My 5 best ... for all the times ! . Review on 5 Best Books

The first book would surely be:

1. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee:

I do tend to assess writing by style. But style devoid of content cannot stand. Hence my top favorite has it all. Style, Content, Honesty, Thought Provoking, (nearly) Life Altering. The book starts simply with a picture of a very young girl about to start school, Scout Finch. From her perspective, we learn about her upright father Atticus Finch, and the trials faced by them. Scout has to keep up with her growing brother, battle school and also face the fear of a ghostly family that lives in the neighbourhood. the Radleys. Atticus has to battle the ages old southern racism ingrained in the society, and also keep up the gentlemanly traditions. This magnificient book scores hands down because the lesson it ultimately delivers is'Humanism'.'Love your neighbour' takes on a meaning that you wont forget in a hurry. If looking for tips on'how to raise children' this is one of the best! A must read for all people.

2. Charles Dickens:(David Copperfield, Pickwick Papers)

Any book by CD wins hands down. We have read a lot of him in the abridged, chapertised version in our school texts, have been assigned whole books in college syllabus. Most people are wowed by his warmth, charm, wittiness, a deep incisive look at humanity. Whether it is Pickwick Papers - with Sam and Mr Pickwick, or David Copperfield, or Great Expectations, a virtual galaxy of sparkling characters dance our for our benefit, making us laugh, cry or just smile in delight.

3. Lord of the Rings. by JRR Tolkein

The trilogy is meant for SFF fans, but when I first read the books, I did not know what SFF was. The tale starts with Frodo being bequethed a magic ring on his birthday by his uncl. Ostensibly its a fun gift as the ring makes you invisible, great for playing pranks on your friends, but it soon unfolds into a sinister tale of power and destruction. Frodo and his friends find that they are pitted against an enemy that makes the bravest quail. But they persevere, and win over evil BECAUSE of their simplicity, friendship and a wish to do good.

4. Jane Austen. best(Emma, Pride and Prejudice)

The lady was known to be a sincere example of art for art's sake. This shy daughter of a parson had a gift that threw her in limelight for over 300 years now. Sometimes berated for her choice of subjects, the matrimonial concerns of a the middle class english ladies, she is revered for her faultless style. My contention is, yes her subjects are archaic at times, but then, she was true to her surroundings, her culture. She wrote about the society she was closest to, with wit and style. Her stories are true, a mirror of her times. Limited in her subject she may be, but not deficient in it. Truth, as they say, survives all. And people still pick up the Lady's books for the pearl like prose, lovely etchings of characters and beautiful stories.

5. Love Story, by Erich Segal

It was the seventies. The book was slim, simple had Love Story written on the cover without any picture. A contemperory college story about an affair between a High Class Oliver Barrett III(or some such numeral) and Jenny, the daughter of an immigrant baker. It was a clash of class and money. But the two people come together and find in each other a perfect love. They find they can fight parents, the financial problems and differences, but cannot fight destiny. What sets it apart is the pithy, extremely witty and extremely sparse dialouge. There are very few words in the whole story and that contributes to its appeal.