One classic novel

Another vote for 'The Great Gatsby'. 'To Kill a Mockingbird' goes without saying. And I suppose I would add 'Mrs Dalloway' to the list. Ooh, and 'The Painted Veil'.

Persuasion (Austen) or Till we have Faces (Lewis). 

Pride and Prejudice... of course.  One of my all-time favorites.  And you also can't beat the BBC movie version with Colin Firth!


A few others I like...

The Picture of Dorian Gray, by Oscar Wilde
Romola, by George Eliot (Marian Evans)
Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen


I am an English major at university (graduating this coming May) so I have read more than anyone probably should!

Romola, by George Eliot (Marian Evans)

I keep meaning to start this book, and it's been on my bedside table for months. What can you say to convince me? 

Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen

I found this one to be one of her weakest. 

The Great Gatsby, definitely (as an adult). As a child, Charlotte's Web and The Secret Garden.

Far From The Madding Crowd - Thomas Hardy

I found this one to be one of her weakest. 

Gotta agree with Cait on this one, but it's a matter of taste.  I favor Persuasion simply because unlike her other books, it is a stand-alone narrative that doesn't rely on obscure period-based literary in-jokes.  And it's a ripping good story. 

I found this one to be one of her weakest. 

I enjoyed it for it's satirical approach to the traditional "gothic novel".... but maybe I'm just strange.  I also had a great professor teaching it to me, so that may be part of why I liked it so much 

I enjoyed it for it's satirical approach to the traditional "gothic novel".... but maybe I'm just strange.  I also had a great professor teaching it to me, so that may be part of why I liked it so much 

Fair enough    But I don't think you're strange!

The Catcher in the Rye

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

To Kill A Mockingbird

All completely different, but amazing and engaging!

The Woman Warrior, Memoirs of a Girlhood among Ghosts- Maxine Hong Kingston

Limited to more traditional classics, I'd pick The Canterbury Tales with a really good companion translation (although not technically a novel).

Always with me: 

Razor's Edge by Somerset Maugham
Peter Pan - Sir James M Barrie

Other enjoyable tidbits:

Little Bird - Anais Nin
Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen
Black Beauty - Anna Sewell

Books I usually have with me

Jane Eyre
Count of Monte Cristo
The Color Purple

Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen
I found this one to be one of her weakest. 

I just read it recently and I actually think it's my favourite of hers.

I'd have to say Jane Eyre.