The 2005 - 2006 Book Sense Reading Group Picks

March 29, 2005

1. THE KITE RUNNER: A Novel, by Khaled Hosseini (Riverhead, $14, 1594480001) "This is a beautifully written story -- a vivid and moving account of the strong bonds of family and the challenges of loyalty to kin and culture set in a troubled modern Afghanistan." --Kathy Duprey, Eagle Harbor Book Co., Bainbridge Island, WA

2. Reading Lolita in Tehran: A Memoir in Books, by Azar Nafisi (Random House Trade Paperbacks, $13.95, 081297106X) "This book is a portrait of Tehran and teacher Azar Nafisi's life -- her education, her student's lives, and her attempts at explaining what happened to Iran since the 1970s. Her love of literature becomes a vehicle for the stories of those around her." --Charlotte Deon, Pine Island Books and More!, Matlacha, FL

3. The Namesake: A Novel, by Jhumpa Lahiri (Mariner, $14, 0618485228) "A richly authentic chronicle of the immigrant experience in America as told by multiple generations of the Calcutta-born Ganguli family. A must-read for all of us seeking to define ourselves beyond our family vision." --Kathy DeJohn, Joseph-Beth Booksellers, Cleveland, OH

4. The Birth of Venus: A Novel, by Sarah Dunant (Random House Trade Paperbacks, $13.95, 0812968972) "Intrigue, Botticelli, the Catholic Church, the art patronage of 15th century Florence, and the juicy story of fictional Alessandra Cecchi are woven together into a tapestry of words that will keep everyone talking. The introduction alone will seduce each member to read, enjoy, and discuss." --Valerie Koehler, Blue Willow Bookshop, Houston, TX

5. The Shadow of the Wind, by Carlos Ruiz Zafon (Penguin, $15, 0143034901) "This is a book lover's book -- a story about booksellers, book collectors, and authors, and the beautiful writing makes it a treat for all readers." --Rona Brinlee, The Book Mark, Atlantic Beach, FL

6. The Time Traveler's Wife, by Audrey Niffenegger (Harvest, $14, 015602943X) "This story of a love that stretches across time is a wonderful, literary book!" --Laura Ziock, Altamont Books, Livermore, CA

7. The Known World: A Novel, by Edward P. Jones (Amistad, $13.95, 0060557559) "A marvel of storytelling, this momentous first novel presents a microcosm of life in Virginia in the years before the War Between the States. Jones has dreamt up a vast community of slaves and slave owners (both black and white), patrollers and speculators, and has collected generations of their imagined history. It brings to mind the great epics of Gabriel Garcia Marquez." -- Jamie Kornegay, Square Books, Oxford, MS

8. The True and Outstanding Adventures of the Hunt Sisters: A Novel, by Elisabeth Robinson (Back Bay, $13.95, 0316159360) "Told in epistolary form, this novel describes the relationship of the Hunt sisters in such delightful prose that the reader alternates between tears and laughter. Robinson weaves the lives of her characters into a spellbinding page-turner." --Margot Liddell, Shakespeare & Co. Booksellers, New York, NY

9. Broken for You, by Stephanie Kallos (Grove, $23 hardcover, 0802117791) "This novel about lives intersecting in an unlikely friendship is more about mending than it is about brokenness. This is a multi-layered story with flawed, very real characters, who end up working together to make sense of the influences of the past." --Renee Barker, The Bookstore, Glen Ellyn, IL

10. Brick Lane: A Novel, by Monica Ali (Scribner, $14, 0743243315) "Brick Lane is the story of a woman, born in Bangladesh and transported to London by an arranged marriage, and her quest to find her voice. Ali is an amazing novelist -- witty and compassionate -- and her themes of family loyalty and a woman's independence amid clashing cultures are moving and thought-provoking." --Sheila Burns, Bloomsbury Books, Ashland, OR

Aloft: A Novel, by Chang-rae Lee (Riverhead, $14, 1594480702) "I've read all three of Chang-rae Lee's novels. All are very good, but here he exhibits a leap of talent by depicting the inner life of a middle-aged, suburban Italian-American man in a mature, convincing manner. This novel is funny, moving, and surprising." --Dianne Patrick, Snowbound Books, Marquette, MI

