Book Sense Selections
November & December 1999
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African-American Interest
BUD, NOT BUDDY by Christopher Paul Curtis
For ages 8-12. "Times are hard, and 10-year-old Bud Caldwell is a motherless boy on the run. This book is full of humor and wonderful characters, especially Bud, who carries his mother's love and memory with him as he searches for the father he knows is somewhere waiting for him." --Judy Nelson, Mrs. Nelson's Toy and Book Shop, LaVerne CA Delacorte, $15.95 
For ages 4-8. "One day, James finds a golf club that has been thrown away and after one swing, he's hooked but he soon finds he won't be allowed on the golf courses. It is the '50s and James is black, but an older black caddy teaches him the game by moonlight after the course closes. This is an inspiring story of a young man with a dream who will not be denied." --Marilyn Smith, Hawley-Cooke Booksellers, Louisville KY Lee & Low Books, $15.95
Body and Mind
THE ATHLETIC WOMAN'S SOURCEBOOK, by Janis Graham
"Whether you're a serious competitor or a weekend athlete, this book answers every question a female athlete could have." --Kathy Magruder, Lee Booksellers, Lincoln NE. Avon, $12.50 paperback
HIDDEN WISDOM: A Guide to the Western Inner Traditions, by Richard Smoley & Jay Kinney
"Finally, an intelligent, thorough & accessible presentation of Western spiritual paths. The authors offer a clear, thoughtful & balanced overview of a wide range of disciplines along with a fantastic bibliography." -- John Evans, DIESEL: A Bookstore, Oakland CA. Penguin, $15.95 paperback
THE POWER OF NOW by Eckhart Tolle
"The most important book in a spiritual life written in the last decade." --Ginna Bragg, Thunderbird Bookshop, Carmel CA. New World Library, $19.95
A SOOTHING BROTH: Tonics, Custards, Soups and Other Cure-Alls for Colds, Coughs, Upset Tummies and Out-of-Sort Days, by Pat Willard
"Well-researched, full of historical vignettes, and engagingly written, this is full of recipes and home remedies. There is much comfort and sage advice in this book." --Joyce Meskis, Tattered Cover, Denver CO. Broadway, $18
Books about the Joy of Reading
BOOK, by George Ella Lyon; illus. by Peter Catalanotto
For ages 4-8. "A beautifully illustrated book and a poem to reading for the family...and a great gift for your favorite teacher!" --Catherine Mealey, Personally Recommended Books, Laramie WY. DK Books, $16.95
THE QUOTABLE BOOK LOVER edited by Ben Jacobs and Helena Hjalmarsson
A brand-new collection of the wisest and wittiest truisms about books and reading, many from contemporary sources, from Rushdie to Welty. A great gift. --A Book Sense staff pick. Lyons Press, $ 20
Children's Books
AMELIA AND ELEANOR GO FOR A RIDE by Pam Munoz Ryan; illus. by Brian Selznick
"When Eleanor Roosevelt and Amelia Earhart dined together at the White House in 1933, something very exciting happened. Dressed in evening clothes, they went for a plane flight over DC, captured perfectly in Selznick's sparkling illustrations. This is a delightful book for ages 4-9." --Dara LaPorte, Politics and Prose, Washington DC. Scholastic, $16.95
"When read aloud, this sweet little story never fails to elicit chortles, guffaws, and belly laughs. 3-6 year olds find this little dog hilarious when asked to bark by his mom but instead well, you'll see. The surprise ending will amuse adults as well." --Trudy Barash, Canterbury Booksellers, Madison WI. HarperCollins, $14.95
BASKET MOON, by Mary Lyn Ray; illus. by Barbara Cooney
For ages 4-8. "Harking back to an earlier time in America, this charming book illustrates the love between a father and his son, and the pride to be found in working with one's hands. In her eighth decade, not only is Barbara Cooney still drawing, she is at the top of her craft." --Shirley Massengill, Cover to Cover Booksellers, San Francisco, CA. Little Brown, $15.95
"I love this book! The quirky illustrations and humorous storyline makes this book my top pick for the fall. As I share ONE SEAL with children in storytime, they, too, have fallen for the book's charms. It will spark laughter, creativity, and questions--which to me is a sign of a truly fabulous children's book." --Tiffany Durham, Toad Hall Books, Austin TX. Orchard Books, $15.95
THE QUILTMAKER'S GIFT by Jeff Brumbeau; illus. by Gail de Marcken
For ages 4-8. "This is the most beautiful children's book I've seen in a long time. The story about a greedy king and the true meaning of wealth is wonderful and the illustrations are exquisite. It is incredible how many different things one sees each time a page is turned." --Susan Wasson, Bookworks, Albuquerque NM. Pfeifer-Hamilton, $17.95
THE 20TH CENTURY CHILDREN'S POETRY TREASURY edited by Jack Prelutsky
"A marvelous collection of 217 poems by 137 poets. A great gift book, and a must for every family's library." --Jody Shapiro, Adventures for Kids, Ventura CA. Random House, $19.95
For ages 4-8. "Another wordless adventure by Wiesner takes us this time to the Cloud Dispatch Center. You will look at clouds from three sides now!" --Barbara Theroux, Fact & Fiction, Missoula MT. Clarion Books, $16
WESLANDIA by Paul Fleischman; illus. by Kevin Hawkes
For ages 5-8. "If your child is a little left of center, Wesley will be a mentor. If your child sails easily in the modern mainstream, Wesley may well divert the flow."--Amy Cook, Malaprop's, Asheville NC (Book Sense staff comment: Asheville is one of the great places to live, with a vibrant art, music, and folk crafts scene, and Malaprop's Bookstore is a place where any boundaries of age, race, and gender melt away...which is true of all independent bookstores.) Candlewick, $15.99
