LOL, I hope nobody minds my interfering in this thread (bad pun, sorry, I'm still a newbie).
I think you've got quite a list and I can't really argue with any of those, I will just add some more.
Les Miserables by Victor Hugo. I think that book is the most well-written book out there. But it's long, beware.
Les Liaisons Dangeruses by De Laclos. Great stuff. Scintillating, scandalous, oooh baby.
Ordinary People by Judith Guest. Not exactly a cheery book (not that the others are either), but it's a great read, especially for teens and it's usually a requirement in high school English classes.
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain. Yeah, you may think it's a "kid's" book but it is so much more and you will discover that the more times you read it.
David Copperfield by Charles Dickens...nothing to do with the magician.
Circle of Friends by Maeve Binchy. Great stuff, lots of Irish culture in there and the book is *soo* much more fulfilling than the movie.
In Praise of Folly by Desiderius Erasmus. Not exactly a book, but Erasmus is great stuff.
The Holy Bible various authors. You may not be a believer, but I think there's a lot to learn from it.
Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maude (L.M.) Montgomery. The entire series is a wonderful read for girls of all ages. And so is the
Emily of New Moon trilogy by the same author.
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. A definite classic.
Gargantua and Pantagruel by Francois Rabelais. Very funny stuff but it's also ohmygosh, that is sick!
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy. Wonderful epic.
Shakespeare not much needed to be said.
The Deep End of the Ocean by Jaqueline Mitchard. Sigh, very emotional stuff.
anything by Katherine Paterson but especially
Jacob Have I Loved
Hmm, I'm sure there's more and I'll add them later.
tania
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All I Want Is You (2)