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Book
Sense 76 Picks
Here are the 76
most noteworthy new and recent books, as compiled from hundreds of recommendations
by independent booksellers across America. One bookseller's quote has been
chosen to represent each of these top vote-getters.
|
 Julie
and Romeo
by Ray, Jeanne
(Onyx, 0451409973) "A love story for all ages about a romance between two
rival florists in their 60s. They vow that a generation-long family feud between
their families will not affect their feelings for each other. This is a laugh-out-loud
novel and one of our favorites." - Linda Burg, Little Read Book, Wauwatosa,
WI
Tell
No One
by Coben,
Harlan
 (Delacorte,
0385335555) "When were you last on a rollercoaster ride? Think of the tension
as you rise to the top, then the heart-pounding free-fall, twists and turns,
and the relief at the end. Add to that the emotion of a once-in-a-lifetime love,
and you might come close to the experience of reading Tell No One."
- Dana Gilligan, Bookends, Ridgewood, NJ
Bel
Canto
by Patchett, Ann
 (HarperCollins,
0060188731) "I could not put this marvelous book down.
Patchett has based her new novel on a true event - the hostage situation in Peru
a few years back - but boy, does she put a new twist on the story. I won't reveal
what happens; please read this book for yourself!" - Roberta Rubin, The
Book Stall at Chestnut Court, Winnetka, IL
Music of the Spheres
by Redfern, Elizabeth
(Putnam, 0399147632) "Great reviews will be plentiful and will all say the
same thing: " lyrical, atmospheric, a wonderful historic setting...""
but at its core, this is simply a great read." - Kathleen Mahinske, Books Connection,
Livonia, MI
Road Angels: Searching for Home on America's Coast of Dreams
by Nerburn, Kent
(HarperSanFrancisco, 0060698683) "Nerburn travels the west coast from the
Canadian border to Big Sur in search of, if not El Dorado, for a release from
his past. This book evokes memories of Wallace Stegner, Robert Pirsig, and so
many others who have gone West and on the road looking for a new beginning."
- Leon Zimlich, Chaucer's Books, Santa Barbara, CA
Little America
by Bromwell, Henry
(Knopf, 0375406840) "I loved this book - the writing, the setting, and the
themes of CIA secrecy and family loss. In this way, comparisons to LeCarre will
be inevitable, but Bromwell can and does hold his own in a masterful way."
- Louise Jones, Northshire Bookstore, Manchester Center, VT
 Nickel
and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America
by Ehrenreich, Barbara
(Metropolitan, 0805063889) "Whatever financial woes the middle class may
have, they pale in comparison to the daily breadwinning struggle of America's
low-wage workers. We expect the dirty work to be done, and Ehrenreich gives us
a glimpse into the lives of the people who do it. An important work."
- Dan Schreffler, The Book House of Stuyvesant Plaza, Albany, NY
Fearless Jones
by Mosley, Walter
(Little, Brown, 0316592382) "Noir. The 1950s. L.A. Paris Minton is in so
much trouble he has no choice but to bail his friend, Fearless Jones, out of jail.
With a fast pace and many plot twists and turns, Mosley creates some great characters
while sharing insights and morals. I highly recommend this book." - Joan
Witlock, Stacey's, Cupertino, CA
 Goose
Music
by Horan, Richard
(Steerforth Press, 1586420178) "The parameters: Tom Robbins on the funny
edge, Carlos Castaneda on the spiritual edge, O. Henry on the surprise ending.
A captivating story that deconstructs the Trickster Myth, told on multiple levels
with quite a cast of characters. This is pure pleasure." - Paul Ingram,
Prairie Lights, Iowa City, IA
All
We Know of Heaven
by Rougeau,
Remy
 (Houghton
Mifflin, 0618094997) "This novel is set in the framework of a factual and
unpretentious account of monastic life in the late 20th century. It is quite heartfelt
and enduring." - Christopher Sullivan, Copperfield's Books, Calistoga,
CA
 Book!
