October 19, 1999 Book Sense 76 for November/December -- Part 2 (Back to previous section) Fiction (continued) 26. CRUDDY, by Lynda Barry (Simon & Schuster, $23, 0684829746) "I'm nuts about the new Lynda Barry novel, Cruddy, which is anything but. It's hilarious, disturbing, beautifully illustrated, wry, and yet a page-turner."--Pete Mulvihill, Green Apple Books & Music, San Francisco CA 27. EDDIE'S BASTARD, by William Kowalski (Harper, $24, 0060193557) "A wonderful novel about a boy's coming-of-age being raised by his grandfather in a small town. A totally pleasing and satisfying read." --Kathleen Cantrell, Erie Book Store, Erie PA Also an audiobook. 28. EVENING, by Susan Minot (Vintage, $12 paperback, 0375700269) "A hypnotic remembrance of a dying woman's one true love. This book has an ethereal quality that is very unique."--Harbour Books, Yarmouth ME 29. FALL OF THE YEAR, by Howard Frank Mosher (Houghton Mifflin, $24, 0395984165) "This is a very satisfying and entertaining piece of literature which reveals with warmth and love the daily lives and idiosyncrasies of the people of the northern New England border country. Mosher is a writer strongly centered in place, in the tradition of William Faulkner. Let's get all of America talking about this book and this writer, for it is true and honest and caring work."--David Hughes, Solar Light Books, San Francisco CA Author Quote of the Month "What is going to keep writing alive in this country are the independent bookstores. We need them so desperately. If the people who sell books don't read books or know anything about them, then it all evaporates. Too many of the small stores have gone out of business, and it begins to make you afraid for the future. Assuming that books are important � and I do assume that � then these stores are important, something fundamental to the spiritual health of the country." � Paul Auster, from the book, The Bookstore: The Life and Times of Jeannette Watson and Books & Co. 30. FENCING THE SKY, by James Galvin (Henry Holt, $23, 0805062203) "This is a gripping novel of life, land, and the passion people can possess for both. Written in Galvin's characteristically sparse style, each chapter imparts a slice of memory that entangles the characters to each other, the land of the West that they love, and the extremes they will be pushed to. This is a beautiful novel that I am sure to read again." --Amanda Burnham, Macdonald Bookshop, Estes Park CO (Many booksellers report that Galvin's earlier nonfiction work, THE MEADOW, is an all-time favorite.) 31. FOOL, by Frederick Dillen (Algonquin, $23.95, 1565122348) "A well-drawn portrait of a man who goes from success to desperation. The main character is a lovable scoundrel and a man you love to hate, but soon end up hating to love."--Natalie Cooper, Newtonville Books, Newton MA 32. A GESTURE LIFE, by Chang-Rae Lee (Riverhead, $23.95, 1573221465) "A majestic novel about the proper, controlled life of Franklin Hata, a Japanese man of Korean birth. The words flow beautifully and effortlessly as this man unravels."--Carole Carden, Esmeralda Books, Del Mar CA 33. HEADLONG, by Michael Frayn (Metropolitan, $26, 0805062858) "A witty, fast-paced novel about a certain Martin Clay, who stumbles upon a painting that could be a lost treasure. Now, how to separate it from its owner? The fun level soars as the scheming becomes more desperate."--Diane Beemer, The Book Stall at Chestnut Court, Winnetka IL (Bookseller enthusiasm for this book is further validated by its shortlisting for the Booker Prize.) 34. HENRY OF ATLANTIC CITY by Frederick Reuss (MacMurray & Beck, $22, 1878448897) "As improbable as this book sounds, Frederick Reuss makes it all work and does so hilariously. Henry is a six-year-old living in an Atlantic City casino and believing himself to be a Fifth Century Byzantine saint. 'Dysfunctional' would not even begin to describe the collection of wiley operators, prostitutes, and con men which make up his 'family'. Sad, witty, and heartbreaking, this novel has one of the most charming protagonists I've encountered since J.D. Salinger's Teddy."