The top TBD Books of all time: FBG consensus (1 Viewer)

[Frostillicus]

Oh.

I never learned to read.

 

[KarmaPolice]

Can we just consider the Encyclopedia Brown books as one?

what about Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boy Mysteries?

Wrong detective series....

Hitchcock and the Three Detectives, right? Devoured them.

Ding, ding!! I loved these books, and I have never read a Hardy Boys book. That series was huge for me in grade school. People usually give me the "wtf are you talking about?" look when I bring up these books. This was the one I mentioned earlier that I tracked down a few to have at home for the nostalgia (and for proof )

The other series that was equally important to me was THIS one. That was my ramp up to stuff like King in MS. That series is OOP, and I am not willing to spends 100s on those.

 

[Instinctive]

So the way I'm thinking of this is a book series with a clear beginning and end is submitted as one entry (The Dark Tower, A Song of Ice and Fire, Wheel of Time, etc.) whereas a bunch of books with the same characters that are telling different stories should be submitted individuallly (The Prey Books by Sanford, Lincoln Rhyme by Deaver, Reacher, Clive Cussler, etc.).

That's smart but the battle for it was lost long ago.

 

[Chaos34]

Ding, ding!! I loved these books, and I have never read a Hardy Boys book. That series was huge for me in grade school. People usually give me the "wtf are you talking about?" look when I bring up these books. This was the one I mentioned earlier that I tracked down a few to have at home for the nostalgia (and for proof )

I read some Hardy Boys but once dad gave me one of these that was over. Also, I misremembered. It isn't three detectives. It's Alfred Hitchcock and the Three Investigators. I thought your idea was good. Have a few around. Consider them as gifts for younguns who should learn a little about life for kids before all this tech. Searching corrected my memory.

 

[krista4]

OH spent some time wandering in our library and making a list last night. He might have 300 already.

 

[TheBaylorKid]

So the way I'm thinking of this is a book series with a clear beginning and end is submitted as one entry (The Dark Tower, A Song of Ice and Fire, Wheel of Time, etc.) whereas a bunch of books with the same characters that are telling different stories should be submitted individuallly (The Prey Books by Sanford, Lincoln Rhyme by Deaver, Reacher, Clive Cussler, etc.).

Wait, wait A Song of Ice and Fire has an end? Did Martin just give up and let Sanderson finish it for him?

 

[turnjose7]

So the way I'm thinking of this is a book series with a clear beginning and end is submitted as one entry (The Dark Tower, A Song of Ice and Fire, Wheel of Time, etc.) whereas a bunch of books with the same characters that are telling different stories should be submitted individuallly (The Prey Books by Sanford, Lincoln Rhyme by Deaver, Reacher, Clive Cussler, etc.).

This seems like the best way to do it. But then what happens for tangentially related side stories set in the same world (The Wind Through the Keyhole, for instance)?

 

[KarmaPolice]

So the way I'm thinking of this is a book series with a clear beginning and end is submitted as one entry (The Dark Tower, A Song of Ice and Fire, Wheel of Time, etc.) whereas a bunch of books with the same characters that are telling different stories should be submitted individuallly (The Prey Books by Sanford, Lincoln Rhyme by Deaver, Reacher, Clive Cussler, etc.).

Wait, wait A Song of Ice and Fire has an end? Did Martin just give up and let Sanderson finish it for him?

We wish. Stormlight Archive will finish before Song of Ice and Fire ffs.

 

[Eephus]

Some of the posts in this thread are as incomprehensible to me as the snow blower/thrower thread.