Atonement: A Novel, by Ian McEwan (Anchor, $14, 038572179X) "A beautifully crafted novel of love and war. Topics of childhood and class -- as well as guilt and forgiveness -- span the years from 1935 to the turn of the 21st century, and offer many opportunities for discussion. This novel was a Man Booker Prize finalist and winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award." --Elizabeth Merritt, Titcomb's Bookshop, East Sandwich, MA

Bel Canto: A Novel, by Ann Patchett (Perennial, $13.95, 0060934417) "When you read Patchett's story of South American terrorists taking an international group of hostages, including Roxanne Coss, opera's most revered soprano, you quickly realize that no ordinary drama is unfolding here. Patchett's writing will have you hearing Coss' singing and feeling the emotion between the captives and the captors." --Lois Proctor, The Bookseller, Ardmore, OK

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time: A Novel, by Mark Haddon (Vintage, $12, 1400032717) "Told in a totally original voice, this story of an autistic boy's quest to discover the killer of a neighborhood dog has been a favorite of reading groups young and old. It's a classic." --Mike Tyler, Tyler & Tyler Booksellers, North Little Rock, AR

Fluke: Or, I Know Why the Winged Whale Sings, by Christopher Moore (Perennial, $13.95, 006056668X) "Moore's story of marine behavioral biologist Nate Quinn and his unusual discoveries had me hooked by page 10. I will definitely recommend this funny, satirical book to reading groups." --Andra Tracy, Out Word Bound, Indianapolis, IN

Life of Pi: A Novel, by Yann Martel (Harvest, $14, 0156027321) "While 16-year-old Pi is emigrating to North America, the ship goes down and he ends up in a lifeboat with a 450-pound Bengal tiger. This is a story of survival, introspection, and adventure, with humor thrown in. There is a lot to talk about in this book -- hold on and enjoy!" --Clyde Holloway, So Many Books..., Vancouver, WA

Mrs. Kimble: A Novel, by Jennifer Haigh (Perennial, $13.95, 0060509406) "My reading group found this book about the three Mrs. Kimbles an incredible debut. Jennifer Haigh successfully draws in readers to the complexities about what attracted three women to marry Ken Kimble, and how he was able to transform himself." --Trish Pacilio, Sackets Harbor Bookshop, Sackets Harbor, NY

The Lovely Bones: A Novel, by Alice Sebold (Back Bay, $13.95, 0316168815) "Sebold tells the story of Susie Salmon, a teenager already in heaven. As we witness the events of her murder and the anguish her family endures as they try moving forward with their lives, Sebold's novel speaks of love, grief, friendship, and the obligation of fully living our lives." --Christine Freglette, The BookMark Shoppe, Brooklyn, NY

My Sister's Keeper: A Novel, by Jodi Picoult (Washington Square, $14, 0743454537) "Jodi Picoult wows with a story that speaks to a wide variety of readers while maintaining subtle pressure on a cultural hot spot. Her finesse in balancing the intricacies of familial relations with the emotional upheaval of childhood illness and puberty provides readers with plenty to discuss." --Erin Vander Wall, Nicola's Books, Ann Arbor, MI

Crescent: A Novel, by Diana Abu-Jaber (Norton, $13.95, 0393325547) "Crescent is a very sensual book -- full of food and the lush landscape around UCLA in Southern California. It gives readers insight into a community of particular relevance now -- the Middle Eastern academic world in the U.S. This is a story of love, politics, and place that offers plenty of food for book club discussions." --Lilla Weinberger, Readers' Books, Sonoma, CA

Evidence of Things Unseen: A Novel, by Marianne Wiggins (S&S, $13, 0743258096) "This is a moving love story, written in luminous prose, that begins in the years between the World Wars. Fos and Opal meet, fall in love, have a son, and, eventually, go to Oak Ridge Laboratory where the atom bomb is being developed. When the as-yet-unknown perils of radiation bring tragedy to their lives, the novel becomes an incredibly powerful examination of love, faith, and modernity. With much to ponder and discuss, it's the perfect reading group title." --Carole Horne, Harvard Book Store, Cambridge, MA