Feminist Interest
BUST GUIDE TO THE NEW GIRL ORDER by Deborah Stoller and Marcelle Karp
"A motley assemblage of pieces first seen in the most perceptive women's mag on the newsstands today. No make-up lessons here, sister."--Karina Cutler, Prairie Lights, Iowa City IA. Penguin, $15.95 paperback
A USEFUL WOMAN: The Early Life of Jane Addams by Gioia Diliberto
"Diliberto is a diligent researcher who has obtained access to many of Addams' early letters and journals. Her book is brilliant biography and finely wrought feminist history. It is also sheer pleasure to read." --Paul Ingram, Prairie Lights, Iowa City IA. Scribner, $26
WOMEN text by Susan Sontag; photos by Annie Liebovitz
"This book is a huge event. All-new photographs of women by the incomparable Annie Leibovitz coupled with a meaty new essay by Susan Sontag, her first in 10 years. I love the way Leibovitz sees women; through her eyes we see the complexity and depth of the whole person. There's something new even with the most oft-photographed subjects in her book. But don't rely on my interpretation of these groundbreaking photos, check out Sontag's. And don't call this a women's book, unless you mean it as a compliment. It is a milestone in photography and cultural critique. It's also a great gift."--Kris Kliendienst, Left Bank Books, St. Louis MO. Random House, $75
Fiction
AHAB'S WIFE Or, the Star-Gazer by Sena Jeter Naslund
"A rich and complex epic adventure on land and sea that draws on the culture of New England whalers and lighthouse keepers, the impact of slavery, early suffragism, and the transcendentalists. The heroine is both utterly contemporary and convincingly of her time. A read you will not soon forget."-Lilla Weinberger, Readers' Books, Napa CA Also an audiobook. Morrow, $28
BEST AMERICAN SHORT STORIES OF THE CENTURY edited by John Updike
"This collection of short stories gathers together stories from each volume of the always stellar series, The Best American Short Stories, one for each year since its 1915 inception. An extraordinary collection of a quintessential American literary form." --Muriel Brown, Olsson's--The Lansburgh, Washington, DC. Houghton Mifflin, $28
"Every person on our staff who read this novel last year, when Algonquin published the hardcover, loved it. It's now in paperback, and still as hard to describe. You just have to read it for yourself!"--John B. Gramlich, Chester County Book Co., West Chester PA. Penguin, $10.95 paperback
CHARTERHOUSE OF PARMA by Stendhal; translated by Richard Howard
"My very favorite novel. Part operatic fairy tale, part satire, it's fast-paced and worldly. And a beautiful love story. Translated by one of our best poet-translators, Richard Howard" --Penny Burt, Olsson's at Dupont Circle, Washington, D.C. Modern Library, $24.95
COMFORT AND JOY by Jim Grimsley
"Two men face life in all its complications of money, class, and family past, all while trying to make a go of it together. Grimsley draws us into the lives of Southern upper-crust Ford and wrong-side-of-the-tracks Danny with superbly written scenes. The impending Christmas season promises only more conflict, and the scenes in the cemetery at Christmas are so touching, so filled with all the mixed feelings we all have about family, that this book speaks to the universal questions of life. This novel is a quiet plea for an honest, dignified, loving life, no matter what the situation.""---Michael Fraser, Joseph-Beth Booksellers, Cincinnati OH. Algonquin, $21.95
CONFESSIONS OF AN UGLY STEPSISTER by Gregory Maguire
"From the author of the surprising WICKED comes another novel that turns on its head a story we think we know. Maguire dashes all preconceptions about the myth of 'Cinderella' and offers insight into the world of art and beauty, family and friends, tulips and turnips--and the commodities of each--set in the Dutch countryside. It gives delightful truth to the 'dusty gossip' of a town, a story overheard, revisited through time and turned into a 'household tale of magic.' A true reader's find."--Alaine Borgias, Village Books, Bellingham WA. Reganbooks/HarperCollins, $24
"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. Simon & Schuster, $23
EDDIE'S BASTARD by William Kowalski
"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. Harper, $24
"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. Vintage, $12 paperback
FALL OF THE YEAR by Howard Frank Mosher
"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. Houghton Mifflin, $24
FENCING THE SKY by James Galvin
"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.) Henry Holt, $23
"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. Algonquin, $23.95
A GESTURE LIFE by Chang-Rae Lee
"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. Riverhead, $23.95
"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.) Metropolitan, $26
HENRY OF ATLANTIC CITY by Frederick Reuss
"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. MacMurray & Beck, $22
HULLABALOO IN THE GUAVA ORCHARD by Kiran Desai
"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. Anchor, $12.95 paperback
THE LANGUAGE OF THREADS by Gail Tsukiyama
"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.) St. Martin's, $23.95
"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. MacMurray & Beck, $24.95
MOTHERLESS BROOKLYN by Jonathan Lethem
