 |
|
March/April
2002 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.
|
 The
Secret Life of Bees
by Kidd,
Sue Monk
(Viking, $24.95, 0670894605) "Kidd creates a narrator that the reader will
grow to love. White, 14, and a runaway, she finds the true meaning of family
in a very unusual place: The home of three black sisters who raise bees. Beautifully
written, this is a page turner. " - Kathy Westover, The Bookworm, Edwards,
CO
 Absolute
Zero
by Logan, Chuck
(HarperCollins, $24.95, 0060185724) "A former undercover cop. Double-crosses
and triple-crosses. A main character narrating from the depths of a coma. A very
angry ostrich. Logan's latest has it all, and it all adds up to a fast-paced thriller
that puts its author in the same league as Elmore Leonard. " - Drew Philips,
Warwick's, La Jolla, CA
 Burning
Marguerite
by Inness-Brown, Elizabeth
(Knopf, $23.00, 0375411968) "This deserves our wild collective support. A
really fresh and seamless story; can't think of this story being told before.
It's utterly amazing that it's a first novel. I may have to ask for more time
out front in order to handsell this book; I heartily recommend it! "
- Melissa Mytinger, Cody's, Berkeley, CA
Fruitflesh:
Seeds of Inspiration for Women Who Write
by Brandeis, Gayle
(HarperSanFrancisco, $23.95, 0062517244)
"This is juicy and delicious. Brandeis is a creative muse and her feminine thought-provoking exercises are truly 'seeds of inspiration' designed to unleash our creative spirit. If she has her way, we will all be fountains of creativity. " - Gayle Seminara Mandel, Transitions Bookplace, Chicago, IL
 Red
Poppies
by Alai
(Houghton Mifflin, $24.00, 0618119647) "This enchanting tale transported
me to mysterious Tibet with the story of the son of a powerful, poppy-growing
chieftain and his opium-addicted Chinese wife. The writing is so earthy and sensuous.
This is Cain and Abel, the Godfather, and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, all
rolled up into one great read. " - Susie Fruncillo, Lake Country Booksellers,
White Bear Lake, MN
Atonement
by McEwan, Ian
(Nan A. Talese/Doubleday, $26.00, 0385503954) McEwan weaves an absorbing tale
that starts one afternoon in 1935 and unfolds for years to come, profoundly altering
the lives of those involved. Readers are entrapped in a tale that commands attention
from start to finish. A beautifully written and masterfully crafted tale of growing
up, finding love, and the dangers of a runaway imagination." " -
Kyle Beachy, Verbatim Booksellers, Vail, CO
 The
Gardens of Kyoto
by Walbert, Kate
(Scribner, $13.00, 0684869497) "As Ellen recounts the real and imagined details
of her first love as a young girl, we are reminded of the power of first love
and how it can affect our lives for years to come. Walbert has written a haunting,
beautiful book." - Rebecca Jestice, Dicken's Book Shop, Lebanon, OH
Sophie and the Rising Sun
by Trobaugh, Augusta
(Dutton, $22.95, 0525946276)
"A charming story wrapped in current themes and issues. What is it about Southern writers that allow them to capture a sense of time, temperature, and place so very well? This is a treasure and I have placed in the hands of many readers who voice the same enthusiastic. " - Marilyn R. Scheerbaum, Bickerton and Ripley Books, Edgartown, MA
 Crow
Lake
by Lawson, Mary
(Dial Press, $23.95, 038533611X) "I love this book. Lawson's writing moves
seamlessly between past and present in the telling of a family torn apart by circumstance
and mended by love and valor. It has everything that makes a great story: love,
pathos, humor, suspense, and a strong sense of place. " - Mary Kay Watson,
Sister Wolf Books, Dorset, MN
Poetry Speaks: Hear Great Poets Read Their Work, from Tennyson to Plath
by Pashen, Elise and Rebekah Presson Mosby, eds.
