April 19, 2001 The May/June Book Sense 76   1. THE LAST REPORT ON THE MIRACLES AT LITTLE NO HORSE, by Louise Erdrich (HarperCollins, $26, 0060187271) "This is the best book I've read this year. Erdrich is one of my favorites, but she has gone beyond beautiful writing and social consciousness. The story is compelling and wondrous. I portioned out the pages, as I never wanted it to end."-Kathy Westover, The Bookworm of Edwards, Edwards, CO Also on HarperAudio (Unabridged, 0694524085) 2. IN MY HANDS: Memories of a Holocaust Rescuer, by Irene Gut Opdyke (Anchor, $12 paper, 0385720327) "What an incredible story! This memoir proves that acts of love and courage can indeed stand out among even the worst acts of war and hatred, and that one person-even someone who is 'only a girl'-can make an incredible difference in the world."-Beth Dean, The Open Book, Cincinnati, OH Also a Listening Library Audio (0553526588) 3. THE PRIZE WINNER OF DEFIANCE, OHIO: How My Mother Raised 10 Kids on 25 Words or Less , by Terry Ryan (Simon & Schuster, $24, 0743211227) "I read this in one weekend and LOVED it! It's funny, moving and compulsively readable. This book is a wonderful reminder that life really is what you make of it and that you can surmount what looks like overpowering circumstances. Terry Ryan deftly captures the feel of the 50s and 60s, and her mother, Evelyn, is an inspiration to us all!"-Cathy Keibler, Hawley-Cooke Booksellers, Louisville, KY Also on S&S Audio (074350836X; CD, 0743508378) 4. THE GARDENS OF KYOTO, by Kate Walbert (Scribner, $24, 0684869489) "As Ellen recounts the real and imagined details of her first love as a young girl, we are reminded of the power of first love and how it can affect our lives for years to come. Walbert has written a haunting, beautiful book. I finished it wishing that the characters were real."-Rebecca Jestice, Dicken's Book Shop, Lebanon, OH 5. EMPIRE FALLS, by Richard Russo (Knopf, $25.95, 0679432477; in stores May 8) "Russo draws us into the life of a man for whom everything seems settled but now is suddenly quite unsettled. As events unfold, Russo's depiction of this small town and those who are shaped by it is so lifelike you will find yourself revisiting them long after you finish the book. Ribald, melancholy, and nearly perfect; Russo is a master of the intricacies of everyday lives."-Jean Westcott, Olsson's Books & Records, Arlington, VA Also HarperAudio (0694525596) 6. FIVE QUARTERS OF THE ORANGE, by Joanne Harris (William Morrow, $25, 0060198133) "Harris has hit her stride fully with this one. Better than Chocolat, exquisitely written, filled with tension and dreams, fear and sensuality. No one else writes about food and people in quite the same way as Harris. You can taste the oranges and smell the fear. Sheer greatness!"-Maryann Eastman, White Birch Books, N. Conway, NH 7. CHALKTOWN, by Melinda Haynes (Theia, $23.95, 078686656X; in stores May 2) "The author follows her debut novel with a brilliant work that brings forth a wonderful collection of characters. My favorites were the backwoods teenager Hezekiah, caretaker of his mentally disabled brother; and Marion, the black farmer who tries to bring a sense of stability to the most bizarre town in Southern literature. Take home a copy of this lyrical prize today. An unforgettable read!"-Jake Reiss, The Alabama Booksmith, Birmingham, AL Also on S&S Audio (0743504569; CD, 0743504577) 8. A PERFECT ARRANGEMENT, by Suzanne Berne (Algonquin, $23.95, 1565122615; in stores May 1) "It is very easy to slip into the separate worlds of these two modern parents. It is even easier to see how each step they took to cope with the demands of modern parenting and two incomes, though logical on the surface, led them deeper and deeper into trouble. This was an engaging, believable, and captivating read."-Tom Heywood, The Babbling Book, Haines, AK 9. TOUCHING MY FATHER'S SOUL: A Sherpa's Journey to the Top of Everest, by Jamling Tenzing Norgay (HarperSanFrancisco, $26, 0062516876) "The son of the first Sherpa to reach the Everest's summit has written a deeply affecting book which expands the boundaries of the mountain adventure genre. With humility and honesty, Jamling takes us on a journey of self-discovery which is both a family saga and a story of a life lived in two cultures. We are richer for his trip."