I read The Hours a few years ago, and thought it was beautifully-written, though I know of others who found it difficult to get into.
My favorite recent reads have been:
The Secret Life of Bees, by Sue Monk Kidd
Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, by Gegory Maguire
I'm currently reading Son of a Witch, the sequel to Wicked, and plan on reading Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister next, also by the same author (Gregory Maguire). Other recommendations that I'm looking forward to reading are: Between, Georgia and gods in Alabama (both by Joshilyn Jackson).
I cannot even begin to say how much I adored The Secret Life of Bees. It was nothing like I expected, and it completely blew me away! The characters, the writing, the imagery... everything! It was one of the best books I've ever read.