Books: Bestsellers

Young writer Lisa Jewell's first novel Ralph's Party has spectacularly toppled Jilly Cooper from the head of the fiction list. Ralph's Party was issued as a paperback original at a reasonable pounds 5.99. Despite heavy discounting to promote hardbacks, this is a better way of encouraging readers to try a critically acclaimed but unknown author. Sales of non- fiction are down this week but sunshine, the Chelsea Flower Show and the many public appearances of the ever-cheerful Charlie Dimmock have combined to reverse The Ground Force Weekend Workbook's downwards slide. Compiled on sales over seven days ending 30 May

Bookwatch Ltd 1999

ORIGINAL NON-FICTION

TITLE AUTHOR/PUBLISHER WEEKLY PRICE

SALES

1 The Naked Chef Jamie Oliver (M Joseph) 3,292 pounds 18.99

2 Men are From Mars John Gray (Thorsons) 2,743 pounds 8.99

3 The Planets D McNab & J Younger (BBC) 1,804 pounds 19.99

4 Little Book of Feng Shui Lillian Too (M Joseph) 1,192 pounds 1.99

5 Ground Force Workbook Alan Titchmarsh (BBC) 1,037 pounds 9.99

6 Star Wars: the making Laurent Bouzereau (Ebury) 1,018 pounds 14.99

7 Star Wars: cross-sections David W Reynolds (DK) 1,004 pounds 12.99

8 How to Get What You Want John Gray (Vermilion) 832 pounds 9.99

9 Little Book of Wrong Shui Rohan Candappa (Ebury) 696 pounds 1.99

10 Pretty Boy Roy Shaw (Blake) 686 pounds 14.99

ORIGINAL FICTION

TITLE AUTHOR/PUBLISHER WEEKLY PRICE

SALES

1 Ralph's Party Lisa Jewell (Penguin) 6,611 pounds 5.99

2 Score! Jilly Cooper (Bantam) 4,563 pounds 16.99

3 LA Connections 3 Jackie Collins (Pan) 3,408 pounds 2.50

4 Star Wars Terry Brooks (Century) 2,857 pounds 15.99

5 City Woman Patricia Scanlan (Bantam) 2,304 pounds 5.99

6 Head Over Heels Jill Mansell (Headline) 2,187 pounds 5.99

7 Taking Chances Susan Lewis (Arrow) 1,773 pounds 5.99

8 Net Force T Clancy & S Piecenik (Headline) 1,744 pounds 5.99

9= The Right Thing Judy Astley (Black Swan) 1,681 pounds 6.99

9= LA Connections 3 Jackie Collins (Pan) 1,681 pounds 2.50

BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY

TITLE AUTHOR/PUBLISHER WEEKLY PRICE

SALES

1 Things Can Only ... John O'Farrell (Black Swan) 2,743 pounds 6.99

2 Angela's Ashes Frank McCourt (Flamingo) 1,210 pounds 6.99

3 Once, In a House ... Andrea Ashworth (Picador) 1,210 pounds 6.99

4 Man Utd Ruined ... Colin Shindler (Headline) 1,060 pounds 5.99

5 The Informer Sean O'Callaghan (Corgi) 992 pounds 6.99

6 C John Diamond (Vermillion) 933 pounds 5.99

7 Pretty Boy Roy Shaw (Blake) 686 pounds 14.99

8= Falling Leaves Adeline Yen Mah (Penguin) 566 pounds 6.99

8= The Guv'nor Lenny McLean (Blake) 566 pounds 14.99

10 Still Me Christopher Reeve (Arrow) 544 pounds 6.99