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1. THE
GIRLS: A Novel
By Lori Lansens
"I believe that the best writing these days is coming out of Canada, and
Lori Lansens is another one of the great ones. The Girls is as
interesting a book as I've ever read about love and the many forms it
takes. These girls, conjoined twins, are thoroughly lovable and are presented
without a sappy note. I feel Rose and Ruby are part of my life." --Paul
Ingram, Prairie Lights Books, Iowa City, IA
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THE
STOLEN CHILD: A Novel
By Keith Donohue
"The Stolen Child is one of those fairy tales that seems completely
true, in the way that the best fairy tales are true. The changeling Henry
Day and the child whose life he usurps are marvelous characters, and their
stories are rich, complex, and moving." --Bob Deloria, Books Inc.,
San Francisco, CA
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GATSBY'S
GIRL: A Novel
By Caroline Preston
"Caroline Preston gives us the wonderful story of the lives of F. Scott
Fitzgerald and his first love, Ginevra King. She brings to life their
young infatuation, their breakup, and their growing disillusionment with
life as they become older. Highly recommended!" --Jerry Quick, Partners
Village Store, Westport, MA
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THE
LOST ART OF KEEPING SECRETS: A Novel
By Eva Rice
"Penelope Wallace is 18 in 1954 London, and just waiting for something
-- anything! -- to happen to her. That something comes in the form of
a charming and eccentric girl at the bus stop, a meeting that changes
Penelope's life in more ways than she can imagine. I loved it!" --Megan
O'Bryan, Scott's Bookstore, Mount Vernon, WA
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ONCE
UPON A DAY: A Novel
By Lisa Tucker
"I couldn't put Lisa Tucker's latest novel down. In a world that is unfair
and violent, how do we reconcile protecting the ones we love with the
risk of losing them? This inventive novel of family secrets, gut-wrenching
hurt, and unnecessary loss is deftly woven in an intricate plot, adeptly
observed." --Sarah Bagby, Watermark Book Co., Wichita, KS
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BED
REST: A Novel
By Sarah Bilston
"Bed Rest is a quirky romp through the ups and downs of marriage,
miscommunication, and the Modern Woman's List of Things to Do Before Hitting
30. Funny and delightful." --Aubrey Davis, Arches Book Company, Moab,
UT
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SAVANNAH BREEZE
By Mary Kay Andrews
"A con man, a run-down motel on a beach, and a cranky, good-looking fishing
captain combine to make this another winner for Mary Kay Andrews. Pure
entertainment!" --Susan Wasson, Bookworks, Albuquerque, NM
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BLACK
SWAN GREEN: A Novel
By David Mitchell
"It's as if Black Swan Green encompasses an entire English village
-- with more than 150 characters and all the laughter and grief and cruelty
of life, all brilliantly chronicled by 13-year-old Jason Taylor. The verbal
pyrotechnics are breathtaking, the plot turns dazzling and hilarious and
heartbreaking. What a book." --Nick DiMartino, University Book Store,
Seattle, WA
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BEAUTIFUL
LIES: A Novel
By Lisa Unger
"This story of unexpected events after an act of heroism is surprisingly
engrossing. Author Lisa Unger plays no cheap tricks. She has created a
gutsy character, who seizes the situation and takes control of her destiny
-- demanding answers to questions her family and friends will not answer."
--Sheryl Cotleur, A Clean Well-Lighted Place, San Francisco, CA
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THE
TRAVELING DEATH AND RESURRECTION SHOW: A Novel
By Ariel Gore
"A stigmatic must reconcile her faith while traveling with a spiritual
sideshow. Ariel Gore offers compelling characters, structured stream-of-consciousness
writing, an interesting but simple plot, and a note of redemption at the
end of a dark tunnel (with a few lanterns along the way). Incredibly satisfying!"
--Stacie Williams, Harry W. Schwartz Bookshop, Milwaukee, WI
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QUEEN
OF THE ODDBALLS: And Other True Stories From a Life Unaccording to
Plan
By Hillary Carlip
"Hillary Carlip has lived a life we all wish we could claim ... and never
has being so different seemed so unbelievably cool. You will want to claim
your inner oddball and let it radiate on the world around you!" --Cynthia
St. John, Kepler's Books & Magazine, Menlo Park, CA
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A DEATH IN BELMONT
By Sebastian Junger
"Junger approaches the story of the Boston Strangler from a unique and
personal angle -- Albert DeSalvo, the confessed strangler, was doing carpentry
work at Junger's childhood home when a woman was strangled in the neighborhood.
