#60. "The Dark Tower: Part VII - The Dark Tower" by Stephen King

Despite being one of the most prolific authors in modern history, sometimes averaging three books a year, there has been nothing that has meant as much to Stephen King as his work on "The Dark Tower" series. To general audiences, it's hard to see why given how deep it dives into complex fantasy, mixing genres and styles with a lexicon all its own. The central figure is a gunslinger named Roland, but his partners come from different "when's" and the journey features diversions to different "where's." Considering that the first book started as a compilation of short stories, it would be difficult to get new audiences on board without some forward. Still, what it presents is one of the ultimate visions of King as an author: passionate about everything in literature and pop culture, and yes... this does include himself.

So to get to the end of the saga isn't easy, in part because of a notorious car crash that plays heavily into the book's plot. There weren't any guarantees that King would be alive to make this novel possibly. By that measure, this is the ultimate miracle in fantasy literature. However, the love that this novel will get is based on how much King's best and worst literary tendencies annoy you. Following a muddled book in "The Song of Susannah," "The Dark Tower" starts with the feeling like the world is going to end, and it only builds to the harrowing conclusion. However, where the other novels took years and decades to appear, there's a rushed sense, even at a thousand pages, that comes with a finale. Much like everything else, endings aren't one of King's strong suits. Still, the road there is just as exciting as it is befuddling. 

#59. "A Separate Peace" by John Knowles

In the case of most war stories, there is violence caused by enlisting in the military and going overseas. While it's true that John Knowles' "A Separate Peace" ends with the characters finally being old enough to join, the majority of the 200 pages don't have a single bomb dropped. There is no great outbreak that directly impacts the characters. What Knowles chooses to focus on instead is the childlike wonder that slowly gets deconstructed because of what is unseen. The book is about friendships that end because of one mistake, reflecting a counterpoint to war that is itself just as heartbreaking as any battlefield. The story may be small by nature, but the emotions that fly through the book are real, managing to capture youthful angst that informs the rest of the characters' lives, long after the final chapter has finished. It's a touching book and one that proves that you don't have to be fighting in a war to have it impact you on a subconscious level.

#58. "Slaughterhouse-Five" by Kurt Vonnegut

It is safe to say that there haven't been too many writers like Kurt Vonnegut. Even when he tackles war as evident in "Slaughterhouse-Five," he doesn't choose to go an entirely conventional way. His approach involves alien invasions and time travel in a way that flies at breakneck speed, finding the audience jumping around a group of colorful characters lead by Billy Pilgrim. Long-time readers will likely remember figures like Kilgore Trout who make cameos in the book, adding to the strange texture of the novel. Still, with his own spin on war Vonnegut finds a way to turn the subject on its head, finding the ultimate sci-fi approach to PTSD and the feeling of regret that comes with it. Even at its most abstract, it's one of the most profound looks through satire that have ever been put to the page. 

#57. "War and Peace" by Leo Tolstoy

Ever since its release in 1869, "War and Peace" has been considered the greatest novel in world literature, if just for its daunting size. While this has created an ordeal as to whether it's an easy or enjoyable read, what Leo Tolstoy's story proves to those willing to travel through its 1,300 pages is that it isn't just about war and peace. It's about the very fabric of humanity of Russian society at war with France, making the violence feel frightening even as it presents small moments of kindness amid the blood. It's a novel that's as much about history as it is deconstructing its true meaning of why certain figures like Napoleon Buonaparte and Tsar Alexander I rise to fame remembered centuries later. Tolstoy isn't just an obsessive when it comes to the minutiae of 500+ characters, it's about the ethos and logos behind them. Why is it considered the greatest novel ever written? It's probably because it says everything that needs to be said about being alive. You don't need to have been alive in the 19th century to appreciate this book, you simply need to open your heart. 

#56. "Dog Man: For Whom the Ball Rolls" by Dav Pilkey

The world of Dav Pilkey has been pretty sweet in the past few years. With his flagship series "Captain Underpants" now over 20 years old, it's strange to note how popular his work still is. Then again, nobody would expect the breakout spin-off series "Dog Man" to be nearly the hit that it now is (there is even a stage musical of it now). With seven books out, the series explores the misadventures of someone who is half dog, half-man, and all hero! The world only continues to grow into something stranger and more exciting as the supporting cast grows from initial villain Petey to feature adorable clones and henchmen shrunk to the size of fleas. "For Whom the Ball Rolls" continues to expand the absurd world in creativity while also establishing a deeper sense of purpose of characters. For a story featuring a superhero that eats nothing but cupcakes, the final results are rather touching.

#55. "Breakfast of Champions" by Kurt Vonnegut

There haven't been any writers like Kurt Vonnegut. Many have imitated him, but only he knew how to make a satire that explored American capitalism and indulgence in such absurd and simple language. With "Breakfast of Champions," he created a text that was audacious in spite of its soporific formatting as it explored a world where humanity was now mostly robots and the two people who navigated the world noticed the crumbling world around them. What the book lacks incoherent plot, it more than makes up for with an entertaining look into madness, finding Vonnegut exploring just what it means to be an artist, and how the world's miseries shouldn't keep him from trying to produce art.

#54. "The Last Picture Show" by Larry McMurtry

As one of the most acclaimed authors of the 20th century, Larry McMurtry had a gift for capturing life in the midwest. While best known for his western "Lonesome Dove," he has done more contemporary stories, though they might as well be set in the old west. "The Last Picture Show" takes place in Thalia, which is a town that is on the verge of becoming a ghost town and those who stay behind may waste away into obscurity. The story follows a group of teenagers who not only try to make the most of their small community, but it's also one about trying to get out and enjoy the best of life. It's full of humor and intimacy, capturing youth in all its acne-scarred glory. While it may be a bit meandering and lacking when compared to the Peter Bogdanovich film, it still manages to capture small-town life in a way that's unique and powerful at its best moments.