The Great American Read

100 HUNDRED AUTHORS... AND MORE THAN 4 MILLION VOTES.

- "THINGS FALL APART."

- "GULLIVER'S TRAVELS."

- "CATCH-22."

- "THE COLOR PURPLE."

ANNOUNCER: TONIGHT WE REVEAL WHICH TITLE YOU PICKED AS AMERICA'S BEST LOVED NOVEL.

- IT GOES STRAIGHT TO THE HEART, EVEN THE PARTS THAT HURT.

- I LOVE THIS BOOK.

I'VE READ IT A MILLION TIMES.

- IT'S THE ARTISTRY.

IT'S THE BEAUTY OF THE PROSE.

ALL: "CHARLOTTE'S WEB."

ANNOUNCER: IT'S A CELEBRATION AND A COUNTDOWN.

- I VOTED EVERY DAY FOR "THE GRAPES OF WRATH."

- "AMERICANAH."

- "FRANKENSTEIN."

- "THE JOY LUCK CLUB."

- "CALL OF THE WILD."

ANNOUNCER: IT'S THE GRAND FINALE OF "THE GREAT AMERICAN READ."

- I VOTED FOR "THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA."

- "CRIME AND PUNISHMENT."

- "TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD."

- "THE BRIEF WONDROUS LIFE OF OSCAR WAO."

- AND I JUST VOTED FOR RALPH ELLISON'S "INVISIBLE MAN."

FOR THE GREAT AMERICAN READ.

I COULDN'T BE MORE EXCITED.

[EXCITING MUSIC] [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] - THANK YOU.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE CONTINUE] HELLO, HELLO.

WOW!

ALL THE VOTES-- GUYS, ALL THE VOTES ARE IN, AND I THINK WE'VE GOT A FEW BOOK LOVERS HERE.

AM I RIGHT?

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] I AM MEREDITH VIEIRA, YOUR HOST OF "THE GREAT AMERICAN READ," AND WE ARE ALL IN FOR ONE INCREDIBLE NIGHT.

WE HAVE ACCLAIMED AUTHORS AND LITERARY EXPERTS IN THE CROWD HERE.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] ALSO...

CELEBRITIES WHO ARE HERE TO SUPPORT THEIR FAVORITE BOOKS.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] AND, OF COURSE, I-- HI, HONEY.

I SAVED THE BEST FOR LAST--THE FANS.

YOU GUYS ARE HERE.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] WELL... OVER THE COURSE OF THE NIGHT, WE ARE GOING TO REVEAL THE RESULTS OF THE VOTE BOOK BY BOOK, FROM 100 ALL THE WAY TO NUMBER ONE.

AND JUST TO GIVE YOU A TASTE OF HOW CLOSE THINGS GOT, TWO HIGHLY PACED BOOKS WERE TIED RIGHT UP TO THE LAST MINUTE OF THE VOTING.

YOU WANT TO KNOW WHICH ONES THEY WERE?

ALL: YES!

NOT YET, NOT YET.

BEFORE WE GET INTO THE COUNTDOWN, IT'S TIME TO TAKE A LITTLE TRIP.

SO HANG ON TO YOUR HATS, CAPES, PARASOLS, WANDS, KILTS, AND SPELL BOOKS, WHILE WE SALUTE SOME BOOK FANS WHO HELPED PUSH THEIR FAVORITE NOVELS TO THE TOP.

ANNOUNCER: A NATIONAL CAMPAIGN ABOUT READING DOESN'T GET VERY FAR WITHOUT A LOT OF FRIENDS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

- THANK YOU SO MUCH.

ANNOUNCER: AND FROM SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA TO NORTHERN NEW ENGLAND, AND ALMOST EVERYWHERE IN BETWEEN, OUR FRIENDS AT LOCAL PBS MEMBER STATIONS, STEPPED UP IN A BIG WAY.

- THANK YOU.

ANNOUNCER: THEIR HARD WORK GAVE BOOK FANS SO MANY REASONS TO GATHER, TALK ABOUT, AND VOTE FOR THEIR FAVORITE NOVELS.

- I VOTED FOR, "THEIR EYES WERE WATCHING GOD."

- "TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD" BY HARPER LEE.

- "THE MARIAN" IS A PAGE-TURNER.

- MY FAVORITE BOOK IS "JURASSIC PARK" BECAUSE I LOVE DINOSAURS.

ANNOUNCER: AND AS WE'VE SEEN, WHEN SERIOUS FANS GET ORGANIZED, THEY GET RESULTS.

ALL: WE ALL VOTED FOR "HARRY POTTER" FOR THE GREAT AMERICAN READ.

ANNOUNCER: DIE-HARD AYN RAND READERS PUSHED THEIR BOOK UP MORE THAN 20 SPOTS IN THE RUNNING.

- WE ALL VOTED FOR... ALL: "ATLAS SHRUGGED."

ANNOUNCER: WE CALL IT "THE FANDOM PHENOMENON."

- I VOTED FOR "OUTLANDER" BECAUSE CLAIRE FRASER IS A BOSS WOMAN AND SHE GETS STUFF DONE.

ANNOUNCER: FROM COMIC-CON TO PODCASTS AND POP-UP TEA PARTIES... EVERYONE GOT INTO THE ACT.

- I LOVE "THE LORD OF THE RINGS."

[TRANQUIL MUSIC] ANNOUNCER: AND IN ORION, ILLINOIS, A PART-TIME FLORIST AND FULL-TIME FAN HAS GONE ALL-IN FOR "OUTLANDER."

- HEY.

GOOD MORNING.

HOW ARE YA?

- IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU.

- OH, IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU.

- HOW'S THINGS GOING?

- GOOD.

ANNOUNCER: DEBBIE FORD IS THE CREATOR OF THROUGH THE STONES, THE FIRST AND LARGEST "OUTLANDER" CONVENTION IN THE MIDWEST.

- I WAS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION IN ORION AND DECIDED TO RETIRE FROM THAT TO IMMERSE MYSELF IN "OUTLANDER" WORLD.

- IT'S AMAZING TO SEE ALL THE PEOPLE THAT COME FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD JUST FOR THIS CONFERENCE.

I'M NOT SURE HOW SHE DOES IT ALL.

[LAUGHS] ANNOUNCER: DEBBIE HAS A NOT-SO-SECRET WEAPON IN THIS ENDEAVOR-- HER FAMILY.

AND ALL OF THEM ARE "OUTLANDER" FANS.

- HI, GIRLS.

- HEY, DEB.

SO WHAT'S UP FOR TODAY?

- OH, WELL, WE'RE GONNA STUFF SOME BADGES.

WE'RE GONNA DO SOME SEWING.

[LAUGHTER] - DEBBIE CALLED ME OUT OF THE BLUE ONE DAY, AND SHE SAYS, "I WANT TO HAVE AN 'OUTLANDER' CONVENTION."

IT'S LIKE, "OH, YEAH, THAT'D BE AWESOME--LET'S DO THAT."

WE KNEW THAT MEANS, "YOU GUYS ARE ALL GONNA HELP ME WITH THIS."

- THAT'S RIGHT.

YOU'RE IN.

[LAUGHTER] - WE KNEW IMMEDIATELY.

AND YOU'RE GONNA DRAG YOUR KIDS INTO IT, TOO.

- I WAS A LITTLE SKEPTICAL AT FIRST, AND THEN I GOT INTO THAT FIRST BOOK--I WAS HOOKED.

- "OUTLANDER" IS ABOUT LIFE.

- IT IS ABOUT LIFE.

- IT IS THE STORIES OF LIFE-- SEX, RAISING KIDS, BEING MARRIED.

- ALL THE MESSY STUFF, ALL THE PRETTY STUFF, YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING.

- I THINK BOOKS, IN GENERAL, IF YOU GET REALLY PASSIONATE ABOUT A BOOK, YOU WANT TO GO FURTHER.

THOSE CHARACTERS DO BECOME PART OF YOUR LIFE.

ONCE THAT BOOK BECOMES A PART OF YOU, YOU WANT TO HAVE IT BE MORE AND MORE AND MORE.

- I'M JUST A SUCKER FOR A LOVE STORY.

- YEAH.

[LAUGHTER] - THAT'S A GOOD LOVE STORY.

- I WAS VERY HAPPY TO SEE "OUTLANDER" ON THE LIST OF THE GREAT AMERICAN READ.

I GET ON MY PHONE OR MY COMPUTER EVERY SINGLE DAY AND VOTE FOR "OUTLANDER."

- IF "OUTLANDER" WERE VOTED NUMBER ONE, WE WOULD SAY, "THAT'S NO SURPRISE."

- HOW CAN IT NOT WIN?

[LAUGHTER] - AND I MAKE SURE THAT EVEN MORE PEOPLE CAN ENJOY THIS WONDERFUL STORY.

YOU CAN VOTE EVERY SINGLE DAY, AND, OF COURSE, YOU KNOW ME-- I'M VOTING FOR "OUTLANDER."

- ABSOLUTELY.

- [LAUGHS] ALL: WE ALL VOTED FOR "OUTLANDER" FOR THE GREAT AMERICAN READ.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] - SUPER FANS OF ALL THE NOVELS ON THE LIST ARE KEEPING THEIR FINGERS CROSSED THAT THEIR BOOKS COME OUT ON TOP.

I WON'T TELL YOU WHICH BOOK WON UNTIL THE VERY END, OF COURSE, BUT THROUGHOUT THE SHOW, WE WILL REVEAL OUR TOP FIVE FINALISTS AND SHINE A LITTLE EXTRA LIGHT ON WHAT MAKES THOSE BOOKS SO SPECIAL.

AND GUESS WHAT- I GET TO ANNOUNCE THE FIRST OF OUR TOP FIVE FINALISTS RIGHT NOW.