(Sourcebooks MediaFusion, $49.95, 1570717206)
"The lyrical voices of these poets remind us of the exhilaration of time, patience and the sound of words. " - Karen Hannah, City Lights Bookshop, San Francisco, CA
 The
Great American Paperback: An Illustrated Tribute to Legends of the Book
by Lupoff, Richard
(Collectors Press, $60.00, 1888054506) "American literary history at its
garish, pulpy, sensational best. A coffee-table art book for the wild at heart,
and for anyone who's pulled a book out of their pocket in a bus-station at two
in the morning. " - Bret Bertholf, Tattered Cover Book Store, Denver,
CO
 Where
Books Fall Open: A Reader's Anthology of Wit and Passion
by Bascove
(Godine, $24.95, 1567921868) "This is a cornucopia of well-known names
talking about books and/or writing. And beautifully illustrated. Everyone knows
someone who just loves books; this one is perfect for them. " - Peggy
Hailey, Book People, Austin, TX
Cooking Around the Calendar with Kids: Holiday and Seasonal Food and Fun
by Houts, Amy
(Images Unlimited, $24.95, 0930643143) "Houts has put together a tasty collection
of simple recipes children can make in conjunction with holiday and seasonal celebrations,
including preparation as gifts. " - Marian Fleischman, Sedalia Book &
Toy, Sedalia, MO
 The
Misfits
by Howe,
James
(Atheneum, $16.00, 0689839553) "With humor and sensitivity, Howe explores
the issues of name-calling, fitting in, and standing up for what's right. Young
readers will appreciate the lesson that youthful rebellion is not always a bad
thing. " - Eric Robbins, Apple Valley Books, Winthrop, ME
 The
Dangerous Life of Altar Boys
by Fuhrman,
Chris
(University of Georgia Press, $14.95, 0820323381) "A touching and surprising
coming of age story, originally published in 1994. It's too bad it was published
after the author's death; who knows what we've lost? " - Linda Cohen,
Little Professor Book Co. , Temecula, CA
 Sometimes
a Great Notion
by Kesey,
Ken
(Penguin, $14.95, 0140045295) "Kesey's death last fall prompted me to tackle
all 632 pages of his 1963 epic novel. Many consider this book to be THE great
Pacific Northwest novel. It is definitely worth the effort to read this classic.
" - Kate Cerino, Paulina Springs Bookshop, Sisters, OR
 Afterimage
by Humphreys, Helen
(Picador, $13.00, 0312420641) "Amazing, beautiful, incredible; I can't say
enough about this novel. Humphreys has included all the things I loved about Jane
Eyre and put a twist on it, making this novel come alive, again and again.
" - Kathy Crockett, R.J. Julia Booksellers, Madison, CT
 Boy
Still Missing
by Searles,
John
(Perennial, $12.95, 006000780X) "It has been so long since I cared about
a character so quickly, so devotedly, so dearly. The main character will stay
with you, along with the likes of Scout and Jo and Holden, making you grin,
wince, and cheer. " - Joan Barberich, Food for Thought Books, Amherst,
MA
The
Cloud Sketcher
by Rayner, Richard
(Perennial, $14.95, 0060956135)
"From the war-torn Finnish landscape to the jazz din of 1920s New York City, a boy dreaming of skyscrapers grows into the architect that can make that vision a reality. Sweeping panoramas, twists of fate, and historical references come together to create an unforgettable reading experience. " - Tula Patterson, The Children's Corner Bookshop, Spokane, WA
 The
Diagnosis
by Lightman, Alan
(Vintage, $14.00, 0375725504) "A must read for the new millennium. Do you
feel like your life is on a treadmill and that time is an ever-dwindling commodity?
This book, if you can slow down to read it, will help you redefine what's really
important. " - Lugene Ammentorp, Village Bookstore, Menomonee Falls,
WI
 Esther
Stories
by Orner, Peter
(Mariner, $12.00, 0618128735) "Like eating a great meal or drinking a complex
wine, these stories unfold in stages. The stories are short, some only two pages,
but Orner's language and understanding reach much deeper and stay much longer.
This book reads like the beginning of a long writing career and this is the ground
floor. " - Gabriel Haman, Longfellow Books, Portland, ME
 The
Funeral Party
by Ulitskaya, Ludmila
(Schocken, $11.00, 0805211322) "In the middle of this charmingly elegant
novel is a scene that could either be the beginning of a joke or a morality tale:
A priest and a rabbi are summoned to a dying man's bed. Yet in Ulitskaya's astute
and heartfelt hand, this scene, and those surrounding it, executes deeply keen
observations into human feeling and folly with just the right sense of humor throughout.
