After I graduated, I read almost everything at my branch library. I still hit it up regularly.
I strongly back up Sapiens' Confederacy of Dunces recommend. Until you've read that, you haven't read American lit. Not to sound condescending, but wow. What a book.
Also, Tropic of Cancer, Canticle for Liebowitz, everything Sinclair Lewis wrote but especially Babbit, For Whom The Bell Tolls, Jude the Obscure is a definite, Crime and Punishment, graphic novelist Peter Bagge would be in line with your region - he's great, also Will Eisner - a former Disney GA who drew the most amazing graphic novels about the development of ethnic life in NYC - Dropsie Avenue is stunning, and Maus I and II.
From more recent times, Richard Russo is very good at describing the current climate on upstate New York. With him though, he tends to write the same book over and over, but the details are good.
Yeah, I don't get out much.
edit: Persepolis I and II. Marjane Satrapi rocks my world.
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I think the Apocalypse is happening all around us. We go on eating desserts and watching TV. I know I do. I wish we were more capable of sustained passion and sustained resistance. We should be screaming and what we do is gossip. -Lydia Millet
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