The 2005 Book Sense Picks Highlights

November 09, 2005

A Feast for Fiction Readers

ABOUT GRACE: A Novel, by Anthony Doerr (Penguin, $15 paper, 0143036165) "Landscape. Memory. Dreams. Family. Doerr weaves this quartet into a beautifully complex story. Forgiveness is the spiritual destination of this novel as the protagonist travels from Alaska to Ohio to the Caribbean and back again. At the end, the reader can only echo one of the characters: 'Isn't all of (life) so damn outrageously beautiful?'" --Jan Owens, Millrace Books, Farmington, CT

ANANSI BOYS: A Novel, by Neil Gaiman (Morrow, $26.95, 006051518X) "A father's funeral is going to be tough, no doubt about it. Discovering that you have a brother you didn't know about and, by the way, that your father is one of the Old Gods would throw anyone's life more than a little out of kilter. No one can blend ancient mythology with contemporary society like Gaiman, and Anansi Boys is one of the most entertaining reads of the year." --Russ Harvey, Cody's Books, Berkeley, CA

ANY BITTER THING: A Novel, by Monica Wood (Chronicle, $23.95, 0811846040) "In this elegant novel, Wood takes readers on a journey of reconciliation, as Lizzy Mitchell, 30 years old and in a failed marriage, attempts to come to terms with the murky shadows of her past, the detachment of her present, and the uncertainty of her future." --Kathleen Caldwell, A Great Good Place for Books, Oakland, CA

BANISHING VERONA: A Novel, by Margot Livesey (Picador, $14 paper, 0312425201) "Like her previous novel, Eva Moves the Furniture, Livesey's latest work proves her talent as one of the finest contemporary writers. Banishing Verona is a suspenseful and quirky love story that is lyrical and beautifully written." --Tim Huggins, Newtonville Books, Newton, MA

CASE HISTORIES: A Novel, by Kate Atkinson (Back Bay, $13.95 paper, 0316010707) "A literary page-turner that explores the enormous cost, over time, of four unresolved crimes on the lives of the survivors. A beautifully crafted, tender, witty look at the precarious, ephemeral nature of life and the way love makes us vulnerable to unspeakable pain." --Sheila Daly, Barrett Bookstore, Darien, CT

THE DIVINE HUSBAND: A Novel, by Francisco Goldman (Grove, $14 paper, 0802142214) "With The Divine Husband, the work of Francisco Goldman has blossomed, as he has created a wonderful novel with overtones of Gabriel Garcia Marquez. The story revolves around Maria de las Nieves Moran, who has become a nun to thwart her friend's love affair. However, her vocation is aborted when her country's new rulers close her convent, and she is forced into the secular world. What follows is an adventure of epic proportions that will totally captivate you." --Fran Keilty, Hickory Stick Bookshop, Washington Depot, CT

EXTREMELY LOUD AND INCREDIBLY CLOSE: A Novel, by Jonathan Safran Foer (Houghton, $24.95, 0618329706) "Foer's new novel -- somber, heartwarming, and laugh-out-loud funny -- follows nine-year-old Oskar Schell as he searches New York City to uncover explanations to questions left unanswered after his father's death in the attacks of 9/11." --Jamie Zaidi, Parkplace Books, Kirkland, WA Also a Recorded Books Audio (Unabridged CD, 1419328794)

THE FINAL SOLUTION: A Story of Detection (Perennial, $12,95 paper, 0060777109) "What an artful writer Michael Chabon is! He not only channels Sherlock Holmes but also a gray African parrot in this beautiful and poignant novella about a mute German boy who turns up in England in 1943, with a number-squawking parrot on his shoulder. This is truly Sherlock Holmes last case." --Marian Nielsen, Orinda Books, Orinda, CA

GARDENIAS: A Novel, by Faith Sullivan (Milkweed, $24.95, 1571310452) "When you meet Lark, scorned when she and her Rosie-the-Riveter inspired mom and aunt arrive in California from Minnesota, all previous World War II fictional characters will move aside. Faith Sullivan's novel is a moving, multilayered coming-of-age story." --Cheryl McKeon, Third Place Books, Lake Forest Park, WA

THE HISTORY OF LOVE: A Novel, by Nicole Krauss (Norton, $23.95, 0393060349) "Krauss' novel is bursting with colorful characters, suspense, true love, and tenderness. Author Leo Gursky is dying, but he's mysteriously found the chance to reach out to the son he never met. Alma is trying her darndest to make her mourning mother happy and, finally, sees the opportunity when the book (The History of Love) that gave her her name suddenly reappears in their lives." --Jenny Davis, Kepler's Books & Magazines, Menlo Park, CA Also a Recorded Books Audio (Unabridged CD, 0141933429)

