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1. Good
Grief
By Lolly Winston
"Protagonist Sophie Stanton is only 36 when her husband dies, and she
goes through all the stages of grief: She can't get out of bed, and then
she gets angry, feels de nial, and, eventually, opens up to friendship
and a possible love. She is so human that you want to hug her, or call
her up, or go out on the town with her. Winston has a wistful way of writing
-- this novel kept my attention glued until the end." -- Roberta
Rubin, The Book Stall at Chestnut, Winnetka, IL
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2. Love
in the Driest Season
By Neely Tucker
"Neely Tucker has covered some of the world's most horrific stories as
a foreign correspondent, but his most riveting reporting is the story
of how he and his wife adopted their Zimbabwean daughter, Chipo. The child's
survival as an abandoned infant was no less miraculous than Tucker and
his wife's approval as parents after years of governmental red tape, hostility,
and prejudice." -- Susan Wood Taylor, The Traveler, Bainbridge
Island, WA
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3. The
Birth of Venus
By Sarah Dunant
"The large scale of history -- filled with art, intrigue, and romance
in late 15th century Florence -- comes into perfect focus in Sarah Dunant's
compellingly written novel. Alessandra Cecchi dreams of being an artist
and, so, is totally entranced when her father brings a mysterious young
painter to their home to decorate the family chapel. This is a mesmerizing,
sexy, and startl ing story with a heart-pounding pace that kept me turning
pages late into the night." -- Susan Avery, Ariel Booksellers,
New Paltz, NY
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4. The
Shadow of the Wind
By Carlos Ruiz Zafon
"Postwar Barcelona is the setting of this stunning novel about an enigmatic
novelist, Julian Carax, and the bookseller's son who discovers his work
in the Cemetery of Forgotten Books and subsequently becomes obsessed with
uncovering the mystery surrounding the writer. The multilayered plot and
exquisitely written characters will keep readers riveted. Haunting and
beautiful, with a perfect plot for book-lovers." -- Cathy Langer,
Tattered Cover Bookstore, Denver, CO
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5. Blue
Suburbia: Almost a Memoir
By Laurie Albanese
"Laurie Albanese's collection of poetry hits every nerve -- childhood,
marriage, parenthood, the loss of parents -- and it left me weeping with
recognition, yet uplifted, that someone had so eloquently expressed what
I feel. Readers will be compelled to share and discuss this book."
-- Cheryl McKeon, Third Place Books, Lake Forest Park, WA
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6. The
Forest Lover
By Susan Vreeland
"Set in British Columbia at the turn of the 20th century, Vreeland's latest
nove l once again allows us to enter the art-inspired world of another
era. Vancouver-born painter Emily Carr has become known for her love of
the natural world, and her pioneering efforts to preserve the primitive
art of the indigenous cultures she loved. She should attract many new
admirers with this fulfilling novel." -- Connie Heppner, Full
Circle Bookstore, Oklahoma City, OK
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7. Holy
Fools
By Joanne Harris
"Holy Fools takes place in a dilapidated convent on an island in
France, where each of the sisters is hiding from secrets of the past.
With all the sensuousness and mysticism of her earlier novel Chocolat,
plus the tension and friction between church and science, Holy Fools
makes an intoxicating tale of manipulation and revenge. Fabulous."
