I have read two outstanding novels this year:

The Road by Cormac McCarthy. McCarthy is an amazing writer. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Road

Suite Francaise by Irene Nemirovsky was written during WW II but was not published until a few years ago. It is wonderfully written and the story behind it is sad but compelling. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suite_f...%A9mirovsky%29

My favourite cycling related book: Cold Beer and Crocodiles by Roff Smith, about his cycle tour around Australia.