IF YOU WANT ME TO STAY: A Novel, by Michael Parker (Algonquin Books, $19.95, 1565124847) "Sweet soul music is a character in this novel about the journey of two white boys to find their mother. The book is a riveting, original read." --Dana Brigham, Brookline Booksmith, Brookline, MA

JONATHAN STRANGE & MR. NORRELL: A Novel, by Susanna Clarke (Bloomsbury, $15.95 paper, 1582346038) "Susanna Clarke astonishes with a tale full of wonders! The vivid characters, richly defined world of 1806 England, and mystical elements keep the pages turning in this story of how magicians helped the English defeat Napoleon." --Emery Pinter, Chapter 11, Atlanta, GA

THE LAST DAYS OF DOGTOWN: A Novel, by Anita Diamant (Scribner, $25, 0743225732) "This novel is based on a settlement on Cape Ann, Massachusetts, in the 1800s, a destitute area populated by prostitutes, freed slaves, widows, orphans, and misfits. However, the tale of the kindnesses among them will touch the heart. This is a novel well worth reading." --Barbara Hoffman, Bohannons' Books With a Past, Georgetown, KY Also a Simon & Schuster Audio (Unabridged CD, 0743550986)

MAGIC FOR BEGINNERS, by Kelly Link (interior illustrations by Shelley Jackson) (Small Beer Press, $24, 1931520151) "Kelly Link is my favorite new fantasy writer. She mixes up fairy-tale monsters and our modern world to create unique, humane stories that illuminate the joy and pain of everyday stuff. These stories are magic." --Michael Wells, Bailey-Coy Books, Seattle, WA

ME & EMMA, by Elizabeth Flock (Mira, $17.95, 0778320820) "The young narrator in this remarkable novel brought to mind Scout from To Kill a Mockingbird, with a voice containing all the tenderness, culpability, and innocence of little girls. How children learn to cope with tragedy is an amazing topic, and Elizabeth Flock made me fall in love with the young sisters, Carrie and Emma." --Leslie Hakala, Best of Times Bookstore, Red Wing, MN

NEVER LET ME GO: A Novel, by Kazuo Ishiguro (Knopf, $24 1400043395) "One of the unfortunate graduates of a mysterious English boarding school, Kathy H., recalls her days with her fellow students and gradually reveals the horrific nature of their mutual destinies. This riveting novel is a deeply sad love story wrapped in a deftly delivered dystopian nightmare." --Joe Murphy, Olsson's Books & Records, Washington, DC Also a Random House Audio (Unabridged CD, 0739317989)

OH PURE AND RADIANT HEART, by Lydia Millet (Soft Skull, $25, 1932360859) "This novel is the story of a young Santa Fe couple whose orderly existence is disturbed by the sudden, inexplicable appearance of J. Robert Oppenheimer, Enrico Fermi, and Leo Szilard, the architects of the atomic bomb. The writing is achingly beautiful, the characters are fully realized, and the novel shimmers with sadness, joy, tenderness, violence, anger, and humor.  An amazing book." --Frazer Dobson, Park Road Books, Charlotte, NC

PEOPLE I WANTED TO BE: Stories, by Gina Ochsner (Mariner, $12 paper, 0618563725) "Ochsner's stories are aching, graceful, and filled with meanings their characters misinterpret, from the lady who mistakes a city worker's 'Yield' sign for a political statement to the alcoholic, failed nun, who is unable to recognize her chance at redemption." --Dan Blask, Brookline Booksmith, Brookline, MA

POCKETFUL OF NAMES: A Novel, by Joe Coomer (Graywolf, $24, 1555974236) "Coomer creates characters as rough and as changing as the Maine coast itself in this novel of solitude interrupted, unexpected emotions, and intrigue. The ups and downs of the inhabitants and visitors to this island off the coast of Maine will keep the reader riveted until the last page. Perfect literary summer reading!" --Meganne Fabrega, RiverRun Bookstore, Portsmouth, NH

THE PRACTICE OF DECEIT: A Novel, by Elizabeth Benedict (Houghton, $23.95, 0618563717) "A smart, sexy, subtle, suburban thriller that pits a sensitive-guy psychologist against a scheming lawyer who, not coincidentally, happens to be his wife." --Joyce Gray, Mitchell Books, Fort Wayne, IN

