Inspired by this quiz challenging you to guess the classic book from the Library of Congress subject categories, we thought we'd make our own to test your knowledge of the bestselling books in Canada over the last decade, using only their BISAC codes and keywords.
We compiled a list of bestselling English-language print books in Canada from the beginning of 2010 to the week ending Sept. 29, 2019, as tracked by SalesData. Next we looked to BiblioShare to find the titles that had keywords supplied — you may or may not be surprised at the number of books lacking keywords — and put this little quiz together.
We also removed any keywords that had the title or the author's name — you may or may not be surprised at the number of books that use the title and author name as keywords.
(Want to know an easy way to find out whether a book has keywords and what they are? Use our handy Chrome browser extension, Biblio-o-matic, to quickly bring up bibliographic information about any ISBN, anywhere on the web, with a single click. It's pretty awesome.)
On to the quiz: Can you guess the book? Are the keywords useful and/or descriptive? Allons-y.
Guess the book from the keywords and BISAC codes
1.
BISAC subjects:
FICTION / Dystopian
FICTION / Contemporary Women
FICTION / Political
Keywords:
fiction best sellers; gift for book lover; gifts for book lovers; books best sellers; fiction best sellers 2018; new york time best sellers; the great american read; great american read; new york times best sellers; classic books; post apocalyptic fiction; censorship; sci-fi; feminism; apocalyptic fiction; science fiction books; man booker prize; booker prize shortlist; feminist thought; dystopian; science fiction; dystopia
Highlight to reveal the answer: The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood (9780735253308)
2.
BISAC subjects:
BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Personal Memoirs
BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Women
Keywords:
best books; celebrity autobiographies; gifts for her; mom gifts; books best sellers; strong woman gifts; feminist gifts; strong women; memoir books; gift books; best friend gifts; gifts for dad; gifts for mom; gifts for women; gifts for men; political books; memoirs; biography; books for women; autobiographies; top books; biographies
Highlight to reveal the answer: Becoming by Michelle Obama (9781524763138)
3.
BISAC subjects:
FICTION / General
FICTION / Literary
FICTION / Small Town & Rural
Keywords:
Small town life; Rivalry; Pedophiles; Political campaigns; Elections; Hostile townsfolk; Political intrigue; Class conflict; Poverty; Child abuse; Computer hacking; suburbia; suburban conflict; britian; british suburb; domestic violence; violent household
Highlight to reveal the answer: The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling (9780316228534)
4.
BISAC subjects:
FICTION / Romance / Contemporary
FICTION / Contemporary Women
FICTION / Romance / General
Keywords:
romantic gifts for her; pbs great american read; the great american read; great american read; erotic romance novels; bondage romance kit for couples; alpha male; romance books; contemporary romance; erotic romance; valentines day books; books for women; romance; valentines day gifts for her; valentines day gifts; sex things for couples; gifts for women; romance novels; bdsm; dominance; erotica
Highlight to reveal the answer: Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James (9780345803481)
5.
BISAC subjects:
FICTION / Thrillers / Suspense
FICTION / Legal
FICTION / Thrillers / Legal
Keywords:
legal thriller; crime; thriller; mysteries and thrillers; mystery thriller suspense; fathers day book; grandpa book; books for dad; dad book; gifts for dad from daughter; fathers day; new dad gifts; fathers day gifts from daughter; grandpa gifts; gifts for dad; dad gifts; fathers day gifts; ny times best sellers; best sellers; gift for best friend; best friend gift ideas; best selling books; books; gifts for him; gift books; crime books; mystery books; thrillers; new releases; new books; mystery books best sellers
Highlight to reveal the answer: The Reckoning by John Grisham (9780525620938)
6.
BISAC subjects:
YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Dystopian
YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Social Themes / Physical & Emotional Abuse (see also Social Themes / Sexual Abuse)
YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Action & Adventure / Survival Stories
Keywords:
Capitol; arena; district; bestseller; Panem; dystopia; dystopian; YA; entertainment; Survivor; Gladiator; Peeta; Gale; tribute; movie; film
Highlight to reveal the answer: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (9780439023528)
7.
BISAC subjects:
FICTION / General
FICTION / Historical
FICTION / Literary
Keywords:
New York Times; bestseller; stedman; verghese; world war; wwii; hitler; d-day; france; germany; jewel; nazi; radio; novel; memory wall; shell collector; coast; europe
Highlight to reveal the answer: All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr (9781501104565)
8.
