July 06, 2000 July/August Book Sense 76 HTML page in zipped format downloadable for bookstore-members only JulAug76.zip Why 76? Independence * 1776 * Independents 76 great books, picked by booksellers with experience, knowledge and passion. A diverse, eclectic range of choices. July and August 2000 Top Ten Vote-Getters Books for Young Adult Readers Books for Children Fiction in Paperback Page Two Fiction -- New in Hardcover Gifts -- Good All Year-Round History and Memoir Mensa Madness Mystery Poetry Sports -- On a Broad Canvas A Category All of Their Own These are the Top Ten Vote-Getters for this July/August Book Sense 76, as tallied from hundreds of recommendations from independent booksellers. For each book, one of the many enthusiastic nominations was chosen to represent it as follows: The top vote-getter; a first novel published in April with simply tremendous word-of-mouth: FRIENDSHIP CAKE: A Novel, by Lynne Hinton (Harper San Francisco, $20, 0688171478). "Mix up two parts Steel Magnolias, one part Fried Green Tomatoes, and a dash of Mitford, and you've got Friendship Cake. Filled with colorful characters, poignant stories, and mouth-watering recipes, this delightful debut novel is the perfect summertime read."--Angie Howard, Davis-Kidd Booksellers, Nashville, TN A very close second; bookseller favorite Hoffman's new book is due out July 13: THE RIVER KING, by Alice Hoffman (Putnam, $23.95, 0399145990). "This is one of Alice Hoffman's most satisfying and beautifully written novels. With her mastery of language, even her simplest sentence has a lyrical quality rare in today's fiction."-- Bill Wilbur, Mrs. Nelson's Bookshop, Pomona, CA Fantastic new young readers' series that booksellers--and readers--are wild for: THE SAMMY KEYES SERIES, by Wendelin Van Draanen. Shades of Harriet the Spy and Nancy Drew, this series only started in 1998 with Sammy Keyes and the Hotel Thief (Knopf, $4.99 paper, 0679892648). - and is now up to five books. The newest book is in hardcover: Sammy Keyes and the Curse of Moustache Mary (0375802657, $14.95). "It's been fun to see the kids come running back for each new book!"--Carol Schweppe, Hicklebee's, San Jose, CA One of Book Sense's first big picks of last year -- a big bestseller, due in paperback July 13: ISAAC'S STORM: A Man, a Time, and the Deadliest Hurricane in History, by Erik Larson (Vintage, $13 paper, 0375708278). "This is the perfect beach read, capturing the drama and intensity of the hurricane which almost wiped Galveston off the map in 1900. This is history made human and non-fiction writing at its best."--Mary Gleysteen, Eagle Harbor Book Co., Bainbridge Island, WA A recent young adult novel booksellers love: RULES OF THE ROAD, by Joan Bauer (Puffin, $4.99 paper, 0698118286)."Jenna gets to grow up, sell shoes, have a makeover, learn to cope with her father's alcoholism, and attend her first stockholder's meeting, all in 200 pages. The story is compelling, the ending is not happily-ever-after unrealistic, and it's often laugh out-loud funny!"--Rondi Brower, Blackwood & Brouwer Booksellers, Kinderhook, NY For ages 4-8�but really for everyone!: THE LION'S SHARE, by Chris Conover (Farrar, $16, 0374399743). "The King of Cats has everything--except the ability to read! When his son gets lost, the King of the North rescues him. After a winter spent in a palace full of books, Prince Leo returns home with the greatest treasure of all. The illustrations in this book are rich and beautiful, as is the message."--Carolyn Kretzer, Watermark Books, Wichita, KS What a trip!: DRIVING MR. ALBERT: A Trip Across America with Einstein's Brain, by Michael Paterniti (Dial Press, $18.95, 0385333005; due out July 11). "A delightfully different travelogue with lots of quirks. Take this one to the beach if you don't mind laughing out loud in public. You might as well buy extras now because you'll want to give this one to all your friends!"