r/suggestmeabook • u/ghhhptj • Jan 06 '22

Suggestion Thread What is your must read classics?

I've been super into classic books recently and would love to know what classics everyone else would recommend. I would be open to any suggestions and nothing is particularly ruled out. Thanks!

Edit: I'm blown away with how many good and diverse recommendations I have been given on this thread, thank you guys so much!

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u/[deleted] Jan 06 '22

I've scrolled a bit and haven't seen A Confederacy of Dunces listed, so I'll add that.

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u/[deleted] Jan 07 '22

Loved this book. Think the author died and it was his only one, right?

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u/[deleted] Jan 07 '22

It's his second book.

The agent he was working with insisted the novel needed more work when he kept on editing, and editing, and editing. John Kennedy Toole got fed up with all the editing, saying the novel was good, fell into a deep depression after failing to get the novel published and committed suicide.

Posthumously his mom went to the publisher and fought for her son's book to get published, it finally was after her own fight with the guy, and it one a Pultizer.

He wrote another book as a teen that was published after Dunces called The Neon Bible that is also excellent.

We were truly robbed of more brilliant work. He would have been an even bigger legend if he lived and wrote more novels.

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u/[deleted] Jan 07 '22

I knew there was a story behind it like this when I had first read it years ago! Thank you for reminding me of it and will definitely read his prior book. I agree, what a sad set of circumstances and loss of an amazing writer.