john irving - my gf is more versed in irving than I am. she's read damn near everything and has yet to be disappointed. For me, A Prayer for Owen Meany and (don't let the movie phase you) A Cider House Rules.

haruki murakami - The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle....and..oh...Hard Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World

don delillo - White Noise, Underworld

zadie smith - she's only got three books out. White Teeth, The Autograph Man, and the just released On Beauty.

michael chabon - The Adventures of Kavalier and Klay, Wonderboys

banana yoshimoto - Kitchen...can't think of a second recommendation. Not that her other books aren't good, but you should read kitchen first to see if you like her style. If not, it's not even worth checking her others.

neil gaiman - American Gods. His new one is Anansi Boys.

orson scott card - Ender's Game (it was written more for teens/pre-teens, but it's a great book. And it's written in that style with good reason.) Speaker for the Dead.

jeffrey eugenides - Middlesex, Virgin Suicides

j.m. coetzee - Disgrace, Youth