This week presents a great opportunity to examine the difference between being the No. 1 New York Times bestseller and being an IndieBound bestseller, as there is a conflict between both lists this week.
According to the New York Times, Daniel Silva's THE REMBRANDT AFFAIR is the No. 1 bestselling book in the country. However, on IndieBound it is only No. 5, trailing THE GIRL WHO KICKED THE HORNET'S NEST by Stieg Larsson, THE HELP by Kathryn Stockett, STAR ISLAND
by Carl Hiaasen and THE THOUSAND AUTUMNS OF JACOB DE ZOET by David Mitchell.
It has always been explained to me, and bear with me as I try to relay and get it right, that the New York Times incorporates not just customer sales but also the number of books the publisher has sold to retailers. Meanwhile, IndieBound only tabulates the customer sales.
Therefore, THE REMBRANDT is not only making some big sales, but the publisher is selling lots of stock. However, in IndieBound terms, the book is selling well but only No. 5 well without regard to the stock.
Here are the eight regional IndieBound bestseller lists:
New England Independent Booksellers Association (NEIBA)
Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance (SIBA)
Mountains & Plains Independent Booksellers Association (MPIBA)
Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association (PNBA)
The Heartland Independent Bestseller List (GLIBA and MBA combined)
Southern California Independent Booksellers Association (SCIBA)
Northern California Independent Booksellers Association (NCIBA)
New Atlantic Independent Booksellers Association (NAIBA)
