Think you have a better list? Visit our book forum and let us know!

What makes a book great? Is it about allegorical plots or groundbreaking literary styles?

In our opinion a great book is one that you really enjoy reading, one that you can pick up again years after first reading it and enjoy the second, third and fouth readings as much as the first.

This is a list of some of our favourite books that we feel should be read at least once in your lifetime. Compiling a list of the best books is very difficult and we will have undoubtedly missed out some brilliant titles- why not compile your own top ten on our Book Forum and compare your choices to other peoples?

Everyone's list of favourites is highly personal, there are classic titles that I love, and those I don't, but hopefully some of the books below would also make your list of favourites. I have by no means managed to read every book in the world- in fact I have barely scratched the surface so will no doubt have missed out some great reads, but I will update the list as soon as I read have read a book I deem good enough to make the list.

Anna Karenina - Leo Tolstoy

The Great Gatsby - F Scott Fitzgerald

The Grapes Of Wrath - John Steinbeck

1984- George Orwell

The Lord Of The Rings - JRR Tolkien