--Angelo Parodi, Politics & Prose, Washington DC 35. HULLABALOO IN THE GUAVA ORCHARD, by Kiran Desai (Anchor, $12.95 paperback, 0385493703) "This book was unjustly overlooked in hardcover; now in paper, it's great to have this intelligent and very funny book to put into many hands. Desai takes an ordinary man, sticks him up in a tree where he is proclaimed a holy man under the most ridiculous premise, then adds an ambitious father, a food-obsessed mother, a nutty grandmother and a vain sister--just for starters."--Susan Avery, Ariel Booksellers, New Paltz NY 36. THE LANGUAGE OF THREADS, by Gail Tsukiyama (St. Martin's, $23.95, 0312203764 ) "This novel provides an excellent feel for the survivors of the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong during WW II. The reader cares greatly about Pei, her sisterhood of former silk factory workers, and the circumstances of their lives. A fascinating glimpse of another culture."--Mary Middleton, Twig Bookshop, San Antonio TX (Note: This book is already on the San Francisco bestseller list.) 37. THE LONG HOME, by William Gay (MacMurray & Beck, $24.95, 1878448919-due in Nov.) "Gay's debut novel is a period piece set in the Appalachians. As you begin this powerful book, you think Cormac McCarthy or William Faulkner. When you finish, all you think is William Gay. He is one of the most daring, original, and authentic novelists to come from the South in a while."--Lyn Roberts, Square Books, Oxford MS 38. MOTHERLESS BROOKLYN, by Jonathan Lethem (Doubleday, $23.95, 0385491832) Our top pick from October, now published to critical acclaim. Just one of the many letters from booksellers: "The latest novel from one of the hottest young writers out there tells the story of Lionel Essrog, an orphan with Tourette syndrome. The murder of Lionel's mentor and guardian, Frank, plunges Lionel into a dark and complicated world where he soon discovers that no one is who he thought they were." --Terry Cain, Prairie Lights Bookstore, Iowa City IA 39. NIGHT SWIMMING, by Peter Fromm (Picador, $23, 0312209363) "Pete writes short stories about people you just ache for. You will care greatly about them, as you read these stories that celebrate the mystery of the ordinary. He has twice won the Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association Award." �Russ Lawrence, Chapter One Book Store, Hamilton WY 40. PEEL MY LOVE LIKE AN ONION, by Ana Castillo (Doubleday, $23.95, 0385496761) "As always, Castillo revels in the unexpected, setting this wild dance of a story about flamenco in Chicago, with a talented female dancer with polio who has affairs with both the troupe's director and his gifted godson. The language is insightful, funny, even poetic; the plot fast-paced and poignant. I loved this novel."--Wendy Mayer, Capitola Book Café, Capitola CA 41. PLAINSONG, by Kent Haruf (Knopf, $25, 0375406182) Our top pick for September, and now it's been nominated for the National Book Award! "Characters I really cared about, a great story; a book I can recommend to nearly everyone."--Sue and Lesley Kleiser, Montgomery Book Co., Cincinnati OH Also an audiobook. 42. THE RESTRAINT OF BEASTS, by Magnus Mills (Scribner, $11 paperback, 0684865114) "This is a delicious black comedy about a crew of fence builders set in contemporary England and Scotland. The trio's comic misadventures comment on the nature of class, manual labor and xenophobia, all of it building to a Kafkaesque ending."--Robert Peterson, Prairie Lights Bookstore, Iowa City IO. (Book Sense staff comment: Look for the author's new book in hardcover-ALL QUIET ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS-just published by Arcade, one of our favorite independent publishers.) 43. THE STATION HILL BLANCHOT READER (Station Hill Press, $29.95, 1886449171) "Maurice Blanchot's work has been a near secret in the U.S., published by small presses or universities, but he is hugely influential in France. His fiction is concise and intense, crafted and pared down until raw feeling seems to spill out of his pages. This new book contains the bulk of his fiction that has been translated, most of it novella length. His essays rival Walter Benjamin's in their insight and the strength of their prose. He writes with personal knowledge of the personalities and work of many of the most important European writers of this century."