I love epic, well-researched world building with strong characters and beautiful prose. Some of my favorite authors are MIchael Chabon, Umberto Eco, John Steinbeck and Jennifer Egan for how well they craft their worlds and characters. What else will I like that's less male and anglosaxon-centric (sepecially south-east Asia and Africa)?
AND I read already A Hundred Years of Solitude
by DarkDrunkDuck