All these German not-quite-lists are so horrifically presented -- in slideshows and the like -- that I am reluctant to even link to them; but if you want to try to navigate them (I couldn't be bothered, past a quick scan of a few frames):
- the Süddeutsche Zeitung asked writers, artists, and intellectuals for their Bücher des Jahres -- their books of the year --, and by scrolling down the left column and clicking on the various figures you can get their various recommendations.
- the Frankfurter Rundschau has a slideshow of Die besten Romane 2012 -- the best novels 2012.
- the Frankfurter Rundschau also has a slideshow of Sachbücher 2012: Tops und Flops -- the non-fiction 'tops and flops' of the year
- the Süddeutsche Zeitung asked writers, artists, and intellectuals for their Bücher des Jahres -- their books of the year --, and by scrolling down the left column and clicking on the various figures you can get their various recommendations.
- the Frankfurter Rundschau has a slideshow of Die besten Romane 2012 -- the best novels 2012.
- the Frankfurter Rundschau also has a slideshow of Sachbücher 2012: Tops und Flops -- the non-fiction 'tops and flops' of the year