“The Silkworm” release celebrated by independent booksellers

by · June 20, 2014

The Silkworm, J.K. Rowling’s second novel as crime writer Robert Galbraith, was released yesterday across the UK and as a soft release in the US. Even before this, the novel was highly rated, and Rowling fans across the world (including us here at MuggleNet) made sure that they got their hands on a copy as soon as it came out.

In the weeks leading up to the book’s release, news emerged that the book would be affected by the current Hachette – Amazon debate in the US with he preorder option being removed from the retail site.

Following this news, independent booksellers across the US stepped up to the challenge to deliver The Silkworm to fans. Notably, Third Place Books, a bookshop in Washington, promised to personally deliver The Silkworm to fans who preordered, complete with a package that included tote bags, “Strike” T-shirts, and for one lucky reader, a signed bookplate. Find out more here.

Earlier in the month, J.K. Rowling tweeted her support for independent booksellers:

Other independent booksellers across the US stepped up their efforts, too. The Bookseller highlights some of these:

At Powell’s, the bookstore mini-chain [that] got an on-air shout-out from Colbert, The Silkworm is being discounted 30% as a ‘New Favorite’ and had been #2 on the store’s list of bestselling titles.

Vivien Jennings, co-ower [sic] of Rainy Day Books in Fairway, Kans., called Colbert ‘a hero’ for standing up to bullies and said she was in the midst of phoning 100 customers who bought The Cuckoo’s Calling and alerting them to the availability of The Silkworm.

As mentioned above, the ongoing dispute was also highlighted by Colbert on his show a couple of weeks ago. Watch the clip below (US only):

 

If you haven’t got a copy of the book, yet (and why not?), then make sure you get down to your local independent and get a copy. Or if you wish, the book is now available to buy on Amazon US.

Are you reading The Silkworm? Have you finished already? What are your thoughts? Let us know!