To echo what some of the others said - The Help was excellent. So was Water for Elephants, The Kite Runner, 1000 Splendid Suns and One Thousand White Women. Didn't care for The Shack. It was weird! I agree that Jodi Picoult can always be counted on for a good read. Read many of the Elm Creek series. The first few were good ( but nothing earth shattering) but then, IMHO, they became insipid and I stopped. The Book Thief was excellent, so was Jesus Land (a true story), Escape by Carolyn Jessop and Lost Boy by Brent Jeffs. (both true stories) Just finished re-reading an oldie from years back - A Stone for Danny Fisher by Harold Robbins. Even better the second time around.
A great thread. Glad you started this!