According to USA Today, Barnes & Noble management has listened to its store buyers and has decided that demand for Simpson's trash-book will be so light that there is no point in stocking it in its stores across the country. The book will be available for purchase at Barnes & Noble online, however.
"Our buyers don't feel there will be enough of a demand to carry it in our stores," Barnes & Noble spokeswoman Mary Ellen Keating told The Associated Press on Tuesday....
A rival chain, Borders Group Inc., said Tuesday that it would stock If I Did It, a fictionalized account of the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman. But spokeswoman Ann Binkley said Borders "will not promote or market the book in any way."
Denise Brown, Nicole Brown Simpson's sister, has accused Goldman's father, Fred Goldman, and other family members of hypocrisy for publishing a book that he had called "disgusting and despicable" when Simpson first planned to publish it.I suspect that Barnes & Noble management has also figured out that there is some possibility of a consumer backlash as regards this particularly disgusting book and wants no part of that.
I'm glad they won't stock it in their stores...but I'd be even happier if they'd refuse to carry it on line as well.
ReplyDeleteI'd prefer to see them do that, too, Wendy, but at least they aren't going the Border's route and placing it on the shelves.
ReplyDeleteFrankly, I hope this publisher loses a fortune on this book.
Yay for B&N! Boo Hiss on Borders.
ReplyDeleteSam, I was wondering if you were a Spenser (Robert B. Parker) fan. Is that a series that would be best to start from the beginning? I am really not interested in reading the 34 books! I was thinking about starting in the 90's. What's your take on that idea?
Joy, I don't think it's as important that you read the Spenser books in order as it is for some other series. But I do think that he earlier books are the best in the series. I grew bored with Parker a few years ago because he seems to have lost the energy to keep Spenser alive and fresh. It's been a while since I've read one of his books but I've heard from others that he never has seem to recover his talents when it comes to the Spenser novels.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sam. Maybe I'll read the first one, then skip to ones that may appeal to me more than others.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Denise Brown.
ReplyDeleteI'll be curious to hear what you think about the books, Joy. I remember being very excited when I first discovered Parker...by then he was about five books into the series and I immediately went back and read them all. They are easy and quick reads, lots of fun.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely, John. Me, too.
ReplyDeleteUgh, I was so happy to hear that I wasn't the only one who thought publishing If I Did It was disgusting, no matter who had the publishing rights.
ReplyDeleteI was even happier to hear that B&N decided not to carry it in their stores. I don't even want to have to look at that book when it comes out. I guess this means I'll be spending more time at B&N for a while.
It does sound as if Borders will try to be as quiet as possible about handling the book, no displays and such, but I would much prefer, like you, to see that they take the Barnes & Noble approach, J.S.
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