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September/October
2001 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.
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Peace Like a River
by Enger, Leif
(Atlantic Monthly, $24.00, 087113795X)
"What a book! I was captivated from page one. His pitch-perfect prose is a pleasure to read, and his imaginative storytelling took me through the whole range of human emotion. Peace Like a River deserves a huge audience, it's that good. I eagerly look forward to its arrival so we can begin the delightful task of finding a readership for this really extraordinary (and really fun) novel." - Mark LaFramboise, Politics and Prose Bookstore, Washington, DC
American
Gods
by Gaiman,
Neil
 (William
Morrow, $26.00, 0380973650) "Gaiman's new book is spectacular. He updates
ancient myths into perfectly reasonable modern incarnations. His take on the
question of what happens to gods when their followers no longer believe in them
is fascinating, and the ending is so, so right. Gaiman has finally come into
his own in what may well be one of the best books this year, fantasy or otherwise."
- Peggy Hailey, Book People Bookstore, Austin, TX
Sailing Alone Around the Room: New and Selected Poems
by Collins, Billy
(Random House, $22.00, 0375503803)
"I was at the end my rope on a really ratty day when I opened up this book, read the first part, and smiled and said 'Thank you.' This is poetry that rolls up its sleeves and does the job it's supposed to do, which is, namely, to make me feel better and give me hope and, above all, to 'fill the saucer of my heart with milky admiration.'" - Andy Lacher, BookStacks, Bucksport, ME
Year of Wonders: A Novel of the Plague
by Brooks, Geraldine
(Viking, $25.95, 067091021X)
"What a stunning book. The fascinating story of a small town in England in 1666 that gets hit with The Plague is beautifully told by one of the women of the town who has lost her whole family. Now, with the help of the rector's wife, she helps to care for the town's dying people. I haven't read a novel this good in a long time." - Sue Boucher, Lake Forest Books, Lake Forest, IL
 Ava's
Man
by Bragg,
Rick
(Knopf, $25.00, 0375410627) "Bragg does it again! This book made me want
to write my own family history, but the emotions I felt while reading Ava's
Man made me realize that Rick Bragg has already written every family's story,
no matter what generation or circumstance you come from. A perfect follow-up
to All Over but the Shoutin' and an absolutely amazing read."
- Candy Ailstock, Hawley-Cooke Booksellers, Louisville, KY
About the Author
by Colapinto, John
(HarperCollins, $25.00, 0060194170)
"This mystery about a 'borrowed' manuscript, a lie and the cover-up, and the price of fame is a roller coaster ride! Just when you think you've reached the last curve there's another dip that takes the breathe out of your lungs and puts a knot in your stomach." - Donna Kane, Powell's Books, Portland, OR
 Blue
Diary
by Hoffman, Alice
(Putnam, $24.95, 0399148027)
"Beginning with how well can you really know another person and, then, how well do you know yourself, this is the tale of a tragedy and the array of emotions that ensue. It is a compelling read and although I found it somewhat sad and sinister, it is ultimately uplifting and very life-affirming." - Carrie Sutherland, J.W. Beecroft Books and Coffee, Superior, WI
Corrections,
The
by Franzen,
Jonathan
(Farrar, Straus & Giroux, $26.00, 0374129983) "Both a poignant family saga
and a harshly funny omnibus of contemporary culture, Franzen's new novel chronicles
the declining fortunes of the Lamberts with great sophistication and compassion.
A powerful story of generational conflict and the messy humanity of those on
both sides." - Sacha Arnold, Bookshop Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA
 Noonday
Demon, The: An Atlas of Depression
by Solomon,
Andrew
(Scribner, $28.00, 068485466X) "A dynamite book. Hugely important and long
overdue! Thank you, Andrew Solomon, for tackling this subject. It has made a
difference to me and will for many others." - Debra Grady, Micawber
Books, Princeton, NJ
Grand
Complication, The
by Kurzweil,
Allen
(Hyperion, $24.95, 0786866039) "I loved the library jargon and the assembly
of characters who spouted therewith. I loved Jesson's fussy anal-neuroticism
combined with his lovely control-freak qualities. I loved each and every pun.
