Top 10 Best Modern Classic Books

This is a list to fill the gap on this site, where classic books are either from 200 years ago or ten minutes ago. Books from the 1900s seem to be totally ignored.

The Top Ten

To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee

This book is still an affecting and touching read in the modern day, and its strength at the time of its release must have been devastating.
Lord of the Flies - William Golding

Both a thoroughly moving and engaging read, Lord Of The Flies succeeds in using horrific images to exalt a clever plot and devastating message, rather than to hide from little overall depth. The social commentary delivered by this book is classic, unmatched by such books as 1984 in how enjoyable a read it is.

Just read it. Adults can do much worse.
It - Stephen King
The Catcher in the Rye - J. D. Salinger

If you read this unaware of the depth lurking below the casual, if unambitious, surface, it could easily be passed by and written off as a narrative capable of strong adolescent summaries. But a closer look, particularly at the metaphor from which the book takes its name, reveals an unforgettable work highlighting the hollowness of morals applicable to any reader's life.
The Burning Soul - John Connolly
The Day of the Triffids - John Wyndham

A perfect blend of tension, horror, sci-fi, happiness, and so much else. Moreover, John Wyndham was a consistent author, pumping out masterpiece after masterpiece.
Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck

The eternity of the character of Lenny alone is enough to elevate this book significantly. Not a reader can evade a considerable amount of pity for the classic, well-drawn characters. Being taught at many schools makes it one of the only widely read classics. It's an emotion-manipulating read, guaranteed to leave the reader with its tale and message strongly embedded in their mind.
Gone - Michael Grant
1984 - George Orwell

Although at times 1984 can be a difficult and slow-burning read, and the characters are not exceptionally deep or memorable, all is terrifyingly validated by the sheer genius of Orwell's philosophy and the realism of the described threat.

One man against the whole monster-system, in memories.

Dystopia at its best. Absolutely chilling.
The Book Thief - Markus Zusak

A touching, accessible, and enjoyable read - I doubt anyone will complain about its presence on the list, but nor is it the greatest novel of the past hundred years. Its depth is somewhat commercialized and overplayed by its recent popularity, but it reminds us that capable authors are still among us.

The Newcomers

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About a Boy - Nick Hornby
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The Bell Jar - Sylvia Plath

The Contenders

Animal Farm - George Orwell

A bite-sized taste of Orwell's genius and communism in general, it's an excellent introduction for younger or less experienced readers into a world that could entirely change the way they see the existence around them. Although it remains solely as an allegory, never delving into such strong opinions as 1984, it's a very comfortable read that still offers depth, as well as being a gripping, blackly humorous, and ironic novel.

I read this book last semester and really liked it. I learned a lot about the Russian Revolution and how evil Stalin was. Seeing how the citizens had to suffer made me kind of angry.
The Most Dangerous Game - Richard Connell
A Kestrel for a Knave - Barry Hines
Fahrenheit 451 - Ray Bradbury
One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel García Márquez
The Call of the Wild - Jack London
The Great Gatsby - F. Scott Fitzgerald
The Shining - Stephen King
Ready Player One - Ernest Cline
The Goldfinch - Donna Tartt
The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins
Brave New World - Aldous Huxley

The imagery in this book is not going to be easily forgotten. Without wishing to give away the climax, mass orgies in a classic work of literature are bound to raise eyebrows. But the fact that this book manages to pull it off already shows it will be a thrilling read from the beginning.
It couples excellently with 1984, the classic future dystopias showing the two extremities of human nature. Although shocking and horrific, Brave New World succeeds in delivering a terrifyingly accurate message.
All that keeps it from the top three is simply the weakness of the plotline. At the end of the day, that should be the key judging point of any novel. But the strength of the concept still manages to keep this book afloat.
Catch‑22 - Joseph Heller
Money: A Suicide Note - Martin Amis

I know, this might not be quite so well known, and if you have heard of it, you will most probably consider it to be ridiculous at times. But Martin Amis has had an effect on society, and never more than with this book.
In terms of simple quality and enjoyment of the read, this book is second to none, and is my favourite work in very recent history.
On the Road - Jack Kerouac

Classic. Must-read for anyone wanting more out of life.