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August 30, 2001
The September/October 2001 Book Sense 76
1. PEACE LIKE A RIVER, by Leif Enger (Atlantic Monthly, $24, 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 Also a HarperAudio (0694525839)
2. AMERICAN GODS, by Neil Gaiman (Morrow, $26, 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 Also a HarperAudio (0694525499)
3. SAILING ALONE AROUND THE ROOM: New and Selected Poems, by Billy Collins
(Random House, $22, 0375503803; in stores 9/4) "I was at the end of my
rope on a really ratty day when I opened up this book, started reading, 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
4. YEAR OF WONDERS: A Novel of the Plague, by Geraldine Brooks (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 Also a HighbridgeAudio (1565114884)
5. AVA'S MAN, by Rick Bragg (Knopf, $25, 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
Also a Random House Audio (037541889X; CD 0375418903) and Large Print (0375431209)
6. ABOUT THE AUTHOR, by John Colapinto (HarperCollins, $25, 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
7. BLUE DIARY, by Alice Hoffman (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 Also a Nova Audio (1587882566)
8. THE CORRECTIONS, by Jonathan Franzen (Farrar, $26, 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 Also an S&S Audio (0743509994)
9. THE NOONDAY DEMON: An Atlas of Depression, by Andrew Solomon (Scribner,
$28, 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
10. THE GRAND COMPLICATION, by Allen Kurzweil (Theia, $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 Dawn
Ranck & Phyllis Pellman Good (Good Books, $13.95 paper, 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
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Our Fiction Rediscoveries This Month
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DHALGREN, by Samuel R. Delany (Vintage, $18 paper, 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
THE POWER OF THE DOG, by Thomas Savage (Back Bay, $13.95 paper, 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
A WAY OF LIFE, LIKE ANY OTHER, by Darcy O'Brien (New York Review Books
Classics, $12.95 paper, 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 (First published in
hardcover in 1977 and winner of the PEN/Hemingway Award, this is its first time
in paperback.)
THE BLIND ASSASSIN, by Margaret Atwood (Anchor, $14, 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
A BLIND MAN CAN SEE HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU, by Amy Bloom (Vintage, $12,
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 Evelyn Palfrey (Pocket, $12.95 paper, 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 (Palfrey's self-published earlier work was a 76 pick in 1999.)
LOVE IN A DEAD LANGUAGE, by Lee Siegel (U. of Chicago Press, $15 paper,
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
THE MAN WHO GREW YOUNG, by Daniel Quinn; illus. by Tim Eldred (Context,
$19.95 paper, 1893956172) "This matches the intense, thought-provoking
writing of Quinn's Ishmael and After Dachau. I couldn't stop until
I finished this illustrated novel."-Jacqueline Kirkpatrick, Merritt
Books Volume II, Red Hook, NY
MORE THAN YOU KNOW, by Beth Gutcheon (Perennial, $13 paper, 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 Sena Jeter Naslund (Perennial, $13 paper, 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
A TRIP TO THE STARS, by Nicholas Christopher (Scribner, $14 paper, 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 Michael Faber (Harvest, $13 paper, 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 Molly Gloss (Mariner, $13, 0618131574; in stores 9/10)
"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
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Look for paperbacks of two indie favorites coming
out in mid-to-late September. In fiction, there's WINTER RANGE, by Claire
Davis; in nonfiction, look for Adam Gopnick's PARIS TO THE MOON.
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ASH GARDEN, by Dennis Bock (Knopf, $23, 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; $18,
037541309X; in stores 9/11) "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 Glen David Gold (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 Also a HarperAudio (0694525014; Oct.)
THE DEADWOOD BEETLE, by Mylene Dressler (Blue Hen, $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 Steve Earle (Houghton Mifflin, $22, 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 Margot Livesey (Holt, $23, 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 A. L. Kennedy (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 Han Ong (Farrar, $25, 0374155755) "A Filipino hustler
reinvents himself as a feng shui expert. He and his partner go on to sell their
corrupted, westernized version of Eastern wisdom to New York City's highest
bidder. Very funny!"-Drew Phillips, Warwick's, La Jolla, CA
THE HERO'S WALK, by Anita Rau Badami (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 Ana Menendez (Grove, $23, 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 Robert Clark (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 Victoria Redel (Graywolf, $21.95, 1555973221) "This
novel has all the suspense of Emmanuel Carrère'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 Susann Cokal (Blue Hen Books, $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 Pamela Duncan (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 Elizabeth Berg (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 Also an S&S audio (0743504941;
CD 074350495X)
NIAGARA FALLS ALL OVER AGAIN, by Elizabeth McCracken (Dial, $23.95,
0385318375) "From vaudeville fame 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
THE ROOT WORKER, by Rainelle Burton (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 Emma Donoghue (Harcourt, $24, 0151006725) "The bits
and pieces of historical fact and the threads of truth on which this story is
based (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 Elizabeth Rosner (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
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One Unique Book, Available Only in Independent Bookstores!