(I was particularly fond of 'out-of-cite-out-of-mind.') Sixty chapters in 360
pages. How cool." - Doug Dutton, Dutton's Brentwood Books, Los Angeles,
CA
 Fix
It and Forget It Cookbook: Feasting with Your Slow Cooker
by Ranck,
Dawn and Phyllis Pellman Good
(Good Books, $13.95, 1561483176) "Real recipes from real cooks working
in real kitchens. 800 recipes for everything from appetizers to desserts. Highly
recommended as the best crockpot cookbook I've seen in a long time."
- Rita Moran, Apple Valley Books, Winthrop, ME
 Dhalgren
by Delaney, Samuel R.
(Vintage, $18.00, 0375706682)
"Delany's masterpiece of identity and memory in a post-disaster world is a powerful work of imagination. The pleasure of Delany's narrative comes from the sense of wiggling away from one's grasp at the very moment when one thinks understanding has been achieved. As fresh and original as when it was published in 1974." - David Bowman, Shaman Drum Bookshop, Ann Arbor, MI
Power of the Dog, The
by Savage,
Thomas
(Back Bay, $13.95, 0316610895)
"Originally published in 1967, this is a novel of the Old West in its sunset - 1920s Montana - and about 2 brothers approaching their early 40s who are as different as night and day. There is toughness here, and tenderness to offset it, with prose clear and fresh to the ear. Savage's texture of the landscape and the people is like no other, and yet one is inclined to remark upon similarities to Stegner or McCarthy." - Kathryn Clark, Square Books, Oxford, MS
Way of Life, Like Any Other, A
by O'Brien, Darcy
(New York Review of Books, $12.95, 094032279X) "This novel of a childhood
growing up in post-WWII Hollywood is euphoric and honest. Likened to Catcher
in the Rye, it's the story of the son of two former movie stars who must
come to grips with their divorce, lost wealth, and ego-driven idiosyncrasies.
With a keen sense of the ironic, it is light-hearted and outrageous."
- Jesse DeClercq, Bookshelf at the Boatworks, Tahoe City, CA
Blind Assassin, The
by Atwood, Margaret
(Anchor, $14.00, 0385720955)
"Atwood has done it again! At an elderly age, Iris attempts to reveal the threads of her family's life as a legacy to her granddaughter, her only remaining relative. There are several stories here, expertly woven together." - Diane Gressman, Books & Company, Oconomowoc, WI
Blind Man Can See How Much I Love You, A
by Bloom, Amy
(Vintage, $12.00, 0375705570)
"This book of short stories portrays extraordinary gestures of love in seemingly ordinary situations. Bloom's poetic stories are intense, emotional, and thought-provoking." - Ginger Brey, Verbatim Booksellers, Vail, CO
 Dangerous
Dilemmas
by Palfrey,
Evelyn
(Pocket, $12.95, 067104222X) "Palfrey has provided us with another page-turner
dealing with deceit, betrayal, career options, and - oh yes - a murder or two
to bring our heroine together with a love interest." - Emma Rodgers,
Black Images Book Bazaar, Dallas, TX
 Love
in a Dead Language
by Siegel, Lee
(University of Chicago Press, $15.00, 0226756998)
"This book is so many things at once: a layered narrative; a doomed love story of a professor and student as they travel to India; a translation of the Kama Sutra...and an illustrated novel, mystery, and farce. Clever, surprising and original, Siegel will keep you guessing until the very end -- maybe." - Jennifer Kohnhorst & Paula Chesley, Ruminator Books, Minneapolis, MN
Man
Who Grew Young, The
by Quinn,
Daniel, illustrated by Tim Eldred
(Context, $19.95, 1893956172) "This matches the intense, thought-provoking
writing of Quinn's Ishmael and After Dachua. I couldn't stop until
I finished this illustrated novel." - Jacqueline Kirkpatrick, Merritt
Books Volume II, Red Hook, NY
 More
Than You Know
by Gutcheon, Beth
(Perennial, $13.00, 0060959355)
"This incredible novel pulls together two love stories along with a murder that took place 100 years ago. This is a hauntingly beautiful novel that the reader will not be able to soon forget." - Kim Neath, K&M Books, Shaker Heights, OH
