Most readers would be familiar with the term chick lit but have you heard of ‘chook lit’? It is one of the most read genres at the Warrnambool library.
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The term refers to a rural romance genre which is increasing in popularity with south-west readers.
Warrnambool library staff shared reading trends with The Standard following the release of the 2017 Civica Libraries Index which highlights the most borrowed books nationally.
The “farm life fiction” writers who are popular include Cathryn Hein, Karen Wood, Nicole Alexander and Margareta Osborn.
Interestingly, some of the books which rated highly nationally did not feature in the local top reads so Warrnambool library staff shared local trends.
Branch librarian Lisa McDonald and adult fiction co-ordinator Julie Murnane said a non-fiction title in huge demand was Scott Pape’s Barefoot Investor – The Only Money Guide You’ll Ever Need.
Television trends such as cooking and home renovating programs influenced interest in books including cookbooks such as Julie Goodwin’s Our Family Table, the popular sugar-free movement and Grand Designs Australia Handbook: your guide to creating your dream home.
True crime is a “big trend all of a sudden” with Into the Darkness: the mysterious death of Phoebe Handsjuk and Look What You Made Me Do: Fathers Who Kill and Cold Blood: Australian true crime stories are highly sought after.
The top fiction book is The Affair by Lee Child, followed closely by Sing As We Go by Margaret Dickinson and Ellen Berry’s The Bookshop on Rosemary Lane. Other popular authors in the top 20 include Ann Cleeves, David Baldacci and Elizabeth George.
Classic children’s picture books taking out the top three spots include The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle, Aaron Blabey’s Pig The Pug and Where is the Green Sheep? by Mem Fox.
Ms McDonald said the national trends for younger readers were reflected locally. In the junior section (0-12 years) the Treehouse series by Andy Griffiths and the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books by Jeff Kinney are popular both nationally and in Warrnambool. The Fault in Our Stars was the most read teenage book nationally.
Warrnambool library user Brian McMahon reads about five books a fortnight. He has read most of James Patterson’s books and also enjoys John Grisham. Mr McMahon wasn’t surprised to hear both authors were popular locally and nationally.
- To see the national list go to standard.net.au
CIVICA 2017 Libraries Index Most borrowed books of 2017
1 Make Me (2015) Lee Child. Crime, thriller, mystery
2 The Girl On The Train (2015) Paula Hawkins. Crime, thriller, mystery
3 Personal (2014) Lee Child. Crime, thriller, mystery
4 The Crossing Michael Connelly. Crime, thriller, mystery
5 Rogue Lawyer (2015) John Grisham. Crime, thriller, mystery
6 15th Affair (2016) James Patterson. Crime, thriller, mystery
7 The Last Mile (2016) David Baldacci. Crime, thriller, mystery
8 Private Paris (2016) James Patterson. Crime, thriller, mystery
9 The Obsession (2016) Nora Roberts. Crime, thriller, mystery
10 Memory Man (2015) David Baldacci. Crime, thriller, mystery
11 Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul (2014) Jeff Kinney. Children’s fiction
12 Cometh The Hour (2016) Jeffrey Archer. Crime, thriller, mystery
13 The 65 Storey Treehouse (2015) Andy Griffiths. Children’s fiction
14 NYPD Red 4 (2016) James Patterson. Crime, thriller, mystery
15 Alert (2015) James Patterson. Crime, thriller, mystery
16 The Burning Room (2014) Michael Connelly. Crime, thriller, mystery
17 Reckoning: A Memoir (2015) Magda Szubanski. Biography