" - Robert Sindelar, Third Place Books, Lake Forest Park, WA
 Gob's
Grief
by Adrian, Chris
(Vintage, $13.95, 0375726241) "A great read. Almost all of the characters
have lost someone in the Civil War, and the portrayal of Walt Whitman is particularly
human, showing a great man from a personal standpoint. The story was compelling,
keeping me guessing at the ending right to the last page. " - Buster
Keenan, Boulder Book Store, Boulder, CO
In Sunlight, In a Beautiful Garden
by Cambor, Kathleen
(Perennial, $12.95, 0060007575)
"This beautifully wrought novel follows a group of characters living in the path of the great Johnstown Flood, and Cambor captures a moment in time before their lives are forever changed. " - Daniel Goldin, Harry W. Schwartz Bookshops, Milwaukee, WI
 Kissing
the Virgin's Mouth
by Gershten, Donna
(Perennial, $11.95, 0060933585) "When Barbara Kingsolver endorses a novel
with her first Bellwether Prize for Fiction, expectations peak. Gersten delivers,
in the person of Magda Vasquez, cheeky, wise, generous survivor of a seaside barrio.
The words are kissed with a touch of magical realism. What a joy to welcome this
new writer, and to anticipate more from her! " - Cheryl McKeon, Third
Place Books, Lake Forest Park, WA
Lick Creek
by Kessler, Brad
(Scribner, $14.00, 0743217756)
"It is impossible not to speak of electricity when writing about this depiction of the people and landscape of 1920s West Virginia coal country. Whether the author is writing of the high-tension towers being constructed by men who wield electricity like a weapon, like magic, or of the emotions of the mountain people, powerless in so many ways, there are intense, emotional currents of love, hatred, grief, and courage running through this book. " - Bob Gray, The Northshire Bookstore, Manchester Center, VT
 Miss
Garnet's Angel
by Vickers, Sally
(Plume, $13.00, 0452282977) "Vickers manages the inconceivable: she takes
a tired theme (old teacher goes to Venice to find happiness) and makes it scintillate
with freshness and beauty. " - Will Balk, Bay Street Trading Company,
Beaufort, SC
Observatory Mansions
by Carey, Ed
(Vintage, $14.00, 0375709231)
"This brilliantly imaginative first novel is set in a grand old London mansion that has become a rooming house inhabited by a handful of eccentrics. Several strands plait themselves into Carey's amazing story. It has a strange artfulness, making it an extraordinarily satisfying hand-sell. " - Paul Ingram, Prairie Lights, Iowa City, IA
 The
Old American
by Hebert, Ernest
(University of New England Press, $15.95, 1584652136) "Set during the French
and Indian Wars, this book tells the story of a self-styled king who returns from
an Iroquois raiding party with an English captive. The weaving of the tale of
their relationship is a brilliant story. An absolutely wonderful read!" "
- Colleen Moore, 20-Mile Book Stop, Parker, CO
 Out
of the Night That Covers Me
by Devoto, Pat Cunningham
(Warner, $13.95, 0446678023) "This was my pick of the year for 2001 in hardcover.
If only Oprah would pick this! It is a magnificent story of overcoming and hope,
and there is no one who will not fall in love with this 7-year old boy. The elements
of racism, ignorance & poverty are beautifully intertwined with this brave little
boy's saga. " - Liz Murphy, The Learned Owl, Hudson, OH
 Singing
Boy
by McFarland,
Dennis
(Picador, $14.00, 0312420625) "A fascinating contemporary story about a
random act of violence. McFarland is skilled at descriptive prose, and takes
his readers on a very believable and compassionate journey into the minds and
souls of his characters. " - Lee Duffus, Bookworks, Aptos, CA
 The
Translator
by Crowley,
John
(William Morrow, $24.95, 0380978628) "The story of a young college student's
remarkable relationship with an exiled Russian poet in 1960s Cold War America.
