RBMedia, one of the world’s top producers of audiobooks, has released a list of the ten bestselling audiobooks of the year. Some of the titles line up with bestsellers in print, like the newest book in Rebecca Yaros’s hit romantasy series The Empyrean. Others, though, seem to have found unique success with this format. Gigi, Listening by Chantel Guertin and narrated by Natalie Naudu has a celebrity author, which gives it a built-in audience in any format, but it follows a main character who travels to England to try to find an audiobook narrator she’s fallen for — it’s no surprise that readers would reach for the audio version of this story!

The audiobooks that topped the bestseller list range from literary fiction to kidlit, fantasy, comedy memoir, self-help, and even a history book: Emperor of Rome, written and performed by Mary Beard. Unfortunately, while this list represents multiple genres, the authors aren’t particularly diverse — these titles are disproportionately by white authors.

One exception is also one of the biggest books of the year in any genre: The Covenant of Water, written and performed by Abraham Verghese. This was an Oprah’s Book Club pick, who called it “One of the best books I’ve read in my entire life.” It came out in May and is still on the bestseller lists.

To see the full list, check out RBMedia.

Find more news and stories of interest from the book world in Breaking in Books.

Last October, I highlighted the movement happening in several communities and public libraries to declare themselves book sanctuaries. Book sanctuaries are institutions committed to upholding the First Amendment Rights of all citizens, wherein book bans and challenges must follow a specific procedure to be considered. They are places where books and the right to read them remain at the forefront of what an institution does, and well-funded, well-connected political groups do not get to wield their power in changing what is available.

The movement for book sanctuaries has only continued to grow since. States like Connecticut have developed grants for community libraries wishing to become such designees, and several libraries in the region have hopped on board.

Thanks to the work of Christina Perucci, a Reading Specialist and librarian who just completed her MLIS at San Jose State University, there is now a way to know what libraries or communities have worked toward the status of book sanctuary. She’s developed a database of all the book sanctuaries across the United States and Canada, which you can access here. It turns out that it is not only libraries or towns that are declaring their communities free from book bans and censorship. So, too, are other organizations and institutions, including a nonprofit, an acupuncture studio, and a cafe, among others.

“As a librarian and a book nerd from way back, I am terrified at the increasing success of book banners and the anemic response from ALA. The idea that the way to improve our schools or our society is by limiting access to information is so appalling to me,” explains Perucci, who began tracking book sanctuaries this summer. “I appreciate the bravery of libraries and librarians who are formally declaring themselves ‘book sanctuaries,’ especially those who are coming up with creative workarounds, like Brooklyn Public Library and the Digital Public Library of America, for those who may not have physical access to a sanctuary.”

While book sanctuaries will not stop book bans — only policy changes, adherence to current policy, and legislation will do that on any significant scale at this point — they are a reminder of how vital access to information and to stories is for so many.

It’s the ultimate battle of big city vs. small town, but this time, it’s the horror edition. Which is scarier? You tell me. I think both come with their own special brand of scares built into their settings.

Big city horror is the claustrophobia of having thousands of people around but having no one to turn to. It’s cameras on every street corner so big business or the surveillance state can track your every move. It’s traffic jams keeping you from driving and just flooring it as fast as you can, away from the thing on your tail. It’s eyes everywhere and towering buildings and no breath of fresh air anywhere, no moment of respite, no place you can go that no one can reach you.

But small-town horror is the suffocating knowledge that whoever is after you is someone you know. It’s running and running and winding up in the middle of nowhere with no one to help you. It’s one recipient on the other end of your call for help who has decided you’re inventing villains and won’t send anyone to save you. It’s everyone knowing your every secret and someone using them against you.

No matter your preference, this list of big-city and small-town horror books is sure to have something spooky for you.