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9/11 Commission Report A Boon For Local Bookstores

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DURHAM, N.C. — Many local bookstores are having trouble keeping up with an unlikely hit.

The

9/11 Commission Report

sold more than 350,000 copies in its first week in bookstores.

"It's one of those books we're having trouble keeping on the shelf," Durham bookseller Bill Pillow said.

When it was first released, the Durham bookstore sold about 10 copies a day.

The 400-plus page report chronicles the days and months leading up to the events attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. It offers recommendations to avoid what is now the deadliest terrorist attack in U.S. history.

Cliff Harbour says election-year politics is one main reason he bought the book.

"I think everybody has been waiting for it to come out -- to get an idea if someone has responsibility for avoiding the tragedy and then failed to meet that responsibility," he said.

The Commission's report is outselling booksellers' expectations.

"People are really into it, because they're learning so many details now that haven't come out before. The amount of research and the minute-by-minute accounts have really caught a lot of people," Pillow said.

Pillow says the book is now selling much like the Harry Potter books did on their release -- which is no small feat for a small book store. The store has 30 copies on order and half of those are already sold.

The book, which is the No. 1 seller at Amazon.com, is on back order in other Triangle Book stores, too.

The report is in its second printing.

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