18 Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever (2011) Jeff Kinney. Children’s fiction
19 Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Hard Luck (2013) Jeff Kinney. Children’s fiction
20 Never Go Back (2013) Lee Child. Crime, thriller, mystery
Most borrowed Australian fiction books of 2017
1 Rain Music (2015) Di Morrissey. General
2 Spirits Of The Ghan (2015) Judy Nunn. General
3 Truly Madly Guilty (2016) Liane Moriarty. General
4 The 65 Storey Treehouse (2015) Andy Griffiths. Children’s fiction
5 The Dry (2016) Jane Harper. Crime, thriller, mystery
6 The Road Back (2014) Di Morrissey. General
7 Big Little Lies (2014) Liane Moriarty. General
8 The Rosie Effect (2014) Graeme Simsion. General
9 The Dressmaker (2000) Rosalie Ham. General
10 The 39 Storey Treehouse (2013) Andy Griffiths. Children’s fiction
11 The Narrow Road To The Deep North (2013) Richard Flanagan. General
12 The Rosie Project (2013) Graeme Simsion. General
13 The 52 Storey Treehouse (2015) Andy Griffiths. Children’s fiction
14 The Lakehouse (2015) Kate Morton. Crime, thriller, mystery
15 The Natural Way Of Things (2015) Charlotte Wood. Crime, thriller, mystery
16 Indigo Storm (2016) Fleur McDonald. General
17 The Light Between Oceans (2012) M.L Stedman. General
18 The Husbands Secret (2013) Liane Moriarty. General
19 The Woman Next Door (2016) Liz Byrski. General
20 Elianne (2013) Judy Nunn. General
Most borrowed non-fiction
1 Reckoning (2015) Magda Szubanski
2 The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up (2014) Marie Kondo
3 The Road to Little Dribbling: More Notes From a Small Island (2015) Bill Bryson
4 Everywhere I Look (2016) Helen Garner
5 The Road To Ruin: How Tony Abbott And Peta Credlin Destroyed Their Own Government(2016) Niki Savva
6 Cambridge English IELTS 10 : authentic examination papers from Cambridge English language assessment (2015) N/A
7 New Scientist magazine N/A
8 Guinness World Records2016 (2015) N/A
9 I Quit Sugar: Your Complete 8-week Detox Program (2012) Sarah Wilson
10 Spark joy: An Illustrated Guide To The Japanese Art Of Tidying (2016) Marie Kondo
Most borrowed by picture books
1 The Very Hungry Caterpillar (1969) Eric Carle
2 Pig The Pug (2014) Aaron Blabey
3 Where Is The Green Sheep (2004) Mem Fox
4 Where The Wild Things Are (1963) Maurice Sendak
5 Piranhas Don’t Eat Bananas (2015) Aaron Blabey
6 The Gruffalo (1999) Julia Donaldson
7 Maisy Goes To London (2016) Lucy Cousins
8 Are We There Yet? A Journey Around Australia (2004) Alison Lester
9 Too Many Elephants In This House (2012) Ursula Dubosarsky
10 Scary Night (2014)
Most borrowed by juniors (0-12)
1 The 65 Storey Treehouse (2015) Andy Griffiths
2 Diary Of A Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever (2011) Jeff Kinney
3 The 39 Storey Treehouse (2013) Andy Griffiths
4 Diary Of A Wimpy Kid: Old School (2015) Jeff Kinney
5 Diary Of A Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul (2014) Jeff Kinney
6 Diary Of A Wimpy Kid: Hard Luck (2013) Jeff Kinney
7 The 26 Storey Treehouse (2012) Andy Griffiths
8 Diary Of A Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules (2007) Jeff Kinney
9 The 52 Storey Treehouse (2014) Andy Griffiths
10 The 13 Storey Treehouse (2011) Andy Griffiths
Most borrowed by young adults (13-18)
1 The Fault In Our Stars (2012) John Green
2 Paper Towns (2008) John Green
3 The 5th Wave (2013) Richard Yancey
4 Divergent (2011) Veronica Roth
5 Naruto (2004) Masashi Kishimoto
6 Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix (2003) J.K Rowling
7 The Maze Runner (2009) James Dashner
8 Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban (1999) J.K Rowling
9 Looking for Alaska (2006) John Green
10 City of Bones (2007) Cassandra Clare
