Forbes, Jones libraries share their top ten checked-out books Forbes Library in Northampton FILE PHOTO Jones Library in Amherst FILE PHOTO Modified: 1/1/2021 5:36:59 PM NORTHAMPTON — Amid a year of social isolation, many turned to reading. “This year in particular with everybody having limited exposure to travel and, in some instances, connecting with other people in real life, books have been a real solace for people to continue to have new experiences and explore things,” said Lisa Downing, director of Forbes Library. What books did people check out most at Forbes Library in 2020? Topping the list was “On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous,” by Ocean Vuong, who lives in Florence and is an associate professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. The book, a New York Times bestseller and longlisted for the 2019 National Book Award for Fiction, was checked out 249 times from Forbes library. The book is a coming of age story told through a letter from a young Vietnamese-American man to his illiterate mother.