1. "The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald – A timeless classic that delves into the decadence and disillusionment of the Roaring Twenties, told through the eyes of the enigmatic Jay Gatsby.
2. "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee – A powerful and poignant story that tackles themes of racism, injustice, and morality in the American South.
3. "1984" by George Orwell – A chilling dystopian novel that explores the dangers of totalitarianism and the erosion of individual freedoms.
4. "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen – A witty and charming novel that follows the romantic entanglements of the spirited Elizabeth Bennet and the aloof Mr. Darcy.
5. "The Catcher in the Rye" by J.D. Salinger – A coming-of-age novel that captures the angst and alienation of adolescence, told through the rebellious voice of Holden Caulfield.
6. "Beloved" by Toni Morrison – A haunting and lyrical novel that explores the legacy of slavery and the enduring trauma it leaves behind.
7. "One Hundred Years of Solitude" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez – A mesmerizing and epic tale that follows the Buendia family through generations, blending magical realism with historical events.
8. "Mrs. Dalloway" by Virginia Woolf – A modernist masterpiece that delves into the inner thoughts and emotions of its characters as they navigate a single day in post-World War I London.
9. "Invisible Man" by Ralph Ellison – A searing and complex exploration of race, identity, and invisibility in America, told through the eyes of an unnamed African American protagonist.
10. "The Bell Jar" by Sylvia Plath – A raw and introspective novel that follows the mental unraveling of its protagonist, Esther Greenwood, as she struggles with societal expectations and her own inner demons.