Annotated Bestsellers from Boswell, with New Ann Patchett Links, and No More Picture of Jeffery Deaver's Novel, as it Doesn't Post on Facebook.

After a late evening at the Pabst Theater for the Demetri Martin show (those sales show up next week), I groggily arose to tabulate bestsellers. Shane noted at his first offsite that Martin was the nicest celebrity with whom he's had the pleasure of coming in contact.*  Martin spent his afternoon at Renaissance Books.  It's hard for a book lover to avoid Robert John's salute to book obsession.  On the other, I probably wouldn't want to live next door to him. Note to Bob: I link in amusement, not in scorn.

I have not linked the titles below to our website.  That said, all are available on the Boswell and Books site, with many also available as ebooks.

hardcover fiction:

1. State of Wonder, by Ann Patchett

2. The Katyn Order, by Bruce Jacobson

3. The Paris Wife, by Paula McLain

4. The Long-Shining Waters, by Danielle Sosin

5. Carte Blanche, by Jeffery Deaver

My rule of thumb is that if a commercial thriller is working in our store, the numbers at the chains and online must be excellent. We can guess that Deaver's turn as voice behind Agent 007 is working just fine.

The publicity is kicking in for Ann Patchett's appearance at Boswell this Wednesday.  In addition to her conversation with Veronica Rueckert on Wisconsin Public Radio (our co-sponsor for this event) on Friday (you can listen here), the Journal Sentinel features an interview with Jim Higgins and a review from Mike Fischer.

hardcover nonfiction:
1. In the Garden of Evil, by Erik Larson
2. Bossypants, by Tina Fey
3. Go the F**k to Sleep, by Adam Mansbach
4. The Greater Journey, by David McCullough
5. Area 51, by Annie Jacobsen

As the father of Boswell, I want to thank you for the Father's Day gift of getting our nonfiction hardcover bestsellers to stretch to 25 titles via your purchases.  It's great that we have two bike-race-themed bestsellers, Bike Snob, and It's All About the Bike.  I'll bet you'll be hearing about that later this week.

paperback fiction:
1. Room, by Emma Donoghue
2. A Visit from the Goon Squad, by Jennifer Egan
3. The Help, by Kathryn Stockett
4. To Say Nothing of the Dog, by Connie Willis
5. Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter, by Tom Franklin

Our in-store lit book club picks are a bit cliched for summer, with Room being our July pick and A Visit from the Goon Squad the August selection.  The Connie Willis is actually an upcoming science fiction book club selection too, on July 11.  Catch our semi-complete list here. And if you're paying attention, the movie version of The Help opens August 12. Here's the trailer.

paperback nonfiction
1. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, by Rebecca Skloot
2. The Film that Changed my Life, by Robert K. Elder
3. The Fix is In, by Brian Tuohy
4. The Invisible Gorilla: and Other Ways Our Intuitions Deceive Us, by Christopher Chabris
5. Heaven is for Real, by Todd Burpo

I'm fascinated that the Chabris book went right by me in hardcover.  Glad it's getting a pop in paperback.  I really enjoyed all our talks this week, and am glad to see that Jacobson, Elder, and Tuohy books all made our bestseller list.

kids books
1. Mockingjay, by Suzanne Collins
2. Catching Fire, by Suzanne Collins
3. Ten Little Fingers, Ten Little Toes, by Mem Fox
4. Beyonders: A World Without Heroes, by Brandon Mull
5. City Dog, Country Frog, by Mo Willems, with illustrations by Jon Muth

Next Saturday, Willems is at the Garden District Bookshop in New Orleans.  Why do I care about this?  Long story, but I'm getting a personalized copy for a customer. Plus I like them.  Can I just mention that another bookstore on his tour would not allow me to personalize a pre-paid copy of the book?