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September/October
2002 Book Sense 76 Picks
76 unique and provocative
selections from a great diversity of voices...all personally recommended
by the independent booksellers of America.
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 The
Last Girls
by Lee
Smith
"Based on a real-life raft journey down the Mississippi that the author
took with her buddies, this novel imagines four of those friends 35 years later
as they undertake another journey to spread the ashes of a fifth friend. A delicious
read, this is Smith at her prime!" - Julie Jacobson, The Bookstall
at Chestnut Court, Winnetka, IL
 Middlesex
by Jeffrey
Eugenides
"This book is utterly fantastic. It is reminiscent of Virginia Woolf's
Orlando and Gregory Maguire's Wicked,
intelligently peppered with some Catcher
in the Rye. Calliope is the new voice of the 21st century, and damn
if we don't need her. If I could only buy one book this year, this would be
the one." -Tara Mathison, Canterbury Booksellers, Madison, WI
Raising
Blaze: Bringing Up an Extraordinary Son in an Ordinary World
by Debra
Ginsberg
"This is a must-read about a gifted child whose mother defies everyone
and everything to show her son he is unique, and who proves to herself that
she is a good mother. All the doctors and teachers can't cope with his various
disorders, but she gives him the love to grow at his pace." - Jacky
Kirkpatrick, Merritt Bookstore, Millbrook, NY
 The
Heaven of Mercury
by Brad
Watson
"This is one of the finest novels I've read in a decade. Weaving the stories
of Finus Bates and his sweetheart, Birdie Wells, with those of other remarkable
characters, Watson is funny, melancholy, erotic, world-weary, romantic, gritty,
and finally, profound. He joins the ranks of our best novelists in one giant
step." - Carole Horne, Harvard Book Shop, Cambridge, MA
Cloud
of Sparrows
by Takashi
Matsuoka
"By turns filled with wit and poignant irony, this novel brilliantly portrays
the profound conflict of cultures between the rulers and newly arrived outsiders
in 1861 Japan. Remember the Shogun
frenzy of 30 years ago? Rejoice! A new and thrilling epic is here."
- Rosemary Pugliese, Quail Ridge Books and Music, Raleigh, NC
 The
Fruit of Stone
by Mark
Spragg
"After reading Spragg's exquisite collection of essays about his boyhood
in Wyoming, I knew there would be a novel from this hugely talented writer.
And here it is, a beautiful work of fiction. It is about regret and redemption
in the vast American West, and Spragg's prose is masterful." - Stan
Hynds, Northshire Bookstore, Manchester Center, VT
 The
Crimson Petal and the White
by Michel
Faber
"Faber presents us with a sprawling Victorian novel, told with all the
devices and designs to which we've become accustomed, yet turning the genre
on its ear. Where Dickens
turned a blind or euphemistic eye, Faber shares every shocking detail of 1800s
London. The trials of the wealthy Rackham family make for an unforgettable story,
told with uncanny truth and humanity." - Drew Phillips, Warwick's,
La Jolla, CA
 Blood
of Victory
by Alan
Furst
"Furst once again follows the dangerous and forlorn lives of Russian, Turkish
and French dissidents, intellectuals and freedom fighters during the darkest
days of WWII. He is our new Le
Carre, in both elegant style and intricate plot. Don't miss this, his latest
and best." - Robert Greene, Bookpeople of Moscow, Moscow, ID
 The
Book of Illusions
by Paul
Auster
"Auster splices together the stories of a bereaved college professor and
an enigmatic silent film comedian who becomes the object of his obsessive study.
With customary deftness, Auster blurs the distinctions between life and art,
and we are left wondering what is real and what is merely a flickering illusion."
