WILD ABOUT HARRY - AND MAYBE BILL CLINTON CAN'T RIVAL POTTER, BUT HE'LL SELL BOOKS.

Byline: Evan Pondel Staff Writer

Former President Bill Clinton's memoir ``My Life'' proved popular at several bookstores Tuesday, selling steadily for its first day on the shelves.

For booksellers stocking ``My Life'' - stacked like bricks at Barnes & Noble, Costco, Dutton's and Bookstar - a summer that initially seemed long and drawn out is now likely to reap even more profits.

``Not so fast,'' said Bill Wallace, 80, thumbing through a few pages at Costco in Canoga Park. ``I wouldn't spend 10 cents on that book. I know what I need to know about that man already.''

That's not what booksellers believe. Advance orders are already topping 2 million, with the industry expecting Clinton's book to outsell his wife's memoirs. The first print run of ``My Life'' is about 1.5 million, compared with Hillary's first print run of 1 million. Among the biggest challenges is that Clinton's aura doesn't have nearly as much gravitas as that of Harry Potter, tempering the enthusiasm of several booksellers.

``We had people wrapped around the store for Harry Potter. The audience was probably huge due to the movie,'' said Brian Marrama, manager at Bookstar in Studio City. '`I think things will pick up for Clinton's book, but there still isn't much of a comparison with Potter.''

Regardless, Bookstar has hundreds of ``My Life'' copies at the ready. In Canoga Park, Costco, which is selling the book for $19.95, stacked about 100 copies on a table that drew a huddle of people.

Considering that the book is retailing for $35, Thomas Berk decided to buy two copies at Costco. ``But they're not for me. I told my wife I'd buy her one and the other is for my son's father-in-law,'' said the 66-year-old from Woodland Hills. ``My wife knows she's paying for this.''

Not all were skittish about buying ``My Life.''

Abner Yablon and his wife welcomed the read.

``I think he is a brilliant man. And we feel he has been given a raw deal,'' said Yablon, 71, holding the 900-plus-page book.

With Clinton poised to do two book signings in Los Angeles - at Brentano's at Westfield Shoppingtown Century City and at Eso Won Books on South La Brea Avenue - several hundred ``My Life'' enthusiasts are likely to turn out. The crowds bode well for bookstores, particularly those in need of attracting more readers.

Borders, the parent company of Brentano's, was able to net Clinton for two signings across the country.

``Our national events team pitched away for those,'' said Anne Roeman, corporate affairs council for the Michigan-based bookstore chain. ``The book comes at a good time because we are cycling against the fifth 'Harry Potter.'''

Book sales across the nation have been relatively flat, with summer generally a good season for picking up the slack. Roeman said Borders has bucked the trend a bit, although the chain isn't afraid to gush about the potential of ``My Life.''

``We expect it to be one of our top sellers this summer,'' she said.

Dutton's in Brentwood is also well stocked for Clinton readers. The store opened for an hour at midnight Tuesday to sell off the first batch. Ed Conklin, Dutton's manager, couldn't fathom how many books would be sold, but he expressed confidence in his supply.

``You never really know. It's like putting a number in a blender and hoping something will pop into your head,'' he said. ``Whatever the number, people like political books right now. They are the hot sellers and I could see that continuing for quite some time.''

Evan Pondel, [phone]

evan.pondel(at)dailynews.com

Evan Yee/Staff Photographer

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2 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) Stacks of ``My Life,'' marked at 30 percent off, are ready for purchase at Barnes & Noble in Glendale on the volume's first sale date, Tuesday.

(2 -- color) Cris Miller of Los Angeles leafs through the former president's memoirs at a Glendale Barnes & Noble store.

Evan Yee/Staff Photographer