Sherlock in Love
by Naslund, Sena Jeter
(Perennial, $13.00, 0688178448)
"Here, rendered in prose and plot that echoes the original stories, is a new story about Sherlock Holmes. The author has captured the style and personality of the characters and their time so well that I felt like I was reading Arthur Conan Doyle's work. It was immensely satisfying...like meeting an old friend after many years." - Nancy Miller, Kepler's Books & Magazines, Menlo Park, CA
Trip to the Stars, A
by Christopher, Nicholas
(Scribner, $14.00, 0743203305)
"A plot as finely crafted as any spider's web to capture readers and hold them fast. The characters come together like gears of a clock, only to be swept away until they meet again as the story unwinds. Love, hate, greed, betrayal, suspense, and adventure. A book with universal appeal." - Lester Force, Cat's Impetuous Books, Kent, OH
 Under
the Skin
by Faber, Michael
(Harcourt/Harvest, $13.00, 0156011603) "With wit and a bizarre plot, Faber
turns the crank on contemporary society in this darkly comic parable. Male hitchhikers
are being picked up for the ride of their lives and as the nightmarish story unfolds
a wide range of social ills are held up to a looking glass, from the evil of multinational
corporations to the failure to recognize the natural beauty of the places we inhabit.
A cult classic in the making!" - Will Peters, Annie Bloom's Books, Portland,
OR
 Wild
Life
by Gloss,
Molly
(Houghton Mifflin/Mariner, $13.00, 0618131574) "This award-winning author's
prose is intelligent, effortless, and wickedly funny. Wild Life puts
a wonderful spin on a woman's place on the frontier as a force of nature rather
than static window dressing. Charlotte is a character of depth and intensity."
- Shawn Wathen, Chapter One Bookstore, Hamilton, MT
Ash Garden
by Bock, Dennis
(Knopf, $23.00, 0375413022)
"With all the attention given to the glory of the 'Greatest Generation,' this book provides a subtle balancing with the scars and emotional crevasses created by WWII. Bock does not take sides but presents us directly with the consequences of the necessary choices made by all involved. I was initially reluctant to share their horror, but the art of storytelling and the richness of the characters urged me on." - Jean Riescher Westcott, Olsson's Books & Records, Arlington, VA
Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress
by Dai, Sijie
(Knopf, $20.00, 037541309X)
"When two boys exiled to the countryside during the Cultural Revolution discover a suitcase filled with books by Balzac, Dumas, Flaubert, and Melville, their lives are 'seduced, overwhelmed, spellbound by the outside world.' This book is a treasure, from its small trim-size and beautiful cover to its delightful closing line." - Karl Kilian, Brazos Bookstore, Houston, TX
 Carter
Beats the Devil
by Gold,
Glen David
(Hyperion, $24.95, 0786867345) "You will be carried away by the clarity
of the historical detail, the reality of the magic, and the warmth and fullness
of the characters. Gold certainly knows how to grab and keep your attention
until the last page. I will definitely suggest this book to all of my friends."
- Andra Tracy, Out Word Bound, Indianapolis, IN
Deadwood Beetle, The
by Dressler, Mylene
(BlueHen, $23.95, 0399148051)
"I was caught up emotionally and intellectually from the very first page, and was mesmerized by Tristan's interior monologue. And, oh, those letters from his son! Great for book groups; a very thought-provoking read." - Laura L. Hansen, Bookin' It, Little Falls, MN
 Doghouse
Roses
by Earle,
Steve
(Houghton Mifflin, $22.00, 0618040269) "A great songwriter and singer,
Earle goes from the stage to the page with this powerful, wonderfully varied
first book of stories. Stories of hard-lived lives and tender moments, and people
making, losing, finding their way through the morass in search of life and love.