The ensuing tale of the wrongful conviction of Roy Smith, a black day
laborer, is absorbing and thorough. Even if you are not a true crime fan,
you will enjoy this book." --Susan Taylor, Wellesley Booksmith, Wellesley,
MA
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SUITE FRANÇAISE
By Irene Nemirovsky
"Imagine being someone fortunate enough to have read War and Peace
or All Quiet on the Western Front upon their original publication.
You can join those privileged ranks by reading Suite Française.
This novel of World War II France is a work of searing power and soaring
humanity and truly justifies using the term masterpiece." --Bill Cusumano,
Nicola's Books, Ann Arbor, MI
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MALINCHE:
A Novel
By Laura Esquivel
"Laura Esquivel's novel tells the story of Malinalli, the Nahuatl slave
girl reviled in Mexican history as the translator and lover of Hernan
Cortes, who was responsible for the destruction of the Aztec Empire. Esquivel
masterfully interprets the life and beliefs of this remarkable young woman
and reveals the tragedy and redemption of a person caught between her
native culture and religious beliefs and those of the conquering Spanish."
--Jan Mayer-Gawlik,Maria's Bookshop, Durango, CO
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EVERYMAN'S
RULES FOR SCIENTIFIC LIVING: A Novel
By Carrie Tiffany
"Set in Australia in the 1930s, Tiffany's novel features an engaging heroine,
Jean Cunningham, a lecturer in domestic economy who marries a plant scientist
and settles in the Mallee to bring scientific farming to the other settlers.
The story can be wryly humorous, but also incredibly poignant, as it describes
the lives of people trying to scrape a living out of a marginally viable
agricultural economy. Highly recommended." --Marian Nielsen, Orinda
Books, Orinda, CA
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GUESTS
OF THE AYATOLLAH: The First Battle in America's War with Militant Islam
By Mark Bowden
"A fascinating account of the Iran Hostage Crisis. Initially intended
to be a short-lived student sit-in, the seizing of the American Embassy
in Tehran quickly spiraled out of control and changed the course of history.
The election of Ronald Reagan, the Iran-Iraq War, the rise of Muslim extremism,
the war on terror, the war in Iraq, and many other events can be linked
to these events in 1979. A must-read for any student of history or politics!"
--Marci Blankenbaker, Joseph-Beth Booksellers, Lyndhurst, OH
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TWO
FOR THE ROAD: Our Love Affair With American Food
By Jane and Michael Stern
"This is a memoir describing what it's really like to have a dream job.
The Sterns have spent 20 years becoming experts in American cooking by
driving and eating on the back roads of America. A fast, funny, and illuminating
read." --Mary Muller, Market Block Books, Troy, NY
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THE
GIRLS WHO WENT AWAY: The Hidden History of Women Who Surrendered Children
for Adoption in the Decades Before Roe v. Wade
By Ann Fessler
"Ann Fessler writes of the secrets of a time when unmarried women were
coerced to give up their babies. She reveals not only what happened to
those girls but also tells of the life-impact that these decisions made
on the young women, their babies, and the rest of their families. This
is a story that needs to be told, and Ann Fessler has done an excellent
job." --Dorothy Dickerson, Books & More, Albion, MI
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HOOKED:
Pirates, Poaching, and the Perfect Fish
By G. Bruce Knecht
"Much more than a fish story! It was hard to put down this contemporary,
true account of how our culinary tastes and greed can deplete a fish population.
This fast-paced adventure chronicles the events that lead up to an exciting
chase on the high seas in order to capture a vessel of poached Patagonian
toothfish (known to gourmands as Chilean sea bass). This one will appeal
to many interests." --Laurie Krushenisky, MacDonald Book Shop, Estes
Park, CO
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A
SEASON OF FIRE & ICE: A Novel
By Lloyd Zimpel
"Lloyd Zimpel's A Season of Fire & Ice is similar to both Plainsong
and Peace Like a River in the beauty of the language, its compelling story,
and the sweeping harsh landscape." --Cathy Langer, Tattered Cover Bookstore,
Denver, CO
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