A Prayer for Owen Meany by John IrvingLonesome Dove by Larry McMurtryThe Prince of Tides by Pat ConroyThe Alienist by Caleb Carr
Big Fat Books Worth the Effort
1,873 books — 6,998 voters
The Complete Aubrey/Maturin Novels by Patrick O'Brian
Best Historical Fiction
7,440 books — 25,629 voters

The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara KingsolverTo Kill a Mockingbird by Harper LeeWater for Elephants by Sara GruenThe Kite Runner by Khaled HosseiniA Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
Best for Book Clubs
14,878 books — 18,746 voters
The Help by Kathryn StockettCutting for Stone by Abraham   Verghese
Best Books of 2009
1,766 books — 6,932 voters