Can we agree of one novel which everyone likes?

It is impossible for any one novel to equally affect any person, since reading a novel is one of the most solitary and personal acts one can commit. Even the idea of posting about books, however fascinating, is not an intuitive one. But more compelling to me is the idea that one novel could affect people in such diverse ways :)

The idea that there might be one novel that everyone likes sounds kind of ridiculous to me.

To that end, I have seen people talk about disliking 1984.

Just for argument's sake, it could be fun to try finding one. Anyone dislike To Kill a Mockingbird?

librarymeg- that would be the one that I think would stand the best shot. According to the LT stats, 35 users rated it a 2 or less. Boo on them! To Kill a Mockingbird is one of my favorite books. Of course many of my favorites are ripped to shreds on here: Catcher in the Rye, Great Gatsby, My Antonia.

tunarubber:
I must admit to having read The Great Gatsby and My Antonia when I was very young, and not liking them much, but I attribute that to tender age. Who could ever rip Catcher in the Rye to shreds, though? That's just crazy talk. I guess we know better. *grin*

I've never read 1984, so I couldn't comment.

I know very few people who didn't like Macbeth, but it's not a novel. It's kind of odd, actually; even my most ardently Shakespeare-hating friends think it's a pretty cool play. Hmm.

No, I don't think that's possible. Tastes will always differ.

xicanti - you ought to read it.

I would suggest Persuasion.

I think you have to go for childrens books. Where the Wild Things Are?

Didn't like the Great Gatsby, didn't much care for the Catcher in the Rye and I never finished 1984. I tried, I really did, but I couldn't have cared less what happened to the main character. Maybe I'll finish it one day. I only abandoned it half a year ago though.
Anyway, bottomline is, you'll never find a book that nobody dislikes.

I will second Bob (#10) on Jane Austen, only that I would suggest Pride and prejudice.

P.S. I confess I have never read 1984.

I'd say ochandler has the best idea. A big favorite in the children's book category probably would have the best shot. Where the Wild Things Are isn't a bad choice.

It would probably have to be something that no one has very strong feelings about. As many people hate Catcher in the Rye as love it. (I could take it or leave it.) In fact, you're probably out of luck with anything that people are forced to read in school.

I'll go with 1984, To Kill a Mockingbird, Pride and Prejudice and Catcher in the Rye as above. Does anyone agree with all of those??

I liked 1984 and Where the Wild Things Are, but didn't like To Kill a Mockingbird or Pride and Prejudice. In fact, I don't much like Jane Austen in general - don't get me wrong, I think she's an excellent writer, her stories just don't appeal to me. And I really didn't like Catcher in the Rye.

I doubt it would be possible to find a book that nobody dislikes.

I think it's possible to dislike 1984 while simultaneously agreeing that it's a great novel. What it stands for, what it says, the ideas it deals with - all somewhat distasteful. And I'm betting it wasn't popular in certain political regimes and thus would not go down well with supporters of those ideals.

I know someone who disliked Catcher in the Rye on reading it for the first time recently. Perhaps it is more likely to be liked if first read as a teenager?

Finding my own nomination is tricky - I know of people who seriously dislike Winnie the Pooh, for instance. They may never be happy with anything in that vein. The language of Austen and the Brontes puts people off stories they like when adapted for tv, so you'd find dislikers there too. Maybe Alice's Adventures in Wonderland comes closer?

I think it would be seriously creepy if everybody liked the same book!

I can't imagine that anyone could dislike To Kill a Mockingbird, but as you see here, it is indeed possible.

One can admire the characters and the political perspective of a novel without enjoying the book itself. Since it's probably been 40 years since I read To Kill a Mockingbird, I can't really comment on it specifically.

I imagine that we can all agree to disagree...

I haven't read most of the titles listed here yet as candidates. So I can't DISAGREE with any of them but neither can I AGREE.

I don't think you could randomly take any ten people and have them ALL agree about everything on ANY single book. We're all just to different.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Who doesn't like it? I dare you to hate that book!

