you guys should start with something that everyone on here would enjoy, and is very approachable. then if you actually have enough people to continue on maybe step it up a notch with something like 'brave new world' or 'siddhartha' so that they might actually be eager to try someone like dostoevsky someday.
i personally would strongly recommend something like "high fidelity" to begin with. it is a book about a record store owner who is basically having a midlife crisis... someone that probably 95% of you can relate to. you can read the plot summary on wikipedia (mini spoilers)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Fidelity_(novel)
ps ethan there is a happy medium in between childhood fantasy novels and 700 page literature wankry... sounds kinda like you wanna read a dream theatre book, and anyone who isnt on board is just a "harry potter fanboy"