Boswell bestsellers, week ending March 15, 2025

Boswell bestsellers, week ending March 15, 2025

Hardcover Fiction:
1. 33 Place Brugmann, by Alice Austen
2. The Trouble Up North, by Travis Mulhauser
3. Onyx Storm V3, by Rebecca Yarros
4. James, by Percival Everett
5. Dream State, by Eric Puchner
6. The Bones Beneath My Skin, by TJ Klune
7. Intermezzo, by Sally Rooney
8, Somewhere Beyond the Sea V2, by TJ Klune
9. Stag Dance, by Torrey Peters
10. Small Things Like These, by Claire Keegan

Torrey Peters, the author of Detransition Baby, has a  new collection of a novel and stories, Stag Dance, that hit our top 10 this week. BookMarks tabulates eight raves and a mixed. One of the raves is from Dan Kois at Slate, who praises the title piece in particular: "'Stag Dance' is a gender comedy both ribald and aching, a story of a person discovering new and wondrous uses for their own body and a backwoods gothic in which that poor Minnesota donkey puncher’s skull isn’t the last to shatter."

Hardcover Nonfiction:
1. The Broken Rung, by Kwellin Ellingrud, Lareina Yee, and Marína del Mar Martínez
2. Nature's Best Hope, by Douglas W Tallamy
3. Careless People, by Sarah Wynn-Williams
4. The Let Them Theory, by Mel Robbins
5. One Day Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This, Omar El-Akkad
6. The Nature of Oaks, by Douglas W Tallamy
7. Memorial Days, by Geraldine Brooks
8. Raising Hare, by Chloe Dalton
9. The Serviceberry, by Robin Wall Kimmerer
10. The Sixth Wisconsin and the Long Civil War, by James Marten (Boswell April 8 event)

The publishing event this week was the release of Careless People: A Cautionary Tale of Power, Greed, and Lost Idealism, by Sarah Wynn-Williams, which announced publication very late in the process, probably to avoid Meta blocking the publication. Two raves and two positives, so far, including this widely circulated review from Jennifer Szalai in The New York Times: "Careless People is darkly funny and genuinely shocking: an ugly, detailed portrait of one of the most powerful companies in the world. What Wynn-Williams reveals will undoubtedly trigger her former bosses’ ire. Not only does she have the storytelling chops to unspool a gripping narrative; she also delivers the goods."

Paperback Fiction:
1. Martyr, by Kaveh Akbar
2. Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow, by Gabrielle Zevin
3. The Frozen River, by Ariel Lawhon
4. The Murderbot Diaries V1, by Martha Wells
5. Orbital, by Samantha Harvey
6. Starter Villain, by John Scalzi
7. I Cheerfully Refuse, by Leif Enger
8. A Little Life, by Hanya Yanagihara
9. The White Book, by Han Kang
10. Demon Copperhead, by Barbara Kingsolver

The White Book is just out in paperback, after a 2019 hardcover publication at a very reasonable $14 price point. My guess is they could have published this at $18, despite its 160 pages and only $4 cheaper than the hardcover. But certainly other publishers are doing that. Five raves, five positives, and a mixed for the current Nobel Prize winner. From Michael Schaub on the NPR website: "The latest of Han's novels to be translated into English, The White Book, has almost nothing in common with its predecessors except for its stunningly beautiful writing and its preoccupation with mortality. It's a book that defies genre and challenges the reader to make sense of its unusual structure. The White Book isn't likely to appeal to fans of the traditional novel, but will reward readers with a taste for more unconventional narratives."

Paperback Nonfiction:
1 Better Living Through Birding, by Christian Cooper
2. On Tyranny, by Timothy Snyder
3. Poverty, by America, by Matthew Desmond
4. The Truth About College Admission, by Brennan Barnard and Rick Clark
5. The Wager, by David Grann
6. The Art Thief, by Michael Finkel
7. The Truth About College Admission Workbook, by Brennan Barnard and Rick Clark
8. Mutual Aid, by Dean Spade
9. You: The Story, by Ruta Sepetys
10. Bringing Nature Home, by Douglas W Tallamy

Christian Cooper was already in the news when  Better Living Through Birding: Notes from a Black Man in the Natural World was released in 2023, and this year the Wisconsin Academy of Arts and Sciences brought him to Wisconsin, with a stop in Milwaukee thanks to the help of Milwaukee Public Library and Urban Ecology Center.  Here's a nice recommendation from Sy Montgomery: “Funny, brave, kind, and eagle-eyed, Cooper brings into focus not only the spectacular winged creatures he loves, but also the glorious messiness, prejudice, courage, and passion of our own species - and how birding can show us all how to lead better lives.”

Books for Kids:
1. Mermaids Are the Worst, by Alex Willan
2. Yetis Are the Worst, by Alex Willan
3. The Bletchley Riddle, by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin
4. Unicorns Are the Worst, by Alex Willan
5. New Kid, by Jerry Craft
6. School Trip, by Jerry Craft
7. Urban Owls, by Christian Cooper, illustrations by Kristen Adam
8. Class Acts, by Jerry Craft
9. Impossible Escape, by Steve Sheinkin
10. Fallout, by Steve Sheinkin

We had a day of schools with Alex Willan, whose new book is Mermaids Are the Worst. After confronting unicorns, dragons, yetis, and elves, Gilbert the Goblin goes on vacation where he discovers his beach is mermaid central. From Kirkus: "As with previous installments, Willan has crafted an enticing setting filled with saucer-eyed characters and rendered in a candy-colored palette; big-eared, exasperated Goblin's particularly endearing, and readers will love spotting the protagonist's slug sidekick on each page, as well as a crab who's magically been turned into a taco.