 

[timschochet]

I sent my list of 70 in. But after I did it I began to wonder about this exercise. Unfortunately I have a feeling this isn’t going to work out so great. The problem is that, unlike tv shows or movies, there are just too many novels out there. When I submitted my TV list I expected most folks to be familiar with the majority of my selections and vice versa. I have doubts that this will be the case. I don’t think anyone else is going to have read a 10th of my favorite novels and I’m wondering if I have read a 10th of anyone else’s. I hope I’m wrong about this…

 

[Dr. Octopus]

I sent my list of 70 in. But after I did it I began to wonder about this exercise. Unfortunately I have a feeling this isn’t going to work out so great. The problem is that, unlike tv shows or movies, there are just too many novels out there. When I submitted my TV list I expected most folks to be familiar with the majority of my selections and vice versa. I have doubts that this will be the case. I don’t think anyone else is going to have read a 10th of my favorite novels and I’m wondering if I have read a 10th of anyone else’s. I hope I’m wrong about this…

I think this is a valid concern, especially if not a lot of lists are submitted.

Then again, I can see certain authors heavily represented in this also - but that may lead to even more disparity outside of those authors. Leaving out non-fiction may help a little.

I’m sure it will work itself out.

 

[BLOCKED_PUNT]

I won't participate since I'm not as well read as most of you are. Back when I was reading more I was into that Dan Brown/Steve Berry/Raymond Khoury grouping. Anyways, I wanted to point out/comment (or maybe this has already been mentioned) that I think the way that most of you (or maybe me) are interpreting this are novels and it's going to be hard to say that X novel (besides obvious big ones) are better than a Dr. Suess or a Shel Silverstein. I do think Childrens should be on a "best books" list

 

[BLOCKED_PUNT]

also interested to see where the bible lands

 

[Chaos34]

I sent my list of 70 in. But after I did it I began to wonder about this exercise. Unfortunately I have a feeling this isn’t going to work out so great. The problem is that, unlike tv shows or movies, there are just too many novels out there. When I submitted my TV list I expected most folks to be familiar with the majority of my selections and vice versa. I have doubts that this will be the case. I don’t think anyone else is going to have read a 10th of my favorite novels and I’m wondering if I have read a 10th of anyone else’s. I hope I’m wrong about this…

I think this is a valid concern, especially if not a lot of lists are submitted.

Then again, I can see certain authors heavily represented in this also - but that may lead to even more disparity outside of those authors. Leaving out non-fiction may help a little.

I’m sure it will work itself out.

I hope tim is right. While he's worried about the end result being meaningful, I'm interested in new discoveries. If someone here ranks something top 5, I'll trust it's worthwhile reading. I hope a bunch of you have stuff ranked that high I haven't read, or better yet haven't heard of. I'm a little fussy about genres, so that will also matter to me, but I look forward to seeing y'alls highest rankings and hope they're highly dissimilar.

 

[kupcho1]

I hope tim is right. While he's worried about the end result being meaningful, I'm interested in new discoveries. If someone here ranks something top 5, I'll trust it's worthwhile reading. I hope a bunch of you have stuff ranked that high I haven't read, or better yet haven't heard of. I'm a little fussy about genres, so that will also matter to me, but I look forward to seeing y'alls highest rankings and hope they're highly dissimilar.

Excellent point.

FTR, Tim and I have 3 books in common (assuming nothing changes in either of our lists and given there's no timeline yet, and my inclination to futz around with lists, that's unlikely). Our rankings are somewhat different, but that's to be expected. I'd be very surprised if there is commonality in any of our (hopefully many) lists.

W/r/t using this exercise as a source of recommendations, I'll have a google spreadsheet with a tab for each contributor as well as the scoring system and a tabulation of results. I'm not sure how many we'll count down, but they'll be plenty of opportunity for discussion.

 

[kupcho1]

Now that Tim's spilled the beans that he's submitted a list, I better start the official thread.
There is still plenty of time to get a list together, and I hope to see a lot of them.