--Andrew Pollack, Politics & Prose, Washington, DC 44. THEN SINGS MY SOUL, by Sonny Sammons (Cherokee, $23.95, 0877972818) "Fans of Sonny have waited long enough, but this new book is worth the wait! Set in a small town in Georgia in the '40s, this novel recaptures the bygone days of innocence, that time we long for�a time that was not as innocent as we remember. Rejoice; another great story from a great storyteller."--Mary Gay Shipley, That Bookstore in Blytheville, Blytheville AR (You may have read about Mary Gay's penchant for spotting great books in a recent issue of The New Yorker.) 45. THUMBSUCKER, by Walter Kirn (Anchor, $14 paperback, 0385497091) "Justin's family is one of the oddest in recent literary memory. Justin himself is a likeable, adolescent mess, and many of his experiences either you went through or knew someone in junior high who did. Never wanting to go back there myself, it was fun doing so through Justin Cobb's eyes."--Howard Cohen, Joseph-Beth Booksellers, Cincinnati OH 46. THE TINY ONE, by Eliza Minot (Knopf, $22, 037540645X; due out in Nov.) "In this finely-crafted narrative, Minot's eight-year-old heroine Via Revere describes her nearly idyllic childhood in a perfectly child-like, but not cutesy, style. Unfortunately, we know from the first chapter of the death of Via's beloved mother. This underlying sadness makes the earlier scenes even more poignant imagining how Via and her family will cope with the loss of the sun around which they orbit."--Molly Beck, Quail Ridge Books, Raleigh, NC 47. THE WAY I FOUND HER, by Rose Tremain (Washington Square Press, $14 paperback, 0671035703) "A sweet, erotic love story set in one life-changing Parisian summer. 13-year-old Lewis leaves childhood behind when he falls in love with a mysterious older Frenchwoman-who disappears. In his search for her, he enters the adult world of politics, passion, and regret, and is changed forever."--Kim Ricketts, University Bookstore, Bellevue WA Food 48. ASIAN GROCERY STORE DEMYSTIFIED, by Linda Bladholm (Renaissance Books, $14.95 paperback, 1580630456) "This is an engaging guide to the mysterious and intimidating array of wares found in Asian groceries. The descriptions, complete with recipes and recommended brand names, are clear enough for the novice and exhaustive enough for more experienced gourmets. Very entertaining."--Rachel Carner, Beaucoup Books, New Orleans LA 49. CROSSROADS COOKING: The Meeting and Mating of Ethnic Cuisines-From Burma to Texas in 200 Recipes, by Elisabeth Rozin (Viking, $27.50, 0670873381) "This is my choice for the best cookbook of the year. Combines culinary anthropology with mouth-watering recipes for a fresh and creative approach that remains absolutely accessible to home cooks."--Carla Jimenez, Inkwood Books, Tampa FL 50. THE MOOSEWOOD RESTAURANT DAILY SPECIAL (Clarkson Potter, $24 paperback, 0609802429) Comfort food from some friendly hippies.-- A Book Sense staff pick. Gift Books Well, ALL books are gift books, but these especially so. 51. CENTURY: One Hundred Years of Human Progress, Regression, Suffering, and Hope (Phaidon Press, $49.95, 0714838489) "We are very excited about this chronological history of the century in photographs. Mammoth, with 1,100 images that depict people and events, discoveries, atrocities, and victories, this is a compelling volume and a great gift, beautifully packaged and reasonably priced for all that you get."--Cathy Langer, Tattered Cover, Denver CO 52. ETHEL AND ERNEST, by Raymond Briggs (Knopf, $21, 0375407588) "In this incredibly poignant book, Briggs uses his cartoon-style of storytelling to recount his parents' lives in England, from their first meeting in 1928, through early romance, the trials of the war years, and growing old together. Poignant, funny; a new classic."--Tom Campbell, Regulator Bookshop, Durham NC 53. HOLIDAYS ON ICE, by David Sedaris-both the book AND the audiotape! (Back Bay, $8 paperback, 0316779237 and Time Warner Audiobooks, $17, 1570425671) A 'classic,' going on its third holiday season. Get one of each for yourself and some for friends as wicked stocking stuffers. Warning: If listening to the audiotape while driving; be careful. We've almost driven off the road from laughing so hard.