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Book readers unite!

Allen writes about the "new" book page at his place.

As a reader, I welcome the change. I'm always looking for new books to read. The New York Times Book Review is a destination section for me. Wandering around the bookstore is a way I kill time.

As a journalist, I welcome the change. It is additional content at a time when we and other newspapers have been eliminating content. Unlike TV listings and stocks, we can bring something special and unique to the book pages. One way is just bring your voices to the page. We're going to start the book page out with your thoughts on your favorite books. Read Allen's solicitation. (It would be nice if Borders or Barnes & Noble or Books a Million would advertise on the page; maybe then we could expand it. Hint, hint.)

I bet Allen that “The Bible” would win out among our readers sending in nominations for their favorite book. (Doesn’t it always?) Me, I’m trying to decide among “Lonesome Dove,” “The World According to Garp,” and any number of Elmore Leonard and John D. MacDonald novels. (No, I can't win the gift card, darn it.)

That said, I know you are both book readers and smart people. Please tell us about your favorite book of all time.

Thursday update: I've read a few of your submissions and I'm more excited about this than ever. They aren't the usuals suspects. It's going to be a wonderful list to clip and save solely to provide great ideas for future reading.

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Posted by John Robinson on Tuesday, August 18, 2009 at 8:58 pm

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Allen Johnson

August 19, 2009 - 5:58 am EDT

Thanks for the shout-out, John. My all-time favorite: Ralph Ellison's "Invisible Man."
In my view, the perfect American novel ... so perfect that Ellison never could come close to topping it.
The language, the images, the musical themes and the characters were haunting and unforgettable.
My favorite sports book of all time: Jim Bouton's sad, hilarious and brutally honest "Ball Four."

John Robinson

August 19, 2009 - 6:55 am EDT

You always were the intellectual. Harking back to those days for me, The Stranger blew me away, as did the Glass Bead Game and all of Hemingway. Best sports book? A tie between A Fan's Notes and Semi-Tough.

John Robinson

August 19, 2009 - 8:25 am EDT

In my mind, I suppose, I made a distinction between "best book of all time" and "favorite book of all time."

Diane

August 19, 2009 - 9:53 am EDT

William Faulkner's "As I Lay Dying" - best and favorite

theronjunk

August 19, 2009 - 6:17 pm EDT

I almost picked this. I just read "Light in August" again. Faulkner is one of the best.

Tammy

August 19, 2009 - 10:12 am EDT

"In the Time of the Butterflies" by Julia Alvarez is probably one my favorite books at the moment. Just recently finished it and would read it again.

John Robinson

August 19, 2009 - 12:06 pm EDT

Thanks. I hope you, Diane and Tammy, will submit those two. As I Lay Dying was tough for me to get through, although I acknowledge its place in literature. Haven't read Alvarez, but would love to hear about it.