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DELICATE: Stories of Light and Desire, by Mary Sojourner (Nevermore
Press, $14.95 paper, 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
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Two New Children's Books That We Love
See 74 more on the Fall Children's 76 list, just out.
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THE SISTERHOOD OF THE TRAVELING PANTS, by Ann Brashares (Delacorte,
$14.95, 0385729332; in stores 9/11) Teen. "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 Also a Listening Library Audio (0807205893)
LOVE THAT DOG, by Sharon Creech (Cotler Books/ HarperCollins, $14.95,
0060292873) Ages 9-12. "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. Creech's story is spare, touching
and very fine."-Ellen Davis, Dragonwings Bookstore, Waupaca, WI
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Three Books that Defy Categorization
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A CONVERGENCE OF BIRDS: Original Fiction and Poetry Inspired by Joseph Cornell,
compiled by J. Safran Foer (DAP, $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. A lovely book."-Stuart Bloomfield, University Book
Store, Seattle, WA
STORIES OF MR. KEUNER, by Bertolt Brecht (City Lights Press, $9.95 paper,
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 W.G. Sebald (New Directions, $13.95 paper, 0811214850; in
stores Sept.) "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
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Four Biographies of VERY Independent People
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FUGITIVE DAYS: A Memoir, by Bill Ayers (Beacon, $25, 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 Julia Butterfly Hill (Harper San Francisco, $14 paper, 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 Eugene
Walter (Crown, $25, 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 Nancy Milford
(Random House, $29.95, 039457589X; in stores 9/4) "Millay was a woman ahead
of her time. Milford had the full cooperation of Millay's sister and she frequently
inserts her 'I was there' comments, adding an immediacy to the narrative. 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."-Susan Taylor, Wellesley
Booksmith, Wellesley, MA
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History, Memoir, and Current Events
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BREAKING THE ROCK: The Great Escape from Alcatraz, by Jolene Babyak
(Ariel Vamp Press, $15.95 paper, 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 (The author lived on Alcatraz as the warden's
daughter at the time of this famous escape.)
THE GRAVES ARE NOT YET FULL: Race, Tribe, and Power in the Heart of Africa,
by Bill Berkeley (Basic, $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, edited by Paul Auster, in association with NPR's Weekend All
Things Considered (Holt, $25, 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
THE INEXTINGUISHABLE SYMPHONY: A True Story of Music and Love in Nazi Germany,
by Martin Goldsmith (Wiley, $15.95 paper, 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 on Ice Age Giant, by Richard Stone (Perseus,
$26, 0738202819; in stores mid-Sept.) "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
THE MAP THAT CHANGED THE WORLD: William Smith and the Birth of Modern Geology,
by Simon Winchester (HarperCollins, $26, 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
THE MUMMY CONGRESS: Science, Obsession, and the Everlasting Dead, by
Heather Pringle (Theia, $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 Also a Highbridge Audio
(1565114647)
MY FATHER CAME FROM ITALY, by Maria Coletta McLean (Raincoast Books,
$12.95 paper, 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 Gary Pomerantz (Crown, $24, 0609606336; in stores 9/4) "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 Also an S&S Audio (0743505913;
CD 0743509005)
PACKINGHOUSE DAUGHTER: A Memoir, by Cheri Register (Perennial, $13,
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 thoughout."-Jeanne Fondrie, Village
Books, Bellingham, WA
THE THIRTEEN SENSES: A Memoir, by Victor Villasenor (Harper/Rayo, $25.95,
0066210771; Also in a Spanish edition: LOS TRECES SENTIDOS, $26, 0066212979)
" The faith and strength of this Mexican-American family is impossible
to resist. I loved this book."-Colleen Moore, Covered Treasures Bookstore,
Monument, CO Also a Harper Audio (0694526614)
WINE AND WAR: The French, the Nazis, and the Battle for France's Greatest
Treasure, by Don and Petie Kladstrup (Broadway, $24, 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 Stefan Fatsis (Houghton Mifflin, $25, 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
THE DANCE: Moving to the Rhythms of Your True Self, by Oriah Mountain
Dreamer (HarperSanFrancisco, $20, 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
Also a HarperSanFrancisco Audio (069452641X)
PLACES THAT SCARE YOU, by Pema Chodron (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, ed. by Jill
Corral and Lisa Miya-Jervis (Seal Press, $16.95 paper, 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 Michael Malone (Sourcebooks, $24, 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
THE JASMINE TRADE, by Denise Hamilton (Scribner, $24, 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 C. J. Box (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 Tim Dorsey (William Morrow, $25, 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
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Nature (See
also Poetry).
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HOPE IS THE THING WITH FEATHERS: A Personal Chronicle of Vanished Birds,
by Christopher Cokinos (Warner, $13.95 paper, 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,
edited by Brian Swann (U. of Utah Press, $12.95 paper, 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
THE WORLD IN US: Lesbian and Gay Poetry of the Next Wave, edited by
Michael Lassell and Elena Georgiou (St. Martin's, $17.95 paper, 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
Topics: News - Books, Book Sense,
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