Boswell bestsellers, week ending March 8, 2025

Boswell bestsellers, week ending March 8, 2025

Hardcover Fiction:
1. James, by Percival Everett
2. Wild Dark Shore, by Charlotte McConaghy
3. 33 Place Brugmann, by Alice Austen (Boswell March 11 event)
4. The Case of the Missing Maid, by Rob Osler (signed copies)
5. Dream Count, by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
6. Onyx Storm, by Rebecca Yarros
7. Every Tom, Dick and Harry, by Elinor Lipman (Boswell April 3 event)
8. The God of the Woods, by Liz Moore
9. Dream State, by Eric Puchner (Boswell interview here)
10. The River Has Roots, by Amal El-Mohtar

Charlotte McConaghy's lastest novel Wild Dark Shore has a strong first week pop. The book has seven raves and two positives on BookMarks. One rave is from Porter Shreve in The Washington Post: "Wild Dark Shore falls into a growing and welcome category of climate fiction that imagines a future not purely dystopian, not centered so much on elaborate world-building as on how human beings adapt, survive, and continue to seek beauty, solace and communion in the face of the relentless challenges of an increasingly inhospitable environment." Her previous novels both sold in double digits, but I expect her latest to exceed their hardcover sales, at least at Boswell.

Hardcover Nonfiction:
1. The Let Them Theory, by Mel Robbins
2. Raising Hare, by Chloe Dalton
3. Memorial Days, by Geraldine Brooks
4. The Story of Art Without Men, by Katy Hessel
5. The Demon of Unrest, by Erik Larson
6. The Creative Act, by Rick Rubin
7. The Anxious Generation, by Jonathan Haidt
8. Jane Austen's Bookshelf, by Rebecca Romney
9. Pure Innocent Fun, by Ira Madison III
10. I'll Have What She's Having, by Chelsea Handler

It's eight raves on BookMarks for Raising Hare, the new memoir from Chloe Dalton, a political advisor and policy specialist who has also been a speechwriter for Prince William and Angelina Jolie, who offered the blurbing. The blurbing is particularly strong on this one, with Katherine Rundell, Jennifer Ackerman and others weighing it. It's also already longlisted for the Women's Prize for Nonfiction. From Katherine Altenberg in The Wall Street Journal: "Ms. Dalton has given us a portrait, both ephemeral and real, of a 'creature of habit, set hours and favorite places, that walks so lightly on this earth, and that can be trusting on its own terms.' She seems to share Hare’s traits of serenity, stillness and alertness to danger."

Paperback Fiction:
1. Martyr, by Kaveh Akbar (Boswell book club schedule)
2. Parable of the Sower, by Octavia E Butler
3. Orbital, by Samantha Harvey
4. Project Hail Mary, by Andy Weir
5. Funny Story, by Emily Henry
6. The Vegetarian, by Han Kang
7. Fourth Wing, by Rebecca Yarros
8. Womb City, by Tlotlo Tsamaase
9. The Searcher, by Tana French
10. Red Rising, by Pierce Brown

I'm sure I've probably mentioned Red Rising on the Boswell bestseller blog before, as we've sold hundreds of copies over the decade-plus (and that's nothing compared to many other stores) that it's been in publication, but I just don't remember, so here I possibly go again. Great for a reader who loved The Hunger Games, Game of Thrones, or Ender's Game, per various blurbers. I never noticed the consistent use of "game" in these hit fantasy series. Publishers Weekly thought it had "mixed results" (time has proven them wrong) while Kirkus called it "A fine novel for those who like to immerse themselves in alternative worlds."

Paperback Nonfiction:
1. Glow in the F*cking Dark, by Tara Schuster
2. Buy Yourself the F*cking Lilies, by Tara Schuster
3. The Way I See It, by Ashley Smith
3. Poverty, by America, by Matthew Desmond
4. A Captain's Duty, by Richard Phillips
5. A Philosophy of Walking, by Frédéric Gros
6. While You Were Out, by Meg Kissinger
7. The Wager, by David Grann
8. Braiding Sweetgrass, by Robin Wall Kimmerer
9. The Art Thief, by Michael Finkel
10. Enough, by Barbara Burgess

Full half our top ten this week were mostly sold at the Women Leaders Conference. Some speakers had books, while others were mentioned in books - Admiral Michelle J Howard was featured in 2010's A Captain's Duty. The big paperback release this week is The Wager, which looks like it has some life in it despite an extended life in hardcover. There were 20 raves and two positive reviews on BookMarks. From Mary Ann Gwinn in the Los Angeles Times: "Another Grann specialty is on full display — creating a cast of indelible characters from the dustiest of sources: 18th century ship’s logs, surgeons’ textbooks, court-martial proceedings. What a fascinating, conflicted lot they are."

Books for Kids:
1. Deadly Fates V3 Conjurverse, by Dhonielle Clayton
2. Valiant Vel, by Jerrianne Hayslett, with illustrations by Aaron Boyd
3. Oathbound V3 Legendborn, by Tracy Deonn
4. Lulu and Rocky in Milwaukee, by Barbara Joosse, illustrations by Renée Graef
5. Girls on the Rise, by Amanda Gorman, illustrations by Loveis Wise
6. Buffalo Fluffalo, by Bess Kalb, illustrations by Erin Kraan
7. Giving Good, by Aaron Boyd
8. The Wild Robot, by Pater Brown
9. Our Infinite Fates, by Laura Steven
10. Rebel Witch V2 Crimson Moth, by Kristen Ciccarelli

Several new releases this week had bestseller pops on our list, including Tracy Deonn's Oathbound, the third book in the Legendborn series. From the publisher: "Tracy Deonn's #1 New York Times bestselling Legendborn Cycle continues in the sensational third book about a dazzling contemporary fantasy world that blends Southern Black Girl Magic with secret societies and the legend of King Arthur!" Every other paragraph in the marketing notes had a spoiler alert.

Boswell bestsellers, week ending March 1, 2025

Boswell bestsellers, week ending March 1, 2025

Hardcover Fiction:
1. 33 Place Brugmann, by Alice Austen (Boswell March 11 event)
2. James, by Percival Everett
3. Beast of the North Woods, by Annelise Ryan
4. The God of the Woods, by Liz Moore
5. The Snowbirds, by Christina Clancy
6. Three Days in June, by Anne Tyler
7. Small Things Like These, by Claire Keegan
8. The Bones Beneath My Skin, by TJ Klune
9. The Case of the Missing Maid, by Rob Osler (Boswell March 6 event)
10. Witchcraft for Wayward Girls, by Grady Hendrix

Alice Austen's launch for 33 Place Brugmann is coming up soon, and momentum is building. Unlike most of the larger publishers that replaced pub dates with on-sale dates, meaning, for the most part, you can't sell in advance, most titles distributed by Ingram do not have street smart laydowns. So, just to be clear, we're not doing anything wrong! 

