I'll put my hand up to not having read many of these, if only because I decided long ago to read what I liked, not what I was expected to read!

That said, I do have a couple of recommendations, though I suspect these have already crossed your desk.

Any of Sir Terry Pratchetts' Discworld novels, but especially Reaper Man and Hogfather.

Neil Gaimans' American Gods.

John le Carres' Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy and Smileys' People.

Kenneth Grahames' The Wind in the Willows.