- Plot and character matter. As much as I might like Mrs. Dalloway and think it is a signal work of English literature, I realize that a good portion of the reading public find its style daunting. So fairly readable plots and carefully realized characters matter.
- Timeliness is close to godliness. People already know about Catch-22, To Kill a Mockingbird, The Great Gatsby, and so on. They’re out there; I think what people are really asking is “what would I like that maybe I don’t know about?” Somehow the more established and canonical a novel is, no matter how much we think someone might like it, the less likely they are to be excited about reading it.
- Endings make all the difference. Readers will forgive a great deal if the ending resonates, rends the heart, lifts the spirits, brings a tear, or otherwise elicits a powerful reaction. In no particular order:
What books would you recommend (almost) unequivocally?