-- Megan O'Bryan, Scott's Bookstore, Mount Vernon, WA
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8. Name
All the Animals
By Alison Smith
"This extraordinary account of the way the author's family coped with
the accidental death of her brother and her own secret homosexu ality
is gripping, unsentimental, and amazingly accomplished. If Smith is able
to do this in a first book, I can't wait for the next." -- Carole
Horne, Harvard Book Store, Cambridge, MA
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9. An
Unpardonable Crime
By Andrew Taylor
"This historical literary mystery set in early 19th century England revolves
around a young Edgar Allan Poe. The story is dark and compelling, and
I was absorbed from the beginning. It will really appeal to fans of An
Instance of the Fingerposts and The Dante Club." -- Eric
Buscher, Posman Books @ Grand Central Terminal, New York, NY
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10. The
Big Year: A Tale of Man, Nature, and Fowl Obsession
By Mark Obmascik
"Since Roger Tory Peterson, the ultimate quest for birders has been a
Big Year: the annual record for the most bird species spotted. Journalist
Obmascik chronicles the tribulations of three competitive birders during
the 1998 Big Year competition and mixes in history, geography, nature,
strategy sessions, and triumphs of character over adversity." -- Daniel
Goldin, Harry W. Schwartz Bookshop, Milwaukee, WI
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Aloft
By Chang-rae Lee
"In Aloft, Jerry Battle flies solo in his private pla ne while
struggling to come to terms with his life, the needs of his elderly father,
the needs of his children, and his own relationships with the living and
the dead. A tremendously powerful and -- dare I say it -- heartwarming
novel." -- Carol Schneck, Schuler Books & Music, Okemos, Okemos, MI
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The
Annunciation of Francesca Dunn
By Janis Hallowell
"Hallowell's novel is a delight to read from beginning to end. Her story
-- about a young girl who affects others' lives in an unexpected way --
is mixed with tenderness as well as touches of insanity, humor, and sadness.
I absolutely loved this book." -- Susan Harrison, The Country Bookshop,
Southern Pines, NC
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Anything
You Say Can and Will Be Used Against You
By Laurie Lynn Drummond
"Drummond is now an assistant English professor, but she was for eight
years a uniformed police officer with the Baton Rouge City Police Department
-- an experience that provides the raw material for these fine stories.
Though fiction, these tales read like memoir, and are replete with remarkable
immediacy and realism." -- Tom Allen, Stacey's Bookstore, San Francisco,
CA
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Awake
By Elizabeth Graver
"Ana, the novel's narrator, is the parent of a child with a rare genetic
disease wherein sunlight can prove fatal. The story unfolds from one about
a family with a sick child to a serious and moving exploration of identity,
passion, freedom, and the implications of comp lacency -- as well as the
pursuit of desire. This is a haunting work that lingers well after you
finish it." -- Tim Huggins, Newtonville Books, Newton, MA
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Brother
and Sister
By Joanna Trollope
"This story of two adopted adults raised in the same family and seeking
their separate birth-mothers is an insightful portrayal of middle-class
English life. The characters' discoveries change their lives in surprising
ways. Joanna Trollope has produced another winner." -- Shirley Frank,
Edmonds Bookshop, Edmonds, WA
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The
Clovis Incident
By Pari Noskin Taichert
"The characters in The Clovis Incident are engaging and well drawn,
and New Mexico itself is portrayed with affection and humor. Interesting
and well-paced, it will keep you wanting to read 'just one more chapter.'"
-- Ardys Otterbacher, Tome on the Range Books, Las Vegas, NM
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Confinement
By Carrie Brown
"Arthur and his son Toby are rescued from 1946 London, spirited away by
a wealthy couple; the two are the only survivors in their family. Although
the horrors of the war are behind them, Arthur and Toby soon realize the
dark secrets of their adoptive family carry burdens as well. Young Aggie,
the family's only child, brings them true joy -- but her love leads to
further loss and angst for Arthur. I am as haunted by Arthur as he is
by his memories of the Austrian Holocaust." -- Cheryl McKeon, Third
Place Books, Lake Forest Park, WA
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Cooking
for Harry: A Low-Carbohydrate Novel
By Kay-Marie James
"When husband Harry decides to go on a diet, wife Francie takes over his
kitchen duties. However, as his weight changes so does their marriage.
