Plot, characters, setting and, most especially, virtuosic writing make this my favorite book. What Jane Austen says in a sentence it takes semi-decent writers to say in a half chapter. And though it may seem genteel and light in subject, upon closer inspection, it is quite scathing and cynical in its critique on matters of money, society, love, marriage and class. It is done so cleverly and surreptitiously that it might take you a few tries to get it. I've only read it four times, so who know what will come to light on the fifth, whenever there is a fifth. The runner up:
I've only written about how much I love John Wieners poetry like a million times, so it might be surprising that a novel and not a book of poetry was listed as my favorite. Why do I say Pride and Prejudice first and foremost? Honestly, and this is very nerdy, I admit, I consider Pride and Prejudice a book and John Wiener's poetry I consider more of a friend. Chuckle chuckle, how nerdy, but it's true. I get engrossed in novels in a lovely escape. With poetry, it's more conscious and involved. Besides, I'm not sure I can really say Cultural Affairs (accidentally typed "Vultural" which was like a Freudian typo right?) is my favorite because I really love so many poems in all John Wiener's books.
I feel compelled, being the bibliophile that I am, to further include the whole of the Harry Potter series, Dover Thrift Edition's Selected Emily Dickinson, Robert Duncan's Fictive Certainties, Rimbaud Complete Works and Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility as Honorable Mentions.
There. I think that's everything...