and before he chimes in allow me to guess Licurg's favorite: "Frommer's Guide to Romanian Liquor Stores".

OK, just one question:

I have seen the Sean Connery Name of the Rose film. How accurate is it when compared to the book?

Aside from the ending, is the spirit of the movie accurate? Should I expect something similar in tone with the book?

Yeesh, that's difficult. I can maybe narrow it down to ten (in no order). Just a note, these are favorites, not necessarily what I consider the BEST books ever written.

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (series) - Douglas Adams
Stranger in a Strange Land - Robert Heinlein
Foundation (series) - Isaac Asimov
The Shining - Stephen King
The Sound and the Fury - William Faulkner
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep - Phillip K. Dick
The Lord of the Rings - J.R.R. Tolkien
Friday - Robert Heinlein
Childhood's End - Arthur C. Clarke
Rendezvous with Rama - Arthur C. Clarke

Edit: Okay, make it eleven.

Dune (series) - Frank Herbert

It's quite accurate. The ending is softened a bit for cinema public (the novel's is more realistic and maybe less satisfactory for moviegoers, or at least so would assume the cinema industry), and the historical context is way more explained and developped in the book, but plot-wise (and atmosphere-wise) it's a brilliant, quite faithful adaptation.

Either:
A Clash of Kings: George R.R. Martin
Bored of the Rings: Harvard Lampoon

My top 5 flip flops depending on my mood, right now I'd say

The Eyes of God
by John Marco.

They chose, probably wisely, to retain certain elements of the book's spirit and ignore others. The morbidity and the contrast between the harsh, muddy medieval cloister life and the intellectual and spiritual studies of the monks are part of the book, although the latter part comes up short, as is the cruelty of the inquisition.

Overall, I'd say the movie is faithful to the core storyline.

The Count of Monte Cristo (unabridged)
Crime and Punishment
Fahrenheit 451
Slaughterhouse Five

Oi.

Two of the longest books ever written and two of the shortest. :D I guess you don't go for any of that middle of the road stuff. :D

He uses the latter as bookmarks in the former.

And the former as bookmarks for "In Search of Lost Time"?

Go big or go home! :p

Some other favorites I thought of:

Frankenstein (actually, this might be my top choice)
Bram Stoker's Dracula
To Kill a MockingBird
The Scarlet Letter
The Stranger
The Sun Also Rises
The Great Gatsby
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
Watchmen
As I Lay Dying
The Man in the High Castle

I barely read books anymore. Most of my reading is done on internet message boards nowadays...I kind of regret that.