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On Monday, Barnes & Noble announced that Michelle Obama's highly anticipated memoir, "Becoming," had sold the highest number of pre-orders of an adult book since Harper Lee's "Go Set a Watchman," published in July 2015. The unpublished book of Obama was already at the top of Amazon's bestseller list. He was also chosen among the coveted Oprah Winfrey Book Club.
In the home town of the former First Lady, independent bookstores share the same enthusiasm – and expect high demand – for Obama's memoirs.
Rebecca George, co-owner of Volumes in Wicker Park, said that for an average book, the store would order from three to ten copies. They get dozens of copies of "Becoming".
"We have definitely doubled the number of orders," George said. "I think a lot of people are going to get it for a Christmas present."
The store will sell the book on Tuesday, even if it is not technically open. A production company will film in space.
"We told them, here's the problem of this Tuesday's date," said George. "The production company is working with us so that, if someone happens, we make sure the transaction happens."
Suzy Takacs, owner of The Book Cellar in Lincoln Square, said he expected the demand to be comparable to that of other popular books.
"Maybe not quite like" Harry Potter ", but certainly the demand," said Takacs. "She is our city girl."
Women & Children First in Andersonville has ordered more copies of the book than anyone else in recent history.
"I've been a store owner for just over four years," said Lynn Mooney. "It was our biggest initial order for a new book for at least four years and maybe a lot longer."
Mooney said that about a quarter of the books are already spoken with pre-orders, but the store should have plenty of copies.
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"When we open our doors tomorrow morning, we will not want to run out," Mooney said. "I'm waiting for it to be our big book of the holiday season."
"All the stars aligned for this one," she said.
On Tuesday afternoon, Obama is scheduled for his first book signing at the Seminar Co-op in Hyde Park.
"I may be a little jealous, but it's really well deserved," said Mooney about the Hyde Park boutique marking the first signing. "(Independent bookstores) are a close-knit community here in Chicago."
Jeff Deutsch, director of the Seminar Cooperative, said that "Becoming" was their biggest pre-order ever.
"Because there are so many people in the community who care deeply about her and who are really proud of everything she has done, regardless of her husband," said Deutsch. "There is just a huge amount of excitement."
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57th Street Books, sister shop of the Seminary cooperative and would be the favorite of the Obama family, had to organize a launch party on Monday at midnight with "Becoming".
Tuesday night, after his appearance at the Seminary Cooperative, Obama should go to the United Center to talk about "Become" with Winfrey. Just days after the tickets went on sale for the first stop of the stadium-sized concert tour – or what some fans consider to be their Super Bowl – the event was almost completely complete.
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