The book's title says it all: Doghouse roses are those convenience-store roses
bought to make amends with a sweetheart. These stories are roses, blooms amidst
the thorniness of life and death." -Rick Simonson, Elliott Bay Book
Co., Seattle, WA
 Eva
Moves the Furniture
by Livesey,
Margot
(Holt, $23.00, 0805068015) "This poignant story of the life of a woman
who loses her mother at birth and the 2 mysterious companions who guide her
through life is simply magical." - Liz Morgan, Village Bookstore, Menomonee
Falls, WI
 Everything
You Need
by Kennedy,
A. L.
(Knopf, $25.95, 037540791X) "The number of residents in a writer's colony
on an island off Wales is kept, by mutual agreement, to seven, including a successful
but suicidal author of popular horror novels. When a new resident is accepted,
the stage is set for a moving and unforgettable novel of friendship, despair,
and redemption. One of the best books of the year." - Bob Sommer &
Gayle Shanks, Changing Hands, Tempe, AZ
Fixer Chao
by Ong, Han
(Farrar, Straus & Giroux, $25.00, 0374155755)
"A Filipino hustler reinvents himself as a feng shui expect. He and his partner go on to sell their corrupted, westernized version of Eastern wisdom to New York City's highest bidder. Very funny, and a commentary on our use of feng shui that is richly deserved." - Drew Phillips, Warwick's, La Jolla, CA
 Hero's
Walk, The
by Badami, Anita Rau
(Algonquin, $23.95, 1565123123)
"Set in a small town in India full of vivid characters, this is a powerful story of parental love. I laughed a bit and wept a bit, and couldn't put it down." - Nan Metashvili, The Babbling Book, Haines, AK
In Cuba I Was a German Shepherd
by Menendez, Ana
(Grove, $23.00, 0802116884)
"This debut collection of short stories set in Havana and Miami capture not only the exile's nostalgia for a lost home, but also the immigrant's sense of hope. Wonderful." - Michael Barnard, Rakestraw Books, Danville, CA
Love Among the Ruins
by Clark, Robert
(Norton, $23.95, 0393020150)
"Clark is a seriously underappreciated author. He is an elegant writer, and this heartbreaking tale of ordinary folk whose lives take extraordinary turns raises questions about love, truth, faith, and infidelity that are timeless, but his treatment is fresh, authentic, and never sentimental. Robert Clark is a writer who deserves our attention and support." - Cissie Wellons, Quail Ridge Books, Raleigh, NC
 Loverboy
by Redel,
Victoria
(Graywolf, $21.95, 1555973221) "This novel has all the suspense of Emmanuel
Carrere's novel La Moustache together with the off-beat humanism of Nabokov's
Lolita. Quite a read!" - Nat Herold, Atticus Books, Amherst,
MA
Mirabilis
by Cokal,
Susann
 (BlueHen,
$25.95, 0399147535) "Cokal creates a wonderful tension between the inventive,
often outrageous elements of her story and the precision of her style. From
the complex plot, the adventures of a wet nurse in medieval France, and her
unlikely comrades to the sensual evocation of time and place, her story embodies
what's best in historical fiction. All her impeccable research is subsumed into
a spellbinding, absolutely present tale." - Marjorie Darraugh, Pegasus
Books, Berkeley, CA
 Moon
Women
by Duncan, Pamela
(Delacorte, $23.95, 0385335180)
"A wonderful new southern voice. This novel depicts the lives of three generations of North Carolina women in the Moon family: Ruth Ann Moon, her wild runaway daughter Ashley, and her octogenarian mother Marvelle. Duncan writes from the heart and will touch you deeply." - Dana Devito, Moravian Book Shop, Bethlehem, PA
Never Change
by Berg, Elizabeth
(Pocket, $23.95, 0743411323) "What could be just another sad love story turns
into a great read when written by Berg. As usual, this author really pays attention
to her characters. Berg fans will not be disappointed. And for those who have
not read her books, it's time!" - Michelle Presta, Reading on Walden
Bookstore, Chicago, IL
 Niagara
Falls All Over Again
by McCracken, Elizabeth
(Dial, $23.95, 0385318375)
