In a desperate attempt to keep track of what I have read, here is the following: I've just finished the Philip Pullman Trilogy His Dark Materials, rating 4/5 to 5/5, better than Harry Potter, hmmm also a little different, the only thing I would say is the last book seems to drag a bit.
And I'm just about to start Jeffrey Steingarten the man who ate everything, so erm I have no idea what its like :D.