- Jennifer Gay, Book People, Austin, TX
 Across
the Nightingale Floor: Book One of the Tales of the Otori
by Lian
Hearn
"Cutting a sword stroke across genres, this will appeal to lovers of historical
fiction and fantasy. Set in a fantasy medieval Japan, here are the adventures
of an orphaned youth, a larger-than-life hero, villains galore and a resourceful
maiden. Spirituality and magic make this tale sparkle." - Becky Milner,
Vintage Books, Vancouver, WA
 Borrowed
Finery
by Paula
Fox
"One of America's best fiction writers offers a heartbreaking childhood
memoir as the daughter of bohemian parents who dropped her off in New York,
California, and Cuba as they travel. A vivid, poetic book." - Sue Griepentrog,
Little Read Bookstore, Wauwatosa, WI
 Fraud:
Essays
by David
Rakoff
"Whether it's climbing mountains in New Hampshire or portraying Christmas
Freud, Rakoff never misses a one-liner. Dark, satirical, and yet, ultimately
vulnerable, Rakoff is easily the match of This American Life's other
comic gem, David
Sedaris. Very highly recommended." - Michael Barnard, Rakestraw
Bookstore, Danville, CA
 I
Thought My Father Was God
by Paul
Auster, ed.
"I love this book of 'short and true stories that sound like fiction.'
Big and small, tragic and comic; all are expressed with simple conviction, honor,
and universal appeal under broad topics such as Animals, Strangers, Love, War,
and Dreams. A perfect gift for anyone of any age, or for a whole family to share."
- Carla Jimenez, Inkwood Books, Tampa, FL
If
You Can't Be Free, Be a Mystery: In Search of Billie Holiday
by Farah
Jasmine Griffin
"Griffin deconstructs and re-examines Holiday's life, emphasizing her unique
gifts and resilience, rather than the hardships and addictions that most people
immediately associate her with. I gained an even deeper appreciation for an
artist I have loved for years." - Mike Mann, Village Books, Roslindale,
MA
In Search of Captain Zero: A Surfer's Road Trip Beyond the End of the Road
by Allan C. Weisbecker
"The good, bad, soulful and soulless; Weisbecker has seen it all. Hurricanes, sunken ships, drug-running, and the constant pounding of surf. An honest, page-turning, great read." - Mark Sipowicz, Moon News, Half Moon Bay, CA
 Limbo:
A Memoir
by A.
Manette Ansay
"Ansay writes memoir as wonderfully as she writes fiction. Her rural and
strictly religious upbringing collide with her piano talent and the mysterious
illness which comes to plague her, but leads her into a successful writing career."
- Judith Rodel, Downtown Books, Hudson, WI
 Looking
For Alaska
by Peter
Jenkins
"Jenkins has done it again. For all of us who walked across America with
Peter and haven't sat down yet, this is a refreshing, exciting look into the
last American frontier. Grab your down parka and get on the trail with this
wonderful adventure writer." - Gee Gee Rosell, Buxton Village Books,
Buxton, NC
 Mammoth:
The Resurrection of an Ice Age Giant
by Richard
Stone
"There are mammoths buried almost whole in the frozen wastes of Siberia.
