Book Report I By David Streitfeld  
perpetual optimists, which could be one reason theyÛªre in such a relatively unprofitable business in the first place. None of the store managers or representatives contacted for this weekÛªs column would profess to being even mildly worried about the coming holiday season, stock market decline or not. Consider the following comments from local bookstore owners or representatives:</br></br>perpetual optimists, which could be one reason theyÛªre in such a relatively unprofitable business in the first place. None of the store managers or representatives contacted for this weekÛªs column would profess to being even mildly worried about the coming holiday season, stock market decline or not. Consider the following comments from local bookstore owners or representatives: ÛÏWe're planning on having a great season.Û (Smithsonian) ÛÏMaybe not better than last year, but just as good.Û (Trover) ÛÏWe expect sales to be higher or at least as strong as last year.Û (Bridge Street Books)</br></br>To help assure them of success, bookstore managers and employes have favorite titlesÛÓspecial books they thrust into the hands of those customers who inquire after the perfect present for an assistant or an aunt. Representatives of several local stores were asked what was tops on their listsÛÓwhat they both liked and expected to sell stacks of. Their selections and their reasons follow.</br></br>In spite of its high priceÛÓ$75, discounted from $100ÛÓOlssonÛªs Jim Tenney expects a lot of action with Georgia OÛªKeeffe: 100 Flowers (Knopf). ÛÏItÛªs the best art book of the season,Û he says. ÛÏAnd it comes already boxed, which makes it easier to ship.Û And he likes An Incomplete Education (Ballantine) by Judy Jones and William Wilson, despite the largely negative reviews it garnered. ÛÏItÛªs something I think I'd be interested in putting by my bed and reading a couple pages a night. ItÛªs got explanations of everything from GodelÛªs Theorem to the Mobius strip.Û</br></br>Crown BooksÛª discount on 100 Flowers isnÛªt quite as large as OlssonÛªsÛÓthe 52 Crowns in the area are selling it for $80ÛÓbut president Robert Haft still thinks his customers will snatch it up. ÛÏPrice is always a factor, but itÛªs a magnificent book.Û He also likes The Random House Dictionary of the English LanguageÛÓÛÏgive this to somebody and youÛªre making a statement that goes beyond buying them a sweater or perfume.Û The dictionary lists for $79.95, but Crown is selling it for $44.44ÛÓ close to a 45 percent discount. (For most stores, that would mean the book was a loss leader, but Haft says this isnÛªt the case: ÛÏWeÛªre making a thin marginÛ of profit.)