Reading is a little piece of magic. It opens a window into the author's mind and lets you peek into their world.
I think one of the most important ways to become a better writer is to read. A LOT. So I do. And, for me, it's not a chore at all. As a matter of fact, I can't remember a time when I couldn't read. I'm told my Dad won some bets on me when I was really young, claiming I could read when what was really happening was I had the pictures on the page memorized and I knew what part of the story we were in.
This is easily my favorite series of books, ever. Genre defying, encompassing fantasy, history, family, romance, and whatever else she damn well pleases, Diana Gabaldon's books are entertaining and satisfying. And the fact that there is a Starz series based on these books that is faithful to the spirit of the books and has a cast that has become the beloved characters they portray is just icing on the lovely cake.
Outlander is just the beginning; Ms. Gabaldon has written a series of auxiliary novels set outside the main sequence of books, some starring Lord John Grey, a recurring character in the main series, as well as stories that shed further light into the Outlander universe by featuring characters that are peripheral in the central sory, but have something important to say themselves. I've read every one I could get my hands on and love them all.
Alexander McCall Smith's No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency is a sweet, intriguing set of stories set in Botswana, a country I'd love to visi, on the strength of his descriptions of the land and people there.
Precious Ramotswe is a determined woman of traditional build who drives a mini van and solves peoples' problems, whether they want them solved or not. These books are remarkable in that they aren't like a 'regular'detective novel; there are no hardboiled gumshoes or gun-toting baddies, just Mma Ramotswe, her associate and secretery Grace Makutsi, humor, and plenty of red bush tea.
David Eddings wrote, as far as I am concerned, the best fantasy series EVER. There's action, prophesy, magic, mad gods, and an ensemble cast of fascinating, very human characters, even when they aren't strictly human. The story is told with deft style and humor, following Garion, an orphaned farm boy through his journey that will ultimately decide the fate of the world. It may sound like every other epic fantasy out there, but this one really is That Good.
You want epic, The Pillars of the Earth is EPIC. The center of the action is the construction of an English cathedral and all the powerplay,polictics and manuvering that go into it. Still, with such a grand scale, the characters are still very human, acting to serve God, themselves, their art, and survive in mediceval England. An absorbing, fascinating read.