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March/April
2003 Book Sense 76 Picks
Unique and provocative selections from a great diversity of voices...all personally recommended by the independent booksellers of America.
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Great New Fiction in Paperback |
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 At
Swim, Two Boys
by Jamie
O'Neill
"A tender and tragic love story that resonated with the political and historical
events of Ireland's Easter Rising. It is also exceptional in its depiction of
first love." - Ron Atkins, Outwrite Books, Atlanta, GA
 Claire
Marvel
by John
Burnham Schwartz
"A lush, poetic novel that takes the reader from scholarly Cambridge, Massachusetts
to the romantic French countryside. The love affair between Julian and Claire
is destined for a tragic ending, but the story of their lives in between is a
wonderful glimpse of true love." - Sarah Parker, Scott's Bookstore, Mt.
Vernon, WA
 Deep
in the Shade of Paradise
by John
Dufresne
"We're getting ready for a wedding in Shiver-de-Freeze, Louisiana, but what
has happened to the bride and groom? This bayou Midsummer
Night's Dream tackles the big issues of life, death, marriage, birth,
and love, as well as a whole mess of little ones as well. Filled with quirky and
fun characters, this fast-paced and tragicomic novel is unforgettable."
- Jefferson Turner, Beaucoup Books, New Orleans, LA
 The
Haunting of L.
by Howard
Norman
"Norman is a masterful writer who weaves a complex trio of characters: a
woman who studies spirit photography, her husband who photographs disasters, and
a caption writer. Their own lives are haunted by a secret that keeps the reader
riveted." - Rona Brinlee, The Book Mark, Atlantic Beach, FL
 Insect
Dreams: The Half-Life of Gregor Samsa
by Marc
Estrin
"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
 Number9Dream
by David
Mitchell
"Mitchell effortlessly weaves thoughts and ideas on the nature and meaning
of life into his bright, crisp narrative. Do yourself a favor and lose yourself
in the world of David Mitchell; you won't regret it for a second." -
Candler Hunt, Olsson's Dupont Circle, Washington, DC
 Tepper
Isn't Going Out
by Calvin
Trillin
"Trillin has written a charmingly offbeat novel of New York. Tepper just
wants to find a parking spot and read the paper in his car, but is drawn into
a strange kind of celebrity instead." - Soren Schoff, Canterbury Booksellers,
Madison, WI
 The
Translator
by John
Crowley
"The story of a young college student's remarkable relationship with an exiled
Russian poet in 60s 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." - Lois Powers,
The Toadstool Bookshop, Milford, NH
 Zeno's
Conscience
by Italo
Svevo, Translated by William Weaver
"Perhaps the greatest work of Italian literary modernism gets its due with
this new translation by the great Weaver. Zeno, writing his memoirs as therapy
to help him stop smoking, provides a hilariously detailed roadmap of his foibles,
including his complete lack of business sense, his less-than-perfect fidelity
to his wife, and, of course, his inability to make any cigarette his last."
- Joe Murphy, Olsson's Books and Records, Washington, DC
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