Here's a nice Ann Patchett quote I didn't see before: "The world of 33 Place Brugmann is spacious and intricately connected, filled with both horror and brilliant light. Alice Austen uses her considerable gifts to remind us that the past and the present are more connected than we wish to believe, and that vigilance, loyalty and art hold the key to survival. This is a beautiful and deeply engaging novel."

Hardcover Nonfiction:
1. Life in Three Dimensions, by Shigehiro Oishi (signed copies)
2. The Let Them Theory, by Mel Robbins
3. Memorial Days, by Geraldine Brooks
4. One Day Everyone Will Have Been Against This, by Omar El Akkad
5. The Serviceberry, by Robin Wall Kimmerer
6. Original Sins, by Eve Ewing
7. I'll Have What She's Having, by Chelsea Handler
8. Woody Allen, by Patrick McGilligan
9. The Backyard Bird Chronicles, by Amy Tan
10. The Harder I Fight The More I Love You, by Neko Case

Omar El Akkad's new book has five raves and two positive reviews on BookMarks. From Fintan O'Toole in The New York Times: "In One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This, his fiercely agonized new book about American and European responses to the devastation of Gaza, El Akkad is trying, in a very different way, to do the same thing - to force American readers to think of Palestinian victims not as 'them' but as 'us.'

Paperback Fiction:
1. The Last Letter from Sicily, by Lindsay Marie Morris
2. Martyr, by Kaveh Akbar
3. Deep End, by Ali Hazelwood
4. The Frozen River, by Ariel Lawhon
5. Parable of the Sower, by Octavia E Butler
6. Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow, by Gabrielle Zevin
7. Klara and the Sun, by Kazuo Ishiguro
8. The Nickel Boys, by Colson Whitehead
9. House of Leaves, by Mark Deanielewski
10. Kings of the Wyld, by Nicholas Eames

While the paperback fiction list often draws on the new paperback table and upcoming book club discussions for its makeup, staff recs had a good week this time around - House of Leaves is one of Jeremy's picks while Kings of the Wyld comes from Alex. Buzzfeed Books coined the latter, "George RR Martin meets Terry Pratchett."

Paperback Nonfiction:
1. On Tyranny, by Timothy Snyder
2. Grief Is for People, by Sloane Crosley
3. Democracy Awakening, by Heather Cox Richardson
4. Devotions, by Mary Oliver
5. A Philosophy of Walking, by Frédéric Gros
6. Poverty, by America, by Matthew Desmond
7. Four Thousand Weeks, by Oliver Burkeman
8. Is Math Real?, by Eugenia Cheng
9. The Search for the Genuine, by Jim Harrison
10. Everyone Who Is Gone Is Here, by Jonathan Blitzer

Grief Is for People has a strong first week in paperback, after steady sales in hardcover. Sloan Crosley's mediation on the death of her friend and publishing colleague has moved a lot of people. I was talking to one of our customers, suffering from a recent unexpected loss, who came in to buy the book after borrowing it from the library and told me how much it helped her.

Books for Kids:
1. Beach Hair, by Ashley Woodfolk
2. Valiant Vel, by Jerrianne Hayslett, with illustrations by Aaron Boyd
3. Girls on the Rise, by Amanda Gorman, illustrations by Loveis Wise
4. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Hot Mess, by Jeff Kinney
5. An Ember in the Ashes, by Sabaa Tahir
6. Carry On, by Rainbow Rowell
7. The Wild Robot, by Peter Brown
8. Tree: A Peek Through Board Book, by Britta Tecktrup
9. Peekaboo Sun, by Camilla Reid, illustrations by Ingela P Arrhenius
10. The Wild Robot Escapes, by Peter Brown

Staff recs have an impact on the kids side this week too. An Ember in the Ashes is recommended by McKenna, while Carry On is a regular on Oli's rec shelf.

Boswell bestsellers, week ending February 23, 2025

Boswell bestsellers, week ending February 23, 2025

Hardcover Fiction:
1. Beast of the North Woods V3, by Annelise Ryan (signed copies)
2. James, by Percival Everett
3. 33 Place Brugmann, by Alice Austen (Boswell March 11 event)
4. The Bones Beneath My Skin, by TJ Klune
5. The Snowbirds, by Christina Clancy
6. All Fours, by Miranda Puchner
7. Dream State, by Eric Puchner
8. Emily Wilde's Compendium of Lost Tales V3, by Heath Fawcett
9. Intermezzo, by Sally Rooney
10. Every Tom, Dick and Harry, by Elinor Lipman (just announced - Boswell April 3 event)

Lisa Baudoin from Books and Company and I worked with the publisher to set up a virtual program for Dream State, not knowing until we recorded that the book was the latest selection of Oprah's Book Club. Pucher visited Boswell for his first novel, Model Home, back in 2010, but only during the recording was I reminded that he had family roots in Wisconsin and that his mom had attended the previous event. Watch the video here.

BookMarks tallies six raves and a positive for the novel, including from Ron Charles at The Washington Post: "I’m reminded of Daniel Mason’s remarkable novel North Woods, which focuses on an ancient farmhouse in western Massachusetts. But while Mason starts 400 years ago and moves into the present day, Dream State begins in the early 21st century and moves slyly into the future.

Hardcover Nonfiction
1. Plundered, by Bernadette Atuahene
2. The Serviceberry, by Robin Wall Kimmerer
3. How We Learn to Be Brave, by Mariann Edgar Budde
4. The Let Them Theory, by Mel Robbins
5. Lorne, by Susan Morrison
6. Well Plated Every Day, by Erin Clarke
7. When Women Ran Fifth Avenue, by Julie Satow
8. Memorial Days, by Geraldine Brooks
9. I've Got Questions, by Erin Hicks Moon
10. The Basic Laws of Human Stupidity, by Carlo M Cipolla

With Saturday Night Live's 50th anniversary being celebrated with multiple specials, a film, and countless social media posts, it was an excellent time to release Lorne: The Man Who Invented Saturday Night, from Susan Morrison. This BookMarks tally is also six raves, plus three positve reviews. From Edward Kosner in The Wall Street Journal: "As it happens, Susan Morrison, an editor at the New Yorker magazine, has written an encyclopedic doorstop subtitled The Man Who Invented Saturday Night Live. It’s crammed with on- and off-camera anecdotes and chit-chat - a compendium richer than even Mr. Michaels’s most fervent admirers could ask for.

