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Since last week’s list of NBCC picks was full of titles that many (including myself!) had not heard of before, I thought it appropriate to follow with a list of what people — many, many people — actually ARE reading! So, here is a list of the top 15 best selling hardcover fiction titles from last year:
Hardcover Fiction Bestsellers 2007
1. A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini. Riverhead (5/07) 2,201,865
2. Playing for Pizza by John Grisham. Doubleday (9/07) 1,445,000
3. Double Cross by James Patterson. Little, Brown (11/07) 1,428,974
4. The Choice by Nicholas Sparks. Grand Central (9/07) 1,200,809
5. Lean Mean Thirteen by Janet Evanovich. St. Martin’s (6/07) 1,116,828
6. Plum Lovin’ by Janet Evanovich. St. Martin’s (1/07) 1,080,686
7. Book of the Dead by Patricia Cornwell. Putnam (10/07) 1,027,000
8. The Quickie by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge. Little, Brown (7/07) 795,736
9. The 6th Target by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro. Little, Brown (5/07) 769,460
10. The Darkest Evening of the Year by Dean Koontz. Bantam (11/07) 740,000
11. Step on a Crack by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge. Little, Brown (2/07) 732,702
12. You’ve Been Warned by James Patterson and Howard Roughan. Little, Brown (9/07) 724,713
13. T Is for Trespass by Sue Grafton. Putnam (12/07) 716,582
14. Stone Cold by David Baldacci. Grand Central (11/07) 670,590
15. Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult. Atria Books (3/07) 609,000
I’ve read three of the above titles — A Thousand Splendid Suns, Playing for Pizza, and Nineteen Minutes — and actually enjoyed all three. Suns was the most literary of the three, but Playing for Pizza satisfied my love for football as well as character development, and Nineteen Minutes was my favorite Picoult to date, because the ending wasn’t hopelessly contrived (the car accident in My Sister’s Keeperstill kills me…).
I’ve also read a handful of Ivanovich’s Stephanie Plum series — they work very well on CD, by the way. Since they are so formulaic, I need to take breaks between each title but Stephanie Plum is a hoot. I’ve also read one Sue Grafton ( C is for Corpse ) and really enjoyed it. Can’t stomach Sparks’ fiction (and I’ve tried…), but I did enjoy Three Weeks with my Brother (also on CD).
Has anyone read James Patterson? He is ubiquitous in every airport I’ve ever been in, yet I’ve never been tempted. Any good? Can 1,428,974 readers be wrong?
Also, what do these titles have in common (if anything)? We are constantly bombarded by naysayers declaring that Americans don’t read anymore, but obviously many Americans DO read — the question is why are they attracted to the above writers? And why aren’t the Pulitzer winners usually (if ever) found on bestseller lists? This inquiring mind wants to know…
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I read Patterson’s entire Alex Cross series in high school and LOVED those books. They are quick, easy, and so much action occurs. I haven’t picked one up in years, though I’ve been meaning to read the Women’s Murder Club series someday. There’s just too many other books in the way…
Thank you, Heather! In the spirit of trying to expand my literary boundaries, I may try one of the Alex Cross books.
I have read most of the books on that list with the exception of the Grisham and Baldacci books. I think, Kristen – that you have used the perfect word to describe the majority of these: formulaic. They’re my “junk novels” – don’t require a whole lot of thinking and works well for those times when you’re in for a long wait – nothing too emotional while out amongst the public (I found this to be important after completing Cormac McCarthy’s “The Road” on the way back from Chicago…). As for their popularity – all of the above is true and they are what you see at the checkout stand. Defines the “Mass” in Mass Marketing Paperback. So having said all that – when Junot Diaz won the Pulitzer for Oscar Wao – a lot of us had heard very little of it. It’s worth the read, BTW…it grows on you. And by all means…start at the beginning of the alphabet for Sue Grafton!
Thank you, Cynthia! My “brain candy” tends to be chick lit and Nora Roberts — and such a blessing after a novel like The Road, which I enjoyed but put me through the wringer. And I completely agree w/ you that Oscar Wao is worth it — IF you read the entire novel and get to the end. Challenging, but worth it!
I need to expand my “brain candy” selection
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Pulitzer’s are probably not given based on popularity but on literary merit.
So true, Pat! So, what I should have asked is… Why aren’t works with literary merit more popular?