-Robby Bick, Bunch of Grapes, Vineyard Haven, MA Also on HarperAudio (0694525375) 10. THE DANGER TREE: Memory, War, and the Search for a Family's Past, by David MacFarlane (Walker, $13.95 paper, 0802776167) "This is truly cause for celebration. Of the many Newfoundland books, this memoir, never published in paperback in the U.S., is simply the best. I am delighted and excited to be able to offer this to my customers in paperback, finally."-Henry Berliner, The Foundry Bookstore, New Haven, CT Books for Young Readers 11. THE OTHER DOG, by Madeleine L'Engle; illus. by Christine Davenier (SeaStar, $15.95, 158717040X) For ages 4-8. "Change is never easy, as the precocious poodle Touche learns in this touching story. When her mistress returns home after a brief absence, she is shocked to discover she has brought home another dog, and one not nearly as wonderful or delightful! This is the book to give the older child when the new baby comes home!"-Deborah Woolsey, Dragonwings Bookstore, Waupaca, WI 12. JAZZ FLY, by Matthew Gollub; illus. by Karen Hanke (Tortuga Press, $17.95, 1889910171) Ages 4-8. "Beautifully illustrated, and with a great CD, this gets our vote for the best new 'children of all ages' book! The story illustrates jazz as creative thinking and freedom to experiment with sounds. This comes naturally to early childhood and now the Jazz Fly introduces the concept to all of us!"-Linda Stivala, Gansevoort House Books, Little Falls, NY 13. SOME OF MY BEST FRIENDS ARE POLKA-DOT PIGS, by Sara Anderson (Sara Anderson Design, $12.95, 0970278403) Ages 4-8. "One of the most vividly colored, engagingly designed books I've seen in a while! And the witty, funny, rhyming text make this a great read-aloud that adults as well as young children will enjoy."-Harvada Elisberg, Children's Bookshop, Appleton, WI Ask about the new All-Children's Book Sense 76, available soon! 14. CIRQUE DU FREAK: A Living Nightmare, by Darren Shan (Little Brown, $15.95, 0316603406) For ages 9-12. "A fast-paced plot with lots of horrific twists and turns make this a new, very creepy thriller that will have the young set looking behind them at every turn."-Sarah Parker, Scott's Books, Mt. Vernon, WA 15. THE ERSATZ ELEVATOR: A Series of Unfortunate Events, Book 6, by Lemony Snicket (HarperCollins, $8.95, 0064408647) Ages 9-12. "Mr. Snicket faithfully continues to provide exemplary vocabulary lessons, all the while chronicling the misfortunes of the Baudelaire orphans, who, despite misery upon misery heaped upon them by the dim and the vile, persist in their unwavering good-naturedness."-Melissa Mytinger, Cody's, Berkeley, CA (Editor's note: Book One-The Bad Beginning-is just out on audiotape, read with great flourish by Tim Curry. Listening Library Audio (0807261785)) 16. WHALE TALK, by Chris Crutcher (Greenwillow, $16.95, 0688180191) Young Adult. "This is the best novel that I've read in a long, long time. When a high school football star gets caught roughing up a 'retarded' child for wearing his dead brother's letter jacket, TJ Jones formalizes a significant vendetta. In a war between the jocks and the freaks, TJ gradually becomes a wise and fair 'Everyman', representing all that is good in our society. This book should be required reading for every freak, geek and jock living the American dream/nightmare of high school."-Collette Morgan, Wild Rumpus Books, Minneapolis, MN 17. ANGUS, THONGS, AND FULL-FRONTAL SNOGGING: Confessions of Georgia Nicolson, by Louise Rennison (HarperCollins, $6.95 paper, 0064472272) Young Adult. "What if Judy Blume and Helen Fielding morphed and wrote a book? This is a hilarious, and brazenly honest, account of the very complicated world that is the life of a 14-year-old London girl."-Danielle Morgan, Village Books, Bellingham, WA (Rennison's new book about the further adventures of Georgia is just out in hardcover.) 