--Book Sense staff pick. 54. THE HOLY BIBLE, designed and illustrated by Barry Moser (Viking, $65, 0670887978) "This is a brilliant and stunning edition, designed and illustrated by one of the greatest in his field. This is a perfect gift for bibliophiles, religious readers, and book collectors."--Tim Huggins, Newtonville Books, Newton MA 55. THE INVISIBLE UNIVERSE, by David Malin (Bulfinch, $50 until 12/31, $60 thereafter, 0821226282) "We've seen lots of books with photographs about the stars, but none can compare to this. Arranged by constellation like an antique star atlas, this book illustrates such spectacular sights as the Great Orion Nebula and the Jewel Box Cluster using Malin's state-of-the-art photographic telescopes. These splendid photographs are accompanied by a text that combines the science, poetry, and lore of the stars, and a lavish design that sprinkles across the pages quotations from Dante, Shakespeare, Milton, and others. Instead of just being another great big coffee-table book, the stunning, oversize, almost-square format successfully accommodates a just-right 132 pages, perfect for one's lap. Our customers agree this is a great gift book, appealing to many ages and interests."--Richard Howorth, Square Books, Oxford MS 56. TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE: The Colossal Book of Urban Legends, by Jan Harold Brunvand (W.W. Norton, $29.95, 0393047342) "Urban legends are our folklore and Brunvand is the chronicler of it. He takes a subject that could seem silly and shows that it is most definitely not. He has written nine previous books on urban legends and has put much of those into this one big collection. It's full of classics (The Mexican Pet, The $50 Porsche, The Kentucky Fried Rat) as well as some new yarns and a selection of "true" urban legends. He doesn't only tell the tales, he traces the varied origins of the legends, examines possible explanations and even includes some parodies. This is fun reading, but goes deeper, too. Check it out."--Kathy Parkman, Skylight Books, Los Angeles CA The Pleasure of Fnding Things Out We hope you've heard some of our Book Sense underwriting messages on NPR, funded in cooperation with the publishers of several books that have appeared in the '76'. Our latest message is for a book that's hitting some bestseller lists � a collection of quirky essays from the big brain of Richard Feynman - the title of which we think describes the experience of browsing in an independent bookstore � The Pleasure of Finding Things Out. History, Biography and Memoir 57. THE BASQUE HISTORY OF THE WORLD, by Mark Kurlansky (Walker, $25, 0802713491) "Finally, a readable & enlightening account of an often mysterious culture and its people's contributions to the world (the Jesuit Society, discovering Newfoundland, finishing Magellan's circumnavigation of the globe, for starters), as well as colorful descriptions of their customs and cuisine. It made me want to grab a beret and a backpack and head into the Basque mountains to find out more."--Reid Thompson, Scott's Bookstore, Mt. Vernon WA 58. BOOK OF REASONS, by John Vernon (Houghton Mifflin, $24, 0395944775) "The author's search for meaning when an older, reclusive brother dies is dictated with a poet's precision and the careful, analytical mind of a scholar. As he searches through a house filled with trash, trinkets and clues-and through hundreds of interesting facts and vital histories--Vernon confronts our need to learn reasons for who we are. This is one of the most unusual and quietly affecting books you'll read this fall."--Jamie Kornegay, Square Books, Oxford MS 59. DESERT QUEEN: The Extraordinary Life of Gertrude Bell, by Janet Wallach (Anchor, $15.95 paperback, 0385495757) "Read this book! What could be better than a Victorian-era Englishwoman traveling all over the Arabian desert by herself? Also, the history of the transformation of the Middle East from then until now is a marvelous backdrop for this fascinating story."