By Carol McCracken  (Post # 678)

It’s easy to find out what the bestsellers at local and national book stores are; just check out the weekend newspapers.  For the first time, the Portland  Public Library has issued a list of the ten most popular adult books  its patrons checked out last year at the main branch on Congress Street.  The list actually covers half of 2010 – from July 1 through December  2010.

NON-FICTION – Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell, Committed by Elizabeth Gilbert; Zeitoun by Dave Eggers; War by Sebastian Junger; Game Change by John Heilemann; When You are Engulfed in Flames by David Sedaris; Strength in What Remains by Tracy Kidder; Eat, Pray, Love, Elizabeth Gilbert; Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and Seaworthy by Linda Greenlaw.

FICTION – The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest by Steig Larsson; The 9th Judgment by James Patterson; U is for Undertow by Sue Grafton; The Cutting by James Hayman; 61 Hours by Lee Child; I, Alex Cross by James Patterson; The Chill of the Night by James Hayman; Water for Elephants by Sue Gruen; The Girl Who Played with Fire by Steig Larsson; and That Old Cape Magic by Richard Russo.

According to the PPL staff, the fiction books are far more popular than the non-fiction books.  Special thanks to Sarah Campbell and Linda Putnam for providing MHN.com with this information.