Postscripts

In 1999, the Chronicle began publishing lists of bestsellers from a variety of Austin bookstores. One of the great things, if not the great thing, about those lists is that they provide us a glimpse into what Austinites are reading. I asked participating bookstores to produce a bestsellers list for 1999 and then spoke to them about what those lists say about their clientele. The remaining stores' lists will be printed next week:

Adventures in Crime & Space

1. Rainbow Mars by Larry Niven; 2. Essential Saltes by Don Webb; 3. A Good Old-Fashioned Future by Bruce Sterling; 4. A Civil Campaign by Lois McMaster Bujold; 5. Change of Command by Elizabeth Moon; 6. Bonita Faye by Margaret Moseley; 7. The Eternal Footman by James Morrow; 8. The Rift by Walter J. Williams; 9. Stardust by Neil Gaiman and Charles Vess; 10. Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson

Sara Felix, manager: "Eight of the 10 books were people that we had in the store so ... [the customers] really respected the opinions of the store employees, they tend to be very loyal as a clientele. ... We do have a largely male, [aged] 20-40 clientele, and that's kind of what they like is the more science-oriented or more literary science fiction instead of high fantasy."

BookPeople

1. Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden; 2. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J. K. Rowling (hard); 3. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling (paper) 4. Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood by Rebecca Wells; 5. Tuesdays With Morrie by Mitch Albom; 6. Naked by David Sedaris; 7. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling; 8. The Testament by John Grisham; 9. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling; 10. Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt (paper)

Peggy Hailey, head book buyer: "I think that probably every large independent has something that is just a quirk of their store; they can bring that in and people will buy it. It's usually in the fictions with us ... we get the discontinueds to sell."

Book Woman

1. Cunt: A Declaration of Independence by Inga Muscio; 2. Beautiful Necessity: The Art and Making of Women's Altars by Kay Turner; 3. Girl, Interrupted by Susanna Kaysen; 4. Baby Precious Always Shines: Selected Love Notes Between Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas edited by Kay Turner; 5. The Technology of Orgasm: "Hysteria," the Vibrator, and Women's Sexual Satisfaction by Rachel P. Maines; 6. the bull-jean stories by Sharon Bridgforth; 7. Set Up by Claire McNab; 8. Peel My Love Like an Onion by Ana Castillo; 9. Split Level Dykes to Watch Out For by Alison Bechdel; 10. Tree of Red Stars by Tessa Bridal

Susan Post, owner: In Austin, we seem to be blessed with more local authors -- three of our bestsellers have local ties, whether they live here now or not. You know, Inga came and she spent about a month here, and Rachel does have ties and did several events ... so that seems to kind of drive our bestsellers."

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Correction

Last week, I wrote about the restoration of the Katherine Anne Porter house in Kyle. I wrote about Curt Englehorn, a pharmeceutical magnate from Germany whose mother grew up with KAP, but he has pledged, not contributed (as I thought) $600,000 to the project. The Burdine Johnson Foundation in Buda has raised the majority of the funds.