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 May/June
2002 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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| THE TOP TEN VOTE-GETTERS |
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 Everything
is Illuminated
by
Jonathan Safran Foer
"More than one English language is at work in Foer's absolutely captivating
book. This book's riches (and they are many) lie in its astonishing range of humor
and horror, an awareness of past and present, and a presence that takes very certain
words to say. Say them Foer does: daringly, hauntingly, and deeply. This is one
of the most fabulous books I've read in a long, long time." - Rick Simonson,
Elliott Bay Book Co., Seattle, WA
 The
Dive From Clausen's Pier
by Ann
Packer
"Packer's first novel is the beautifully told story of Carrie Bell. When
her boyfriend breaks his neck and is paralyzed, she is faced with having to decide
what it is she owes to those she loves. The writing is wonderful, not the least
bit sentimental, and the people in the book are at once distinctive and familiar.
Carrie's choices and their consequences are surprising yet believable. At the
book's close I felt an unexpected satisfaction and pleasure with the heroine's
decisions." - Leslie Reiner, Inkwood Books, Tampa, FL
 Hamlet's
Dresser: A Memoir
by Bob
Smith
"Witnessing the joy Shakespeare has brought to Smith's life and the ability
of Shakespeare's language to resurrect memories for his elderly students will
inspire readers. After reading this delicious memoir, I want to sit with him and
hear more and more about him and his ability to hold our hand and walk us through
the wisdom of Shakespeare's language and characters." - Roxanne Coady,
R.J. Julia Booksellers, Madison, CT
 The
Curve of the World
by Marcus
Stevens
"A businessman who has crash landed in the rainforests of Africa confronts
his demons as his wife and son search for him. There is plenty of suspenseful
adventure, along with a sense of unease. Every turn of the page brings that 'oh,
no' feeling, leading up to a surprise ending. This is a novel I can recommend
to a lot of readers." - Jeanne Michael, Odyssey Books, Grass Valley,
CA
 My
Life in Heavy Metal
by Steve
Almond
"These stories are filled with some of the most vigorous and energetic writing
that I have read in a long while! Some of them will make you feel young, some
will make you feel old, and some of them might make you blush just a little. .
.but that's a good thing. A must read for any fan of the short story."
- Jen Reynolds, Joseph-Beth, Cincinnati, OH
A Week in Winter
by Marcia
Willett
"A lovely story to linger over, with a beautiful, intriguing setting in Cornwall
and characters you'll hold dear. If you've been waiting for another book like
The Shell Seekers, well...here it is! And it's wonderful." - Susan
Wasson, Bookworks, Albuquerque, NM
The Miracle Life of Edgar Mint
by
Brady Udall
"This is a masterpiece. Udall has created one of the finest people of all
time. Edgar breaks your heart, puts it back together, and never lets go. Be prepared
to unplug the phone and ignore your family. This is the best $14 you'll spend
this summer." - Chris Bowe, Longfellow Books, Portland, ME
 The
Neal Pollack Anthology of American Literature
by Neal
Pollack
"In this mock-autobiography, satirically reveals the American author as macho
superhero and media star. Throw off everyday propriety and enjoy Neal's theatrical
exposé of personality and media-hung values!" - Nancy Wirth, Kepler's,
Palo Alto, CA
 Seabiscuit
by Laura
Hillenbrand
"Hillenbrand gifts us with an incredible history of a time, a place, and
an entire culture. Like other great books about a storm, a ship, and an adventure,
the legendary racehorse is a wonderful inspiration for Hillenbrand's larger story...though
even if it were just the horse, it would be enough. A great adventure told by
a writer worthy of the task." - Laura Snyder, Lucy's Books, Astoria,
OR
 Spies:
A Novel
by
Michael Frayn
"On the surface, this is the story of two boys spending a summer at play
in England at the beginning of World War II. But, as the novel progresses, layer
after layer of this idyllic scene peels away to reveal all sorts of ominous
and nasty business. It's like Forster's A Passage to India meets Lynch's
Blue Velvet: engrossing, compelling, shocking. One of the best novels
to come out of England in a long time." - Michael Boggs, Carmichael's,
Lousville, KY
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