Jude the Obscure
Thomas Hardy
"The book is called Jude the Obscure. It's by Thomas Hardy. And I've known about it for years; my mom recommended it to me. She actually told me I wasn't allowed to read it until I was 21 because it was such a tragic story, and it turned out to be my favorite book of all time.
I think anybody can identify with this book. The characters are so complex, perhaps more than any other book I've read. They're so dynamic, you can really relate to them. Even though it was written 150 years ago, you can still feel their emotions and know what they're going through today.
Perhaps it might be a little difficult to read, but if you're into reading classics -- I would recommend it to anybody, really."