Give ’em What They Want

The Story of Edgar Sawtelle hit the USA Today bestseller list three weeks ago at #142 and has been rising since. It is now at #61. Expect to see it rise on other lists (it was at #9 on the NYT Fiction list last week). Most libraries are showing long reserve lists.
Titles that showed significant drops include:

Broken Window, Jeffrey Deaver — it debuted at #24 three weeks ago and is now at #84

Married Lovers, Jackie Collins — began at #38 three weeks ago, now at #89

New titles to the list that are not owned in several of the libraries I checked include:

Goodnight Bush: A Parody

Gan Golan and Erich Origen

• Hardcover: $14.99
• Publisher: Little, Brown, (May 27, 2008)
• ISBN-10: 031604041X
• ISBN-13: 9780316040419

We covered this title earlier. It appeared on the July 6 NYT Hardcover Advice list (we’re wondering what kind of “advice” it gives) at #6. It’s first appearance on a bestseller list was the May 29th Indie List and more recently on the San Francisco and Denver Post lists.

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Wall-E Smash Trash!

This is a “Step into Reading” tie-in to the smash hit Disney movie, Wall-E. It is the first book in the series to appear on a bestseller list.

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
• Paperback: $3.99
• Publisher: RH/Disney (May 13, 2008)
• ISBN-10: 0736425152
• ISBN-13: 978-0736425155

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Naruto, Vol 30

Masashi Kishimoto

The others in the manga series are owned by many libraries, but most do not have this latest edition.

• Comic: $7.95
• Publisher: VIZ Media LLC (July 1, 2008)
• ISBN-10: 1421519429
• ISBN-13: 978-1421519425

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In Odd We Trust

Dean Koontz

This graphic novel is a prequel to Koontz’s Odd Thomas series (Odd Thomas, Forever Odd, Brother Odd, and Odd Hours). it’s on order in a third of the libraries I checked.

It is not on any other lists as yet.

• Comic: $10.95
• Publisher: Del Rey (June 24, 2008)
• ISBN-10: 0345499662
• ISBN-13: 978-0345499660

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Warriors: The Rise of Scourge

Erin Hunter, Dan Jolley, and Bettina Kurkoski

This bestselling children’s series is owned by many libraries, but this new title is not listed in library catalogs.

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
• Paperback: $5.59
• Publisher: TokyoPop (June 24, 2008)
• ISBN-10: 0061478679
• ISBN-13: 978-0061478673

One of the books I’ve been cheerleading is Say You’re One of Them, a book of short stories about children in Africa, written by Uwem Akpan, a Jesuit priest from Nigeria. It’s received a string of enthusiastic reviews (just check out the range on the book’s Amazon page); many echoing Entertainment Weekly’s reviewer, who said the stories are “so ravishing and sad that I regret ever wasting superlatives on fiction that was merely very good.” In today’s New York Times, Charles McGrath, former editor of the NYT Book Review, interviews Akpan.

Libraries have received their initial modest orders, with holds building. Some have ordered additional copies.

Say You’re One of Them

Akpan, Uwem

• Hardcover: $23.99
• Publisher: Little, Brown (June 9, 2008)
• ISBN-10: 0316113786
• ISBN-13: 978-0316113786

Although People gives primary placement to Stephen Carter’s Palace Council in this issue (July 14; on newsstands now), they give it just three stars. The book that receives a complete set of stars (four) is the American trade paperback edition of a UK original, What Was Lost by Catherine O’Flynn. People calls it a “ghost story and satire of consumer culture… at once moving and wickedly funny, it’s one dazzling debut.”

Originally pubbed in the UK, it was the winner of the British Costa Award for best first novel. The Library Journal review said; This seamlessly written, character-driven novel offers up well-appreciated humor along with its darker material, and readers who enjoy sideswiping surprises will not be disappointed.”

It received starred reviews in PW and School Library Journal; some libraries have it on order for YA only.