Natives had feared that evil would befall those who dared to remove them, but
enter these crazy scientists with earth-penetrating radar, and you've got great
adventure with scientific shenanigans and amazing finds." - Nancy Brown,
R. J. Julia's, Madison, CT
 The
Mummy Congress: Science, Obsession and the Everlasting Dead
by Heather
Pringle
"Join mummy experts from around the world as they scientifically investigate
the properties, social values, and moral issues surrounding these remnants of
our past." - Jane Dawson, Concord Bookshop, Concord, MA
 Savage
Beauty: The Life of Edna St. Vincent Millay
by Nancy
Mitford
"A perceptive and intimate exploration of bohemian legend Millay,
her life, her loves, and her art. I was mesmerized by both the writing and the
subject." -Kendra Adkins, Four Seasons Books, Shepherdstown, WV
 Blue
Latitudes: Going Boldly Where Captain Cook Has Gone Before
by Tony
Horwitz
"What a fantastic book. It is a well-written, fascinating account of Captain
Cook and the colonization and devastation of the Pacific. And, of course, mixed
in with the grim and tragic is Horwitz's characteristic wit. I couldn't put
it down." - Julia Green, Front Street Books, Alpine, TX
 The
Measure of All Things: The Seven-Year Odyssey and Hidden Error that Transformed
the World
by Ken
Alder
"This is clearly better than many of the histories-of-discovery that have
come out in the wake of Longitudes. Alder does a fine job of weaving
the story of the 'measure' with the French Revolution, the benefits and consequences
of uniformity, and several quirky and famous characters as well." -
Tom Allen, Stacey's, San Francisco, CA
 The
Pirate Hunter: The True Story of Captain Kidd
by Richard
Zacks
"This reads like a work of fiction, and I felt as if I was in New York,
or on the ship with William Kidd in 1695. A well-researched, perception-changing
book, especially for fans of such books as The
Map That Changed the World." - Scott Yanke, Scott's Books,
Delano, MN
 The
Trials of Lenny Bruce: The Fall and Rise of an American Icon
by Ronald
Collins and David Skover
"Lenny Bruce was a comedic genius who understood the power and absurdity
of language and the United States Constitution, and these authors understand
the power and absurdity of Bruce. They do well in resurrecting him and exploring
the limits of free speech in America." - Kevin Elliott, Barbara's Bookstore,
Chicago, IL
 The
Pocket Muse: Ideas and Inspirations for Writing
by Monica
Wood
"Our in-store writers' group has just gobbled up this book. It's innovative,
attractive and inspiring in an appealing, offbeat way, and a writer at any level
will delight in the aphorisms, suggested exercises, and creative presentation
of uplifting ideas." - Cynthia Ferrera, Vero Beach Book Center, Vero
Beach, FL
 Word
Freak: Heartbreak, Triumph, Genius, and Obsession in the World of Competitive
Scrabble
by Stefan
Fatsis
"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
The
Blue Shoe
by Anne
Lamott
"Apart from her undeniable talent as a storyteller, Lamott captures valuable
lessons about ourselves, our dreams, and the past in this novel. Highly recommended
for an autumn weekend read. Five stars!" - Emery Pinter, Chapter 11
Bookstore Gainesville,
GA
 Casa
Rossa
by Francesca
Marciano
"I enjoyed every minute of this three-generation family chronicle set against
the last 70 years of Italian history. There is a compassionate quality about
Marciano's writing that makes even the most flawed human beings sympathetic.
I loved it." - Virginia Valentine, The Tattered Cover, Denver, CO
 Coastliners
by Joanne
Harris
"This is about a classic father-daughter struggle, set on an island off
the coast of France. Half-truths and partially understood family legends lead
to an explosive display of tempers involving the entire island. Scenic, beautiful,
and wild; this is Harris' best yet." - Maryann Eastman, White Birch
Books, N. Conway, NH
 Do
No Harm
by Gregg
Andrew Hurwitz
"Dr. David Spier is the target of contempt when he treats the man guilty
of throwing acid in the faces of ER women. The man escapes and starts targeting
the doctor's friends. But why? The dark side of psychological research is exposed
in this fast-paced medical mystery and game of pursuit." - Mary Jane
Weber, Town Book Store, Westfield, NJ
 Family
Matters
by Rohinton
Mistry
"This is one of those rare novels that you live and breathe, absorbing
the characters into your life, dreaming about their problems and possibilities.
The patriarch of a blended family is getting old and is in need of care from
his children; some of them are willing, others are resentful. Set in overcrowded,
politically overheated Bombay, this is a poetically rendered gem of family dynamics."
