Currently reading:
The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, by Junot Diaz -- a raucous, rich and heartfelt bilingual illustration of the lives, loves and infringed liberties of several members of a Dominican family who move reluctantly between their homeland and the USA. It's funny, it's sad, it's quirky, it's rich, it's vibrant, and it's also historically informative (there are footnotes on some pages that describe, in detail, parts of Hispanic-American history that I had no previous idea about). This story is one of the most densely colourful I've ever come across, and it was recently voted by critics and authors around the world to be the best work of fiction of the 21st Century. I personally disagree with that, but it's still very, very, very good. Basic proficiency in the Spanish language would be helpful for this one.
I've read part of (and have subsequently bought) these books, to read afterwards:
A Visit from the Goon Squad, by Jennifer Egan -- a punctual story about several musically inclined individuals whose impulsive tendencies lead them down stray paths. This one (from what I've read so far) seems to be a character study, and the characters are idiosyncratic and interesting.
The English Patient, by Michael Ondaatje -- a mesmerizing, intimate epic about a WW2 pilot severely burned in the Arabic deserts, saved by Bedouins and tended to by a traumatized nurse, and her Italian lover. This one's all about the prose. It's quaint, spare and beautiful. Totally exotic.
After This, by Alice McDermott -- an insightful, succinct journey through the lives of a Catholic Irish-American family in a period of dramatic cultural change. This is the kind of book that comes from an out-and-out storyteller. It's a finely crafted, undiluted, humblingly astute observation of family life.
And this book, I just finished reading, and it's probably the best novel I've ever read:
White Teeth, by Zadie Smith -- a naturally laugh-out-loud funny, wise, audacious big picture epic set in the lives of two families of drastically different colours and creeds, both tackling the challenges of multiculturalism, faith, love and loss, spanning across generations and continents. This novel is absolutely superb. It is written with a tremendous amount of adventurousness and courage and I can't praise it enough. A must read, for everybody.
Special mention goes to The Time Traveller's Wife, by Audrey Niffenegger. This book is a quirky, exceptional original love story about a man whose tendency to disappear at random moments and land at others across time and space leads him into the arms of his future wife. This book is one of a kind.