Book Sense

By Carl Lennertz

Publisher Ad Kudos:
Many, many, many thanks to all the publishers who advertise with us in our ad format, and to those who mention Book Sense in their own ads. Please give these books an extra look.

In the November issue of BookPage, Hyperion has a nice ad for The Sunday Wife with a Book Sense 76 mention and logo:

First off, this is no knock on Harry, Mary, Junie B., Judy B., Lyra, or our friends at Redwall. Ellen Mager at Booktenders Children's Bookstore in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, asked for a list of individual best-selling paperback fiction not in a series.

The result is a nice mix of favorites and classics, with recent releases. I'm sure you know all these, but you might spot an old favorite that deserves new attention, or a new book you may not have read yet. (Sorry I can't separate by age groups, but you know 'em.)

Based on the last eight weeks of sales from over 350 independent bookstores across America.

BookSense.com recently announced that it has created the BookSense.com User's Council (BUC). The council was established, in part, as a result of the suggestions of numerous booksellers, and, while it is not a governance body, it will provide valuable feedback and will play a key role in helping ABA staff determine the future direction of BookSense.com. "We do seek a lot of bookseller feedback, but we thought it would be nice to formalize the process," said Len Vlahos, BookSense.com director.

Books and Gift Certificates Are Noted as Favorite Gift Items

Perhaps the most closely watched yearly retail prognostications are the annual fall estimates for holiday retail sales. This year, analysts are factoring in not only a soft economy but also consumer concern over personal debt levels and anxiety regarding job security.

By Carl Lennertz

IMPORTANT! Before the deluge, please get me your January/February 76 nominations by Friday, November 22. Thanks!!!

Winter Kids' 76 boo-books:
I was on deadline for the Winter Kids' 76 and made too many mistakes; sorry!

The December 9 issue of The New Yorker, which goes on sale December 2, will include the latest Book Sense insert, "Booked for the Holidays." The special feature presents the holiday picks of 13 independent booksellers, and the titles are drawn from the November/December Book Sense 76 list. (The full 76 can be reviewed here.)

Based on the last eight weeks of sales from over 350 independent bookstores across America.

Thanks to all the stores that report, the new expanded electronic reporting options, and the software our team here has built to sort and slice a ton of data according to BISAC categories, this is the latest of many subject category lists to run in BTW each week. These are intended as inventory checking tools for booksellers, alerts to publishers as to what's selling, and lists that the media can run.

The spirit of Dayton, Ohio's illustrious past is being channeled into the state's oldest bookstore, Wilkie News. This latest foray into history is yet another passion of Wilkie's owners, Jim and Pat Latham. Thanks to them, the 3,000-square-foot bookstore now offers a new café, a tribute in its décor and menu to the late, legendary neighboring Rike-Kumler Department Store.

The full Winter 2002 - 2003 Children's Book Sense 76 -- with booksellers' recommendations -- has been posted at http://news.bookweb.org/read/922. The printed flier will be included in the November white box.

By Carl Lennertz

No surprise: Snicket #9 goes to #1 for us, and Bad Beginning jumps to #2. All Snicket titles in-between are in the top 50; check stock … or stacks.

Secret History, in mass market and trade, is moving up on the national list and some local lists. Mass market is 0804111359; trade is 0449911519.

Tolkein mania about to heat up; books two and three taking off again.

Sleepers to watch:

Based on the last four weeks of sales from over 350 independent bookstores across America.

Thanks to all the stores that report, the new expanded electronic reporting options, and the software our team here has built to sort and slice a ton of data according to BISAC categories, this is the latest of many subject category lists to run in BTW each week.

These are intended as inventory checking tools for booksellers, alerts to publishers as to what’s selling, and lists that the media can run.

2002

• Nov. 22 - January/February '03 Book Sense 76
  

2003

During the month of October, the following newspapers joined the growing list of media outlets publishing the Book Sense Bestseller lists.

The Des Moines Register, Des Moines, IA (National list)
Ravalli News, Hamilton, MT (Pacific Northwest list)
Shelbyville News, Shelbyville, IN (National list)