#22 LOL.

I suspect some universally adored childrens work is the only way to go. Adults have too much difference of opinion for one work not to pick up dislikes.

Of course we could restrict the title to one work that some people on this thread have read and agree not to dislike - but that would be a completely different matter.

bookishbunny (#22): bad news ... I've got three kids, so I've read a lot of Eric Carle ... but there's just something about his pictures that creeps me out!

I agree with rebeccanyc, I don't think there is a book that everyone likes and I don't think it would be good idea if there were.

It reminds me, though, when several of us were incredulous to learn that a friend of ours couldn't see why everyone liked Calvin and Hobbes. Our reaction (in chorus) was "Weren't you ever a child?"

*grin* 25 quartzite - I hate Calvinn and Hobbes. I always have. I once was unspeakably rude to my parents and refused a Christmas gift - how could they possibly think I would want a Calvin and Hobbes book?!

Anyone who dislikes Winnie the Pooh has a heart of stone.

"What would I do, " I said to Pooh, "If it wasn't for you" and Pooh said "True"...

Just for the record, my two-your-old daughter isn't crazy about The Very Hungry Caterpillar. I think she is partial to Sandra Boynton.

One thing I've learned on LT is how many people really don't like almost every one of my favorites. The varying opinions are fascinating. One newish book stands out as uncriticized on LT; I have yet to see anyone tear apart The Time Traveler's Wife (one of my favorites). Maybe that was just an oversight. Out of 1541 ratings, only 61 are 2 stars or less (4%).

Interesting question. I agree it needs to be a childrens book. How about James and the Giant Peach? who could hate a book about an orphan in a giant peach?

#30...

All the people who wanted it banned.

31 bookishbunny - that made me laugh out loud.

27 deniro - I haven't read it, so I neither like nor dislike it.

That really is very very scary. I'd be tempted to say only in america, if I didn't know better. Fortunetly it is only (from the tone of that article) lone voices crying in the wind.

So we're still all agreed on the merits of a good Pooh then are we?

I'm sure there must have been complaints just about the name?

Uh...I don't like the Pooh. I appreciate it as a work of literature, by I've never been crazy about Winnie the Pooh. Sorry.

Wow... I had no idea. I had no idea anyone could be offended by that book.

#29 - there are quite a few negative reviews of The Time Traveler's Wife, even though the star rating isn't too bad.

#36,

I think the term 'offended' is a little strong. I just didn't have child-like tastes growing up.

#37 I was thinking of the worst books and bad ending discussions. I hadn't read the reviews (oops)... one review sees part of it as "a sick kind of love not even condoned in Lolita".

>29 dchaikin: I hate the Time Traveller's Wife, and I have seen other people put it down, too, mostly for the crappy ending. I think it was just too mawkish. Sorry.

I'm not crazy about Pooh. He was 'banned' by my Anarchist dad for being 'too bourgeoise'. Bah. So I came to him too late to appreciate the 'isness' of the bear.

Where The Wild Things Are. What's not to love?

#41

>Where The Wild Things Are. What's not to love?

I agree, it has to be Where the Wild Things Are. That book only has one rating under 3 stars!

Dorothy Parker's review of Winnie-the-Pooh: "Tonstant Weader Fwowed Up."

When I saw someone mention Winnie the Pooh, the first thing I thought of was Dorthy Parker. I was beaten to the punch.

As for universally loved book, I think a novel is a bit too long a format for everyone to agree.

I'd say there are some short stories that may be universally loved.

A Rose for Emily by Faulkner,

The Lottery by Shirley Jackson, perhaps?

I've been on a Shirley Jackson kick lately. That may be clouding my judgement.

I love both A Rose for Emily and The Lottery but they're both gothics. I think you'll find lots of people dislike them. Some people dislike William Faulkner just on principle :-). And Shirley Jackson got bags of hate mail over The Lottery. Right now, Where the Wild Things Are looks like it has the best chance.