Paperback Fiction:
1. Fourth Wing V1, by Rebecca Yarros
2. Faebound, by Saara El-Arifi
3. Martyr, by Kaveh Akbar
4. The Kiss Countdown, by Etta Easton
5. Whenever You're Ready, by Rachel Runya Katz
6. Orbital, by Samantha Harvey
7. The Parable of the Sower V1, by Octavia Butler
8. A Death in Door County, by Annelise Ryan
9. Demon Copperhead, by Barbara Kingsolver
10. North Woods, by Daniel Mason

Boswell continues to work with more than one outside group on a Blind Date with a Book promotion. My rule of thumb is to include in our published list titles from the last 12 months. If a book is older than that, it also has to include individual sales, like Octavia Butler's The Parable of the Sower, which is the featured title for several book clubs in the area. The book was published in 1993 and became a New York Times bestseller in 2020.

Paperback Nonfiction:
1. Kid Confidence, by Eileen Kennedy Moore
2. On Tyranny, by Timothy Snyder
3. Braiding Sweetgrass, by Robin Wall Kimmerer
4. All the Beauty in the World, by Patrick Bringley
5. The Art Thief, by Michael Finkel
6. The Jack Smith Report, by Jack Smith
7. A Field Guide to Birds of Wisconsin, by Charles Hagner
8. Of Time and Turtles, by Sy Montgomery
9. Everyone Who Is Gone Is Here, by Jonathan Blitzer
10. Differ We Must, by Steve Inskeep

Of Time and Turtles: Mending the World, Shell by Shattered Shell came out in paperback last fall, but for some reason (I'm guessing it's a book club who hasn't checked in with us), our sales only picked up in the new year. Sy Montgomery, author of The Soul of an Octopus, was reviewed widely (all the publishing trades, plus Washington Post, Scientific American, Minneapolis Star Tribune), but didn't get a BookMarks tally. From Steve Dixon in Library Journal: "Fans of Montgomery's previous works will love this, and so will nature enthusiasts and environmentalists."

Books for Kids:
1. Valiant Vel, by Jerrianne Hayslett, illustrations by Aaron Boyd
2. Daphne Draws Data, by Cole Knaflic
3. The Language of Dragons, by SF Williamson
4. Where Sleeping Girls Lie, by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé
5. Black Girl Power, edited by Leah Johnson
6. Venom and Vow, by Anna Marie and Elliott McLemore
7. So Let Them Burn, by Kamilah Cole
8. Dog Man V13: Big Jim Begins, by Dav Pilkey
9. Lulu and Rocky in Milwaukee, by Barbara Joosse, illustrations by Renée Graef
10. Growing Friendships, by Eileen Kennedy Moore

The Language of Dragons is a New York Times bestseller. From the publisher: "In an alternate London in 1923, one girl accidentally breaks the tenuous truce between dragons and humans, in this sweeping debut and epic retelling of Bletchley Park steeped in language, class, and forbidden romance. Perfect for teen fans of Fourth Wing and Babel." From Kirkus: "Alt-history fans will devour this high-concept reimagining of the interwar period - with dragons."

Boswell bestsellers - week ending February 15, 2025

Boswell bestsellers for the week ending February 15, 2025

Hardcover Fiction:
1. The Bones Beneath My Skin, by TJ Klune (signed copies)
2. The House in the Cerulean Sea special edition, by TJ Klune
3. Somewhere Beyond the Sea, by TJ Klune
4. James, by Percival Everett
5. The Snowbirds, by Christina Clancy
6. Emily Wilde's Compendium of Lost Tales, by Heather Fawcett
7. All Fours, by Miranda July
8. The God of the Woods, by Liz Moore
9. 33 Place Brugmann, by Alice Austen (Boswell March 11 event)
10. Beast of the North Woods, by Annelise Ryan (Boswell February 21 event)

Emily Wilde's Compendium of Lost Tales has reviews from Library Journal and Kirkus and Booklist, which doesn't always happen so far into a series, but I'm guessing the reviewers were clamoring to get copies. From Booklist's starred write up: "The already well-developed world continues to grow in fascinating ways, and the ending suggests an unlimited number of possible adventures to come."

Hardcover Nonfiction:
1. Joy Through the Journey, by Amberly Lago
2. The Serviceberry, by Robin Wall Kimmerer
3. The Let Them Theory, by Mel Robbins
4. How We Learn to Be Brave, by Mariann Edgar Budde
5. The Backyard Bird Chronicles, by Amy Tan
6. Plundered, by Bernadette Atuahene (Boswell Feb 20 event)
7. Source Code, by Bill Gates
8. The Harder I Fight the More I Love You, by Neko Case
9. Original Sins, by Eve L Ewing
10. Pure Innocent Fun, by Ira Madison III

Original Sins: The (Mis)Education of Black and Native Children and the Construction of American Racism, the new book by Eve L Ewing, has advance reviews from Library Journal, Booklist (starred), Publishers Weekly (also starred), and Booklist, but I can't find a post-pub consumer review yet for this February 11 on sale. Perhaps they are to come. Ewing is also a keynote speaker at the upcoming ABA Winter Institute.

Paperback Fiction:
1. Annihilation 10th anniversary edition, by Jeff VanderMeer
2. Song of the Huntress, by Lucy Holland
3. Bummer Camp, by Ann Garvin
4. The House in the Cerulean Sea, by TJ Klune
5. Under the Whispering Door, by TJ Klune
6. Martyr, by Kaveh Akbar
7. Orbital, by Samantha Harvey
8. The Bee Sting, by Paul Murray
9. The Parable of the Sower, by Octavia E Butler
10. Womb City, by Tlotlo Tamaase

Womb City is the March Science Fiction book club pick. From Gabino Iglesias in The New York Times: "The author seamlessly blends a body-hopping ghost story about revenge with a narrative about the importance of memory. It’s such an original first novel, and I’ll be reading whatever comes next." Browse the upcoming book club selections.

