I've given this one a lot of thought.
The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings - My dad started reading these to me when I was about seven, and I re-read them as often as I possibly can. They were the first books to properly suck me into their world, and I still remember exactly how I saw everything when I first had them read to me.

Lolita - An experience from my first year of uni. Having taken a tall, skinny goth with velvet clothes, ringlet curls and a lip ring home from a house party, we spent the next twelve or so hours talking about books, and he mentioned this as one of his favourites. I was amazed by how much he'd read and how well he could quote it; not just Lolita, but everything else he was passionate about, it was one of the most geekily erotic things I've ever experienced. Immediately, I went out and read it and loved it: yes, it is about a pervert, but if you ignore that, it's a story of ultimately unrequited love that moves me every time I read it.

Last Chance - A teenie pulp novel that's ultimately about overcoming your fears and learning to love yourself the way you are, that I re-read whenever I feel like everything is hopeless.

Breakfast at Tiffany's - Much darker in tone than the film; whereas the fact Holly is a call girl is glossed over in the film, it's light, but has a real gritty undertone to it that appeals to me.

Empress Orchid - At first, this was the only book I had with me in Pervland and I read it over and over so as to have something to do in the evenings. I don't normally enjoy historical novels but this one moved me.

Captain Corelli's Mandolin - One of my all-time favourite books, recommended to me by a dear friend, and one I re-read as often as I can. If you can read it, and not at least go "oh no!" at least once, you're made of stone.

Memoirs of a Geisha - Having re-read this more times than I can count, it does actually read a little like a thesis rather than a book, but it drew me in and made me want to move to Japan and pour tea forever.

Shanghai Baby - I'm the first person to admit I really, really enjoy Oriental books, and this is no exception: it's wistful, it's erotic, it's fluffy, it's everything. The same for the sequel, Marrying Buddha.

I loathe almost everything I've had to read for school and uni, because I had to analyse them to death before I could appreciate them in their own right (like someone else has said before on this thread about To Kill A Mockingbird). The books I loathe include: War Horse, An Inspector Calls, Grinny (shat me up), Of Mice and Men, Animal Farm, Brave New World, 1984, and recently anything to do with organised crime.

Also, don't get me started on Harry Potter. Ever.
( Maladicta, Thu 15 May 2008, 19:13, 10 replies)

Memoirs of a Geisha
earns you a mighty *click*

I've read that over and over.
(TheWeeWitch hasn't been here much recently .., Thu 15 May 2008, 19:34, closed)

What's wrong with Harry Potter?
*poke*
( The Resident Loon Not a demographic. Do not measure., Thu 15 May 2008, 19:53, closed)

Captain Corelli
How I cried!
( chickenlady b3ta's very own Elizabeth Taylor, Thu 15 May 2008, 22:03, closed)

@ WeeWitch
I will always love it to bits; I'm very interested in Japanese culture, but this book is what started me off :) it's glorious.
( Maladicta, Thu 15 May 2008, 22:17, closed)

@ Loon
I feel JKR's work, while good for what it is, is ultimately derivative and overhyped. Sure, she got kids to read and all that, but if Harry Potter is must-read literature, a grilled cheese sandwich is haute cuisine. I do like the movies simply because they're pretty and the Latin is a nice touch, but, ultimately, no.

Also, I defy anyone to deal with rabid Potter fangirls and not become jaded.
( Maladicta, Thu 15 May 2008, 22:19, closed)

@ chickenlady
It's just one of those books, one of those that the film absolutely butchered! Anyone who doesn't feel for Pelagia at the end is made of stone. Plus, it taught me to swear in Greek and Italian ;)
( Maladicta, Thu 15 May 2008, 22:20, closed)

allow me to recommend
Haruki Murakami (ok, my spelling's likely to be off)

he's written loads of stuff, but the one for me that sticks out is
The wind-up bird chronicle.
If you like books with an oriental feel this one is amazing.
( Mockingbird Practitioner of SCIENCE, Fri 16 May 2008, 9:44, closed)

Grinny!
I can't believe they let children read that! It really disturbed me. *shudders*
(resurrection_mary cannibal_ferox, Sat 17 May 2008, 1:09, closed)

@ Mockingbird
I'm a little way into Norwegian Wood at the moment after I was recommended Murakami by an online acquaintance. I'm pretty keen so far :)
( Maladicta, Mon 19 May 2008, 18:40, closed)

@ resurrection_mary
Grinny... oh how I hate that book! The concept of it just terrified me - some alien could wander into your house just by saying 'you remember me' and take over!
( Maladicta, Mon 19 May 2008, 18:41, closed)