- Jude Sales, A Clean Well-Lighted Place for Books, San Francisco, CA
 The
Half-Mammals of Dixie
by George
Singleton
"These stories are knit together by their grounding in the South, but to
call the author's writing 'Southern' would be like calling Chekhov
just a Russian. The humor, depth and sadness of these stories will touch everyone,
no matter how cynical they are or where their hat is hung." - Todd
Simmons, NYU Bookstore, New York, NY
In
the River Sweet
by Patricia
Henley
"Ruth Anne is a happily married, devout Catholic with a newly out-as-a-lesbian
adult daughter. While struggling with both her priest's refusal to condemn the
anti-gay graffiti appearing in town and her own discomfort over her daughter's
disclosure, she receives an email from someone claiming to be her son. Her memories
of living in Vietnam during the war are interwoven with her present-day challenges
to create a tapestry of past and present, with a thread of spiritual reassessment."
- Suzanne Corson, Boadecia's Books, Kensington/North Berkeley, CA
July,
July
by Tim
O'Brien
"As the Darton Hall Class of 1969 alumni gather for their 30th reunion,
they are mostly successful, but they can't get it together on a personal level.
They are largely divorced or headed that way, and nostalgic for their college
years. O'Brien manages the Shakespearean cast brilliantly, telling classmates'
stories as they settle old scores or just decide to let them go. A great book
about what happened to those rebels who became the Establishment."
- Lyn Roberts, Square Books, Oxford, MS
 Lullaby
by Chuck
Palahniuk
"A witty horror story that follows a reporter as he uncovers the truth
behind a string of sudden infant death syndrome cases and a lullaby that once
spoken or thought will kill anyone in its path. In true Palahniuk style, Lullaby
couples the truly odd and bizarre with great metaphors and images. The consequence?
An original novel that dissects the desire for power while it speaks to the
chaos in which we live. Beware: it is not for the faint at heart."
- Alissa Haslam, Broadway Books, Portland, OR
 Nowhere
Man
by Aleksandar
Hemon
"The author's loving embrace of his Everyman character, Josef Pronek, draws
its reader deep into this story of contemporary Eastern Europe meeting modern
America, which, in wonderfully graceful prose, has the mood and style of the former
region, and all of the relevant immediacy of the latter." - Robert Sindelar,
Third Place Books, Lake Forest Park, WA
 Quietus
by Vivian
Schilling"Beautifully written, this is a tale of suspense and introspection.
A woman and her friends miraculously survive a plane crash, and in the aftermath,
repressed secrets are unveiled as she is haunted by people and images from her
past." - Amy Rosenfield, Joseph-Beth Booksellers, Cleveland, OH
 Sea
Room
by Norman
Gautreau
"This debut novel centers around a family of Maine lobstermen from 1941-1949,
and the intervening events of WW II. The exploration of the local characters
was both humorous and exhilarating, as they manage difficult lives filled with
adversity." " - Lionel Carbonneau, Tatnuck Bookseller, Worcester, MA
 The
Staggerford Flood
by Jon
Hassler
"I was delighted to travel once again to the village of Staggerford, Minnesota.
It was a pleasure to revisit the town and to find out what has become of some
of the beloved characters. Hassler never fails to please his devoted fans."
- Marilyn Sieb,
Books & Company, Oconomowoc, WI
The
Story of Lucy Gault
by William
Trevor
"This book is so fine that I feel it deserves my highest recommendation.
It is a beautifully constructed story of human frailty and foolish choices, and
although it is firmly rooted in the 20th century, it has a 19th century feel to
it. The action that carries this novel forward evolves without dramatic moment,
but, rather, in a slow, steady and inevitable pace toward its redemptive conclusion."
