[Evilhomer]

Thats mainly cause he split a huge book up in two parts, and had most of the boring characters in book 1 (last one published).

My vote would go for a "song of ice and fire" for number 1. Other books i have really enjoyed when young would probably be Robert Jordan (first 5 books are good, then he somehow lost himself in the plot), Tolkien (a classic) and Le Guin (earthsea).