Paperback Nonfiction:
1. Struggle for the City, by Derek G Handley
2. The Rediscovery of America, by Ned Blackhawk
3. The Good Life, by Robert Waldinger and Marc Schultz
4. The Art Thief, by Michael Finkel
5. Crying in H Mart, by Michelle Zauner
6. All About Love, by bell hooks
7. On Tyranny, by Timothy Snyder
8. Sapiens 10th anniversary edition, by Yuval Noah Harari
9. The Mechanic Shop Femme's Guide to Car Ownership, by Chaya M Milchtein
10. Myths of Geography, by Paul Richardson

The Good Life: Lessons from the World's Longest Scientific Study of Happiness is from Robert Waldinger and Marc Schultz, part of the Harvard Study of Adult Development. From Kirkus: "The book is perfect for readers of Arthur Brooks, Daniel Pink, Angela Duckworth, and other writers who delve into how to fashion prosperous, fulfilling lives. An engrossing look at why relationships matter, featuring an unprecedented abundance of data to back it up." And for another take, join us for the rescheduled event with Shigehiro Oishi, author of Life in Three Dimensions, on February 27. Register here.

Books for Kids:
1. The Deadliest Big Cat, by Eleanor Spice Rice
2. Valiant Vel, by Jerrianne Hayslett, with illustrations by Aaron Boyd
3. The Deadliest Spider, by Eleanor Spicer Rice
4. The Door of No Return, by Kwame Alexander
5. We Are Black History board book, from Mudpuppy, illustrations by Tequitia Andrews
6. The Story of Civil Rights Hero John Lewis, by Jim Haskins, illustrations by Aaron Boyd
7. Impossible Creatures, by Kathereine Rundell
8. My First Words Out and About board book, by Fiona Watts
9. A Dinosaur a Day, by Miranda Smith
10. Giving Good, by Aaron Boyd

Who is The Deadliest Big Cat? Booklist weighs in with their review: "The entertaining presentation of material utilizes concise writing with enough dialogue, humor, and descriptive text to inform readers while letting the artwork drive much of the action, and the volumes close with a 'Draw Your Own Ultimate Deadly' activity. A ferociously fun series." While we lost most of our potential sales when we converted Carter Wilson's in-person event to virtual (watch it here), most of our school visit sales were preserved, as they are placed in advance. Eleanor Spicer Rice was in town, but the schools were cancelled - she signed everything, and will do a virtual visit with Jenny soon.

Boswell bestsellers, week ending February 8, 2025

Boswell bestsellers, week ending February 8, 2025

Hardcover Fiction
1. The Snowbirds, by Christina Clancy
2. The Bones Beneath my Skin, by TJ Klune (UWM Feb 10 event)
3. A Forty-Year Kiss, by Nickolas Butler
4. James, by Percival Everett
5. Onyx Storm V3, by Rebecca Yarros
6. Beast of the North Woods, by Annelise Ryan (Boswell Feb 21 event)
7. Witchcraft for Wayward Girls, by Grady Hendrix
8. Tell Me Everything, by Elizabeth Strout
9. The House in the Cerulean Sea, by TJ Klune
10. We'll Prescribe You a Cat, by Syou Ishida

We had two former Milwaukeeans, Christina Clancy and Ira Madison III, launch their books at Boswell this week, plus another author, Nickolas Butler, visit Milwaukee after a couple of events in Chippewa Falls, with lots more Wisconsin events to come. The Snowbirds was particularly special as Christi had told me years ago she hoped to have a big event at Boswell when her first novel was done, but wound up doing events for her first two books virtually. People Magazine called it "a riveting exploration of midlife yearning." Signed copies available.

Hardcover Nonfiction:
1. Pure Innocent Fun, by Ira Madison III
2. The Serviceberry, by Robin Wall Kimmerer
3. Life in Three Dimensions, by Shigehiro Oishi (Boswell Feb 13 event)
4. The Sirens' Call, by Chris Hayes
5. The Harder I Fight the More I Love You, Neko Case
6. Memorial Days, by Geraldine Brooks
7. The Creative Act, by Rick Rubin
8. The Comfort of Crows, by Margaret Renkl
9. The Message, Ta-Nehisi Coates
10. The Anxious Generation, by Jonathan Haidt

Goodness, February 4 sure is the first big release date of 2025, at least for the breadth of high-profile titles. Geraldine Brooks's Memorial Days probably won the BookMarks Stakes, with nine raves and two positives. They don't tabulate my staff recs, but I've got one too. From John Warner in the Chicago Tribune: "The marriage of Brooks and Horwitz is both amazing and ordinary, as perhaps most marriages are. It is terrible that it was cut so short, but Memorial Days gives due justice to what it means to live and love and experience loss."

Paperback Fiction:
1. The Deep End, by Ali Hazelwood
2. The Bee Sting, by Paul Murray
3. Martyr, by Kaveh Akbar
4. Demon Copperhead, by Barbara Kingsolver
5. The Parable of the Sower, by Octavia Butler
6. The Frozen River, by Ariel Lawhon
7. Give Me Butterflies, by Jillian Meadows
8. Dancing with Butterflies, by Reyna Grande
9. The Great Alone, by Kristin Hannah (from the winter table)
10. The Second Home, by Christina Clancy

College swimming is the new hockey! Just ask Ali Hazelwood, whose latest is The Deep End. Publishers Weekly notes that "The chemistry between Scarlett and Lukas is volcanic thanks to Hazelwood's crisp prose and molten-hot sex scenes." Another romance to pop into our top ten this week is Give Me Butterflies, out January 21, formerly self-published. Hey, someone's got to fill the STEM-com void if Hazelwood is going to move into sports.