"From the end of vaudeville through success to eventual obscurity, Rocky and Mose -- an Abbott and Costello-esque duo -- pratfall, double take, and punch line away 30 years. On stage and off, performing is the love of their lives. This book is a sweetly sly portrait of funny people who bring out the best and worst in each other. Reading McCracken is like being invited into the most marvelous club, where, through powerful storytelling and great affection, you are allowed in on the joke." - Felice Farrell, Ariel Booksellers, New Paltz, NY
Root Worker, The
by Burton, Rainelle
(Overlook, $24.95, 1585671401)
"This disturbing story of voodoo and the horrible impact it had on the young protagonists' life and the courage and strength with which she prevailed, felt so real I had to keep reminding myself that it was a work of fiction. It is a strong book, masterfully written." - Jill Miner, Saturn Books, Gaylord, MI
 Slammerkin
by Donoghue,
Emma
(Harcourt, $24.00, 0151006725) "The bits and pieces of historical fact
and the threads of truth that the story is based on (life as a prostitute in
18th century England) hold this novel together. Donoghue has an incredible skill
for weaving together words on the page." - Helen Roman, Brigit Books,
St. Petersburg, FL
Speed of Light
by Rosner, Elizabeth
(Ballantine, $23.95, 0345442245)
"I LOVE this book. It's absolutely incredible. Rosner's writing is poetic and haunting. The story is told from the points of view of three characters, and their stories of love, loss, and survival are beautifully woven. I thought about this book constantly; in fact, I still am." - Kelsey Hammond, Kepler's Books, Menlo Park, CA
Delicate: Stories of Light and Desire
by Sojourner, Mary
(Nevermore Press, $14.95, 0970908474)
"Sojourner was on NPR recently and customers began asking about her book of short stories. I found out that Mary will only sell her book through independent bookstores! I am now handselling it with joy, as these stories of women, the West, and the land are delicious and to be savored." - Cindy Russell, City Books, Seattle, WA
 Sisterhood
of the Traveling Pants, The
by Brashares,
Ann
(Delacorte, $14.95, 0385729332) "A fresh, lively look at the friendship
of four teenagers facing one inevitable part of growing up: the possibility
of growing apart. Poignant, funny, and real, this story -- along with the letters
the friends write to each other over the summer -- will remind you of all the
best parts of being best friends." - Marjorie Bowman, Davis-Kidd Booksellers,
Memphis, TN
 Love
That Dog
by Creech,
Sharon
(Cotler Books/HarperCollins, $14.95, 0060292873) "Inspired by author Walter
Dean Myers and encouraged by his teacher, young Jack tries to describe, through
a series of poetry assignments, the life and loss of his beloved yellow dog
The hurt is still fresh, but Jack begins to blossom as he learns how to write
about his emotions and create a tribute to his dog and his favorite author.
Creech's story is spare, touching and very fine." - Ellen Davis, Dragonwings
Bookstore, Waupaca, WI
 Convergence
of Birds, A: Original Fiction and Poetry Inspired by Joseph Cornell
by Foer, J. Safran, compiler
(Distributed Art Publishers, $27.50, 1891024221)
"A beautifully realized project! An impressive roster of contemporary authors (Pinsky, Oates, Moody, Ackerman, to name a few) pay homage to Joseph Cornell's bird box sculptures in prose and poetry. Just as rewarding as Cornell's elegant and mysterious sculptures are the contributors' diverse contributions. A lovely book." - Stuart Bloomfield, University Book Store, Seattle, WA
 Stories
of Mr. Keuner
by Brecht, Bertolt
(City Lights Publishers, $9.95, 0872863832)
"This is just a jewel. The short form reminds me of a koan or other short religious/philosophical writing with an edge to it. All day the 'stories' have been jumping back into my mind ... and I've been smiling. Know that it will be handsold in our store for a long, long time." - John P. Hamilton, The Next Chapter, Woodland, CA
Vertigo
by Sebald, W. G.
