The 2012 Hamilton Public Library Book of Lists

Chilly nights and clear days again signal the advent of winter, and with it the Hamilton Public Library’s annual book of lists—those books, periodicals and other media that captured the interest of the good folk of Hamilton over the past 12 months. As always Fryday is indebted to the librarians of Hamilton for whom a book is both a passion and a blessed escape. • Best Academic Publication: An Idiot’s Guide to the Amstrad. • Most Popular Reference: A guide to proper speling to grammer. • Best History: Coronation Street--The Early Years. • Best Historical Romance: My time with Ena—a fan’s remembrance of Ena Sharples. • Best Biography: Fogs, Fags and Frigates—A History of Hamiltonians in the New Zealand Navy. • Most Popular Calendar: The PGG Bevy of Bovine Beauties. • Best Fitness Book: Calisthenics in the Cow Shed. • Public Vote for the Saddest Book: My Life as a Farmer’s Wife by Una Rutt. • Public Vote for Most Uplifting Book: At least we are not Palmerston North, published by the Hamilton City Council Communications Unit. • Best Relationship Book: Your Wife and Your Cow—an Introduction, by A Farmer. • Most Inspirational: God’s Plan for Hamilton when He gets back from Auckland. • Best Council Publication: Waiting for God—The Long Term Council Community Plan. • Most Personal Religious Testimony: God Help Me, an Aucklander’s Life in Hamilton. • Best Magazine or Periodical: Straight Furrow (for the fourth straight year) and equalled this year for the first time by Straight Fellow—Hamilton’s New Magazine for Closet Gays. • Most Popular DIY: Bound for Glory—A Life in Bondage, and How to Achieve it. • Most Popular DVD (Series): Best of A Dog Show from the 80s. • Most Popular DVD (Single): Hamilton KFCs—A Visual Feast. • Most Popular CD: Barry Manilow—The Golden Years. • Most Popular Cassette Tape: Barry Manilow—The Golden Years. • Most Stolen Book: How to set up a Neighbourhood Watch Group. • Best Waikato University Academic Thesis: Harry Potter and the Lessons for Hamilton. • Best University Publication: Auckland University Application Form. • Best Hamilton Book: Next to Matamata—A Guide to Hamilton. • Least Borrowed Book: (again) Fryday, The Bound Edition. • Most Borrowed Book: (Tie) A Submissive’s Life, The Bound Edition (and) Flat Out, the New Evidence, by the Hamilton Flat Earth Society. • Most Eagerly Anticipated Sequel: More Time with Ena—A Follow Up to My Time With Ena Sharples.