A Parchment of Leaves, by Silas House (Ballantine, $13.95, 0345464974) "This story, set in the early 1900s in rural Kentucky, is rich in character, time, and place. A heart-warming and heart-breaking look at love and loyalty. The writing is enchanting and the story is haunting." --Leslie Deutschlander, Covered Treasures Bookstore, Monument, CO

When the Emperor Was Divine: A Novel, by Julie Otsuka (Anchor, $9.95, 0385721811) "Otsuka's novel is the story of one Japanese-American family's internment during World War II. Told in five chapters, each from a different family member's point of view, the book coveys the emotional cost to each in subtle yet powerful language that grabs the reader and never lets go." --Dan Domike, Jackson Street Books, Seattle, WA

With, by Donald Harington (Toby, $19.95 hardcover, 1592640508) "Donald Harington has been called one of the most inventive novelists in America, and with good reason. A young girl is abducted and held on a remote mountaintop in the Ozarks, and, yet, what the reader fears will happen never materializes. Instead, Harington gives us a remarkable story of survival and redemption." --Stephen Grutzmacher, Passtimes Books, Sister Bay, WI

Before You Know Kindness: A Novel, by Chris Bohjalian (Shaye Areheart Books, $25 hardcover, 1400047455) "If you are looking for a lively discussion, this book is a sure bet. No matter where you stand on issues of gun control and animal rights, this novel humanizes the questions and may make you reexamine your beliefs. (The author's wonderful writing doesn't hurt either!)" --Susan Taylor, Wellesley Booksmith, Wellesley, MA

Long for This World: A Novel, by Michael Byers (Mariner, $13, 0618446486) "When he stumbles upon an apparent cure for the 'aging disease' that sentences children to short, painful lives, Henry Moss must make choices. To skip the edicts of science and try to save a favorite patient without testing the theory? What about selling the discovery and joining his neighbors, the new Seattle dot-com wealthy? Rich with ethical issues, this is a most discussable novel." --Cheryl McKeon, Third Place Books, Lake Forest Park, WA

Slow Way Home: A Novel, by Michael Morris (HarperSanFrancisco, $14.95, 0060727675) "Slow Way Home always hits the mark when we suggest it to book clubs. We take pride in hearing that the voices of the novel's grandparents, facing a difficult choice, resonate through every discussion and all members are sympathetic with their situation." --Jake Reiss, The Alabama Booksmith, Birmingham, AL

The Bone People: A Novel, by Keri Hulme (Penguin, $13.95, 0140089225) "Three broken, pained people find themselves dependent on one another in ways that are arguably completely and violently unhealthy -- or, maybe, fixable and better than not having each other. The book is dense with wordplay, and the elements of Maori culture and mythology are fascinating." --Pam Harcourt, Women & Children First, Chicago, IL

The Forest Lover: A Novel, by Susan Vreeland (Penguin, $14, 0143034308) "Be prepared for a visual bombardment of vibrant colors as Vreeland explores the life of Canadian artist Emily Carr. You will be awed by the passion that drove Carr to capture the essence of the native tribes of British Columbia as expressed in their daily lives, totem poles and, ultimately, the country itself." --Marilynn Bernhard, Chesterfield Books, Chesterfield, MI

Purple Hibiscus: A Novel, by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (Anchor, $13, 1400076943) "This is a moving novel that contrasts the difficult home life of a young Nigerian girl with the joyful and open life she encounters when she is sent to stay with relatives." --Joan Scott, The Country Bookshop, Southern Pines, NC

Small Island: A Novel, by Andrea Levy (Picador, $14, 0312424671) "This superb choice for reading groups is told in many voices -- Hortense and Gilbert, Jamaicans who have emigrated to London just after WWII; Queenie and Bernard, Brits who have barely survived the war. The story of Bernard's war, in India, painfully brings to the reader's attention the chaos of the crumbling of the Raj, while Gilbert's wartime as a Jamaican in England also highlights some racial issues that have been comfortably buried when we talk about the Greatest Generation." --Marian Nielsen, Orinda Books, Orinda, CA