Book! Book!
by Bruss, Deborah; illustrated by Tiphanie Beeke
(Scholastic, 0439135257) "A bunch of bored farm animals head for the library,
but not until the chicken asks for 'Book! Book!' does the librarian understand
their request. What a great combination: an hilarious story, charming illustrations,
and perfect read-aloud sounds." - Beth Puffer, Bank Street Bookstore,
New York, NY
Breathing Underwater
by Finn, Alex
(HarperCollins, 0060291982) "A very moving account of teenage dating violence
told from the perspective of Nick, the abuser. We learn his story through entries
in his journal. An all-too-real account of an issue that many teens are facing
today. I read it in one sitting." - Jenne Herbst, Quail Ridge Books &
Music, Raleigh, NC
Sitting Ducks
by Bedard, Michael
(Puffin, 0698118979) "I love this book! One day at the Colossal Duck Factory,
where ducks are fed to hungry alligators, an unhatched egg falls off the assembly
line. An alligator worker takes him home, intending to eat him, but, instead,
finds a new friend. This story is enchanting and the pictures are hilarious!"
- Nikki Mutch, UConn Co-op, Storrs CT
 Some
Folk Think the South Pole's Hot: The 3 Tenors Play the Antarctic
by Heindenreich, Elke; illustrated by Quint Buchholz
(Godine, 1567921701) "This book makes me smile just to look at the cover.
Penguins! Opera! Wonderful illustrations and a charming story idea for all ages."
- Becky Milner, Vintage Books, Vancouver, WA
Sunflower Houses: Inspiration From the Garden
by Lovejoy, Sharon
(Workman, 0761123865) "My son was four in 1991 when this book was originally
published -- and changed our lives. Every year since then, we have planted my
son's name in lettuces and put flowers in rainbows between pots of golden marigolds.
I thank Ms. Lovejoy every summer day for opening a door in my imagination. I
also thank Workman for this new edition of a gem." - Ellen Davis, Dragonwings
Bookstore, Waupaca, WI
Kiss My Tiara: How to Rule the World as a Smart Mouth Goddess
by Gilman, Susan Jane
(Warner, 0446675776) "A book that's irresistible to quote from, this is about
attitude, specifically the 21st-century female one. With chapter headings such
as 'We Don't Shape History by Shaping Our Thighs' and 'PMS is a Power Tool,' subtle
it ain't. A book that would have been called strident 20 years ago, Kiss My Tiara
is instead funny, hip, and irreverent. I love it! And it makes a great gift book,
too." - Linda Bubon, Women & Children First, Chicago, IL
 Travels
With Myself and Another: A Memoir
by Gellhorn,
Martha
(Tarcher, 1585420905) "I couldn't put this down. A must read for the woman
who loves to travel alone but has to put up with companions. A famous WWII war
correspondent, Gellhorn's honesty and personality shine!" - Anne Z. Hasiuk,
Iowa Book Co., Iowa City, IA
 Bee
Season
by Goldberg,
Myla
(Vintage, 0385498802) "A terrific book. What an unusual theme: the attraction,
danger, and folly of transcendence. At the beginning, I would never have guessed
that's where it would end up. A powerful ending. And I LOVED the father."
- Linda Marotta, Shakespeare & Co., New York, NY
Getting Over It
by Maxted, Anna
(Regan Books, 006098824X) "This is one of the funniest books I've ever read.
