Here is my embarrassing list.
=Noteworthy
1984 by George Orwell Catch-22 Joseph Heller Dune by Frank Herbert East of Eden by John Steinbeck Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson The Color of Magic by Terry Pratchett The Lesson by Cadwell Turnbull The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss The Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler
=Less Noteworthy
Black Sea Gods by Brian Braden Mythos by Stephen Fry Smallworld by Dominic Green The One by John Marrs The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce
I reread To Kill a Mocknigbird a dozen or so years ago when I was in my 40s. It was just a beautiful, beautiful read. I wasn’t supper impressed when I had to read it in HS. I’m with you in shame and feelings regarding LoTR.
I’m glad that To Kill a Mockingbird is better than I remember. I’m about a decade removed from HS at this point, and it may be time to give it another shot per your recommendation.