Malaprop's Books is a fine independent bookstore in downtown Asheville and the booksellers there have been supportive of Elizabeth from the beginning, thrusting her on all comers who wander in off the street looking for books about the area.
Recently I saw the list of their top ten bestsellers for 2007 . . . and somehow felt compelled to share.
1. Coming in at number one (no surprises here) was Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling (she who is richer than the queen.)
2. Cataloochee by Wayne Caldwell, a critically acclaimed local story by a local guy.
3. Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen, a great story with a surprise ending.
4. Oh, my goodness! Look who's fourth!
Recently I saw the list of their top ten bestsellers for 2007 . . . and somehow felt compelled to share.
1. Coming in at number one (no surprises here) was Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling (she who is richer than the queen.)
2. Cataloochee by Wayne Caldwell, a critically acclaimed local story by a local guy.
3. Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen, a great story with a surprise ending.
4. Oh, my goodness! Look who's fourth!
6.The Inheritance of Loss byKiran Desai Kiran Desai's first novel, "Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard," was published to unanimous acclaim in over twenty-two countries. Now Desai takes us to the northeastern Himalayas where a rising insurgency challenges the old way of life. In a crumbling, isolated house at the foot of Mount Kanchenjunga lives an embittered old judge who wants to retire in peace when his orphaned granddaughter Sai arrives on his doorstep. The judge's chatty cook watches over her, but his thoughts are mostly with his son, Biju, hopscotching from one New York restaurant job to another, trying to stay a step ahead of the INS, forced to consider his country's place in the world. When a Nepalese insurgency in the mountains threatens Sai's new-sprung romance with her handsome Nepali tutor and causes their lives to descend into chaos, they, too, are forced to confront their colliding interests. The nation fights itself. The cook witnesses the hierarchy being overturned and discarded. The judge must revisit his past, his own role in this grasping world of conflicting desires-every moment holding out the possibility for hope or betrayal. A novel of depth and emotion, Desai's second, long-awaited novel fulfills the grand promise established by her first.
7. The Good Fairies of New York by Martin Millar and Neil Gaiman "The Good Fairies of New York" tells the fish-out-of-water story of two Scottish thistle fairies who find themselves in Manhattan. The fairies hook up with two humans, Kerry (complete with colostomy bag) and Dinnie (antisocial in the extreme), finding time to help both get their acts together. A book that brings together race riots and Scottish folklore, "The Good Fairies of New York" is anything but a typical fairy fantasy.
8. And in eighth place . . .
9. My Name is Red by Orhan Pamuk - A fascinating and challenging murder mystery/love story set in the competitive community of manuscript illustrators in Istanbul.
10. And for the trifecta. . .!
10. And for the trifecta. . .!
So, it's not the NYT bestseller list --- I still thought it was pretty cool . . .
9 comments:
How funny........I just sent a
e-mail talking about what a great writer you are! Congradulations!
It could not happen to a more deserving author or nicer person.
Vicki - On our last trip to Malaprops my friend bought "Cataloochee" because the author was giving a reading! She needs to give that to me so I can read it - now that I know it's in such great company!! Congrats -
Way to go! Congratulations!
Congratulations! I love Malaprop's.
How would you recommend a new reader dive into the Elizabeth books? In order of publication date? (Seems common-sense, but that's not always the case!)
Vicki, congratulations. I will link to this when it comes time to feature your book on my blog. I've seen the text of our ncarts web Christmas feature. You are on it, with a link to your website, etc. Should be up soon.
Other books I'm going to plug are Charles Price's Nor the Battle to the Strong. Fred Chappell called it one of the best novels he'd read in years! Not getting as much notice as Serena and Cataloochee, alas.
And then, there's always poetry! K.
Thank you all! (Blush) Just couldn't help a little bragging.
Liz, CATALOOCHEE is with my To Be Reads. I've heard lots of raves about this book.
Esta, though I try to make each book stand alone so that a new reader won't be lost, the books are in chronological order beginning with SIGNS. Reading them that way -- SIGNS, ART'S BLOOD, OLD WOUNDS, and DARK SEASON-- the development of the characters is more obvious. As is, I think, the development of the writer.
Kay, Thanks for all your help! And yes, Chas. Price's book is another waiting patiently for my attention.
So what if it's not the NY Times? What a thrill it still must be, and well deserved, too. Congrats.
Best Seller at Malaprops beats the NY Times list in my books. We visit and spend money there on most of our NC trips.
Congrats--will give some of the others on their list a try as Malaprops obviously has discerning readers who know a wonderful book when they see one.
Lynne in Ga.
I'm intrigued by THE FAIRIES OF NEW YORK as I'm a big Neil Gaiman fan. And yes, Mprop's is a terrific store.
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