Helen is a single woman in her 20s struggling with noncommittal boyfriends, a
manipulative mother, irritating roommates, and a mindless job. After her father's
death, she stumbles through the changes to her life with an enormous amount of
wit and resilience. Loss is a sad, sad thing, but Helen makes 'getting over it'
much funnier than she, or we, thought possible." - Polly Reiheld, A Clean
Well-Lighted Place for Books, San Francisco, CA
Gravity of Sunlight, The
by Shand, Rosa
(Soho Press, 1569472408) "Set in Uganda just before Idi Amin comes to power,
this award-winning novel concerns two Americans with a shaky marriage that slowly
unravels. Shand's prose is atmospheric and lush, and she weaves local customs
and characters into the story." - Duff Bruce, Open Book, Greenville SC
In the Fall
by Lent, Jeffrey
(Vintage, 037570745X) "This amazing first novel carries the reader from the
Civil War to modern times, from Southern battlefield to Vermont farm to New Hampshire
mountain resort and back to the South, through three generations of an American
family. This is one of the best books I've read in years." - Donna Urey,
White Birch Books, North Conway, NH
 Living
to Tell
by Nelson, Antonya
(Scribner, 0743200608) "This is a generous and often very funny novel about
a contemporary family coping with loss. Three generations of the Mabie family
live together in a big, rambling house in Wichita, but this is not a 'dysfunctional
family' book. I came to care deeply for all of them, and by the end of the book
I was ready to move into the house with them." - Mary Benham, Book Passage,
Corte Madera, CA
Lost Legends of New Jersey, The
by Reiken, Frederick
(Harvest, 0156010941) "This tale of a young kid whose parents have divorced
-- and who is in love with the daughter of a crime boss -- was a pleasure, from
the pitch-perfect dialogue to the totally endearing characters." - Jeanne
Meyer, Harry W. Schwartz Bookshops, Milwaukee, WI
 Moonlight
Bowl Manifesto: A Cure for California
by Jones, Barbara
(Russell Dean & Co., 1891954164) "When a renegade bowling team from the East
takes the fate of California in its three-fingered grip, laughter ensues. But
it will bring a tear as well, as the author takes some serious satirical jabs
at treatment of the elderly, racism, and religious bigotry. Underneath the political
irreverence, there's depth to the book that shines through." - Sally
McFarlane, Ye Olde Book Shoppe, Atascadero, CA
Rachel's Holiday
by Keyes, Marianne
(Avon, 0380817683) "A poignant but hilarious look at a 20-something New Yorker
who finds herself in rehab in Ireland, despite her objections that she's not an
addict. A beautifully written story with great insight into the world of addiction
and rehabilitation." - Christy Womble, Davis-Kidd Booksellers, Jackson,
TN
This Is Not a Novel
by Markson, David
(Counterpoint, 1582431337) "Remarkable! This book has taught me (strangely)
what it means for a read to be compelling. With patience, you arrive at the end
and, heartbroken, want to begin again." - Will Wilkinson, Bristol Books,
Wilmington, NC
 Unburied,
The
by Palliser, Charles
(Washington Square, 0743410513) "Mysteries within mysteries in the 9th, 11th,
17th, and 19th centuries intertwine, leading finally to the redemption of a historian
who tries to untangle murders from King Alfred's time to the murder in the next
room. A fascinating historical/psychological page-turner." - Gerry Camp,
Bear Mountain Books, Cameron Park, CA
White Teeth
by Smith, Zadie
(Vintage, 0375703861) "An astonishing debut; a most engaging picture of
the immigrant experience in England. Through the story of two families -- one
a Brit married to a Jamaican, the other Bangladeshi -- Smith revels in language
and gently pokes fun at both them and garden variety Brits. It is hilariously
funny, I mean laugh-out-loud funny." - Carla Cohen, Politics & Prose,
Washington, DC
 Plain
Truth
by Picoult, Jodi
(Pocket, 0671776134) "This book has so many facets: the experience of an
alternate culture (a Pennsylvania Amish community), a mystery/courtroom drama
(a young Amish girl is accused of murdering her newborn), and much more. The writing
flows and I couldn't read it fast enough!!" - Sheila Brockmeier, The
20-Mile Bookstop, Parker, CO
Salem Falls
by Picoult, Jodi
(Pocket, 0743418700) "This is a great page-turner in which the author once
again weaves a tale of ordinary people meeting life's obstacles head-on. What
makes Picoult's stories different is how she always manages to throw in a twist
regarding one religion or another: in this case, the Wiccan religion. Picoult
is now firmly on my list of favorite authors." - Sarah Parker, Scott's,
Mt. Vernon, WA
 Astronauts:
And Other Stories
by Iribarne, Matthew
(Simon & Schuster, 0743203801) "A remarkable debut collection that moved
me as much as Poachers and Welding with Children. The title story is about two
brothers -- one recently divorced and one manic-depressive -- who go on a cross
country trip to visit their childhood house in an effort to rediscover youth.
