Search-engines-web.com writes “A Mercury News article reports on a research teams new theory of how bestseller books are made:
‘They found that top sellers tend to reach their sales peak in one of two ways. As predicted, many get there because of so-called exogenous shocks: a major media announcement, a celebrity endorsement, a dignitary’s death. In these cases, the instant rise in sales is followed by a fairly quick decline.
Other books inch their way to the top over many months, helped by cascades of tiny “endogenous shocks” such as a friend’s recommendation. A prime example is “Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood,” which made the bestseller list two years after publication without a major ad campaign. How? It caught on in book-discussion clubs and spurred women to form their own “Ya-Ya Sisterhood” groups.
Search-engines-web.com writes “A Mercury News article reports on a research teams new theory of how bestseller books are made:
‘They found that top sellers tend to reach their sales peak in one of two ways. As predicted, many get there because of so-called exogenous shocks: a major media announcement, a celebrity endorsement, a dignitary’s death. In these cases, the instant rise in sales is followed by a fairly quick decline.
Other books inch their way to the top over many months, helped by cascades of tiny “endogenous shocks” such as a friend’s recommendation. A prime example is “Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood,” which made the bestseller list two years after publication without a major ad campaign. How? It caught on in book-discussion clubs and spurred women to form their own “Ya-Ya Sisterhood” groups.
Such books descend the rankings more slowly than those propelled by exogenous shocks. Much more than a one-time radio announcement or newspaper review, “when people talk to each other, it sticks to the network much more,” Gilbert said.”
Read the research paper abstract.
Read the full paper.
What makes a bestseller a bestseller?
I read “Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood” as soon as it came out. I was already a fan because of Wells’ first novel, “Little Altars Everywhere”.
Oprah had just started her book club-which I thought was great because at long last someone was able to get people reading. I sent my personal copy of “Divine Secrets…”– along with a recommendation– to Oprah. I thought it should be picked for her discussion. It is an excellent read for men and women–we are who we are because of our parents, and in spite of our parents. Friendship is powerful and can sustain us. Rebecca Wells is a storyteller, as are many southern authors.
Not only did I not hear from Oprah–but I never got my book back! I had to purchse another copy. Eventually Oprah did pick the book…
I read this book a 2nd time for the book group I run at our public library–and I read it a 3rd time after seeing how they butchered the book–and story–in the movie version.
I hate that this book has been labeled as “chick lit”. It has a universal theme. I also think librarians, through reader’s advisory, help promote good books. I had friends coming in to get “Divine Secrets…” based on my recommendation–and they didn’t even know the title! We had to purchase additional copies for our waiting list simply built on word of mouth!