Moby-Dick

I was surprised by some of the negative reviews here but after some reflection, I guess I might have reacted that way when I was younger - maybe even worse, since I read only the Cliff Notes. But years later, I found in Moby Dick a fascinating first-hand account of mid-19th Century life (It's fiction, I know, but Melville wrote using his personal experiences.) From the streets of New Bedford to Nantucket to the Seven Seas, this is an intimate account that puts the reader in the experience.

Melville excels at bringing his characters to life with all their quirks and idiosyncrasies, making them fully three dimensional in their humanity with both sincerity and humor.

There's also a powerful spiritual undercurrent that weaves throughout the story involving prophecy, human potential and symbolism that makes this book a great classic.

I know it's not everyone's cup of tea. But if you're on the fence about reading it, I recommend reading another work by Melville first: Bartleby the Scrivener is i think, more relatable to the 21st Century reader and a good way to ease into Melville's world.