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Always Lurking
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, May 25, 2003 - 10:23 pm: | 
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I have been looking for a comprehensive bestseller list for AA books and have not found one. There used to be Essence and Blackboard but those seemed to be MIA. I know I've been somewhat out of the loop but where did they go? Do we not have a comprehensive bestseller list with more that 20 bookstores participating? |
yasmin
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, May 25, 2003 - 11:16 pm: |
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Sorry Always Lurking...other than Essence (limited list) that's about all you're going to get. The Blackboard List is still around by subscription only...not sure of why they went to a subscription format because the question is who is going to subscribe to a best seller's list. |
Tee C. Royal
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, May 26, 2003 - 09:25 am: |
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Always Lurking, the last I heard, The Blackboard Bestsellers list will be back out this fall. It's been on a short hiatus in preparation to launch an actual magazine vs the previous smaller version which was the best-sellers list and a few reviews.
From what I understand, there will also be an issue available at BEA and that will be the last one before the magazine launches.
I'm not sure about Essence. I always end up stacking the magazines and never seem to get back to reading them.
Hope this helps.
- Tee |
Susan
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, June 01, 2003 - 07:25 pm: |
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Always Lurking, I don't think there ever was or will be a comprehensive listing of AA bestsellers books. The last bestselling list in Essence was a representative listing. If I recall correctly, each quarter they reported sales from select bookstores across the country. I don't think the list ever took in consideration books sold online at sites like aalbc.com, amazon.com, bn.com, etc.
And, I think, the Blackboard Bestsellers list was comprised of sales from black bookstores when it appeared in the Essence Magazine years ago. However, I am sure, if what I wrote is wrong, a correction will be posted by someone who knows. 
Susan |
Always Lurking
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 02, 2003 - 09:20 pm: |
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Acutally, I think you're right, Susan and that leads to my next question. Is that type of list not important to booksellers, authors, and readers? I could see how a list like that might be limiting in that it may have the potential to limit some poeple's objectivity in purchases; however, at the same time, I would think a comprehensive AA bestsellar listing represents valuable information for all those involved in the industry (readers and sellers alike). |
ABM
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 02, 2003 - 10:43 pm: |
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The only real point of such listings is to hype those authors/books who are fortunate or connected enuff to be listed. |
Susan
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, June 03, 2003 - 10:17 am: |
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Always Lurking, I guess, it depends. When I see an author claiming to be a site's bestseller or a store's bestseller or even a list's bestseller, there is no idea of the number books sold, could be 2 or could be 200 or could be 2,000.
I sort of see these bestseller lists as a taking a snapshot at an instance knowing that if you took the same snapshot at another time it might not be the same, as it depends upon so many factors. Sort of like a poll. I think they also needs to be a method of determining which books makes the list that includea as many different reporting retailers as possible. That include the major chain bookstores, independent bookstores/booksellers, online sites and even the discounters. Maybe we need a yearly bestseller's list, taking into account "all" books sold that year to know which one is really "the" best seller.
But I can say that I've never brought a book just because it was #1 on anybody's bestseller's list. I remember looking at the list in Essence and just noting in my mind those books on the list that I had read.
Susan |
Tee C. Royal
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, June 04, 2003 - 12:39 am: |
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Susan, I agree with your assessments. A list of this magnitude would be huge though...I couldn't imagine having to collect all that info. I also think polling readers would be more accurate than booksellers. I buy books all the time that I don't read and I'm sure other readers do as well.
And, I too hardly ever look at bestseller's list. It's interesting to see who makes them, but that's about it.
-Tee |
Cynique
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, June 04, 2003 - 03:30 pm: |
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For what it's worth, Eric Jerome Dickey's "The Other Woman" is #10 on the prestigious Publisher's Weekly best seller list. |
akaivyleaf
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, June 05, 2003 - 11:17 am: |
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I think it gives you a starting point to finding books that people will be or have been discussing. I'm not necessarily looking for an opinion about what made the book number 1 or whatever, just what books are out there that are garnering some type of attention. |
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