Easily the Count of Monte Cristo. It was the first book that I would call literature that I read and got a sense of what is possible with a truly great book, especially in terms of scope. Really got me into reading again after giving it up for most of my university life. Read it about 3 years ago and am looking forward to re-reading it in the near future. Can't recommend it enough.
It is by far the best prose in a book I have ever read imho
I was interesting to see if this would be here as Reddit seems to be in love with it, but I can't for the life of me see why. I really enjoyed it up until he escaped from the prison. The bits with Edmond and the Abbé in the Château d'If were amazing, but as soon as he escaped and became the Count, I lost all interest in the character and ultimately the book. After that, I found it incredibly tedious and confusing, with hundreds of characters (and pages). The ending didn't even feel worth it as it was so incredibly predictable, and it felt more like relief when I finished it than anything else. The only other person I know who's read it agrees with me. I'm curious to hear what other people liked about the book that I clearly did not.
I agree that the end was rather predicable, but then that can be said about a lot of books. Regardless, the most excitement for me came not from wondering how it will end, but from the elaborate process of revenge. That, and generally seeing a character so thoroughly taking on the role of delivering providence and how this affects him. Even after everything he does for revenge, does any of it really make up for the years and years of drawn out suffering that the others so easily forced on him? But in saying all that, this was one of the first books I read, so maybe when I reread it I will be as disappointed as when I went back to Magician.