The Bookseller.com

15th October 2008

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Grisham closes in on Guinness

27.11.07 Philip Stone

Guinness World Records has hung onto its position at the top of the book charts, shifting just under 65,000 copies in the week to 24th November. But the title's lead has shrunk dramatically, with the gap between first and second place falling by half to 10,970 units as John Grisham's The Innocent
Man (Arrow) sold in excess of 53,000 copies.

An impressive week from Random House Group stable mate Nigella Lawson saw sales of Nigella Express (Chatto) almost double from 26,242 to 51,920. Last week also saw Lawson overtake Jamie Oliver: life sales of Nigella Express now total 296,944, compared to Jamie at Home's 291,340.

Russell Brand, this year's high-flying comedian, sold over 32,000 copies of My Booky Wook (Hodder) during its first full week on sale, and an appearance on Jonathan Ross last Saturday should help boost sales even further this week.

Overall, sales through Nielsen BookScan's Total Consumer Market last week topped £45.4m, up 4.9% on the same week in 2006 (£43.3m), but high street sales show little improvement year-on-year. Revenue through the General Retail Market, a strong indicator of high street performance, totalled £27.9m, just 0.3% up 2006. The market also continues to point towards one of the cheapest Christmases on record with the average selling price of titles through the TCM last week just £8.03, down 8p on the same week last year.

Retail Bestseller News John Grisham Philip Stone Christmas Guinness World Records