OUR FIRST FINALIST IS "OUTLANDER" BY DIANA GABALDON.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] I THINK IT WAS ALL THOSE SISTERS VOTING EVERY SINGLE DAY THAT HELPED PUSH IT OVER THE TOP.

I AM JUST A WEE BIT EXCITED BECAUSE HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE BOOK WITH ME IS THE AUTHOR HERSELF.

PLEASE WELCOME DIANA GABALDON.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] WE MET MONTHS AGO.

- WE DID.

- AND I HAD NOT READ "OUTLANDER," BUT ONE OF THE THINGS I LOVED ABOUT THIS SERIES IS IT MADE PEOPLE TAKE A LOOK AT BOOKS THEY MIGHT NOT HAVE READ OTHERWISE, AND I DID READ "OUTLANDER."

I LOVED IT.

NOW IT'S IN THE TOP FIVE.

HOW ARE YOU FEELING?

- EXTREMELY GRATEFUL TO ALL THE PEOPLE WHO VOTED FOR IT, BY THE WAY.

- I LIKE A MAN IN A KILT, ALWAYS HAVE, AND APPARENTLY YOU DO, TOO.

- WHO DOESN'T?

- YEAH, EXACTLY.

EXACTLY.

BUT ALL KIDDING ASIDE, WHY DO YOU THINK THIS SERIES HAS RESONATED WITH PEOPLE THE WAY THAT IT HAS?

- WELL, I GET A LOT OF MAIL FROM PEOPLE AND HAVE OVER THE LAST 30 YEARS.

AND EVERYBODY LIKES DIFFERENT THINGS ABOUT IT.

THEY LIKE THE BOTANICAL MEDICINE.

THEY LIKE THE MILITARY ADVENTURES.

THEY LIKE THE HISTORY.

PEOPLE SAY THEY LIKE TO FEEL EDUCATED WHILE BEING ENTERTAINED.

BUT WHAT IT COMES DOWN TO IS THE CHARACTERS.

EVERYONE FEELS LIKE JAMIE AND CLAIRE ARE REAL PEOPLE, AND THEY JUST WANT TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THEM.

- WHEN YOU WROTE THIS BOOK, IT WAS THE FIRST BOOK YOU HAD WRITTEN.

AND YOU DID IT SECRETLY IN YOUR GARAGE AND DIDN'T TELL ANYBODY.

YOUR HUSBAND CAME UPON THE FILES--COMPUTER FILES-- AND EVERY ONE WAS TITLED "JAMIE."

NOW, HE DOESN'T KNOW WHO THE HECK JAMIE IS.

[LAUGHTER] DID HE WONDER?

DID HE ASK YOU TO FILL HIM IN ON THAT ONE?

- WELL, YEAH, HE LOOKED AT THE SCREEN WITH 80 FILES CALLED "JAMIE," AND HE LOOKED AT ME, AND HE SAID, "WHO'S JAMIE?"

[LAUGHTER] AND I SAID, "IT'S THIS BOOK I'M WRITING, ALL RIGHT?"

HE COULD TELL FROM MY TONE OF VOICE THAT I WAS NOT TO BE TRIFLED WITH.

SO HE, YOU KNOW, BACKED OFF A LITTLE BIT.

BUT, YOU KNOW, ASKED QUESTIONS, AND, YOU KNOW, BEFORE I KNEW IT, HE WAS STANDING BEHIND ME WHILE I WORKED, YOU KNOW, ACTUALLY READING OFF THE SCREEN IN WHAT HE FONDLY CONSIDERS TO BE A SCOTTISH ACCENT.

[LAUGHTER] - WELL, I KNOW HE LIKED WHAT HE READ, AND MANY, MANY OF THE FANS RIGHT HERE IN THIS AUDIENCE LOVE WHAT THEY READ FROM YOU, DIANA.

- THANK YOU SO MUCH.

- THANK YOU.

- CONGRATULATIONS, AND WE'LL FIND OUT LATER IF YOUR NOVEL IS THE BEST LOVED NOVEL OF THE NIGHT.

THANK YOU, DIANA, SO MUCH.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] PEOPLE OBVIOUSLY LOVE "OUTLANDER."

WE ARE ALL HERE TONIGHT BECAUSE WE'RE PASSIONATE ABOUT BOOKS WE LOVE.

BUT WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF READING ITSELF?

THIS IS A QUESTION WE TRIED TO ANSWER THROUGHOUT THE SERIES.

- READING EXERCISES PART OF THE BRAIN AND THE HEART ESSENTIAL TO BEING IN THIS COMPLEX WORLD OF OURS.

- I'VE ALWAYS EQUATED THE VERB "TO READ" WITH THE VERB "TO THINK."

IT'S ALMOST LIKE, WHAT FUEL ARE YOU USING FOR YOUR FIRE?

- YOU READ TO GO TO ANOTHER TIME, GO TO ANOTHER COUNTRY, TO GO TO ANOTHER WAY OF THINKING.

- READING EXPANDS YOUR AWARENESS OF THE UNIVERSE.

- YOU LEARN SOMETHING, AND YOU GET TO GO ON AN ADVENTURE.

- WE ARE TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE-- WHY WE'RE HERE, HOW WE GOT HERE, WHAT'S THE POINT?

- NOTHING BRINGS ME BACK INTO MY OWN SOUL BETTER THAN READING.

- READING LETS YOU SEE, YOU'RE GONNA MAKE IT.

YOU'RE GONNA BE OKAY.

IT'S GONNA BE FINE.

SO TAKE THESE BOOKS, LET THEM BE LIKE A SHIELD AND A SWORD FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU MEET.

AND THAT'S WHY BOOKS ARE SO AMAZING.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] - AND NOW TO BEGIN OUR 100 BOOK COUNTDOWN, PLEASE WELCOME ACTRESS, AUTHOR, AND DEDICATED BOOKWORM ALI WENTWORTH, AND AUTHOR OF THE BEST SELLER "SWAN SONG," ROBERT MCCAMMON.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] - THANK YOU.

BOTH: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

- ALL RIGHT, LET'S GET STARTED, AND THE BOOKS ARE... AT NUMBER 100, "DOA BARBARA" BY ROMULO GALLEGOS.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] - NUMBER 99, "THE INTUITIONIST" BY COLSON WHITEHEAD.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] NUMBER 98, SISTER SOULJAH'S "THE COLDEST WINTER EVER."

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] - THE NEXT BOOK WAS PUBLISHED JUST TWO YEARS AGO AND IS THE MOST RECENT NOVEL ON YOUR LIST.

AT NUMBER 97, "GHOST" BY JASON REYNOLDS.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE, ALI AND ROBERT CHUCKLE] - AT NUMBER 96, "WHITE TEETH" BY ZADIE SMITH.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] - NUMBER 95, "MIND INVADERS" BY DAVE HUNT.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] - THE NEXT NOVEL IS A TERRIFYING STORY BY A VERY SMART WRITER WHO HAPPENS TO BE STANDING RIGHT NEXT TO ME.

- REALLY?

REALLY?

[LAUGHTER] - YOU DIDN'T KNOW?

YOU'RE NUMBER 94.

IT'S "SWAN SONG" BY MR. ROBERT MCCAMMON.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] - THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

- THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

YOU KNOW, REAL QUICKLY, IT'S SUCH AN HONOR TO BE HERE.

IT'S AN HONOR TO BE AMONG READERS, TO BE AMONG WRITERS, TO BE AMONG THESE WONDERFUL, GREAT BOOKS.

AND WHAT ELSE CAN I SAY?

I'M SO PLEASED AND HAPPY TO BE HERE, SO THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

NOW, TO GET BACK INTO THE COUNTDOWN, AT NUMBER 93, "THE BRIEF AND WONDROUS LIFE OF OSCAR WAO" BY JUNOT DAZ.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] YES!

- NUMBER 92, "LOOKING FOR ALASKA" BY JOHN GREEN.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] - NUMBER 91, RUDOLFO ANAYA'S "BLESS ME, ULTIMA."

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] - NUMBER 90, "ANOTHER COUNTRY" BY JAMES BALDWIN.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] THIS IS ONE OF THE MANY GREAT BOOKS ON THE LIST THAT HAS BEEN BANNED IN DIFFERENT PLACES, BUT NOW IT'S CONSIDERED ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT BOOKS IN AMERICAN LITERATURE.

- AT NUMBER 89, "AMERICANAH" BY CHIMAMANDA NGOZI ADICHIE.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] - AT NUMBER 88, "THIS PRESENT DARKNESS" BY FRANK E. PERETTI.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] - NUMBER 87, "THE SIRENS OF TITAN" BY KURT VONNEGUT.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] - NUMBER 86, A NOVEL MANY PEOPLE ENJOYED... [LAUGHTER] "50 SHADES OF GREY" BY E.L. JAMES.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] - NUMBER 85, "FLOWERS IN THE ATTIC" BY V.C.

ANDREWS.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] - AND EDGING OUT "FLOWERS IN THE ATTIC" BY JUST 30 VOTES, NUMBER 84, MARILYNNE ROBINSON'S PULITZER-WINNING "GILEAD."

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] - YES.

YES, YES.

NUMBER 83, "HEART OF DARKNESS" BY JOSEPH CONRAD.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] NUMBER 82, "THINGS FALL APART" BY THE GREAT CHINUA ACHEBE.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] - AND AT NUMBER 81, THE "ALEX CROSS" SERIES BY JAMES PATTERSON.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] - THANK YOU, ROBERT AND ALI.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR ALL OF THOSE BOOKS, 100 TO 81.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS, WE'VE BEEN FORTUNATE TO HAVE INSIGHT FROM MANY PROMINENT BOOK LOVERS, SEVERAL OF WHO AND, NO WONDER, HAVE A SPECIAL FONDNESS FOR LIBRARIES.

