The year 2008 proved to be a good time to curl up with a great book. The Dayton Metro Library has compiled its list of most popular books for what was a record-setting year for circulation. According to Mark Willis, the library's community relations manager, the list covers fiction, nonfiction, teen, and children's books. This list was not without its share of of occasional surprises popping up among familiar favorites. While mystery and suspense usually dominate the adult fiction category, the second most checked out book on the list ended up being a romance written by a suspense writer.
"The second most checked out is a love story from an author known for suspense, James Patterson," said Willis. "In Sundays at Tiffany's, a 30 year old woman is reunited with her imaginary childhood friend, this time a flesh and blood man."
While a story that tugs at the heart was able to climb the chart, readers returned to their favorite genre by crowning Janet Evanovich's Fearless Fourteen king of the literary pile. The book is Evanovich's fourteenth novel about bounty hunter Stephanie Plum. The following titles are Dayton Metro Library's top adult fiction books of 2008:
1. Fearless Fourteen by Janet Evanovich
2. Sundays at Tiffany's by James Patterson
3. Sail by James Patterson
4. The Front by Patricia Cornwell
5. The Whole Truth by David Baldacci
6. Rogue by Danielle Steel
7. Tribute by Nora Roberts
8. Change of Heart by Jodi Picoult
9. Twenty Wishes by Debbie Macomber
10. Odd Hours by Dean Koontz
Willis describes the top nonfiction list as a "real eclectic array of topics, including health, cooking, biographies, and advice on how to create a saner world." Barbara Walter, Trisha Yearwood, and Valerie Bertinelli all put in an appearance. The following titles are Dayton Metro Library's top nonfiction books of 2008:
1. Audition: A Memoir by Barbara Walters
2. A New Earth: Awakening Your Life's Purpose by Eckhart Tolle
3. The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch
4. Eat This, Not That: Thousands of Simple Food Swaps That Can Save You 10, 20, 30 Pounds - Or More! by David Zinczenko
5. Losing It: And Gaining My Life Back One Pound at a Time by Valerie Bertinelli
6. sTORI Telling by Tori Spelling
7. The Food You Crave: Luscious Recipes for a Healthy Life by Ellie Krieger
8. Financial Peace Revisited by Dave Ramsey
9. How Not To Look Old: Fast and Effortless Ways to Look 10 Years Younger, 10 Pounds Lighter, 10 Times Better by Charla Krupp
10. Georgia Cooking in an Oklahoma Kitchen: Recipes from My Family to Yours by Trisha Yearwood
The children's list was dominated by stories of middle school perils and kids seeking the fancy life. Jane O'Connor was the kids' literary queen with no less than three titles on the list. The following is the top five children's titles of 2008:
1. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules by Jeff Kinney
2. Fancy Nancy and the Boy From Paris by Jane O'Connor
3. Fancy Nancy at the Museum by Jane O'Connor
4. Fancy Nancy Bonjour, Butterfly by Jane O'Connor
5. Artemis Fowl: The Time Paradox by Eoin Colfer
Without a shadow of a doubt, teens were bitten by the vampire craze. Four out of five of the titles on the list were novels from Stephenie Twilight series. The famous book series tells the tale of the forbidden love between a human and one of the creatures of the night. The following is a list of the top teen titles of 2008:
1. Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
2. Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer
3. New Moon by Stephenie Meyer
4. Breaking Down by Stephenie Meyer
5. The Final Warning: A Maximum Ride Novel by James Patterson
Bookworms who made a New Years resolution to catch up on their reading may want to check out some of last year's favorites. Literary lovers can stop by any library or check out www.daytonmetrolibrary.org for more information.
Reader Comments Posted: Thursday, January 15, 2009
Comments
Tracy
I am impressed with the diversity among readers in the community. In fact, I didn't know that some of the books were already being circulated. I want to go and check out some.
Since no one has any money to spend on entertainment, we are relying more on our public libraries to provide our needs. I like how the writer divided the selections into catagories. Expressions such as: "king of the library pile" are cute. Thanks for the info.
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