Book is a runaway success in Mumbai and Delhi.
Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf’s book, In the Line of Fire, has set the publishing world on fire, literally.
On the very first day of its debut on Tuesday, more than half the books have been sold in major bookstores across the city. Book sellers are calling the memoir, which is priced at Rs950, a sell-out.
The general’s book is already the second best seller on the non-fiction list of Amazon.com, behind Hegemony or Survival: America’s Quest for Global Dominance by Noam Chomsky.
Every popular bookstore in Mumbai has seen record crowds, jostling to get their hands on the book.
Ameesha Prabhu, head of buying and merchandising with Shoppers’ Stop Limited, a Crossword franchisee, says, “We had initially ordered 150 copies, and we sold 80 per cent of the stock in less than a day. We have ordered additional books, which should reach our stores by October 2.”
Oxford, which owns six book stores in India, ordered 2,000 books for all its stores. The books went flying off the shelves even before hitting the stores. Rajiv Chowdhry, chief executive officer of Oxford Book Stores in India, says that readers in New Delhi and Mumbai have been most enthusiastic about the book.
“Delhi being the political capital and Mumbai being the financial capital has stirred up great interest,” he explains.
“Excerpts from the book itself has generated tremendous amount of publicity, especially regarding the Agra Summit, Kargil, and the relationship between India, US, and Pakistan. There was a lot of advance booking in Mumbai, especially in Calcutta where the book was also released on Tuesday.”
Those clamouring to get their hands on the book include politicians, military men, and professors, adds Chowdhry.
“The price of the book is not deterring buyers,” he says. “We expect to sell all 2,000 copies by month-end, and we will be ordering more.” Interest was also high at Granth bookstore on Tuesday afternoon.
Hiren Modi, assistant store manager, says, “We have sold 60 per cent of the books. We have also got many queries on the Hindi version of the book.” The Hindi version, Agnipath, is priced at Rs350. It is expected to be hit the shelves next week.
