What books have good plot and characters?

Have been dipping my toes into reading and went with the classics to start with but I fear a few of them went a bit over my head.

I enjoyed 1984 bar the social commentary section where Winston was reading Goldstein’s big book

Straight up did not get Slaughterhouse-5. No idea what was going on or what it all meant.

Loved the simplicity of Of Mice and Men.

Didn’t really get The Wasp Factory

For reference, my favourite shows include peep show, the sopranos, succession, the office UK + US