BISAC subjects:
FICTION / Thrillers / General
FICTION / Thrillers / Suspense
FICTION / Action & Adventure
Keywords:
divine comedy; dante; Dante Alighieri; death mask; italy; florence; World Health Organization; Venice; Palazzo Vecchio; plague; mystery; thriller; robert langdon; apocalypse; movie tie in; movie cover; mystery books; mystery and thrillers; thrillers; mystery and suspense; crime fiction; beach reads; art history; adventure; thriller books; crime books; dantes inferno; suspense; suspense books; adventure books
Highlight to reveal the answer: Inferno by Dan Brown (9780385537858)
9.
BISAC subjects:
FICTION / Contemporary Women
Keywords:
historical fiction; holocaust; holocaust books; concentration camps; nazis; nazism; family life; family secrets; best selling books; best selling authors; jewish history; jews; wwii books; wwii novels; world war 2 fiction; paris; france; contemporary literature; contemporary history novels
Highlight to reveal the answer: Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay (9780312370848)
10.
BISAC subjects:
BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Business
COMPUTERS / History
BUSINESS & ECONOMICS / Leadership
Keywords:
apple; apple computers; ipod; iphone; itunes; istore; wozniak; great business books; cupertino; mona simpson; innovator; pixar; toy story; 2012 Audie Award Finalist; Audie Award for Audiobook of the Year; Audie nominee; biographies on audio
Highlight to reveal the answer: Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson (9781451648539)
11.
BISAC subjects:
FICTION / Literary
FICTION / Small Town & Rural
FICTION / African American / Historical
Keywords:
ny times best sellers; books best sellers; southern fiction; great american read; pbs; 100 books to read in a lifetime; literary fiction; african american fiction; historical fiction; historical; coming of age; family life; friendship; politics; dating and relationships; Mississippi; race; racism; integration; segregation; american south; 1960s; book club; race relations; the great american read; pbs great american read; classic; novels; fiction books; fiction
Highlight to reveal the answer: The Help by Kathryn Stockett (9780425232200)
12.
BISAC subjects:
FICTION / Thrillers / General
FICTION / Mystery & Detective / Women Sleuths
FICTION / Thrillers / Crime
Keywords:
crime thriller books; new york times bestseller; thriller books; murder mystery; best sellers list new york times; fiction; contemporary; contemporary fiction; crime; death; domestic abuse; domestic violence; mystery; thriller; obsession; suspense; relationships; emily blunt; mystery books; popular books; ny times best seller list; books on sale; books best sellers; thrillers
Highlight to reveal the answer: The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins (9780385682312)
13.
BISAC subjects:
BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Personal Memoirs
SCIENCE / Space Science
Keywords:
biography; space; nasa; astronaut; biographies; autobiographies; astronomy; mathematics; biographies and memoirs; science books; solar system; memoirs; science; memoir; autobiography; biographies of famous people; science gifts; autobiography books; universe; science book; memoir books; science books for adults; science gifts for adults; sports; aviation; adventure; survival; ocean; physics; tennis; nature; running; basketball; swimming; inspirational; weather; genetics; mars; baseball; sailing; air force; sport; race; true story
Highlight to reveal the answer: An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth by Chris Hadfield (9780345812704)
14.
BISAC subjects:
POETRY / Subjects & Themes / Inspirational & Religious
POETRY / Subjects & Themes / Love & Erotica
POETRY / Women Authors
Keywords:
emotional abuse; empowering; feminist books; gifts for women; inspirational; love poems; mental health; poems about depression; poetry books; self care; self esteem; self help books for women; self love; surviving; teen; thoughtful; unique gifts; young adult poetry
Highlight to reveal the answer: Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur (9781449474256)
15.
BISAC subjects:
BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Personal Memoirs
BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Women
BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Literary
Keywords:
christopher award; books for a better life award; literature to life award; alex award; frank mccourt; mary karr; memoir; silver star; homelessness; dominick dunne; patricia bosworth; dani shapiro; rosie o'donnell; bestseller; growing up; coming of age; new york times; homeless; 20th century; 21st century; 50 book challenge; non-fiction; nonfiction; homeless persons; dysfunctional family; addiction; abuse; alcohol; alcoholic; alex award; american; appalachia
Highlight to reveal the answer: The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls (9780743247542)
16.
