Well, I'm quite "old-school" in my literary choices. Identifying an ultimate book is a bit tricky, but I'd have to say that anything by Dickens and Thackeray is a must for me.

In terms of contemporary fiction i'd go with 'The Crimson Petal and the White' by Michel Faber.
And John Milton's Paradise Lost is just epic and wonderfully written.

What would we do without books!!?

kisses
x