--Missy Maddox, Hawley-Cooke Booksellers, Louisville KY 60. EMPIRE EXPRESS: Building the First Transcontinental Railroad, by David Howard Bain (Viking, $34.95, 067080889X, due in Nov.) "Comparisons to Ambrose and McCullough are not exaggerations. This is history at its most interesting."--Bill Cusumano, Nicola's Books, Ann Arbor MI 61. EVERYDAY LIFE DURING THE CIVIL WAR: A Guide for Writers, Students and Historians, by Michael Varhola (Writer's Digest Books, $16.99 paperback, 0898799228) Just published: a great new addition to any Civil War library. Packed with fascinating details and background information.-Book Sense staff pick 62. FIRE ON THE MOUNTAIN: The True Story of the South Canyon Fire, by John Maclean (Morrow, $24, 0688144772) "Fewer than two years after John's father's posthumous Young Men and Fire was published, 14 women and men died battling another major forest fire. This is the gripping testament to their sacrifice and courage, and the moving stories of sons and daughters, fathers and mothers."--Paul Haskins, Village Books, Bellingham WA Also an audiobook. 63. HOW TO STOP TIME: Heroin from A to Z, by Ann Marlowe (Basic Books, $24, 0465031501) "These short autobiographical essays are arranged alphabetically by a single word or phrase, detailing a life in the swirl of addiction. The writing is insightful, smart, and best taken in quick bursts."--Aurora Pribram-Jones, Stacey's, Palo Alto CA 64. LANTERNS: A Memoir of Mentors, by Marian Wright Edelman (Beacon, $20, 080702141) An important and inspirational book for all to read. "The noted civil rights leader, author and president of the Children's Defense Fund reminisces on a life spent in public service, with particular emphasis on her tutelage under such figures as Martin Luther King, Jr., and Howard Zinn. --Eliot Sternfeld, Olsson's, Georgetown, Washington, DC 65. LIES ACROSS AMERICA: What Our Historic Sites and Monuments Get Wrong, by James Loewen (The New Press, $26.95, 1565843444) "This fascinating book examines markers and monuments and how they often misrepresent history. Loewen's aim is to give future generations a truer, better-balanced view of what really happened, to challenge what we're told. An added plus: The book is indexed by state so you can see which of the sites are in your neck of the woods."--Emoke B'racz, Malaprop's, Asheville NC 66. PRINCE BORGHESE'S TRAIL: 10,000 Miles Over Two Continents, Four Deserts and the Roof of the World, by Genevieve Obert (Council Oak Books, $23.95, 1571780858) "The quirky true story of the Peking-to-Paris Motor Challenge, both a modern-day one and an account of the famous 1907 race. Rarely can you find a book that would make a perfect gift for everyone in the family: for my Mom, who enjoys armchair travel; for my brother-in-law, the vintage car enthusiast; for my Dad, a history buff; and for my sister, the compulsive reader of women's biographies."-Kathleen Donnelly, Stacey's, San Francisco CA 67. WHAT IF?, edited by Robert Cowley (Putnam, $27.95, 0399145761) "This is an excellent collection of 'counterfactual' essays written by many top military historians, such as Stephen E. Ambrose and James M.McPherson. Each essay tries to answer a particular historical 'what if.' "What if D-Day failed?" is just one example of the type of questions raised and answered in this fantastic, thought- provoking book."--Tudor Bookshop, Clarks Summit PA 68. THE YEAR 1000, by Robert Lacey and Danny Danziger (Little Brown, $23, 0316558400) "How did people in England face the year 1000? Not with any great panic, it turns out. The authors use an Anglo Saxon manual listing the chief holy, days of the Christian year as a framework for their fascinating book, giving us a picture of that far-off time and place which is witty, engrossing and thought provoking. Did you know, for instance, that the English of 999 were tall, as tall as we are, and had better teeth? Find out why, and have a great time doing so."