Oh my gosh. I read so much and have so many favorites I don't think I could even begin with just single books...so I will name some authors.

I agree with Richard...King hit his pinnacle with The Stand. I have read the unabridged version several times.

There are some really incredible fantasy books by Gayle Greeno. They are about some healers that develope a psychic bond with a creature much like a cat called a Ghatti.

For some really great historical fiction I love Morgan Llwellyen. Her history of Ireland just brings it all to life.

For an interesting twist to the King Arther story is a set of books by Jack Whyte. Much more of a history about Rome.

For mysteries I absolutely love Jan Burke. She did a story that included a cadaver dog that was just wonderful.

I don't read much in the way of romance books. Too predictable but I did fall in love with Diana Gabaldon. I also just found an auther by the name of Sara Donati that must be a friend of Gabaldon since she referenced the Fraser clan in her first book.

I also loved the new book about Seabiscuit but I cannot remember the name of the author and I don't have the book at hand. Since the movie version of that is about to come out this summer it is timely.

And for non-fiction there is an absolutely incredible book called "When Elephants Weep - the emotional lives of animals" the author is jeffrey Moussaieff Masson. He also wrote "The Nine Emotional Lives of Cats - a journey intot he feline heart". I just haven't read that one yet..it is by my bed in the "to read pile"

I probably read at least 3 books a week. And it isn't like I read allll the time...I just read fast. I had a teacher that was into proving speed reading back in the 80's. At that time I was reading about 1200 words a minute with an 80% retention. Now that I am over 40 I read slower and find I sometimes have to go back to refresh my memory but I still tend to just read quickly. And I just LOVE books. For me it is more than just the story. It is the feel in the books in your hand..the smell of the ink...the smoothness of the pages....almost like a drug...*LOL*

Denyce