All the stories show a great range and imagination. This is a beautiful collection
that I loved and highly recommend." - Tim Huggins, Newtonville Books,
Newton, MA
Collected Stories of Richard Yates, The
by Yates, Richard
(Holt, 0805066934) "Nothing this season has pleased me more than the publication
of this book. These stories are the collected proof of the greatness of a perfect
American author." - Nicholas Sichterman, Blue Hill Books, Blue Hill,
ME
Gardens of Covington, The
by Medlicott, Joan
(St. Martin's, 0312275552) "A thoroughly charming story of women's friendships
that cast a gentle light on aging, cultural change, and how wit and grace can
rule the day." - Gee Gee Rosell, Buxton Village Books, Buxton, NC
I Wish I Had a Red Dress
by Cleage, Pearl
(William Morrow, 0380977338) "This is about love, change, and saving the
world, one young woman at a time. It's totally accessible, funny, sweet, and wise
to the violence and destruction waiting out there for all the women who want to
be free. I loved it." - Linda Bryant, Charis Books and More, Atlanta,
GA
 John
Henry Days
by Whitehead,
Colson
(Doubleday, 0385498195) "Absolutely first-rate. A complex yet highly entertaining
(and occasionally hilarious) yarn from the author of The Intuitionist that
explores the effects of technological revolutions on the souls and bodies of
two black men. I would compare it very favorably to Don DeLillo's Underworld."
- Kevin Ryan, Green Apple Books, San Francisco, CA
Kissing in Manhattan
by Schickler, David
(Dial Press, 0385335660) "A year ago, one of the most exciting stories from
the New Yorker's summer fiction issue was " "The Smoker."
" It is now one in a series of stories in which the characters, all
of whom live in a mythic New York City apartment building, show up in one another's
stories. This fiction is disturbing, erotic, and suspenseful in some places; in
others, delightful, reverent, and sweet. Schickler is a major new talent."
- Richard Howorth, Square Books, Oxford, MS
Last Time They Met, The
by Shreve, Anita
(Little, Brown, 0316781142) "Anyone who has loved and lost and dreamed of
what could have been will be touched by this bittersweet love story. A great book
for discussion groups." - Annette Meurer, Joseph-Beth Booksellers, Cincinnati,
OH
Miracle Life of Edgar Mint, The
by Udall, Brady
(Norton, 0393020363) "If only every novel were this good. The bizarre story
of Edgar Mint is told in a wonderfully engaging fashion, and the ending was entirely
unanticipated. The best book I've read in years!" - Carrie Huston, Chapter
Two Bookstore, Charleston, SC
 Muse
Asylum, The
by Czuchlewski, David
(Putnam, 0399147454) "In this surprising debut novel, Czuchlewski has created
a densely layered mystery which raises intriguing questions concerning the nature
of authorship and identity. This is a story of academic ambition gone
awry, of genius turning to madness, and of madness ultimately leading us to the
truth." - Christine Hayes, Garden District Bookshop, New Orleans, LA
No
One Thinks of Greenland
by Griesemer, John
 (Picador,
0312274572) "This debut novel places the most eccentric and believable of
love stories in the zany no-man's-land of a top-secret military hospital. It is
at once a thriller and a comedy, and I haven't read anything quite like it since
the heyday of Ken Kesey and Joseph Heller." - Margot Liddell, Booksmith,
Falmouth, MA
Sputnik
Sweetheart
by Murakami,
Haruki
(Knopf, 0375411690) "In this compact volume, Murakami has once again concocted
a literary Mobius strip of life, longing, and shifting realities. This is a
perfect introduction for those new to this highly addictive writer."
- Gerry Donaghy, Powell's, Portland, OR
Theory of Relativity, A
by Mitchard, Jacquelyn
(HarperCollins, 0066210232) "With Mitchard's deep sense of understanding
of human nature, the reader is able to relate to each and every family member
in this wonderful new novel by the author of The Deep End of the Ocean."