- LIBRARIANS TRY TO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET A FULL RANGE OF OPINION.

WE LET THE BOOKS BATTLE IT OUT ON THE SHELVES.

- MY LIBRARY CARD WAS ONE OF MY FAVORITE POSSESSIONS.

- AS A KID, A LIBRARIAN SAID, "YOU'VE READ EVERYTHING IN THE CHILDREN'S PART.

WE'LL LET YOU READ IN THE ADULT PART."

AND I THOUGHT, "WHOA."

- I WAS ALREADY READING BOOKS, BUT IT WAS A LIBRARIAN WHO MADE ME A CAPITAL "R" READER.

ANNOUNCER: LOCAL LIBRARIES TAKE THE LEAD IN PROMOTING BOOKS AND READING.

SO, WHEN THE GREAT AMERICAN READ LAUNCHED, LIBRARIANS IN MANY CITIES JUMPED IN.

- WE'RE HERE TALKING ABOUT BOOKS.

- MY FAVORITE BOOK IS DEFINITELY "THE STAND" BY STEPHEN KING.

- I DID MY VOTE FOR "PRIDE AND PREJUDICE."

[CHEERING] - WE'RE DOING THE GREAT AMERICAN READ PREMIERE PARTY.

ANNOUNCER: AND AT THE PUBLIC LIBRARY IN FREEPORT, NEW YORK, TECH-SAVVY STAFF DECIDED TO CREATE AN EXHIBIT OF PHOTOGRAPHS TO CELEBRATE THEIR FAVORITE BOOKS AND PIQUE THEIR PATRONS' CURIOSITY.

- GOOD.

- OH, THAT'S SO CUTE.

[LAUGHS] ANNOUNCER: THE PLAN?

EVERY STAFF MEMBER WOULD CHOOSE A BOOK AND STRIKE A POSE INSPIRED BY A FAVORITE CHARACTER OR SCENE.

- JUST LIKE YOU'RE A TRACK STAR.

- OKAY.

[LAUGHS] - ONE, TWO, THREE, JUMP.

ANNOUNCER: LIBRARIAN JASON VELARDE TOOK THE PICTURES AND TURNED THEM INTO DIGITAL ARTWORK, COMPLETE WITH QUOTATIONS FROM THE BOOKS.

- IT WAS COMING UP WITH SOMETHING THAT WAS PROVOCATIVE IN A SHORT SECOND.

- WE SEE PATRONS COMMENTING ON PHOTOS SAYING, "I LOVE THAT BOOK."

- THINKING ABOUT BEING THE ONE THAT CATCHES THE KIDS THAT ARE FALLING... - IT'S AMAZING TO SEE THE STAFF USING THEIR CREATIVE JUICES.

IT SHOWS WE ARE BROUGHT TOGETHER BY LITERATURE AND THAT WE CAN ALL TAKE OWNERSHIP IN THIS CAMPAIGN.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] - ONE OF THE GREAT PLEASURES OF WORKING ON THIS CAMPAIGN HAS BEEN GOING BACK TO STORIES THAT TOUCHED ME WHEN I FIRST READ THEM YEARS AGO.

I ENCOUNTERED THE NEXT BOOK WHEN I WAS JUST 13 YEARS OLD.

IT IS ONE OF THE TOP FIVE FINALISTS FOR AMERICA'S BEST LOVED NOVEL-- "TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD" BY HARPER LEE.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] ANNOUNCER: IN "TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD," HARPER LEE DESCRIBES THE TRIAL OF A BLACK MAN, TOM ROBINSON, FALSELY ACCUSED OF RAPE IN THE JIM CROW-ERA SOUTH... AND THE SMALL TOWN LAWYER, ATTICUS FINCH, WHO DEFENDS HIM.

- YOU'RE 100% RIGHT, AND THAT HAPPENS IN THE PLAY ANNOUNCER: NOW NEARLY 60 YEARS AFTER ITS PUBLICATION, THE TEXT IS BEING REIMAGINED FOR THE BROADWAY STAGE BY WRITER AARON SORKIN, WITH CAST MEMBERS JEFF DANIELS, LATANYA RICHARDSON JACKSON, AND GBENGA AKINNAGBE.

BUT ADAPTING AN ICONIC WORK OF LITERATURE TO THE STAGE IS A DELICATE TASK.

- THIS IS A BELOVED BOOK.

IT SEEMED LIKE ALL I COULD DO WAS RUIN IT-- THAT THERE WASN'T MUCH CHANCE THAT I CAN MAKE IT BETTER.

- WHAT I THINK GETS POUNDED THROUGH IT IS THAT HE'S AN OBVIOUSLY INNOCENT MAN.

- MM-HMM.

- TOM IS AN OBVIOUSLY INNOCENT MAN, AND LET'S PROVIDE JUSTICE-- RACE ASIDE.

AND...IT DOESN'T HAPPEN.

- I THINK THAT'S PART OF THE REASON THAT THIS BOOK CONTINUES TO RING, LIKE, THROUGHOUT THE DECADES.

IT'S LIKE, IT'S NOT A DISNEY ENDING.

YOU KNOW, IT DOESN'T HAPPEN.

- NO, SHE'S ROUGH IN THERE.

- YEAH.

- THAT'S RIGHT.

SHE WRITES SO FLOWINGLY.

SHE'S GOT SUCH A GREAT VOICE, AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, BAM.

- YEAH.

- GOT THIS ENDING.

- I THINK WHAT'S MOST HEARTBREAKING ABOUT "TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD" IS THAT THERE IS HOPE.

BECAUSE OF ATTICUS, WHO INSPIRES HOPE, WHO BELIEVES IN THE BEST IN HUMAN BEINGS, YOU BELIEVE THERE MIGHT BE JUSTICE IN THIS TOWN FOR TOM.

AND SO, WHEN THE INEVITABLE HAPPENS, IT'S THIS DEVASTATING LETDOWN.

- I WAS SURPRISED, REVISITING THE BOOK, THERE ARE REALLY ONLY TWO PROMINENT AFRICAN-AMERICAN CHARACTERS-- CALPURNIA, THE MAID, AND TOM ROBINSON, THE DEFENDANT.

THIS TRIAL IS TEARING THE TOWN APART, AND CALPURNIA ISN'T GIVEN AN OPINION.

- I AGREE, AND AFTER THE VERDICT, ALL OF THE COLORED PEOPLE... - MM-HMM.

- WHO BROUGHT FOOD OR SENT FOOD TO THE HOUSE-- I THINK THAT THEN CALPURNIA WAS GIVING HER POINT OF VIEW TO SAY, "THIS IS HOW THESE PEOPLE APPRECIATE YOU AND WHAT YOU DID FOR OUR COMMUNITY."

- I THINK THAT'S INTERESTING, BECAUSE IT'S ONE OF THE MORE BEAUTIFUL MOMENTS IN THE BOOK.

- YES.

- IT'S ALSO ONE OF THE MORE MESSED-UP MOMENTS.

YOU SHOULDN'T APPRECIATE JUSTICE.

IT SHOULD BE EXPECTED, RIGHT?

IT SHOULD BE JUST-- LIKE, IT SHOULD BE EXPECTED, YOU KNOW?

- SURE.

LISTEN, IT'S AN INTERESTING QUESTION.

HOW IS THE BOOK GONNA RESONATE NOW IN 2018?

- IT'S DEFINITELY STILL RELEVANT NOW... BECAUSE I WOULD LIKE EVERYONE TO BE ABLE TO RELATE TO TOM'S STORY.

- THERE'S REAL SOUL-CRUSHING INJUSTICE IN THIS BOOK THAT STILL EXISTS.

AND AT THE CENTER-- MORALITY, DECENCY... AND WHAT IT IS TO BE A PERSON STRIKES US.

- THE LESSONS, I THINK, ARE PRETTY CLEAR.

BUT I WAS MOST IMPRESSED THAT A WOMAN COULD WRITE THAT WHEN SHE WROTE IT AND BE THAT DEEPLY INVOLVED IN THE RIGHT SIDE OF RIGHT.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] - AND HERE TO TALK WITH US ABOUT THE BOOK, PLEASE WELCOME THE WRITER AND CAST MEMBERS OF THE NEW BROADWAY PRODUCTION OF "TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD."

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] CONGRATS.

I'D LOVE TO GO BACK IN TIME TO THE FIRST TIME EACH ONE OF YOU READ THIS BOOK AND WHAT YOU TOOK AWAY FROM IT.

AND, LATANYA, I'LL START WITH YOU.

- WHAT STAYED WITH ME WAS WHAT JUSTICE MEANT AND WOULD MEAN TO ME THROUGH SCOUT.

YOU FOLLOW THE PERSON THAT YOU THINK-- OR WHOM YOU LIKE MOST IN A BOOK, I THINK.

AND SINCE IT WAS A COMING-OF-AGE BOOK AND I WAS COMING OF AGE, SCOUT RESONATED IN A WAY THAT ALLOWED ME TO SEE JUSTICE FROM HER VANTAGE POINT.

- YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

GENTLEMEN, FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF THE BOOK THE FIRST TIME YOU READ IT.

- WELL, I THINK FOR ME, A WHITE KID FROM THE SUBURBS, IT WAS REALLY MY FIRST EXPERIENCE WITH INJUSTICE.

I THINK IT WAS THE FIRST BOOK THAT I READ WHERE THINGS DIDN'T TURN OUT THE WAY THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO.

AND IT WAS ALSO MY FIRST EXPERIENCE WITH ASTONISHING WRITING.

- AS I THINK BACK LATER...

THE BRILLIANT TURN... SHE TEES YOU UP FOR A HAPPY ENDING.

