Cumin Splitters by Marieke Lucas Rijneveld has only just come out but is already at number 3 with you.
‘Great, because poetry is a genre that is hard to sell. But Rijneveld appeals to a wider audience. You need titles like this to showcase poetry.’
Last week it was Poetry Week, do you sell more poetry collections than usual?
“Certainly, people come to the store especially for the beautiful poetry gift from Ramsey Nasr.”
What else stands out?
‘Local books remain popular. The brewing history of Haarlem, no. 4, is last year’s best-selling book. We are approaching 600 copies sold.
‘The same goes for The ghost in Teyler’s house, no. 7, a golden book that was published on the occasion of the opening of the Pieter Teylers House. An educational story for children from 3 years old.’
Ambo Anthos apologized this week for the book about the betrayal of Anne Frank, additional printing has been postponed. Do you still have that book prominently displayed?
“No, but we didn’t completely remove it from the store. A dilemma. As long as the publisher doesn’t pull it back, we’re stuck. The discussion may also spark interest. We struggle with it. It was clear to Ali B that his book was immediately withdrawn from the market. That’s not done now. But we may still change our minds.’
Is there much demand for it with you?
“It’s not going as fast as predicted.”
Haarlemmers will not be fooled by an American cold case team?
‘Or put it behind the cart!’
What is your book tip of the week?
‘What we already knew then van Geert Buelens about the year 1972. Buelens shows that the issues that are now relevant to the climate were already there then. The lobbies, the slogans, the granting of rights to nature, the debate. Even nitrogen was already an issue back then. It provides insight into what we are currently working on. Well written and accessible.’
Top 10 best-selling books by De Vries Van Stockum in Haarlem
1. Annejet van der Zijl: Fortuna’s Children; overamstel
2. Hanya Yanagihara: To paradise; New Amsterdam
3. Marieke Lucas Rijneveld: Cumin splitters; Atlas Contact
4. Haerlem Historical Society: Brewing History of Haarlem
5. Toon Tellegen: The hedgehog, that’s me; Single Publishers
6. Yotam Ottolenghi, Noor Murad: Ottolenghi Test Kitchen Shelf Love; Fontaine
7. Jan Paul Schutten: The ghost in Teyler’s house; Rubinstein
8. Adriaan van Dis: Five happy stories; Atlas Contact
9. Samuel Bjørk: Snow White; Luitingh-Sijthoff
10. Charlie Mackesy: The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse; VBK Media
De Volkskrant Boekenraad consists of Dominicans Maastricht, Godert Walter Groningen, The American Book Center Amsterdam, Adr. Heinen Den Bosch, De Vries Van Stockum Haarlem, Broese Utrecht, Waanders in de Broeren Zwolle, De Drvkkery Middelburg, Paagman Delft.