Reacher and Obama
Public libraries in NZ’s five major cities loan out millions of titles
Netflix and Fortnite might dominate the free time of many Kiwis, but residents of five major cities found time to read more than 21 million books in the course of a year.
In the 12 months to October 31, 2020, public libraries in Auckland, Tauranga, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin loaned out more than 17 million physical books and 4.5 million e-titles.
Most popular books for adults
The 24th instalment in Lee Child’s Jack Reacher series, Blue Moon, topped the adult fiction chart in all five centres and was borrowed more than 7300 times.
Earlier entry Past Tense also made the top five in Auckland, Tauranga, Christchurch and Dunedin, and was loaned more than 3500 times.
Michelle Obama’s autobiography
Becoming made the adult non-fiction lists in all five cities and was borrowed more than 3200 times.
Closer to home, Michelle Duff’s
Jacinda Ardern: The story behind an extraordinary leader made the top five in Auckland and Christchurch and came close in Wellington, with 1526 loans across those three cities.
Delia Owens’ Where the Crawdads Sing topped wait-lists. Almost 2700 people in Auckland, Tauranga and Wellington requested the novel, which topped the New York Times Fiction Best Sellers list for 32 weeks.
Cookbooks by the likes of Nadia Lim, Chelsea Winter and Jamie Oliver were also popular among adults.
Most popular books for kids
Various volumes of Jeff Kinney’s Diary of a Wimpy Kid series were among the five most borrowed children’s books in all five cities. All up,
Wimpy Kid books were borrowed more than 6100 times.
Books about video game Minecraft and Lego were also popular, as was Guinness World Records.
But why?
Auckland Libraries reading engagement specialist Alison Fitzpatrick said Lee Child was always popular.
“Our readers are looking for a good story with great characters and he manages to do that. He is a great storyteller. He’s a bit of a star performer in our libraries.”
The Brit also brought more males into the library — a service mainly used by females and the 20-plus age group, she said.
The Wimpy
Kid series was a regular standout too, Fitzpatrick said.
“Even our children are trying to make meaning of their lives and they see themselves reflected in the adventure of the poor old wimpy kid.”
Generally, popularity was often related to social trends, the news, influencers like Reese Witherspoon and anything made into a Netflix series or movie, said Fitzpatrick.
The popularity of Where the Crawdads Sing was almost certainly boosted by Witherspoon’s endorsement through her book club, and her plans to produce a movie adaptation.
“The other reason that’s going to become a classic is it’s a coming-ofage story [which] people tend to love.”
University of Otago professor Jacob Edmonds was not surprised by which authors topped the lists.
“Lee Child and Diary of a Wimpy Kid have been consistent for quite a few years in New Zealand and other English-speaking countries.
“Once someone becomes popular they get circulated more and become more popular. The books give comfort and pleasure which is what we read for.”
People knew what to expect from Child but they were also getting something new from each addition to the Reacher series, he said.
“He works within a genre and he does that well — short, rhythmic sentences; short, sharp observations.”
Edmonds remembered reading Wimpy Kid books with one of his children and laughing out loud.
“They are funny and relatable to some extent — to a particular kind of middle-class existence.”
Memoirs, biographies and autobiographies were always popular in the non-fiction category, he said.
“Often they produce a particular type of satisfaction. People who succeed against the odds or overcome a particular type of difficulty.”
The 2020 effect
Fitzpatrick noticed changes in reading habits as people tried to make sense of happenings in the world.
E-book use skyrocketed during the lockdown but libraries and shops got a boost afterwards as readers hankered after physical books.
Tastes shifted as the world faced huge upheaval and social change.
“We’ve had huge demand for Black Lives Matter books, pandemics, dystopian fiction, self-improvement, books about crafts, baking, knitting and how to grow houseplants.”
Even macrame had made a comeback, she said. “It has been a very interesting year for us.”
Some suggestions for summer
Fitzpatrick’s fiction pick is Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid, which was also recommended by Tauranga libraries manager Joanna Thomas.
Fitzpatrick said the “sharp social commentary from America” dealt with issues such as racial bias and transactional relationships.
“It’s a beach read but it’s got a lot of substance,” she said.
As for non-fiction, Fitzpatrick’s pick was Husna’s Story: My wife, the Christchurch massacre and my journey to forgiveness by Farid
Ahmed.
“It’s a book about kindness, bravery, forgiveness, peace and aroha — and I feel like it’s something we all need.”
The Girl in the Mirror by New Zealand author Rose Carlyle is about the imperfection of family and was recommended by librarians in Wellington and Christchurch.
Carlyle’s first novel has already been snapped up by Hollywood. It landed her a six-figure deal with HarperCollins in the United States before it was even published.