| |
|
|
|
1. Candyfreak:
A Journey Through the Chocolate Underbelly of America
By Steve Almond
"Everyone out there was once a kid, and every kid once had a favorite
candy, one that he or she just couldn't get enough of. Steve Almond seems
to have delighted in them all, and in Candyfreak you will read
enough sugar-coated candy lore to make your molars ache. Now, pardon me,
I've got to rush out for a bag of mini Reese's!" -- Steve Turnbull,
Joseph-Beth Booksellers, Lexington, KY
|
|
|
|
|
|
2. Cottage
for Sale -- Must Be Moved: A Woman Moves a House to Make a Home
By Kate Whouley
"Take one savvy and determined woman, a Cape Cod cottage for sale, and
a cat named Egypt, and you have the ingredients for Kate Whouley's successful
addition to her three-room house. Along the way, you'll learn just how
much a close-knit community of friends and advisors can accomplish." --
Fran Keilty, Hickory Stick Bookshop, Washington Depot, CT
|
|
|
|
|
|
3. The
Book of Joe
By Jonathan Tropper
"When a successful novelist returns to his hometown, he finds the people
he savaged in his bestselling book aren't too happy to see him. This is
a very funny novel about how it is possible to go home again -- but only
if you pay the price of admission." -- Len Cowgill, McLean & Eakin
Booksellers, Petoskey, MI
|
|
|
|
|
|
4. The
Jane Austen Book Club
By Karen Joy Fowler
"The members of the Jane Austen book club form surprising new relationships
in a novel that is clever without being cold, moving without being saccharine,
and delightfully, unexpectedly funny." -- Leslie Reiner, Inkwood Books,
Tampa, FL
|
|
|
|
|
|
5. My
Sister's Keeper
By Jodi Picoult
"As we follow 13-year-old Anna Fitzgerald's quest for medical emancipation
from her parents -- after being conceived to save her sister from leukemia
-- we realize that some of the most difficult decisions facing us are
not ours to make. A wonderful, page-turner of a read." -- Mary Lee
Delafield, Blue Willow Bookshop, Houston, TX
|
|
|
|
|
|
6. The
Pearl Diver
By Jeff Talarigo
"This is a poignant and tender story about a young Japanese pearl diver
suffering from leprosy who is forced to live her life as an outcast from
family and society. Talarigo weaves a story about courage and finding
a sense of belonging that will leave a lingering impression on readers."
-- Susan Harrison, The Country Bookshop, South Pines, NC
|
|
|
|
|
|
7. Scribbling
the Cat: Travels With an African Soldier
By Alexandra Fuller
Here is Fuller's recounting of an unlikely friendship with a white soldier
who fought in the Rhodesian wars. Fuller skillfully captures the spirit
of the soldier and conveys the difficulty and poignancy of confronting
her own war wounds." -- Alana Willhite, Colby College Bookstore, Waterville,
ME
|
|
|
|
|
|
8. Live
Bait
By P.J. Tracy
"I loved this outstanding mystery with its Twin Cities setting and refreshingly
unique characters. The two cops who investigate a series of senior citizen
murders are standouts. Funny, snappy dialogue and a serious, well-constructed
plot make this a winner." -- Rochelle McKown, The Raven Bookstore,
Lawrence, KS
|
|
|
|
|
|
9. Doctored
Evidence: A Commissario Guido Brunetti Mystery
By Donna Leon
"Donna Leon's latest features likable characters and a masterful tour
of Venice along with the reappearance of a truly great detective in the
person of Guido Brunetti. This is a wonderful read." -- Carol Erfe,
Book Tales, Westerly, RI
|
|
|
|
|
|
10. Cursed
by a Happy Childhood: Tales of Growing Up, Then and Now
By Carl Lennertz
"Warmhearted and wise, this is a wonderful meditation on home, family,
and friends, filled with a sage wisdom that comes only with the passage
of time. Whether you're a resident of a big metropolitan high-rise or
a small house in the hinterlands, you will find great delight within this
book's pages." -- Joe Drabyak, Chester County Book & Music Company,
West Chester, PA
|
| |
|
 |
11. The
Body of Jonah Boyd
By David Leavitt
"This is a great entertainment from David Leavitt, who reveals the quirks
of writers and the underestimated power of secretaries. The story is like
a labyrinth: One is compelled to reach the end, and the fun is entirely
in the journey." -- Erik Swallow, Lambda Rising, Norfolk, VA
|
| |
|
 |
12. In
Praise of Slowness: How a Worldwide Movement Is Challenging the Cult of
Speed
By Carl Honore
"This elegant meditation on the pace of our lives is so seductive that
the pages seem to slowly turn themselves. Honore makes a case for relishing
life in all its facets, from eating and reading to being connected to
our communities. His style is as graceful as are his thoughts, which allows
his voluminous research to fold seamlessly into the narrative." -- Patricia
Raley, Readers' Books, Sonoma, CA
|
| |
|
 |
13. The
Mapmaker's Wife: A True Tale of Love, Murder, and Survival in the Amazon
