The Great Divorce, by C.S. Lewis

A vision of the afterlife.

Rarely has anything had as much impact on me as this story did -- I listened to it laying on the floor with my friend and had as powerful an emotional experience as any piece of literature has ever given me.  When I opened my eyes I saw that our little speaker had +- volume buttons that very much look like the sign of the cross, and for a brief but (I think) serious moment I was compelled to become a Christian.

The main thing I keep from this book is how unbearably proud the characters all are -- they could have salvation if only they would admit that they hadn't been right all along. They can't do it! It's right in front of them, and they just can't do it. And then I think about myself, and....