Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger - This is one of the best books I have ever read. It follows the story of Holden Caulfield as he tries to find a place for himself in the world. It is an incredibly realistic and emotional probing into the mind of this one young man. It is fast paced, with plenty going on all the time; you'll always be wondering what will happen to Holden next. However, like most books considered classic, if you just read it quickly and for pleasure you may miss out on all the hidden lessons that can be gleamed when you probe the book deeply. If you have any interest in reading a book that may make you think a little more than usual, is considered a classic of American literature, and is entertaining do yourself a favor and pick this one up. 8/10. 
Added July 20, 2000.

The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas - I had read this 5 years ago in an abridged form, so I decided to tackle all 1500 pages this time.  I was not disappointed.  While I do not recall what exactly was edited, to take a 1500 page book to 400 pages much must have been lost.  What I read this time left little to be desired.  The story of Edmond Dantes, his tribulations, and eventually his triumph is grand in scope and easily one of the best historical romances I have ever read.  Despite the length of the book, I found it an easy read.  Dumas knows how to grab the reader and never let go.  However, due to frequent name changes, the story can easily become confusing and I found myself referring to previous chapters to figure out what was going on.  Overall, however, if you read it with a clear head you will find a book that will not disappoint anyone.  9/10.
Added June 20, 2001.

Dune by Frank Herbert - Easily one of the best science fiction books I have ever read, Dune will grab you and not let you go. This is no simple science fiction story either; Dune comes complete with many, many underlying themes and story arcs. I even managed to write a complete research paper on this book; I spent months on the paper, but I didn't come close to truly scratching the surface. The story follows Paul Atreides and his place in a messiah legend. Originally a pulp story, written in installments, the book features incredible build ups of emotion throughout, eventually building into an excellent, but surprising climax. Also, the story is written in such a way that the reader can get the most, or the least out of it, yet still find it incredibly enjoyable. It doesn't use difficult language, but its hidden meanings will elude many the casual reader. If you like science fiction and you haven't read this one, what are you waiting for? 9.5/10. 
Added July 22, 2000.

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card - In the introduction to this very entertaining sci-fi story, the author states that he purposely avoided any true literary techiniques so that anyone can pick up the book and understand it fully.  Well, he succeeded.  Anyone above the age of 13 will find Ender's Game to be an extremely basic, albeit enjoyable, story that cannot hold a candle to anything by Robert A. Heinlein or Frank Herbert.  While the points that Card raises are interesting and valid, they are so shallow in the plot that most meaning they have become lost.  The plight that many gifted children are placed in and the danger of overpopulation are incredibly relevant topics, but their real depth are not truly explored here, just alluded to.  However, if you read this book just for an interesting story with some unique (although often predictable) twists you will probably enjoy the work fully.  I honestly haven't read something this much fun in a long while.  Which is the saving grace of the book.  If nothing else, you will have fun reading it.  6.5/10.
Added July 8, 2001.

The Past Through Tomorrow by Robert A. Heinlein - Heinlein is easily my favorite science fiction writer. His worlds always seem to have an incredible amount of depth to them and his stories are always entertaining, yet deep at the same time. His problems always lie in the characters, as they never achieve the realism you can see in Dune or one of Tolkien's books. However, his characters are, once again, entertaining, and the dialogue between them is always strong. These traditions all carry through every story contained in The Past Through Tomorrow, a collection of Heinlein's future history stories. The stories range from the purely entertaining ("-We Also Walk Dogs") to the purely brilliant (The Man Who Sold the Moon and Methuselah's Children). My personal favorite is "If this goes on-", a story about religious fanaticism in a post constitutional America. Even those of you who don't particularly enjoy science fiction will enjoy this book. 9.5/10. Only available in hardcover from the Science Fiction Bookclub.
Added July 28,2000.

The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas - This is just a great book. It has a little of everything; love action, conspiracy, and drama. If you're looking for it The Three Musketeers most likely has it. Most people know the general story through one of the many movies based on the story. None have any chance of doing it justice. While it depends slightly on the translation you may be reading, Dumas has a unique way of building events into an extremely exciting mini-climax, which all builds into a huge ending. The many underlying plot lines all are interesting and make the rather long book a fairly easy read. While this may seem like a short review, I can think of nothing more to say about this excellent read. 9/10. 
Added July 27, 2000.