Books that everyone should read

Summer is just a few day away, and I am sure we are all trying to decide which book to read first. Personally, I am rereading The Great Gatsby before the movie comes out. In order to get some ideas for what to read, I often look at the top sellers on Amazon. Other times, I look for lists of must-read books. This got me thinking...what makes a book a must-read book? We all have such different tastes when it comes to literature, so it seems pretty bold to say that a book is number one on the list. Whenever people ask me for book suggestions, I get nervous that they will not agree with my tastes. My mom even thinks I am weird because I enjoyed 1984. Apparently, it wasn't her cup of tea.

Anyway... I thought I would post some suggestions for the fun of it. My first is definitely Beloved by Toni Morrison. This isn't a happy novel by any means, but it is such a beautiful tragedy. Next, as I said before, I really enjoyed 1984. Actually, I'll add another Orwell to the list: Animal Farm. That was one of the few books that I actually enjoyed in high school. If you are looking for a few laughs (and you have a dry humor), I suggest adding some Kurt Vonnegut to your life. I read Breakfast of Champions on the plane once, and I could not stop cracking up! I am not usually into fantasy novels, but I enjoyed reading Winter's Tale by Mark Helprin in my American fiction class. It is a long one, but it isn't a complex read. Also, there is apparently a movie coming out in the near future. Last but not least, I highly suggest A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan. This is the book that is famous for the powerpoint chapter, and it is a pretty light read.

I could probably sit here and think of a few more books, but that could take all day. Here is a cool compilation of must read books from a website:

What are some books that you highly recommend?