In consumer reviews, it was reviewed in the LA Times earlier this month, by Jane Smiley;

This is a novel that should have no jacket copy, no advance notices. It should come into your hands unheralded, because if you simply open to the first page and begin reading, you’ll proceed in a state of innocent pleasure.

The 6/29 Dallas Morning News called the author the “British book trade’s ‘Newcomer of the Year’” and describes the book’s appeal;

Just when you think you are settling into a quirky English mystery in the tradition of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Ms. O’Flynn reveals she has bigger and broader ambitions. Just when you think the mood is becoming a little too somber, she unleashes a comic riff that nicely skewers consumer culture without getting preachy. Just when you think you have the crime solved, she raises new possibilities.

The book ranks at #1,343 in sales on Amazon, which is high for the trade paperback of a book originally published in the UK. Libraries I checked also show a surprising number of holds.

• Paperback: $14.00
• Publisher: Holt Paperbacks; June 24, 2008
• ISBN-10: 0805088334
• ISBN-13: 978-0805088335

• Unabridged Audio: $79.95
• Publisher: BBC Audio
• Narrator: Catherine Skinner
• CD: 9780792754954

The phrase “eagerly anticipated” is not only cliched, but rarely documented. In the case of Palace Council, we are justified in using the term, since the book is featured on four Summer Reading lists (USA Today, L.A. Times, O the Oprah Magazine and the Washington Post. See the “Books of Summer — Picks” list at the right).

Ironically, People did not include Palace Council on their list, but they’re the first of the consumer pubs to review it (expect more this week). They say,

Carter’s third novel, set between 1952 and 1972, is a fast-paced political thriller…readers will enjoy the novel’s plot twists…In this story, no one can be trusted.

Most ibraries have the book on order in all formats, with comfortable holds to copy ratios; a few have not ordered the large type or audio editions.

• Hardcover: $26.95
• Publisher: Knopf (July 8, 2008)
• ISBN-10: 0307266583
• ISBN-13: 978-0307266583

• Audio CD: Abridged edition, $29.95
• Publisher: Random House Audio, (July 8, 2008)
• Reader: Dominic Hoffman
• ISBN-10: 0739343408
• ISBN-13: 978-0739343401

• Unabridged Audio: $129.00
• Publisher: Books on Tape, July 8
• Narrator: Mirron Willis
• CD: 9781415955963
• Tape: 9781415956366

• Large Print (Trade Paperback): $26.95
  
• Publisher: Books on Tape, July 8
• ISBN: 978-0-7393-2813-2

We noted last month the amazing reviews stacking up for The Story of Edgar Sawtelle. Two weeks ago, The Wall Street Journal declared it a hit. And the accolades keep coming. Laura Miller, in Friday’s Salon, called it “well-positioned to step into the niche pioneered by Cold Mountain: the chewy yet suspenseful literary bestseller.”

Yesterday’s USA Today celebrates its success, with both a story and an interview with the author. While the WSJ story credits Amazon with making the book happen, USA Today sees a combination of breathless reviews and a blurb from chief fan Stephen King as the mothers of its success.

The first printing was 26,000 copies; USA Today says it is now up to 170,000.

The book rose to #2 on Amazon on Sunday (probably as a result of customers seeing its rise on print bestseller lists). It remained in that position through Monday is now at #4. It’s been on the New York Times list for two weeks, rising from #14 to #9. It’s #2 on the Denver Post list (the author lives in Colorado, although the book is set in his home state of Wisconsin).

Note there is an audio version; none of the libraries I checked have it on order yet.

