I know. You're thinking, "Dammit, he's just trying to impress me. Dickens? Really?" I used to think the same thing when people would rave about Bleak House. But it turns out that Dickens's writing is surprisingly accessible, at times hilarious, and always beautiful. As for this novel, I happen to think A Tale of Two Cities might be the most heartbreaking story I've ever read.

Speaking of hilarious, this wartime story of pilots who are told they will get to go home if they reach a certain mission tally, only to have that tally raised each time they near it, should hit home with anyone who's ever questioned authority and been able to laugh about it later.

Told from the German perspective in World War I, this novel seemed as intimidating as a my first Calculus class when I picked it up. But I was pleasantly surprised by the approachability of its message: War sucks, no matter which side you're on.

People will say that Rand represents everything that is wrong with capitalistic culture. In The Fountainhead (as in Atlas Shrugged), she espouses the philosophy that one doesn't have to apologize for talent, which some on the right would have us think means we can oppress those without it. But at the core of her novels is the belief that each of us should measure ourselves against what we're capable of, not against what others think of us. Fortunately, she tells her parable in surprisingly entertaining form.

In my mind, The Jungle is the perfect companion piece to anything by Rand. It reminds us that capitalism, while all well and good without corruption, creates a mess when meatpackers in Chicago around the turn of the 20th century abuse workers of Lithuanian origin. At times, it's heartbreaking; at others, entertaining. But it's an easy read, especially for something written in 1906.

Chalk up another eye roll. Sounds pretentious, doesn't it? But this story of lifelong pining for the one who got away should hit close to home for anyone with a pulse.

See above for my thoughts on Dickens. Curling up with Great Expectations is like a bearskin rug in front of a roaring fire on a cold January night. Rich, cozy, and rewarding - especially if there's a naked model on the bearskin rug.

Calling this a "classic" might be a stretch, as Wolfe is still the possessor of a pulse. But this is my list. Almost anything he's written could find its way on here; his writing is comfortable and easy, making his books accessible ones. This one in particular, though, mixes his great storytelling abilities with his best plot.

I was loaned Rabbit, Run by the 55-year-old woman who lives across the street from me, which only added to the nervous feeling I got whenever I looked at the novel. I assumed that, if she liked it, there was no way I would. As usual, I was wrong. There's existential despair, regret, and sex, and all of it is believable, thanks to Updike's talent with the pen.

I can't explain why, but I spent most of my life assuming that this book was vastly overrated, but I did so without actually reading it. It has become so much a part of our culture that I associated Kesey's first book with the Beatles and Andy Warhol. That is, things people claim to like because they're afraid they'll look stupid if they don't. I was wrong. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is funny and approachable, and one of the best books I've ever read. Andy Warhol though. . .

Irving is my second-favorite author, behind Richard Russo. Like Russo, he's still alive, but I think he's old enough to make it onto this list. Like the rest of Irving's books, The World According to Garp is zany and weird and funny - and great.

One of, I think, three books we read in my high school English class, 1984 seems more prescient with each passing day. Strange then, that it's actually fun to read.

Hipsters would have you believe that East of Eden is the superior work by Steinbeck. Hipsters would also have you believe that The XX put out the best album of 2009. They're wrong on both accounts. In my life, four books have made me cry. This is one of them.