Before the proverbial “summer reading” season sets in — days when Proust and Joyce can’t go to the beach — the News checked in with Magnolia’s Bookstore and Queen Anne Books to see what their customers are reading.
Georgiana Blomberg of Magnolia’s Bookstore writes, via email, “Our biggest sellers during the past couple weeks for adults have been Erik Larson’s “In the Garden of Beasts,” which was just released in paperback, as well as all of the very racy “grey” books by E.L. James. The first is “50 Shades of Grey” (then there’s “50 Shades Darker” and “50 Shades Freed”).
“Others selling well are two other just-released paperbacks: “Caleb’s Crossing,” by Geraldine Brooks and “State of Wonder,” by Ann Patchett. I am particularly excited about the release of “The Great Night” in paperback, by Chris Adrian. It’s set in Buena Vista Park in San Francisco on midsummer eve, 2008. The park is home to Titania and Oberon and their court; and there’s been a major disruption in the faerie kingdom that night which affects the lives of three heart-broken people who happen to be wandering the park that night. It’s completely original and captivating.
“Young folks, as well as adults, are still buying all of “The Hunger Games” books as well as the third book in Rick Riordan’s “The Kane Chronicles: The Serpent’s Shadow,” which was just released last week.”
Wendee Wieking at Queen Anne Books reports, via email, that “Wild,” by Cheryl Strayed, is number one in hardcover sales, a book characterized as a “memoir that makes personal journey of grief into a readable saga.” Others on the hardcover bestselling list: “Some Assembly Required,” by Ann Lamott; “Drift,” by Rachel Maddow,” “Washington Food Artisans,” by Leora Bloom and “Truth Like the Sun,” by Jim Lynch.
“Grow Cook Eat,” by Willi Galloway leads the paperback list, which has been called “the perfect book for aspiring vegetable gardeners.” The other paperback best sellers: “Maphead,” by Ken Jennings, “In the Garden of Beasts,” by Erik Larson, “Art of Fielding,” by Chad Harbach and “Parisian Chic,” by Ines de la Fressange and Sophie Gatchet.
Except for “In the Garden of Beasts,” Magnolia’s and Queen Anne’s reading tastes diverge, at least this month. We’ll check in next month to see if they come together at the beach.
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