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. Doubleday, $23.95
"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. Picador, $23
PEEL MY LOVE LIKE AN ONION by Ana Castillo
"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 Cafe, Capitola CA. Doubleday, $23.95
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. Knopf, $25
THE RESTRAINT OF BEASTS by Magnus Mills
"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.) Scribner, $11 paperback
THE STATION HILL BLANCHOT READER
"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. Station Hill Press, $29.95
THEN SINGS MY SOUL by Sonny Sammons
"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 fora 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.) Cherokee, $23.95
"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. Anchor, $14 paperback
"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 Knopf, $22
THE WAY I FOUND HER by Rose Tremain
"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. Washington Square Press, $14 paperback
Food
ASIAN GROCERY STORE DEMYSTIFIED by Linda Bladholm
"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. Renaissance Books, $14.95 paperback
CROSSROADS COOKING: The Meeting and Mating of Ethnic Cuisines-From Burma to Texas in 200 Recipes by Elisabeth Rozin
"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. Viking, $27.50
THE MOOSEWOOD RESTAURANT DAILY SPECIAL
Comfort food from some friendly hippies.-- A Book Sense staff pick. Clarkson Potter, $24, paperback
Gift Books
CENTURY: One Hundred Years of Human Progress, Regression, Suffering, and Hope
"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. Phaidon Press, $49.95
ETHEL AND ERNEST by Raymond Briggs
"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. Knopf, $21
HOLIDAYS ON ICE by David Sedaris-both the book AND the audiotape!
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. Back Bay, $8 paperback, and Time Warner Audiobooks, $17
THE HOLY BIBLE designed and illustrated by Barry Moser
"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. Viking, $65
THE INVISIBLE UNIVERSE by David Malin
"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. Bulfinch, $50 until 12/31, $60 thereafter
TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE: The Colossal Book of Urban Legends by Jan Harold Brunvand
"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. W.W. Norton, $29.95
History, Biography and Memoir
THE BASQUE HISTORY OF THE WORLD by Mark Kurlansky
"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. Walker, $25
BOOK OF REASONS by John Vernon
"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. Houghton Mifflin, $24
DESERT QUEEN: The Extraordinary Life of Gertrude Bell by Janet Wallach
"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. Anchor, $15.95 paperback
EMPIRE EXPRESS: Building the First Transcontinental Railroad by David Howard Bain
"Comparisons to Ambrose and McCullough are not exaggerations. This is history at its most interesting."--Bill Cusumano, Nicola's Books, Ann Arbor MI. Viking, $34.95
EVERYDAY LIFE DURING THE CIVIL WAR: A Guide for Writers, Students and Historians, by Michael Varhola
Just published: a great new addition to any Civil War library. Packed with fascinating details and background information.-Book Sense staff pick. Writer's Digest Books, $16.99 paperback
FIRE ON THE MOUNTAIN: The True Story of the South Canyon Fire by John Maclean
"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. Morrow, $24
HOW TO STOP TIME: Heroin from A to Z by Ann Marlowe
"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. Basic Books, $24
LANTERNS: A Memoir of Mentors by Marian Wright Edelman
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. Beacon, $20
LIES ACROSS AMERICA: What Our Historic Sites and Monuments Get Wrong, by James Loewen
"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. Free Press, $26.95
PRINCE BORGHESE'S TRAIL: 10,000 Miles Over Two Continents, Four Deserts and the Roof of the World by Genevieve Obert
"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. Council Oak Books, $23.95
WHAT IF? edited by Robert Cowley
"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. Putnam, $27.95
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. Little Brown, $23
Mystery and Science Fiction/Fantasy
"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. St. Martin's, $5.99 paperback
THE OTHERLAND SERIES, by Tad Williams
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.
Vol. 1 - CITY OF GOLDEN SHADOW $7.99, paper
Vol. 2 - RIVER OF BLUE FIRE $7.99 paper
Vol. 3 - MOUNTAIN OF BLACK GLASS $24.95
GALILEO'S DAUGHTER: A Historical Memoir of Science, Faith, and Love, by Dava Sobel
"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. Walker, $27
PASSAGE TO JUNEAU by Jonathan Raban
"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. Pantheon, $26.50
RIVER HORSE: A Voyage Across America, by William Least-Heat Moon
"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. Houghton Mifflin, $26
THE STATIONS OF STILL CREEK by Barbara J. Scot
"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. Sierra Club, $22
Young Adult
HARRY POTTER-On Audiotape and Unabridged!!
Yes, HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE: Unabridged Read by Jim Dale
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. Listening Library, $33
KING OF SHADOWS by Susan Cooper
"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. Simon & Schuster, $16
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