I’m surprised that nobody has mentioned Stephen King yet! Perhaps the greatest mass market writer in history. I would recommend Misery or It (It looks formidible, but is quite an easy read).
Ditto Ender’s Game, Princess Bride, and the Wonderful Harry Potter books. I cannot think of anything bad to say about these. If they can’t hook a reader, nothing can.
I’ve had pretty good success inducting people into the world of fine literature with Robert Asprin’s “Myth Adventures” and “Phule’s Company” series - witty, well-written, and not intimidating in either size or subject. Something like “The Mists Of Avalon” or most Stephen King can be an awfully big challenge to a newbie. Sorta like starting your downhill skiing hobby by skiing down Everest.
While all the books mentioned here (except Lord of the Flies,imho) are good ones, some of them are not what I’d give the raw apprentice reader. Novices, maybe, but not total newbies.
Start light, suck 'em in - then give 'em the Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever. Or something like that.
Tisiphone
brave new world by aldous huxley
the stranger by albert camus
midnight by dean koontz
anything by franz kafka, especially the short stories
anything by edgar allan poe
Better yet, Huxley’s The Doors of Perception. A “gateway” book, it will get her into [ul][li]reading[]psychedelic drugs and[]60s rock music and music history.[/ul]A trifecta![/li]
I third The Phantom Tollbooth - great book, and a joy now as it was when I first read it.
Some of Poe’s short stories are gripping: The Tell-Tale Heart, etc.
For mysteries, what about Ngaio Marsh’s Roderick Allen series? (I can’t remember any individual titles at the moment, though.)
Actually, Holes, by Louis Sacher, is a well-plotted book that won, I think, the Newberry Medal and is one of the books that Harry Potter junkies are turning to until they get their next fix. Geared toward younger readers, but I enjoyed it too (I’m 36).
No one has yet mentioned Dave Barry. While I realize most of his books are collections of columns, some of them are just totally roll-on-the-floor hysterical. I refer specifically to Dave Barry’s Bad Song Book - Mrs. Cantrip thought I was having a coronary I was laughing and gasping so hard.
Also, the annotated Alice in Wonderland, with Martin Gardner’s annotations. The book itself is wonderfully written, many of the scenes have crept into popular culture and expression, and Gardner’s annotations really add depth.
Finally, I’ve always had a soft spot for A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court.
I suggest to everybody that they read Crime and Punishment. Doest…ummm…however you spell it, is my favorite example of an Author who writes with deep philosophical meaning, while maintaining a plot.
Yeah I second that one… it’s awesome. Also good are:
-A Little Princess & The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
-Roald Dahl books
-the Harry Potter books
-Go Ask Alice (anonymous)(this one is depressing but still good)
and I don’t know if these count, but I’ll put it anyway:
-any of the Calvin and Hobbes books
Thank you, thank you, thank you, ad infinitum…When you mentioned The Phantom Tollbooth, I fell into a flashback of my childhood. I had totally forgotten about that book until you said that. Thank you, thank you, thank you…
When Lola asked me I immediately thought of Donaldson’s “The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever”. Any fan of fantasy who hasn’t read this series isn’t much of a fan… really. I actually think it’s time for me to read the series again.
I think that when we find out what kind of reading our friend wants we should have something for her in our library as there is a bit of everything there.
James Herriot would be an excellent choice.
We have every Agatha Christie ever written.
Maybe: David Eddings, Terry Brooks, Tolkien, Anne Rice, Jean Auel…
Isaac Asimov? Stephen Hawking?
Churchill?
Maybe Shirer’s “The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich” would be good. (She is interested in WWII history).
How come no-one has suggested the Bible yet?
Have I mentioned that we don’t have enough room for all our books?
It’s been a little while, but I finally got more ink for the printer and printed this off for my friend. I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who participated. I hope that my friend enjoys her book selections.
One PS for obfusciatrist: I first read The Lord of the Rings as an adult, and loved it.
Can I still play?
I second Memoirs of a Geisha. I read this aloud to my husband on a trip to Australia and we both really enjoyed it.
My all-time favorite book is Jitterbug Perfume by Tom Robbins. Funny, interesting, and to me, perspective-changing.
Vonnegut, especially Slaughterhouse Five or Cat’s Cradle
J.D. Salinger, but not Catcher. Franny and Zooey or Nine Stories are both better.