As Cool As I Am: A Novel, by Pete Fromm (Picador, $14, 0312307764) "Pete Fromm has given us 14-year-old Lucy Diamond, a prickly, self-proclaimed tomboy with a father who is never around and a mother who is lenient and distracted. Lucy is an amazing girl, and we root for her through her difficult teenage awakening, and remember ourselves what those years were like. A powerful story." --DeDe Teeters, Armchair Books, Port Orchard, WA

Peace Like a River, by Leif Enger (Grove, $13, 0802139256) "Leif Enger's engaging first novel is a store favorite (even after almost four years). The story, told through Reuben, an 11-year-old asthmatic, is a tale of family, miracles, and loyalty. So many events within this book are a great opening for discussion and group interpretation." --Sue Richardson, Maine Coast Book Shop, Damariscotta, ME

Cloud Atlas: A Novel, by David Mitchell (Random House Trade Paperbacks, $14.95, 0375507256) "Mitchell's novel is told in a series of vignettes that climb through time and beyond, to the Apocalypse, and then descend back. You will laugh, you will cry, you will be frightened and elated. This is a highly original voice. I look forward to anything else Mitchell will write." --Barbara Iannoli, North Light Books, Cotati, CA

Middlesex, by Jeffrey Eugenides (Picador, $15, 0312422156) "If you think this is simply a novel about a girl who becomes a boy, you are mistaken! This story is full of history, family relationships, the Greek Orthodox Church and its customs, and the rise of Islam in the U.S. Your reading group won't know which topic to tackle first." --Leslie Deuetschlander, Covered Treasures Bookstore, Monument, CO

Ursula, Under: A Novel, by Ingrid Hill (Penguin, $14, 0143035452, available in June) "You begin by reading about a little girl, Ursula Wong, who falls down a mine shaft in contemporary Wisconsin. Then, you are transported to the world of her distant ancestor, Qin Lao, a second-century BCE Chinese alchemist. Thus begins this irresistible magic carpet ride of a tale, which takes you on an epic journey through time and space as it traces the intricate family history that has culminated in Ursula's moment of peril." --Bob Gray, Northshire Bookstore, Manchester Center, VT

Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, by Gregory Maguire (ReganBooks, $15, 0060987103) "Maguire fleshes out the land and people of Oz while portraying their politics and motivations, providing a rich allegorical background for perhaps the sanest occupant, the Wicked Witch. A novel complex and enjoyable enough to demand more than one reading." --Paul Hanson, Eagle Harbor Book Company, Bainbridge Island, WA

The Clearing: A Novel, by Tim Gautreaux (Vintage, $13, 1400030536) "Within the hellish conditions of a violent, swampy, Louisiana lumber camp, two estranged brothers are reconciled in this powerful and redemptive novel. It's been a successful choice of men's reading groups." --Willard Williams, The Toadstool Bookshop, Peterborough, NH

One Thousand White Women: The Journals of May Dodd, by Jim Fergus (St. Martin's, $14.95, 0312199430) "Written in journal form, this novel will keep you up until the wee hours. May Dodd, the fictional writer of the journal, has been traded for horses to the Indians, along with other 'criminals,' 'demented,' or otherwise unwanted women for the purpose of breeding with Cheyenne braves. This compelling novel is a favorite of local reading groups." --Judy Mathys, Family Book Shop, Deland, FL

The Small Boat of Great Sorrows: A Novel, by Dan Fesperman (Vintage, $13, 1400030471) "When an American investigator for the War Crimes Tribunal recruits Detective Vlado Petric for a mission, he is catapulted into a past of which he had never guessed, war crimes hard even for a war-scarred Bosnian to imagine. An intelligent thriller that examines wars, past and present." --Betsy Burton, The King's English, Salt Lake City, UT

1421: The Year China Discovered America, by Gavin Menzies (Perennial, $15.95, 006054094X) "This account of a fleet of Chinese ships that charted America blew my mind! Now I'm waiting for the new history books to come out -- the ones that don't say Columbus was here first." --Susie Fruncillo, Lake Country Booksellers, White Bear Lake, MN

