Animal Farm

	Animal Farm, by George Orwell If you ever feel yourself beginning to fall for communist/socialist rhetoric, read this book. It also serves as a good manual on why communism failed as a reality, not to mention that it’s entertaining.
	Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley Watch out for the future, and hang on to your individualism.
	Como agua para chocolate (Like Water for Chocolate), by Laura Esquivel A terribly erotic and wonderful love story from the border region of Mexico that is an excellent example of Latin America’s latest literary trend: magical-realism. The movie is good as well.
	Dracula, by Bram Stoker I don’t know how many times this great horror classic has been made into a movie, but I can tell you now that none of them are half as good as the book.
	El Aleph (The Alef), by Jorge Luis Borges Among the finest of all the Latin American authors ever, Borges has always been snubed for the Nobel Prize due to some unfortunate political conflicts. This, however, doesn't change the fact that his work is absolutely increadible.
	Hamlet, by William Shakespeare Take your time reading this one so that you can catch all the subtleties. The real question is: is Hamlet really crazy or not?
	L’�tranger (The Stranger), by Albert Camus A fascinating story about a man in prison between the time he commits murder and the time he is killed.
	Le Petit Prince (The Little Prince), by Antoine de Saint Exup�ry It’s probably better in the original French, but sense I don’t read French I had to settle for the English version. It’s really for children, but I include it on my list because I believe every human being should read this book. Perhaps the best book on this list.
	Light in August, by William Faulkner This is a great story by the American South’s definitive author. The simpleminded reader be forewarned however, Faulkner is no lazy writer and this is tough stuff.
	Lord of the Flies, by William Golding Every person should read this in middle school, and again by the time they graduate from high school. Golding’s genius is in explaining to human behavior in a way in which we can understand it: a story.
	Mr. Revere and I, by Robert Lawson This is a truly humorous look at the beginning of out nation, as told by Paul Revere’s horse.
	Notre-Dame de Paris (The Hunchback of Notre Dame), by Victor Hugo Try getting an older translation of this masterpiece that will preserve the flavor of Hugo’s rich style. The story line is superb.
	Our Sister Killjoy, by Ama Ata Aidoo This novel is the story of an African woman who travels to Europe to see the land of her colonizers. It will challange anyone's prejidices and is increadibly written.
	Pygmalion, by George Bernard Shaw Although this play was made into the phenomenally successful movie "My Fair Lady," which isn’t all that bad, the original play is much better.
	Red Storm Rising, by Tom Clancy He may be a best seller author, but this is far and away Clancy’s best work. It is also the finest fictional creation of a Cold War era hot war ever written.
	Siddhartha, by Hermann Hesse This was originally written in German, but has been translated into just about every other language imaginable, and for good reason. This one is great for those who are feeling the urge to break out of their old molds and try something new.
	The Call of the Wild, by Jack London It would be a sin not to include this marvelous piece in my list of recommended books. The story itself is shorter than you think, and besides, London is one of my favorite authors.
	The Catcher in the Rye, by J. D. Salinger Warning, don’t read this book if you’re depressed. However, every teenager should read this book because it deals directly with that stress.
	The Grapes of Wrath, by John Steinbeck From a historical point of view this book is a wonderful portrayal of the Great Depression. From a literary point of view this book is a masterpiece.
	The Last of the Mohicans, by James Fenimore Cooper Not even Charles Dickens can hold a candle to Cooper’s masterful use of the English language for description. Definitely read the unabridged version. The story also serves as a great tutor on colonial American history in the time of the French and Indian War.
	Animal Farm, by George Orwell If you ever feel yourself beginning to fall for communist/socialist rhetoric, read this book. It also serves as a good manual on why communism failed as a reality, not to mention that it’s entertaining.
	The Lilies of the Field, by William E. Barrett The movie staring Sidney Portier is good, but the book is much better. A great feel-good book about love and faith, and a quick read.
	The Old Man and the Sea, by Ernest Hemingway There’s not a female in this book and as writing female characters was Hemingway’s only downfall, this book is without fault in my mind.
	Where the Red Fern Grows, by Wilson Rawls There are few stories that will touch your heart like this one. Have the Kleenex ready for the ending.