HE'S GONNA GET TOM ROBINSON OFF BECAUSE THAT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

AND WHEN SHE TURNS IT ON YOU, IT WAS SO DEVASTATING AND STAYED WITH ME FOR ALL THESE YEARS.

- YEAH.

TOM--HE DIDN'T HAVE A VOICE IN THE BOOK.

GBENGA, YOU GET TO GIVE HIM A VOICE.

IS THAT PART OF THE REASON THAT YOU TOOK ON THIS ROLE?

- ONCE WE STARTED WORK-SHOPPING IT AND I SAW WHAT AARON HAD SET OUT TO DO WITH THE PLAY AND WITH THE BLACK CHARACTERS IN THE PLAY-- THESE BLACK CHARACTERS WILL HAVE AGENCY-- I WAS IMMEDIATELY VERY MUCH HOOKED.

I WAS VERY EXCITED TO BE A PART OF IT.

- YEAH, AND AS YOU POINTED OUT IN THE VIDEO, THIS IS A RISKY THING THAT YOU'RE DOING-- ADAPTING SUCH A-- NOT TO MAKE YOU NERVOUS.

[LAUGHTER] WELL, YOU SAID ALL YOU CAN DO IS RUIN IT, WHICH I'M SURE YOU WON'T, BUT THE POINT IS-- [LAUGHTER] THE POINT IS THAT THAT'S A BRAVE THING TO DO.

- IF YOU'RE ASKING ME AM I NERVOUS ABOUT TRYING TO BE AS GOOD AS ONE OF THE MOST RESPECTED, REVERED, BELOVED BOOKS OF ALL TIME... NOT UNTIL YOU MENTIONED IT, MEREDITH.

[LAUGHTER] - WELL, KNOWING YOUR BRILLIANCE, I'M SURE IT'LL BE A PHENOMENAL ADAPTATION.

WE'RE GONNA FIND OUT LATER IF "TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD" IS AMERICA'S BEST LOVED NOVEL.

THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH.

DURING THIS SERIES, WE'VE HAD FASCINATING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE PROCESS OF WRITING WITH THE AUTHORS OF SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE BOOKS.

WE FOUND OUT HOW AND WHY A STORY IS WRITTEN CAN BE JUST AS INTERESTING AS THE TALE ITSELF.

- WHEN I'M WRITING A STORY, I PRETEND THAT THERE'S SOMEBODY SITTING RIGHT ACROSS FROM ME, AND I DON'T WANT THEM TO GET UP UNTIL I'M FINISHED.

- LONG BEFORE I WROTE A WORD, I WOULD JUST SIT IN MY GRANDMOTHER'S GARDEN AND IMAGINE THINGS.

AND I NEEDED TO DO THAT.

THE WAY I NEED TO EAT, THE WAY I NEEDED TO HAVE EXERCISE.

- WRITING BOOKS IS DIFFICULT.

EVERY SINGLE TIME YOU DO IT, IT'S HARD.

ALL THAT MATTERS IS, ARE YOU GOING TO DO THIS THING?

OR ARE YOU NOT GOING TO DO IT?

- I STARTED WRITING EARLY, AS I STARTED READING EARLY.

AND THEN FOR A WHILE, I WANTED TO BE A PAINTER.

AND THEN I WANTED TO BE A FASHION DESIGNER.

AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, I STARTED WRITING AGAIN, BECAUSE THAT WAS MORE FUN THAN ANYTHING.

- IT WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME TO START READING WOMEN WHO WERE WRITERS.

YOU KNOW, I IDOLIZED THESE PEOPLE.

- NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS, I TRY MY BEST TO LEAVE THE READER WITH A SENSE OF HOPE, BECAUSE HOPE IS WHAT GETS YOU THROUGH THOSE HARD MOMENTS OF LIFE.

- PEOPLE SAY LIKE, YOU KNOW, "YOU RUINED OUR HONEYMOON, BECAUSE WE WIND UP READING YOUR BOOKS INSTEAD OF..." WHATEVER IT IS THAT PEOPLE DO ON HONEYMOONS, WHICH SHOULDN'T BE READING MY BOOKS.

MAYBE A LITTLE BIT.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] - HERE NOW TO HELP US COUNT DOWN 80 TO 61, IT IS MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE THE ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF RARE BOOK SCHOOL AT THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA, BARBARA HERITAGE, AND DIRECTOR OF THE SCHOMBURG CENTER FOR RESEARCH IN BLACK CULTURE, KEVIN YOUNG.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] - THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

ALL RIGHT, HERE WE GO.

AT NUMBER 80, "THE PILGRIM'S PROGRESS" BY JOHN BUNYAN.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] NUMBER 79, "WATCHERS" BY DEAN KOONTZ.

I'M EXCITED FOR THIS ONE.

THIS IS NUMBER 78-- "GONE GIRL" BY GILLIAN FLYNN.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] - NUMBER 77, "LEFT BEHIND" BY TIM LAHAYE AND JERRY B. JENKINS.

- NUMBER 76 IS "READY PLAYER ONE" BY ERNEST CLINE.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] - NUMBER 75, A SATIRE FROM THE 18TH CENTURY, IT'S "GULLIVER'S TRAVELS."

- "GULLIVER'S TRAVELS."

- JONATHAN SWIFT.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] - OUR NEXT NOVEL ACTUALLY BEGAN ITS LIFE IN 1976 AS A GROUNDBREAKING NEWSPAPER SERIES ABOUT GAY CULTURE.

AT NUMBER 74, "TALES OF THE CITY" BY ARMISTEAD MAUPIN.

THAT'S A GOOD ONE.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] - NUMBER 73, THE "TWILIGHT" SAGA BY STEPHENIE MEYER.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] - NEXT, A DEVASTATING DEPICTION OF RACE IN AMERICA-- NUMBER 72 IS THE INDISPENSABLE "INVISIBLE MAN" BY RALPH ELLISON.

- NUMBER 71, "HATCHET" BY GARY PAULSEN [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] - NUMBER 70, "THE ALCHEMIST" BY PAULO COELHO.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] - NUMBER 69, "THE LOVELY BONES" BY ALICE SEBOLD.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] - AND THIS IS THE OLDEST NOVEL ON YOUR LIST-- PUBLISHED IN 1650 AND STILL A TOP SELLER, NUMBER 68, "DON QUIXOTE" BY MIGUEL DE CERVANTES.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] - 67, "A SEPARATE PEACE" BY JOHN KNOWLES.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] - AT NUMBER 66, MARK HADDON'S "THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME."

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] - 65, "THE SUN ALSO RISES" BY ERNEST HEMINGWAY.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] - NUMBER 64, FYODOR DOSTOYEVSKY'S "CRIME AND PUNISHMENT."

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] - NUMBER 63, "SIDDHARTHA" BY HERMANN HESSE.

- NUMBER 62 IS ROBERT JORDAN'S FANTASY SERIES, "THE WHEEL OF TIME."

- AND WRAPPING THIS GROUP UP, NUMBER 61, "THE MARTIAN" BY ANDY WEIR.

- ALL RIGHT.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] - LET'S GIVE A BIG, BIG THANK-YOU TO BOTH OF OUR PRESENTERS AND A HUGE ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR THE BOOKS.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] ALL RIGHT, WELL, SO FAR, WE'VE SEEN "OUTLANDER" AND "TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD" MAKE IT INTO THE TOP FIVE.

OUR NEXT TOP-FIVE NOVEL IS AN ADVENTURE OF EPIC PROPORTIONS.

ABOUT HIS BOOK, THE AUTHOR SAID, "IT IS WRITTEN IN MY LIFEBLOOD."

TOLKIEN LOVERS, REJOICE.

THE BOOK IS "THE LORD OF THE RINGS."

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] - I VOTED FOR "THE LORD OF THE RINGS."

- "THE LORD OF THE RINGS."

- "LORD OF THE RINGS," THE BOOK TO RULE THEM ALL.

- "THE LORD OF THE RINGS" IS ABSOLUTELY MIND-EXPANDING.

- I REMEMBER READING "THE LORD OF THE RING" SERIES WHEN I WAS 11 YEARS OLD, AND I JUST COULDN'T GET ENOUGH.

- I READ "LORD OF THE RINGS" AT 13, AND, MY GOD, WHAT A FANTASTIC ADVENTURE THAT WAS.

EVERY TIME I RE-READ IT, I COME TO APPRECIATE MORE OF WHAT THE BOOK WAS SAYING, WHICH IS, "YOU MAY WIN THESE WARS, BUT THERE'S ALWAYS A COST.

"YOU CAN'T GO BACK TO THAT INNOCENCE.

IT'S BEEN LOST."

TOLKIEN'S GREATEST INVENTION WAS THE CHARACTERS WHO STRUGGLE WITH THE TEMPTATION OF THE RING AND WHAT TO DO WITH IT.

I KNOW POWER CORRUPTS AND ABSOLUTE POWER CORRUPTS ABSOLUTELY.

THEY'RE ALL FIGHTING THESE BATTLES INSIDE THEIR HEARTS.

WHAT TOLKIEN DID WAS SO REVOLUTIONARY.

HIS INFLUENCE ON THE LITERATURE OF THE FANTASTIC CANNOT BE OVERSTATED.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] - JOINING ME NOW TO DISCUSS "LORD OF THE RINGS" IS A MAJOR SCI-FI FAN.

HE PLAYED WESLEY CRUSHER ON "STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION" AND HAS MADE COUNTLESS CAMEOS ON "THE BIG BANG THEORY."

PLEASE WELCOME ACTOR AND AUTHOR WIL WHEATON.

HEY, WIL.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] "LORD OF THE RINGS" IN THE TOP FIVE.

YOU MUST BE EXCITED.

