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THE
BLOOD OF FLOWERS: A Novel
By Anita Amirrezvani
"It is a feat to bring off a serious, historically-set novel where the
history doesn't overwhelm the human story, nor does the human tale simply
use the history as furniture. This most impressive, captivating debut
-- a novel of a young woman finding her way into life in 17th century
Iran -- is one that does justice to both story and history." --Rick
Simonson, The Elliott Bay Book Company, Seattle, WA
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A
THOUSAND SPLENDID SUNS
By Khaled Hosseini
"While offering a historical perspective on Afghanistan, Hosseini's
new novel renders an incredible story, beautifully told. Readers will
fully experience the humanity of this struggling country, right through
the entirely satisfying ending." --Missie Olm, The Reader's Loft, Green
Bay, WI
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THE
RELIGION: A Novel
By Tim Willocks
"The Religion, set during the Turkish siege of Malta in 1565, is one
of the best historical novels I have ever read. The characters are fascinating,
and their lives so compelling that you are intertwined with them until
the last page is finished." --Brian Delambre, Joseph-Beth Booksellers,
Cincinnati, OH
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LIFE'S
A BEACH
By Claire Cook
"This is a delightful, insightful look at life, love, growing up, and
turning 50. Meet the Walsh family: Ginger -- still looking for herself
at 41; Geri -- her BlackBerry obsessed sister who is turning 50; Dad
-- the take-it-or-leave-it dump diver; and Mom -- a Kama Sutra T-shirt
wearing parent. You will love them all." --Janet Bollum, The Muse Book
Shop, DeLand, FL
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FIVE
SKIES: A Novel
By Ron Carlson
"Set in Idaho, this is a simple story of three men, two older and one
younger, who spend the summer building a stunt ramp beside a river canyon.
The older men both have issues with recent deaths of a loved one, and
the young man is drifting and unsure of what to do with a life that
began with petty crimes. As the younger man discovers that he has value
as the older men mentor him, a healing process begins. An exquisite
novel." --Susan Wasson, Bookworks, Albuquerque, NM
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LANDSMAN:
A Novel
By Peter Charles Melman
"After being manipulated into committing a robbery that becomes a
murder, Elias Abrams avoids retribution by enlisting in the Confederate
Army. Elias' basic goodness and moral sense are resurrected through
a newfound understanding of kinship. Landsman is both earthy and mythic,
with themes of patricide, betrayal, and hope brought to satisfying
and human resolution." --Julia Cowlishaw, Shaman Drum Bookshop, Ann
Arbor, MI
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FALLING
MAN: A Novel
By Don DeLillo
"Through the testimony of a 9 / 11 survivor and the deep impact of
his return in the lives of his estranged wife and son, DeLillo succeeds
in giving the reader a chance to revisit that tragedy from an emotionally
renewed standpoint. This remarkable novel is a revelatory approach
to the one seminal event that shaped this new century and is a stunning
achievement." --Marie du Vaure, Vroman's Bookstore, Pasadena, CA
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DIVISADERO
By Michael Ondaatje
"Ondaatje's spellbinding new novel revolves around three adopted siblings
whose lives break apart and eventually reconnect years later. Their
story parallels another unusual family unit, a reclusive writer and
his gypsy neighbors searching for a peaceful life in post-war France.
As usual, Ondaatje's storytelling is highly individual and utterly
hypnotizing, as story leads into story, and the reader arrives at
the end with a longing to turn to page one and begin again." --Rich
Rennicks, Malaprop's Bookstore / Cafe, Asheville, NC
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ANIMAL,
VEGETABLE, MIRACLE: A Year of Food Life
By Barbara Kingsolver, Steven L. Hopp and Camille Kingsolver
"This account of Kingsolver's and her family's attempt to eat only locally
grown food is incredibly thought-provoking, asking you to examine where
your food really comes from and what it really costs in terms of environmental
effects, transportation, and people's livelihoods. There are lots of
suggested actions people can take, and the whole thing is hysterically
funny." --Kate Reynolds, Colgate Bookstore, Hamilton, NY
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SOON
I WILL BE INVINCIBLE: A Novel
By Austin Grossman
"This is a funny, sad, and wonderful book about superheroes and their
evil genius counterparts. It seems that even super powers can't protect
you from the insecurities and relationship problems that we un-super
types experience. Clearly keeping the villains from taking over the
world (yet again) calls for more than nifty outfits. Great fun." --Lisa
Wright, Oblong Books and Music, Millerton, NY
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LAND
OF LINCOLN: Adventures in Abe's America
By Andrew Ferguson
"With grace, insight, and great good humor, Ferguson travels the blue
highways to discover the stories behind our fascination with the 16th
president. During the course of the journey, readers come to know a
Lincoln who was an icon, an enigma, an intimate, and an enemy. And it
is a journey well worth taking, honest!" --Joe Drabyak, Chester County
Book & Music Company, West Chester, PA
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THE
GRAVEDIGGER'S DAUGHTER
By Joyce Carol Oates
"Oates' dramatic novel spans three generations of a family haunted by
the effects of Nazi Germany. Through Rebecca's eyes (the daughter of
the title), we see chilling domestic abuse but intrepid survival skills.