 

[Don Quixote]

I sent my list of 70 in. But after I did it I began to wonder about this exercise. Unfortunately I have a feeling this isn’t going to work out so great. The problem is that, unlike tv shows or movies, there are just too many novels out there. When I submitted my TV list I expected most folks to be familiar with the majority of my selections and vice versa. I have doubts that this will be the case. I don’t think anyone else is going to have read a 10th of my favorite novels and I’m wondering if I have read a 10th of anyone else’s. I hope I’m wrong about this…

I think this is a valid concern, especially if not a lot of lists are submitted.

Then again, I can see certain authors heavily represented in this also - but that may lead to even more disparity outside of those authors. Leaving out non-fiction may help a little.

I’m sure it will work itself out.

I hope tim is right. While he's worried about the end result being meaningful, I'm interested in new discoveries. If someone here ranks something top 5, I'll trust it's worthwhile reading. I hope a bunch of you have stuff ranked that high I haven't read, or better yet haven't heard of. I'm a little fussy about genres, so that will also matter to me, but I look forward to seeing y'alls highest rankings and hope they're highly dissimilar.

I think I’m looking more forward to the individual lists at the end than the actual final rankings. Hopefully it is a good range of folks with different reading interests. I’m sure will get a sense of which folks line up closer to mine, and would be interesting to see what they have ranked high that I have not read yet and get some good book recommendations out of it, or maybe seeing what may be good to dip toes into a genre that have not really dug into.

 

[kupcho1]

Take over here please

Thread 'The Official FBG Top 70 Fiction Books of All Time - DEADLINE FOR LIST SUBMISSIONS EXTENDED TO MARCH 30, 2025'

Feb 19, 2025

For the purpose of this exercise, we are limiting submissions to works of fiction.
Novels, including graphic novels and short story collections. This includes YA and children's books for those so inclined. Plays are also allowed.
You can submit anywhere from 1 to 70 books.

This will not be a ranking of series (e.g., Wheel of Time, Harry Potter).
For that, I assume someone will start another discussion (which will, perhaps, culminate in the World Series of Series).

So, if you are interested, please submit a ranked list of your favorite works of fiction (standalone books only). #1...

• kupcho1
• Replies: 232
• Forum: Footballguys Free For All

• 
• 

 

[mr. furley]

Can we just consider the Encyclopedia Brown books as one?

@Encyclopedia Brown can we get a ruling here?

 

[mr. furley]

how do you guys recall 70 books that you read and could rank 1- 70? do you maintain a spreadsheet somewhere? is there a site for cataloging and ranking your favorites?

 

[Eephus]

how do you guys recall 70 books that you read and could rank 1- 70? do you maintain a spreadsheet somewhere? is there a site for cataloging and ranking your favorites?

There's Goodreads but I don't use it.

 

[Don Quixote]

how do you guys recall 70 books that you read and could rank 1- 70? do you maintain a spreadsheet somewhere? is there a site for cataloging and ranking your favorites?

There are some book apps can use. I’m on Goodreads and StoryGraph. Some of it also just looking at my Kindle library and physical bookcases.

 

[Eephus]

Some of it also just looking at my Kindle library and physical bookcases.

My bookcases aren't as helpful as I thought. It turns out that most of the read books I've kept have been non-fiction that I figured I might use sometime as a reference. I haven't held onto as many novels.

Fortunately, I've been exclusively e-books for about ten years so most of those are still show up in my Kindle library.

 

[Encyclopedia Brown]

Can we just consider the Encyclopedia Brown books as one?

@Encyclopedia Brown can we get a ruling here?

How are Sherlock Holmes/Perry Mason/Nero Wolfe, etc, being considered? He's just the kid version of them.

 

[Instinctive]

also interested to see where the bible lands

FWIW, it does seem like including the bible is trying to intentionally stir things up when it's been declared that this is only fiction novels.

Like you don't need to believe in it to recognize that a large portion of it is literally letters from early church leaders to new congregations. Not exactly in the fiction class of things.

 

[Instinctive]

how do you guys recall 70 books that you read and could rank 1- 70? do you maintain a spreadsheet somewhere? is there a site for cataloging and ranking your favorites?