It's about poetry, translation, life, love and the threat of war. This book
is so delicious, so evocative, so exquisite, I read it slowly twice, to savor
each word and phrase. It will win the National Book Award. Or should. "
- Lois Powers, The Toadstool Bookshop, Milford, NH
 Little,
Big
by Crowley, John
(Perennial, $15.95, 0060937939)
"Simply one of the best American novels ever. "
- Rick Barefield, The Book Cellar, Tuscaloosa, AL
 Otherwise:
Three Novels (Beasts, The Deep, Engine Summer)
by Crowley,
John
(Perennial, $15.95, 0060937920)
The
Apprentice Lover
by Parini, Jay
(HarperCollins, $24.95, 0066210712)
"This is the literary and romantic coming of age of a '70s Columbia dropout who has recently lost his brother in Vietnam, and who tries to find a mentor in a legendary, though despotic poet. It's full of wonderfully wrought language, beautiful imagery and guest appearances by luminaries such as Vidal and Auden. " - Elaine Sopchak, The Book Rack & Children's Pages, Essex Junction, VT
 The
Buffalo Soldier
by Bohjalian, Chris
(Crown, $25.00, 0609608339) "I was amazed and impressed by Bohjalian's latest
effort. I think it's his best so far! This story about a young black foster child
living with a white couple draws the reader in and involves us in the lives of
each of the main characters. " - Marilyn Sieb, Books & Company, Oconomowoc,
WI
Child's Book of True Crime: A Novel
by Hooper, Chloe
(Scribner, $23.00, 0743225120)
"Laid not so gently upon the bones of the penal colonists of Port Arthur, as well as upon the bones of the endangered creatures of the island (kookaburras, wombats) who converse amongst themselves about the goings on, this first novel will establish well this young Australian author. " - Jim Tenney, Olsson's Books, Washington, D.C.
Claire Marvel
by Schwartz, John Burnham
(Doubleday, $25.00, 038550344X)
"A lush, poetic novel that takes the reader from scholarly Cambridge to romantic France. The fateful love affair between Julian and Claire is a wonderful glimpse at true love. " - Sarah Parker, Scott's, Mt. Vernon, WA
Deep in the Shade of Paradise
by Dufresne, John
(Norton, $26.95, 0393020207)
"The wedding of Grisham Loudermilk and Ariane Thevenot in Shiver-de-Freeze, Louisiana is the magnet that collects one of the strangest casts of characters in recent fiction. Even the author gets into the act, taking over various chapters to ruminate about literature, life, and love. A not-to-be missed ticket to fun. " - Barbara Hoagland, The King's English, Salt Lake City, UT
 Enemy
Women
by Jiles, Paulette
(William Morrow, $24.95, 0066214440) "The trials and tribulations of a young
woman held prisoner during the Civil War are a real eye-opener about life for
women left at the home front. Her story is a fitting companion to Cold Mountain
for the journey she must undertake to survive. " - Tara O'Donnell, Paperbacks
Plus, Bronx, NY
 Eyre
Affair, The
by Fforde, Jasper
(Viking, $23.95, 0670030643) "Thursday Next is a literary SpecOps detective
and a war vet who lost her brother in the Charge of the Light Brigade. The Crimean
War drags on because the Goliath Co. makes a lot of money from it. And Acheron
Hades is a very bad man intent on doing harm to some of Britain's best-loved literary
characters, in a world where art and literature are taken very, very seriously.
Jane Eyre will never read quite the same. " - Christopher Hubbuch,
Ruminator Books, St. Paul, MN
 Fair
Warning
by Butler, Robert Owen
(Atlantic, $24.00, 0870038336) "Butler's main character is an auctioneer
unlike any you've read about. Your fate will be sealed as soon as you read the
first sentence of this novel. Fair warning! " - Mary Gay Shipley, That
Bookstore in Blytheville, Blytheville, AR
 Fingersmith
by Waters, Sarah
(Riverhead, $25.95, 1573222038) "I confess to being a Sarah Waters' fan.
