Here are some of my favorite books that I recommend to my friends (just the fiction).

Watership Down by Richard Adams
	This book appealed to me as a youngster. I loved the thought of Rabbit society and intelligence. I read this 5 times over the past 25 years - most recently about 3 years ago. He's written a lot of other books where he gives voice to animals -- even to General Lee's horse. But nothing can match the greatness of Watership.
Bastard out of Carolina by Dorothy Allison
	I liked this a lot, but didn't love it. The best thing about this book is that it is written in such a strong voice. It's so gripping, and what it taught me is that no matter how bad your personal story can be, it is after all only your story and doesn't have to in any way touch your future. (I read Allison's other book "Cavedweller" and didn't like it nearly as much as Bastard.)
The Positronic Man by Isaac Asimov
	I have always loved science fiction, and this has always been one of my favorites. The Robin Williams film about the android who longed for humanity was either based on or borrowed from this story.
The Foundation by Isaac Asimov
	This is an incredible book and an incredible trilogy. I recently re-read the main trilogy after about 15 years, and after just the first page I was grinning from the wonderful writing and the sheer craft of this book. It's an epic tale that spans over 1,000 years in galactic history, but it is told through a multitude of short, related stories. A classic.
The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
	This is an incredibly unnerving story about a Christian theocracy in the American future. When Pat Buchanan spoke at the GOP convention 10 or so years ago and chilled the air all over the country with his homophobia and religious ferver, I wrote a letter to the editor of the Oregonian and begged everyone in Portland to read "The Handmaid's Tale" before they cast their vote.
Enders Game by Orson Scott Card
	...and the rest of the "Enders" story... among the best in science fiction.
Microserfs by Douglas Coupland
	A very fun book that partly takes place on the Microsoft campus and in which Legos and geek-eccentricity figure prominently. I really enjoyed this short book, well as some of his other recent work. However I didn't enjoy Coupland's book "Postcards from..." I can't even remember the rest of the title.
The Nun by Denis Diderot
	I loved this book. This is the story of a nun who is abused by her religion. This is the book that convinced me years ago that I wanted to some day adapt a novel to a screenplay. Count this as one of those 'some days' that I'll never get around to.
Fried Green Tomatoes by Fannie Flagg
	- not deep, but lots of fun.
Nor Crystal Tears by Alan Dean Foster
	This hard-to-find book is a great SF story where you can see things from the alien's point of view. I'm generally not wild about this author, though. His stories are good, his ideas are great, his writing is only adequate.
My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George
	I LOVED this book when I was a kid, and it has a lot to do, I think, with the strength and independence I enjoy now. I want all 10-yr olds to read this book (and everyone else too). I have not re-read this as an adult. I almost am afraid to, because I'd hate to find it lacking and then break the spell -- do you know what I mean? It's like the Disney film Mary Poppins: I loved it as a child, but when I saw it again as an adult, I realized that Mary's really just a bitch!
Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden
	This was very entertaining. I was actually taken in by it and didn't realize it was fiction until I finished it!
Replay by Ken Grimwood
	This is a mildly-written sorta' time-travel-ish tale. It plays to my old habit as a regretful 20-something to while away my hours of insomnia with thoughts of "what if I could go back to my teens with the knowledge I have now?" What also is fun for me is that my father and I both read and loved this book about 10 years ago, so it's one of those things I share with him.
All Those Formulaic Lawyer Books by John Grisham
	All of 'em. I really enjoy 'em. Not my favorites, but fun escapism and high on my reading list.
Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert Heinlein
	It's almost trite to include this book in the list, but I did so love it. Re-reading any Heinlein now, though, reveals what a sexist pig he is, but if you can overlook that, then this is a good book. And the word "grok" has been firmly part of my vocabulary for nearly 20 years because of it.
Catch 22 by Joseph Heller
	I actually disliked this book and couldn't even bring myself to finish it! Why is it on this list? I guess to try to counter all of those who call this such a great book. Did you read it? What did you think? If you liked it, I'd love to hear why.
Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse
	I loved this amazing book. I've probably bought at least 5 copies of this book just so I could give them away and share its wonder with my friends!
Last Temptation of Christ by Nikos Kazantzakis
	This book brought me to a turning point from my dislike of Christianity. It taught me a way to see Christianity without feeling negative about it. It is Christ-affirming without being Christianity-affirming. The film was remarkable too. (Kazantzakis also wrote "Zorba the Greek," but I didn't enjoy it and I don't think I even finished it.)
Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
	I always liked Kingsolver, but "Poisonwood" is her masterpiece and will be a tough act for her to follow. I loved this book and highly recommend it.
I Know This Much Is True by Wally Lamb
	A good book-loving friend gave this book to me, not knowing how close to home it would hit. :-) This book hit a lot of buttons that were better-off having been pushed. I loved this book. I also enjoyed "She's Come Undone" by the same author, but not enough to tout it as a loved book.
The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
	All 7 of them -- When I was a kid I would hike out into the hills behind my house and pretend I was in Narnia. I've read the full set 7 or 8 times in the past 30 years. These books gave me my first glimpse as a youngster into the possibility of interpreting religion differently. If I had to point to one of the most "life shaping" books of my life, this set would be among the tops on the list.
Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister by Gregory Maguire
	This was a very, very fun read. Obviously, it's the story of Cinderella told from a different point of view, but it's told as the 'real' story whence the fairy tale came. I strongly recommend this book to women, but I know few men who would tolerate it. This author also wrote "Wicked" - the story of the Wizard of Oz told from the point of view of the Wicked Witch of the West -- but it's not nearly as good as "Confessions."
The Integral Trees by Larry Niven
	Another one of those great SF writers.
Harry Potter... by JK Rowlings
	I enjoyed these so much!
Atlas Shrugged and Fountainhead by Ayn Rand
	As an American girl trying hard to be an intellectual in the 70s, I did what so many of us did: I read Ayn Rand. I was delighted to discover after reading "Atlas" that these were the stories that my brother used to tell me when I was a very little girl...so in a way, I've been in love with these stories for most of my life. I find Ms Rand's pure philosophy books almost impossible to read, and I admit that of the 4 times I've read the huge "Atlas" I've never actually read *all* the 20+ pages of John Galt's speech without some serious skimming... but I do love these books.
Another Roadside Attraction by Tom Robbins
	I Also love "Still Life With Woodpecker" and "Jitterbug Perfume." I absolutely agree with Mr. Robbins on his view of redheads and religion! Ah the art of irreverance. Yikes.
The Greenlanders by Jane Smiley
	...and also The All-True Travels and Adventures of Lidie Newton. I *really* admire this author. This woman has the gift of voice! Of these two books, I'd have to say that "Greenlanders" is my favorite, as it appealed to my Scandinavian roots. I would recommend both of these books to anybody.
Exegesis by Astro Teller
	I learned of this book from a brief book review on NPR. This story about "Edgar" appeals to the computer-centric in me. I would only dare recommend it to other nerds.
Kristin Lavransdatter by Sigrid Undset
	Oh how I love this book! I wish I'd already read it when I stayed in the Undset room at the Sylvia Beach Hotel. This is a book that I will re-read several more times during my life.