I forgot about Confederacy for Dunces. Laughed out loud!

Anonymous wrote:Wait, wait. Can I add:

Midnight's Children, Rushdie
Libra, DeLillo
The God of Small Things, Roy
The Tiger's Wife, Obreht
Echo House, Just
The Mysteries of Pittsburgh, Chabon

I forgot about DeLillo. His books are definitely among my favorites. Pure poetry. I never read Libra though. White Noise, Underworld, and The Body Artist were lovely.

Sophie's Choice, William Styron
Bluebeard, Kurt Vonnegut

And another vote for Midnight's Children (Salman Rushdie) and Skinny Legs and All (Tom Robbins), both of which have already been mentioned.

Anonymous wrote:OK, Owen Meany fans. Loved it too, but read it as an adult -- do you think high school boys would like it? Always looking for good reads to pass on to my sons.

It was first assigned to me in high school -- AP literature. The class almost universally loved it, so I assume your sons would too.

Anonymous wrote:Gone With The Wind is a disgrace. It is an apology for racism and slavery. It was written in the 1930's for God's Sake, not the 19th Century!

OP didn't ask for an opinion on someone's selection. She asked "Best novel you have ever read" and does not specify a particular era.

Wuthering Heights

Tess of the D'Urbervilles

And more modern picks:

Prodigal Son (Barbara Kingsolver)

Prep (Curtis Sittenfeld)

The Wonder Spot (Melissa Banks)

A Tale of Two Cities

OP here...thanks to all posters! I am filling up my Kindle. I usually read nonfiction and reread Undset's books when I need fiction, but this has been inspiring. Please, continue!

Wait, wait. Can I add:

Midnight's Children, Rushdie
Libra, DeLillo
The God of Small Things, Roy
The Tiger's Wife, Obreht
Echo House, Just
The Mysteries of Pittsburgh, Chabon

Anonymous wrote:Tie between "Gone With the Wind" and "War and Peace." GWTW is considered the American W&P.

Really????

OK, Owen Meany fans. Loved it too, but read it as an adult -- do you think high school boys would like it? Always looking for good reads to pass on to my sons.

This is my favorite DCUM thread EVER--thank you!!

I'm a former English major and devour books every chance I can get and reading these lists brought back soooo many good memories, I have not heard of some of the books so I'm adding the$ to my Kindle list asap.

I can't believe there's someone else on this thread who cried at the end of Owen Meany! I read it on a beach in Belize 15 years ago with my then-boyfriend, now DH. He thought I was crazy and I didn't even try and explain

Other favs;

Fountainhead
Love in the Time of Cholera, Marquez, shaped my thinking about life and love on so many levels
Crossing to Safety, Stegner, such a beatiful story!
Cat's Eye, and anything by Atwood,really
Beloved and anything by Toni Morrison
Everything by Bronte. Jane Austen
House of Mirth
House of Spirits and almost everything else by Allende
Grapes of Wrath, OMG that final scene
On the Road
Confederacy of Dunces (love that someone else included it!)

I could go on and on...can't wait to hear others' favs

Slouching Toward Bethlehem - Joan Didion - best summer read novel from long ago

Interpreter of Maladies - Jumpa Lahiri

Cutting For Stone - Abraham Vergese

Second: English Patient, Possession, This Much I Know Is True

Anonymous wrote:Once and Future King
Gone With the Wind
Winters Tale
Outlander series-got me through bedrest pregnancy
gatsby
Room With a View
James Michener

plus all the love[ly] classics

Thank you! How could I forget the Outlander series!? Diana Gabaldon is such a great writer. I've actually read through that series twice. Can't wait for the next one. I think I need to go to the IHTT thread and add Jamie Fraser to the list

Miles to Go by Miley Cyrus.