If Fingersmith was half as good as Tipping the Velvet (which was also fast-moving,
intricately plotted, and set in gas-lit England), I'd have been satisfied. Great
news: It's twice as good!" " - Wendy Leavens, Wild Iris Books, Gainesville,
FL
 The
Good Men
by Craig, Charmaine
(Riverhead, $24.95, 157322197X) "A powerful historical novel, written with
passion and poetry about the effects of the heretical 14th-century Cathar movement
on the lives of the villagers of southwestern France. Craig brings both individuals
and the period alive with her elegant, detailed writing. " - Irma Wolfson,
Latitude 33 Bookshop, Laguna Beach, CA
The
House of Blue Mangoes
by Davidar, David
(HarperCollins, $26.95, 0066212545)
"What a beautiful novel. It's beautifully crafted, with an engaging story set in late 1800's India. " - Danielle Freeman, Maria's Bookshop, Durango, CO
 Impressionist,
The
by Kunzru, Hari
(Dutton, $24.95, 052594642X) "The writing is so crisp and funny and the observations
so penetrating; a gorgeous novel. And as always with a first rate book -most recently
White Teeth and The Corrections - I want to go back and start over again. "
- Carla Cohen, Politics & Prose, Washington, DC
 In
the Castle of the Flynns
by Raleigh, Michael
(Sourcebooks Landmark, $22.00, 1570717974)
"I thought I was reading a memoir, not a novel, so immediate and involving was this story. A very funny and satisfying read. " - Renee Barker, Just the Bookstore, Glen Ellyn, IL
Insect Dreams: The Half-Life of Gregor Samsa
by Estrin, Marc
(Blue Hen, $26.95, 0399148361)
"As brilliant as Pynchon and as funny as the best of Robbins and Vonnegut, this is a generous gift to the idea-starved fiction reader. Heart, head, hilarity and history all rolled passionately into one. Don't miss this! " - John Evans, DIESEL: A Bookstore, Oakland, CA
 Just
Shy of Harmony
by Gulley, Philip
(HarperSanFrancisco, $15.95, 0060006323) "This is absolutely delightful.
The characters are your neighbors and the church is exactly like the one I grew
up in. Move over Jan Karon. " - Susan Danner, Danner's Books, Muncie,
IN
Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Friend
by Moore, Christopher
(William Morrow, $25.95, 0380978407)
"If Moore only knew how much pain he brings from plucking our funny bones so frequently. Imagine finally being able to fill in the blanks, Moore-style, about the teenage years of Christ, as told by his best friend, Biff. It is a rebellion of words and ideas that few could ever get away with. Devilish fun, told with wit and candor. " - David Henkes, University Book Store, Bellevue, WA
 Lucky
Us
by Silber, Joan
(Algonquin, $22.95, 1565123204) "A contemporary love story, complete with
mismatched lovers, a bit of coincidence and a large dose of fate. The two New
Yorkers and their assorted friends and family are at once unique and familiar."
- Leslie Reiner, Inkwood Books, Tampa, FL
Miracle at St. Anna
by McBride, James
(Riverhead, $24.95, 1573222127)
"McBride has done it again, this time in fiction form, in a novel of black soldiers in WWII. A page-turner, told without pretension and beautifully crafted." - Donna DeLacy, Portrait of a Bookstore, Studio City, CA
 A
Multitude of Sins
by Ford, Richard
(Knopf, $25.00, 0375412123) "The ten stories herein capture ordinary people
in ordinary places dealing with the unhappiness, embarrassment, and heartache
of an affair. The reader laughs, gasps and becomes a cautious observer in the
created drama of relationships. Richard Ford is simply a master of the short story.
" - Barbara Theroux, Fact and Fiction, Missoula, MT
 Red
Water
by Freeman, Judith
(Pantheon, $24.00, 0375420924)
"Wonderful historical fiction, told from the perspective of three of John D. Lee's seventeen wives; it's eye-opening to those of us who have no understanding of or sympathy for the Mormon polygamist. " - Jean Brace, Brace Books & More, Ponca City, OK
 The
Rotter's Club
by Coe, Jonathan
(Knopf, $24.95, 0375413839) "A very, very funny book about growing up in
England in a very difficult time. Girls, politics, unions, the Troubles and more
girls. The narrative is coming from several different angles, melding perfectly
into something that stays with you long after the last page is turned. Grab it!
