When it comes to this year's most requested ACT library books, Canberra's Serina Bird is in good company.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The public servant and author's book The Joyful Frugalista came in as the fourth most requested book for 2019. It's a list which was topped by Michelle Obama's Becoming and includes The Lost Man by Jane Harper, Boy Swallows Universe by Trent Dalton as well as Dark Emu by Bruce Pascoe.
According to Libraries ACT director of content and engagement Sarah Steed, what makes the list so interesting is its diversity in genres.
"Last year I think we had three out of the five were very much self-help type books and there was actually no fiction on that list last year - it was all non-fiction," she says.
"This year we have the top one being a memoir, then we have a couple of fiction and then you've got a couple more non-fiction and there's only really one of those that is self-help. Things really have come out of the blue.
"Another thing is that Dark Emu, for example, that has actually been out for quite a while and it's had a bit of resurgence this year.
"That kind of thing often happens ... where a movie comes out and it's based on a book and quite often the books will become quite popular again."
In the case of Dark Emu, Steed puts it down to a combination of the growing conversation surrounding the topics covered in Pascoe's book, and the release of the children's edition, Young Dark Emu, in June.
"People want to know about the history of the country they live in," she says.
"It's nice to see so much Australian on the list. There's only one non-Australian in the top five, being the Michelle Obama book."
When it comes to the most requested DVDs from ACT libraries, Bohemian Rhapsody - the tale of Queen frontman Freddie Mercury - came in at number one. It was then followed by Crazy Rich Asians, A Star is Born, Ladies in Black and First Man.
It's worth noting that three of the five titles - Crazy Rich Asians, Ladies in Black and First Man - were all adaptations of or inspired by books.
"Often people don't realise when movies are based or inspired by books," Steed says.
"If you actually look at a lot of the movies that are made, they are often inspired by something that has started out its life as a novel or a biography.
"It's mot really surprised, I'd be more surprised if there weren't any on there. It just goes to show that the good storytelling that authors demonstrate in books is appreciated and seen as an opportunity for movie makers."
Most requested books:
1. Becoming by Michelle Obama
2. The Lost Man by Jane Harper
3. Boy Swallows Universe by Trent Dalton
4. The Joyful Frugalista by Serina Bird
5. Dark Emu by Bruce Pascoe
Most requested DVDs:
1. Bohemian Rhapsody
2. Crazy Rich Asians
3. A Star is Born
4. Ladies in Black
5. First Man