I bet there are adult novels, however, that we can't get anyone to _admit_ they dislike. How about The Color Purple?

The Color Purple - great novel, but depressing and too raw emotionally for a novel everyone can agree on.

What about Our Man in Havana? It is so witty, beautifully written and ultimately uplifting. Deep, too. But mostly funny. I don't think anyone could find anything to dislike, seriously.

#44 -- Dorothy Parker was not a nice man.

I'll stick with Pooh.

As long as it doesn't stick to you.

>49 bookishbunny:

*rimshot*

My first thought was Goodnight Moon although after looking it up it does seem to have 5 ratings below 3... So my next thought is The Paper Bag Princess :)

I can enjoy nearly ANY book when I'm in the right mood, and hate nearly ALL books when in a different sort of mood.

#10 & #13 I agree with you both about Jane Austen, but earlier today heard someone comment on how "silly" she is. (Isn't that really the whole point)

I also agree with Calvin and Hobbsand Winnie th Pooh but that gets us nowhere.

So, I guess I'll go with my personal favorites. First would have to be C.S. Lewis Voyage of the Dawn Treader
and second Madeleine L'Engle A Wrinkle in Time

I'll put in a vote for Where the Wild things Are.

I don't care much for 'Wild Things' and adore Edward Bear.

I agree with every children's book mentioned. However, I believe the fact that we have had to revert to our beloved chilhood memories only highlights the obvious. There is NOT one novel we will ever agree on.

However, I'll take another stab at it. How about Mary Shelley's
Franenstein?

52 lynnlib - I no longer care for A Wrinkle in Time, although I liked it when I was younger. And I never much liked Narnia.

I think this is an exercise in futility.

The only thing we can agree on is that we can't agree on one novel that everyone likes.

I think it's very interesting to see which books we all think everybody should like -- lol.

#52 - I adore The voyage of the Dawntreader, but I wasn't too impressed wth A Wrinkle in Time.

#55 - I can appreciate how cleverly Frankenstein used narrative structure, but it isn't a book that's stayed with me. The story didn't really do much for me.

This thread has reminded me that I ought to find Where the Wild Things Are, though. Believe it or not, I've never read it. I'll have to poke around in the picture books section the next time I'm at the library; I've heard tons about it, and it's always referenced in the children's lit texts I read, so I definitely need to explore it for myself.

How about Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt?

Angela's Ashes gets my vote!

Well I love Angela's Ashes but it gets mentioned a lot over on the "awful Lit" thread.
I also love Jane Austen but again she gets plenty of mentions on "awful lit"
Winnie The Pooh is a personal favourite but my dad hates it. (Hera your Dad and mine should get together).
I like The Very Hungry Caterpillar, not so keen on Where The Wild Things Are. Chicka Chicka Boom Boom is awesome (especially when it's read by Ray Charles) but I suspect people without kids will be unfamiliar with it.
I don't think we will ever find one book that everybody likes but it's interesting to see the nominations.

Anyone here ever read Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card? I am generally not a sci fi reader, but that is probably my favorite book of all time. OOh, or what about Gone with the Wind?

I never understood how The Lottery got to be a story that every junior high English teacher thinks they should teach. I had it taught to me at least 3 times. It's really quite horrible. Ditto The Most Dangerous Game. It really bugs me how they like to put down cartoons for their violence, but then the "literature" that they teach goes right for the uberviolent shock value.

Anyway, I love Where the Wild Things Are and hate Ender's Game. I agree this is a big waste of time. (guess I don't feel like working!)

How about a Dr Seuss book? One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish? Dr Seuss's ABC??

How about The Diary of a Young Girl by Ann Frank? How could anyone dislike it.

Bookworm- I thought I had posted this here, but it must have been a different board, but...I HATE Gone With the Wind.

How about Fahrenheit 451? How can a bunch of book geeks not like that book?

#66 amandameale - I know I'm going to come off really badly here, but I hated it. I could not stand Anne. I feel deeply for her, and I wish she'd never had to go through that, but I don't like her. She really put me off.

