What do a New York detective, a picky shopper, some lovelorn vampires and a wimpy kid have in common? They were all among the most popular books of 2009 at the Dayton Metro Library.   The top books  in the Adult Fiction, Adult Non-Fiction, Teen Fiction and Children's categories represent the eclectic tastes of library users, based on circulation statistics for the year.   Check out our full list of titles ranked by category at the end of the article.

Author James Patterson once again dominated the Adult Fiction category, with

four books in the top ten. In Run For Your Life, Detective Mike Bennett has to stop a serial killer while helping his kids get over the flu.   The other Patterson titles in the Top Ten include The 8^th Confession, Swimsuit, and Alex Cross's Trial.

"Patterson has been on an amazing run and his popularity at the library reflects his success on the New York Times bestseller lists," said Mark Willis, Community Relations Manager at the library.   "He's had 46 bestselling hardcover fiction titles, a record for a single author.   I think his grocery list could sell a million copies."

Vampires took a bite out of the top Teen Fiction books. The Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer was the most popular in that category.   Four manga  titles (one  featuring a vampire)  fill the rest of  the top five spots  for  most popular Teen Fiction.

The number one book for children in 2009 also features a mix of art and words.   It's the faux diary of seventh grader Greg as he deals with the trials of school, friends and a mean older brother in Diary of a Wimpy Kid 3: The Last Straw, by Jeff Kinney.   "The Wimpy Kid series has been great for getting younger kids to read," said Willis.   "They have kids eagerly awaiting the next book in the series."

"It seems that books are as popular as ever, despite all the new technology," said Willis.   "Readers from first grade to senior citizens look forward to the next title from their favorite authors and the library is happy to provide these books to our community."

Adult Fiction

1. Run for Your Life by James Patterson

2. Just Take My Heart by Mary Higgins Clark

3. The 8^th Confession by James Patterson

4. The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks

5. Swimsuit by James Patterson

6. One Day at a Time by Danielle Steel

7. The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown

8. Handle with Care by Jodi Picoult

9. Vision in White by Nora Roberts

10. Alex Cross's Trial by James Patterson

Adult Nonfiction

1. Eat This, Not That! Supermarket Survival Guide by David Zinczenko

2. Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World by Vicki Myron

3. Flat Belly Diet! A Flat Belly Is About Food & Attitude, Period by Liz Vaccariello

4. Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell

5. Multiple Blessings: Surviving and Thriving with Twins and Sextuplets by Jon  and Kate  Gosselin

Teen  Fiction

1. Twilight Saga (series)

2. Naruto (manga series)

3. Chibi Vampire (manga series)

4. Death Note (manga series)

5. Nana (manga series)

Children's Fiction and Picture Books

1. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw by Jeff Kinney

2. Fancy Nancy, Poison Ivy Expert by Jane O'Connor

3. Dazzling Book Report by Jane O'Connor

4. Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed by Mo Willems

5. Disney Princess: The Essential Guide by Karen Katz