This book is called a 'low-carbohydrate novel,' but it offers plenty of
substantial, high-calorie delights." -- Tara O'Donnell, Paperbacks
Plus, Bronx, NY
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The
Death and Life of Charlie St. Cloud
By Ben Sherwood
"Charlie St. Cloud is quiet and kind; he has scores of secrets and is
devoted to his work at a local graveyard. Tess Carroll is bold and untamable
and has sailed the world alone. This unlikely pair fall deeply in love,
until a bizarre tragedy forces Charlie to face the most difficult decision
of his life. This haunting, beautiful novel is a unique and tremendous
read." -- Hilary Emerson Lay, The Spirit of '76 Bookstore, Marblehead,
MA
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The
Dew Breaker
By Edwidge Danticat
"In The Dew Breaker, Danticat presents a portrait of evil unlike
anything I can remember. The horror and brutality of Haiti during the
1960s and '70s is seen through the eyes of a torturer and his victims,
who com e to find that he is living among them in the New York City of
today. Edwidge Danticat has achieved what so many writers strive for,
a novel that matters." -- Mitchell Kaplan, Books & Books, Coral Gables,
FL
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The
Epicure's Lament
By Kate Christensen
"The thoroughly perverse and unlikable protagonist Hugo Whittier somehow
seduces us with his angry, mordantly funny chronicle of pain, lust, literature,
food, cigarettes, and unwelcome relatives. And, in spite of himself, he
manages to move us." -- Mary Benham and Calvin Crosby, Book Passage,
Corte Madera, CA
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Faithful
By Davitt Sigerson
"Sigerson has written a dandy of a first novel. Under the cover of rather
frequent and graphic sex scenes between the primary characters is a novel
full of sharp-eyed observations about modern relationships, with all of
their messy alliances and barriers. Sigerson's lean, unforgiving writing
adds another layer of realism to the story." -- Neil Rajala, Schuler
Books & Music, Grand Rapids, MI
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Fires
in the Dark
By Louise Doughty
"Not since D.M. Thomas' The White Hotel have I been so deeply affected
by a book about the horrors of the Holocaust. This is a historically rich
story of one gypsy family and the persecution they suffered before, during,
and after the worst era in history. It is a story of strength and honor,
tenacity and loss." -- Cheryl A. Townsend, Cat's Impetuous Books, Kent,
OH
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Havana
World Series
By Jose Latour
"A heart-pounding reconstruction of a war of misfits just before the revolutionary
changes in Cuba. A first-rate crime novel peopled with the lowest of lowlife."
-- Virginia Hobson Hicks, Books on the Bluff, Townsend, GA
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Ibid
By Mark Dunn
"Sparkling with wit, dazzling with brilliance, this is the wondrous new
book from the author of Ella Minnow Pea and Welcome to Higby.
Dunn does not mince words about discrimination, and he pokes fun at many
people whose names and places in recent history are familiar -- but what
he does best of all is entertain us with a clever story, endearing characters,
an unusual format, and a whale of a good book." -- Susan Wasson, Bookworks,
Albuquerque, NM
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Inamorata
By Joseph Gangemi
"There's much to like in this tale a bout possible spiritual mediums in
1920s Philadelphia: a subtle narrative flavored with real characters;
an eccentric fictional cast; and a loving evocation of a period that,
while only 80 years removed from today, seems eons away." -- Barbara
Peters, The Poisoned Pen, Scottsdale, AZ
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Ira
Foxglove
By Thomas McMahon
"This posthumously published novel tells the story of a talented inventor
who embarks on an intrigu ing odyssey to reclaim his family. I expect
we'll begin to see a demand for McMahon's earlier novels as readers discover
this one." -- Pete Dickerson, Fireside Bookstore, Forest City, NC
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Little
Children
By Tom Perrotta
"An ambitious, dark, and comical novel about a group of suburban adults
dealing with the delicate balance of romantic relationships plus the dramas
of midlife, social boundaries, and parenthood. Perrotta's ear for inner
dialogue left me amazed and, at times, in tears of laughter. This book
will surely be regarded as one of the most well-written and entertaining
novels of the year." -- Tim Huggins, Newtonville Books, Newton, MA
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Loving
Che
By Ana Menéndez
"Loving Che is an engrossing narrative that enraptures the reader
as the layers of the story unfold. Sensuous and poignant, Menéndez's achie
vement reads like poetry." -- Sara Kristof, Island Bookstore, Corolla,
NC
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Love
Monkey
By Kyle Smith
"Tom is a single New Yorker who freely admits to being the emotional equivalent
of a 13-year-old boy, rather than the 32-year-old man he is. Enter Julia;
she is the woman of Tom's dreams...but he may not be the man of hers.
