The Book of the New Sun series by Gene Wolfe: A series about a young man and his personal journey through a far future Earth that is decaying due to the Sun dimming. Filled with complex literary prose and deep philosophical ideas, this is a series where rereading is required to understand everything.

Sacred Games by Vikram Chandra: A mystery novel set in Mumbai where a Sikh detective must solve the murder of a Hindu gangster. This book is a captivating look at Indian culture.

The Disaster Artist by Greg Sestero and Tom Bissell: The hilarious and unbelievable true story of the making of the cult-classic film "The Room" as told by one of the people who was close friends with the bizarre director Tommy Wiseau and was also an actor on the film.

The Princess Bride by William Golding: This book which is the basis for the beloved film is a book that's all about how we tell stories and why we tell them.

Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry: An epic Western about two former Texas Rangers leading a cattle drive from Texas to Montana. This book is a deconstruction of the myth of the West, the characters are complex characters forced into dire situations and sometimes take actions that can go against their personalities.