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Summer
Paperback 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
Miracle Life of Edgar Mint
by Udall,
Brady
"Something of a miracle in its own right, this Dickensian tale of childhood
woe and redemption is as painfully funny as One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
and as narrative-driven as early John Irving. Brady Udall may be the best-kept
literary secret, but not for long." - Betsy Burton, The King's English
Bookshop, Salt Lake City, UT
 The
Neal Pollack Anthology of American Literature
by Pollack, Neal
"Like a literary Forrest Gump -- though much better looking, of course --
Pollack travels 'round the world making history with pals Allen Ginsberg, Joyce
Carol Oates, George Orwell, Norman Mailer, Toni Morrison, and many others. This
is laugh-out-loud funny." - Stacey Lewis, City Lights, San Francisco,
CA
 Seabiscuit:
An American Legend
by Hillenbrand,
Laura
"Hillenbrand has brought this unlikely champion racehorse and the men who
owned, trained, and rode him to vivid life. It is as much a portrait of America
during the Depression or a tale of ordinary individuals succeeding against all
odds as it is a horse story. This is a captivating, page-turning story of three
men and a horse who captured the attention of the entire world." -
Laura Hudson, The Bookloft, Great Barrington, MA
 The
Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio: How My Mother Raised 10 Kids on 25 Words or Less
by Ryan, Terry
"In the 1950's, Evelyn Ryan managed to support her family and to inspire
them with pride, hope, and confidence. By using her wits to enter thousands of
jingle contests, she won food, appliances, a bicycle, a car, and enough cash to
make the mortgage payments! An alternately heartbreaking and humorous true story
about a woman whose courage will go straight to your heart." - Ellen
Davis, Dragonwings, Waupaca, WI
Empire Falls
by Russo, Richard
"This is Russo's best book yet! Miles Roby, lead protagonist and decent son
and father, is a beautifully crafted character. He follows in the usual Russo
tango: one step forward and two steps back. This is a brilliant book loaded with
heart. I simply loved it." - Kay Marcotte, Page One Books, Albuquerque,
NM
 Mystic
River
by Lehane, Dennis
"Lehane has forged an urban crime novel of surpassing darkness, but it also
has the legs to stand as a fiction of its time and place like, say, Fitzgerald's
The Great Gatsby. It's truly an amazing work. Don't miss it."
- Barbara Peters, The Poisoned Pen, Scottsdale, AZ
 Close
to Shore: The Terrifying Shark Attacks of 1916
by Capuzzo, Michael
"Capuzzo doesn't sensationalize the attacks of 1916 or make the shark out
to be a monster. Instead, he creates a vivid picture of life in the early 1900s,
a time of blazing change and discovery. This is a very compelling book."
- Cory Combs, Christopher's Books, San Francisco, CA
 God-Shaped
Hole
by DeBartolo, Tiffanie
"Beautifully written and lovingly told, this story is full of clear, biting
prose, a sensual and spirited plot, and wildly amusing characters. Poignant and
emotional, this novel will touch your soul." - Maryann Eastman, White
Birch Books, N. Conway, NH
 Year
of Wonders
by Brooks, Geraldine
"Brooks takes us to a village in the 1666 Derbyshire during the Plague. She
shows us every facet of human nature, as the villagers have voluntarily decided
to isolate themselves for the duration of the sickness. An unforgettable reading
experience; the best book I have read so far this year." - Louise Blake,
Deerleap Books, Bristol, VT
 Bel
Canto
by Patchett,
Ann
"One of my favorite books in 2001, I'm looking forward to recommending
this to all of our book groups in paperback. A wonderful story about a hostage
situation in a foreign embassy, with fascinating characters you grow to know
and love, and not always just the 'good guys.'" - Liz Morgan, Village
Bookstore, Menomonee Falls, WI
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