A Little Bestseller Music--What's Selling at Boswell?

Since this is effectively cut and pasted from our inventory system, all initial articles ("the" and "a") are dropped. That's the way we roll in database land, old-skool library style.

TW Hardcover Fiction
1. THOUSAND AUTUMNS OF JACOB DE ZOET, by David Mitchell (major reviews)
2. GIRL WHO KICKED THE HORNETS NEST M3, Stieg Larsson (doubled sales over #2)
3. SPIES OF THE BALKANS, by Alan Furst (Jim Higgins' Journal Sentinel interview)
4. SECRET LIVES OF BABA SEGIS WIVES, by Lola Shoneyin (2 recs w/an email plug)
5. ASHES TO WATER, by Irene Ziegler (event #3)
6. PASSAGE V1, by Justin Cronin (ex event, big bestseller, a staff rec)
7. REMARKABLE CREATURES, by Tracy Chevalier (staff rec)
8. MR PEANUT, by Adam Ross (front page NYTBR)
9. PARTICULAR SADNESS OF LEMON CAKE, by Aimee Bender (reviews + staff rec)
10. TO KILL A MOCKINBIRD 50TH, by Harper Lee (lots of publicity + display)

TW Hardcover Nonfiction
1. COOKS JOURNEY TO JAPAN, by Sarah Marx Feldner (a very successful event)
2. LAST WORDS OF THE EXECUTED, by Robert K. Elder (a very respectable event)
3. BASEBALL CODES, by Jason Turbow (an event tonight!)
4. SH*T MY DAD SAYS, by Justin Halpern (#1 bestseller, all a-Twitter)
5. LOST CYCLIST, by David Herlihy (tomorrow's event)
6. HITCH 22, by Christopher Hitchens (most tour dates cancelled due to illness)
7. NINE LIVES, by William Dalrymple (Indian travel lit! Who knew?)
8. OPERATION MINCEMENT, by Ben McIntyre (the buzzy nonfiction book, hearing lots of word of mouth from customers)
9. WOMEN FOOD & GOD, by Geneen Roth (Oprah etc, consistently selling for us too)
10. LIFE IS WHAT YOU MAKE IT, by Peter Buffett (sales continuing after visit)

Two Harmony books really selling well, having been in our top sales for multiple weeks. In paperback, it's Stieg, Stieg, Stieg, with another pop to come when movie #2 opens down the block on July 16th (this Friday!). Little Bee sales popped again, and it was nice to see our in-store book club folk pick up Sarah Waters' The Little Stranger. Nice first week on Suzanne Collins' Catching Fire--we should have this on our new paperback table, shouldn't we? Right now, it's just in kids. I'll fix that immediately.

Our pal John E. came in and said that David Mitchell's The Thousand Autumns of Jacob De Groet was the best book he's read this year. And customer #1 Dennis thought the jacket is amazing. Props to the art director. Also the editor, who is David Ebershoff, one of my favorite authors. I hear he's also a champion pole vaulter.

A Day at the Gardens--Transitioning to Our Thursday Event with Peter Buffett

I feel like I haven't even had time to sit since returning from Book Expo. Alas, my return from New York turned into a two-day affair. That might someday turn into another post, if I can find the right book tie-in.

Sunday I spent selling art, nature, and gardening books at the grand opening of the Lynden Sculpture Garden. It's just beautiful! Bradley had the park designed to remind him of the Kansas City Park of his youth. I've recommended the Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids to many of traveler. Now I have something to tout close to home.

The Lynden Sculpture Garden (formerly Bradley) is open Wednesdays from 10 to dusk and Sundays from Noon to 5 PM. Admission is $9, $7 for seniors and students, with children under 6 admitted free with a parent.

In September, Wild Space Dance Company is performing on the grounds. You learn these things when you are staffing tables at these sorts of things. Should be beautiful.

This week is Milwaukee's celebration of Peter Buffett's Life is What You Make it. Tomorrow (Wednesday, June 3rd) is Buffett's concert and conversation at the Pabst Theater. Friday is a private event for the Friends of 88Nine Radio at...the Lynden Sculpture Garden. Tickets for the Wednesday concert are still available.

Thursday (June 4th) is a talk and signing at Boswell Book Company at 7 PM.

Read more on Onmilwaukee.com.

And the Shepherd Express.

And the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.