Snapping a string of five months in decline, sales of religious books rose in November, as overall book sales increased by 5.1% to $852 million and were up by 3.5% for the year, according to the Association of American Publishers (AAP).

The month's sales for religious books increased 5.4% to $51.1 million, with sales seeing no change for the year. Sales of religious books had risen in March, April and May 2010, but declined 8% in June, 11.9% in July, 0.4% in August, 2.5% in September and 4.1% in October. Previously, other than a small increase in December 2009, the religious books category had been on a steady decline since January 2009.

The brightest spot in the AAP report was e-book sales, which continued to rise in November—reflecting an increase of 129.7% to $46.6 million for the month and 165.6% for the year.

The Adult Hardcover category increased by 4.3% in November with sales of $219.9 million, although year-to-date sales were down by 6.1%. Adult Paperback sales decreased 19% for the month—posting $80.8 million in sales—and year-to-date sales were down by 1.4% for the year.

The Children's/Young Adult Hardcover category decreased by 2.7% for the month with sales of $63 million, and year-to-date sales were down by 10.4%. The Paperback category for the same age decreased 5.5% in November with sales totaling $41.3 million, and sales were down by 6.6% for the year.

Physical audiobook sales increased 1.3% in November—with sales totaling $16.7 million—although the category's year-to-date sales were down by 11.7%.

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