In chronological order, and far from complete.
This might be the best book I've ever read.
KSR is one of my favorite authors; however, I found this book a bit dull. The premise of the book is that Galileo, the main character, travels forward in time to the far future. The insights that he gains from that glimpse inspire his work. I learned quite a bit about Galileo, and his time in history, but I found the whole thing somewhat contrived. I felt that Galileo was characterized in a way that did injustice to his real work, and I felt that his character didn't ring true to his era.
This might be the second best book I've ever read.
Don't agree with this author's politics, but the book is a sort of a tall tale about the exploits of a larger than life British commando during WWII. It's well written, moves along quickly and enjoyably. Supposedly there's a sequel, but I haven't picked it up yet.
Fantastic love story with a plot about espionage. The characters are especially wonderfully human, and lovingly portrayed.
A novel about moving to the suburbs from Dublin, and how it affects a family. The author is billed as a “younger Irish-er Nick Hornby” -- can't comment on that, as I haven't read any Hornby. The characters seem true; their limitations shape the story. From that point of view, the story forms a bit of a tragedy, as isolation puts a strain on the relationships within the family.
This book strays further into philosphy than I was expecting. The subject is cities, what makes them habitable, and why they're appealing.
San Francisco and the history of how citizens saved the urban landscape (more or less) from so-called Manhattan-ization. Everything from the storied seaport to how the library made way for new books in the wake of the 1989 earthquake. I wish it had more about the history of the development of Daly City and what that meant for the demographics of the city.
You might also be interested in my pal James Pace's reading list, or in Art Garfunkel's list of books he's read since 1968, or in the BBC's list of top books