I will note that I was talking about "the best things I've read", as opposed to "the best things ever." With "best" being defined as "the things I'm most glad to have read."

I'm reading Moby Dick, and I've read a few "good classics," and I can understand why they have the respect they do, and I can learn some important things about writing from them, and they're still good centuries after the fact, so they clearly did something right.... but I really don't enjoy them at all.

I don't like having to "translate" an earlier/different version of the English language just to understand the story (though I understand why literature buffs feel enriched by it). And often the themes of the story have since become so ingrained in our culture that by the time I read the original version I feel let down.

I comprehend their majesty, but they aren't the works that particularly impact me.

HP:MoR happened to come at a time in my life when I was receptive to its message, and before I had really read anything that even attempted to be inspirational on the order that HP:MoR attempts to be inspirational. I don't know how much of my appreciation for the work has to do with the context I read it in. I'm specifically looking for other inspirational works so I can try and evaluate it properly against its peers/superiors.

Ignoring the propaganda side of it, it's still one of the most enjoyable works I've read. For the humor, and the depth of the characters, and the seriousness with which certain issues are tackles. Some people criticize the uneven-ness of the writing style, but I think the way it seesaws between hilariousness and solemnity is one of the best things about it. I also identified a lot of literary techniques that were well executed and rewarded deeper analysis.

I totally get that it's not for everyone though. Some of the characters are developed awkwardly in the beginning. One of my biggest issues with it is that Eliezer unnecessarily narrows his target audience by focusing/ignoring certain things (as well as by sounding preachy, even when Harry's actually supposed to be wrong).