- Virginia Hobson Hicks, Books on the Bluff, Townsend, GA
Things I Know Best, The
by Hinton, Lynne
(HarperSanFrancisco, 0062517279) "Once again, Hinton delves into the heart
of small-town Southern life with her new book. She introduces the Ivy women,
a group blessed (or cursed, depending on how you look at it) with the gift of
'knowing.' Hinton examines the ties that nurture our souls and define who we
think we are. This is a book you'll want to give to closest friends and family;
it's a keeper." - Kathleen Caldwell, Readers Books, Sonoma, CA
Bread Alone: A Novel
by Hendricks, Judith Ryan
(William Morrow, 0060188952) "Such a fun read. I immediately ran out and
bought a bag of whole wheat flour to do some baking from the great recipes in
the book." - Donna Henrich, The Bookseller, Cherokee, IA
Clementine in the Kitchen
by Chamberlain, Samuel
(Modern Library, 0375756647) "This is the true story, with great recipes,
of the first French chef to achieve fame in the U.S., arriving here in the 1940s
with an American family fleeing the war." - Adrian Newell, Warwick's,
La Jolla, CA
 Food
Revolution, The: How Your Diet Can Help Save Your Life and the World
by Robbins, John
(Conari Press, 1573247022) "Robbins illustrates the sheer lunacy of global
corporate control, the treatment of our food, and the livestock that supports
it. With research and substantiating facts, he advocates better stewardship of
our food chain." - Bob Spear, The Book Barn, Leavenworth, KS
Kitchen
Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly
by Bourdain,
Anthony
 (Ecco
Press, 0060934913) "I really, really enjoyed this insider's look at restaurants,
a chef's life, and dining out." - Susan Schenone, The Book Bag, Valparaiso,
IN
 Augusta
Gone: A True Story
by Dudman, Martha Tod
(Simon & Schuster, 0743204093) "This is the harrowing story of a mother's
enduring love for her out-of-control teenage daughter. Set in a small coastal
Maine town, the author tells of her experiences with insight and honesty."
- Marcia Rider, Capitola Book Cafe, Capitola, CA
Balsamic Dreams: A Short But Self-Important History of the Baby Boomer Generation
by Queenan, Joe
(Holt, 0805067205) "Okay, this book will irritate, irk, and even infuriate
some people, but as that great social critic Homer Simpson once said, 'It's funny
'cause it's true.' Queenan's hilarious indictment of Baby Boomers may strike too
close to home for some, but anyone who has relatively thick skin and is fed up
with generational self-importance will find this book too good to put down."
- Candler Hunt, Olsson's Dupont Circle, Washington, DC
Black Mass: The Irish Mob, the FBI, and the Devil's Deal
by Lehr, Dick and Gerard O'Neill
(Perennial, 0060959258) "This is a compulsively readable account of the incredible
career of the Boston mobster James 'Whitey' Bulger -- whose brother Billy was
the powerful president of the Massachusetts senate -- and the FBI's role in the
Boston Mob's power. This true tale has stuff in it that wouldn't even make it
into a novel!" - Bob Deloria, Kepler's, Palo Alto, CA
 Botany
of Desire, The: A Plant's-Eye View of the World
by Pollan, Michael
(Random House, 0375501290) "With clarity and wit, Pollan explores our obsessions
with four specific plants: tulips, apples, marijuana, and potatoes. Read and be
seduced by a book guaranteed to entertain gardeners and non-gardeners alike."
- Kathy Ashton, The King's English Bookshop, Salt Lake City, UT
Driving Mr. Albert: A Trip Across America with Einstein's Brain
by Paterniti, Michael
(Dell, 038533303X) "Part travelogue, part memoir, part history, part biography,
and part meditation, this offers the story of one of the most unique road trips
in modern literature." - Christopher Hubbuch, Ruminator Books, St. Paul,
MN
Final Season, The: Fathers, Sons, and One Last Season in a Classic American Ballpark
by Stanton, Tom
(St. Martin's, 031227288X) "This is a very personal account of one man's
coming to terms with the closing of Tiger Stadium. Replete with personal anecdotes
and stories of baseball heroes, it is a heartfelt lament for the end of an era
in American sports, and the role that baseball played in generations of fathers
and sons in his own family." - Connie Geverink, Little Professor Book
Center, Chesterfield, MI
 From
Dawn to Decadence: 500 Years of Western Cultural Life
by Barzun, Jacques
(Perennial, 0060928832) "This book is without question one of the great intellectual
achievements of the year. Historian Barzun's magisterial cultural history is written
with extraordinary confidence and penetration. Barzun is a cultural pessimist
who sees modern history as a story of cultural retreat." - Andy Ross,
