Books: Bestsellers

Catherine Cookson's popularity is undimmed. The Thursday Friend has gone straight into the top five and her fans will be pleased to know that her estate will publish new novels well into 2001. No change at the top of the non-fiction list this week. Armchair gardeners are seeking inspiration from irrepressible Alan Titchmarsh and his Groundforce to tackle the wilderness outside - perhaps they hope they'll doze off and awake to find their gardens miraculously transformed. More armchair activity, although not quite as peaceful, is heralded by Bruce Jones's Official ITV Formula One Guide.

Compiled by Bookwatch on sales over seven days ending 21 February 1999

Bookwatch Ltd, 1999

Compiled by Bookwatch on sales over seven days ending 14 February 1999 c Bookwatch Ltd 1999

ORIGINAL FICTION

TITLE AUTHOR/PUBLISHER PRICE WEEKLY SALES

1 (1) The Testament John Grisham (Century) pounds 16.99 9,970

2 (2) Come Together Josie Lloyd & Emlyn Rees (Arrow) pounds 5.99 8,557

3 (-) Single & Single John le Carre (Hodder) pounds 16.99 4,566

4 (-) The Thursday Friend Catherine Cookson (Bantam) pounds 16.99 2,307

5 (8) Messiah Boris Starling (HarperCollins) pounds 5.99 1,706

6 (3) Southern Cross Patricia D Cornwell (Little, Brown) pounds 16.99 1,542

7 (6) It Means Mischief Kate Thompson (Bantam) pounds 5.99 1,473

8 (5) Liar Birds Lucy Fitzgerald (Black Swan) pounds 5.99 1,101

9 (9) The Death of Amy Parris T R Bowen (Penguin) pounds 5.99 1,066

10 (10) City Girl Patricia Scanlan (Bantam) pounds 5.99 959

ORIGINAL NON-FICTION

TITLE AUTHOR/PUBLISHER PRICE WEEKLY SALES

1 (1) Station X: the codebreakers Michael Smith (Channel 4) pounds 14.99 3,915

2 (2) Men Are From Mars... John Gray (Thorsons) pounds 8.99 3,357

3 (6) The Year 1000 Robert Lacey & Danny Danziger (Little, Brown) pounds 12.99 2,541

4 (4) Little Book of Feng Shui Lillian Too (Element) pounds 1.99 1,891

5 (3) Birthday Letters Ted Hughes (Faber) pounds 14.99 1,879

6 (-) Ground Force Workbook Alan Titchmarsh (BBC) pounds 9.99 1,498

7 (7) Seafood Odyssey Rick Stein (BBC) pounds 18.99 1,295

8 (10) The Little Book of Calm Paul Wilson (Penguin) pounds 1.99 1,139

9 (-) Official ITV Formula One Guide Bruce Jones (Carlton) pounds 9.99 1,092

10 (8) Notes from a Big Country Bill Bryson (Doubleday) pounds 16.99 999