(New Directions, $13.95, 0811214850)
"From a great and dizzying height, Sebald peers down upon his past, the events and great literature that have shaped it. Part travelogue, part memoir, part novel of consciousness, it is exhilarating." - Ray Keifetz, Diesel: A Bookstore, Oakland, CA
Fugitive Days: A Memoir
by Ayers, Bill
(Beacon, $25.00, 0807071242)
"This is written with an immediacy that belies that the events being described happened over 30 years ago. Not at all dispassionate, Ayer's account of his life on the run evokes a time when people acted, rightly or wrongly, on strongly held beliefs, and he tells his story with humor, compassion, and outrage." - Mitchell Kaplan, Books & Books, Coral Gables, FL
 Legacy
of Luna: The Story of a Tree, a Woman, and the Struggle to Save the Redwoods
by Hill,
Julia Butterfly
(HarperSanFrancisco, $14.00, 0062516590) "This account of Hill's 738-day
tree-sit should be inspiring and accessible to readers of all ages."
- Laura Snyder, Lucy's Books, Astoria, OR
 Milking
the Moon: A Southerner's Story of Life on This Planet
by Walter, Eugene
(Crown, $25.00, 0609605941) "Eugene Walter lived the life of a literary bon
vivant. Among his close friends were Capote, Faulkner, Judy Garland, and Isak
Dinesen. Walter literally did it all: He helped found The Paris Review, was
part of the Greenwich art scene in the late '40's and even had a role in Fellini's
8 1/2. This incredible book is sure to thrill everyone who ever wanted to be a
witness to history as it happened." - Robert Segedy, McIntyre's Fine
Books, Pittsboro, NC
Savage Beauty: The Life of Edna St. Vincent Millay
by Milford, Nancy
(Random House, $29.95, 039457589X) "Millay was a woman ahead of her time.
This book could be considered the distaff version of John Adams, i.e. a big
name biographer (Milford wrote the classic Zelda years ago) produces
a second, sure-to-become classic biography. Milford had the full cooperation
of Millay's sister and she frequently inserts her 'I was there' comments, adding
an immediacy to the narrative. There is some critical examination of how Millay's
poetry reflected her life and loves, but, for the most part, the emphasis is
on her life story." - Susan Taylor, Wellesley Booksmith, Wellesley,
MA
 Breaking
the Rock: The Great Escape from Alcatraz
by Babyak,
Jolene
(Ariel Vamp Press, $15.95, 0961875232) "I heartily recommend this book. Whether
you've ever visited Alcatraz or not, you'll find this book fascinating."
- Bob Hegarty, Booksmith, Woburn, MA
 Graves
Are Not Yet Full, The: Race, Tribe, and Power in the Heart of Africa
by Berkeley, Bill
(Basic Books, $27.50, 0465006418)
"Required reading in trying to understand the never-ending kleptocracy of those in power and the staggering indifference to mass loss of life in the 'hopeless continent.' Berkeley offers a bold, contrarian view that tribal animosities are the product of orchestrated violence and not the root cause. It will surprise no one to find American complicity with these same homicidal elite." - Roger Pantano, A Clean Well-Lighted Place, San Francisco, CA
I Thought My Father Was God: And Other True Tales From NPR's National Story Project
by Auster, Paul, editor
(Holt, $25.00, 0805067140)
"Auster has done a masterful job of editing these submissions. There are heartwarming, funny, sad and quirky stories from across the nation." - Shelley Dyer, Book & Game Company, Lewiston, ID
 Inextinguishable
Symphony, The
by Goldsmith,
Martin
(Wiley, $15.95, 0471078646) "We have been telling everyone about this awesome
story of triumph, music, and survival." - Steve Brumfield, Manteo Booksellers,
Manteo, VA
Mammoth: The Resurrection of an Ice Age Giant
by Stone, Richard
(Perseus, $26.00, 0738202819)
"The perfect mix of adventure and science, and very timely due to the potential for cloning an ancient animal. (It was also enlightening to see how bad it still is in the old Soviet republics.) A fascinating book." - Bob Spear, The Book Barn, Leavenworth, KS
 Map
That Changed the World, The: William Smith and the Birth of Modern Geology