- I'M SO INCREDIBLY EXCITED.

THIS BOOK HAS MEANT SO MUCH TO ME FOR SO LONG.

- WHAT IS IT ABOUT THE BOOK THAT'S HAD SUCH A LASTING IMPACT ON YOU?

AND YOU'RE A SELF-DESCRIBED NERD.

- THERE IS THIS MESSAGE THAT EVEN THE LITTLEST HOBBIT CAN FUNDAMENTALLY SAVE THE WORLD, CAN ALTER THE COURSE OF ALL OF HISTORY, AND THAT'S JUST SUCH A WONDERFUL MESSAGE THAT IT REALLY RESONATED WITH ME.

I WAS A WEIRD KID.

I WAS SKINNY, AND I WAS AWKWARD, AND I WAS UNCOORDINATED, AND I WASN'T ATHLETIC, AND, BOY, DID I IDENTIFY WITH THIS GROUP OF MISFITS THAT CAME TOGETHER TO DO SOMETHING THAT SEEMED IMPOSSIBLE.

- YEAH, THERE WERE A LOT OF HEROES IN THAT BOOK-- - YEAH.

YEAH.

- GANDALF, FRODO, SAM.

WHICH ONE STANDS OUT TO YOU?

- OH, IT'S SAM.

- SAM.

- IT'S SAMWISE GAMGEE FOREVER AND EVER AND EVER.

- HOW COME?

- BECAUSE WHEN FRODO THINKS HE CANNOT GO ON, WHEN FRODO THINKS, "I CAN'T DO THIS," SAM LITERALLY PICKS HIM UP AND CARRIES HIM.

AND WE ALL NEED A SAMWISE IN OUR LIFE.

- DO YOU HAVE A SAM IN YOUR-- - MY WIFE IS MY SAM.

- YOUR WIFE.

AW.

- I'M SO LUCKY.

YEAH.

[APPLAUSE] - I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE BEEN OUTSIDE RECENTLY, BUT IT'S TERRIBLE OUT THERE IN THE WORLD RIGHT NOW.

- I KNOW IT IS.

- AND THAT MOMENT WHEN SAMWISE SAYS, "THERE IS SOME GOOD IN THIS WORLD, MR. FRODO, AND IT'S WORTH FIGHTING FOR," IT IS SO GOOD TO REMEMBER THAT.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] - YOU'RE A CHARMING GUY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US, SPREADING THE WORD ABOUT "THE LORD OF THE RINGS."

IF THAT'S A NERD, I WANT MORE OF IT, RIGHT?

FOR SURE.

- WE'RE EVERYWHERE.

- YOU ARE?

OKAY.

- YEAH.

[LAUGHTER] - NOW I'M GETTING NERVOUS.

ALL RIGHT, WHEN YOU THINK OF A BOOK CLUB, YOU THINK OF FOUR OR FIVE FRIENDS GETTING TOGETHER TO CHAT ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE READING.

WELL, THE GREAT AMERICAN READ CREATED ITS OWN BOOK CLUB LAST SPRING, AND THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT JOINED IT IS STAGGERING.

ANNOUNCER: SOCIAL MEDIA PLAYS AN OUTSIZED ROLE IN OUR REAL LIVES.

AND SOMETIMES IT'S FOR ALL THE RIGHT REASONS.

JUST TAKE THE GREAT AMERICAN READ FACEBOOK BOOK CLUB.

IT NOW BOASTS UPWARDS OF 50,000 MEMBERS, MAKING IT ONE OF THE LARGEST ONLINE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT BOOKS AND READING.

WE LOOKED UP TWO OF THE ORIGINAL BOOK CLUBBERS TO HEAR HOW THIS COMMUNITY HAS FED THEIR LOVE OF READING AND THEIR FUTURE PLANS.

- I WAS ONE OF THE FIRST 2,000 OR 3,000 PEOPLE TO JOIN.

AND I MEAN, EVERYBODY--JUST ONE COMMENT AFTER ANOTHER AFTER ANOTHER AFTER ANOTHER IS, "WE NEED MORE OF THE GREAT AMERICAN READ."

- WE SEE THAT THE BOOKS ARE GREAT, AND EVERYBODY CELEBRATES THAT-- IT'S JUST THE BEST.

AND BECAUSE OF THE GREAT AMERICAN READ, WE STARTED GOING TO BOOKSTORES MORE AND MORE.

- YEAH, THAT'S A GREAT BOOK.

- MM-HMM.

- OH, "CHARLOTTE'S WEB," THAT'S A GOOD ONE.

- AH, PIG AND A SPIDER.

[LAUGHTER] ANNOUNCER: MARRIED IN 2016, RYAN AND DIMA ARE NOT JUST EXPANDING THEIR READING LIBRARY.

THEY'RE ABOUT TO EXPAND THEIR FAMILY.

THEY'VE BEEN APPROVED FOR IMMEDIATE ADOPTION AND ARE WAITING FOR THEIR SON.

BOTH: BOOK NERDS.

- [CHUCKLES] - GOING TO BOOKSTORES GAVE US A GREAT BOOST IN PREPARATION FOR OUR LITTLE KID THAT'S GONNA COME.

- THERE WE GO.

- YEAH.

"ANNE OF GREEN GABLES."

- IT'S GONNA BE AWESOME WHEN HE READS THESE BOOKS THE FIRST TIME.

I REMEMBER WHEN I READ "JOY LUCK CLUB" IN HIGH SCHOOL.

I COULDN'T STOP TALKING ABOUT IT.

IT IS A BONDING RITUAL TO KIND OF PASS ON THAT IMAGINATION.

YEAH, IT KIND OF MAKES YOU MISTY-EYED.

- YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

BOOKS, BOOKS, BOOKS.

- AS THE CHILD GROWS, THE GREAT AMERICAN READ LIST IS READY FOR HIM.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] - NOW HERE TO HELP US CELEBRATE A FEW MORE INCREDIBLE BOOKS, PLEASE WELCOME THE AUTHOR OF "THE JOY LUCK CLUB," AMY TAN, AND AUTHOR OF "THE SHACK," WILLIAM PAUL YOUNG.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] - FIRST UP, NUMBER 60, "BELOVED," WHICH HELPED TONI MORRISON WIN THE NOBEL PRIZE FOR LITERATURE.

- NUMBER 59, "THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER" BY TOM CLANCY.

- AT NUMBER 58, "A CONFEDERACY OF DUNCES" BY JOHN KENNEDY TOOLE.

- "THE SHACK," WRITTEN BY NONE OTHER THAN MY ILLUSTRIOUS COLLEAGUE, WILLIAM PAUL YOUNG.

CONGRATULATIONS, PAUL.

- SUPER SURREAL, LIKE, BORDERING ON THE RIDICULOUS.

[LAUGHTER] RIGHT?

I'D TRADE PLACES WITH JOHN STEINBECK FOR ANY OF HIS OR DR. SEUSS, YOU KNOW.

I GOT TO TELL YOU--I'VE READ ALL OF DR. SEUSS'S BOOKS.

[LAUGHTER] THANK YOU.

"THE NOTEBOOK" BY NICHOLAS SPARKS.

- NUMBER 55, "THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY" BY OSCAR WILDE.

- NUMBER 54, "ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF SOLITUDE" BY GABRIEL GARCA MRQUEZ.

- YAY.

NUMBER 53, "THE GODFATHER" BY MARIO PUZO.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] - AND AT NUMBER 52, A GARGANTUAN HIT, "JURASSIC PARK" BY MICHAEL CRICHTON.

- NUMBER 51, "THEIR EYES WERE WATCHING GOD" BY ZORA NEALE HURSTON.

- NUMBER 50, "WAR AND PEACE" BY LEO TOLSTOY.

- NUMBER 49, ISAAC ASIMOV'S "FOUNDATION" SERIES.

- NUMBER 48, "GAME OF THRONES," OR AS IT'S FORMERLY KNOWN, "A SONG OF ICE AND FIRE" BY GEORGE R.R.

MARTIN.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] - AT NUMBER 47, "CATCH-22" BY THE LATE, GREAT JOSEPH HELLER.

- NUMBER 46, "MOBY-DICK" BY HERMAN MELVILLE.

- AND AT NUMBER 45, "MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA" BY ARTHUR GORDON.

- NUMBER 44 IS LOIS LOWRY'S "THE GIVER."

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] - MARY SHELLEY WROTE THE NEXT BOOK 200 YEARS AGO WHEN SHE WAS JUST 18 YEARS OLD.

AT NUMBER 43, "FRANKENSTEIN," OR "THE MODERN PROMETHEUS."

- IT'S MY PLEASURE TO ANNOUNCE THAT BOOK NUMBER 42-- "THE JOY LUCK CLUB" BY THE INCREDIBLE AMY TAN.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] - THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

[LAUGHS] [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE CONTINUE] THAT BOOK WAS PUBLISHED 30 YEARS AGO, AND IT'S SO GREAT TO BE ON THIS LIST OF GREAT, GREAT BOOKS.

THANK YOU.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] NUMBER 41, "THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO" BY ALEXANDRE DUMAS.

- THANK YOU SO MUCH.

CONGRATULATIONS TO BOTH OF YOU.

ONCE AGAIN, A BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR ALL THOSE BOOKS AS WELL.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] TIME TO ANNOUNCE THE FOURTH OF OUR TOP FIVE FINALISTS.

ROMANCE NOVELS ARE BIG BUSINESS, AND THAT BUSINESS CAN ARGUABLY BE TRACED BACK TO THIS BOOK.

OUR NEXT FINALIST IS "PRIDE AND PREJUDICE" BY JANE AUSTEN.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] - I VOTED FOR "PRIDE AND PREJUDICE."