The Story of Edgar Sawtelle

David Wroblewski

• Hardcover: $25.95
• Publisher: Ecco (June 10, 2008)
• ISBN-10: 0061374229
• ISBN-13: 9780061374227

• Audio CD: Unabridged
• Publisher: Recorded Books
• ISBN-13: 9781436149587

• Large Print Paperback: $25.95
• Publisher: HarperLuxe; (August 19, 2008)
• ISBN-10: 0061691623
• ISBN-13: 978-0061691621

Currently, the most emailed article from the NY Times is based on the book, The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth: The Surprising, Unbiased Truth About What You Should Eat and Why. The title of the blog, pubbed on Wednesday, is “The 11 Best Foods You Aren’t Eating”

The book, which has averaged 1,908 in Amazon rankings, is now at 317. Libraries own it, with comfortable holds to copy ratios at this point.

The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth: The Surprising, Unbiased Truth About What You Should Eat and Why

Jonny Bowden

• Paperback: $24.99
• Publisher: Fair Winds Press, (January 1, 2007)
• ISBN-10: 1592332285
• ISBN-13: 978-1592332281

According to the publisher’s web site, the author has a new book coming in January:

(The listed title differs from the one on the cover image):

150 Most Effective Ways to Boost Your Energy: The Surprising, Unbiased Truth About How to Banish Fatigue and Stay Energized All Day

Jonny Bowden

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Fair Winds Press ( January, 2009)
• ISBN-10: 1592333419
• ISBN-13: 978-1592333417

The first book to criticize Barack Obama, hit the Amazon list at #1 on its release date last Tuesday and has held on to the number 2 or 3 spot since, occasionally going back up to #1. It has one of the longest subtitles on record:

Fleeced: How Barack Obama, Media Mockery of Terrorist Threats, Liberals Who Want to Kill Talk Radio, the Do-Nothing Congress, Companies … Are Scamming Us … and What to Do About It by Dick Morris

In the original subtitle, Clinton, not Obama was the focus of ire. In fact, only the last phrase of the original subtitle remains in the new one. As recently as 6/17, the Publishers Weekly “On Sale Next Week” column listed it as:

Fleeced: How Washington Insiders, Foreign Lobbyists, Subprime Lenders, Credit Card Companies, Iraq Reconstruction Contractors, and Clinton Cronies Are Picking Our Pockets…AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT

Morris appeared on the Today Show on the release date. His appearance on Fox News, was described in a 6/28 NY Times piece about cable news viewership:

During the interview the screen flashed continuously with dire warnings set off in quotation marks — “Obama would take this country to the far left”; “Obama would open the door to illegal immigrants”; “Obama would lower penalties for dangerous drug criminals”; “Obama’s tax plan ‘might trigger a stock market crash’ “ — apparently distilled from Mr. Morris’s book

New York magazine’s “Intel” blog recently interviewed the author. Despite the subtitle change, Morris evidently still has a bone to pick his former employres. The piece is titled, “Dick Morris is Still Mad at the Clintons”

The book is shown as being on order in all the libraries I checked, with heavy reserves building in some.

Fleeced: How Barack Obama, Media Mockery of Terrorist Threats, Liberals Who Want to Kill Talk Radio, the Do-Nothing Congress, Companies … Are Scamming Us … and What to Do About It

Dick Morris and Eileen McGann

• Hardcover: $26,95
• Publisher: Harper (June 24, 2008)
• ISBN-10: 0061547751
• ISBN-13: 978-0061547751

The Secret Life of Bees, based on Sue Monk Kidd’s bestseller, is scheduled to hit theaters on October 17th. People magazine gives a “sneak peek” (photos from the set, with a brief story) in the new issue (July 7; on newsstands today, but story is not on the People site). Dakota Fanning plays Lily Owens. The beekeeping sisters are played by Queen Latifah, Alicia Keys and Sophie Okonedo. Jennifer Hudson plays Lily’s nanny.

The tie-in edition will be released in August.

