Best books ever: A personal list

Ricklibrarian‘s posted a challenge to librarians, asking us to make a list of “the best books ever”. He provides a list of eleven books and book series. Of his list I have only read Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, and a few Margery Allingham Campion novels.

My own list? What would I use as criteria? Ricklibrarian says he chose his titles because he considers them to be “the finest books that I have read. They describe the human condition and call for kindness, honesty, loyalty, and tolerance.”

I’d choose:
The joys of motherhood, Buchi Emecheta (an insight into a culture – Ibo, Nigeria – I’m unfamiliar with)
I, Claudius, Robert Graves (everytime I read this I get completely drawn into the world of ancient Rome)
To kill a mockingbird, Harper Lee (all-time favourite)
Earthsea trilogy, Ursula LeGuin (wonderful)
I can jump puddles, Alan Marshall (triumph over disability)
Downward to the earth, Robert Silverberg (only recently discovered this – beautiful)
Earth abides, George R. Stewart (I think I have a thing for post-apocalyptic fiction)
The hobbit, J.R.R. Tolkien (first fantasy I ever read)
Cloudstreet, Tim Winton (an Australian classic)
Day of the triffids, John Wyndham (see Earth abides, above)

My reasons: these are books I happily reread.