Haha that is awesome, I don't even remember how I came across Another Roadside Attraction but after that book my mindset on books changed dramatically. Before that, books were only something to be read in school. I'm really, really glad I got into books. I can't seem to stop reading them now and they've probably gotten to the point of my addiction to music.
That's pretty cool that you start by the first of any series of books/music, etc. That makes more sense than what I used to do, which is usually surf through Amazon recommendation lists based on certain books, then check into the authors and get their books in somewhat random order or just go by people's recommendations. But now for other authors I come by I have been starting with their first books, such as Jeff Noon and Matt Ruff.
If you like fantasy at all, you definitly need to check out
Fool On the Hill by Ruff, I love the damn book. If you want to delve into a more philosophy based book, you definitly also need to check out
Lamb: the Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal by Christopher Moore, they are up there on my favorite list with Robbins although I really haven't read that many books.
It sucks that most of my friends don't read books, not having to talk to someone about an author's literary greatness is a bummer
