What are some good novels/interesting literary works to start reading in Urdu with?

Well assuming that you are not a native Urdu speaker I would suggest you to start with some easy stuff from the writer like Naseem Hijazi then move to some  some humour by Mushtaq Ahmad Yousafi http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mushtaq_Ahmad_Yusufi His notable works include Chiragh talay Khakam-ba-dahan or you can read some travel literature by Mustansar Hussein Tarar. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mustansar_Hussain_Tarar and Ibn-e-insha Then Some classic literature Raja Gidh by Bano Qudsiya (excellent novel but a bit difficult to grasp) Baba Sahiba, Tota Kahani,Aik mohabbat 100 affsanay and other books by Ashfaq Ahmed and lastly one of my favorite books of all time Shahab Naama by (Qudrat ullah Shahab) This book is a legend of urdu literature and Shahab sahib takes you along with his life long journey and experienced in a manner that you feel like everything is happening in front of you.

Here is a list of my favourite Urdu classics: 1. Shahab nama by Qudrat ullah Shahab (u gonna love this book, i m sure of it!) 2. Payar ka pehla shehr by Mustansar Hussain Tarrar 3. Ali pur ka Eli by Mumtaz Mufti 4. Zawiya series by Ishhfaq Ahmad (baba ji) 5. Zero point series by Javed Chaudary Humor/Satire: 1. Mustaq Ahmad Yousafi - the best  satirist and humorist Pakistan has ever produced! If you love reading humor (by "humor" I mean nice, clean humor & not the vulgar/off-colour humor), I will strongly recommend you to read his books. 2. Patras  kay Mazamin by Patras Bukhari 3. Gentleman Alhumdulilah by Colonel Muhammad Khan

you can start with : (follow the sequence, going backward will literally ruin the top writers in this list.. ) Gentlemen X series by Isfhaq Hussain, series includes, Gentlemen bismillah, gentlemen alhumdillah, etc.. Good, military based but good humor. Then, Sideeq Saliq's Mainy Dhaka dobty Dekha (political) , and Pressure Cooker and Humaa yaraan dozakh(my personel Favorite). Then start moving toward heavy duty stuff. Then go for: Mushtaq Ahmad Yousafi then read : Bajung Aamad Basalamat Ravi Bazam Araiyan by https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muhammad_Khan_%28Pakistan_Army_officer%29 Read Ibn-e- Insha Travel logs, they are simply mind blowing, although at this age of information , they seems outdated but writing style and his observations are outclass. Then, of course,  Chiraag Tally by https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mushtaq_Ahmad_Yusufi By now, you will be ready to digest Minto Nama By Saadat Hasan Minto.