--Paulette Zander, Happy Carrot Bookshop, Old Lyme, CT A very well-reviewed biography from last year, now in paperback: A CLEARING IN THE DISTANCE: Frederick Law Olmsted and America in the Nineteenth Century, by Witold Rybczynski (Touchstone, $15 paper, 0684865750). "Olmsted invented the profession of landscape architecture and in the process built a good portion of the famous city parks in this country. A masterful biography."--Tom Rider, Goerings Book Store, Gainesville, FL A business book, but much more: OUTSMARTING GOLIATH: How to Achieve Equal Footing with Companies that are Bigger, Richer, Older, and Better Known, by Debra Koontz Traverso (Bloomberg Press, $19.95, 1576600319). "The author's insight into the needs of independent merchants in this time of accelerating change is remarkable. Suggestions for achieving a competitive rivalry with mammoth companies are many and valuable. This is not just a good read, but a handbook for coping."--Harold Hicks, The Book Shop, Brunswick, GA One of the most overlooked and special novels of last year, coming in paperback on August 8: THE MARK OF THE ANGEL, by Nancy Huston (Vintage, $12 paper, 0375709215). "This intense story, set in Paris in the late 50s, vividly evokes the culture and politics of the time; a page-turner with substance. Made me want to reread Camus�after I caught my breath!"--Bobby Tichenor, Annie Bloom's, Portland OR Do you have family and friends around the country? TREAT THEM TO A BOOK SENSE GIFT CERTIFICATE! Welcome at over 1,100 independent bookstores around America! The Book Sense Gift Certificate is available for purchase and redemption at over 1,100 independent bookstores in all 50 states, plus Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands! This is great for gift-giving occasions all year round. Support your local independent bookstore while treating a loved one to a visit to an independent bookstore in their community. A directory of independent bookstores with Book Sense--complete with names, addresses, and, phone numbers--is available at 1-888-BOOKSENSE and online at BookSense.com. Maps are downloadable at bigyellow.com. And ask your bookseller for a list of towns and cities with independent bookstores with Book Sense. Books for Young Adult Readers See also the Top Ten Picks BREAKING BOXES, by A.M. Jenkins (Laurel Leaf, $4.99 paper, 0440227178). "Jenkins has created realistic characters dealing with life. The main character has developed coping mechanisms that work well for him; a terrific, very human story. I put this in my top five young adult books of all time."--Teressa Corson, Stroudwater Books, Dover, NH DOVEY COE, by Frances O'Roark Dowell (Atheneum, $16, 0689831749.) Ages 9-12. "Dovey isn't afraid to speak her mind, and everyone in town knows she doesn't like rich, conceited Parnell Caraway. When he is found dead and Dovey is nearby, she is accused of the murder. Will the truth be found out in time? Dovey Coe will definitely remind you of that other great southern heroine -- Scout in To Kill A Mockingbird. A must-read!"--Martie Amador, Marin Teachers' Store/Education Express, San Rafael, CA IN THE FORESTS OF THE NIGHT by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes (Laurel Leaf, $4.99 paper, 0440228166). "A vampire novel, with some really original ideas in it. What really blows me away was that the author was only thirteen years old when she wrote it!"--Stefani Kelley, Avalon Books, Brenham, TX SANG SPELL, by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor (Aladdin, $4.99 paper, 0689820062). "A teenage boy is robbed and beaten while hitchhiking, and regains consciousness in what seems to be another time and place. Not an ordinary time travel story, this strange and mysterious tale of the boy's efforts to figure out where he is and how he can get home is gripping and intriguing."