
3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (46 customer reviews)

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The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13 3/4
18.  The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13 3/4 by Sue Townsend
The list author says:
  "Read all of them you won't regret v. v. funny , Townsend is a very shrewd observer."
£4.89   Used & New from: £1.63
4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (170 customer reviews)

The Regeneration Trilogy: Regeneration, The Eye in the Door, The Ghost Road
19.  The Regeneration Trilogy: Regeneration, The Eye in the Door, The Ghost Road by Pat Barker
The list author says:
  "Another classic of  the first world war, sleep-disturbing."
Used & New from: £4.39
4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)

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One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (Penguin Modern Classics)
20.  One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (Penguin Modern Classics) by Ken Kesey
The list author says:
  "Absolutely brilliant, gives you a moving  glimpse into the minds of the insane and the prison in which their kept. Plus a central character you really root for."
£6.79   Used & New from: £1.99
4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (34 customer reviews) | 2 customer discussions

Captain Corelli's Mandolin
21.  Captain Corelli's Mandolin by Louis de Bernieres
The list author says:
  "Extremely beautiful and poignant offset by humour. Really feel for the characters."
£6.29   Used & New from: £0.01
4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (333 customer reviews)

Crime and Punishment (Wordsworth Classics)
22.  Crime and Punishment (Wordsworth Classics) by F.M. Dostoevsky
The list author says:
  "Although it may look utterly depessing (it is Russian after all) this is essential reading, deeply profound observations on humanity."
£1.99   Used & New from: £0.01
4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (210 customer reviews) | 4 customer discussions

Great Expectations (Oxford World's Classics)
23.  Great Expectations (Oxford World's Classics) by Charles Dickens
The list author says:
  "From the master of storytelling, one of the most entertaining books ever with larger than life, to die-for  characters."
Used & New from: £0.01
4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (118 customer reviews) | 1 customer discussion

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The Map of Love
24.  The Map of Love by Ahdaf Soueif
The list author says:
  "A book to make you fall in love with Egypt but also one that gives you fascinating insights into its troubled politics."
£6.99   Used & New from: £0.01
3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (42 customer reviews)

To Kill A Mockingbird
25.  To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee
The list author says:
  "A book that no-one has any excuse for not reading, a beautifully touchng book."
£3.58   Used & New from: £0.01
4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (373 customer reviews) | 1 customer discussion

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Customer Discussions about products in this list
Discussion Replies Latest Post
Should I read it, ive seen the films, Is it worth it? 8 12 Apr 2012
Definitive book of the 20th century? 5 25 Jan 2012
Victorian Stories 3 10 Apr 2011
catch 22 5 15 Feb 2011
first person fiction, female author, male narrator 0 14 Feb 2011
Catch 22 1 27 Jun 2010
books to read to 13 year olds 0 26 May 2010
Jane Eyre (Fine Edition) (Hardcover) Font Size help? 0 11 May 2010
Definitive book of the 20th century? 4 6 Feb 2010
Sarah Waters... What next? 1 28 Jun 2009
Translator 2 17 Apr 2009
SUITABLE? 3 1 Jan 2009
 
   

About this Listmania!

 

Author

P A Eyles
Qualifications: English literature student
Last updated: 12/09/2005
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