Can’t go wrong with Donald Westlake. John LeCarre is good and I have to give my obligatory Lawrence Sanders plug.
There’s also tons and tons of good Non-Fiction to read out there.
Sure you can still play. She won’t be here to pick up the suggestions for a few days, and I can always print off the additions. 
How old is your friend? ( Did I miss that?)
My recommendations:
The Godfather by Mario Puzo. (fast paced, excellent character studies.) Best if read while eating spagetti.
Night by Elie Weisel. Depressing and surprisingly fast paced book of a 15 year old boys account of surviving several concentration camps. Absolutely brilliant.
Just about anything by Dave Barry or PJ O’Rourke.
And this is just not for sucking up ( and I can’t beleive I am the first to put this down) but **The Straight Dope Books ** by Cecil Adams. I cannot tell you how many times a week I reach for one of his brilliant tomes.
Can’t believe I forgot about the series of books that are just a genius of a concept:
*The Great American Bathroom Book *( or GABB). Summarizes in two pages hundreds of books. I have two of the books, I think there are five in total to date.
[Hijack]
It says here: “In just minutes, you can become conversant and knowlegeable on any of hundreds of subjects…” it’s true. I am living proof! My old black haired pasty faced bitch of a boss was in college and reading some lofty high brow required reading titles. She was very conceited and would start a conversation with, ’ I’m reading *Beowulf * …have you ever read it?"( No of course, I haven’t read Beowulf, you ignorant bitch. If I had would I be a travel agent?) and then proceed to give her valued opinion.
I had spied one or two of the books she was reading and I thought, maybe I should pick up a copy of whatever it is she is reading so I can try to forge a connection between us…(if you beleive that, I have a bridge to sell you) I thought, I just want to surprise her( read: jam it down her smug throat) with my ability to read lofty high brow lit. Then I tried to pick up some of the stuff and Christ, I don’t have the patience or time to do it without the benefit of a class.
Enter: GABB. In the span of sitting on the toilet, I became well versed enough in whatever it was the EVIL BOSS was reading, that when she asked, " So, I’m reading *Candide * Have *you * ever read Candide" and I stopped her cold with, " As a matter of fact, I just finished it last night. As a part of my self assigned required reading, I decided to pick up the book because I’d hear alot about it, espcially on NPR…"
Not only did I blow her socks off, but that of my fellow co-workers too. Over the next year or so, I found out what she was reading and brushed up on it through GABB (along with other books) and gave brief accounts and fairly intelligent short discussions. ( The key to bullshitting, it saying to little.)
Finally, my best friend at work yanks me aside and goes, " What is going on. How do you know all that about these books. I know you like to read…but your doing something, aren’t you?" (Basically, “if you are that smart to read those kind of books and give that kind of review, then WTF are you doing working here?”)
I grinned and let her in on my secret.
[/hijack]
I’ll shut up now.
How some books that are eye-opening and shed new light on the world around us, such as:
The Demon Haunted World by Carl Sagan
Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond
The Lying Stones of Marakesh by Stephen Jay Gould
Wisdom of the Bones by Alan Walker & Pat Shipman
Return of the Straight Dope by Cecil Adams
These books are not overly-technical and have the power to open an interest in subjects that possibly one has not covered before.
Or failing that:
Anything by Lawrence Block (but especially the Scudder series)
On the Road by Kerouac
Libra by Don Dellilo
Night Train by Martin Amis
Grapes of Wrath by Steinbeck
No Exit And Other Plays by Sartre
Also as previously mentioned:
The Belgariad series by David Eddings
LOTR by Tolkien
Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
Shirley: Thanks. She’s mid to late twenties (I know she’s a couple of years younger than me). I have actually not heard of The Great American Bathroom Book.
I was talking this over with my sister last night, and she reminded me that what I need are some books that capture the imagination, without appearing too daunting. So I think that maybe my original suggestion of Lord of the Rings might not qualify, as it would make an excellent doorstop.
As delphica mentioned, maybe I should find out what kind of movies she likes.
Also, as Green Bean mentioned, young adult books might be a good place to start as well. Many of the books I read as a young adult are just as enjoyable now.
That makes me add to my own list of suggestions. The Anne of Green Gables series? One at a time, they don’t look terribly daunting. I started reading them in grade 3, so the writing level shouldn’t be difficult, and I still enjoy picking one up today.