Not really 'recent' (a year ago) but i well enjoyed last year's booker prize 'Vernon God Little' ... pretty twisted and a little contrived (but then what fiction isnt - eg. Life of Pi isnt very believable but it's well good) but the narration and characterisation is really strong. For me it made 'Catcher in the Rye' make a lot more sense, they're quite similar angsty 1st-person stuff.
Ben Elton woohoo! i thought Dead famous was his best - the plot and characters are meant to be ridiculous, it's FOR people who hate big brother - whoever dissed it! if you hate big brother and occaisionally wish your mates were a little more intelligent and not entrenched in yoof culture then its genius satire.
My fav book - His dark materials. well written, great plot, good characters, fantastical, deep, imaginative, with a clear central philosophy/message too..
Harry Potter - good characters but isnt it all a bit empty????
Dan Brown - filthy holiday trash and i love it. Angels and Demons is so similar to TDVC they're practically the same book. What he does do well though is to present both sides of pretty deep arguments clearly and equally convincingly in his character's speeches (science & religion and their roles in the world, capitalism v communism, the role of NASA, the best focus of government spending...). It might be quite cool to just fish these passages out and actually try to work out which side you agree with; like do a evaluation of argument that Brown doesnt bother with.
or maybe just me...