Paperback Nonfiction:
1. Everyone Who Is Gone Is Here, by Jonathan Blitzer
2. The Distance Between Us, by Reyna Grande
3. On Tyranny, by Timothy Snyder
4. A Philosophy of Walking, by Frédéric Gros
5. While You Were Out, by Meg Kissinger
6. Typhoid Mary, by Anthony Bourdain
7. Wisconsin State Parks, Forests, and Recreation Areas, by James Buchholz
8. Sapiens, by Yuval Noah Harari
9. Becoming Ella Fitzgerald, by Judith Tick
10. Dopamine Nation, by Anna Lembke

Reyna Grande had a productive week in Milwaukee, appearing at UWM, visiting schools, and keynoting at the WSRA conference, which our friends at Books and Company covered. She's written a lot of books, but per Ingram demand, her most popular is still The Distance Between Us. Back in 2009, she appeared at Boswell for the paperback edition of Dancing with Butterflies, which appeared this week on our paperback fiction list.

Books for Kids:
1. You Are a Star, Martin Luther King, Jr, by Dean Robbins
2. You Are a Star, Jane Goodall, by Dean Robbins
3. You Are a Star, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, by Dean Robbins
4. Fowl Play, by Kristin O'Donnell Tubb
5. A Strange Thing Happened in Cherry Hall, by Jasmine Warga
6. Life After Whale, by Lynn Brunelle
7. The Witching Wind, by Natalie Lloyd
8. Brownie the War Dog, by Kelly Nelson, illustrations by Aaron Boyd
9. The Night Librarian, by Christopher Lincoln
10. Tree. Table. Book. by Lois Lowry

We had a bit of a delayed sale to a presenation several of us gave at an area school district. One book I particularly liked was A Strange Thing Happened in Cherry Hall, about two kids who try to solve the mystery of a missing painting. Fortuanately they get help - the ghost of the person in the painting has remained behind in the museum. From Shelf Awareness: "A Strange Thing Happened in Cherry Hall is charmingly reminiscent of early- and mid-20th century novels like Half Magic by Edward Eager (Editor's note: squeal!) and Five Children and It by E. Nesbit, as well as those by more contemporary authors like Kate DiCamillo and Erin Entrada Kelly." I would hasten to add that Blue Balliett is a likely influence on this book.

Boswell bestesellers, week ending February 1, 2025

Boswell bestsellers, week ending February 1, 2025

Hardcover Fiction:
1. Onyx Storm V3, by Rebecca Yarros (both editions)
2. James, by Percival Everett
3. The God of the Woods, by Liz Moore
4. Intermezzo, by Sally Rooney
5. Witchcraft for Wayward Girls, by Grady Hendrix
6. Small Things Like These, by Claire Keegan
7. Iron Flame V2, by Rebecca Yarros
8. Beast of the North Woods V3, by Annelise Ryan (Boswell Feb 21 event)
9. The Women, by Kristin Hannah
10. All Fours, by Miranda July

As is usual this time of year. most of our bestsellers are leftover from 2024. I remember when more publishers had high-profile January releases, but I don't see as much of that nowadays. One January 14 release that's been a regular here since then is Grady Hendrix's latest, Witchcraft for Wayward Girls. Set in 1970s Florida, it's the story of a group of teenage girls who are sent to a home for unwed mothers and get a copy of How to Be a Groovy Witch. From Booklist: "Another stellar novel from Hendrix, a perfectly constructed story that has a strong emotional core, compelling plot, unforgettable characters, and 360 degrees of terror."

Hardcover Nonfiction:
1. Free Birds Revolution, by Miles Emerson
2. The Serviceberry, by Robin Wall Kimmerer
3. The Harder I Fight The More I Love You, by Neko Case
4. Plundered, by Bernadette Atuahene (Boswell Feb 20 event)
5. The Sirens' Call, by Chris Hayes
6. The Let Them Theory, by Mel Robbins
7. How We Learn to Be Brave, by Mariann Edgar Budde
8. The Little Frog's Guide to Self Care, by Maybell Eequay
9. Why I Cook, by Tom Colicchio
10. Open Socrates, by Agnes Callard

We have a strong first week for alt country singer Neko Case's The Harder I Fight the More I Love You. From Kirkus: "The alt-rock and country singer recalls childhood abuse, misogyny, and a wayward path to success. Case's memoir is informed by injustice, betrayal, and the serial mistreatment of women...Case chronicles her various career achievements as a singer-songwriter (including three Grammy nominations), but those feel almost secondary to her study of her emotional growth, which she discusses with a rare candor."

Paperback Fiction:
1. The Girls of the Glimmer Factory, by Jennifer Coburn
2. Martyr, by Kaveh Akbar
3. The Parable of the Sower, by Octavia Butler
4. Orbital, by Samantha Harvey
5. Fourth Wing V1, by Rebecca Yarros
6. 1984, by George Orwell
7. The House in the Cerulean Sea, by TJ Klune (UWM Feb 10 event - new slots available)
8. The Secret History, by Donna Tartt
9. The Vegetarian, by Han Kang
10. Cradles of the Reich, by Jennifer Coburn

Milwaukee Reads put together a successful launch for Jennifer Coburn's The Girls of the Glimmer Factory. We're not used to being the pub date launch for an author who is neither local nor widely known, but the promotion for this event also increased advance sales for her previous novel, Cradles of the Reich. From Pam Jenoff, a previous Milwaukee Reads featured author: "Jennifer Coburn illuminates a tale of once-friends caught on opposite sides of the war against the backdrop of the Theresienstadt concentration camp. Vividly researched and memorably written, this book offers an original and unflinching look at loyalty, choices, consequences and redemption."

Paperback Nonfiction:
1. On Tyranny, by Timothy Snyder
2. Struggle for the City, by Derek G Handley (MPL Feb 11 event)
3. The Rediscovery of America, by Ned Blackhawk
4. Braiding Sweetgrass, by Robin Wall Kimmerer
5. The Hundred Years War on Palestine, by Rashid Khalidi
6. Democracy Awakening, by Heather Cox Richardson
7. The Art Thief, by Michael Finkel
8. King: A Life, by Jonathan Eig
9. Doppelganger, by Naomi Klein
10. Poverty, by America, by Matthew Desmond

Nothing new this week. Further down the list is another Robin Wall Kimmerer book I haven't previously noted, though it's been a steady seller for us and probably most bookstores. Gathering Moss: A Natural and Cultural History of Mosses is out of stock at three of the four Ingram warehouses, and there are about 500 copies on order. Also, there's a Spanish language edition coming from HarperCollins later this spring.