Bookshelf plus memory

 

[Chaos34]

I hope tim is right.

Excellent point.

Tim and I also have completely different perspectives. He said something like 70, 100, 200 whatever. I voted for 50 and 70 has me still waiting for a ruling on comic books.

 

[Eephus]

How are Sherlock Holmes/Perry Mason/Nero Wolfe, etc, being considered? He's just the kid version of them.

The only Nero Wolfe book I ever read is one of the trilogy where the villain shares my (relatively uncommon) last name.

 

[UncleZen]

Take over here please

Thread 'The Official FBG Top 70 Fiction Books of All Time - DEADLINE FOR LIST SUBMISSIONS EXTENDED TO MARCH 30, 2025'

Feb 19, 2025

For the purpose of this exercise, we are limiting submissions to works of fiction.
Novels, including graphic novels and short story collections. This includes YA and children's books for those so inclined. Plays are also allowed.
You can submit anywhere from 1 to 70 books.

This will not be a ranking of series (e.g., Wheel of Time, Harry Potter).
For that, I assume someone will start another discussion (which will, perhaps, culminate in the World Series of Series).

So, if you are interested, please submit a ranked list of your favorite works of fiction (standalone books only). #1...

• kupcho1
• Replies: 232
• Forum: Footballguys Free For All

• 
• 

I read a lot more non fiction than I do fiction so I'm out. I will still likely follow but I since high school, I have probably only read less than 10 fiction books.

 

[BLOCKED_PUNT]

also interested to see where the bible lands

FWIW, it does seem like including the bible is trying to intentionally stir things up when it's been declared that this is only fiction novels.

Like you don't need to believe in it to recognize that a large portion of it is literally letters from early church leaders to new congregations. Not exactly in the fiction class of things.

Wasn't my intention. I've also never read the whole bible. When I did my tv list I felt like there was a slight contradiction in labeling it the "greatest" but also OUR favorites so I tried to thread the needle between what was a well done show AND I liked it. So when I hear the subject of "greatest books of all time" the best selling book of all time comes to mind. There are likely people that ADORE the bible whether or not those people are on this site ???? As you point out, some of the books are letters but I do think (I could be wrong here) large portions of the bible have been deemed allegories by biblical scholars. Don't want to get myself or this thread banned so sorry for bringing up a slightly sticky subject.

 

[shuke]

how do you guys recall 70 books that you read and could rank 1- 70? do you maintain a spreadsheet somewhere?

Yes

 

[shuke]

how do you guys recall 70 books that you read and could rank 1- 70? do you maintain a spreadsheet somewhere?

Yes

Just took a look. I can hardly remember what even half of these are about. This is going to be difficult.

 

[Psychopav]

Can we just consider the Encyclopedia Brown books as one?

@Encyclopedia Brown can we get a ruling here?

How are Sherlock Holmes/Perry Mason/Nero Wolfe, etc, being considered? He's just the kid version of them.

Not really imo. There really aren't stories per se, more independent riddle compendiums.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

I hope tim is right.

Excellent point.

Tim and I also have completely different perspectives. He said something like 70, 100, 200 whatever. I voted for 50 and 70 has me still waiting for a ruling on comic books.

He said graphic novels are allowed - actual comic books, my guess is “no” but it’s not my gig.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

I have one graphic novel on my list because it’s just so good and I reread it a lot - but I do think it goes against the spirit a little so I’m limiting it to one.

I also have two children’s books.

 

[kupcho1]

I hope tim is right.

Excellent point.

Tim and I also have completely different perspectives. He said something like 70, 100, 200 whatever. I voted for 50 and 70 has me still waiting for a ruling on comic books.

He said graphic novels are allowed - actual comic books, my guess is “no” but it’s not my gig.

Correct.

 

[Chaos34]

I hope tim is right.

Excellent point.

Tim and I also have completely different perspectives. He said something like 70, 100, 200 whatever. I voted for 50 and 70 has me still waiting for a ruling on comic books.

