The Road by Cormac McCarthy (spartan language, straightforward prose that tell the story of life in a post-apocolyptic world; scarriest, most depressing book I’ve read in years. Highly recommended to those who think their life is a bit boring lately)

The Natural History of the Rich by Richard Conniff (answering the question Why are rich people assholes?)

TUNC by Lawrence Durrell (verbal play by a language master, telling the story of a deeply flawed love with a woman, corporate imprisonment, and lives none of us will recognize)

Hawksmoor by Peter Ackroyd (interwoven stories of murder in 18th & 20th C London; the language of 1721 is used brilliantly)

Strong Motion by Jonathan Franzen (a fabulously conceived, told, and written story of earthquakes and love)