Books: Bestsellers

Staggering. There is no other word to describe the sales of Hannibal, Thomas Harris's sequel to Silence of the Lambs. Even Heinemann have been taken by surprise. They might have wondered over the past decade if the further adventures of Hannibal the Cannibal would ever see the light of day, but it was well worth the wait. Their initial print run was 175,000, yet two days after publication they reprinted 210,000 copies. Only Delia in pre-Christmas mode sells so many books, so fast. After a week of such excitement, booksellers might need a restorative glass of Amarone. Compiled on sales over seven days ending 13 June 1999

Bookwatch Ltd 1999

ORIGINAL NON-FICTION

TITLE AUTHOR/PUBLISHER WEEKLY PRICE

SALES

1 Driving Over Lemons Chris Stewart (Sort of Books) 4,756 pounds 6.99

2 The Naked Chef Jamie Oliver (M Joseph) 3,574 pounds 18.99

3 Men are from Mars...John Gray (Thorsons) 3,404 pounds 8.99

4 The Planets D McNab & J Younger (BBC) 2,449 pounds 19.99

5 Stars Wars: visual dictionary David W Reynolds (DK) 2,384 pounds 12.99

6 How to Get What You Want John Gray (Vermilion) 1,427 pounds 9.99

7 Little Book of Feng Shui Lilian Too (Element) 1,181 pounds 1.99

8 Notting Hill Richard Curtis (Hodder) 835 pounds 7.99

9 Star Wars: phantom menace L Bouzereau (Ebury) 787 pounds 14.99

10 Ground Force Weekend Alan Titchmarsh (BBC) 759 pounds 9.99

ORIGINAL FICTION

TITLE AUTHOR/PUBLISHER WEEKLY PRICE

SALES

1 Hannibal Thomas Harris (Heinemann) 62,876 pounds 16.99

2 City Woman Patricia Scanlan (Bantam) 3,605 pounds 5.99

3 Ralph's Party Lisa Jewell (Penguin) 3,130 pounds 5.99

4 Score! Jilly Cooper (Bantam) 2,579 pounds 16.99

5 Star Wars: phantom menace Terry Brooks (Century) 2,527 pounds 15.99

6 Taking Chances Susan Lewis (Arrow) 2,378 pounds 5.99

7 Net Force T Clancy & S Piecenik (Headline) 2,109 pounds 5.99

8 LA Connections 3 Jackie Collins (Pan) 1,884 pounds 2.50

9 Close Range Annie Proulx (Fourth Estate) 1,559 pounds 12.00

9 Monsoon Wilbur Smith (Macmillan) 1,505 pounds 16.99