A couple of weeks ago my Mommy received her first EMAIL, not comment, from a fellow blogger. You can imagine the surprise and utter joy we felt. That email came all the way from The Land Down Under to be delivered in her inbox here on the Southern Part of Africa. Oh, how I miss the postal services! I would have loved to get a real letter from Australia!
Anyway, Marg from the Adventures of the Intrepid Reader contacted my Mommy to ask if she wants to take part in a joint post regarding bestsellers and how they compare between our different countries. Over the next couple of weeks, we chatted a couple of times via email and we discovered that her husband is originally from South Africa and her in laws are still living here. What a small world we live in.
I don’t as a rule follow the Best Sellers list in South Africa. I read whatever I want. My Mommy’s favorite Bookshop in South Africa, is Bargain Books. It’s one of the first shops on the right as you enter our local Shopping Mall and yes, she normally steers right upon entering the sliding doors. They usually have a display of the Top Ten Popular books for the past week. Here’s the books that made their display for the week ending 19 September 2020:
(Photo from Bargain Books’ Facebook page) |
- Anxiety is a huge problem for humans in South Africa. They stress about money, food, work, health, their families and safety
- The Ten Commandments obviously don’t cut it anymore. They now rather need 12 steps/rules/lessons to lighten the burden
- They need money
- They need Justice
- They desperately search for meaning
- They need an escape from reality (yes, vampires are better than real life in some places)
- We love to cook and eat and the fewer ingredients with the easiest methods, the better
- Afrikaans people still believe that humor and fiction will solve most problems
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Ottolenghi Flavour – Yotam Ottolenghi
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Midnight Sun by Stephanie Meyer
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The Happiest Man on Earth by Eddie Jaku
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Dog Man #9 Grime and Punishment – Dav Pilkey (children’s book)
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The Space Between by Zara McDonald and Michelle Andrews
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The Golden Maze:A Biography of Prague by Richard Fidler
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Think Like a Monk by Jay Shetty
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The Lying Life of Adults by Elena Ferrante
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Bluey : Grannies (children’s book)
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Sam Bloom: Heartache and Birdsong
They have children’s books on their Top Ten Best Sellers! How cool is that! I know that Children’s Books do make the Top Ten list here with us as well, but not often enough. Especially not ones featuring fluffy white kittens. They should look into that. I am sure it will lighten some of that anxiety.
"Do you have any idea of the wildlife we share our beautiful countries with? Vampires don't scare us, Mate." You made me laugh with these two lines. I think you have a point!
I read the first three Twilight books, picked up some spoilers for Breaking Dawn, and haven't felt any need to return to that world. I keep thinking I'll finish it up but there's always something I'm more interested in.
I truly dislike cooking (I do enjoy baking) so I'm all in for those books with the easy recipes.
Fun post!
Glad you enjoyed it Jen! I don't think I'm going to read the pomegranate book. (I came to refer to the latest Twilight saga in that way).
Jamie Oliver's recipes really are easy!
Hope you will have a wonderful week!
Awww! Love it. That's so fun to see what books are the big sellers in other countries. I read all the Twilight books but I have not wanted to dive back in. I'm over Edward! lol
Hi Heather! So am I… I've also read The Twilight series, but don't really have a big urge to read Edward's story.
what fun. i really enjoyed your post
sherry @ fundinmental
Hi Sherry! Thank you! I always love it when you stop by, you are just bursting with compliments!
Hope your week will be as lovely as you.
I have no idea who Jay Shetty is, it seems I should look him up though given his popularity.
I’m in Australia so naturally I read a lot of Australian fiction. Ive read a few books by set in SA, mainly by Australian authors like Malla Nunn, Tony Park and Bryce Courtenay. I wonder if there are any vampire books set in your country?
Wishing you a great reading week
Hi there Shelley! I hope you and Marg chat a bit! Jay Shetty is like a motivational/feel good by doing good guru or something. Just watch one or two of his youtube videos and you will know who we talk about.
There's an Afrikaans author who wrote a couple of vampire stories for teenagers. Haven't read them, but they are very popular with the youngsters!
What a cool idea! And this made me laugh! "The Ten Commandments obviously don't cut it anymore. They now rather need 12 steps/rules/lessons to lighten the burden"
Love seeing the difference in bestseller lists between countries!
You must tell that to Marg! I also loved it and would do it again! I told her she must make it a monthly feature where a few of us can join in. Was lots of fun!
Hope your week is good.
I wonder why Man's Search for Meaning is on the Top Ten list in S.A.? It has been published for decades (1946). Any ideas? My Sunday Salon post
Hi there Anne! I don't think the bestseller list is very much only recent releases. They look at all the sales for the past week. I like the idea of listing them all! And yes, after 60 years, people are still searching for the meaning of life and Frankl isn't a bad place to start.
It’s good to see vampires are embraced the world over and that we all need help! This is a great idea! In answer to your question I have never been to South Africa (but my cousin did and she loved it) I have however been to Brisbane, my father in law lives out there with his family. It is so far away from Scotland, we went via LA and Auckland and I remember sitting in Auckland with my head in my hands as we still had four hours to go on another plane. I really enjoyed Oz, we did consider emigrating before the kids came along but a holiday is very different to the reality!
We've never been to Australia, I've basically haven't been "Overseas" very much. But would still like to go! I have a few friends over there. Marg is always fun to chat with.
I think Midnight Sun has probably made every country's best sellers' list where it was been published. I remember watching Eclipse in Prague – we were exhausted from traveling for 2 weeks and it was in English and we hadn't seen it yet.
That's most probably very true!
So interesting to see the analysis of and comparisons between the two countries' bestseller lists. Is there anywhere in the world right now where people aren't feeling anxious? (If there is, and they accept immigrants, please share, depending on the results of our next election.) Shocking to see no books about fluffy white kittens on the bestseller lists in either country; it would certainly do a lot to ease the anxiety levels.
I'm always surprised there isn't more overlap between the lists of various countries. And why aren't there more books from all over the world available here? If there has ever been a time when we need to all talk together, it is now.
So glad you and Marg joined in to do this post this week.
I think that's what makes blogging so much fun for me Deb. If I look at the Bestsellers list from my favorite bookshop, I won't read half as much as I do. But because I have you guys and all the books you share, my reading scope is so much broader.
I've been thinking of you today! Have you read Five quarters of the orange by Joanne Harris? It's a book that makes me think of you.
Have a good week and I'll pop in as I can!
Thanks so much for doing this with me! I enjoyed it!
And lol about not having to worry about vampires!
It was such a pleasure and I would love to work with you again.
Glad you enjoyed the tongue in the cheek.