Madonna's book: Zillions printed, 8,000 sold.

BBC On-Line ^ | Wednesday, 24 September, 2003 | staff writer

[yankeedame]

Last Updated: Wednesday, 24 September, 2003, 11:09 GMT 12:09 UK

Madonna book sells 8,000 copies

This was Madonna's first attempt at children's fiction Madonna's children's book The English Roses has sold just over 8,000 copies in its first week in the UK. The book, launched amid a blaze of publicity, made it to number 17 in the national book chart, according to data company Nielsen Bookscan.

It was the second bestselling children's book of the week, behind JK Rowling's fifth Harry Potter book.

This week the top-selling book in the UK, David Beckham's autobiography My Side, sold 103,508 copies.

Madonna's book, her first for children, has been translated into 42 languages and is on sale in 100 countries.

The English Roses sold 8,270 copies in its opening week, 220 copies fewer than the number one children's book, JK Rowling's Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, which was first published in June.

The Harry Potter book, which also backed by a massive marketing campaign, sold more than 1.7 million copies in the UK on it first day of release three months ago through bookshops and the internet.

To mark the launch of The English Roses, Madonna threw a tea party in Kensington, west London, on 14 September inviting friends and celebrities and their children , including actress Patsy Palmer and interior designer Linda Barker.

The guests were invited to walk up a pink, sparkly carpet, surrounded by barriers adorned with butterflies and roses.

Madonna then read an extract of the book, aimed at children over the age of six, to the assembled young audience.

Children's poet Michael Rosen commented that in the book "Madonna takes on the voice of a slightly bossy teacher, telling her readers to not interrupt and to listen carefully" in a review of The English Roses for BBC News Online.

[TUX]

Maybe teach girls how to do a lesbian french kiss?

[zencat]

I think 8,000 is more than her last album sold.

[gitmo]

It hard to believe 8000 people bought Madonna's book for their kids.

[DonQ]

I think that the small sales derive, not from her rock persona, but from the fact that (a) parents of the same children are already burned out from the recent Harry Potter frenzy, (b) kids are unaware of Madonna - perhaps even as a rock star (some kids are really too young for rock) - and certainly that she has a book out, so they're not bugging their parents about getting it.

[goodnesswins]

Madonna who?

[babble-on]

No one bought for kids, all 8,000 bought by her gay fans. She's the new Cher

[Afronaut]

I thought she was pouring shots and ucapping beers on Avenue A & 6th ? Books? Childrens?

I have to say, I know No one that is interested in buying a CD from her catalogue. She is on a downhill. Too Much Fun to watch.

[50sDad]

Editorial cartoon in our local paper: Kid, peeking out from under the covers, terrified. Dad, "I guess that's enough Madonna for one night." Book cover: "If You Give a Dominatrix a Cookie." ROTFL!

[reagan_fanatic]

And Madonna's next series of books will be aimed at the weekend gardener, starting with her first book, '101 Things You Can Do With A Ho'

[txzman]

"It hard to believe 8000 people bought Madonna's book for their kids."

Uh, methinks all these copies were bought by reporters and those who needed bookmarks for their favorite sado-masochistic pose in her coffee table size book "Sex".

[Lucky2]

Couldn't happen to a better slut. Too bad hillary's book did do the same.

[Plutarch]

I think about that many saw her last movie, and these were mainly critics bent on writing maliciously bad reviews.

[dead]

Government funded libraries and schools buy whatever book the publishers send them.

It's not like their spending their own money or anything.

[Quilla]

Eight thousand, eh? She needs to call the DNC offices as I understand a Mr. McAuliffe personally purchased one million eight hundred thousand copies of some other chick's book.

[kallisti]

not to mention the PRC's 200k.

[BushisTheMan]

Speaking of chicks...I guess Madonna has had to change her career just as the Dixie Chicks had to change their audience.

[Quilla]

And speaking of witches...

[DoughtyOne]

What's her publicist going to do with 8,000 books?