US libraries warn patrons of long wait times to borrow Prince Harry’s explosive tell-all memoirs
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The controversial and revealing memoir of the Duke of Sussex, which its publisher declared the best-selling nonfiction book in history, is proving hard to find in US libraries with thousands of requests for a limited number of books and books electronics.
Several library systems in major US cities have said patrons will have to wait several months to borrow a copy of Prince Harry’s ‘Spare’.
For example, in the city of Chicago, your public library has 1,520 ‘holds’ that reserve the opportunity to borrow the book, but only 217 print copies to borrow.
It’s even worse in Columbus, Ohio, where there are 1,789 holds for 250 copies printed.
Declared the best-selling nonfiction book of all time by its publisher, the controversial and eye-opening memoir of the Duke of Sussex is proving hard to find in US libraries.
Tim Paluch, head of communications for the Des Moines, Iowa, public library, says he’s never seen anything like it.
The interest is crazy in this case. CRAZY,’ he told her Axios. We are seeing holds and application numbers unlike almost any book since pre-COVID. Even the book on CD has 17 holds right now, which is crazy.’
The Chicago library system, as well as its counterparts in cities like Minneapolis and Denver, ordered dozens more copies in an attempt to keep up with demand since the book’s release.
Even e-book copies are hard to come by: In Denver, 852 reservations have been booked for 163 virtual copies of ‘Spare,’ while Philadelphia has 755 reservations for 50 eBook copies; In Portland, Oregon, the county library has 1,057 holds for 38 e-books.
Elsewhere, the Hennepin County Library, which serves Minneapolis, has 1,395 holds for 132 copies printed; Indianapolis has 441 retentions to just 15.
‘Spare’ has blown other recent fashion books out of the water, such as Jennette McCurdy’s narrator ‘I’m Glad My Mom Died’ and Colleen Hoover’s work of fiction.
It’s hard for libraries to find more supplies as budgets have been cut during the pandemic.
The Chicago Public Library system, which runs the Harold Washington Library Center (pictured), ordered dozens more copies in an attempt to keep up with demand since the book’s release.
The Minneapolis Central Public Library in Hennepin County has 1,395 holds for 132 copies printed
The Multnomah County Central Library in Portland, Oregon has 1,057 holds for 38 eBooks
The Columbus Metropolitan Library in Columbus, Ohio has 1,789 holdings for 250 copies printed
“Certainly, people will wait a little longer, but the demand for this kind of zeitgeist book is so high that we really don’t have a choice,” Paluch said.
Libraries desperate to keep up with demand also increase lead times and supply chain problems.
Licensing issues also limit the number of eBooks a library can get its hands on.
Prince Harry’s revealing autobiography was finally published on January 10, with a record 400,000 hardcover, ebook and audio copies sold.
The book includes claims that the Prince of Wales physically attacked and taunted him for his panic attacks, and that the King put his own interests above Harry’s and was jealous of the Duchess of Sussex and the Princess of Welsh.
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, leaves ‘The Late Show With Stephen Colbert’ on January 9.
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and guest Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex
Larry Finlay, managing director of Transworld Penguin Random House, said, “We always knew this book would fly, but it exceeds even our most optimistic expectations.”
“As far as we know, the only books that have sold more on their first day are the ones starring the other Harry (Potter).”
As the duke continued a series of high-profile promotional interviews, he said he would “like nothing more” for his sons to have relationships with the royal family.
His comments about his son and daughter came despite criticism he has leveled at his brother William, father Charles and stepmother Camilla.
In her first print interview about her autobiography, she told US magazine People that Archie, three, and 19-month-old Lili had a connection to some of the Windsors, whom she did not name, saying this brought her “great joy”. . .
Prince Harry’s memoir Spare is offered for sale at a Barnes & Noble store on January 10, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois.
Prince Harry’s revealing autobiography was finally published on January 10, with a record 400,000 hardcover, ebook and audio copies sold.
He also described his late mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, as his “guardian angel” and said that she is with him “all the time”.
In his interview with People magazine, which featured a flattering photo op, Harry said of his book, which was written by JR Moehringer: “I don’t want to tell anyone what to think about it, and that includes my family.” This book and its truths are, in many ways, a continuation of my own mental health journey.
“It’s a raw account of my life: the good, the bad, and everything in between.”
Harry has faced criticism for his revelation in Spare that he killed 25 Taliban members during the Afghan war.
He has also shared candid admissions of drug use throughout his life, of losing his virginity to an older woman in a field as a teenager, and freezing his penis off.