Jen has moved to more northern climes, but kindly left us a list of her faves.

American Gods by Neil Gaiman The immigrant stories of Gods, this book got me through September 11.
White Teeth by Zadie Smith I was late to work because I stayed up till 3 a.m. to read this book.
Instance of the Fingerpost/Dream of Scipio by Iain Pears I know two books, one number. First book: I ignored my family for a week for this book, and I like my family; second book: it was my favorite book of the year the year it came out.
Trickster Makes this World by Lewis Hyde I’m a Gemini with ADD, it makes sense to keep right with the tricksters of the world. Bonus, he explains the mysteries of your socks going missing in the wash.
A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth Yes, it is fourteen hundred pages long, but it might be the reason I’m going to India this summer.
The Baroque Cycle by Neal Stephenson I took a summer to tackle these three, but it was worth it. Great fun.
Orchid Fever: A Horticultural Tale of Love, Lust, and Lunacy by Eric Hansen Warning: you’ll swat whoever is sitting next to you while you chortle over this one.
Proust I’ve got the volumes. Someday I’ll finish them.
For younger readers:
Raising Dragons by Jerdine Nolen "There are some things you just know."
Trickster’s Choice by Tamora Pierce Okay, anything by Tamora Pierce, she writes feminist Pez (mind candy).