Nostromo
A sweeping masterpiece considered by many to be Conrad’s greatest novel. More
Dan Harris
I used to read to lead a lot of fiction, mostly for the escape—to be transported to other places and times. More
Under the Volcano
A landmark of modernism, hailed as “one of the towering novels of this century” (New York Times). More
The Crying of Lot 49
This highly original satire is a classic of postmodern literature. More
Pilgrim at Tinker Creek
Pulitzer Prize winner; considered one of the classic works of creative nonfiction of the late twentieth century. More
A Prayer for Owen Meany
Irving’s beloved coming-of-age tale that ranks among the most cherished of American classics. More
The 42nd Parallel
The first volume of the “brilliantly original” (Alfred Kazan) U.S.A. trilogy, a landmark of modernism. More
Pilgrim
A finalist for the Giller Prize and a Canadian bestseller that surpassed the author’s own impressive sales records. More
The Sheltering Sky
Bowles’s landmark literary novel, a classic work of psychological terror. More
The Wapshot Chronicle
Winner of the 1958 National Book Award, it established Cheever as a major American novelist. More
Our Town
Pulitzer Prize–winning drama; hailed by Edward Albee as “The finest play ever written by an American.” More
T. C. Boyle
I read in the way that I breathe, as a necessity of life. More
Life on Earth
Established Sir David as a foremost naturalist and an iconic and beloved figure in British cultural life. More
V.
Winner of the William Faulkner Foundation Award for best debut novel in 1963. More
Tom Robbins
I write to twine ideas and images into big subversive pretzels of life, death, and goofiness—on the chance that, like the Trickster figure in tribal myths, they might help keep the world lively and give it the flexibility to endure. More
Michael Chabon
The first writer that I really fell in love with was Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, in particular his Sherlock Holmes stories, and the first story that I ever wrote was a Sherlock Holmes story. More
The Monkey Wrench Gang
Classic, irreverent novel that helped spark the modern movement of environmental activism. More
Matt Haig
It sounds ridiculous, but reading saved my life. More
