I've actually read every single book mentioned in this thread, and I recommend practically all of them(though I did give up on the wheel of time series...). The only thing I have to mention is that I recently had a cousin, who is not really a reader, begin her sojourn into fantasy reading. She started with R. A. Salvatore's Dark Elf trilogy(which expanded into several more books than a trilogy) and was completely hooked by them. She had also never played AD&D, although the books are set with one of its worlds.
They were also some of my first readings, and although I consider R. A. Salvatore to be Fantasy Lite now, he is an excellent starting point.
Xanth or the Belgariad are also good choices, although Xanth requires a peculiar sense of humor after you've read a dozen or so of them. I would also consider David/Leigh Eddings books to be Fantasy Lite, and also decent starting books.
EDIT: I still don't like the flow of a few sentences. Eh.
They were also some of my first readings, and although I consider R. A. Salvatore to be Fantasy Lite now, he is an excellent starting point.
Xanth or the Belgariad are also good choices, although Xanth requires a peculiar sense of humor after you've read a dozen or so of them. I would also consider David/Leigh Eddings books to be Fantasy Lite, and also decent starting books.
EDIT: I still don't like the flow of a few sentences. Eh.