Alright here it is. I honestly have no idea what I'm doing with this since I have barely read anything since middle school (maybe a book or two a year). My contributions will primarily be manga. If I need to add a genre or period let me know. This series will eventually be canonized into the sidebar as a definitive recommendation list of all things C/Lit.
Future threads:
Periods: Pre-1800, 1800s, 1900-50, 1951-99, 2000-20, 2021
Genres: Children's, Comedy, Coming of age, Folklore, Historical, LGBT, BIPOC Related, Philosophy, Pop Culture, Religious, Thriller, Western, Young Adult, Action, Adventure, Survival, Crime, Mystery, Fantasy, Romance, Horror, Graphic Novel, Biography, Travel, Historical, Propaganda, Philosophy, Political Theory, Poetry, Plays, Manga, Speculative Fiction, Sports, and Miscellaneous
The first book is essentially a mystery. It grabbed me, but if that central conceit doesn't grab you, I can understand how it could be really hard to get through. But that moment where the mystery comes together is so good, and it sets up such a good premise for the rest of the series. The problem is, you can't then discuss that premise to try to sell the series without completely spoiling the first book.
EDIT: There is some weird misogyny spread throughout the books, though. One of the deuteragonists of the first book is a woman who is (IIRC) very well written, but after that there's some weird ideas about women and the nature of femininity sprinkled throughout.