The most borrowed books in Ottawa and Gatineau in 2024

Stories inspired by real-life stories or addressing current issues dominate the themes of the most borrowed books in the region’s libraries in 2024. This is particularly the case for autobiographical novels. Rue Duplessis : my little darkness by Jean-Philippe Pleau, which stands out as the most borrowed book in Ottawa and the second in Gatineau.

The author and host of the show Think out loud on ICI Première, recounts his reality as a class defector. Coming from a working-class background with little education, Jean-Philippe Pleau recounts his inspiring journey in this title which has enjoyed great success in bookstores since its publication last April.

In Gatineau

In the ranking of the 10 most borrowed books in Gatineau libraries, the novel May our joy remain by Kevin Lambert takes first place. Winner of the Médicis Prize in November 2023, the work addresses the housing crisis and therefore continues to interest readers, after being the most borrowed book in Ottawa and at the Grande Bibliothèque de Montréal in 2023.

Unsurprisingly, the books crowned with prestigious prizes are also among the most requested titles in Gatineau libraries. This is the case of Watch over her of Jean-Baptiste Andrea, Goncourt prize in 2023, and of sad tiger by Neige Sinno, published in August 2023. Recognized by the Femina Prize, the Goncourt High School Students Prize and the Goncourt Canada Choice, sad tiger returns to the incest of which the author was a victim as a child.

The rest of the ranking includes essential feathers (those of Michel Jean for Quimmickand Joël Dicker for A wild animal), but also successful first novels (What I know about you by Eric Chacour, All the blue of the sky by Mélissa Da Costa, The version that interests no one by Emmanuelle Pierrot).

In Ottawa

In the libraries of the federal capital, the classification differs slightly, but also includes books with an autobiographical flavor.

Of the 10 books in French with the most circulation, half allow readers to delve into the confidences of Quebec personalities, from Sophie Grégoire Trudeau (Between us : know yourself better, love yourself better) to Dany Turcotte (D. Turcotte & fils : Dany Turcotte : my story), et de Rebecca Makonnen (In my blood) to Janette Bertrand (One hundred years of love).

Stories with a foot abroad also appealed to Ottawa readers. We visit Cairo in the 1980s in What I know about you by Éric Chacour, recently awarded the France-Québec Literary Prize, Algeria during the black decade (1992-2002) in Houris by Kamel Daoud, Goncourt Prize 2024, France in Two hours before the end of summer by Sébastien Pierroz, Ottawa Book Prize in the Fiction in French category 2024, or even Pinochet’s Chile in Where I hide of the late Caroline Dawson, who died this year.

The rest of the ranking includes a first novel, i.e. Asbestos by Montrealer Sébastien Dulude. The poet explores the relationship between two boys in Thetford Mines, against a backdrop of mining landscapes.

Budding readers

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Young readers also have their list of favorite books in 2024, on both sides of the Ottawa River. In Gatineau, the comic book series The legendaries by Patrick Sobral is still as successful, as in 2022 and 2023. Next in the ranking are the series L’Agent Jean d’Alex A., The Smurfs by Peyo and two series signed Midam: Kid Paddle et Game Over.

In Ottawa, French books for children include classics such The little prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry and Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone the J.K. Rowling. Titles for young readers such as the Easy to Read collection and the works of school speech therapist Michelle Khalil (Rémi’s cabin, Dodu is dirty) are also very successful.