By Robert Whitaker
"The stuff of fiction -- except this romantic and adventurous tale is
a true story of a husband and wife separated for 20 years in the 18th
century world of the Amazon jungle. It captivates the reader with its
dramatic twists and non-stop action, and demonstrates the tenacity of
the human spirit." -- Margaret Ogle, Allegory Books and Music, Gleneden
Beach, OR
|
| |
|
 |
14. Past
Due
By William Lashner
"Lashner's latest mystery featuring defense attorney Victor Carl is a
real page-turner. The plot is twisted, and not everyone is who you think
they are! Lashner is becoming the best suspense/mystery writer in his
field." -- Lee Musgjerd, Lee's Book Emporium, Glasgow, MT
|
| |
|
 |
15. The
Ocean Between Us
By Susan Wiggs
"Centering on the family of a senior Navy officer, this is a heartwarming
tale of survival. It brought me to tears, but, more important, made me
thankful for the blessings we too often take for granted." -- Marissa
Goldenman, Armchair Books, Pendleton, OR
|
| |
|
 |
16. The
Confusion: Volume Two of the Baroque Cycle
By Neal Stephenson
"From opening detonation to final promise, Stephenson's rollicking and
anachronistic follow-up to Quicksilver proves that not all swashes
have yet been buckled. In the literary tradition of Barth, Pynchon, and
Dumas, this is a most satisfying and enjoyable read." -- Russ Harvey,
Cody's Books, Berkeley, CA
|
| |
|
 |
17. Not
Even Wrong: Adventures in Autism
By Paul Collins
"Not Even Wrong is a brilliantly written look at the development
of Collins' son, as the family realizes that the boy has autism and begins
to deal with it. Not only is this fascinating reading, but it is also
a very practical and valuable tool for anyone looking to learn more about
autism." -- Donna Cressman, Maxwell Books, De Soto, TX
|
| |
|
 |
18. Dark
Nights of the Soul: A Guide to Finding Your Way Through Life's Ordeals
By Thomas Moore
"In this engaging and profound approach to life's difficulties, Moore
shuns the quick fix and asks us to embrace our troubles and develop our
individual souls. Written simply but passionately." -- Jan Owens, Millrace
Books, Farmington, CT
|
| |
|
 |
19. Prince
Edward
By Dennis McFarland
"This is the story of two unforgettable families living valiant lives
despite troubled times in Virginia, when there is fierce conflict over
a mandate to desegregate the state's public schools. A hugely affecting
novel, both for what it delivers and what it evokes." -- Bonnie Reynolds,
Small World Books, Venice, CA
|
| |
|
 |
20. The
Gardens of Emily Dickinson
By Judith Farr, with Louise Carter
"Farr's newest book eloquently delves into Dickinson the gardener, whose
passion for and knowledge of flowers was a constant source for her writing.
This is essential reading for the poet's large and loyal audience, and
gardeners, too. And the book itself is a work of art!" -- Terri Merz,
Chapters: A Literary Bookstore, Washington, DC
|
| |
|
| |
|
 |
After
By Claire Tristram
"What makes this novel so stunning is not just the topicality of its subject
or the fine, controlled eroticism of its writing. It's the author's intelligence
in addressing what's so hard to address -- political violence as the great
destroyer of human individuality; sexual confrontation as its knife-blade
edge; decency, desire, solidarity, and self-knowledge as the values at
risk." -- Pam Rosenthal, Modern Times Bookstore, San Francisco, CA
|
| |
|
 |
Antonio's
Wife
By Jacqueline DeJohn
"Fiery Neapolitan diva Francesca Frascatti is engaged to sing Tosca in
New York in the 1908 season. Francesca, however, has an agenda: She's
consumed with regret over haven given up her baby, Maria Grazia, on the
road from slums to stage and wishes to find her and make amends. An intense
look at the immigrant experience during the Gilded Age." -- Barbara
Peters, The Poisoned Pen, Scottsdale, AZ
|
| |
|
 |
Emma
Brown: A Novel From the Unfinished Manuscript by Charlotte Bronte
By Clare Boylan
"Charlotte Bronte's fans will be delighted with Clare Boylan's Emma Brown,
a work developed from 20 pages of an unfinished Bronte manuscript. Boylan
has captured Bronte's voice and creates wonderful characters and an intriguing
mystery." -- Betty Wooten, Bohannons' Books With a Past, Georgetown,
KY
|
| |
|
 |
Useful
Girl
By Marcus Stevens
"Marcus Stevens skillfully weaves past and present, truth and imagination,
in his new book. The story of Erin Douglass and Charlie White Bird, how
they meet, become lovers, and, then, try to rise above stereotypes in
today's culture is beautifully layered with the story of a young Cheyenne
girl, Moehae, who lived 100 years before them." -- Barbara Theroux,
Fact & Fiction, Missoula, MT
|
| |
|
 |
Blue
Blood
By Edward Conlon
"Conlon is a great storyteller, and this is the quintessential 'cop book.'
