I love reading, it allows so much more thought and imagination then any other form of entertainment. Here's some of the best books I've read:

His Dark Materials : Phillip Pullman
Anyone who thought that book burning had being driven out of modern socity would be shocked by some of the arguments aimed at this book. Imagine The Lord of the Rings, replace different lands with different worlds, add more characters, more scientific theory and the main characters as young children. That is a very simple way of describing His Dark Materials. Though not quite as good as Tolkien's masterpiece, it's a close second in British fantasy. The books follow the journeys of Lyra and Will, 2 young teenagers as they embark, not just on a comming of age but also on a journey to save existence itself.
The cast of characters is so variable and bizarre that when the films are eventually made, the sfx department is going to be pushed into new frontiers. Deamons, Armoured Bears, Spectres, Ghasts, Ghosts, Witches, Harpes and little people inhabit worlds of the living, dead and all inbetween.
The place this book excels is it's attack on the church. Fully justified and explained throughout the book, Pullman stalks and slash's the church with satire (for instance having an angel couple who are gay lovers)and outright rants (The churches horrific treatment towards 'sins').
Anyone will love this book. The only people who attack it are the people it attacks itself.

Spindle's End: Robin McKinley
A clever twist on the original 'Sleeping Beauty' storyline, I was recomened this by my mother. Never being one to turn down a good fantasy book I soon found myself in the amazing world or Rosie, the blacksmith who's really a princess. The clever plot twist and writing make this a great read for any one.

Beauty: Robin McKinley
I love the tale of Beauty and the Beast, my favourite fairy tale by a long shot. Here McKinley has taken it to a new level. When the family business collapses, Beauty (an ironic name for the quite plan but very clever young lady) and her two sisters are forced to leave the city and begin a new life in the countryside. However, when their father accepts hospitality from the elusive and magical Beast, he is forced to make a terrible promise - to send one daughter to the Beast's castle, with no guarantee that she will be seen again. Beauty accepts the challenge, and there begins an extraordinary story of magic and love that overcomes all boundaries. This is another spellbinding and emotional tale embroidered around a fairytale from Robin McKinley.