" - Anne Whelan, Brookline Booksmith, Brookline, MA
 Sacrament
of Lies
by Dewberry, Elizabeth
(Blue Hen, $23.95, 039914854X) "A retelling of Hamlet told from the point
of view of a modern woman who is the daughter of a politician. This book can be
enjoyed as a literary mystery or a psychological drama. I just loved it. "
- Deb Wehmeier, Garden District Book Shop, New Orleans, LA
 Searching
for Intruders: A Novel in Stories
by Byler, Stephen Raleigh
(William Morrow, $23.95, 0066212944) "In beautiful prose, Byler gives us
a strong, dark and haunting story of a young man trying to discover himself in
the wake of pain and tragedy. The best novel I have read in awhile. "
- Tim Huggins, Newtonville Books, Newtonville, MA
 Snow
Island
by Towler, Katherine
(MacAdam/Cage, $25.00, 193156101X) "This first novel has a wonderful Shell
Seekers quality to it. It's full of tragedy, war, regrets, and redemption,
reminding one how much fun it is to get lost in a good novel. " - Fred
Powell, Main Street Books, Frostburg, MD
The
Stars Can Wait
by Basu, Jay
(Holt, $21.00, 0805068872) "A tender coming of age Holocaust story takes
place in German-occupied Poland. Living in terror but still living and working
and believing in life are powerful themes in this first novel. " - Joci
Tilsen, The Valley Bookseller, Stillwater, MN
 Sweetest
Dream
by Lessing,
Doris
(HarperCollins, $26.95, 0066213347) "Through the members of an extended
family in London, Lessing follows the dream of changing the world, from its
idealistic youth in the 1960s through its sobering encounter with post-colonial
AIDS-ridden Africa. No mere nostalgia trip, this powerful, complex novel has
the feel of telling it like it was, and is. " - Laurie Greer, Olsson's
Books & Records, Bethesda, MD
 Batavia's
Graveyard: The True Story of the Mad Heretic Who Led History's Bloodiest Mutiny
by Dash, Mike
(Crown, $25.00, 0609607669) " I loved this, in a deeply unsettling way. Dash
has a unique ability to transport you into the historical detail of the time.
I was completely captivated. " - Sarah Costin, The Northshire Bookstore,
Manchester Center, VT
Breaking Clean
by Blunt, Judy
(Knopf, $24.00, 0375401318)
"A rancher on the Montana highline, Blunt fought bitter cold and isolation, as well as fighting for herself, knowing that as a rancher's daughter and a rancher's wife, she would never really inherit the ranch. This is a beautifully written memoir, as good as anything I've ever read on the rural West. " - Marcia Rider, Capitola Book Café, Capitola, CA
Growing Up True: Lessons From a Western Boyhood
by Barnes, Craig
(Fulcrum, $22.95, 1555913504)
"A lovely memoir of a family in post-war America told by their youngest son. The parents give their sons a strict but loving childhood with lessons that are as relevant today as yesterday. A gentle reminder of the values that have made our country great; a kind of William Bennett for the rest of us. " - Margaret Maupin, Tattered Cover Book Store, Denver, CO
In the Presence of Fear: Three Essays for a Changed World
by Berry, Wendell
(Orion Society, $8.00, 0913098604)
"In this small book, Berry has condensed the recipe for social, political and economic change. The fear we experienced after Sept. 11 can be a catalyst to straighten our priorities on every level. If you feel confusion and sense of dissonance as business as usual eclipses our recent horrors, then read this book. Berry is a modern day Thoreau. " - Margaret Shindler, Ecola Square Books, Cannon Beach, OR
 Letters
To a Young Contrarian: The Art of Mentoring
by Hitchens, Christopher
(Basic, $22.00, 0465030327) "In a sparkling style, Hitchens gives advice
to young dissenters everywhere. Like a version of C.S. Lewis's Screwtape Letters
written for the real, modern world, this should be on every bookseller's graduation
tables this summer. " - Doug Anderson, The Book Bag, Valparaiso, IN
 Motherland:
Beyond the Holocaust; A Mother-Daughter Journey to Reclaim the Past
by Chapman, Fern Schumer
(Penguin, $13.00, 0140286233) "An amazing book about a woman who travels
back to Germany with her mother, who, as a 12 year old girl, was sent away by
her parents during WWII. The parents died in concentration camps, and this journey
is made to make peace with the past. It touched me deeply, and we're recommending
it to book clubs." - Sue Boucher, Lake Forest Book Store, Lake Forest,
IL
 Palestine
by Sacco, Joe
(Fantagraphics, $24.95, 156097432X)
