I've not been reading many books lately, but can easily say that The Hobbit and LOTR, in this order are a MUST! Lotr I've read twice and would do it again, maybe some years in the future. The first time I was on a deep depression in my late teenages and the pace as it goes on, travelling in such dark places, all the dunger, but finding joyful stopovers, with all kinds of good food and music singing, amazing!! But the best book I've ever read is Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, by Dee Brown, there may be some criticism about it, but it's great, brazilian tribes hadn't any chances of leaving any version of their history! Bukowski is very good but sometimes gets sickening after some child rapes and so on.
Time and the Wind, by Erico Veríssimo is a historical fiction set in the region I was born, so it's very meaningful for me, it is a great book, but it's hard to tell if well translated.
I would also mention Woody Allen's tales, as they are very funny, have you tried the hystory of the sandwitch?
http://amkon.net/showthread.php/34058-History-of-the-Sandwich-Woody-AllenThat said I'm gonna make me one