18. ARTEMIS FOWL, by Eoin (pronounced Owen) Colfer (Talk/Miramax, $16.95, 0786808012) Young Adult. "An action-packed fantasy. A 12-year-old villain kidnaps a fairy in order to get the fairy gold, but the trolls, and gnomes are not the ones from fairy tales; they are armed and dangerous with the most amazing up-to-date gadgets. I just loved the language and vocabulary, and that the author never talks down to kids."-Sue Boucher, Lake Forest Book Store, Lake Forest, IL Also a BDD Audio (Unabridged, 0553528343) Check out the Childrens' Book Sense Book Of The Year Finalists at BookSense.com….and the winners on June 4! Fiction in paper 19. BREAKFAST WITH SCOT, by Michael Downing (Counterpoint, $13 paper, 1582431264) "This is the tale of two men who unintentionally become the guardians of 11-year-old Scot, who is nothing like they expect him to be. It is nearly painful to watch Scot stay true to himself, but it is so easy to laugh at the same time. For a reader looking for a character to adore, this is the perfect read."-Jane Phalen, Books Etc., Portland, ME 20. CHANG AND ENG, by Darin Strauss (Plume, $13 paper, 0452281091) "The story opens with one Siamese twin recalling their lives together as he is lying beside his dead brother. While this sounds macabre, the story reminded me of Geek Love in that sometimes the very unusual can illuminate more ordinary lives."-Tracy Wynne, Cover To Cover Books, San Francisco, CA 21. THE FEAST OF LOVE, by Charles Baxter (Vintage, $13 paper, 037570910X; in stores May 8) "You will immediately be drawn into this Midsummer Nights Dream-like novel set in current-day Ann Arbor. This rich story is about ordinary people intersecting in extraordinary ways."-Adrian Newell, Warwick's, La Jolla, CA 22. THE GROVE PRESS READER: 1951-2001, edited by S. E. Gontarski (Grove, $12 paper, 0802137806) "Quite simply, this is the rise, fall, and reincarnation of one of the most influential presses of the last half of the 20th century. There's Beckett, Baldwin, Kerouac, Lawrence, Miller, Paz, Burroughs, and many others. It is astounding that one publishing house had the vision to print such a wide variety of authors."-Tim Mooney, Reading on Walden Bookstore, Chicago, IL 23. JIM THE BOY, by Tony Earley (Back Bay, $12.95 paper, 0316198951) "I loved this book. Life to a 10-year-old Southern boy can be overwhelming, but three bachelor uncles help him become a young man. A perfect story of friendship and discovery."-Andrea Swift, Water Street Bookstore, Exeter, NH Also a TimeWarner Audio (1570429057) 24. THE NATURE OF WATER AND AIR, by Regina McBride (Scribner, $13 paper, 0743203232) "The 'tinkers' are such an interesting aspect of Ireland's culture and landscape. I loved the book's stormy atmosphere and the way this brooding, almost gothic energy seethed underneath the narrative. I was taken with it immediately."-Michelle Albrecht, Left Bank Books, St. Louis, MO 25. NAVIGATING THE DARWIN STRAITS, by Edith Forbes (Seal Press Feminist Pub., $13.95 paper, 1580050492) "A beautifully told story of Jordy, son of lesbian moms, as he comes of age and finds his way in the world. After making lots of money in Silicon Valley at a young age, he sets out to find his soul. It is an insightful look into the life of a young man who has been raised to be loving and adventurous."-Mary Ellen Kavanaugh, My Sisters' Words, Syracuse, NY 26. THE NEXT STEP IN THE DANCE, by Tim Gautreaux (Picador, $13 paper, 0312199368) "It is my personal mission to tell the world about this wonderful, wonderful book. It is a short read, with people that would make you walk out of the bar as soon as you went in, but you end up wanting to go into the bar just to meet them. I promise to eat all of my vegetables, even the brussels sprouts-just READ THIS AUTHOR!"-Molly Cook, Magnolia's Bookstore, Seattle, WA 27. NO GREAT MISCHIEF, by Alistair MacLeod (Vintage, $13 paper, 0375726659) "How much do I love this book? I sold copies to my father, uncle, friends, and anyone who would listen to me. It's a superb novel about generations of a Scottish family in Nova Scotia. I'm truly thrilled to have discovered this master craftsman of fiction who Michael Ondaatje calls 'one of the great undiscovered writers of our time.'"