- Elizabeth Cauthorn, Viva Bookstore, San Antonio, TX
The
Sunday Wife
by Cassandra
King
"This is Southern literature at its best. As the story unfolds, the reader
gets to know the characters so well --the good, the bad, and the ugly -- and there
are all the perfect ingredients for great fiction: great characters, religion,
funeral food, and a good story." - Rona Brinlee, The Book Mark, Atlantic
Beach, FL
The
Tea Rose
by Jennifer
Donnelly
"What a book! It is a full-bodied brew of Dickensian proportions. A novel
full of well-drawn characters, set in late 1800s New York and London. It is full
of excitement, a witnessed murder, a disappearance, a lost love, revenge and hatred,
and ...a happy and satisfying ending." - Elly Smith, Madison Park Books,
Seattle, WA
The
Transplanted Man
by Sanjay
Nigam
"Nigam's colorful pantheon of characters includes a mysteriously gifted medical
resident; a wise Indian political leader whose transplanted organs are an amalgam
of his people; a scheming Bollywood superstar; a bibliomaniac nurse; and a struggling
therapist oft mistaken for a mystical guru. A wise, sexy, laugh-out-loud funny,
powerful, and truly exceptional novel. I regard this book as a dear friend and
one of the best I've read." - Anna Dorian, Esmeralda Books & Coffee,
Del Mar, CA
 Versailles
by Kathryn
Davis
"A unique novel based on the marriage, reign, and deaths of King Louis
XVI and Marie Antoinette. Anyone who loves historical fiction will delight in
reading this witty, irreverent slant on life during the French Revolution."
- Linda Wine, Books on Vernon, Glencoe, IL
And
My Shoes Keep Walking Back to You
by Kathi
Kamen Goldmark
"This debut novel has it all: romance, trials and tribulations, wacky characters...and
great music!" - Kay Bohannons' Books With A Past, Georgetown, KY
 Half
In Love
by
Maile
Meloy
"I'm totally in love with this marvelous, musical collection of prize-wining
stories. They are peopled by memorable characters named Demeter, Chase, and
Red. One of my favorite books so far this year; a gem." - John Netzer,
Just Books, Old Greenwich, CT
 Himalayan
Dhaba
by Craig
Joseph Danner
"Following in the footsteps of her dead husband, a physician's assistant
journeys to a remote Indian village, where she reluctantly assumes responsibility
for a rudimentary hospital. An uncommonly satisfying first novel sparkling with
remarkably accurate descriptions of everything from sky and sounds to the innermost
thoughts of a Himalayan villager." - Scott Foley, Grass Roots Books
& Music, Corvallis, OR
 The
Last Good Chance
by Tom
Barbash
"Reminiscent of Richard
Russo, this novel explores the theme of loyalty in the setting of a town
on a downward economic swing. Loyalties between friends, brothers, husband and
wife -- all are tested in this compelling story. This would be a great book
group choice, as there are no easy answers and lots of room for discussion and
speculation." - Susan M. Taylor, Wellesley Booksmith, Wellesley, MA
 The
Piano Tuner
by Daniel
Mason
"A captivating historical novel about a piano tuner summoned from London
to tune and repair a rare grand piano in the jungles of Burma in 1886. A rich
and sensuous journey for the piano tuner and the reader, and an exceptional
first novel for this author." - Lois Powers, Toadstool Bookshop, Milford,
NH
 The
Second Coming of Lucy Hatch
by Marsha
Moyer
"Moyer has created very real characters in real situations, and I couldn't
help but fall in love with Lucy and Ash. Perfect for anyone who has been in
love, and for anyone who's had a sister or best friend who wouldn't let you
get away with anything. It's a Liz Pick for sure." - Liz Murphy, Learned
Owl Book Shop, Hudson, OH
 An
Unclean Act
by Dean
Burgess
"This is historical fiction at its best. Based on real events, with the author's
ancestors as major characters, this book gives a stark look at the life, obstacles,
and prejudices of living in the early Puritan townships." - Clyde Holloway,
So Many Books, Vancouver, WA
 When
the Emperor Was Divine
by Julie
Otsuka
"This elegant and important novel is an absolute gem. In crystalline prose,
Otsuka tells the story of a very American Japanese family in California during
WW II, Outrage shimmers just below the surface of this lovely and heartbreaking
novel, but it is kept there by the quiet dignity of this family. Every American
should read this book, both for its beauty, and as a cautionary tale for our
times." - Bobby Tichenor, Annie Bloom's, Portland, OR
About
the Author
by John
Colapinto
"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 puts a knot in your stomach."