SATURDAY: A Novel, by Ian McEwan (Nan A. Talese/Doubleday, $26, 0385511809) "Chronicling a single day in the life of a British neurosurgeon, whose normally controlled existence is disrupted by events surrounding the coming war in Iraq, McEwan masterfully examines what it means to be a parent, child, friend, lover, and citizen of the world." --Richard Bennett, Shiretown Books, Woodstock, VT Also a Recorded Books Audio (Unabridged CD, 1419332872)

SNOW FLOWER AND THE SECRET FAN: A Novel, by Lisa See (Random House, $21.95, 1400060281) "Lisa See's new book -- which takes place in 19th-century China -- is wildly imaginative and completely, spectacularly mesmerizing. Her two primary characters are each wonderful, each flawed, and each has a singular voice that nevertheless serves as voice for millions of women for centuries." --Melissa Mytinger, Cody's Books, Berkeley, CA Also a Random House Audio (Abridged CD, 0739319817)

A THREAD OF GRACE: A Novel, by Mary Doria Russell (Ballantine, $14.95 paper, 0449004139) "Fans of Russell's The Sparrow will not be disappointed by her latest novel, set in World War II Italy. Immerse yourself in this richly textured, morally complex novel, and, when you emerge from this story, you'll look at your life differently." --Susan M. Taylor, Wellesley Booksmith, Wellesley, MA

THE VIRGIN'S LOVER, by Philippa Gregory (Touchstone, $16 paper, 0743269268) "Philippa Gregory has done it again! This riveting, fictionalized account of Elizabeth I's first few years as Queen of England focuses on her intense relationship with Robert Dudley and the impact it had on his marriage, her reputation, and the safety of the realm. A real page turner!" --Lori Underwood, HearthFire Books of Evergreen, Evergreen, CO

THE WITCH OF COLOGNE, by Tobsha Learner (Forge, $14.95 paper, 0765314304) "The Witch of Cologne tells the story of Ruth, a woman of intellect and curiosity, who is considered a witch in this time of ignorance, treachery, mysticism, and complex politics. This story of 17th-century life during the Inquisition is the way to get history, entertaining while enlightening." --Judy Mathys, Family Book Shop, Deland, FL

WOLF POINT: A Novel, by Edward Falco (Unbridled, $23.95, 1932961089) "Edward Falco has written a taut, finely tuned story that will suck you in like a great film. He understands people, and he gives his readers credit by allowing them access to complex characters, whose decisions, motivations, and judgment are not at all black and white." --Colin Rea, University of Oregon Bookstore, Eugene, OR

ZORRO: A Novel, by Isabel Allende (HarperCollins, $25.95, 0060778970) "A swashbuckling tale of a legend as we follow our hero from California to Spain and back, learning how he became the infamous Zorro. With her usual flair, Allende takes us back in history to a time and place where intolerance and greed compete head-to-head with great honor and justice." --Kendra Vachon, Front Street Book Shop, Scituate Harbor, MA Also available as a Harper Audio (Unabridged CD, 006078959X)

BROKEN FOR YOU, by Stephanie Kallos (Grove, $13 paper, 0802142109) "Broken for You is a wonderful story of two women whose hearts have been chipped away by life and whose relationship with one another proves to be the glue that makes each of them whole again. Kallos pieces together a novel of redemption and transformation in which the things that are broken are the things that are cherished the most." --Sandy Johnson, The Galaxy Bookshop, Hardwick, VT

A COMPLICATED KINDNESS: A Novel, by Miriam Toews (Counterpoint, $13.95 paper, 1582433224) "What a beautiful, heart-stopping book. Miriam Toews takes that most familiar of stories -- teen angst, isolation, and self-consciousness -- and shines a fresh new light on what it's like to be young and feeling helpless in a world created by others." --Debbie Morris, Barbara's Bestsellers, Chicago, IL

THE FAMILY TREE, by Carole Cadwalladr (Plume, $14 paper, 0452286948) "Carole Cadwalladr has written a tour-de-force first novel. This tale of a young, pregnant woman whose scientist husband questions her genes while she questions nearly everything she knows (or thinks she knows) is a complex and moving novel reminiscent (but no clone) of works by such notable contemporary British novelists as Kate Atkinson and Margot Livesey." --Betsy Burton, The King's English, Salt Lake City, UT