So, men, be prepared to find a little of yourself in Tom, and, women,
be prepared to find out what they're really thinking. Love Monkey
has much to offer readers of both genders." -- Maret Orliss, Vroman's
Bookstore, Pasadena, CA
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Maggie
Darling
By James Howard Kunstler
"One of the great commentators on American space and place writes a hysterical
romance novel chock-full of mishaps seemingly never-ending. The theme
is common, but Kunstler's writing is immaculate and draws a detai led
and vivid portrait of the Maggie Darling character. This novel about wealth,
power, sex and drugs, will keep you in stitches." -- Carolyn Valtos,
Bookworks, Albuquerque, NM
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The
Outside World
By Tova Mirvis
"This is the compelling story of Tzippy and Baruch (formerly Bryan), two
young people who search for the perfect world within themselves and in
their religion, while their hapless parents can only look on as the pair
move s from engagement to marriage. Mirvis gives us a rare glimpse into
the Orthodox Jewish world -- one full of tradition, joy, and abundance,
but one that is ultimately closed to the outside world." -- Mary Lee
Delafield, Blue Willow Bookshop, Houston, TX
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PS,
I Love You
By Cecelia Ahern
"A first novel from a 22-year-old author, PS, I Love You is a page-turner.
Gerry and Holly were the ideal couple, and life was just as Holly had
planned -- that is, until Gerry must face serious illness. This is an
amazing love story that I'm going to recommend to all my customers who
love fiction." -- Susie Weaver, Broad Street Books, Portsmouth, VA
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The
Swallows of Kabul
By Yasmina Khadra
"A deeply moving story, set in Kabul, about four people whose lives are
affected by the harshness of the Taliban government. Khadra's novel is
powerful, and a definite must-read for anyone interested in current events."
-- Susan Harrison, The Country Bookshop, Southern Pines, NC
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Under
Cottonwoods
By Stephen Grace
"This fantastic novel tells the story of two troubled young men and the
friendship between them that grows as they fly fish on the rivers of Jackson,
Wyoming. Grace knows how to tell a great story." -- Jessica Mydland,
The Book Shop, Sheridan, WY
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A
Very Private Gentleman
By Martin Booth
"A subtle, stylish, and extremely well-crafted work of intrigue disguised
as fiction. Martin Booth's latest is right on the money." -- Geoffrey
Jennings, Rainy Day Books, Fairway, KS
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With
By Donald Harington
"Harington has always taken chances that many writers would not dare to,
and the results are always heartfelt. I raced through this, his latest
work -- again set in the fictional Ozark town of Stay More -- and I'm
about to start it again, so I can savor it this time." -- Pat Breen,
Brunswick Bookland, Brunswick, ME
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Baking
Illustrated: The Ultimate Resource for the Modern Baker With More Than
350 Recipes
Edited by Cook's Illustrated Magazine
"This is a cookbook that offers great recipes and expl ains the science
of baking, with brand-name ingredients (and how they differ) for cookies,
muffins, pizzas, and breads -- glorious breads from around the world.
And there's more! Drawings and photos throughout explain the good, the
bad, and th e worst results, and why." -- Becky Milner, Vintage Books,
Vancouver, WA
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Bobby
Fischer Goes to War: How the Soviets Lost the Most Extraordinary Chess
Match of All Time
By David Edmonds and John Eidinow
"Remember the early '70s, when the eyes of the world were glued to a particular
chessboard? Unlikely as it seems now, the 'match of the century' in 1972
was considered a major event with political repercussions far beyond the
ches s world. An engrossing book on a fascinating subject." -- Lisa
Moore, Twenty-Third Avenue Books, Portland, OR
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Borderlines
By Caroline Kraus
"Sometimes, getting what you want is the worst thing that could happen.
In this true story, San Francisco bookstore clerk Caroline Kraus desires
a special friendship with a co-worker, the free-spirited and enchanting
Jane. But Caroline, in fleeing the emotional void of her mother's death,
is about to find something worse -- intimacy without boundaries. This
book will take you on a dark, thrilling, and, eventually, triumphant ride."
