Librarians across Idaho agreed adults love reading mystery and romance novels. No matter the year or pandemic, mysteries and romances will circulate through the community.
“Mystery and romance have in common that readers expect the book to be wrapped up neatly by the end,” said Tyler Mclane, a librarian at the Coeur d’Alene Public Library.
With a unique year in full swing, libraries saw patrons rereading old favorites while few new books reached their top ten lists. Over the years various libraries reported many patrons have waited to read “Educated” by Tara Westover, a memoir recounting her life in Idaho.
However, many requests for unique reads caught their attention.
“I’m also noticing that ‘Animal Farm’ by George Orwell is on the top ten list, and I think that’s new this year,” said Marina Rose, the Adult Services Librarian at the Caldwell Public Library.
While only Rose reported an interest surge in the dystopian novella, Cindy Bigler, the Library Director at the Gooding Public Library, received many requests for books about Bonnie and Clyde.
“We’ve had about 30 requests for those, and that’s a lot in a little town,” Bigler said.
She’s wandered why the duo renowned as rebels and mockers of government and law has drawn so much attention this year. Among those, she’s also received various requests for books about the Spanish Flu of 1918.
“I think people just wanted to see what had happened in history,” Bigler said. “I think it’s a lot of how things happened in history compared to what’s happening now.”
Amy Campbell, the Public Services Supervisor at Pocatello’s Marshall Public Library, believes bibliotherapy can help explain this year’s reading trends.
Bibliotherapy uses books, typically fiction, to help patients with anxiety, depression or other mood disorders. Reading specific pieces of literature can help people make sense of difficult situations.
“Whatever you need reading to be, you can find a book to suit that,” Campbell said.
At the Marshall Public Library, Campbell has seen a rise in other genres among the steady interest in mystery and romance. A big upswing in their political, medical and social books has made it difficult to keep these types on the shelf.
2020 being an election year, an increase in political interest makes sense. Many libraries reported common interests in “Rage” by Bob Woodward and “Too Much and Never Enough” by Mary L. Trump.
“I was surprised in my little, very conservative community to have requests for ‘Rage’ and ‘Too Much and Never Enough',” said Stephanie Jewett, the Library Director at Fairfield’s Camas County Public Library.
While the two most noted books don’t flatter President Trump, many other political books checked out covered the other side of the election debate.
“Coeur d’Alene is a red community, but there are people reading all sorts of books about all sorts of topics,” Mclane said. “People are pretty invested in exploring the current state of affairs.”
Other notable books that struggled to stay on the shelves regarded social injustices. The Marshall Public Library had a hard time purchasing books like “White Rage” by Carol Anderson, “White Fragility” by Robin DiAngelo and “How to Be an Antiracist” by Ibram X. Kendi.
As some people have focused on books that reflect societal issues this year, others have focused on fiction, but both can provide opportunities to reflect and understand.
“I think people are looking for answers,” Campbell said. “That desire to understand and connect is stronger than ever before.”
Jewett noticed despite the increased interest in books that elaborated the constant news coverage of debates and protests, the Camas County Public Library mostly circulated what she considers comfort reads.
She mentioned James Patterson, Stuart Woods and Debbie Macomber as authors well-nested in the comfort reads. All authors of mystery and romance novels, the comfort seems to stem from the predictability of the genre.
During uncertain times it can feel discouraging to find a new good read. Jewett suggests returning to old favorites.
She said, “I think there’s a lot of comfort in knowing what will happen in at least one part of our life.”