In advance of the New Year, Saint Paul Public Library (SPPL) is looking back at the top books, music and media consumed by patrons in 2017. SPPL created a 2017 guide, detailing the most popular items across its 13 branches, the Bookmobile, and online.
John Sandford, author of the #1 New York Times-bestselling Prey mystery series tops the fiction list with ", opens a new windowGolden Prey, opens a new window,, opens a new window" the follow-up to last year’s second-most popular fiction title, "Extreme Prey." "Golden Prey" was followed by Colson Whitehead’s National Book Award- and Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, "The Underground Railroad,", opens a new window and Paula Hawkins' thriller, "Into the Water.", opens a new window
"The Hundred Lives of Lizzie Lovett", opens a new window by Chelsea Sedoti and the short story collection, "12 Shades of Surrender", opens a new window topped the list for e-book downloads. "Hidden Figures", opens a new window by Margot Lee Shetterly was the most downloaded e-audiobook.
J. D. Vance’s memoir of his upbringing in Appalachia, "Hillbilly Elegy", opens a new window came in first on the nonfiction list. Nonfiction readers also flocked to "Al Franken, Giant of the Senate, opens a new window,, opens a new window" by Al Franken and "Hidden Figures.", opens a new window
Viewers had close encounters with aliens in "Arrival", opens a new window and learned about the powerful and untold story of the black women who helped NASA win the space race in "Hidden Figures", opens a new window— the two most popular DVDs
For the second year in a row, patrons checked out the “Hamilton: Original Broadway Cast Recording”, opens a new window CD more than any other. Bob Dylan, opens a new window, Elvis Presley, opens a new window, and George Michael, opens a new window rounded out the top three most downloaded artists; "Something Just Like This, opens a new window" by The Chainsmokers and Coldplay and "Say You Won’t Let Go", opens a new window by James Arthur were the most downloaded songs of 2017.
For complete lists visit SPPL’s 2017 Most Popular Items Guide, opens a new window.