- THIS IS THAT BOOK THAT SAYS, "JUST KEEP DOING YOU."

- IT CHANGED MY WORLD VIEW.

IT'S THE ONE BOOK I WILL ALWAYS GO BACK TO.

- IT IS THE GREATEST STORY OF ALL TIME.

- I LOVE TO READ IT, READ IT AGAIN.

- THE BILLION-DOLLAR ROMANCE-NOVEL INDUSTRY TODAY IS A DIRECT DESCENDANT OF "PRIDE AND PREJUDICE."

- THE REASON WHY IT'S SUCH AN ENDURING BOOK AND THE REASON WHY IT'S HAD THIS INFLUENCE IS BECAUSE IT HAS THIS KIND OF SPINE OF EXTREME REALISM.

IT'S NOT ABOUT LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT.

IT'S ABOUT THE FACT THAT IN REAL LIFE, LOVE IS A PRACTICAL DECISION.

ALL OF THE HARDEST PARTS OF REAL LOVE ARE ACKNOWLEDGED IN "PRIDE AND PREJUDICE."

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] - AND NOW TO JOIN THE CONVERSATION AND CELEBRATE "PRIDE AND PREJUDICE," PLEASE WELCOME BACK SOMEONE WHO KNOWS JUST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT LOVE, MY FRIEND ALI WENTWORTH.

HEY, ALI.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] ALL RIGHT, YOU'VE BEEN MARRIED TO GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS, FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW THE WONDERFUL GEORGE, FOR 17 YEARS.

- UGH, CLOONEY, CLOONEY, CLOONEY, YES.

- [LAUGHS] IS HE MORE OF A MR. DARCY OR A MR. BINGLEY, AND WHY?

- OH, HE'S SO--HE'S SO DARCY.

UM... - [CHUCKLES] - HE IS DARCY BECAUSE, UH-- WELL, WHEN WE WERE SET UP ON A DATE, I WAS LIKE ELIZABETH.

I HAD NO INTEREST.

I GREW UP IN D.C.

I GREW UP AROUND POLITICS.

I WAS LIKE, "WHERE'S HUGH GRANT?"

- [CHUCKLES] - AND, SO WHEN I MET GEORGE, YOU KNOW, I DIDN'T SHAVE MY LEGS, I DIDN'T SHOWER.

I READ "THE NEW YORK TIMES" SO I SEEMED SMART, BUT I WAS-- I REALLY THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE A GOOD STORY.

"MY DINNER WITH GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS."

AND I MET HIM, AND I, YOU KNOW, HE WAS SORT OF-- HE'S A QUIETER TYPE.

HE'S DARCY-ESQUE.

AND, UM, I WAS VERY, UH, OUTLANDISH, SAID, "THIS IS WHAT I THINK ABOUT THIS," AND, UH, AFTER LUNCH HE SHOOK MY HAND, HE SAID, "VERY NICE TO MEET YOU."

AND I WAS LIKE, "HOW DARE YOU NOT THROW ME DOWN ON THE CEMENT?"

[LAUGHTER] AND, UH, SO I JUST THOUGHT, "WELL, I DON'T WANT YOU EITHER."

AND THEN, OF COURSE, WE WENT ON A SECOND DATE AND FELL MADLY IN LOVE AND GOT ENGAGED TWO MONTHS LATER.

- WOW.

[IMPRESSED CHATTER] AND NOW--[CHUCKLES]-- AND NOW YOU HAVE TWO TEENAGE DAUGHTERS.

- WE DO.

- ONE OF THEM IS READING "PRIDE AND PREJUDICE."

- ONE OF THEM IS READING IT RIGHT NOW.

- AND WHAT DOES SHE THINK OF IT?

- WELL, SHE'S HER FATHER'S DAUGHTER, SO SHE'S LIKE, "DARCY'S THE GREATEST THING EVER."

AND, YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY GROWING UP IN THIS AGE, SHE'S A LITTLE BIT OF A FEMINIST... - SO ELIZABETH ACTUALLY IS A PERFECT PROTAGONIST FOR THIS DAY AND AGE, EVEN THOUGH SHE'S 200 YEARS OLD.

- PERFECT.

YEAH, MY DAUGHTER, IF I SAID, "LOOK, YOUR DOWRY'S NOT SO GREAT," UH... [LAUGHTER] WHICH IT WON'T BE.

UM, SHE, YOU KNOW-- SHE WOULDN'T CARE.

SHE'S ALL ABOUT LIKE, "WHO I FALL IN LOVE WITH IS WHO I FALL IN LOVE WITH."

WHATEVER THEIR PRONOUNS ARE, YOU KNOW?

AND I THINK THAT US STEPHANOPOULOS LADIES ARE--WE LIKE TO--WE LIKE A LITTLE BIT OF A CHASE.

WE LIKE A LITTLE BIT OF A TWIST IN THE LOVE STORY.

- WELL, YOU GOT IT WITH GEORGE AND WE GOT IT WITH THIS BOOK, WHICH IS GREAT.

- YES.

- ALI, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

- MY PLEASURE.

- THANK YOU.

WE'LL FIND OUT IF "PRIDE AND PREJUDICE" IS AMERICA'S BEST LOVED NOVEL IN JUST A FEW MINUTES.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] YOU KNOW, VOTING IN THIS CAMPAIGN CLOSED ONLY FIVE DAYS AGO, BUT FINDING OUT WHICH BOOKS GOT HOW MANY VOTES HAS BEEN A TANTALIZING PROSPECT FROM THE VERY BEGINNING.

AND HERE IS JUST SOME OF WHAT WE'VE LEARNED.

[ROUSING MUSIC] FEMALE ANNOUNCER: AMERICANS AGREED ON THEIR VERY TOP BOOKS, BUT IN THE 60 OR SO SPOTS BELOW, THERE WAS A LOT OF DIVERSITY, REFLECTING LOCAL HISTORY, CULTURE, AND REGIONAL PRIDE.

SOME NOVELS ENJOYED A DEFINITE HOME STATE ADVANTAGE.

RUDOLFO ANAYA'S "BLESS ME, ULTIMA" CAME IN AT 91 IN THE NATION OVERALL.

BUT IT WAS THE FOURTH MOST POPULAR BOOK FOR NEW MEXICANS.

OKLAHOMA VOTERS PICKED "THE OUTSIDERS," BY TULSA NATIVE S.E.

HINTON, WHILE NEIGHBORING TEXAS AND ARKANSAS FAVORED THE EPIC WESTERN "LONESOME DOVE."

BUT THERE WERE ALSO SURPRISES.

NEW YORKERS PLACED THE SOUTHERN CLASSIC "GONE WITH THE WIND" ON THEIR TOP TEN.

WYOMING WAS SMITTEN WITH "THE JOY LUCK CLUB."

HAWAIIANS WERE FOND OF "THE CLAN OF THE CAVE BEAR."

AND ALASKA VOTERS PICKED THREE CHRISTIAN-THEMED NOVELS, THE ONLY STATE WHERE THEY MADE THE TOP TEN.

SOME BOOKS HELD ROCK STEADY THROUGHOUT THE VOTE, WHILE OTHERS SAW THRILLING SURGES, LIKE "FOUNDATION," WHICH ROSE FROM 60 TO 49, OR "THE WHEEL OF TIME," WHICH ROLLED FROM 77 TO 62.

AND THEN THERE'S "ATLAS SHRUGGED."

IT JUMPED ALL THE WAY FROM NUMBER 43 TO NUMBER--WELL, I CAN'T TELL YOU THAT NOW, BUT YOU'LL FIND OUT SOON ENOUGH.

[APPLAUSE] - THERE ARE NOW JUST 40 BOOKS LEFT IN OUR COUNTDOWN, AND HERE TO ANNOUNCE THE NEXT 20 NOVELS, CREATOR OF LITERARYSWAG, YAHDON ISRAEL, AND AUTHOR MARIE ARANA.

[APPLAUSE] - THANKS, MEREDITH.

- SURE.

- I JUST WANT THE CAMERAS TO CATCH THE SWAG ME AND MARIE SNUCK OUT WITH.

WE REALLY BROUGHT IT.

SO, NO, YOU DO IT.

YOU START.

- YOU HAVING FUN, SWEETIE?

- [CHUCKLES] - OKAY, SO HERE WE GO.

- ALL RIGHT.

- AT NUMBER 40, "THE HUNGER GAMES" SERIES BY SUZANNE COLLINS.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] - UH, NUMBER 39, "THE HITCHHIKER'S GUIDE "TO THE GALAXY" BY DOUGLAS ADAMS.

- NUMBER 38, "THE CLAN OF THE CAVE BEAR" BY JEAN AUEL.

- COMING IN AT NUMBER 37 IS "THE CALL OF THE WILD" BY JACK LONDON.

- NUMBER 36, ONE OF MY FAVORITES, "THE LITTLE PRINCE," BY ANTOINE DE SAINT-EXUPRY.

- THIRTY-FIVE IS "DUNE" BY FRANK HERBERT, WHICH ROSE TWO SPOTS IN THE FINAL WEEK OF VOTING.

- THIRTY-FOUR, "THE HANDMAID'S TALE," A POWERFUL TALE BY MARGARET ATWOOD.

- THAT'S A FIRE BOOK.

THAT'S A FIRE BOOK.

- FIRE.

- NUMBER 33, "THE DA VINCI CODE" BY DAN BROWN.

- NUMBER 32, "THE OUTSIDERS" BY S.E.

HINTON.

- COMING IN AT NUMBER 31 IS "WHERE THE RED FERN GROWS" BY WILSON RAWLS.

- NUMBER 30 IS SOMETHING YOU ALL READ IN SCHOOL, "CATCHER IN THE RYE" BY J.D.

SALINGER.