-Leigh Winterbottom, Verbatim Booksellers, Vail, CO 28. PLACE LAST SEEN, by Charlotte McGuinn Freeman (Picador, $13 paper, 0312254075) "A beautiful, tragic tale that weaves together the intimate lives of strangers who have been brought together under the most extreme circumstance. A 6-year-old with Down's syndrome has disappeared into the wilderness of the Sierra Nevadas during a simple day hike with her family. This story will captivate you, and once you start you won't stop until you turn the last page."-Cristen Van Vleet, The Chinook Bookshop, Colorado Springs, CO 29. SPEAKING WITH THE ANGEL, edited by Nick Hornby (Riverhead, $12 paper, 1573228583) "Hornby has herded together 11 new short stories by Dave Eggers, Zadie Smith, Irvine Welsh, Helen Fielding, Roddy Doyle, Melissa Bank, and others. While the writers dwell primarily on the more superficial world of young singles, their narratives are edgy, witty, relevant, and wholly enjoyable. Best of all, as the editor's heartfelt introduction states, most proceeds from the sale of this book go to a school for autistic children such as Hornby's son."-Scott Foley, Grass Roots Books & Music, Corvallis, OR 30. TEN WOMEN WHO SHOOK THE WORLD, by Sylvia Brownrigg (Picador, $11 paper, 0312280637) "I just ate up these stories. They are so imaginative, funny, quick; each one is like a good strong cup of whatever's your pleasure."-Nell Hanley, Armchair Bookstore, Dennis, MA Fiction in hardcover See also the Top Ten. 31. AIDING AND ABETTING, by Muriel Spark (Doubleday, $21, 0385501536) "A cleverly sharp British satire about blood-blue and otherwise. At 83, Ms. Spark has lost none of her bite."-Kevin Miller, Watermark Book Co., Anacortes, WA 32. ASSORTED FIRE EVENTS, by David Means (Context Books, $22, 1893956059) "This is the most powerful and moving collection of short fiction that I've read in years. Means offers glimpses into his characters' lives that are so personal and revealing that I've been carrying their pain and redemption with me for weeks now. These are tough, heartbreaking and necessary stories that say multitudes about our society with brevity and eloquence."-Will Peters, Annie Bloom's, Portland, OR 33. CANE RIVER, by Lalita Tademy (Warner, $24.95, 0446527327) "This book grabbed my attention from the first page. It's a great historical novel set before and after the Civil War and it tells the story of 3 generations of black women. It reminds me of a cross between Roots and Gone With the Wind."-Linda M. Vinstra, Great Northern Bookstore, Oscoda, MI Also a TimeWarner Audio (1586210629) 34. CARRY ME ACROSS THE WATER, by Ethan Canin (Random House, $23.95, 0679456791) "Wow! In only 212 pages, Canin swept me into the world of August Klineman, one of the most fascinating literary characters I've encountered in a long time. He's an old man, a father, a young lover, and then a frightened boy; he escapes from pre-war Nazi Germany and went on to live the American Dream…perhaps. Klineman is complex, maddening and appealing, but be careful. He will get in your mind and stay there long after you shut Canin's amazing book."-Elaine Petrocelli, Book Passage, Corte Madera, CA 35. CLAY'S QUILT, by Silas D. House (Algonquin, $21.95, 1565123077) "This is a wonderful book. Silas House's ability to depict the Appalachian region coupled with his wonderful storytelling ability make this a delight to read. The characters seemed like people you've known forever. I look forward to his future works."-Angie Coleman, Joseph-Beth Booksellers, Lexington, KY 36. THE COLD SIX THOUSAND, by James Ellroy (Knopf, $26.95, 0679403922; in-stores May 8) "A monster epic from the start, Ellroy begins before the smoke has cleared in Dealy Plaza and weaves a tale of the '60s, ending in the kitchen of the Ambassador Hotel in the Summer of '68. He writes Hughes/Vegas/Mobsters. He writes Klans/King/Killers. He rocks, he weaves. Ellroy is a noir master."