Moray's most popular books in 2021 shows locals love of Scottish authors
MORAY Council has published a list of the area's most popular books for 2021, showing that local library users were dedicated readers of books written by Scottish authors.
The 2021 fiction list was dominated by Scottish talent with Ian Rankin, Val McDermid, Stuart MacBride and Maggie O’Farrell all featured within the top 10. American-based Scot, Douglas Stuart, also featured with his Booker Prize winning Glasgow novel Shuggie Bain taking fourth place.
Moray’s readers also enjoyed lots of murder mysteries and crime thrillers last year. Author Ann Cleeves topped the chart with her detective novel The Long Call and The Thursday Murder Club, penned by TV personality and author Richard Osman, came in second place.
The non-fiction top 10 featured an eclectic mix of subjects last year, with Moray library users reading about anthropology, biology, biography.
However, once again Scottish authors feature heavily, the second most popular non-fiction book last year was Women of Moray, a volume consisting of stories of local women associated with the area who are of historical importance and examples of extraordinary female achievement.
For younger readers, the junior fiction selection was dominated by writers Jeff Kinney, David Walliams and J K Rowling, with all three having multiple popular titles.
The Covid-19 pandemic has also changed the way people read and, while people chose to spend more time at home, users at Moray libraries have frequently used the free eBook and eAudiobook service provided.
The top books in these formats further demonstrate the local penchant for murder mystery and also shows the popularity of Scottish authors, especially in eAudiobook format. The most borrowed eBook was Marian Keyes’ Grown Ups and the favourite eAudiobook was A Song for the Dark Times by Ian Rankin.
Fiction Top 10 2021
- The Long Call by Ann Cleeves
- The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman
- A Song for the Dark Times by Ian Rankin
- Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart
- The Sentinel by Lee Child & Andrew Child
- The Darkest Evening by Ann Cleeves
- Still Life by Val McDermid
- The Coffinmaker’s Garden by Stuart MacBride
- Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell
- A Silent Death by Peter May
Non-fiction Top 10 2021
- Becoming by Michelle Obama
- Women of Moray by Susan Bennett et al
- Lady in Waiting by Anne Glenconner
- Written in Bone by Sue Black
- A Promised Land by Barack Obama
- Adventures of the Yorkshire Shepherdess by Amanda Owen
- Clanlands by Sam Heughan
- Pinch of Nom by Kate Allinson
- The Body: a guide for occupants by Bill Bryson
- Eat Better Forever by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall
Top Junior Fiction for 2021
- Rodrick Rules by Jeff Kinney
- Fing by David Walliams
- The Last Straw by Jeff Kinney
- The World’s Worst Children 3 by David Walliams
- Harry Potter and the Rrisoner of Azkaban by J K Rowling
- The Meltdown by Jeff Kinney
- Hard Luck by Jeff Kinney
- The Ickabog by J K Rowling
- The World’s Worst Parents by David Walliams
- Diary of an Awesome Friendly Kid by Jeff Kinney
With the easing of Covid restrictions, Moray libraries are looking forward to welcoming back even more visitors this year to their static and mobile libraries and are hoping to re-introduce reading groups and other activities in the coming weeks and months.
