As promised yesterday, we have updated our big fat compilation list of “best books of 2009” lists–now merging over 20 sources–for two “consensus” top 10s: Fiction1. Wolf Hall, By Hilary Mantel (8)2. A Gate at the Stairs, By Lorrie Moore (7)3. Lark and Termite, By Jayne Anne Phillips (6)– In Other Rooms, Other Wonders, By Daniyal Mueenuddin (6)5. The Collected Stories of Lydia Davis, By Lydia Davis (5)6. Love and Summer, By William Trevor (4)– The Anthologist, By Nicholson Baker– Await Your Reply, By Dan Chaon– Jeff in Venice, Death in Varanasi, By Geoff Dyer– Too Much Happiness, by Alice […]
Archives for December 2009
Bookselling News
At least one chain mall store in Texas slated for closure has been spared as Lufkin‘s Waldenbooks will remain open rather than close in January as originally planned. Meanwhile, Laredo is launching a campaign to lure a new store to this city of 230,000 after B. Dalton’s closes next month. Laredo Mayor Raul Salinas says, “I can assure you, it’s going to be welcome with a red carpet.” The city council “was expected to adopt a resolution Monday night proclaiming the importance of bringing another bookstore to the city.” Barnes & Noble says “it has identified a possible location for […]
eNews: Big Screen Maker Readies Plastic Screens for 2010; Sony Starts Shipping
Big Screen Maker Readies Plastic Screens for 2010Plastic Logic’s lightweight oversized reader has long been slated for release in early 2010 (and will debut at the Consumer Electronics Show in January) but market-dominating screen-maker Prime View International is fast on their heels. PVI tells the FT they will have a big 9.7-inch (measured across the diagonal) plastic screen ready by spring. The FT speculates it “would probably weigh about a third less” than a comparable glass screen–like the one currently used in the too-heavy-for-most SuperKindle. PVI chairman Scott Liu says it’s targeted at the student/educational market, and will be available […]
Bestsellers of the Year, In Canada
BookNet Canada’s point-of-sale tracking service published their lists of bestselling books for the year (through the week ending December 13), including: Top 5 Overall 1. The Lost Symbol, Dan Brown 2. Breaking Dawn, Stephenie Meyer 3. Eclipse, Stephenie Meyer 4. New Moon, Stephenie Meyer 5. The Book of Negroes, Lawrence Hill Top 5 Hardcover Adult Fiction 1. The Lost Symbol, Dan Brown 2. The Host, Stephenie Meyer 3. An Echo in the Bone, Diana Gabaldon 4. The Associate, John Grisham 5. Twenties Girl, Sophie Kinsella Top 5 Hardcover Non-Fiction 1. Outliers, Malcolm Gladwell […]
Random Says Profitability Rises
Random House ceo Markus Dohle’s year-end letter to employees acknowledges that the “year has been one difficult external and internal challenge after another,” including “the continuing decline in consumer spending, including on books; the pressures of the retail price wars in the U.S. and U.K.; wide-ranging digital-publishing issues; and our divisional reorganizations and integrations.” And “the outlook for 2010 is uncertain right now…with no sign that consumer confidence or discretionary spending will pick up.” The “great news” he shares is that “even with these challenges, Random House on a worldwide basis will improve its year-on-year profitability in 2009.” One could […]
Lunch Weekly for Monday, December 21
Deal Reports Just e-mail to deals@PublishersMarketplace if you aren’t using the online form linked below. Report a deal using the online form The Key As usual, the handy key to our Lunch deal categories. While all reports are always welcome, those that include a category will generally receive a higher listing when it comes time to put them all together. “nice deal” $1 – $49,000 “very nice deal” $50,000 – $99,000 “good deal” $100,000 – $250,000 “significant deal” $251,000 – $499,000 “major deal” $500,000 and up FICTION Debut Leslie Daniels’ CLEANING NABOKOV’S HOUSE, the spare, humorous and heart-wrenching story […]