Looking at the books that are topping the charts on Amazon’s website today, I’m seeing some of the books we saw last month and some new additions as well. Let’s see what America is buying as of right this minute – the list is updated hourly.
1. “Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman’s Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia” by Elizabeth Gilbert. This book, about a journey of self-discovery and the sampling of cuisines, religions, and love, was #4 on November’s list.
2. “A Thousand Splendid Suns” is written by Khaled Hosseini, author of “The Kite Runner.” Placed at #7 last month, this book is about the friendship between two women and the ways they find hope despite experiencing profound despair.
3. “His Dark Materials Trilogy (The Golden Compass; The Subtle Knife; The Amber Spyglass)”by Philip Pullman. I’m not surprised to see these books on the list – with all the brouhaha over “The Golden Compass” and the debate over whether it is or is not anti-Christian, I’m sure many people are getting the book to see for themselves, especially now that it’s been made into a movie. I have not read the books or seen the movie, so I’m reserving comment until later. (Amazing – I’m actually not expressing an opinion! Can you believe that?)
4. “The Kite Runner” by Khaled Hosseini. Nothing like having your second book become a big hit to increase interest in your first release!
5. “You: Staying Young: The Owner’s Manual for Extending Your Warranty” by Michael F. Roizen and Mehmet C. Oz The new year is a perfect time to start learning how to take care of your body and increase your energy and vitality. This book also appeared on November’s list.
6. Coming in sixth is “The Art of Smart Thinking” by James Hardt. This book is purported to help you use all of your brain’s capacity to think, reason, and understand.
7. “The Dangerous Book for Boys” by Conn and Hal Iggulden placed #9 last time around, and is filled with fun ideas for how to do everything from tying knots to performing magic tricks.
8. “Water for Elephants: A Novel ‘ by Sara Gruen is the story of a man’s life in the circus and the brutish conditions he, and the animals, live under. Our main character is the only moral compass in the story, and he takes the brunt of everything that happens, but there’s an underlying message of hope to the story, which is written very realistically to the time.
9. “Three Cups of Tea: One Man’s Mission to Promote Peace . . . One School at a Time” by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin. Mortensen tried to climb K2, the world’s second tallest mountain, back in 1993. When he failed, he was seriously ill and had to recuperate for seven weeks in the small Pakistani village of Korphe. In return, he built the town’s first school.
10. “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Book 7)” by J. K. Rowling. Who lives, who dies, what is the secret of Harry Potter – all is revealed in this last book of the series.
Well, that’s what America is reading this month. How about you?
Related Blogs:
Amazon’s Bestselling Books — November 2007
Tristi’s Picks: Best Novels Read in 2006