--Harvada Elisberg, Children's Bookshop, Appleton, WI THE TAKER'S STONE, by Barabara Timberlake Russell (DK, $16.95, 0789425688). "If you like Harry Potter, take a look! Two boys, a dare that goes too far, the start of Armageddon, and a handful of stones protected by a young girl and her father are the only things that keep good and evil in balance. I was drawn into this fast-paced book from the beginning and was reluctant to let go at the end."--Nikki Mutch, UConn Co-op, Storrs, CT THE WANDERER, by Sharon Creech (Harper Collins, $15.95, 0060277300). "This is a great story about a modern-day family's sail across the Atlantic. Boys and girls ages 8-12 will enjoy the two feisty narrators, Sophie and Cody, and all their summer adventures."--Laura McCrodden, Quail Ridge Books, Raleigh, NC Books for Children See also the Top Ten Picks FIBBLESTAX, by Devin Scillian; illus. by Kathryn Darnell (Sleeping Bear Press, $15.95, 1886947902). Ages 4-8. "This is a beautiful children's book with a lovely story. The lyrical poetry tells the story of how things are named; the soft-muted colors of the illustrations complement the text. A great book for teachers, parents, and, of course, kids!"--Donna Bucholz, Mostly Books, Gig Harbor, WA HOW FLETCHER WAS HATCHED, by Wende Devlin; illus. by Harry Devlin (Town Book Press, $14, 1892657007). "A fun story, full of love, with beautiful bright pictures that all children would love."--Pat Cofone, Bookland, Westerly, RI PRACTICALLY PERFECT PAJAMAS, by Erik Brooks (Winslow Press, $16.95, 1890817228). "A woooonderful children's book!! Percy loves his footed pajamas, but the other polar bears tease him for being different, so he decides to pack them away. Without his pj's to protect him, his cocoa spills on his white fur and the snow sticks to his feet�but a new friend comes up with a plan which you'll just have to see for yourself. The two-page spread of all those bears trying on pj's is absolutely the best!" --Mary Burns, The BookWorks, Marysville, WA SYLVIA LONG'S MOTHER GOOSE, by Sylvia Long (Chronicle, $19.95, 0811820882). "We're always on the look-out for unique Mother Goose books. This book is truly a delight to the eyes. Slyvia Long's illustrations of traditional nursery rhymes are the most delightful we've seen in a long time. An absolute masterpiece!"--Susan Danner, Danner's Books, Muncie, IN The NEW national bestseller list The Book Sense Bestseller List, gathered weekly from HUNDREDS of independent bookstores, is the most representative AND diverse list of its kind. You'll find books on this list way BEFORE other national lists, and you'll find books that will NEVER show up on any other lists! Ask at your local independent about the new Book Sense Bestseller List, or visit BookSense.com each Thursday for the latest list. Fiction in Paperback Perfect for Summer Reading and Reading Groups!! See also 'History', 'Mystery' and 'Well, A Category All Their Own' BLINDNESS, by Jose Saramago (Harvest, $14 paper, 0156007754). "Nobel Prize winner Saramago here depicts a society gone mad, as 'blindness' spreads fear, betrayal and guilt."--Maureen Weingartner, McKinzey-White Bookshop, Colorado Springs, CO BRIGHTEN THE CORNER WHERE YOU ARE, by Fred Chappell (St. Martins, $10.95 paper, 0312050577). "Set in the hills of Western North Carolina in 1946, this good-hearted and humorous novel is a joy to read. After finishing this you will understand why many consider Chappell one of our finest Southern writers."--Jay Weaver, University Bookstore, Seattle, WA DAIRY QUEEN DAYS, by Robert Inman (Back Bay, $12.95 paper, 0316418374). "There is a wonderful blend of humor, sorrow, and down-home charm in this Southern coming-of-age novel."--Patti Siberz, Bob's Beach Books, Lincoln City, OR THE DELINQUENT VIRGIN:Wayward Pieces, by Laura Kalpakian (Graywolf Press, $14 paper, 1555972950). "Pause and wonder at Kalpakian's elegant skill at weaving tales of people and places. In these stories, you will find no simple, straight plots nor bland narrative, but stories supported by language snappy and thoughtful, characters alive and unique. You will relish these stories."