He said graphic novels are allowed - actual comic books, my guess is “no” but it’s not my gig.

Correct.

I QUIT

 

[mr. furley]

how do you guys recall 70 books that you read and could rank 1- 70? do you maintain a spreadsheet somewhere?

Yes

Just took a look. I can hardly remember what even half of these are about. This is going to be difficult.

was thinking to myself last night.. i've read a fair amount of books in my lifetime so far.. no way could i recall specifics of books that blew my mind when i was 10. are they still good books? were they just good books because i was 10? does the Foundation series of books still hold up or is it just shlocky junk that sounded cool to a little kid??

 

[Mrs.Marco]

I think the books that are cool to little kids matter -- a silly book can turn someone into a lifelong reader. As an English major, I love a lot of classics, but I think that books that grab a whole lot of people matter too.

LIke others I'm not sure how much overlap I'll have, but it's fun to look through my reading notebook and think about the books I've loved the most.

 

[KarmaPolice]

how do you guys recall 70 books that you read and could rank 1- 70? do you maintain a spreadsheet somewhere?

Yes

Just took a look. I can hardly remember what even half of these are about. This is going to be difficult.

was thinking to myself last night.. i've read a fair amount of books in my lifetime so far.. no way could i recall specifics of books that blew my mind when i was 10. are they still good books? were they just good books because i was 10? does the Foundation series of books still hold up or is it just shlocky junk that sounded cool to a little kid??

I say who cares - all of that sounds good! For the vast majority, books aren't something we revisit over and over. So when I was thinking about the list, first would be any books that I have read mulitple times. Next was a big group, and gets to what you and shuke are talking about. I figure any book that I remember reading from 20+ years later belongs at the top of the list along with books that I wanted to read to or with my kids. These are the books that stood out to me as ones I recommended a lot or had scenes or chapters that stick in my head. Those are the things that added to our tastes and memories - I hope everybody has a few books they read when they were 10 on here.

 

[Chaos34]

are we going to post 5 outs? that might help me narrow down.

 

[KarmaPolice]

In other words, I don't want to be the only one with some cheesy kids books on their list. I did stick to chapter books, but I had some fun because of the scoring format. I figured this should be like how the TV thread is turning out - memories and recommendations. People here have kids or grandkids, maybe there is some something did or could foster a love of reading for them too.

 

[Long Ball Larry]

how do you guys recall 70 books that you read and could rank 1- 70? do you maintain a spreadsheet somewhere? is there a site for cataloging and ranking your favorites?

I look at my bookshelves and I look at Goodreads and I also make some up.

 

[Long Ball Larry]

Do poetry and plays count? Sorry if this was covered somewhere. I thought I saw someone mention poetry but the reset post above doesn’t state it.

 

[Long Ball Larry]

Nm, I see it after reading through the other thread.

 

[turnjose7]

Do poetry and plays count? Sorry if this was covered somewhere. I thought I saw someone mention poetry but the reset post above doesn’t state it.

I have plays and epic poems on my list and kupcho1 accepted them

​

 

[turnjose7]

I think the books that are cool to little kids matter -- a silly book can turn someone into a lifelong reader. As an English major, I love a lot of classics, but I think that books that grab a whole lot of people matter too.

LIke others I'm not sure how much overlap I'll have, but it's fun to look through my reading notebook and think about the books I've loved the most.

Commander Toad in Space just missed the cut for me

 

[Dr. Octopus]

Do poetry and plays count? Sorry if this was covered somewhere. I thought I saw someone mention poetry but the reset post above doesn’t state it.

Yes

 

[Chaos34]

Looking at my list and considering ranking them for the first time, a theme I didn't think about has emerged in my preferences. Going in I knew I was heavy on spy guys, crime guys, and fiction about a particular war; but what I didn't realize is how much I've enjoyed great depictions of Mother Nature.