--Susan Mayall, Goodenough Books, Livermore, CA Mystery and Science Fiction/Fantasy 69. A BITTER FEAST, by S.J. Rozan (St. Martin's, $5.99 paperback, 0312970110) "Driven by the PI duo of Lydia Chin and Bill Smith, a one-two punch of a team full of equal parts witty banter, genuine feeling, and sexual tension. Rozan is hitting her stride and isn't going to remain a secret much longer. Don't, however, read on an empty stomach. (All those descriptions of Chinese food...)" -- Eve Sheehan, Pendragon Books, Berkeley CA 70. THE OTHERLAND SERIES, by Tad Williams (Daw, 3 volumes-the first 2 in paper and vol. 3 just out in hardcover) An oft-mentioned series by independent booksellers. "Cyberpunk, high fantasy, anthroplogy and history, all rolled into one. Good characters; complex settings."--Lori Haggbloom, Kepler's, Menlo Park CA Science, Nature and Travel 71. GALILEO'S DAUGHTER: A Historical Memoir of Science, Faith, and Love, by Dava Sobel (Walker, $27, 0802713432) "Sobel's absorbing and perceptive writing about history continues. Will be an easy handsell here in an academic community, but also transcends mere scientific facts and lore to look deeply at Galileo the family man. A fascinating book; sure to be as, if not more, successful than LONGITUDE."--Keith Arsenault, Brown University Bookstore, Providence RI 72. PASSAGE TO JUNEAU, by Jonathan Raban (Pantheon, $26.50, 0679442626) "A tour de force. A simple sailing trip from Seattle to Juneau becomes the backdrop for meditations on and examinations of Raban's personal life, maritime history, and the search for the Northwest Passage. Observations on the art and culture of the many tribes living on the coast are original and his arguments compelling. Raban's classical education is a welcome presence, and the richness of his background reading adds an extra dimension to his writing. This is a book I felt compelled to start over as soon as I finished, just for the joy of the narrative."--Judith Chandler, Third Place Books, Seattle WA 73. RIVER HORSE: A Voyage Across America, by William Least-Heat Moon (Houghton Mifflin, $26, 0395636264) "Moon travels waterways steeped in history, from Henry Hudson's river to Mark Twain's Mississippi and Missouri rivers, ultimately meeting up with Lewis and Clark's Snake and Columbia. He pilots us through floods and flotsam in a trip resplendent with historical anecdotes. A book peopled with the characters and serendipity we have come to expect from Moon. A great book for those who enjoy lush travel writing and Americana."�Roger Peterson, Powell's, Portland OR 74. THE STATIONS OF STILL CREEK, by Barbara J. Scot (Sierra Club, $22, 1578050421) "After a flood alters a familiar place, the author explores the power and serenity of nature to change and heal. The familiar place becomes a special place, helping her to make changes to her life."--Diane Leaverton, Vista Book Gallery, Boise ID Young Adult 75. HARRY POTTER-On Audiotape and Unabridged!! Yes, HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE: Unabridged; Read by Jim Dale (Listening Library, $33, 0807281751) Finally! Unabridged. For the whole family to listen to, at home or in the car, with the marvelous flair of Jim Dale.--Book Sense staff pick 76. KING OF SHADOWS, by Susan Cooper (Simon & Schuster, $16, 0689828179, due out in Nov.) "This is a wonderful Shakespearean adventure story. A young actor who is part of a troupe performing A Midsummer's Night's Dream at the Globe Theatre falls asleep one night and wakes up in the time of Shakespeare, finding himself as part of a cast performing the same play, with Shakespeare as one of the actors. This book is marvelous time-travel adventure that also provides readers information about Shakespeare in a fun way. I highly recommend this for 9-13 year olds."--Kim Neath, K&M Books, Shaker Heights OH FULL DISCLOSURE These 76 books have been chosen by the independent booksellers of America and the staff at Book Sense, after which publishers were approached for promotional funds to help underwrite the ongoing Book Sense marketing campaign. Books appear here whether or not the publishers have agreed to participate, but many have�and we appreciate it. SUBJECT TO CHANGE We are not responsible for publisher price increases at the last moment. And despite all best efforts to ensure that all of these 76 are in stores by Nov. 1, some will be not be available until later in the month. Previous Book Sense 76 Lists Topics: News - Books, Book Sense,