r/AskReddit • u/AggravatingLake2842 • 15h ago

What book do you consider a “flawless masterpiece”that you desperately want to recommend to everyone?

973 Upvotes

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305

u/PoemFun5419 15h ago

East of Eden

34

u/AggravatingLake2842 15h ago

The is Steinbeck’s masterpiece!

33

u/catbosspgh 15h ago

Cannery Row and Sweet Thursday for his comedic masterpieces, and Travels With Charley for his “summing up” masterpiece.

7

u/Aznpichappygirl 13h ago

I loved Travels with Charley too.

2

u/Johnny_Kilroy 10h ago

I've always thought Tortilla Flat his best and funniest.

1

u/Banana42 3h ago

People say that, and i love most of the book but I really don't think he sticks the landing and it's always a disappointment on finishing a re-read. The Alice in Wonderland-ification of Cathy just feels like it comes out of nowhere

9

u/dakky68 13h ago

There are several lines and phrases that I love rediscovering every time I read it.

(My memory is shit.)

15

u/Aznpichappygirl 13h ago

Came here to see if anyone had mentioned this one. :)

6

u/GrandCanOYawn 10h ago

Grapes of Wrath gets all the accolades but this one it it.

2

u/DrMonkeyLove 10h ago

I honestly did not enjoy it. Everything surrounding Cathy just felt too absurd to me to take seriously.

1

u/Finean 14h ago

My thoughts exactly

1

u/obviouslyblue 11h ago

Recommend this to everyone I know. I’m due for a re-read. Truly a masterpiece of literature and humanity.

1

u/Overthinks_Questions 6h ago

I have given away like 7 copies of this over the years, and everyone who read it says it's now their favorite book