-J.B. Dickey, Seattle Mystery Bookshop, Seattle, WA Also Random House Audio (0375419152) 37. THE CRANBERRY QUEEN, by Kathleen DeMarco (Talk/Miramax, $21.95, 0786867655) "This is a remarkable first novel of loss, love, grieving, restoration and friendships. Character-driven all the way, the author catches the agony encountered in everyday occurrences as well as the agony slammed at us through no fault of our own. But, most of all, it is about hope and eventual recovery. A wonderful read."-Marge Grutzmacher, Passtimes Books, Sister Bay, WI 38. THE DARK ROOM, by Rachel Seiffert (Pantheon, $24, 0375421041) "A first novel of stunning power and intensity. Using three separate stories, Seiffert conveys life in Germany from 1920 to the present. It is an auspicious and audacious debut work."-Bill Cusumano, Nicola's Books, Ann Arbor, MI 39. GOOD IN BED, by Jennifer Weiner (Pocket, $24.95, 0743418166) "Weiner's debut novel is funny and engaging and so very wonderful. Cannie is a vibrant heroine who will win your heart with her verve, and you will surely root for her in her journey from heartbreak-and a fierce streak of revenge-towards a remarkable self-assurance. I guarantee a terrific read."-Amanda Tobier, Third Place Books, Lake Forest, WA Also an S&S Audio (0743508467/CD, 0743508475) 40. THE GOOD PEOPLE OF NEW YORK, by Thisbe Nissen (Knopf, $23, 0375411453) "Nissen's characters sparkle with wit, humor, and imperfection as they alternate between moments of lucid self-awareness and incredible naivete. Her primary character seeks to hold 'that knowledge [that] will fill her and protect her, a magic coat of armor to take her through this booby trap, trip wire, hidden pit, kamikaze world.' This book draws us into this 'kamikaze world' with such grace and candor that we, too, feel redeemed just for having passed through."-Jules Davis, Pendragon Books, Oakland, CA 41. HEAD: Stories, by William Tester (Sarabande, $19.95, 1889330485) "Short stories become chapters in a style of writing that creates a language out of backwoods vernacular with a painterly accuracy. The narratives are sparkling jewels of grit."-Gregorio Martinez, Bookshop Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 42. IN THE COMPANY OF ANGELS, by N.M. Kelby (Theia, $21, 0786866667) "I was drawn into this novel from the first. Set in 1940 Belgium, I felt enlightened and then simply submerged…yes, submerged is how I felt while reading this. This is a very special book."-Mary Burns, The BookWorks, Marysville, WA Visit BookSense.com to see the list of BOOK SENSE BOOK OF THE YEAR FINALISTS….and on June 4, to see the news of the winners. 43. MAN AND BOY, by Tony Parsons (Sourcebooks, $21, 1570717257) "Turning 30 can be a milestone, but it isn't supposed to kill you. Harry Silver takes the traumas of his 30th birthday to the extreme. Laugh at him and agonize for him as he discovers what being a single parent means."-Katie Abbott, Scott's Bookstore, Mt. Vernon, WA 44. NOT: A TRIO: Two Stories and a Novella, by David Huddle (Notre Dame Pr., $20, 0268036519) "A sleepy village is the perfect backdrop for this intense study of three people trying to find their way through despair: Claire, a psychotherapist; her lover Danny; and her husband, Ben. By telling each of the three stories from a different character's point of view, Huddle weaves a tale rich in perspective."-Marcia Trahan, The Book Rack & Children's Pages, Winooski, VT 45. OBSERVATORY MANSIONS, by Edward Carey (Crown, $23, 0609606808) "Set in modern-day Britain, the world that the narrator and his eccentric neighbors inhabit is a gothic, bizarre, and corrupt landscape in which abnormality is accepted as normal. Carey is brilliant, displaying a remarkable imagination, razor-sharp prose and the blackest sense of humor."-Georgie Honisett, Powell's, Portland, OR 46. PARADISE PARK, by Allegra Goodman (Dial Press, $24.95, 0385334168) "From Pentecostalism and Hasidism to environmentalism and controlled substances, our heroine is urgently and sincerely seeking transcendence in the ditziest of manners. This novel is sublimely written, profoundly fun."-Joyce Gray, Little Professor Book Company, Fort Wayne, IN 47. THE PASSAGE, by Connie Willis (Bantam, $23.95, 0553111248) "When I finished this, my first reaction was 'Wow!' Willis does her usual fine job juggling millions of details, humor, and pathos to combine into one great novel about near-death experiences."