-- Holly Chase Williams, Auntie's Bookstore, Spokane, WA
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Breaking
Ranks: Refusing to Serve in the West Bank and Gaza Strip
By Ronit Chacham
"I was heartened, impressed, and generally blown away by Breaking Ranks,
the account of nine Israeli Defense Force members who tell why they now
refuse to serve in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Essential reading for
anyone interested in the Middle East conflict." -- Lynn Farquhar, Tattered
Cover Book store, Denver, CO
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Civil
Wars: Gay Marriage in America
By David Moats
"Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Moats has written a fascinating account
of how democracy moves society forward. Not only does he introduce us
to the many players in the debate over gay marriage and civil unions in
Vermont, he also allows us to watch the democratic process unfold through
town meetings, committee meetings, and public debate in the Vermont legislature.
A remarkable account of history being made." -- Joan Grenier, Odyssey
Bookshop, South Hadley, MA
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Goat
By Brad Land
"Land writes with a brutal poignancy that is ra re for any author, especially
a young one. His narrative is hauntingly strong for someone who has experienced
so much; his straightforward truth survives the brutality he has faced.
I couldn't stop reading." -- Daniel Elam, Branch's Chapel Hill Bookshop,
Chapel Hill, NC
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Good
Books Lately: The One-Stop Resource for Book Groups and Other Greedy Readers
By Ellen Moore and Kira Stevens
"Chock-full of great tips and advice, this helpful resource is a must-read
for any book group member or leader wanting to enhance their reading/discussion
experience. The stories, comments, recommendations (of what to read and
w hat to avoid!) from book groups around the country are gems." -- Maryjude
Hoeffel, Bookin' It, Little Falls, MN
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Harriet
Tubman: The Road to Freedom
By Catherine Clinton
"Tubman's achievements in the 1850s and 1860s are often overlooked because
she did not write a memoir. Here, Clinton has pulled together many accounts
of Tubman's exploits and has filled in the gaps with vivid detail on the
abolition movement and the underground railroad. Tubman emerges as an
incredibly brave woman whose skill and leadership brought hundreds of
slaves to freedom and inspired thousands." -- Duff Bruce, The Open
Book, Greenville, SC
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Inside
Hitler's Bunker: The Last Days of the Third Reich
By Joachim Fest, Margot Dembo (Trans.)
"The latest work by preeminent German historian Joachim Fest examines
the collapse of Hitler's government and the devastation the increa singly
frenzied dictator wrought upon his country, even as the Allied armies
advanced from both the East and the West. With his usual attention to
detail and a smooth, readable style, Fest delivers yet another excellent
volume about the Third Reich." -- Karen Keyte, Books Etc., Falmouth,
ME
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The
Midnight Disease: The Drive to Write, Writer's Block, and the Creative
Brain
By Alice Weaver Flaherty
"This is a writing book like no other. Flaherty, a clinical neurologist,
was afflicted with a rare disorder that causes incessant, compulsive writing.
Her book combines a poetic meditation on her experience and its opposite
-- writer's block -- with a detailed discussion of the neurological functions
underlying speaking, reading, and, ultimately, writing. The science is
clear but demanding, and there are fascinating new ways of looking at
things on almost every page." -- Michael Rosenthal, Modern Times Bookstore,
San Francisco, CA
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Nothing's
Wrong: A Man's Guide to Managing His Feelings
By David Kundtz
"In an age of feel-good books, Kundtz knows that many men must take a
crucial first step -- knowing how to feel at all. His three-part approach
to freeing men from entrenched stoicism is simple and workable, and his
explanation of why we need to do it is compelling." -- Eric Robbins,
Apple Valley Books, Winthrop, ME
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Ramblin'
Man: The Life and Times of Woody Guthrie
By Ed Cray
"A fast read, an energetic read, a biography worth any reader who either
loves Woody Guthrie's music or loves strong life stories." -- Scott
Wannberg, Dutton's Brentwood Books, Los Angeles, CA
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Rats:
Observations on the History and Habitat of the City's Most Unwanted Inhabitants
By Robert Sullivan
"Who knew a book about one of nature's most reviled creatures could make
such great bedside reading? I thoroughly enjoyed this historical chronicle
of rodents in New York City. It's not only a history of rats, but it is
also a social history of the city." -- Dana Harper, Br |
