The Iliad
This is where Western literature starts.
“Rage — Goddess, sing the rage of Peleus' son Achilles, murderous, doomed, that cost the Achaeans countless losses.”
Why It Matters
This is where Western literature starts. Homer set the template for every epic that followed and was the first to show war as it actually is — brutal, tragic, and not particularly glorious. Every major Western writer since has had to reckon with it.
The 
Take
Personal reviewA classic for a reason. Unbelievable someone could write something this good so long a go. Much more narratively skilled and poetic than pretty much all other literature in the BC era. Gods as real vs being part of the spiritual motivation of the humans is interesting. Awesome fighting scenes. The rage of Achilles is a super interesting concept, hating on his own side due to dueling prides with Agamemnon. Hector with his flashing bronze helmet is quite image. Also reverence for dead bodies is super interesting
Notable Quotes
“Like the generations of leaves, the lives of mortal men. Now the wind scatters the old leaves across the earth, now the living timber bursts with the new buds and spring comes round again. And so with men: as one generation comes to life, another dies away.”
“There are two urns that stand on the door-sill of Zeus. They are unlike for the gifts they bestow: an urn of evils, an urn of blessings.”