Books for Kids:
1. Last Night at the Telegraph Club, by Malinda Lo
2. Jayden's Impossible Garden, by Malina Mangal
3. Valiant Vel, by Jerrianne Hayslett, with illustrations by Aaron Boyd (MPL Feb 15 event)
4. Girls on the Rise, by Amanda Gorman, illustrations by Loveis Wise
5. Dog Man: Big Jim Begins, by Dav Pilkey
6. Peekaboo Farm, by Camilla Reid, illustrations by Ingela P Arrhenius
7. The Wild Robot Escapes, by Peter Brown
8. The Man Who Didn't Like Animals, by Deborah Underwood, illustrations by Leuyen Pham
9. The Yellow Bus, by Loren Long
10. Old School, by Gordon Korman

Gordon Korman returns! Old School is about a boy who is homeschooled in his grandmother's retirement community until he's sent to public school - the classic fish-out-of-water scenario that works so well in middle grade books. From Booklist: "The narrative is written in first person from the points of view of individual characters, from Dexter to his fellow students to his guidance counselor, whose different reactions to situations help readers decide whom to trust. This quick-paced, absorbing narrative encourages readers to consider different varied perspectives on people and events." 

Boswell bestsellers, week ending January 25, 2025

Boswell bestsellers, week ending January 25, 2025

Hardcover Fiction:
1. Onyx Storm V3, by Rebecca Yarros (two editions)
2. Witchcraft for Wayward Girls, by Grady Hendrix
3. James, by Percival Everett
4. The God of the Woods, by Liz Moore
5. Tell Me Everything, by Elizabeth Strout
6. The Grey Wolf, by Louise Penny
7. Death of the Author, by Nnedi Okorafor
8. Iron Flame V3, by Rebecca Yarros
9. Somewhere Beyond the Sea, by TJ Klune (Feb 10 event at capacity)
10. The Time of the Child, by Niall Williams

Nnedi Okorafor has won every major prize in speculative fiction, per the publisher. The latest is Death of the Author, about a writer whose move towards genre fiction changes the trajectory of the world itself. From Kirkus: "While Zelu's novel imagines a future without human beings on Earth, the near-future world she lives in feels distinctly and promisingly within reach: It's a place where self-driving electric cars make cities more accessible, people with movement disabilities are supported by robotic engineering, and families with deeply held patriarchal customs are brought closer together rather than torn apart when confronting these dynamics. All-out Okorafor - her best yet."

Hardcover Nonfiction
1. How We Learn to Be Brave, by Mariann Edgar Budde
2. The Serviceberry, by Robin Wall Kimmerer
3. The Anxious Generation, by Jonathan Haidt
4. The False White Gospel, by Jim Wallis
5. The Let Them Theory, by Mel Robbins
6. Cabin, by Patrick Hutchison
7. Women and the Reformations, by Merry Wiesner-Hanks
8. John Lewis, by David Greenberg
9. Beyond Anxiety, by Martha Beck
10. What to Cook When You Don't Feel Like Cooking, by Caroline Chambers

Bishop and leader of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington DC has gotten attention for her sermon on mercy and that has led to a sales pop for How We Learn to Be Brave: Decisive Moments in Life and Faith. The book is out of stock at all Ingram warehouses and about 5,000 are on reorder. From Jon Meacham: "With clarity, conviction, and a sure sense of the perils and the possibilities of the human condition, Bishop Mariann Budde has given us a great gift: A book that explores how God's children can stand up for the principles of His kingdom in a frail and fallen world."

Paperback Fiction:
1. Martyr, by Kaveh Akbar
2. The Frozen River, by Ariel Lawhon
3. Big Lake Troubles, by Jeffrey Boldt (signed copies)
4. Orbital, by Samantha Harvey
5. The Secret History, by Donna Tartt
6. The Bee Sting, by Paul Murray
7. Blue Lake, by Jeffrey Boldt
8. North Woods, by Daniel Mason
9. A Death in Door County, by Annelise Ryan (Boswell Feb 21 event)
10. Shady Hollow, by Juneau Black

If only I could go back in time and tell customers to go see Ariel Lawhon in 2019 because you'd all be crazy for The Frozen River in a few years. I did notice that our buyer Jason brought I Was Anastasia, the novel she was promoting at the time, back in stock. If only all GMA Book Club picks would take off like this.

Paperback Nonfiction:
1. River of Books, by Donna Seaman (signed copies)
2. Sand County Almanac, by Aldo Leopold
3. Everyone Who Is Gone Is Here, by Jonathan Blitzer
4. The Money Kings, by Daniel Schulman
5. Murdle V1, by GT Karber
6. Dopamine Nation, by Ann Lembke
7. Democracy Awakening, by Heather Cox Richardson
8. On Tyranny, by Timothy Snyder
9. Sapiens: A Graphic History V1, by Yuval Noah Harari
10. The Artist's Way, by Julia Cameron

In Everyone Who Is Gone Is Here: The United States, Central America, and the Making of a Crisis, New Yorker writer Jonathan Blitzer argues that policies from the United States have led to the surge of migrants. BookMarks lists seven raves and a positive review. From Manuel Roig-Franzia in The Washington Post: "Writing with clarity and grace, while avoiding the mawkish tone sometimes associated with tales of the border, Blitzer makes a compelling case that the United States and Central America are knit as one. The poorer nations to the south are dominated and often undermined by the richer nation to the north, which in turn is being shaped in many ways by the migrants who quit those troubled lands and cross into the United States."