- Donna Kane, Powell's Books, Portland, OR
 The
Archer's Tale
by Bernard
Cornwell
"Cornwell makes the 14th century come alive with sight, sound, and smell,
as he recreates the pivotal battle of Crecy into bloody reality. This is the first
of another series that Cornwell does so well. This is very exciting reading."
- Jack Scrivner, McKinzey-White Bookstore, Colorado Springs, CO
 Austerlitz
by W.
G. Sebald
"Austerlitz, Sebald's eponymous hero, is an historian for whom time stopped
long before his birth. Late in life, he struggles to recover his own personal
history and comes face to face with the Holocaust. Sebald's narration is gripping,
even harrowing, yet in the end, surprisingly uplifting." - Ray Keifetz,
Diesel: A Bookstore, Oakland, CA
The
Book of Fred
by Abby
Bardi"A girl protagonist, religion, Waco, cults, and the mysterious Book
of Fred. With the lightest of touches on current events, this is one fun novel."
- Karen Wendler, World Eye Bookshop, Greenfield, MA
 Bread
Alone
by Judith
Ryan Hendricks
"During a visit to her best friend in Seattle, a scorned wife rediscovers
the therapeutic process of breadmaking, as she recalls her apprenticeship in a
French boulangerie. This is a polished first novel filled with tantalizing
descriptions of places and foods." - Mary Burns, The BookWorks, Marysville,
WA
Carter
Beats the Devil
by Glen
David Gold
"What a terrific book! Full of fascinating detail about the life of a magician
in the early 20th century, it's a rollicking adventure as well as a love story,
with a little mystery thrown in." - Karen Spengler, I Love A Mystery,
Mission, KS
The
Cheese Monkeys
by Chip
Kidd
"It's all here: the dysfunctional parents, the instructors who can't teach,
and the one person with the power to lift you to heavenly reaches, or cast you
into the pit of despair. I think that it is safe to say that I have never read
anything so clever and funny." - Paul Haskins, Village Books, Bellingham,
WA
The
Death of Sweet Mister
by Dan
Woodrell
"This book is a stunner. The story of the blighted lives of people in this
Missouri Ozark town remind me of Faulkner,
but there is something more real and haunting about Woodrell's desperate and
courageous people. The eloquent, simple prose and dead-on dialogue are perfect
for this amazing story." - Pat Kehde, Raven Bookstore, Lawrence, KS
 The
Distant Land of My Father
by Bo
Caldwell
"Anna is a child of privilege and her father a millionaire, but those riches
become ephemera as the Japanese threaten to invade Shanghai, and Anna and her
mother are forced to flee to California. This is a novel writ large, a saga of
love and war, but also a story about the ties that bind generations together."
- Kathy Ashton, The King's English Bookshop, Salt Lake City, UT
 Embers
by Sandor
Marai
"This newly translated novel, written in 1942 by a forgotten Hungarian novelist,
is a true literary gift. When an aristocrat sees a friend after a 41-year absence,
questions of honor, friendship and courage emerge against the luminous backdrop
of a castle at the foot of the Carpathians. At once a mystery with tragic consequences
and a delicious rumination on love, this is a sensual, seductive read."
- Jenn Ramage, Capitola Book Caf‰, Capitola, CA
 Ex
Libris
by Ross
King
"This is one of the best books I've read in the past year. The world of Restoration
London unfolds before you in King's atmospheric tale of lost libraries, rare manuscripts,
secret societies, and the hunger for knowledge in the Enlightenment. An enthralling
and evocative novel." - Barry Deitz, Quail Ridge Books, Raleigh, NC
 I
Cannot Tell a Lie, Exactly
by Mary
Ladd Gavell
"This book of short stories, published posthumously, is a collection of small
gems. One of them graced Updike's selection of The
Best American Short Stories of the Century. Upon finishing this book,
I was torn between being grateful that the stories had been discovered and published,
and saddened that there will be no more from this talented author." -
Susan Mayes, Hawley-Cooke Booksellers, Louisville, KY
 Lost
by Gregory
Maguire
"This combines the substance of Maguire's first book and the fun of his second.