-Katherine Magruder, Lee Booksellers, Lincoln, NE 48. THE ROAD BUILDER, by Nicholas Hershenow (Blue Hen, $25.95, 0399147543) "A magnificent story with powerful writing and the powerful pull of Africa. Truly a masterpiece! I could have lived inside this book forever."-Susan Wasson, Bookworks, Albuquerque, NM 49. THANKSGIVING, by Michael Dibdin. (Pantheon, $20, 0375420983) "This book opens with a classic noir scene: a lone driver on a desert road, heading for a confrontation. But the story soon departs from the typical mystery/thriller to become something quite different. Dibdin's translucent writing carries you through page after page before you realize you've been reading into the night."-Barbara A. Bogart, Bear River Books, Evanston WY 50. THE TORTURER'S APPRENTICE, by John Biguenet (Ecco Press, $23, 0060198354) "This is a wonderful collection of stories, with topics that are dark and sometimes bizarre. It's hard to believe that it is the author's debut. Biguenet is a remarkable writer."-Jerry Bilek, St Olaf Bookstore, Northfield, MN Memoir and History See also the Top Ten 51. THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION: Writings from the War of Independence, ed. by John Rhodehamel (Library of America, $40, 1883011914) "What an incredible collection! We read the words of Americans, English, French; people of renown and the unknown. An awesome reference and one-to-one connection with our past."-Becky Milner, Vintage Books, Vancouver, WA 52. BREAKING APART: A Memoir of Divorce, by Wendy Swallow (Theia, $23.95, 0786865997) "This book was an eye-opener for this happily-married reader. Empathy quickly develops between author and reader, dispelling judgments we make. The author makes clear two things: just how truly painful divorce is and just how important civility becomes, especially with children as hostages in a situation they can't control."-Judy Rodel, Downtown Books, Hudson, WI 53. COMFORT ME WITH APPLES: More Adventures at the Table, by Ruth Reichl (Random House, $24.95, 0375501959) "I have been waiting for this book to come out from the moment I finished Tender at the Bone some years ago. Now that I've read it, I can't wait to share it with all the satisfied readers of the first volume of Reichl's delicious memoirs. Last time, she explored how she developed her love of food; this time, it's how she came to love food writing."-Nancy Quinn, Harry W. Schwartz Bookshops, Milwaukee, WI (Editor's note: This is also a Random House Audio (0375417230), read by the author in a wonderfully personal and sublime style.) 54. MONEY MAKES THE WORLD GO AROUND: One Investor Tracks Her Cash Through the Global Economy, from Bangkok to Brooklyn and Back, by Barbara Garson (Viking, $24.95, 0670866601) "Garson deposited half of her book advance in a small-town bank, the other half in a mutual fund, and followed her money around the world, interviewing the people it affected (often for the worse). Suffused with a quirky sense of humor and deep empathy for the people she encounters, from bankers on Wall Street to papaya vendors in Bangkok, this is totally original and flat-out brilliant."-Michael Rosenthal, Modern Times Bookstore, San Francisco, CA 55. OF TIME & MEMORY: My Parents' Love Story, by Don Snyder (Ballantine, $14 paper, 0345427696) "I LOVED this book. It wasn't widely reviewed or noticed but it was my favorite book of 1999. Snyder's vivacious 19-year-old mother died two weeks after childbirth, and fifty years later, as his father's health begins to fail, the author decides to write the story of his parents' marriage. This poignant and beautiful story is now in paperback, so give it a try."-Leslie Graham, A Clean Well-Lighted Place for Books, San Francisco, CA 56. THE PIANO SHOP ON THE LEFT BANK: Discovering a Forgotten Passion in a Paris Atelier, by Thad Carhart (Random House, $23.95, 0375503048) "Here is a splendid tale for three kinds of readers: lovers of good stories; lovers of music for the piano; and lovers of Paris. This is so good that you will want to play the piano, go to Paris, and seek out the sound of a Faziola piano all at once."