Readers will share the street cop's front-row seat in the theater of life.
Along with his war stories, Conlon give us fascinating bits of history,
social commentary, and a bit of the dark side of his life as one of New
York's Finest. Highly recommended!" -- Rita Moran, Apple Valley Books,
Winthrop, ME
|
| |
|
 |
The
Devil's Highway: A True Story
By Luis Alberto Urrea
"This is the gripping, true account of 26 men who tried to cross the U.S.
border from Mexico into the Arizona desert. Woven into their story are
the purely human issues of all those involved with illegal immigration.
This is a fascinating, evenhanded look at a complicated social issue."
-- Carol Schneck, Schuler Books & Music, Okemos, MI
|
| |
|
 |
The
Geese of Beaver Bog
By Bernd Heinrich
"Bernd Heinrich has the most amazing powers of nature observation. His
newest book has me falling in love with some very personable geese, taking
sides in their courtship and nesting battles, rooting for the success
of their eggs, and, once again, coming away in awe of nature's places
and denizens as seen through the eyes of an engaged and engaging observer."
-- Donna Urey, White Birch Books, North Conway, NH
|
| |
|
 |
In
the Land of Temples Caves: Notes on Art and the Human Spirit
By Frederick W. Turner
"Frederick Turner -- author of eight books of nonfiction and fiction --
jolted by the events on 9/11, returns to France to revisit and contemplate
art at its source: the caves of the Dordogne region. Turner writes of
his travels and his findings, reaffirming art's central place in nourishing
the human spirit. A beautifully written book." -- Deon Hilger, The
King's English, Salt Lake City, UT
|
| |
|
 |
The
Last Best League: One Summer, One Season, One Dream
By Jim Collins
"The Cape Cod has been a launching pad for many major leaguer baseball
players and is therefore where the best college players in the country
hope to play each summer. Collins was there with them in 2002, and --
as only the best sportswriters can -- he beautifully captures the character
of both the time and place and the players." -- Stan Hynds, Northshire
Bookstore, Manchester Center, VT
|
| |
|
 |
The
Miracle Detective: An Investigation of Holy Visions
By Randall Sullivan
"This is a compelling investigation into the phenomenon of Virgin Mary
sightings around the world. Sullivan writes with great thought and insight."
-- Emery Pinter, Chapter 11, Atlanta, GA
|
| |
|
 |
My
Famous Evening: Nova Scotia Sojourns, Diaries, and Preoccupations
By Howard Norman
"Norman shares his passions and anecdotes, selecting those that best give
voice to his spiritual hometown of Halifax, Nova Scotia. In doing, so
he thrills with a tale of Leon Trotsky's arrest, chills with the story
of a woman's quest to attend a Joseph Conrad reading, and delights with
his own stay at Sam Shepherd's house. You will feel the land's pulse and
hear the wind's whisper thanks to his accomplished hand." -- Todd Morgan,
DIESEL, A Bookstore, Oakland, CA
|
| |
|
 |
Pull
Me Up: A Memoir
By Dan Barry
"Barry's parents were people who sacrificed and hid (or at least attempted
to hide) such pains as the effects of war and displacement as they strove
to shield their children from those forces. Moved to connect with them
and to understand the very things they tried to protect him from, Barry's
memoir shows us the true joys of childhood mingling with his own struggles
and trials, and tells a story that is affecting and funny." -- Jean
Riescher Westcott, Olsson's Books & Records, Arlington, VA
|
| |
|
 |
Sixpence
House: Lost in A Town Of Books
By Paul Collins
"Paul Collins' account of his time in Hay-on-Wye, the wacky little Welsh
town, conveys all the charm (and the idiosyncrasies) that make this 'Town
of Books' one of the world's special places. He reveals the extraordinary
nature of a place of pilgrimage --boasting 1,400 souls and 40 bookstores
-- which attracts bibliophiles from all over the English-speaking world.
This is a rare bit of Welsh and I recommend it with relish." -- Susan
Avery, Ariel Booksellers, New Paltz, NY
|
| |
|
 |
Show
Me the Way: A Memoir in Stories
By Jennifer Lauck
"I could read Jennifer Lauck all day and night. Her writing is inspiring,
amusing, revelatory, and, at times, candidly grim. Her clarity about the
strange coincidences of life and the way motherhood challenges her to
be as real as she can with her kids and herself makes this is an unerringly
honest portrait of one new mother's life -- a life that is flawed, gritty,
and true." -- Joan Barberich, Food For Thought Books, Amherst, MA
|
| |
|
 |
Songs
of the Gorilla Nation: My Journey Through Autism
By Dawn Prince-Hughes, Ph.D
"Prince-Hughes' memoir makes autism and Asperger's syndrome accessible
to those of us who see the world in a more mundane way. By watching gorillas
and learning to understand their social organization and nonverbal cues,
Prince-Hughes manages to learn more about her human family and how to
live among them." -- Susan M Taylor, Wellesley Booksmith, Wellesley,
MA
|
| |
|