Full of suspense, fear, anxiety, hope -- get ready for an emotional
trip with a gifted author." --Bonnie Stone, Quail Ridge Books, Raleigh,
NC
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BAD
LUCK AND TROUBLE
By Lee Child
"Simply put, Jack Reacher, Lee Child's longtime protagonist, is the
smartest, stealthiest, most suave good guy since James Bond. Life stops
when a new Lee Child novel arrives; one could not pry it out of my hands!"
--Andy Nettell, Arches Book Company, Moab, UT
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WHAT
YOU HAVE LEFT: A Novel
By Will Allison
"Will Allison has a deep and sympathetic feel for his characters, who
come from a group of folks that aren't much represented in current fiction.
I know some of these folks myself, and I think he's done a marvelous
job of rendering them -- warts, passions, frustrations, and all." --Tom
Campbell, The Regulator Bookshop, Durham, NC
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FROM
THE PALMER RAIDS TO THE PATRIOT ACT: A History of the Fight for Free
Speech in America
By Christoper M. Finan
"This is one of the most important -- and readable -- books written
about the price of freedom in a democracy. Do we want to pay for our
freedom and security with our free speech? Timely and urgent, this is
an essential book for citizens, politicians, and government officials
to read and embrace." --Alicia Greene, Olsson's Books & Records, Washington,
DC
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THE
LAST CHINESE CHEF: A Novel
By Nicole Mones
"Mones tells the story of the cultural and historical aspects of Chinese
cooking within a story about an American food writer, Maggie McElroy,
who is desperately trying to figure out her own life. This is food and
travel writing at its best." --Debbie Burton, The Rediscovered Bookshop,
Boise, ID
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THREE
BAGS FULL: A Sheep Detective Story
By Leonie Swann
"When George Glenn's sheep find their shepherd dead in the pasture,
they decide they must investigate his death. Led by Miss Maple, a particularly
intelligent sheep, their quest for justice is surprising -- and thoroughly
entertaining." --Carol Schneck, Schuler Books & Music, Okemos, MI
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THE
SHADOW CATCHER: A Novel
By Marianne Wiggins
"Marianne Wiggins' latest novel is a fictionalized account of photographer
Edward S. Curtis, full of both beautiful and lyrical writing about love
and loss and art and wonderful accounts of the road trips of the character
'Marianne Wiggins,' accounts which complete the story in a unique and
impassioned manner. A literary delight." --Kathleen Dixon, Islandtime
Books & More, Washington Island, WI
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AUSTENLAND:
A Novel
By Shannon Hale
"Darcy-obsessed Jane Hayes is fantasizing her life away when her great
aunt Carolyn tries to snap her out of it by sending her on a three-week
visit to a Jane Austen fantasy camp. Tantalizing, funny, absolutely
satisfying, and surprising to the last page, this delicious confection
will be devoured by die-hard Austen fans." --Linda Hillegass, Lee
Booksellers, Lincoln, NE
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WARM
SPRINGS: Traces of a Childhood at FDR's Polio Haven
By Susan Richards Shreve
"This new memoir is an immediately engaging story of the years Shreve
spent at Warm Springs, the treatment center for polio set up by FDR.
The book is fascinating on many levels: the history it covers of both
our nation and our delivery of health care, and the heartbreaking coming-of-age
story set in a facility for children, often suffering unimaginable pain,
separated from their families. A lovely book, tender and funny." --Leslie
Reiner, Inkwood Books, Tampa, FL
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