-Elise White, Avenue Books, Oakland, CA 57. A PRIMATE'S MEMOIR, by Robert M. Sapolsky (Scribner, $25, 0743202473) "Sapolsky first came to Africa as a young zoologist to study the link between stress and disease in baboons and there begins a 20-year love affair with both Africa and the baboons he watches. In humorous prose, he details the oddities and charm of the country and its people. His is an articulate and passionate voice for the baboons, as well as for Africa as a whole."-Barbara Hoagland, The King's English Bookshop, Salt Lake City, UT 58. RUNNING AFTER ANTELOPE, by Scott Carrier (Counterpoint, $22, 1582431116) "This is one of my favorite books of the spring. It's an episodic memoir anchored by Carrier's ongoing quixotic attempts to catch an antelope on foot. His voice is like a cross between David Sedaris and Sam Shepard! Sometimes he seems so damn serious and existential that you almost don't realize that he is being funny. I just love this book." - Christopher Hubbuch, Ruminator Books, St. Paul, MN 59. THE SECRET KNOWLEDGE OF WATER: Discovering the Essence of the American Desert, by Craig Childs (Back Bay, $13.95 paper, 0316610690; in stores early May) "The author studies, chases, and flees water in the Arizona desert. With a silky smooth style, Childs writes about water as an entity with desires, needs, and knowledge. This book is full of metaphor and personality."-Katherine Sotol, Elliot Bay Book Company, Seattle, WA 60. SURVIVING GALERAS, by Stan Williams (Houghton Mifflin, $25, 0618031685) "This story of the scientists who were working on the volcano Galeras when it unexpectedly erupted in 1993 is a riveting personal story of survival and sacrifice as well as an enlightening look into the science of volcanoes. This book took me to some of the most fascinating and dangerous places on Earth and introduced me to some very remarkable people."-Lois Powers, The Toadstool Bookshop, Milford, NH Also a SoundeluxAudio (1559353597) 61. TOO CLOSE TO THE FALLS, by Catherine Gildiner (Viking, $24.95, 067089463X) "A true story of growing up near Niagara Falls. Working for the family drugstore, the author helps an illiterate driver deliver to the people in the town, coming in intimate contact with people from all walks of life. Her desire to help out often gets her into hysterical, often poignant situations. The author has done a wonderful job of speaking in the voice and mind of herself as a young precocious girl. I loved it." -Deb Wehmeier, Garden District Book Shop, New Orleans, LA Mind, Body and Spirit 62. HEART: A Personal Journey Through Its Myths And Meanings, by Gail Godwin (William Morrow, $24, 0380977958) "This is a perfect match of author and subject for Godwin's first nonfiction work. Starting with the oldest known representation of the valentine-shaped heart in a 10,000-year-old cave in Spain, she tells of the heart's depiction in major religions and cultures. With her usual charm, she also adds some personal stories to this lovely nourishment for the mind and soul. This book will make a great gift on many levels and for many occasions."-Susan Avery, Ariel Booksellers, New Paltz, NY 63. STRETCHING LESSONS: The Daring that Starts from Within, by Sue Bender (HarperSanFrancisco, $23, 0062516825) "This is a woman who never stops searching and seeking. She is awake to all around her and finds meaning and strength in everyday occurrences. Her book is intensely personal, yet she speaks to us all about simple courage. This is a beautiful book that we all can learn from, and Bender is an inspiring teacher."-Barbara Morrow, Northshire Bookstore, Manchester Center, VT 64. THE WORST DAY OF MY LIFE, SO FAR: My Mother, Alzheimer's, and Me, by M. A. Harper (Hill Street Press, $24, 1892514974) "It's hard to imagine someone writing a novel about Alzheimer's, but Harper has done it beautifully. Ultimately a heart-warming story of family commitment, this book reveals the totally bizarre world of both patient and caregiver."