Why The B Word Means Nothing

Once upon a time, my best friend's employer wrote a book.  Then, one week after Christmas, her book was one of the top-selling English language books at the Tower Records shop in Shibuya, Tokyo.  Since then, this woman has prefaced the title of her book with the phrase "the bestseller."  In so doing, she reminds us all that the term "bestseller" - when lacking a proper context- can mean absolutely nothing.  Jade has since left said job on very bad terms with said woman, and since then, the "bestselling" status of her former boss's self-published book has been a run-on joke between us.

This is why I couldn't wait to call Jade and tell her that I've made it onto a "(name of former employer)-bestseller-list".

The below is pasted from Amazon.co.uk, from the of new and future releases section, in the category "Japan".

Hot New Releases in Books

Any Category > Books > Travel & Holiday > Countries & Regions > Asia > Japan

The bestselling new & future releases in Japan. Updated hourly.

1.		The Rough Guide to Japan by Jan Dodd (Author), Simon Richmond (Author) Publication Date: 1 April 2008 Available for pre-order RRP: £16.99 Price: £11.21 You Save: £5.78 (34%)
2.		Exploring Kyoto: On Foot in the Ancient Capital by Judith Clancy (Author) (3 customer reviews) Publication Date: 1 May 2008 Available for pre-order RRP: £7.35 Price: £6.69 You Save: £0.66 (9%)
3.		Live and Work in Japan (Live & Work) (Live & Work) (Live & Work) by David Roberts (Author), Elizabeth Roberts (Author), Erica Simms (Author) Publication Date: 21 Mar 2008 Available for pre-order Price: £14.99
4.		The Little Tokyo Subway Guidebook: Everything You Need to Know to Get Around the City and Beyond by Ryoichi Kawarada (Author) Publication Date: 23 Mar 2008 In stock RRP: £7.99 Price: £6.39 You Save: £1.60 (20%) 5 used & new from £2.91
5.		BAR FLOWER by Lea Jacobson (Author) Publication Date: 14 Jun 2008 Available for pre-order RRP: £16.99 Price: £11.21 You Save: £5.78 (34%)

Woo hoo!  We're #5 (Any Category > Books > Travel & Holiday > Countries & Regions > Asia > Japan) at least for the hour! 

(Note: the UK release date is 2 months after the US release.)

Comments

[Lulu]

I think I might know the former employer...as she was mine also! Maybe!

Congratulations all the same, your book is on my TBR list!!! Your wedding must be getting close now also right? Best of luck with that too....Hope everything goes according to plan!

[postpaleo]

It's kinda like the word "natural". It has become to be known as good for you. Arsenic is natural.