There are a few classics I should mention. I was a literature major after all. By no means a comprehensive list.

A Tale of Two Cities	Charles Dickens	Nothing makes me cry like the end of this lovely novel.
Huckleberry Finn	Mark Twain	THE great American novel. Principal Seymour Skinner can cross out the sassback all he wants; I'll just find another copy.
Wuthering Heights	Emily Bronte	The first gothic novel. Everyone should read this haunting favorite, if just to understand references to it.
The Great Gatsby	F. Scott Fitzgerald	The novel of the Jazz Age. Another one of those must read books. Gatsby's library contained real books; shouldn't yours?
Gone With the Wind	Margaret Mitchell	Scarlet O'Hara is a captivating character. This is a must read for any writer, as it is frequently an example in how-to-write books.
To Kill a Mockingbird	Harper Lee	This is a beautifully crafted tale full of childhood innocence and the harshness of reality. Highly recommended.
Winesburg, Ohio	Sherwood Anderson	What a witty and insightful piece this is; you really should give it a read.