Curious Aliens

Aliens on a distant planet have expressed keen interest in human culture. They are particularly curious about our books. What an exciting piece of technology! They have requested we send to them our best example of what we call a novel.

So what do we send? We only get one.

The quintessential novel. Maybe not the best, but if one wants to understand what a novel is, and why we love them so much, then the book we should send is ________.

(Full disclosure, posted something similar in r/TheSimpsons )