-Molly Beck, Quail Ridge Books and Music, Raleigh, NC Mystery 65. BAD NEWS, by Donald Westlake (Mysterious Press/Warner, $23.95, 089296717X) "Westlake's best one yet! Wit, social satire, and the occasional literary reference make it more than just a fun-to-read mystery. Perfect for readers who already know the characters, Westlake still explains enough for the first-time reader. I loved this book!"-Rondi Brower, Blackwood & Brouwer Booksellers, Kinderhook, NY Poetry Visit BookSense.com to see our Poetry Bestseller List. 66. GIVEN SUGAR, GIVEN SALT, by Jane Hirshfield (HarperCollins, $24, 0060199547) "I passed this book on to a friend who likes poetry even more than I do…she refused to give it back! These are simply wonderful poems about contemporary life."-Mary Ann Steele, Mary Ann's Mostly Books, Benson, AZ June is Audiobook Month Here are the booksellers' recent faves, in order of the voting. 67. HARRY POTTER SERIES, by J.K. Rowling; read by Jim Dale (Listening Library; All Unabridged: #1-$37.95, 0807281751; #2-$34, 0807281913; #3-$35, 0807282316; #4-$39.95, 0807282588. All on CD, also.) "All three of my children have thoroughly enjoyed listening to Jim Dale read these stories. The older two have read the whole series but still enjoyed listening to them again on tape. Dale has done an extraordinary job with these books."-Sarah Pishko, Prince Books, Norfolk, VA 68. MOTHERLESS BROOKLYN, by Jonathan Lethem; read by Steve Buscemi (HarperAudio, $25, 069452364X) "It's hard to imagine a better actor to read this than Buscemi, and his reading of the main character's compulsions and verbal outbursts enliven this tangled mystery."-Dave Simpson, Lafayette Book Store, Lafayette, CA 69. ME TALK PRETTY ONE DAY, by David Sedaris; read by the author (TimeWarner Audio, $24.98, 1570428654/ CD, $29.98, 1586210661) "Pull-off-the-road funny, from his mortifying speech therapy experiences as a child to his vain attempts to learn French."-Terry Whittaker, Viewpoint Books, Columbus, IN 70. BEOWULF, translated and read by Seamus Heaney (Highbridge Audio, $18.95, 1565114264/ CD, $24.95 1565114272) "By far, this is my favorite audio, and Heaney's signature reading enhances the visceral and magical elements of his translation. This is to literature what the Lascaux paintings are to art."-James Harris, Prairie Lights, Iowa City, IA 71. THE BODY ARTIST, by Don Delillo; read by Laurie Anderson (Simon & Schuster, Unabridged, $20, 0743518152/ CD, $20, 0743518160) "Definitely otherworldly, Laurie Anderson narrates Delillo's insular work with a silky voice."-Nate Cuellar, Ruminator Books, St. Paul, MN 72. PRODIGAL SUMMER, by Barbara Kingsolver; read by the author (HarperAudio, Unabridged, $42.95, 0694524379) "My favorite audio book of the year. In her reading, Kingsolver's voice beautifully transmits the accent of the people and the mountains of the Appalachians."-Kathy Goddard, B is for Books & Beyond, Bolton, CT 73. COLD MOUNTAIN, by Charles Frazier; read by the author (Random House Audio, Unabridged, $44.95, 0375402926) "Get the unabridged version; Frazier's reading gives it a sense of history and fullness that doesn't come out on the abridged version."-Barry Johnson, Books at Stonehenge, Raleigh, NC 74. THE BLIND ASSASSIN, by Margaret Atwood; read by the author (BDD Audio, Unabridged, $39.95, 0553527568) "The superb quality of the performance fully matches the quality of this Booker Prize winner. I want to play it again."-Carol Chittenden, Eight Cousins, Falmouth, MA 75. T.S. ELIOT READS (Harper Audio/Caedmon, $22, 0694522767) "Listening to Eliot read his own poetry is priceless."-John Mahon, Goering's Book Center, Gainesville, FL 76. LOST AND FOUND SOUND: Radio Stories from NPR's All Things Considered, Volume One (High Bridge, CD only, $24.95, 1565114027) "If you missed Lost & Found Sound on NPR, this CD will knock you out! And fans will be thrilled to have the segments they missed and even more excited to own a copy so they can hear Tennessee Williams on a penny arcade disc whenever they wish, as well as all the other wonderful bits of our history collected here."-Marian Fleischman, Sedalia Book & Toy, Sedalia, MO