Help! Suggestions please

This mornings revelation about myself: I am lacking in a major area of American culture.  (Probably more than one area, but we'll just focus on one at a time for now . . .)  As I grew up, I loved to read.  Eventually life got busier and there were so many other things I would have rather done than sit down and read.  In school, I never seemed to take/have the classes that incorporated any good American Classics.  Well, the reading bug has bitten and I have decided to try and tackle the long list of  Classic novels.  However, I am hoping to get a few suggestions of some of the best to really get me back into reading.  If you wouldn't mind, please feel free to share your favorites.  Thank you!