by Winchester,
Simon
(HarperCollins, $26.00, 0060193611) "Smith was obsessed with rocks, engineering,
and geology. His labor of love was a hand-painted map of England showing the
layers of rock under the countryside. All readers in search of new knowledge
will enjoy this tale of rediscovery." - Barbara Theroux, Fact & Fiction,
Missoula, MT
 Mummy
Congress, The: Science, Obsession, and the Everlasting Dead
by Pringle,
Heather
(Hyperion, $23.95, 0786865512) "This is a book for anyone who enjoyed the
strange bedfellows of history and politics in The Orchid Thief and the
history and science in Guns, Germs, and Steel. Mummies are everywhere,
from South America to 4,000 year-old Caucasian mummies (with red hair) in China
to the techniques used to keep Lenin 'fresh' in his glass case. This is a fabulous
read, totally compelling, and endlessly fascinating." - Judith Chandler,
Third Place Books, Lake Forest Park, WA
 My
Father Came From Italy
by McLean, Maria Coletta
(Raincoast Books, $12.95, 1551923564)
"McLean's book is charming! She brought the village to life, and how wonderful to discover family connections and to have been able to share moments with her father. The book made for a delightful mini-vacation." - Becky Milner, Vintage Books, Vancouver, WA
Nine Minutes, Twenty Seconds: The Tragedy and Triumph of ASA Flight 529
by Pomerantz, Gary
(Crown, $24.00, 0609606336)
"After reading the first few pages of this account of a commuter airline crash, I was compelled to finish it. I was deeply moved and inspired by the extraordinary actions of several very ordinary people. Some who suffer from fear of flying have read this book and actually been comforted by its message." - Matthew Miller, Tattered Cover Book Store, Denver, CO
Packinghouse Daughter: A Memoir
by Register, Cheri
(Perennial, $13.00, 0060936843)
"This is an amazing blend of memoir and labor history, profiling a labor family in a Midwestern company town during the 1959 meatpackers' strike. Filled with her own memories as well as her extensive research and interviews, the author's storytelling style shines throughout." - Jeanne Fondrie, Village Books, Bellingham, WA
 Thirteen
Senses, The: A Memoir
by Villasenor,
Victor
(Harper/Rayo, $25.95, 0066210771) " The faith and strength of this Mexican-American
family is impossible to resist. I loved this book." -Colleen Moore,
Covered Treasures Bookstore, Monument, CO
 Wine
and War: The French, the Nazis, and the Battle for France's Greatest Treasure
by Kladstrup, Don
(Broadway, $24.00, 0767904478)
"Just when you think you've read it all about WWII, along comes another excellent book. The subject here is occupied France, its vineyards, and the spirit of the French in guarding their livelihood from the Germans." - Susan Potterat, Chinook Books, Colorado Springs, CO
Word Freak: Heartbreak, Triumph, Genius, and Obsession in the World of Competitive Scrabble
by Fatsis, Stefan
(Houghton Mifflin, $25.00, 0618015841)
"What a wild, strange world Scrabble players live in! But what makes this book amazing is how much it has to say about human nature and the competitive instinct." - Chris Aylott, The Space-Crime Continuum, Northampton, MA
Dance, The: Moving to the Rhythms of Your True Self
by Dreamer, Oriah Mountain
(HarperSanFrancisco, $20.00, 0062516930)
"Dreamer opened my eyes to all that I had overlooked in the frenzy of my daily routine. Pleasure, understanding and pain experienced in the past culminate in her stories on human nature and the independent self. Ways to find inner peace lurk within the pages of this book." - Wendy J. Bignami, Cover To Cover Bookseller, San Francisco, CA
Places
That Scare You
by Chodron,
Pema
(Shambhala, $21.95, 1570624097) "Chodron's long-awaited new book is as
good as I expected; actually, even better. The wisdom in this 'Guide to Fearlessness'
offers exceptionally helpful ideas for living life with grace and greater understanding.
Bravo to Pema Chodron for bringing her readers along to clarity and balance!"