Maisie Dobbs, by Jacqueline Winspear (Penguin, $14, 0142004332) "The turmoil of post-World War I England is the setting for Jacqueline Winspear's engaging mystery novel. The combination of rich historical detail and fascinating characters makes this novel a conversation-inducing reading group selection, and just an all-around great read!" --Cathy Zehms, Dave's Book Center, Green Bay, WI

The Other Boleyn Girl: A Novel, by Philippa Gregory (Touchstone, $16, 0743227441) "Gregory's novel of Anne Boleyn's older sister, Mary, makes history appealing and interesting. It's amazing what the people had to do to keep Henry VIII entertained every day -- all day long." --Diane Van Tassell, Bay Books, San Ramon, CA

Push Not The River: A Novel, by James Conroyd Martin (St. Martin's, $13.95, 0312311532) "This novel of a young woman's coming of age is a well-done work of historical fiction taking place in the late 1770s during the last partition of Poland." --August P. Aleksy, Centuries & Sleuths Bookstore, Forest Park, IL

Year of Wonders: A Novel of the Plague, by Geraldine Brooks (Penguin, $14, 0142001430) "An itinerant tailor brings plague to a rural English village in the year 1666. In a few months, the village is decimated. Should the villagers flee, or close themselves off from the world until the plague abates? Superstition, panic, complex feelings, and great personal courage make this lyrical novel a title that will provide fuel for book group discussions." --Valerie Ryan, Cannon Beach Book Company, Cannon Beach, OR

Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons: A Novel, by Lorna Landvik (Ballantine, $13.95, 0345442822) " The focus of this fun novel is a women's book group, and their story spans 40 years and is a wonderful tribute to friendship. At times laugh-out-loud funny and at times tragic, I have heard nothing but positive comments from members of book groups that have read it this novel." --Lori Buzby, Califon Book Shop, Califon, NJ

Bloodhounds, by Peter Lovesey (Soho, $13, 1569473773) "A thoroughly delightful mystery about a mystery reading group that gets involved in a real mystery. This is a book about why we love mysteries and how the genre has changed through the century. It's also an utterly ingenious example of a kind of whodunit that writers rarely attempt these days, the Locked Room mystery. Great fun." --Jim Huang, The Mystery Company, Carmel, IN

The Memoir Club: A Novel, by Laura Kalpakian (Griffin, $13.95, 0312322771) "This story of six women taking a night class on 'Writing Your Memoir' is surprisingly action-filled and a real page-turner. The ending is amazing, a shocking turning point that will change all these women's lives. This is an interesting and exciting title to discuss." --Jan Warner-Poole, Storyteller Books, Vancouver, WA

The Great Fire: A Novel, by Shirley Hazzard (Picador, $14, 0312423586) "The possibly overwhelming subject of post-Hiroshima Japan is experienced through the lives of a pair of precocious siblings who meet an older British officer and investigator. Shirley Hazzard has written a well-crafted book about a difficult subject and has made the story approachable on a human scale." --Sue Bradley, Tinman Artworks, Spokane, WA

I Hate To See That Evening Sun Go Down: Collected Stories, by William Gay (Free Press, $13, 0743242920) "Fifty years from now William Gay's work will be required reading on college campuses across the country. He is, quite simply, that good, and this collection of short stories is further proof that he is one of our finest writers." --Stephen Grutzmacher, Passtimes Books, Sister Bay, WI

Crossing California, by Adam Langer (Riverhead Trade, $14, 1594480818) "In his very accomplished debut novel, Adam Langer gives us plenty to laugh about in this finely crafted account -- spiked with the pop culture of the late 1970s -- of several dysfunctional Jewish families in Chicago. If you like Franzen, Chabon, Roth, or Salinger (with a blend of Bellow, Doctorow, or Dybek), you're sure to fall in love with this witty, insightful novel." --Mark Brumberg, National Yiddish Book Center, Amherst, MA

How To Be Lost: A Novel, by Amanda Eyre Ward (MacAdam/Cage, $24 hardcover, 1931561729) "This suburban family appears to have it all: a beautiful home and three radiant daughters, and (mostly) a sense of eternal safety. When the five-year-old sister disappears, things change dramatically. Reading groups will love Ward's prose as well as her themes: What happens when tragedy strikes a family? Where does hope come from? How do we find ourselves in the chaos?" --Joci Tilsen, Valley Bookseller, Stillwater, MN

