Just found this thread. I feel like I've found my peoples. Although I've read most of these books a long time ago, I thought I'd give my 2 cents.
I second these books as great books to read:
Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series
Ursula Le Guin's Earthsea books
T.H. White's The Once and Future King
and anything by Orson Scott Card
Marion Zimmer Bradley's trilogy (forgot the name though)
In addition I highly recommend:
Terry Brooks' Sword of Shannara series (fantasy)
Society of the Mind by Eric L. Harry (sci-fi thriller)
Ishmael or
The Story of B by Daniel Quinn (can't really categorize)
Doomsday Book by Connie Willis (sci-fi/fantasy)
Prey by Michael Crichton (sci-fi fiction)
OK, I could keep going but I'll stop. I guess I lied. ..So I gave you more like 10 cents.

I don't recommend The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever by Stephen Donaldson. I have to admit while I was reading them, I just couldn't finish them fast enough, but if you don't like feeling depressed I suggest staying away from the Thomas Covenant series.
I just finished
Angels & Demons which I really liked - what a page turner - and plan on reading the
DaVinci Code sometime soon. Also reading
Bringing Down the House about a group of MIT students who make millions beating the system in Vegas and of course
How to Get Into the Top Law Schools.