THE great American novel
A slightly unlikely choice as the best American Novel of the 20th century, but "Moby Dick" was an unlikely books to be the great American novel of the 19th century, too, wasn't it? A caveat: this book has to be read with care, attention, perseverance, and possibly a guide. If you do that, it will burst into bloom for you.
Yes, it's the book your literature teacher wants you to read. But don't hold that against it. The Gothic Southern plot is much less important than what Faulkner does....read it as an example of what novelmaking can be at its best