Most popular books in 2008

More than 440,000 books were borrowed from Clare County Library in 2008. So what are the people of Clare reading? Khaled Hosseini, Cecelia Ahern and Jodi Picoult each have 2 books on the list of the top ten fiction books issued from Clare libraries in 2008. The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini has featured on the top ten list since 2006 and is joined this year by his A Thousand Splendid Suns, also set in Afghanistan. The Kite Runner – Hosseini’s first novel – was a word-of- mouth phenomenon which took the literary world by surprise and his second novel was eagerly awaited by his fans. All five of Cecelia Ahern’s books have made the top ten list since her first publication – PS, I Love You – in 2004. She published a new title The Gift just before Christmas – don’t be surprised to see that on the list next year. Cathy Kelly has featured on the top ten list of most borrowed fiction books from Clare County Library since 1999. She has not published a new novel since 2006 when Past Secrets was published yet she remains hugely popular. Deirdre Purcell is another Irish author who is consistently popular among Clare readers. Thriller writer James Patterson, who writes a number of books every year, is estimated to have sold more that 150 million books worldwide. He always features among the most popular male authors with readers in County Clare. American author Jodi Picoult is a newcomer to the top ten fiction list. Although her first novel was published in 1992, it’s only in recent years that her popularity has surged on this side of the Atlantic. She writes highly readable page-turners tackling hot issues such as teenage suicide and date rape.

Top ten most popular adult fiction books in 2008:
A Place Called Here by Cecelia Ahern
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
Past Secrets by Cathy Kelly
Book of the Dead by Patricia Cornwell
Salem Falls by Jodi Picoult
Step on a Crack by James Patterson
A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
Where Rainbows End by Cecelia Ahern
Tell Me Your Secret by Deirdre Purcell
Keeping Faith by Jodi Picoult

The Official Driver Theory Test has topped the list of the top ten non-fiction books borrowed from Clare County Library branches since 2002. It was joined this year by Conor Faughnan’s Pass That Test as changes to the provisional licensing system were implemented. The non-fiction list is dominated by cookery books, all by celebrity chefs, including Rachel Allen and Neven Maguire. Maybe a sign that staying in really is the new going out. 2007 was the first year since 2001 that a book on house plans did not make the top ten list and 2008 saw a further decline in the popularity of these books reflecting the current economic situation. Irish biographies and autobiographies are always favourites among readers in County Clare. Following her death in May 2008, there was renewed interest in Nuala O’Faolain’s autobiography Are You Somebody? which reached fifth place on the list.

Top ten most popular adult non-fiction books in 2008:
Official Driver Theory Test
Pass That Test by Conor Faughnan
Rachel’s Food For Living by Rachel Allen
Rachel’s favourite Food at Home by Rachel Allen
Neven’s Real Food for Families by Neven Maguire
Are You Somebody? by Nuala O’Faolain
Jamie’s Dinners by Jamie Oliver
Avoca café Cookbook 2 by Hugh Arnold
Nigella express by Nigella Lawson
The Parish by Alice Taylor