Varied fiction genres here, but many offer an historical perspective from the time periods during which they were written. Some of the more recent ones offer more of a social commentary on behavior and the clash of cultures/classes/ideologies/genders.
"To a God Unknown" John Steinbeck
"Franny and Zooey" J.D. Salinger
"This Side of Paradise" F. Scott Fitzgerald
"Ender's Game" Orson Scott Card
"Their Eyes were Watching God" Zora Neale Hurston
"The Poisonwood Bible" Barbara Kingsolver
"The Passion" Jeannette Winterson
"The Alchemist" Paulo Coelho
"Possession" A.S. Byatt