Cody's, San Francisco, CA
Informant, The
by Eichenwald, Kurt
(Broadway, 0767903277) "The inside story of how Archer Daniels Midland became
the most powerful company in America by buying politicians and using its influence
to gouge billions from consumers. It reads like a Grisham novel and it's all the
more suspenseful because it actually happened. Truly gripping!" - Erik
Johnson, Book Soup, W. Hollywood CA
Italian Affair, An
by Fraser, Laura
(Pantheon, 0375420657) "Evocative, tenderly amusing, and worthy of a thoughtful
read -- and I, too, fell in love with some of the men here. The description of
the author's progress through a tough transition in life rang true to me, as I'm
sure it will to anyone who has had a relationship fall on difficult times, but
has gone on to a more fulfilled life. It would make a great choice for a book
group." - Nicola Rooney, Nicola's Books Little Professor, Ann Arbor,
MI
 Of
Beetles and Angels
by Asgedom, Mawi
(Megadee Books, 0970498268) "This incredible young man's autobiography is
powerful. Mawi was born in Ethiopia, fled with his family to a Sudanese refugee
camp, and arrived in this country at the age of seven. Overcoming hardship and
placing great value on education, Mawi's life has much to teach us. Now a graduate
of Harvard, his story is an inspiration." - Jane Stroh, The Bookstore,
Glen Ellyn, IL
Positively 4th Street: The Lives and Times of Joan Baez, Bob Dylan, Mimi Baez Farina, and Richard Farina
by Hajdu, David
(Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 0374281998) "Hajdu takes the reader through the
early days of folk music (Guthrie, Leadbelly, Seeger) right up through the birth
of rock. Most interesting is the material on the Farinas (he was a novelist and
a friend of Pynchon's), a musical couple about whom little has been written. This
is the stuff of modern music myth made fresh for all of us today." -
Corey Mesler, Burke's Book Store, Memphis, TN
Tulip
by Paord, Anna
(Bloomsbury, 1582341303) "This is a wonderfully researched book tracing the
history of one of the world's most renowned and beautiful flowers." -
Kristi Ehrig-Burgess, Macdonald Bookshop, Estes Park, CO
 Uphill
Walkers: A Memoir of a Family
by Blais, Madeleine
(Atlantic Monthly, 0871137925) "I thoroughly enjoyed being introduced to
the Blais family. Loved the biting wit, references to those 'feisty 50s' nuns,
and reminiscing over the incredible social innocence of the times." -
Susan H. Waite, Harry W. Schwartz Bookshops, Brookfield, WI
Uphill with Archie: A Son's Journey
by MacLeish, William H.
(Simon & Schuster, 0684824957) "Archibald MacLeish was one of the predominate
poets of the 20s, in the company of T.S. Eliot and Ezra Pound. William MacLeish
does a great job telling an interesting story about these people, combining it
with the challenge of growing up within the company of his father, who was at
times sharp and controlling, but also very charming." - Roxanne Coady,
R.J. Julia's, Madison, CT
Voyage for Madmen, A
by Nichols, Peter
(HarperCollins, 0060197641) "Our pick of the summer for BOTH of us! The intensity
and passion of the round-the-world, single-handed, non-stop race in 1968 by nine
very different men in nine very different sailing vessels is captured in this
compelling, fascinating, and full-bodied book. With a novelist's ear and a sailor's
vision, Nichols gives us the adventure book of the year!" - Paul Haskins
& Alaine Borgias, Village Books, Bellingham, WA
Walking the Bible: A Journey by Land Through the Five Books of Moses
by Feiler, Bruce
(William Morrow, 0380977753) "A wonderful book that takes readers on an
unforgettable journey. Walking the Bible brings the Old Testament to life and
makes it accessible to all." - Brian Lapidus, Chapter 11 Books, Atlanta,
GA
Daisy Sutra, The: Conversations with My Dog
by Weaver, Helen
(Buddha Rock , 0970050283) "What a warm, moving reminder of the importance
of pets in our lives! Weaver takes it a giant step forward by introducing the
concept and experience of communicating with animals. I laughed and cried and
felt wonderful reading this book." - Connie Fisher, McLean & Eakin Booksellers,
Petoskey, MI
 Gift
of a Memory, The: A Keepsake to Commemorate the Loss of a Loved One
by Richmond, Marianne
(Waldman House, 0931674425) "What a perfect gift. I will stock this book
forever, as I believe it really fits a need and I can handsell it with genuine
enthusiasm." - Mary Dempsey, Clinton Book Shop, Clinton, NJ
Kaleidoscope: Artistic Techniques for the Creative Soul
by Wilson, Elisabeth Keely
(Brookside Press, 0970103808) "The artwork is beautiful and there are many
passages, both long and short, that I found very powerful and insightful."
