As an avid reader, my reading list is never ending. I just continually add to it; it's really a problem. My entire bookshelf at home is part of it, plus the books I have in my wishlists on Amazon and Thrift Books. As someone who sometimes struggles with what to read next (even though I have a whole list), I understand it can be hard to pick just one. Here are some books on my "All-Time Favorites" list.
1. J.D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye
Narrated by the great cynical voice that is Holden Caulfield, The Catcher in the Rye is not only a great piece of literature but a book that anyone who has experienced being a teenager can relate to. The story follows Holden and his sarcastic observations about his experiences when he is expelled from Prep-school. Get it here: http://www.thriftbooks.com/w/the-catcher-in-the-rye_jd-salinger/246421/#isbn=0316769487
2. Margaret Atwood's Alias Grace
Alias Grace tells the story of 16 year-old Grace Marks who was tried for the murder of her employer and his mistress. The book takes place in a 19th century jail, where Grace is telling her story to Dr. Simon Jordan, who is somewhat of a mystery himself. One thing I love about this book is that Atwood allows the reader to make their own judgments about Grace's guilt or innocence. Get it here: http://www.thriftbooks.com/w/alias-grace_margaret-atwood/247800/#isbn=0385490445
3. Neil Gaiman's The Graveyard Book
A fantastic book about childhood and growth, The Graveyard Book tells the story of Nobody ("Bod") who escapes his family's murder as a toddler and finds his way to a graveyard nearby. Figuring the boy is orphaned, the graveyard's ghosts adopt him and Bod grows up in a tomb. Told in short scenes, the book follows Bod and his adventures from child to teen as he learns to navigate life (and death). Get it here: http://www.thriftbooks.com/w/the-graveyard-book-by-neil-gaiman/246752/#isbn=0060530944
4. Neil Gaiman's Coraline
Coraline is a fantastic novel for kids and adults alike. Probably my favorite book by Neil Gaiman (I know I have two of his books on here but he's just amazing), Coraline is about a girl who moves to an older house with her preoccupied parents where they live with their eccentric neighbors. On a particularly rainy day, Coraline finds a door that leads to a mirror-world. There she finds her "Other Mother" and a fantastically scary adventure ensues. Get it here: http://www.thriftbooks.com/w/coraline-by-neil-gaiman/246107/#isbn=0061649694
5. Mark Haddon's The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
A murder mystery of sorts, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is told from the perspective of autistic teen Christopher John Francis Boone. One night he stumble across the body of his neighbor's poodle, Wellington, impaled with a garden fork. When Wellington's owner comes out to find Christopher holding her dead dog, she has him arrested. After spending the night in jail, Christopher decides to solve the mystery of Wellington's death. Clever, funny, and genuinely moving, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is a must-read. Get it here: http://www.thriftbooks.com/w/the-curious-incident-of-the-dog-in-the-night-time_mark-haddon/249114/#isbn=1400032717