The ghost story nicely augments the 'real life' trials of the protagonist, and
I was on the edge of my seat as it all unfolded." - Crissa Cummings,
Books Inc., San Francisco, CA
 Love
Among the Ruins
by Robert
Clark
"This novel is a stunner. It's the story of two high school students who
fall in love in the summer of 1968, their idealism and innocence juxtaposed against
the world run amok. There is a sweetness and tenderness in Clark's language that
is extraordinary." - Mary Gleysteen, Eagle Harbor Book Co., Bainbridge
Island, WA
 Martin
Sloane
by Michael
Redhill
"Jolene and Martin create boxes reminiscent of the art of Joseph Cornell.
When Martin vanishes, the love story turns into a mystery, the essential mystery
that other people always are, even to those who love them most. A moving first
novel." - Laurie Greer, Politics and Prose, Washington, D.C.
 My
Name Is Red
by Orhan
Pamuk
"A fascinating and challenging murder mystery/love story set in the competitive
community of manuscript illustrators in Istanbul. If you're in the mood for something
very different, try this soon-to-be classic." - Leigh Winterbottom, Verbatim
Booksellers, Vail, CO
 Powder
by Kevin
Sampson
"The Grams are tabbed to be the next kings of British pop, but can the band
survive the drugs, sex, egos, and industry execs that come with success? If you
love rock and roll, you really don't want to miss out on this thrill ride of a
book." - Candler Hunt, Olsson's, Washington, DC
 Remembrance
of Things Past: Combray
by Marcel
Proust, adapted by Stephane Heuet
"Heuet has lovingly visualized the lost world of Proust, capturing all the
primary episodes with a cinematic flair, and topping off the galloping Classics
Illustrated narrative with a taste of Proust's meditations on time and memory.
Admirers of Proust will approve of Heuet's passionate retelling; newcomers will
find this book a guide into a masterpiece." - Nick DiMartino, University
Books, Seattle, WA
 Salem
Falls
by Jodi
Picoult
"What makes Picoult's stories different is how she always manages to throw
in a twist regarding one religion or another; in this case, the Wiccan religion.
This is a great page-turner in which the author once again weaves a tale of ordinary
people meeting life's obstacles head-on." - Sarah Parker, Scott's Bookstore,
Mt. Vernon, WA
 The
World Below
by Sue
Miller
"Imagine finding out long-held secrets about a close relative whose life
seems to parallel your own. This is a look at someone's life with all its blemishes,
yet it still leaves enough to inspire one to continue. I highly recommend this
book." " - Linda Johnson, Books at Stonehenge, Raleigh, NC
San
Francisco Poems
by Lawrence
Ferlinghetti
"A wonderful compilation for seasoned fans and novice poetry lovers alike."
- Kathryn Deloria Neithercut, Island Bookstore, Mackinaw City, MI
The
Sould of Rumi
by Coleman
Barks
"Trying to praise this book is like trying to walk the Grand Canyon."
- Rick Simonson, Elliott Bay Book Co., Seattle, WA
 Canticle
of the Earth: The Words of Francis of Assisi
by David
Muench and Marc Muench, photographers
"This book is a gift to the soul and spirit. I rejoice each time I look at
it." - Roxanne Campbell, Sam Weller's Books, Salt Lake City, UT
 The
Tao of Elvis
by David
Rosen
"The first book to examine The King's own search for meaning and purpose."
- Virginia Hobson Hicks, Books on the Bluff, Townsend, GA
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