- YEAH, YEAH, YEAH.

TWENTY-NINE, "GREAT EXPECTATIONS" BY THE PROLIFIC CHARLES DICKENS.

SHOUT-OUT TO CHARLES.

- NUMBER 28, A CLASSIC, "ALICE'S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND" BY LEWIS CARROLL.

- THAT'S A SWAGGY BOOK.

NUMBER 27 IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE NOVELS ON THE LIST.

IT'S THE FIRST NOVEL BY A WOMAN OF COLOR TO WIN THE PULITZER PRIZE.

IT'S "THE COLOR PURPLE" BY ALICE WALKER.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] - NUMBER 26, "A PRAYER FOR OWEN MEANY" BY JOHN IRVING.

- THE NEXT TWO NOVELS FOUGHT IT OUT IN THE FINAL WEEK OF VOTING, BUT IN THE END, IT WAS DAPHNE DU MAURIER'S "REBECCA" AT NUMBER 25.

AND STEPHEN KING'S "THE STAND" AT NUMBER 24.

- IN ANOTHER SHOWDOWN, THE NEXT TWO BOOKS WERE ACTUALLY LOCKED IN A TIE UNTIL THE VERY END OF VOTING, AND AT FINAL COUNT WERE SEPARATED BY ONLY 24 VOTES.

AND THE BOOKS ARE, AT NUMBER 23, KEN FOLLETT'S "PILLARS OF THE EARTH."

AT NUMBER 22, "LONESOME DOVE" BY LARRY MCMURTRY.

- AND THE LAST BOOK, AT NUMBER 21, IS "WUTHERING HEIGHTS" BY EMILY BRONTE.

GIVE IT A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.

THANK YOU.

- YAHDON AND MARIE, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR ALL THOSE BOOKS, FOLKS.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] GETTING LATE.

WE HAVE ONE LAST TOP FIVE FINALIST TO ANNOUNCE.

IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE READING THIS BOOK RIGHT NOW, TAKING GLOBAL SALES OVER THE PAST 20 YEARS INTO ACCOUNT.

ON AVERAGE, ONE OUT OF EVERY 15 HOMES WORLDWIDE HAS A COPY.

THAT'S AN ACHIEVEMENT THAT CAN ONLY BE DESCRIBED AS "BLOODY BRILLIANT."

THE LAST OF YOUR TOP FIVE FINALISTS IS, YOU KNOW, "HARRY POTTER" BY J.K. ROWLING.

TOGETHER: WE VOTED FOR "HARRY POTTER."

- I DON'T KNOW WHERE TO BEGIN WITH WHY I LOVE "HARRY POTTER."

- IT'S FULL OF MAGIC AND ADVENTURE.

- IT MAKES PEOPLE FEEL LIKE THEY CAN BE HEROES.

- I KNOW THAT "HARRY POTTER" HAS BEEN PRETTY GREAT FOR MY LIFE.

- I HAVE READ "HARRY POTTER" SO MANY TIMES THAT WHEN I WAS YOUNGER, HARRY, RON, AND HERMIONE WERE MY THREE BEST FRIENDS.

- I READ THE "HARRY POTTER" SERIES WHEN I WAS 27... WAS AS SWEPT UP BY THE MAGIC AS I THINK I WOULD HAVE BEEN IF I READ THEM WHEN I WAS SEVEN.

[EXCITING MUSIC] I THINK WE ALL WOULD WANT TO BE PART OF THE WORLD THAT J.K. ROWLING HAS CREATED.

AND FIGHT ON THE SIDE OF LOVE AND CREATION KIND OF TO HELP DEFEAT LITERALLY THE "DEATH EATERS."

- "HARRY POTTER" IS A REFLECTION OF THE WORLD THAT WE LIVE IN.

THESE ARE KIDS AND TEENAGERS WHO ARE FIGHTING BIGOTRY AND RACISM.

SO, IT CAN GIVE YOU HOPE, IT CAN GIVE YOU INSPIRATION, IT CAN GIVE YOU FIGHT.

IT IS SO GOOD.

IT IS SO GOOD.

- AND HERE TO TAKE A DEEPER DIVE INTO THE POTTER WORLD, PLEASE WELCOME SOME VERY SPECIAL GUESTS WHO ARE FAN-FAVORITES FROM "THE GREAT AMERICAN READ," 2015'S NATIONAL TEACHER OF THE YEAR SHANNA PEEPLES, PLUS HARRY POTTER SUPER FAN, ELIYANNAH AMIRAH YISRAEL.

WELCOME TO BOTH OF YOU.

ELIYANNAH, WHEN OUR AUDIENCE FIRST MET YOU BACK IN MAY, YOU WERE REAL CLEAR ABOUT WHAT THEY NEEDED TO DO.

TO DO.

DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT YOU SAID?

- THEY NEED TO VOTE, VOTE, VOTE.

- AND APPARENTLY A LOT OF THEM DID, FOR SURE.

- FANTASTIC.

- THIS BOOK HAS MEANT SO MUCH TO YOU SINCE THE FIRST TIME YOU READ IT.

WHY?

WHY DID IT HAVE THE IMPACT THAT IT DID ON YOU?

- I'VE BEEN READING SINCE I CAN REMEMBER.

I DON'T REMEMBER NOT KNOWING HOW TO READ.

UM, AND WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE "HARRY POTTER" BOOKS, I THINK ABOUT THE MAIN CHARACTER, HERMIONE GRANGER...

UH... [LAUGHTER] [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] - WHICH YOU HAVE SAID IS YOUR TWIN.

- WHO IS MY TWIN SISTER, AND I WAS LIKE-- I JUST SAW SO MUCH OF MYSELF IN HER.

SHE TAUGHT ME TO BELIEVE IN MYSELF AND LIVE IN THIS WORLD WITH CONFIDENCE, AND SO, I LEARNED LESSONS FROM HER.

THAT'S MY HOMEGIRL.

- AND THAT'S YOUR HOMEGIRL, AND YOU HAVE THIS EMOTIONAL CONNECTION.

AND SHANNA, YOU'VE SEEN THAT KIND OF EMOTION FROM A LOT OF READERS OUT THERE WHEN IT COMES TO THIS BOOK.

- YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

NOT ONLY MY STUDENTS AT SCHOOL, BUT MY OWN CHILDREN.

AND I THINK THE REASON FOR THAT, MEREDITH, IS BECAUSE J.K. ROWLING CREATED A WORLD THAT'S VERY MUCH LIKE THE ONE WE LIVE IN, EXCEPT IN HER WORLD, THERE'S MAGIC.

AND THAT MEANS IF MAGIC EXISTS THERE, MAGIC CAN EXIST HERE.

- AND I CHOOSE TO BELIEVE IT DOES.

THANK YOU, LADIES, SO MUCH.

SUCH A PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU HERE REPRESENTING "HARRY POTTER."

- YEAH.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] - ELIYANNAH AND SHANNA ARE TWO OF MY FAVORITE PEOPLE FROM THIS SERIES, AND THERE ARE SO MANY OTHERS THAT WE WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND THANK FOR SHARING THEIR STORIES WITH US.

TAKE A LOOK.

- GROWING UP IN A PREDOMINATELY WHITE COMMUNITY, I WAS NOT REFLECTED ANYWHERE, NOT ON THE SHELVES OF MY LOCAL BOOKSTORE AND LIBRARY.

SO MY MOM REALLY STEPPED IN TO SUPPLEMENT OUR BOOKSHELVES AT HOME.

- THIS IS MY OWN COPY OF "ALICE'S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND."

MY GRANDFATHER THOUGHT REALLY CAREFULLY ABOUT, "WHAT IS THE FIRST BOOK I WANT TO GIVE MY GRANDCHILD?"

AND IT STILL HAS THE LITTLE NOTE: "FOR CYNTHIA ELLEN NIXON ON HER FIRST CHRISTMAS, 1966, FROM HER GRANDPA."

- I DID NOT ALWAYS LOVE TO READ.

IT WASN'T UNTIL MY MOM INTRODUCED ME TO "A TREE GROWS IN BROOKLYN" THAT I APPROACHED BOOKS WITH WONDER AND EXCITEMENT.

- MY FIFTH GRADE TEACHER HAD A BEAUTIFUL READING VOICE.

AND JUST THE WAY THAT SHE OPENED THE BOOK, AND SHE WOULD SAY, "CAN EVERYBODY SEE?"

MADE US FEEL IMPORTANT.

- I LOVE READING WITH MY GRANDCHILDREN, AND THAT'S MY FAVORITE, FAVORITE THING TO DO, ESPECIALLY IF THEY'RE SITTING IN MY LAP, AND YOU CAN HOLD THEM AT THE SAME TIME.

[APPLAUSE] - WE ARE NOW DOWN TO OUR FINAL 20 BOOKS.

IT TOOK A MINIMUM OF 56,196 VOTES FOR A NOVEL TO BREAK INTO THIS GROUP, SO IT HAS BEEN A PRETTY AMAZING ACCOMPLISHMENT FOR THESE LAST FEW BOOKS.

HERE TO ACKNOWLEDGE BOOKS 20 THROUGH 6 ARE LESLEY STAHL AND MARKUS ZUSAK, AUTHOR OF "THE BOOK THIEF."

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] - HELLO.

A LITTLE EARLIER, WE MENTIONED A BOOK THAT SAW A METEORIC RISE IN THE VOTE, SHOOTING UP 23 SPOTS, ALL THE WAY FROM 43 TO NUMBER 20.

AND IT IS "ATLAS SHRUGGED" BY AYN RAND.

[APPLAUSE] - THE NEXT BOOK, THE MASTER OF MYSTERY HERSELF, AGATHA CHRISTIE AT NUMBER 19, "AND THEN THERE WERE NONE."

