ITT recommend your favourite book

I've run out of excellent books - what is your favourite read? Tell us a bit about why you like the book so much, too. And if you can't choose just one, list a few! Please :) 
I'll start

1. Vanity Fair
Because of the epic romance. Also I'd never read a book before this where I could picture every single character clearly. I also *liked* every character in some way. Amelia especially.

or

2. 20,000 leagues under the sea
There was a LOT of boring fish-listing in this book, but there was also Captain Nemo to balance out the lame. He's maybe my favourite literary character, and the interaction between him and Professor Arronax had me hooked.

>>84
I wouldn't say WHOLE. I thought the 4th book dragged a bit in places, and the 6th just seemed like filler between the awesome of the 5th and 7th.