Loving Che, by Ana Menendez (Grove/Atlantic, $12, 0802141749) "Loving Che is a dreamy vacation of a tale about a young woman in search of a mother she never knew and a past that may or may not be a figment of imagination. Part history, part hallucination, this story is a perfect match for any book group willing to discuss the question of what is history, if not storytelling, personal or otherwise." --RoseMarie London, Chickering Bookstore, Laramie, WY

The Probable Future: A Novel, by Alice Hoffman (Ballantine, $13.95, 0345455916) "Each woman born into the Sparrow family possesses a unique supernatural gift. Stella learns on her thirteenth birthday that -- like her mother and grandmother before her -- she can see how other people will die. Hoffman shows how loneliness can be the result of being different, and how courage can build a life and find a love." --Ettabelle Schwartz, The Learned Owl Book Shop, Hudson, OH

The Way the Crow Flies: A Novel, by Ann-Marie MacDonald (Perennial, $14.95, 0060586370) "This Cuban Missile Crisis-era story set on a Canadian military base town tackles lots of big questions, all artfully crafted. Capturing childhood truths and the imperfect love of family, this is also the story of larger things, of nations and ideologies, conflicts, and Cold War." --Jean Westcott, Olsson's Books & Records, Washington, DC

You Remind Me of Me: A Novel, by Dan Chaon (Ballantine, $13.95, 0345441400) "This is a beautifully written story about two grown brothers trying to connect with each other and make sense of their messy lives in a small Midwestern town. This is one of the most emotionally true books I have read, dealing with such issues as adoption, parenthood, and the search for identity. You will find plenty to discuss in this amazing novel." --Alana Willhite, Colby College Bookstore, Waterville, ME

Bold Spirit: Helga Estby's Forgotten Walk Across Victorian America, by Linda Lawrence Hunt (Anchor, $14, 1400079934) "Bold Spirit reads just like a novel. Hunt's well-researched narrative allows us to follow Helga Estby on a walk across America to save her family farm. Once you start reading, you won't want to put this book down." --Joan Belongia, Brown Street Books, Rhinelander, WI

The Bookseller of Kabul, by Asne Seierstad (Back Bay Books, $12.95, 0316159417) "I loved this dramatic account of an Afghan bookseller who braved the odds against communism and the Taliban to demonstrate his passion for books. Journalist Asne Seierstad's account of her time with Sultan Khan and his family is disturbing as it describes the plight of women, yet powerful in its story of a bookseller and his determination to bring books to the people of Afghanistan." --Priscilla Thomas, Bayswater Book Company, Center Harbor, NH

The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America, by Erik Larson (Vintage, $14.95, 0375725601) "The 1893 Chicago World's Fair and a serial killer -- in the same place at the same time. Larson's meticulous research and wonderful storytelling blend together to make a great read." --Laura Ziock, Altamont Books, Livermore, CA

Mountains Beyond Mountains: The Quest of Dr. Paul Farmer, a Man Who Would Cure the World, by Tracy Kidder (Random House Trade Paperbacks, $14.95, 0812973011) "Tracy Kidder introduces us to Dr. Paul Farmer, a man with boundless energy and a heart as big as the world. We were all left with the idea that, yes, one person can make a difference, and, in Dr. Farmer's case, a big difference." --Martha Wales, Bear Pond Books, Montpelier, VT

Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith, by Jon Krakauer (Anchor, $14.95, 1400032806) "This nonfiction book reads like a thriller, with murder, polygamy, fundamentalism, and a cover-up. The book is surrounded by controversy -- and the Mormon church has tried to separate itself from it -- but, regardless, it is impossible to put down." --Brian Sweet, Trail's End Bookstore, Winthrop, WA

Daughter's Keeper, by Ayelet Waldman (Sourcebooks Landmark, $14, 1402203136) "This novel offers quite a discussion about the mother-daughter relationship. Some readers were initially wary because of the subject matter -- drugs -- but quickly became involved because of the characters. Waldman makes them come alive." --Diane Van Tassell, Bay Books, San Ramon, CA

