Booksellers Favorites on 76 List Finding Bestsellerdom

Last week 27 of the 75 titles on the Book Sense Bestseller List were Book Sense 76 picks, illuminating the connection between marketing and sales; the 76 displays and distribution of the 76 fliers.

Both the number one bestseller in Trade Paperback Fiction (The Red Tent) and the number one bestseller in Trade Paperback Nonfiction (Brunelleschi's Dome) were Book Sense Book of the Year Award winners for 2001. Twelve of the 15 titles on the Trade Paperback Fiction list were 76 picks, including first novels Girl in Hyacinth Blue and Bee Season, both top 10 picks, whose authors credited independent booksellers for the success of their books. The others were Prodigal Summer, Girl With a Pearl Earring, A Fine Balance, The Blind Assassin, The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay, True History of the Kelly Gang, When We Were Orphans, Lying Awake, and Shopgirl.

On the Trade Paperback Nonfiction list there were three 76 titles: Brunelleschi's Dome, and two David Sedaris titles, Me Talk Pretty One Day and Holidays on Ice.

On the Hardcover Fiction list there were six 76 picks, including the number one September/October pick and independent bookseller favorite, Peace Like a River, which has spent 16 weeks on the list; The Corrections; Portrait in Sepia; The Fiery Cross; Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress; and Falling Angels.

On the Hardcover Nonfiction list, Seabiscuit, a top 10 76 pick, has spent over 30 weeks on the bestseller list.

Finally, on the Children's list, four of the 10 titles were Book Sense 76 picks, including Olivia, a Book Sense Book of the Year Award winner for 2001; Stranger in the Woods, a finalist for the same award; Olivia Saves the Circus; and Lemony Snicket's The Bad Beginning.