Books for Kids:
1. Lulu and Rocky in Milwaukee, by Barbara Joosse, illustrations by Renée Graef
2. Valiant Vel, by Jerrianne Hayslett, illustrations by Aaron Boyd (MPL Feb 15 event)
3. Impossible Creatures, by Katherine Rundell
4. Dog Man V13: Big Jim Begins, by Dav Pilkey
5. The Children's Book of Wildlife Watching, by Dan Rouse
6. Heavenly Tyrant, by Xiran Jay Zhao
7. Girls on the Rise, by Amanda Gorman, illustrations by Loveis Wise
8. The Squish, by Breanna Carzoo
9. Construction Site: Garbage Crew to the Rescue, by Sherri Duskey Rinker, illustrations by AG Ford
10. Buffalo Fluffalo, by Bess Kalb, illustrations by Erin Kraan

I don't include bulk school orders on our lists if the books are more than a year old, but one that made the cut is May 2024's The Children's Book of Wildlife Watching, by Welsh ornithologiest Dan Rouse. Backstory from the publisher: "adapted from the popular book for adults, How to Attract Wildlife to Your Garden, and follows on from The Children's Book of Birdwatching."

Boswell bestsellers, week ending January 18, 2025

Boswell bestsellers, week ending January 18, 2025

Hardcover Fiction:
1. The Business Trip, by Jessie Garcia (signed copies available)
2. James, by Percival Everett
3. All Fours, by Miranda July
4. The God of the Woods, by Liz Moore
5. Witchcraft for Wayward Girls, by Grady Hendrix
6. Water Moon, by Samantha Sotto Yambao
7. Intermezzo, by Sally Rooney
8. The Mighty Red, by Louise Erdrich
9. Playground, by Richard Powers
10. Small Things Like These, by Claire Keegan

Water Moon is the fifth novel from Samantha Sotto Yambao, but the first to hit our top 10. It's got a rec from Jen, plus this from the starred Booklist review: "Our two protagonists race through a lush world of pure wonder and romance - kites made of wishes that become stars, origami that holds time in its folds, and a night market in the clouds - in this lovely, cozy fantasy reminiscent of Erin Morgenstern's The Starless Sea. This book is charming, fresh, and difficult to put down." Here's an interview with the author in Nerd Daily.

Hardcover Nonfiction:
1. Women and the Reformations, by Merry E Wiesner-Hanks (signed copies)
2. The Serviceberry, by Robin Wall Kimmerer
3. The Let Them Theory, by Mel Robbins
4. The Demon of Unrest, by Erik Larson
5. The Anxious Generation, by Jonathan Haidt
6. Soups Salads Sandwiches, by Matty Matheson
7. Aflame, by Pico Ayer
8. Atomic Habits, by James Clear
9. Meditations for Mortals, by Oliver Burkeman
10. Entangled Life: Illustrated Edition, by Merlin Sheldrake

I find it odd that The Let Them Theory: A Life-Changing Tool That Millions of People Can't Stop Talking about has a subtitle that sounds like a teaser on a YouTube ad. The book blew up after a recommendation from Oprah, but it took a while for us to get stock. It's #1 on the NYT advice list. And from Kirkus: "A truly helpful treatise on seeing others as they are, and letting that be."

Paperback Fiction:
1. Martyr, by Kaveh Akbar
2. Big Lake Troubles, by Jeffrey Boldt (Boswell Jan 24 event)
3. Demon Copperhead, by Barbara Kingsolver
4. Jumpnauts, by Hang Jingfang
5. Devotions, by Mary Oliver
6. The Frozen River, by Ariel Lawhon
7. Orbital, by Samantha Harvey
8. Wicked, by Gregory Maguire
9. Death in the Dark Woods, by Annelise Ryan (Boswell Feb 21 event)
10. Cascade Failure, by LM Sagas

Our February Science Fiction Book Club pick is Jumpnauts, by Hugo winner Hang Jingfang, translated by Ken Liu. From the publisher: "A gripping science fiction thriller in which three unlikely allies attempt a desperate mission of first contact with a mysterious alien race before more militaristic minds can take matters into their own hands." Also noted that the book "directly falls into the Chinese literary subgenre 'Danmei' which specifically features romantic relationships between male characters."

Paperback Nonfiction:
1. The Anxiety Audit, by Lynn Lyons
2. Anxious Kids, Anxious Parents, by Lynn Lyons
3. Strong On, by Pat Flynn
4. Poverty, by America, by Matthew Desmond
5. Your Brain on Art, by Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross
6. King: A Life, by Jonathan Eig
7. Braiding Sweetgrass, by Robin Wall Kimmerer
8. Trail of the Lost, by Andrea Lankford
9. How to Be Better at Almost Everything, by Pat Flynn
10. The Death and Life of the Great Lakes, by Dan Egan

Out for Dr Martin Luther King, Jr day is the paperback edition of Jonthan Eig's biography King, which received the Pulitzer Prize. The hardcover got 14 raves, three positives, and a mixed on BookMarks. David Garrow in The Spectator wrote: "The first comprehensive biography of the black civil rights hero to appear in more than thirty years, and it will succeed my own Bearing the Cross, published in 1986, as the standard account. There's also a young reader's edition.

Books for Kids:
1. The Distance Between Us, young reader's edition, by Reyna Grande
2. Make Pretty Sound, by Eleanor Davis
3. Giving Good, by Aaron Boyd
4. Little Shrew, by Akiko Miyakoshi
5. Darkly, by Marisha Pessl
6. Buffalo Fluffalo, by Bess Kalmb, illustrations by Erin Kraan
7. Mystery Royale, by Kaitlyn Cavalancia
8. This Song Is Not for You, by Laura Nowlin
9. If Only I Had Told Her, by Laura Nowlin
10. Spooky Lakes, by Geo Rutherford

It's the second week of sale for Mystery Royale, the "genre splicing YA fantastical mystery" that is also featured on the Jan/Feb 2025 Indie Next List for young readers. From the Bulletin for the Center of Children's Books: "The relationship that buds between Mullory and Lyric is slow and sweet, and romance fans who would appreciate following a stuck-up rich boy's heart melting at a ragamuffin, outcast girl's kindness may drool over the brilliantly executed enemies-to-lovers dynamic. This twisty book is sure to have broad appeal for a variety of readers, even those who may not usually turn to fantasy, mystery, or romance genres."