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As far as I am concerned, not reading a book for more than two weeks is almost impossible. For those who might be in the same situation, here is a list of some of my favourite books... well, those I remembered when I wrote this anyway.
It would be too long to describe each one, so I won't, but if they don't leave you an everlasting memory, you should at least have a good time reading them. If you did not like one of them, please mail me to tell me what displeased you, I'm interested (though I don't expect too many such mails). For those who have other books to advise, I'm also interested!.
I tried to give some slight appreciations about the books, regarding the style of the writer, the plot and general interest of the story (Story), the quality of the characters and the interest of the topics mentioned (Themes).
NB: most classics I know are French books that I did not include here (because I didn't feel like looking out the titles in english) which is why that section is pretty small here, sorry. There is also a Comics section on the French page that I did not include.

• Classics
• Science Fiction
• Fantasy

Classics

I think all the mythologies in the world are really interesting, so I encourage you to read at least the Northern, Egyptian, Greek and Japanese mythologies, as well as the Bible, etc.

• Bruno Bettelheim, The Uses of Enchantment
• Conan Doyle, Sherlock Holmes
• Homer, the Iliad and the Odyssey
• Yukio Mishima, the Golden Pavilion. His way of writing is very peculiar, nearly tortured; the book is very unsettling and gives a complete change of scenery compared to European and American literature, it is very interesting.
• Haruki Murakami, 1Q84 (3 books) and Kafka on the Shore. The first book of 1Q84, in particular, displays a rather unusual and fresh style.
• Alan Spence, The Pure Land. A very interesting and well written story on the era when Japan opened itself, during the second half of the IXth century.

Science Fiction

1. Long cycles (4 books or more)
   • Anne Mc Caffrey, Dragonriders of PernStyle:
     Story:
     Characters:
     Themes: . Between SF and Fantasy, it is a very long cycle (two trilogies and many side stories). Each book can almost be read separately.
   • Isaac Asimov, and especially the Robots SeriesStyle:
     Story:
     Characters:
     Themes: and the Foundation stories (4 and 5 volumes).
   • Orson Scott Card, notamment the Ender Saga (4 main books, the first is the best; there are also many side stories), the Shadow Saga (6 volumes) and the Homecoming Saga (5 books). (assessment for Ender's Game)Style:
     Story:
     Characters:
     Themes:
   • Frank Herbert, for instance the DuneStyle:
     Story:
     Characters:
     Themes: novels (6 volumes).
2. Short cycles (2-3 books)
   • Kim Stanley Robinson with the Mars trilogyStyle:
     Story:
     Characters:
     Themes: : from the first manned mission to the decline of the Earth and Mars independence; K.S. Robinson looks into human psychology, alternatives to global capitalism, and so on.
   • Dan Simmons, especially Ilium and OlymposStyle:
     Story:
     Characters:
     Themes: and Hyperion Cantos (4 small books).
   • Jack Vance. I put him here because I'm thinking about three of his works: Tschai (aka Planet of Adventure) (4 volumes), Big Planet (1 book, with a second standalone book, Showboat World) and the Lyonesse trilogy.
3. Standalones
   • George Orwell, with 1984Style:
     Story:
     Characters:
     Themes: (if you don't know why Big Brother is watching you, it is high time you learn it!) and Animal Farm.
   • Ray Bradbury, including Fahrenheit 451Style:
     Story:
     Characters:
     Themes: and the Martian Chronicles that could even be put in the classics.
   • Daniel Keyes, Flowers for AlgernonStyle:
     Story:
     Characters:
     Themes: is a short but very touching novel.
   • Margaret Atwood, The Handmaid's TaleStyle:
     Story:
     Characters:
     Themes: makes us wonder about the strength of our democracies and of our will to mobilise to protect their values.

Fantasy

1. Long cycles (4 books or more)
   • Robert Jordan, The Wheel of TimeStyle:
     Story:
     Characters:
     Themes: . It's one of the longest saga I know (the 14th and last book is scheduled for the beginning of 2013). Robert Jordan, then his successor, Brand Sanderson, have managed the tour de force of making each volume captivating. If the overall story is rather common (an initiatory quest as it is often the case in fantasy), the details of the plot, however, are very rich, the characters are complex and interesting (obviously, over 14,000 pages...) and a great number of topics is approached. If some points may disturb some, as the strange conception Jordan has of men/women relationships, this cycle really is worth reading.
   • Terry Pratchett, the Discworld novelsStyle:
     Story:
     Characters:
     Themes: . Admittedly, with 39 books published, this could be the longest cycle. However, if all novels take place in the same univers, only a few follow the stories of specific characters. Each volume is a renewed proof of Pratchett's genius, as he makes fun of all prejudices, obsolete customs, sciences, Death, etc. Through this twisted univers that the Discworld is, all the sides of ours are laughed at thanks to these hilarious stories. A work art!
   • George Martin, A Song of Ice and FireStyle:
     Story:
     Characters:
     Themes: . Very dark and even shocking, Martin's univers is a bit unhealthy. We are very far from Jordan's style, but the complex plot and the quality of the characters make it into a wonderful story. The saga is a work in progress (5 books published) and some wonder whether Martin will succeed in spending enough time on it to conclude it. For those who may be hesitant, I advise A Games of Throne, the excellent adaptation as a TV series.
   • David Eddings, The Belgariad series (5 books). It is the archetype of BCF: the plot is trite, the characters are cliché... and yet the story is very humorous and leaves a great memory. I cannot explain it.
   • Raymond E. Feist, The Riftwar Saga (30 books).
   • Roger Zelazny, The Chronicles of Amber (two series 5-volume long).
   • Ursula Le Guin, Earthsea series (6 volumes). It is rather peculiar, but I found the atmosphere interesting.
2. Short cycles (2-3 books)
   • J.R.R. Tolkien. The Lord of the Rings is now a part of the global culture, but it can also be interesting to read The Hobbit and most of all The Silmarilion, which is the most beautiful cosmogony I ever read.
   • Robin Hobb, especially The Realm of the Elderlings with The Farseer and The Tawny Man trilogiesStyle:
     Story:
     Characters:
     Themes: (6 books), and The Rain Wilds ChroniclesStyle:
     Story:
     Characters:
     Themes: (work in progress, 3 volumes published yet). Both series take place in the same univers and may be frustrating for people used to heroic characters. Hobb's could almost be considered as anti-heroes given how desperately human they are. This give the cycles a slightly unusual and very interesting touch, lifted by Robin Hobb's fluid and gripping style.
3. Livres individuels
   • Neil Gaiman, American Gods and Neverwhere
   • Alain Damasio (fr), la Horde du ContreventStyle:
     Story:
     Characters:
     Themes: is a breathtaking book with a very unsettling style, which won't let you indifferent. I wonder if it's not the best fantasy novel I ever read (it won the Grand prix de l'imaginaire in 2006).