- Carolyn Johnson, 2nd Edition Books, Oakland, CA
Pilgrim Heart: The Inner Journey Home
by York, Sarah
(Wiley, 0787956953) "York not only takes us on her journey, but explains
how everyone can make their own pilgrimages, whether they be inner or outer
journeys. A lovely, flowing writing style makes this journey all the sweeter."
- Gretchen Grove, Changing Hands Bookstore, Tempe, AZ
 Skull
Mantra, The
by Pattison, Eliot
(St. Martin's, 0312978340) "This first novel won the Edgar Award for Best
Mystery Novel...but it is so much more than a mystery. There's Chinese bureaucratic
politics, the suppression of Tibet, and a terrific main character. This author's
work has been a joy to discover." - Patricia Hudson, Walden Pond Books,
Oakland, CA
Water Touching Stone
by Pattison, Eliot
(St. Martin's/Minotaur, 0312206127) "Discredited Chinese bureaucrat Shan
is back in this intelligent sequel. He's in and out of trouble with Chinese
Security, nomadic outlaw tribes, and the Tibetan holy men he's pledged to protect
at all costs. An excellent mystery/suspense novel that doubles as a crash course
in Chinese/Tibetan relations and Eastern philosophies. A book to be savored
on many levels." - Barb Bassett, Red Balloon Bookshop, St. Paul, MN
 Dark
Winter
by Dietrich, William
(Warner, 0446526754) "Many scientists dream of a stint at the Amundsen-Scott
research base in Antarctica. The dream becomes a nightmare when one by one, the
residents turn up dead and there is no means of escape. A gripping page-turner
by a Pulitzer-winning science reporter." - Greg Millard, Jackson's Books,
Salem, OR
Downwinders: An Atomic Tale
by Oberhansly, Curtis and Dianne Nelson
(Black Ledge Press, 0970796595) "This is a thriller based on the fallout
from the U.S. government's 1950s atomic tests in Nevada. The testing is the backdrop
to a contemporary story of a murdered government official and the race to get
his whistle-blowing manuscript into the right hands." - Barbara A. Bogart,
Bear River Books, Evanston WY
 Forty
Words for Sorrow
by Blunt, Giles
(Putnam, 0399147527) "Everything about this Canadian mystery is outstanding:
plot, pacing, complex and interesting characters, even the title. The protagonist
is a cop whose beloved wife is mentally ill, and his deep concern for her complicates
both his past and the present; the sociopathic killers are frighteningly ordinary
and also very evil. This is the best police procedural mystery in ages."
- Pat Kehde, The Raven Bookstore, Lawrence KS
Shark River
by White, Randy Wayne
(Putnam, 0399147292) "White produces one of his finest thrillers yet, featuring
marine biologist Doc Ford. Violent and fast-paced, just the way I like 'em."
- David Thompson, Murder By The Book, Houston, TX
Unfinished Business
by Seranella, Barbara
(Scribner, 0743212665) "Here is Seranella in top form. She's grown as a
writer and deals with very tough issues -- addiction, abuse, rape -- compassionately
and effectively within the course of her singular, engaging crime novels."
- Patrick Millikin, The Poisoned Pen, Phoenix, AZ
 Men
in the Off Hours
by Carson, Anne
(Vintage, 0375707565) "Carson's work is full of allusions and references
to cinema, psychology, the classics, with bits of French and Greek thrown into
the mix. The layers accumulate, creating a collection satisfying in its depth."
- Karen Stevenson, Harvard Book Store, Cambridge, MA
Sacrifice
by Woloch, Cecilia
(Cahuenga Press, 0964924048) "This book absolutely floored me. It represents
the very essence of the poet's craft, where the author's reflections on family,
memory, loss, and longing transcend the boundaries of her own experience and
reveal emotional truths common to all our lives. Always moving and often profound,
this book earns my highest recommendation." - Tim Morell, Skylight
Books, Los Angeles, CA
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