It's always fun to see who you share book interests with!
I used to be a voracious reader [when commuting on the el, it's a survival tactic to have a book in front of you!], but my knitting hobby now takes up most of my prime reading time. Nonetheless, I have two books I'm slowly reading right now.
The World without Us by Alan Weisman is a fascinating book pondering the question: what would happen to the planet if humans just went away? [Sorry to say, it wouldn't be good for our chickens or any other human-domesticated animal!] This is the hard cover book on my nightstand, so I only get to read a few pages before exhaustion overtakes me and I need to turn out the light.
The Art of Detection by Laurie R. King is a fiction detective novel, and the latest in the Kate Martinelli series. I never liked detective novels until I started reading Laurie R. King's Mary Russell series. Love her characters! This is the paperback book I carry around in my backpack (along with the heavy laptop, work files, etc.) to read during my commute when I just don't feel like knitting...which doesn't happen very often.
I see several great books and authors listed here.
I have 2 dogs and really like Patricia McConnell's writing on dogs. Other "dog-writing" favorites are Jon Katz, Stanley Coren, and Jean Donaldson.
Steven King's The Stand is a classic that I've tackled a couple times. He's a great writer who really knows how to ratchet up the tension and grab your attention!
I read the bible about 3 times straight through when I was younger (between 10-12 years old). Totally fascinating stuff, and some of it is really weird. The Old Testament in particular is full of some crazy stuff. Lot offered his virgin daughters to the mob in order to protect some angels. Interesting fathering approach...Then, after they fled the burning Sodom and Gomorra (sp?) his daughters got him drunk and had intercourse with their father in order to get pregnant...and that was just written down all matter of fact!!!
My parents used to think that it was really cool I showed all this interest in christianity by reading the bible. I guess now that I'm clearly not into their religion anymore, they don't see it as significant.