--Alaine Borgias, Village Books, Bellingham, WA DOWN ON PONCE, by Fred Willard (Longstreet, $12 paper, 1563524317). "This mystery/black comedy features an wonderful ensemble cast of misfits investigating a murder."--Beth Fedyn, Books & Co., Oconomowoc, WI EUREKA STREET: A Novel of Ireland Like No Other, by Robert McLiam Wilson (Ballantine, $12.95 paper, 0345427130). "This is an amazing book. Set in Belfast, Wilson gives us a non-partisan view of Northern Ireland. A gritty read; funny, sad and thought-provoking."--Jan Croke, Olsson's Books & Records, Bethesda, MD THE FALL OF A SPARROW, by Robert Hellenga (Scribner, $14 paper, 0684850273). "This is the story of a family which has created its own private Eden, only to have it destroyed by the murder of one of its members in a terrorist bombing. It is only after each member has discovered his/herself away from the family that they can reunite and attempt to relinquish their mourning of a lost past and to re-weave themselves into a family. This is an amazing book about love and loss: love of one's family, one's occupation, and one's self; loss of old bonds, old ideas, and old scars."--Josh Ward, Harvard Bookstore, Cambridge, MA THE GRANNY, by Brendan O'Carroll (Plume, $10.95 paper, 0452281849). "I can't tell you how much I loved this series; I have had people asking constantly for this third book featuring a wonderful Dublin woman and her family."--Jo-Ellen Mitchell, Booksmith, Hanover, MA THE HIAWATHA, by David Treuer (Picador, $14 paper, 0312252722). "The story of the Ojibwe Indians who worked on the skyscrapers of Minneapolis. Not an easy read, but the writing is compact and tight; this is for fans of Michael Dorris and Cormac McCarthy. A treasure."-- Doni Kay, Books & Books, Coral Gables, FL HOW GREEN WAS MY VALLEY, by Richard Llewellyn (Scribner, $14 paper, 0684825554). "I discovered this gem--first published in 1939 and just reissued--via my book group. It is the most lyrical piece of fiction I have ever read."--Ginny Givens, Givens Books, Lynchburg, VA THE INTUITIONIST, by Colson Whitehead (Anchor, $11.95 paper, 0385493002). "When a friend, browsing your bookshelves, asks what this is about, you say 'elevator inspectors.' Their eyes start to glaze. So you hastily add that it's also about race. You explain further that when an elevator inspected by Lila Mae Watson, the first black woman elevator inspector, crashes, she tries to find out why. She becomes detective and pawn in the politics of the elevator guild, for it's election time. Told with tongue firmly in cheek, this wonderfully inventive first novel makes for an enjoyable and thought-provoking read."--Deb Morris, Politics & Prose, Washington, DC LETTERS FROM YELLOWSTONE: A Novel, by Diane Smith (Penguin, $12.95 paper, 0140291814). "The language is superb, the subject rich in historical detail. This novel must be savored. Totally remarkable."--May Waldroup, Thunderbird Bookshop, Carmel, CA THE LETTERS OF MINA HARKER, by Dodie Bellamy (Hard Press, $13.95 paper, 1889097144). "For almost ten years Bellamy wrote letters to friends, writers, and artist as her 'alter-ego', Mina Harker (the heroine of Dracula). The long-awaited collection of these letters is a book that seems larger than the pages that hold them. Focused and complete as well as chaotic and rambling, the letters force an interaction with the reader that is voyeuristic, realistic, complex, and secretive. This creates a stylistic work that is challenging, interesting, timeless, and strangely, extraordinarily moving."--Steven Salardino, Skylight Books, Los Angeles, CA LUCY SULLIVAN IS GETTING MARRIED, by Marian Keyes (Avon, $6.99 paperback, 0380796104). "If you or your book group is looking for a funny and light-hearted read, this is it! Follow Lucy Sullivan on a laugh-out-loud roller-coaster ride that begins with a visit to a psychic and ends with true love."