Readers closing book on political themes

The book world has turned upside down when it comes to predicting a best-seller.

A year ago, Michael Wolff ’s “Fire and Fury” was in the No. 1 spot for the first half, and not far behind was former FBI director James Comey’s book “A Higher Loyalty” at No. 3. Bob Woodward’s “Fear,” which hit in the second half, was also an instant best-seller.

But while the drama in Washington hasn’t let up, it isn’t selling books the way it did last year. Wolff released his follow-up “Siege” in early June, but it has yet to break into the top 20 year-to-date.

Delia Owens’ novel “Where the Crawdads Sing,” meanwhile, is the best-selling book year-to-date — thanks partly to its selection as a pick last fall by Reese Witherspoon’s book club.

Still, with Owens’ book in the No. 1 spot, Publishers Weekly this week found only six fiction works among the top 20 adult bestsellers this year — and many of the best-sellers actually debuted last year.

On the non-fiction front, former First Lady Michelle Obama’s book “Becoming,” which was an immediate No. 1 when it hit in November, appears destined to become the best-selling memoir of all time.

Obama’s year-to-date sales in 2019 were at 886,611, good for only second place, although her grand total since debut is 4.5 million.

“Crawdads Sing” has sold 907,192 year-todate, according to NPD BookScan, which tracks about 80 percent of the retail market.

Publisher Putnam credits Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine Book Club for propelling it to a runaway hit.

The only other politically oriented book in the top 10 is Scribner’s version of The Mueller Report at No. 10, with 243,007 sold so far this year.