BISAC subjects:
FICTION / Literary
FICTION / Historical / World War I
FICTION / Mystery & Detective / Historical
Keywords:
historical novel; australian; Downton Abbey; english houses; England; family; fairytale; light between oceans; gothic; mystery; diane setterfield; secret garden; secrets; thirteenth tale; between wars; new york times; bestseller; international; english country houses; house at riverton; secret keeper; distant hours; lake house; world war i; the great war; post world war i; coming of age; adopted; abandoned child; true identity
Highlight to reveal the answer: The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton (9781416550556)
17.
BISAC subjects:
JUVENILE FICTION / Humorous Stories
JUVENILE FICTION / Comics & Graphic Novels / General
Keywords:
growing up; coming of age; new school year; friends; friendship; funny; preteen; school; growing pains; comedy; popularity; high school
Highlight to reveal the answer: Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney (9780810993136)
18.
BISAC subjects:
JUVENILE FICTION / Holidays & Celebrations / Birthdays
Keywords:
birthday books for kids; birthday books for children; children bear books; juvenile books; kids books; board books for kids; picture books for toddlers; kid books; books children; young childrens books; books for young children; audio books for kids; audio books children; children audio books; audio books kids; best picture books for kids; best picture books for babies; kids bedtime stories; bedtime stories for girls; bedtime stories for boys; picture book gifts; gifts for parents; best gifts for babies
Highlight to reveal the answer: On the Night You Were Born by Nancy Tillman (9780312601553)
19.
BISAC subjects:
JUVENILE FICTION / Humorous Stories
JUVENILE FICTION / Animals / Ducks, Geese, etc.
Keywords:
hilarious, picture book, scottish granny, laugh out loud
Highlight to reveal the answer: The Wonky Donkey by Craig Smith (9780545261241)
20.
BISAC subjects:
JUVENILE FICTION / Humorous Stories
Keywords:
choices; conflict resolution; courage/bravery; fantasy; humor; problem-solving; role reversal; self-esteem; stereotyping
Highlight to reveal the answer: The Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch (9780920236161)
21.
BISAC subjects:
SELF-HELP / Personal Growth / General
SELF-HELP / Motivational & Inspirational
BODY, MIND & SPIRIT / Inspiration & Personal Growth
Keywords:
self esteem; courage; motivational and inspiring; personal growth; self discovery; wholehearted living; ten guideposts; encouragement; self development; self improvement; personal development; honest storytelling; overcome paralyzing fears; overcome self consciousness; dare to lead; self worth; I thought it was just me; social anxiety; self love; books for women; self confidence; choosing me; self assurance; rising strong; love yourself; TED talk; Forbes
Highlight to reveal the answer: The Gifts of Imperfection by Brené Brown (9781592858491)
22.
BISAC subjects:
JUVENILE FICTION / Classics
Keywords:
children classic books; classic books for kids; zoo books for children; books about the zoo; zoo animals; children books in spanish; kids animals; juvenile books; sounds; kids concept; learning kids; animal books for children; animal picture book; kids books; children stories; children animal books; children story books; picture books for toddlers; books children; young childrens books
Highlight to reveal the answer: Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr. (9780805047905)
23.
BISAC subjects:
FICTION / Classics
FICTION / Legal
Keywords:
Small town life; Racism; Racial conflict; Rape trials; False accusations
Highlight to reveal the answer: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee (9780446310789)
24.
BISAC subjects:
BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Personal Memoirs
BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Women
Keywords:
Pakistan; Netflix; David Letterman; Emma Watson; International Women's Day; Nobel Peace Prize; Oxford
Highlight to reveal the answer: I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai (9780316322409)
25.
BISAC subjects:
FICTION / Contemporary Women
FICTION / Family Life
FICTION / Medical
Keywords:
Alzheimer’s; Alzheimer’s novel; Alzheimer's disease; neuroscience; dementia; family; parenting; best medical fiction; medical fiction; disease of the month; bestseller; New York Times bestseller; best kindle; best kindle fiction; psychology; Harvard; Cape Cod; mental illness; women’s health; A Beautiful Mind; Ordinary People; Jodi Picoult; Oliver Sacks; Andrew Solomon; Atul Gawande; Julianne Moore; tragedy; degenerative
Highlight to reveal the answer: Still Alice by Lisa Genova (9781439102817)
So, how did you do? Are you a superstar keyword decoder? Share your results in the comments below.
The format preferences of Canadian buyers, borrowers, and readers.