With 7 days to live, what book will you read?

[LeavesOfGrass]

I'm sure most of you have seen the splendidly written tv show, Lost. A particular character, Desmond Hume (based loosely on the deceased philosopher), keeps a novel with him at all times. It is Our Mutual Friend by Charles Dickens. Hume says that he will read this book shortly before his death, and as another character quips, "nice idea, as long as you know when you're going to die." That said, should you learn that you have seven days left on earth, what novel would you read?

[Ashbe Maeur]

I think if I had 7 days left to live, I probably wouldn't be reading... heh.

But if it came down to choosing, East of Eden, definitely.

[blazeofglory]

The Prophet indeed I am never tired of reading the Prophet and I feel this book immortalizes me and of course after reading this book I felt an immortal. Death is just a respite and it does not terminate our existence. I really believe in the immortality of soul now and the seeming decadence of life or this physical self is not the end of everything. Of course if I have only seven days to live I will read this book over and over and this will immortalize me eternally. Of course anyone wishing to be immortal in life must read it. This is one of the less highlighted or underrated book and it has never been praised enough. The writer was a mystic and he is the one who has delineated mystic experiences to us and hardly any other writers among the ones I have read have gone so far in unfolding truth to us

[Lokasenna]

Hmm...

Though it is certainly not scholarly, I'd almost certainly go for Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman. At least that way my last few days would be filled with laughter!

[Katy North]

I'd be reading "Madeline", "Harold and the Purple Crayon", "Little Gorilla", and Thomas the Tank Engine books to my little boy.

[Ashbe Maeur]

I'd be reading "Madeline", "Harold and the Purple Crayon", "Little Gorilla", and Thomas the Tank Engine books to my little boy.

That's beautiful.

[downing]

I'd read every day another book so there goes the list: Brothers Karamazov, To Kill a Mockingbird, Gone with the Wind, The Mayor of Casterbridge, Uncle Tom's Cabin, The Portrait of a Lady and East of Eden.

[Satan]

Dan Brown and Stephanie Meyer. I will embrace death with open arms after that marathon.

[Idril]

Hmm...

Though it is certainly not scholarly, I'd almost certainly go for Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman. At least that way my last few days would be filled with laughter!

I love that book. And I love how you can tell which bits Terry wrote and which bits Neil wrote.

I think I would choose Independent People by Halldór Laxness. It's just such a beautiful book, depressing as hell, but beautifully written, every line is like poetry. It would be a sort of consolation, a reminder that life is hard and miserable anyway so I'm better off dead. :lol:

[Uberzensch]

Anna Karenina or Les Miserables.

[Michael T]

I fear that with only seven days to live - no book could pull me away from the other activities I would be shamelessly indulging in! :devil:

[DanielBenoit]

Shakespeare and Rumi, endlessly.

[Heathcliff]

Dan Brown and Stephanie Meyer. I will embrace death with open arms after that marathon.
You're going to spend your last days becoming a Twilight nut?

I'd read some Garfield comics. Make me laugh.
Is there a 'How to write a last will and testament for dummies'? It could come in handy.
Might flick through the bible, maybe the bibles of a few other religions as well. At least I'll have something smart to say when I get to Heaven. ;) In all seriousness, if I hadn't obtainedenlightenment I'd have to get a move on, I'm sure th Good Book will help...

[Maryd.]

Dan Brown and Stephanie Meyer. I will embrace death with open arms after that marathon.

Yes, dear... After a few Dan Brown's books, I would embrac death with open arms as well. :smilewinkgrin:

[Heathcliff]

Yes, dear... After a few Dan Brown's books, I would embrac death with open arms as well. :smilewinkgrin:
After a heap of boring books you'd also embrace death with open arms. I mean, seven days of reading the life story of the guy that invented the adjustable belt. I mean, whoop-de-doo.