- Vicki Garland, Tome on the Range, Las Vegas, NM
 Young
Wives' Tales: New Adventures in Love and Partnership
by Corral,
Jill, and Lisa Miyo-Jervis, editors
(Seal Press, $16.95, 1580050506) "In this book of essays, feminists relate
their struggle to create modern partnerships with their loved one(s). There
are essays on lesbian marriage, mixed ethnicity partnerships, cohabitation,
the decision to have a childless marriage, how housework is shared, and what
to do about last names, all narrating how a couple has negotiated their relationship
to make it work. This is a look at modern partnerships that takes the old-fashioned
trappings and myths, and gently dismantles them with honesty and intelligence."
- Gretchen Kalwinski, The Booksmith, San Francisco, CA
First Lady
by Malone, Michael
(Sourcebooks, $24.00, 1570717435) "Two of the best characters ever created
in mystery fiction return in Malone's long-awaited addition to the saga begun
in Uncivil Seasons. Mix together an Irish rock star, the governor of North
Carolina, and assorted media and lawyer types, and you have a first-rate mystery
from one of the true masters." - Barbara Hoagland, The King's English
Bookshop, Salt Lake City, UT
 Jasmine
Trade, The
by Hamilton, Denise
(Scribner, $24.00, 074321269X)
"When Marina Lu is found bloodied in her new Lexus in an exclusive L.A. suburb, reporter Eve Diamond is assigned the story. Eve discovers the world of 'parachute kids,' children of wealthy absentee Asian parents set up in palatial homes near the best high schools. These kids work hard at school during the day and play lavishly at night. A remarkable first suspense novel, masterfully plotted, carefully researched and daring in its look behind the new Asian curtain." - Barry Martin, Book 'em Mysteries, South Pasadena, CA
 Open
Season
by Box,
C. J.
(Putnam, $23.95, 0399147489) "This is a wonderful first novel, fast-paced
and with vivid characters, appealing children and a terrific new protagonist
in game warden Joe Pickett. I stayed up way too late just to finish this book."
- Linda Bivens, Crime Time Books, Pasadena, CA
 Orange
Crush
by Dorsey,
Tim
(William Morrow, $25.00, 0060185775) "Dorsey is the rising star of Florida
writers. His latest escapade gives a satirical view of the 2002 Florida gubernatorial
election. His wonderfully warped sense of humor make this a great romp through
increasingly muddy waters. These Florida tales, based on facts that are certainly
stranger than fiction, are not just for Florida readers!" - Rona Brinlee,
The Book Mark, Atlantic Beach, FL
 Hope
Is the Thing With Feathers: A Personal Chronicle of Vanished Birds
by Cokinos,
Christopher
(Warner, $13.95, 0446677493) "A moving history about the extinction of
the heath hen, ivory-billed woodpecker, and other bird species, what times were
like when the birds were thriving, and what caused their decline and ultimate
extinction. An extremely well-written, thoughtful natural history."
- Sue Tank, Paulina Springs Books, Paulina Springs, OR
Poetry Comes Up Where It Can: Poems from the Amicus Journal, 1990 - 2000
by Swann, Brian, editor
(University of Utah Press, $12.95, 0874806445)
"You can dip in anywhere and come face-to-face with a clear-eyed, accessible, and luminous encounter in the realm of nature. In this welcoming volume you will find William Stafford on gulls, Wendell Berry up a cedar tree, Philip Booth rescuing a bumblebee, and a generous handful of poems by Mary Oliver. This book will serve as your friend for the backyard, the study, the city, or the forest." - John Willson, Eagle Harbor Book Co., Bainbridge Island, WA
World in Us, The: Lesbian and Gay Poetry of the Next Wave
by Lassell, Michael and Elna Georgiou, editors
(St. Martin's, $17.95, 0312273339)
"This first major lesbian and gay poetry anthology in over a decade is an electrifying and distinctive book. Included are well-established writers, such as Olga Broumas, Chrystos, and Joan Larkin, and emerging writers, including those of the spoken-word movement, such as Letta Nely and Justin Chin. There's something for everyone, whether your a poetry aficionado or not. A great book to always have around for inspiration, delight, and pride." - Tova Stabin, Mother Kali's Books, Eugene, OR
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Sisterhood
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