Journey to the Center of the Earth - Jules Verne

Wherever fortune clears a way, Thither our ready footsteps stray.

If you somehow missed reading this classic piece of literature when you were growing up (like I did), then you might go your whole life never knowing its mystery and adventure. Happily, fortune has a way of finding you. And so began my trek through the layers of the Earth's crust. Immediately, I discovered that this book is surprisingly readable, despite the usage of seven-syllable words which frequently digress from English. What I mean is this: you can pick up where you left off, even a chapter at a time at lunch or between errands, and quickly get sucked into the drama, surprise, and sense of adventure again and again. It takes you away from the waiting room you're sitting in and throws you into a topsyturvy wonderwhirl of escape. Unpredictable! Risky! Creative... A must read.