How I Learned to Cook: And Other Writings on Complex Mother-Daughter Relationships, edited by Margo Perin (Tarcher, $14.95, 1585422916) "'Mother' seems such a simple word, but it is truly complex. As the lives of these women make clear, the search for the meaning of motherhood can be lifelong -- as shown in the relationships these women share with their birth mothers." --Virginia Hobson Hicks, Books on the Bluff, Townsend, GA

The Secret Life of Bees: A Novel, by Sue Monk Kidd (Penguin, $14, 0142001740) "The Secret Life of Bees engenders discussion on two very different issues -- race and mothers. Set in the Deep South at the beginning of the Civil Rights conflict, there is much that can be discussed concerning segregation and its effects on people. The novel celebrates the times when we needed and found a mother, no matter how unconventional." --Ann Carlson, Harborwalk Books, Georgetown, SC

Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight: An African Childhood, by Alexandra Fuller (Random House Trade Paperbacks, $13.95, 0375758992) "Alexandra Fuller writes a clear-eyed account of growing up in Rhodesia. Hardship, racism, and insanity combine with lyrical and vividly remembered descriptions in a memoir of a child's awakening to the injustices of her beloved country. This book raises a wealth of issues and questions." --Kathy Magruder, Lee Booksellers, Lincoln, NE

Name All the Animals: A Memoir, by Alison Smith (Scribner, $13, 0743255232) "How can such a sad, coming-of-age memoir contain such keen insights, some of them even funny? Kudos to Smith for telling her very real story in a way that benefits all of us." --Elizabeth Reynolds, Norwich Bookstore, Norwich, VT

Songs of the Gorilla Nation: My Journey Through Autism, by Dawn Prince-Hughes (Three Rivers Press, $12.95, 1400082153) "Dawn Prince-Hughes was once a homeless Seattle teenager whose inability to connect with others masked her brilliance and her capacity to love. A supportive environment and, most importantly, her connection with zoo gorillas, helped her adapt to what she now knows is Aspergers and, eventually, to connect emotionally with others." --Karen Maeda Allman, The Elliott Bay Book Company, Seattle, WA

Swimming to Antarctica: Tales of a Long-Distance Swimmer, by Lynne Cox (Harvest, $14, 0156031302) "An inspiring story showcasing the determination of long-distance swimmer Lynne Cox. This compelling account of her achievements is highly recommended reading for young women. Even if you don't like sports, you'll never forget it." --Geoffrey Jennings, Rainy Day Books, Fairway, KS

Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking, by Malcolm Gladwell (Little, Brown, $25.95 hardcover, 0316172324) "Accessible for the general reader, Blink uses great examples (ranging from health care, to music and design, to food tasting) to discuss how and why we think the way we do. This is a great book for discussion!" --Stesha Brandon, University Book Store, Seattle, WA

Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies, by Jared Diamond (Norton, $16.95, 0393317552) "History with a purpose! Diamond goes beyond historical narrative and tries to reconstruct the web of events (both ecological and cultural) that have led to our current state of affairs. He is asking the most important questions, and helping us to think critically about what the answers might be. Required reading for all." --Sarah O'Malley, Compass Rose Bookstore, Castine, ME

Ender's Game, by Orson Scott Card (Starscape/Tor, $6.99, 0765342294) "Ender Wiggins is the original Harry Potter -- a juvenile protagonist who captures adult hearts and minds. Ender's Game offers good fiction while stimulating discussions of three hot-button cultural issues: how our culture treats its children, how society as a whole can support war and empire when it is safely at a remove, and how we as a people respond to the assertion of government infallibility." --Randy Smith, Destinations Booksellers, New Albany, IN

The Sparrow, by Mary Doria Russell (Ballantine, $14.95, 0449912558) "When music emanates from a distant planet, a gifted linguist and not-so-spiritual Jesuit assembles a crew for a space expedition. Encompassing both spiritual questions and the unintended consequences of exploring new worlds, this science fiction novel consistently intrigues non-genre readers as well as devotees." --Cammie Mannino, Halfway Down the Stairs, Rochester, MI

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