Here are the most popular books at the Hamilton library for 2020

As Hamiltonfaced the pandemic this year, many people scrolled through a good read from theHamilton Public Library (HPL) to get by.

There were so many people diving into stories that by October,the HPLhit a milestone of 1 milliondigital book checkouts in 2020.

But what was everyone reading?

Here aresome of the top books and movies rented from the HPL since March.

Top 10 circulating books

1. Blue Moon by Lee Child

The 24th book in the "Jack Reacher" crime thriller series was checked out 790 times. At the start of 2020, it was reported that the series would be adapted for a run onAmazon's streaming service, withthe first book published in 1977Killing Floorserving as inspiration.

The latest in the series,The Sentinel, was published in October, and co-authored with Child's brother, Andrew.Blue Moonalso was a popular eBook in the city.

2. A Better Man byLouise Penny

A Canadian title captures second place the 15th novel in the Chief Inspector Armand Gamache series. Mystery writer Louise Penny used to work as a CBC journalist, and has sold more than 4 million books. This book was rented 729 times.

Penny'sAll the Devils are Hereis also listed among the bestselling Canadian books in 2020.

3. The Guardians byJohn Grisham

John Grisham's 40th novel was read 644 times this year.This title, along with Grisham'sThe Reckoning: A Novelalso made the list of top eBooks this year.

The Guardianstells the story of a young Black man who has been wrongfully convicted, and the lawyer andEpiscopal minister he asks for help.

4. Becoming byMichelle Obama andA Minute to Midnight by David Baldacci

The memoir written byformer first lady of the United States Michelle Obama was a hit, with 642 people checking out the title. It tied for fourth place withA Minute to Midnight,where an FBI agent investigates her sister's abduction.

Becomingalso appears on the lists for top eBooks and eAudiobooks.

5. The Testaments byMargaret Atwood

The sequel to The Handmaid's Tale, which was among Hamilton's most popular eBook titles, chalked up 633 rentals. Atwood didn't publish The Testaments until 2019, 34 years after the first book.

BookNet Canada, which tracks book sales and library circulation, said her novel was the most borrowed library book in the country this year.

6. Where the CrawdadsSing byDelia Owens

Where the Crawdads Sing follows Kya Clark, who was abandoned in the coastal marshes of North Carolina, as her story intertwines with a murder investigation. It was rented 623 times, and it too made the lists for most popular eAudiobooks and top eBooks for Hamiltonians this year.

Actress and producer Reese Witherspoon, who once listed the book among her top reads in 2018, has plans to adapt it into a movie.

7. Elevator PitchbyLinwood Barclay

The Canadian thriller weaves a suspenseful tale of free-falling elevators in Manhattan, and waschecked out 614 times.

Barclay's bestsellerFear the Worstwill be adapted into a film, starringCanadian actor Jason Priestley.

8. Criss CrossbyJames Patterson

The 25th book in theAlex Cross series clocked 578 rentals in 2020. Patterson has written stories featuring the Washington D.C. detective since 1993 when he started withAlong Came a Spider,with a few being adapted into movies.

His books appear on this list of top rentals three times.

9. Many Rivers to Cross byPeter Robinson

The26th instalment of the Inspector Alan Banks series got 561 rentals.English-Canadian writer Robinson, who lives in Toronto,talksthrough Banks' latest case in his popular crime series that has run for 30 yearson CBC'sThe Next Chapter.

10. The 19th Christmas byJames Patterson and Maxine Paetro, andLost by James Patterson and James O. Born

Patterson rounds out the list of top 10 books by tying with himself. The festive read in the Women's Murder Club mystery novel series and the Miami crime storyLostwere both checked out 559 times.

Digital copies

Here are the top reads people either scrolled through or listened to. Digital copies of eAudiobooksand eBooks can be accessed through OverDrive'sLibby reading app.

The Top 10 eBook titles

1.Moon of the Crusted Snow: A Novelby Waubgeshig Rice

The HPL announced that Rice'sMoon of the Crusted Snowwas theirmust-read book for Hamiltonians in 2020. Rice is a writer from Wasauksing First Nation and former host of CBC Radio's Up North.

The story focuses on a small northern Anishinaabe community grappling with dwindling resources and an unexpected visitor.

2.Becomingby Michelle Obama

3.Where the Crawdads Singby Delia Owens

4.Nine Perfect Strangersby Liane Moriarty

5.Past Tenseby Lee Child

6.The Handmaid's Taleby Margaret Atwood

7.The Reckoningby John Grisham

8.Blue Moonby Lee Child

9.Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stoneby JK Rowling

10.The Guardiansby John Grisham

Top 10 eAudiobook titles

1.Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stoneby JK Rowling

2.You Are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Lifeby Jen Sincero

3.Moon of the Crusted Snow: A Novelby Waubgeshig Rice

4.The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Lifeby Mark Manson

5.The Year of Less: How I Stopped Shopping, Gave Away My Belongings, and Discovered Life Is Worth More Than Anything You Can Buy in a Storeby Cait Flanders

6.Talking to Strangers: What We Should Know about the People We Don't Knowby Malcolm Gladwell

7.Becomingby Michelle Obama

8.The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourselfby Michael Alan Singer

9.Where the Crawdads Singby Delia Owens

10.Girl, Wash Your Face: Stop Believing the Lies About Who You Are So You Can Become Who You Were Meant to Beby Rachel Hollis

Top 10 Circulating Physical Titles (all DVD)

1. Fast and Furious Presents:Hobbs & Shaw was rented1225 times.
2. Joker - 1197 times.
3. Once Upon a Time...In Hollywood - 1137 times.
4. John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum - 1119 times.
5. Downton Abbey (The Film) - 1074 times.
6. Spider-Man: Far From Home - 1027 times.
7. Rambo:Last Blood - 1006 times.
8. Rocketman - 987 times.
9. Avengers: Endgame - 979 times.
10. Ad Astra 974 times.