Whether the book be in a category of classic, romance, adventure, drama, etc...the sole purpose of the book, in my grand opinion, should be to give the reader a form of escape into a fictional reality.
I always read books that end on a happy note. For myself, I do not find reading a book joyful if it ends badly. I know that in our reality, the world, in certain areas, really does suck. I fully acknowledge that. But I do not want to read about it, outside of a newspaper.
So, in no particular order, here is a list of books and/or series (highlighting my fav's) that I could read over and over:
Amelia Peabody Mysteries by Elizabeth Peters
My mother first introduced me to this series in the form of a Christmas present, my freshmen year of high school. Based in the late 19th and early 20th century, Amelia Peabody and her husband, R. Emerson, both excavate in Egypt throughout the series. Amelia also enjoys imagining herself as an investigator, and in all books, finds a mystery to solve. My favorite books in the series are: Crocodile on the Sandbank, Seeing A Large Cat, The Snake, the Crocodile, and the Dog.
Vicky Bliss Mysteries by Elizabeth Peters
Another of E. Peter's series, Vicky Bliss works in a German Art Museum who somehow is always pulled into a murder investigation especially by her German boss, Schmidt. Along with her on-and-off "boyfriend" John Smythe, a master thief, Vicky's adventures are very different from Amelia Peabody's, but just as exciting. My favorite books in the series are: Trojan Gold, and The Midnight Train to Memphis.
The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton
Before a trip on the train, I randomly picked this book up at the local book store on a whim; the cover and inside picture looked interesting. That started off a three day reading frenzy; this is a must read! Weaving in between three time periods, the reader discoveries why a little girl, in 1914, is put on a boat from England to Australia all alone, waiting for the Authoress to pick her up. Going between three stories can become confusing and at times, the story is very sad but, for me, it was all worth it. The only time I cried was at the ending, simply because the book had ended.
The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
Daniel Sempere's father brings him to The Cemetery of Forgotten Books for his birthday; he is allowed to take one book and cherish it. Daniel picks out The Shadow of the Wind by mysterious author Julian Carax. From then on, the plot thickens, bringing in murder, lost love and adventure. Another must read.
Outleander by Diana Gabaldon
This book I am going to term as a historical sexy romance adventure. With interesting dialogue, especially with the Scottish accent, time travel, a horse back tour of 18th century Scotland and sex scenes that would make a priest blush, this is the first book in a series. For myself, I only liked this book so I would only recommend reading it. Claire, a retired nurse from WWII gets transported back in time to the 1700s and learns how to deal with the cultural changes. Over 800 pages, the read is fantastic, although there are some parts that are uncomfortable, but the rest of the plot makes up for that.
Sherlock Holmes Stories by Arthur Conan Doyle
All of Sherlock Holmes stories, short story or novel, are unique in that this type of mystery was created by Doyle and is continuously used to this day. Taking small, minute facts and coming up with a large conclusion was Sherlock's forte. One of my favorite stories was The Speckled Band.
"You know my method. It is founded upon the observance of trifles." - Sherlock Holmes