- NUMBER 18, "1984" BY GEORGE ORWELL.

- AT NUMBER 17, "THE ADVENTURES OF TOM SAWYER" BY SAMUEL LANGHORNE CLEMENS, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS MARK TWAIN.

- NUMBER 16, "THE HELP" BY KATHRYN STOCKETT.

- NUMBER 15, F. SCOTT FITZGERALD'S JAZZ AGE JEWEL AND MASTERPIECE, "THE GREAT GATSBY."

- BOOKS 13 AND 14 WERE IN SUCH A DEAD HEAT THEY SWAPPED PLACES TWICE IN THE LAST TWO DAYS OF VOTING, AND FINISHED A MERE 132 VOTES APART.

I'M THRILLED TO SAY THE AUTHOR OF NUMBER 14 IS STANDING RIGHT HERE NEXT TO ME.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] THE NOVEL IS "THE BOOK THIEF" BY MARKUS ZUSAK.

- THANK YOU.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] I THINK I HAVE TO GIVE YOU A HUG.

[LAUGHS] - THANK YOU.

- LET'S FACE IT, THAT'S AN OUTRAGE.

UH, AND... [LAUGHTER] I'M A BIT EMBARRASSED, BUT I'M SO, SO GRATEFUL.

SO THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO VOTED FOR ANY BOOK ON THIS LIST.

THIS IS SUCH A GREAT THING.

AND WHAT AN HONOR IT IS TO BE HERE NEXT TO NUMBER 13, "A TREE GROWS IN BROOKLYN," BY BETTY SMITH.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] - NEXT UP AT NUMBER 12, "THE GRAPES OF WRATH" BY JOHN STEINBECK.

- AT NUMBER 11, THE WONDERFUL "ANNE OF GREEN GABLES" BY LUCY MAUD MONTGOMERY.

- AT NUMBER TEN, CHARLOTTE BRONTE'S GROUNDBREAKING FIRST-PERSON NARRATIVE "JANE EYRE."

- NUMBER NINE, "THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA" BY C.S.

LEWIS.

- THE NEXT NOVEL HELD ITS SPOT AT NUMBER EIGHT.

FOR ALL 149 DAYS OF THE CAMPAIGN.

IT'S "LITTLE WOMEN" BY LOUISA MAY ALCOTT.

- BOOK NUMBER SEVEN, E.B.

WHITE'S BRILLIANT "CHARLOTTE'S WEB."

- I'M HAPPY "CHARLOTTE'S WEB" IS NUMBER SEVEN, BECAUSE IT'S ONE OF MY FAVORITE.

AND THIS IS THE BOOK I READ OVER AND OVER AND OVER TO MY GRANDCHILDREN.

[LAUGHTER] - AND ONE LAST NOVEL IN THIS SERIES, NUMBER SIX IS THE ONE AND ONLY "GONE WITH THE WIND" BY MARGARET MITCHELL.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] - WHAT AN AMAZING LIST, HMM?

- THANK YOU, LESLEY.

THANK YOU, MARKUS.

CONGRATULATIONS.

- THANK YOU.

THANKS VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU.

- ONE MORE ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR ALL OF OUR BOOKS.

WE HAVE SEEN THROUGHOUT THIS SERIES THAT READING OFFERS AN ESCAPE FROM REALITY.

BUT, OF COURSE, BOOKS DO SO MUCH MORE.

THEY HAVE THE POWER TO CHANGE OUR LIVES.

UNFORTUNATELY FOR SOME OF US, BOOKS ARE NOT READILY AVAILABLE.

SO WE ARE OVERJOYED TO ANNOUNCE THAT AS PART OF THE GREAT AMERICAN READ, THE ORGANIZATION FIRST BOOK IS DONATING 350,000 BOOKS TO PBS MEMBER STATIONS.

AND THOSE BOOKS... [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] THOSE BOOKS WILL BE GIVEN TO STUDENTS FROM PRE-K THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.

WE ARE SO THANKFUL FOR THEIR GENEROSITY.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] WE ARE ABOUT TO ANNOUNCE AMERICA'S NUMBER ONE BEST-LOVED NOVEL.

SO I'D LIKE TO ASK ALL THE ADVOCATES FOR TONIGHT'S TOP FIVE FINALISTS TO JOIN ME HERE ON STAGE.

AND WHILE THEY DO, LET'S RECAP OUR TOP FIVE BOOKS.

ANNOUNCER: OUR TOP FIVE FINALISTS ARE "OUTLANDER" BY DIANA GABALDON, "TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD" BY HARPER LEE, "THE LORD OF THE RINGS" BY J.R.R.

TOLKIEN, "PRIDE AND PREJUDICE" BY JANE AUSTEN, AND "HARRY POTTER" BY J.K. ROWLING.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] - AND NOW THE MOMENT WE HAVE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR.

THE CONTEST BETWEEN OUR NUMBER FOUR AND NUMBER FIVE BOOKS CAME DOWN TO JUST 329 VOTES THAT WERE CAST IN THE LAST MINUTES OF THE CAMPAIGN, PROVING THAT OLD SAYING IS TRUE, "EVERY VOTE COUNTS."

AT NUMBER FIVE, YOU PICKED "THE LORD OF THE RINGS" BY J.R.R.

TOLKIEN.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] AT NUMBER FOUR, IT WAS "PRIDE AND PREJUDICE" BY JANE AUSTEN.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] AND AT NUMBER THREE, THE SPELLBINDING "HARRY POTTER" BY J.K. ROWLING.

OKAY.

ALL RIGHT, THAT LEAVES US WITH TWO BOOKS, ONLY ONE OF WHICH CAN BE NAMED AMERICA'S BEST-LOVED NOVEL.

BUT I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT JUST GETTING THIS FAR IS AN INCREDIBLE ACHIEVEMENT.

I HAVE KNOWN THIS MOMENT WAS COMING, BUT I'M STILL A LITTLE JITTERY.

I DON'T WANT TO HAVE AN OSCARS MOMENT HERE, LIKE WARREN BEATTY.

I DO NOT WANT TO DO THAT.

SO, HERE WITH THE WINNING BOOK IS SOMEONE A LITTLE COOLER THAN ME, A GREAT AMERICAN READER, MISS MOLLY HILL.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] ALL RIGHT, MOLLY.

ALL RIGHT, FANS.

AMERICA'S BEST-LOVED NOVEL AND THE WINNER OF THE GREAT AMERICAN READ IS... [SCATTERED CHEERS] "TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD."

[LAUGHS] [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] "TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD" IS MY FAVORITE BOOK.

I HAVE ALWAYS LOVED IT, FROM THE MOMENT I MET SCOUT FINCH.

AND CLEARLY I AM NOT ALONE.

THE NOVEL STARTED OUT AT NUMBER ONE ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE VOTE, AND IT NEVER WAVERED.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] AND YOU KNOW WHAT?

I THINK I KNOW WHY.

I THINK WE ALL KNOW WHY.

"TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD" IS A MIRROR OF WHO WE ARE IN ALL OUR COMPLEXITY.

IT SHOWS US AT OUR WORST, AND IT ENDS TRAGICALLY.

BUT IT ALSO OFFERS A WAY FORWARD.

FOR THIS HONESTY AND HOPEFULNESS, THE BOOK IS AND DESERVES TO BE OUR VERY BEST-LOVED NOVEL.

[ROUSING MUSIC] - "TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD."

- "TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD."

- "TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD" IS A BOOK WE KIND OF ALL READ TOGETHER.

- IT THINKS ABOUT INNOCENCE; IT THINKS ABOUT BLAME; BUT IT ALSO THINKS ABOUT KNOWLEDGE AND HOW WE CAN LEARN FROM EACH OTHER.

- I HOPE IT PUSHES US TO NOT JUST THINK DIFFERENTLY BUT TO ACT DIFFERENTLY.

- WE CAN'T ALL BE ATTICUS, BUT WE CAN BE ONE LESS PERSON WHO PARTICIPATES IN THESE CYCLES.

- WE GOT A LONG WAYS TO GO.

NOW LET'S WRITE THE RIGHT IN.

- "TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD" HAD A BIG IMPACT ON ME.

IT GROWS ALONG WITH YOU, AND IT MAKES YOU A BETTER PERSON.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] - CONGRATULATIONS TO "MOCKINGBIRD" ONCE AGAIN.

AND ALSO, BEFORE WE GO, I JUST WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO CONGRATULATE THIS LADY RIGHT HERE, DIANA GABALDON AND "OUTLANDER."

SO WELL DONE!

CONGRATULATIONS.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] [SOFT LAUGH] FROM THE BEGINNING... [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] [BOTH LAUGH] [APPLAUSE] FROM THE BEGINNING, WE HAVE DESCRIBED THIS NIGHT AS A CELEBRATION, AND IT TRULY IS.

WE'VE CELEBRATED AUTHORS.

WE'VE CELEBRATED NOVELS.

MOST OF ALL, WE'VE CELEBRATED READING.

SO BEFORE YOU TURN IN, POUR YOURSELF A WARM CUP OF TEA OR COCOA, OR, IF YOU'RE LIKE ME, A GLASS OF WINE, AND FALL INTO BED WITH A GREAT BOOK.

FROM ALL OF US AT PBS, THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

THANK YOU FOR TAKING PART IN THE GREAT AMERICAN READ.

GOOD NIGHT AND CONGRATULATIONS TO "TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD."

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] ANNOUNCER: THE COMPANION BOOK TO THIS SERIES, "THE GREAT AMERICAN READ: THE BOOK OF BOOKS" IS AVAILABLE.

TO ORDER, VISIT SHOP.PBS OR CALL 1-800-PLAY-PBS.

ALSO AVAILABLE ON AMAZON PRIME VIDEO.