Closest thing to a perfect book

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Don't mistake this for your favourite book, because it may not be the same thing.

What I'm curious about is, have you read the perfect book (in your opinion thus far)? Or what was the closest thing? I mean, in terms of style, chartacters, storyline and organisation of literary instruments, a book that transcends others or that personaifies what other authors were trying to do. Inother words, what book did you think was best written in every way.

As an example, the favourite book of a friend of mine is 1984, though his perfect book is Power of One . Sorry, can't remember the author. Anyway, the latter book is fictional, though holds no elelments of fantacy or mcuh excitement, yet my friend absolutely loves it because of its power to motivate by explaining the life of an ordinary, poor, little boy.

So, I never really thought about this before. If I had to say my perfect book, I'd probably say A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens, but don't quote me. Once I think about it a little, just to make sure I'm not forgetting anything, I'll let you know.

So what's yours, and why?

 

Hard question and one not easily answered, I am going to name one though. "Crime and punishment" I just wish I knew Russian and could have read it in its original form. This is not my favourite book but I think that Dostoyevski is a brilliant author, how he balances the characters and the philosophical questions he asks and even if it was a translation I read the language is marvelous. I usually think that many so called great books are very overrated and that many classical books from the past have aged less than perfectly but "Crime and punishment" should be read by everyone.

 

Hm, tough question. Some that I think are close: The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Emma by Jane Austen, and Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf. They're all perfectly crafted, with every word in the inevitable place and characters who are fully, believably human. Sort of like Mozart in words. They happen to be some of my favorite books as well.

 

Vanity Fair is an awesome book but I think the 2 books I most liked the style of were War & Peace by Tolstoy and the Stonor Eagles by William Horwood. They are very different in style and substance but they are both written so well.

 

Can't say I've actually read anything thus far mentioned, or that I'm really that widely read, so I'm going to have to vote for one that I recently read. And will probably get laughed out of the thread for. But kep in ind that I really don't have a great understanding of all that makes up a book that would qualify.

Anyway, my vote is going to Mick Foley's first "real" novel - Tietam Brown. Can't really explain why, just that I was completely unable to put it down once I opened the first pages and I completely forgot that there was a whole other world outside this book.

 

I would say that the one that comes the closest to the "perfect" story for me would be a short story - so it may not qualify - but it's "The Dead" by James Joyce, from the _Dubliners_. But in terms of construction, characterization and style it has to be the best piece of writing I've read.

Dante's _Inferno_ would be next from the _Divine Comedy_. I've always liked it, but I had a college prof who read it to the class in Italian, and the power of its poetry filled the room with music, which really put a hook in me. Since then it has been drab in English translation, and I've never been really satisfied to read it again in English.

I would also have to mention Melville's _Moby Dick_ because of its magnificent scope of human(and animal)drama and the unfolding delimma of multiple meanings that are presented to the reader. One could spend a lifetime, I think, peeling away its many layers of symbolism and meanings. It is a gigantic metaphor, but nevertheless, a great story, IMHO.

I've never read _Vanity Fair_, but I'll have to put it on my list.

[ December 17, 2003, 05:48: Message edited by: Chandos the Red ]

 

Hmm.....HHGTTG is Brilliant.....Terry Pratchett is a good author..

 

Taking the question literally, how about "The Bible" (save debate on that for the Alley)

More on what you meant ... I think "Flatland" is very close to a perfect book. Very short, makes a few huge points, and leaves the reader much to think about.

Also, I'd add "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" to the list. C.S. Lewis has a brilliant mind and accomplished exactly what he intended in that book. He creates a sense of adventure, a sense of worship and a sense of awe ... all while fleshing out some great characters and developing a fantasy world. Well done old boy!

 

Not being a religious man, I agree with Mathetais about The Bible.
I have read a few "nearly perfect" books in the sense they gave me the reading experience and I expected from them and the thoughts to follow - 'Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance','The Godfather','Catch 22','The Lord of The Rings'.

 

I don't read many books but one I would say that I enjoyed was Mr Nice, I have not read that many books that I could compare it to so it might as well be the only book I have read so yes, its my perfect book ;z Anyone else read it? Good book ;z

 

Breakfast of Champions, by Kurt Vonnegut.

Jitterbug Perfume, by Tom Robbins.

High Fidelity, by Nick Hornby.

Grapes of Wrath, by John Steinbeck.

Empire Falls, by Richard Russo.

All of these, when I read them, struck me as such amazing, crystallized worlds. Everything about them fits into an autonomous package, revealing universal truths about life through vivid, sparkling characters.

 

I suppose most religious people would feel that the book of their faith is perfect, but that can only be verified by God Himself...

So far, I reckon that Cornwell's Winter King trilogy is the best I've read.

Tal, you make me feel ashamed that I haven't read Vanity Fair (or any other major English titles!) and I can't even read Slovenian .

 

David Copperfield by Charles Dickens. The way that David's point of view changes gradually throughout the story is brilliant, plus the characters are so larger than life.

 

Tal. That cuts too deeply.

 

Paul Kidd's A Whisper of Wings.

The style of writing is simple and pleasant, it includes elegant words created just for the book but they never get in the way. I think the character names are some of the most pleasant I've ever seen.

Overall it just paints a powerful picture of society, and it's all done with a mythical species. It is my perfect book because of how it portrays society and its many facets.

 

Catcher in the Rye.

 

As for the perfect book I think it's Cormac McCarthy's The Crossing , it is deceptively simple, but you can spend a year analyzing it and still not really understand it. There are several characters and a mix of motifs and long philosophical rants throughout the book.

 

I think Nabokov's "Lolita" is absolutely wonderful (style-wise and story-wise)...
Although I recently read the first three books of "A la recherche du temps perdu" (sorry, don't know the title in english..) by Proust, and this was the most amazing experience since this book has sooo many levels!
Anyway, I guess the definition of the perfect book depends on your personal vision of things.