The Color Purple by Alice WalkerThe Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk KiddThe Help by Kathryn StockettThe Prince of Tides by Pat ConroyA Good Man Is Hard to Find and Other Stories by Flannery O'Connor
Best Southern Literature
1,344 books — 2,573 voters
Defending Jacob by William LandayGone Girl by Gillian Flynn
Best Books of 2012
3,522 books — 9,200 voters

The Power of One by Bryce CourtenayHalf Broke Horses by Jeannette Walls
Best for Book Clubs
14,815 books — 18,695 voters
The Red Tent by Anita DiamantBridge to Terabithia by Katherine PatersonThe Prophet by Kahlil Gibran
Books That Everyone Should Read At Least Once
31,712 books — 120,723 voters