Trump book sparks rush at local stores
It is not on the scale of a “Harry Potter” rush, but a new unflattering look at President Donald Trump’s administration is fueling a scramble into local book stores by political junkies aiming to get a bead on our controversial 45th president.
“I wouldn’t say it is like a Harry Potter release party, but for a political book I haven’t seen anything quite like this,” said Len Vlahos, co-owner of the Tattered Cover Book Store.
When the publisher of Michael Wolff’s Trump White House book “Fire and Fury” announced its publication date had been moved up to Friday from Tuesday, phones began ringing at Tattered Cover stores, Vlahos said.
“We were much busier on the phone than anywhere else,” Vlahos said. “It all started yesterday morning, a rush of people wanting to reserve a copy. So we did a massive order from the distributor.”
All the copies of “Fire and Fury” that Tattered Cover originally ordered have been spoken for. The next supply of “Fire and Fury” is likely to arrive next week, Vlahos said.
Larger retail outlets reported long lines of customers hoping to get a copy fresh off the shelves. In Washington, D.C., buyers showed up before midnight Thursday, intrigued by Wolff’s portrayal of an unhinged Trump. His threats to sue both Wolff and his publisher helped stoke interest in the book, retailers say.
The Barnes & Noble in Glendale sold out of “Fire and Fury” on Friday soon after the store opened at 9 a.m. “We were super busy,” said manager Janice Carroll.
Customers at Boulder Book Store on the Pearl Street Mall were clamoring early Friday morning to reserve a copy of the book, said manager and head buyer Arsen Kashkashian.
The store preordered about a dozen books before the publication date was moved up and then ordered 20 more, Kashkashian said. “About 32 books is a pretty good order, and I expect those will get here by Monday or Tuesday.”
He just hopes the news cycle keeps Wolff’s book fresh on the minds of readers.
“Often, these books kind of die at the end of the news cycle,” he said. “It will interesting if that is the case in this situation.”