[No cover available yet]

The Secret Life of Bees

Sue Monk Kidd

• Paperback: $14.00
• Publisher: Penguin (Non-Classics) (August 20, 2008)
• ISBN-10: 0143114557
• ISBN-13: 9780143114550

We mentioned earlier that three June titles seemed to be in limbo. One has surfaced — Nights in Rodanthe (book by Nicholas Sparks; movie starring Richard Gere and Diane Lane) now has a 9/12 release date and a tie-in edition (information on it, below).

No news yet on Time Traveler’s Wife (book by Audrey Niffenegger; movie starring Eric Bana and Rachel McAdams) or Friday Night Knitting Club (book by Kate Jacobs; movie starring Julia Roberts), which were both originally scheduled for June.

Below are the other new additions to our “Upcoming Movies - with tie-ins” list. Links to the trailers appear in the “Books to Movies” section on the right.

7/11- Journey to the Center of the Earth 3-D

Director: Eric Brevig

Starring: Brendan Fraser

Tie-in Edition:

Journey 3-D: The Novelization

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
• Paperback: $4.99
• Publisher: Price Stern Sloan (May 29, 2008)
• ISBN-10: 0843132302
• ISBN-13: 978-0843132304

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9/26 - Choke

Director: Clark Gregg

Starring: Sam Rockwell, Anjelica Huston, Kelly Macdonald

Tie in:

Choke

Chuck Palahniuk

• Paperback: $14.95
• Publisher: Anchor; Mti edition (August 26, 2008)
• ISBN-10: 0307388921
• ISBN-13: 978-030738892

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9/12 - Nights in Rodanthe

Director: George C. Wolfe

Starring: Diane Lane, Richard Gere

Tie in:

Nights in Rodanthe

Nicholas Sparks

• Paperback: $12.99
• Publisher: Grand Central Publishing (July 1, 2003)
• ISBN-10: 0446691798
• ISBN-13: 978-0446691796

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10/10 - City of Ember

Director: Gil Kenan

Starring: Bill Murray, Tim Robbins

Tie-in:

City of Ember

Jeanne Duprau

• Reading level: Young Adult
• Paperback: $6.99
• Publisher: Yearling (August 26, 2008)
• ISBN-10: 0385736282
• ISBN-13: 978-0385736282

Yesterday, Morrow, a division of HarperCollins, announced that John Grogan, author of Marley & Me, is at work on a memoir of his years before Marley, called The Longest Trip Home, to be pubbed in October.

The release describes the book as,

The powerful, often hilarious story of a son in the making, and of growing up in a loving, but comically old-school Catholic family. From his troublemaking childhood to his courtship of a fiery blonde named Jenny, Grogan writes about how he came to terms with who he is and what he believes.

The AP did a story which was picked up in several newspapers, including USA Today.

[No cover yet]

The Longest Trip Home

John Grogan

• Hardcover: $25.95
• Publisher: William Morrow (October 21, 2008)
• ISBN-10: 0061713244
• ISBN-13: 9780061713248

• Audio CD: Unabridged, $34.95
  
• Publisher: HarperAudio,(October 21, 2008)
• ISBN-10: 006172629X
• ISBN-13: 9780061726293

We recently wrote about the advance buzz for Random House’s debut novel, The Gargoyle. We just got an interesting comment on the post from Jana about how readers may respond to the graphic descriptions of sex and painful injuries in the first 75 pages.

You can judge it for yourself; Random House will be giving away copies of the ARC at ALA, booth #2534. To get a copy, you will need a coupon from Library Journal’s “Aisle by Aisle Guide” (you’ll see people handing them out at the show).

And, while we’re thinking about galleys at ALA, remind yourself to go to the Hachette booth to pick up a copy of Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World. You can get the ARC in exchange for a card swipe. Hachette’s booth is #2767. Dewey is one of my favorites of the Fall, but don’t just take my word for it:

I adored Dewey. There are few books that are as memorable; Dewey the Small Town Library Cat will be one of those books that will be etched in my memory for a lifetime. — Jennifer Teitelbaum, Librarian, San Diego County Library