"This may be the most creative and important work ever produced on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Sacco is utterly unique, a courageous comics journalist who brings the reader closer to the real lives behind the headlines. The drawings are forceful and honest, the narrative is utterly compelling. An absolute must; on a par with Spiegelman's Maus. " - Asher Brauner, Bookshop Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA
Rescuing Jeffrey
by Galli, Richard
(Griffin, $13.95, 0312283407)
"Richard and Toby Galli faced a parent's worst nightmare in 1998: Trying to convince doctors to allow them to make the decision to let their 17-year-old son Richard die following a diving accident which left him paralyzed. You will be moved by this heart-wrenching book. " - Molly Beck, Quail Ridge Books, Raleigh, NC
 Sleep
Demons: An Insomniac's Memoir
by Hayes, Bill
(Washington Square Press, $15.00, 0671028154)
"I loved Hayes' look at the mythology of sleep. His book effortlessly drifts between topics, seamlessly blending research on sleep disorders with a candid memoir. It is a work unlike any other I have read, and one with which I am sure many readers will identify. " - Vincent Desjardins, The Snow Goose Bookstore, Stanwood, WA
A
Thousand Bells at Noon: A Roman's Guide to the Secrets and Pleasures of His Native
City
by Romagnoli, G. Franco
(Steerforth Press, $25.00, 1586420364)
"Romagnoli is a master at setting scenes and portraying characters. This book will open up the ancient city to anyone who doesn¹t have an intimate knowledge of it. " - Liza Bernard, Norwich Bookstore, Norwich, VT
 Tipping
Point, The: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference
by Gladwell, Malcolm
(Back Bay, $14.95, 0316346624) "This was my favorite book of 2000, and it's
now in paperback. A fascinating subject and examination; don't miss it. "
- Mary Vituccio, Sugden Book Store, Marietta, OH
The
Trouser People: A Modern-Day Explorer Tracks the Victorian Adventurer Who Taught
Burma to Play the Empire's Game
by Marshall, Andrew
(Counterpoint, $26.00, 1582431205)
"Marshall sets out to explore the pre-colonial history and present condition of mysterious Burma. A stunning book, wonderfully told. " - Michal Drannen, Powell's Books, Portland, OR
The
Voyage of the Catalpa: A Daring Escape, A Perilous Journey and Six Irish Rebels'
Flight to Freedom
by Stevens, Peter
(Carroll & Graf, $26.00, 078670974X)
"A potential bestseller, this is an extremely well-written account of a heretofore little known event in 1800s American history. As best as I can summarize, an Irish rebel who has gone on to literary glory in Boston undertakes a yearlong sea voyage to rescue six countryman exiled in Australia by the British. Read it for yourself; it's a fascinating, fascinating true story. " - Steve Foley, Joseph-Beth Booksellers, Cleveland, OH
Hell to Pay
by Pelecanos, George P.
(Little, Brown, $24.95, 0316695068) "Pelecanos once again rocks my world.
If you have not sampled some of his very real mysteries, then I encourage you
to belly up to the bar and start doing shots of George P. " - Robert
Segedy, McIntyre's, Pittsboro, NC
 Tell
No One
by Coban,
Harlan
(Dell, $6.99, 0440236703) "I couldn't put this down. Not part of the Myron
Bolitar series (if you're not familiar with Coben, you'll want to read his other
books, too), this is a totally different stand-alone novel: very suspenseful,
with an extremely likable main character. " - Karen Spengler, I Love
a Mystery, Mission, KS
 The
Birds of Heaven: Travels with Cranes
by Matthiessen, Peter, illustrated by Robert Bateman
(North Point, $27.00, 0374199442) "Here is a book that fills the reader with
awe: awe for the decade-long journey Matthiessen undertook across 5 continents
in order to view all 15 species of crane, and awe for the knowledgeable blend
of nature and politics expressed in evocative, poetic prose. An inspiring book,
gorgeously illustrated, to be savored, treasured, and acted upon. " -
Mary Fellows, Annie Bloom's Books, Portland, Oregon
 Journey
of the Pink Dolphins: An Amazon Quest
by Montgomery,
Sy
(Touchstone, $16.00, 0743200268) "This wonderful travel log of a woman's
search for the elusive pink dolphins captures the creatures and people, the
very soul of the Amazon. She is able to make you forget the modern day as she
immerses you in a timeless world. " - Dana Devito, Moravian Bookstore,
Bethlehem, PA
|
|
Top