December 08, 2000 Top 10 Book Sense 76 for Jan./Feb. Dear Booksellers, This just gets more fun and rewarding! Thank you for the great nominations. This month, we have our first YA title to get the most nominations, though it is also appropriate for adult readers. This top 10 also features three first novels, three other novels, a travel book (really; a lot of votes for it, though it is as much a search for self as a search for place), and two more books for young readers--including one about an independent business Enjoy! The full 76 to be announced momentarily. Carl THE LAST BOOK IN THE UNIVERSE by Rodman Philbrick (Scholastic, $16.95, 0439087589) "In this world of this novel, for both young adult and adult readers, reading is no longer practiced and humans use mind-probes to plug into a virtual reality. Enter our hero, Spaz, so named because he cannot enjoy the pleasures of mind-probes due to his epilepsy. When he learns his sister is dying of the ancient disease leukemia, he begins an adventure with the help of a mysterious friend that may shake the foundations of the world. An excellent novel in the tradition of Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451." --Drew Needham, Scott's Bookstore, Mount Vernon, WA THE DEATH OF VISHNU, by Manil Suri (Norton, $24.95, 0393050424) "This first novel tells the story of Vishnu, a poor man who lives and dies on the stairs of a Bombay apartment house. As he remembers his mother and his great love, the lives of the other residents continue on quite eventfully. This beautifully formed and carefully expressed work is a remarkable achievement." --Carla Cohen, Politics & Prose, Washington, DC Also an audiobook. GOB'S GRIEF, by Chris Adrian (Broadway, $24.95, 0767902815; in stores Jan. 16) "This novel has an exquisite tension that keeps pulling you through; it's unlike almost anything else I've read. There's Walt Whitman, Victoria Woodhull, the Civil War and the years after, and incredible and fantastical images. If this book doesn't win some major awards, I'd like to talk to the judges." --Tom Campbell, Regulator Books, Durham, NC TAKE ME WITH YOU: A Round-the-World Journey to Invite a Stranger Home, by Brad Newsham(Travelers'Tales, $24, 1885211511) "This book will appeal to anyone interested in journeys for the sake of opening one's heart and mind to others and the experiences that attitude brings. It's a beautiful tale of a young man's exploration into his own generosity. A wonderful read and a gift for the spiritual traveler in all of us." --Debi Echlin, 2nd Edition, Oakland, CA IN SUNLIGHT, IN A BEAUTIFUL GARDEN, byKathleenCambor(FSG,$23, 0374165378) "This wonderful novel is about the town of Johnstown in the years before the great flood. The author's handling of a cast of characters from the valley and the clash of classes results in some of the most beautiful and descriptive passages I have read in a long time." --Sue Boucher, Lake Forest Book Store, Lake Forest, IL FIREBRINGER, by David Clement-Davies (Dutton, $19.95, 0525464921) "I read this book in a day, then gave it to my 13-year-old son and he read it in a day. We LOVED it!!! Set in ancient Scotland, it's a story with a little mythology, fantasy, and mystery. It reminds me of Redwall and Watership Down, and I've told people here it's my 'Harry Potter pick' for this year. I enjoyed it that much." --Suzanne Droppert, Liberty Bay Books, Poulsbo, WA GRANDPA'S CORNER STORE, by DyAnne DiSalvo-Ryan(HarperCollins,$15.95, 0688167160) Ages 4-8. "A tribute to independently owned community businesses. Lucy's Grandpa's corner grocery store is a vital part of the neighborhood. Grandpa knows every customer and what they need. A huge supermarket opens up nearby, and Lucy's Grandpa fears he may have to shut down, but the community pulls together to support the store." --Dana Harper, Brystone Books, Watauga, TX STORM RIDERS, by Craig Lesley (Picador, $13 paper, 0312263988; in stores mid-Jan.) "Lesley pours it all into this novel-all the doubt, the heartache, and the unknown--as he wrestles with a failed marriage and the safety of his children. Throughout, this novel is a search for truth, and it deals with life as it really is, not some whitewashed, watered-down version. It is human without being maudlin, honestwithoutbeingmoralistic."--Pat Rutledge, A Book for All Seasons, Leavenworth, KS CROOKED RIVER BURNING, by Mark Winegardner (Harcourt, $27, 0151002940; due out early Jan.) "If you like a big, involved, warm, and funny story, this is your book. Its got romance, early rock 'n' roll, Elliott Ness, politics, and the Cuyahoga River (burning, of course). What more could you want?" --Anne Whalen, Brookline Booksmith, Brookline, MA THE HIDING PLACE, by Trezza Azzopardi (Atlantic Monthly Press, $24, 0871138158) "What a debut novel! The author takes us to Wales and tells us the story of the Gauci family through the eyes of the youngest daughter. Part One is completely captivating, but just wait until you get to Part Two-absolutely brilliant!" --Linda Johnson, Books at Stonehenge, Raleigh, NC (This novel was also short-listed for the recent Booker Prize.) Topics: News - Books, Book Sense,