--Laura Richmond, Brookline Booksmith, Brookline, MA MAMAW, by Susan Dodd (Quill, $13 paper, 0688170013). "This is a superb novel! Weaving fact with legend, Dodd creates an unforgettable character in Zerelda James Samuel, mother of eight, including that notorious outlaw, Jesse James. The troubled period after the Civil War in the Midwest certainly plays its part in this tale, but Mamaw is primarily a look at a mother's fierce love for her family and home. With lyrical writing, Dodd has given us a character as unforgettable and as worthy of legend as her more famous son."--Cissie Wellons, Quail Ridge Books, Raleigh, NC NICCOLO RISING, by Dorothy Dunnett (Vintage, $15 paper, 0375704779). "I'm hopelessly addicted to the writings of Scottish writer Dunnett! Just pick up the first book in her House of Niccolo series with 15th century Flemish merchant-adventurer Niccolo vander Poele at the center; the authentic detail and vivid, complex characters will quickly sweep you up. The Wash. Post described Dunnett as 'the finest living writer of historical fiction,' and I agree completely."--Kimberli Pollard-Smith, Copperfield's Books, Santa Rosa, CA ONE THOUSAND WHITE WOMEN: The Journals of May Dodd, by Jim Fergus (St. Martin's, $13.95 paper, 0312199430). "The premise: the Indians and the Army will trade 1000 horses for 1000 white women in the hopes of meshing the two cultures. Forty women are picked for the first journey and it is through the eyes of May Dodd that this incredible story is told. An enlightening and thoroughly engaging read. A favorite of our book club."--Linda Tomlinson, Katy Budget Books, Katy TX OYSTER, by Janette Turner Hospital (Norton, $14 paper, 0393319369). "Drawing on sources as seemingly disparate as the Tao Te Ching, Alice in Wonderland, and The Book of Revelations, Hospital creates a dazzling novel."--Jules O. Davis, Pendragon Books, Oakland, CA PARADISE, NEW YORK, by Eileen Pollack (Temple U. Press, $17.95 paper, 1566397898). "This first novel is an elegantly detailed narrative of a young woman returning to her family's Catskills resort in an attempt to save it from abandonment. A moving and heartfelt book, this story probes the pasts of the people who have shared their summers together at the hotel over the decades. Amidst a sometimes vaudevillian, nearly calamitous collision of family and guests, this novel achieves an otherworldly grace. A great writer. A fantastic novel."--Jeremy Chamberlin, Canterbury Bookshop, Madison, WI TIPPING THE VELVET, by Sarah Waters (Riverhead, $13.95 paper, 1573227889). "We're all enthusiastic about Sarah Waters' genre bender. As the London Independent asked: 'Could this be a new genre? The bawdy lesbian picaresque novel? Whatever it is, take it with you. It's gorgeous.' "--Amy, Randy and Rachel, Olsson's, Washington, DC VINTNER'S LUCK, by Elizabeth Knox (Picador, $13 paper, 0312264100; due in August). "War, class, and religion shape the lives of a family over several decades in the 1800's Burgundian countryside of France. Complex and mysterious, this is what good literature is all about."--Joyce Meskis, Tattered Cover, Denver, CO 42. THE WAR OF THE RATS, by David Robbins (Bantam, $6.99 paper, 055358135X). "August 1942. A Russian and German sniper stalk each other during the 1942 siege of Stalingrad. This novel is based on historical fact and it's a fabulous read."-- Tres Anderson, Anderson's Bookshops, Naperville, IL 43. YELLOW JACK, by Josh Russell (Norton, $13.95 paper, 039332110X; due in August). "A photography apprentice brings his camera and technique to plague-stricken 1840's New Orleans and to a mistress and society girl who will become his wife. A smart and atmospheric novel, full of seedy scenery."--Christopher Hubbuch, The Ruminator, St. Paul MN Page Two -- July/August Book Sense 76 Topics: News - Books, Book Sense,