Book News
“Potter” conjures record price
A first edition of J.K. Rowling’s “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone,” known as “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” in the U.S., sold for a record price of about $40,350 at an auction at Christie’s South Kensington, The Guardian reported. The book, which was purchased by a father for his son and read only once, was in pristine condition.
“From ‘Goblet of Fire’ onwards, the series took off so quickly that first editions were common because the print runs were huge,” said Crispin Jackson, head of books at Christie’s South Kensington, who said “Philosopher’s Stone” is the most valuable of the series.
Random House gets Blair memoirs
The memoirs of former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, the object of an international bidding war that went on for days, have been acquired by imprints of Random House Inc. in the United States and England.
“I hope my memoirs will provide a serious and thoughtful, but also entertaining, reflection on my time as a member of Parliament and as prime minister,” Blair said in a statement issued by publishers Hutchinson in England and Alfred A. Knopf in the United States.
Blair’s book, which he will write himself, is untitled and is “still a couple of years away” from being published, according to his literary representative.
First Line
Now and Then by Robert B. Parker, $25.95
He came into my office carrying a thin briefcase under his left arm. He was wearing a dark suit and a white shirt with a red-and-blue-striped tie. His red hair was cut very short. He had a thin, sharp face. He closed the door carefully behind him and turned and gave me the hard eye.
“You Spenser?” he said.
“And proud of it,” I said.
He looked at me aggressively and didn’t say anything. I smiled pleasantly.
“Are you being a wise guy?” he said.
“Only for a second,” I said. “What can I do for you?”
“I don’t like this,” he said.
“Well,” I said. “It’s a start.”
“I don’t like funny either,” he said.
“Then we should do great,” I said.
“My name is Dennis Doherty,” he said.
“I love alliteration,” I said.
“What?”
“There I go again,” I said.
Best-selling
Children’s Series
1. Twilight Saga, by Stephanie Meyer
2. Harry Potter, by J.K. Rowling
3. Gossip Girl, by Cecily von Ziegsar
4. Magic Tree House, by Mary Pope Osborne, illustrated by Sal Murdocca
5. Uglies, by Scott Westerfeld
6. Junie B. Jones, by Barbara Park, illustrated by Denise Brunkus
7. High School Musical, by Disney
8. Percy Jackson and the Olympians, by Rick Riordan
9. The Golden Compass, by Philip Pullman
10. Clique, by Lisi Harrison
Publishers Weekly
