"The Odyssey" by Homer

Homer's epic poem receives such widespread attention for a reason—the tale of Odysseus' journey to Ithaca is a classic story with ideas that echo across literary and cultural waves. Though the Ancient Greek setting is a little bit alienating for modern readers, the characters and their interactions can still be appreciated without a full Classics degree from a university. Seeing Odysseus go from island to island as he loses crew members to his native land is a remarkable experience with several poignant moments littered throughout.

"Frankenstein" by Mary Shelley

As someone who doesn't enjoy most works from the Romantic era of art, it should be noteworthy that Frankenstein broke out of that barrier and became the exception. It's difficult to get into the story as the novel is told with the use of written letters conveying the plot, but once a reader adjusts to the writing style, the tale of a prodigal scientist's experiments in creating life and his attempts to destroy his own creation is both fascinating and horrific.

"Macbeth" by William Shakespeare

Plays are certainly harder to read, but if read with an audiobook playing in the background, Macbeth sings as a play about a king's fated rise to power and his fall. The conviction that the characters display as they speak is awe-inspiring, as are the ideas of fate and attempts to challenge it. King Macbeth's descent into corrupt leadership and his redeeming moment towards the climax of the play are worth witnessing, not just to appreciate the more eloquent Elizabethan language, but also to enjoy a character's development.

"The Sound and The Fury" by William Faulkner

If anyone says they fully understood this book when they first read it, they are lying and you should call them out for it. The plot's development is fragmented and non-linear, meaning time bounces back and forth without indicating the shift to the reader. This may appear daunting and turn away readers, but those who can stay will find a complex story of a dysfunctional family that experiences loss, suffering, and several other conflicts. Bearing witness to their suffering may not be pleasant, but seeing how they persevere in spite of these struggles enhances one's enjoyment of the novel.

"The Stranger" by Albert Camus

"The Stranger" is easily the easiest work to read on this list, but while the writing style isn't too tough, that doesn't mean the subject matter or the ideas follow suit. The narrator is a character who appears misleadingly simple on the surface as someone who doesn't care about anyone or anything, but he grows increasingly complex throughout the novel. Camus' work challenges our notions of what to expect out of a character and narrator while also challenging us to appreciate this character in spite of his crimes and his behavior. The work's brevity and style make it a quick read, but it will no doubt remain on a reader's mind well beyond their completion of the novel.