Kelly > Status Update

Definitely seconding Strange & Norrell - a real favourite. I also love 'Alias Grace' (Atwood)

Strange and Norrell is a masterpiece. Fantastic. I still haven’t read Alias Grace! Basically on a permanent TBR- I want to watch the show too. I heard it was good.

The show of Alias Grace is good too - simplifies and tidies it up a bit, but that's to be expected. Can't wait for Clarke's new book this year!

I know I can’t believe it’s actually happening!!!!

1. Pride and Prejudice
2. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
3. A Midsummer Night's Dream and MacBeth (Hamlet is better, but more flawed)
4. The Outsiders, Speak, Hate U Give
5. Harold and the Purple Crayon

(I was thinking that they are perfect in achieving what they set out to be, that is, rather than being the best or greatest books.)

I love that! I totally give a ton of stars for books accomplishing their goals. 1000% agree on Midsummer also. I almost put that in mine. My HS theater director always said it was the perfect play that was impossible to make not funny and I’ve yet to see him proved wrong.

What about the "Likeness" by French ? :)

Likeness is great, Faithful Place is better. Likeness gets her all ready to carve a heart out, Faithful Place follows through. The psychological acuity there is painfully good.

I had really liked “ Faithful Place” as well. However, it was more about family and “Likeness” was more about found family and friendship which for me hit me more ! :) nevertheless, great list. “ Possession” is SO amazing

Possession and Jonathan Strange would be in my five as well but I’ll pick a few others:
1. Little, Big - John Crowley
2. The Game of Kings - Dorothy Dunnett
3. The Facts of Life - Graham Joyce
4. The Crimson Petal and the White - Michel Faber
5. The Brides of Rollrock Island - Margo Lanagan

Crimson Petal and the White is such a good call! I remember just absolutely melting into that one. So glad you reminded me of it. Brides of Rollrock has been on my TBR....guess I should move it up!

I know I'm late to the party but nobody mentioned these:

1. Beartown - Fredrik Backman, for an impact that's still causing tears to well up
2. Homo Faber - Max Frisch, for a tragic story that never gets old
3. The Universe versus Alex Woods - Gavin Extence, for being humane, witty, bold, funny and heart-breaking
4. Night - Elie Wiesel, because we must never forget
5. Stella (AKA: A Minute's Silence, Original German title: Schweigeminute) - Siegfried Lenz, the most tender love story I've ever read

I liked a whole lot of Beartown! That’s a great one to add to the list. I haven’t heard of a couple of these others so thanks for giving me some good ones to look up.

Kelly wrote: "I love that! I totally give a ton of stars for books accomplishing their goals. 1000% agree on Midsummer also. I almost put that in mine. My HS theater director always said it was the perfect play ..."

It's the first Shakespeare I teach, and it is fool proof for getting laughs.

It was the first one I read in school too! Such a great choice on hot part! Definitely converted me! :)

1. History: A Novel (Elsa Morante) 2. Dad: A Novel (William Wharton) 3. Shakespeare- King Lear and Hamlet 4. Tolstoy- Anna Karenina 5. Homer, The Odyssey Hard to stop at the best 5 most perfect.

It is hard to stop! Which is great- means you’ve been lucky enough to encounter many perfect books. Anna K and Lear are two of my favs as well.