I didn't hate Diary of Anne Frank, but if you read the original, unedited version, it's quite boring. It is after all, the diary of a young girl. There are many parts where she is just describing her day or what she ate or how her family annoyed her and it's just....boring!

Indeed the first book that came to my mind was To Kill a Mockingbird. But as I read on and someone mentioned Dr. Seuss I had a reaction. See I have always been deathly afraid of Dr. Seuss characters and find them very sinister. Look at the Grinch for instance - he is undeniably spooky imho. So it just goes to show how wonderfully subjective this all is. Winnie the Pooh is endearing and comforting to me but Dr. Seuss gives me all manner of the creeps.

I guess the answer to your question is "No," huh?

As an adult, I love Where the Wild Things Are, and read it to my kids often. They love it too.

But as a child I did not care for it one bit. I thought that Max was a horrid brat, and possibly even one of those smelly boys.

I don't believe it's possible to find an adult novel that appeals to all. But you've come up with some good suggestions.

Alice in Wonderland?

rebeccanyc said it would be spooky if everyone liked the same book.

I think a world where everyone could love the same single work would be extremely boring.

Besides, I'm a snob and I usually make a point of hating what everyone else loves ;-)

The stories whcih tend to have the greatest consensus are those of the mst general and essential human characteristics which people can relate to (family, death, suffering etc). That doesnt help much with choosing one, though!

I think The Satanic Verses was loved by all. Wasn't it?

Not counting the folks who put out a fatwa on Salman Rushdie because of it, I presume.

#60, Angela's Ashes wasn't supposed to be a novel. (See the OP). And I've heard that several of McCourt's siblings disagreed with what was written, though I cannot find a link.

>75 VictoriaPL: Alice in Wonderland completely freaked me out LOL. I read it in high school and still have a copy of the book. Since I read it so long ago I can't exactly remember why it freaked me out so I keep thinking someday I'll give it another shot. It is also one of the few Disney cartoons I couldn't stand.

Charlotte's Web?

Sorry, amadameale and Kelberts, I detested Angela's Ashes (as noted in "books that everyone loves but you hated" thread...fun thread, check it out).

Isn't it true that the first books read to us by our parents, then books we venture to read ourselves, start determining our future likes/dislikes? My mother recently told me that my love of gothic and horror novels isn't anything new and that I just loved to have her read me scary stories as a kid. Our tastes may adjust some over time, but the basics seem to stay put.

#80 gmork: apologies. I know it's a memoir - just had a brain glitch.

Calvin and Hobbes... I'm working up the nerve to part with 150 bucks to get The Complete Calvin and Hobbes. Along with The Complete Far Side as well.

Looking for Alaska-John Green

90 - I've never liked Calvin and Hobbes :)

In the movie Wit, when the Emma Thompson character is dying her old teacher visits her in the hospital and reads the Runaway Bunny, she calls it the perfect parable of the soul.

I love where the Wild Things Are. I gave it to my kids, my neices and nephews and their kids.

I detest Alice in Wonderland.

Persuasion is my favorite Jane Austen. I'm a sucker for unrequited passion.

Not a fan of To Kill A Mockingbird or Gone With the Wind. And hate Faulkner. Well not the man, just his work.

Also not a Calvin and Hobbs fan.

Can't stand Jane Austen

I would vote for Rebecca - Daphne Du Maurier, but I bet she's not everyones cup of tea.

Or Wuthering Heights, mmm controversial subject this.

It has to be a kids book as there isn't as much to dislike, what about Dogger by Shirley Hughes, any Shirley Hughes actually, My Naughty Little Sister?

Or ARRGGGHH Spider! not loved by some librarians in Kent but ADORED by all the kids i've ever read it too at story time.

Or Charlie and Lola books, I will not ever eat a tomato, But excuse me that is my book, etc etc , I LOVE these.

Does anyone not like Matilda?
I think it's very hard not to like it and it IS a novel :)