Mists Of Avalon looks like it could be a very interesting tale and a nice Suggestion from Phinea. Just checked about the length though - yikes 912 pages according to Amazon. Think I'd need at least 2 months to read that one! Your suggestion about Inkheart looked like it would be a good read too, if also slightly longish at 544 pages. I'm going to need to learn to read faster (at 38 too - talk about teaching an old dog new tricks....woof!) .
Ooooh, I don't believe this, I've just found by searching the name of a Science Fiction book that I'd been thinking about. The Flight of the Dragonfly by Robert L. Forward. It's one I've been thinking of maybe suggesting for the future. I'd probably need to read through it again first to make sure it's suitable for all ages (I'm almost certain there's no problematic stuff though).
Erm, I think 'tis little me that will be presenting The Hobbit (although I may well be wrong).