Thursday 26 September 2013

Booking Through Thursday: Best or Favourite?

Booking Through Thursday is a weekly meme, hosted by btt2, about (mostly) books and reading.



Are “best” and “favourite” the same thing? If someone asked you “What’s the best book you ever read?” would the answer be the same as for “What’s your favourite?”


I'd like to say yes, because that would be easier. Haha, but no, I don't think they are, so bear with me. Saying best and favourite are the same is pretty much the equivalent  of saying, say, all cheeses are the same. They're not. Different flavour, different texture, etc, etc.. "Best" books could mean anything, you know? Best one you've read all year, or month, or in a while, or in it's genre or even one that really surprised you. It doesn't necessarily mean it's the best book ever, or your favourite. Favourite books don't come easily, favourites are the ones that stick around forever, that stay in your head for ages after reading, and maybe ones you have to read regularly. Favourites also doesn't mean that they're the best book in existence, sometimes their the ones you struggled through, or made you feel something.

It's hard to pick the best book I've ever read because I've read so many, so I'm saying this year. And the best one I've read this year was All Our Yesterdays.

My favourite? I'm sticking with this year, too, and besides I can't just pick one Harry Potter, or Vampire Academy so I'm sticking with the solo's. The Fault in Our Stars.

So no,  my "best" and "favourite" are not the same, and in context are totally different.