FRESHWATER ROAD, by Denise Nicholas (Agate, $23.95, 1932841105) "This novel tells the unforgettable story of how Celeste Tyree, a sheltered, black middle-class young woman from Detroit, comes of age during the summer of 1964 -- Freedom Summer -- as a Civil Rights volunteer in rural Mississippi. This wonderful book will speak to younger readers as much as it will to those of us who remember that era as observers or participants." --Emma Rodgers, Black Images Book Bazaar, Dallas, TX

GODS IN ALABAMA: A Novel, by Joshilyn Jackson (Warner, $19.95, 0446524190) "This novel and its central character -- Arlene Fleet -- grabbed me from the first sentence. I loved Arlene, who was funny yet dark, bargaining with God that she will not have sex, tell a lie, or return to her small hometown, just as long as God keeps anyone from finding the body she left buried in the kudzu. This is a mystery, a family drama, and great Southern fiction all in one fantastic debut." --Kym Havens, Hearts & Stars Bookshop, Canton, MA Also a Time Warner Audiobook (Unabridged CD, 1594830282)

THE HISTORIAN: A Novel, by Elizabeth Kostova (Little, Brown, $25.95, 0316011770) "History and intrigue are the foundations of this dark and wonderful novel, a scary and beautiful story about a dark quest for Dracula. Taking the reader all over Europe, The Historian mixes history with fantasy and creates a chilling literary thriller." -- Luisa Smith, Book Passage, Corte Madera, CA Also available as a Time Warner Audio (Abridged CD, 1594830371)

THE ILLUMINATOR, by Brenda Rickman Vantrease (Griffin, $13.95 paper, 0312331924) "In this special first novel, Brenda Rickman Vantrease has created wonderfully believable characters, some admirable, others much less so. Set in 14th- century England, the novel tells the story of a talented book illuminator, who is working for both the Church and -- in secret -- for John Wycliffe, who holds the radical idea that the Bible should be translated into English. Thoroughly enjoyable." --Akankha Perkins, The Sun of the Heart Bookstore, Bridgewater, VT

THE HIGHEST TIDE: A Novel, by Jim Lynch (Bloomsbury, $23.95, 1582346054) "Thirteen-year-old Miles O'Malley, a loner and a seeker who is obsessed with the rich marine life of the tidal flats of Puget Sound, discovers marvels about the sea, the planet, humankind, and himself. This is a beautifully written and thought-provoking tale about our relationship with the natural world and how to find a place in it." --Karen Frank, Northshire Bookstore, Manchester Center, VT Also an Audio Renaissance Audio (Unabridged CD, 1593978278)

THE WIDOW OF THE SOUTH: A Novel, by Robert Hicks (Warner, $24.95, 0446500127) "Hicks' novel deftly combines the epic scope of a forgotten, tragic historical event and the finely crafted detail of good literary fiction. At its core is Carrie McGavock, who is transformed by the circumstances of the U.S. Civil War that confront her. She will be remembered as one of the great heroines from this year's new fiction." --Stuart Lamson, Bank Square Books, Mystic, CT Also a Time Warner Audio (Abridged CD, 1594831092)

ALL THE FISHES COME HOME TO ROOST: An American Misfit in India, by Rachel Manija Brown (Rodale, $23.95, 1594861390) "Rachel Manija Brown's memoir of leaving California at age seven with her parents to live in an ashram in India is a funny, tragic, unforgettable book." --Janet Brown, The Elliott Bay Book Company, Seattle, WA

ANOTHER BULLSHIT NIGHT IN SUCK CITY: A Memoir, by Nick Flynn (Norton, $13.95 paper, 0393329402) "A fascinating, brutally honest memoir of a sometimes social worker and his homeless father. Written as a series of short vignettes, this is a memoir like no other you've read." --Colin Rea, University of Oregon Bookstore, Eugene, OR

JESUS LAND, by Julia Scheeres (Counterpoint, $23, 1582433380) "This unsparing memoir -- a sad and poignant tale of abuse, alienation, and, ultimately, personal redemption -- is reminiscent of Mary Karr's The Liars' Club. Julia Scheeres' always hopeful voice lends humanity to the story and makes me imagine her as a flower that grows between the unforgiving cracks in a sidewalk." --Danielle Marshall, Powell's City of Books, Portland, OR

JULIE & JULIA: 365 Days, 524 Recipes, 1 Tiny Apartment Kitchen, by Julie Powell (Little, Brown, $23.95, 031610969X) "A casual conversation with her husband propels Julie Powell on a yearlong project of cooking her way through Mastering the Art of French Cooking by Julia Child. Any cook can relate to Powell's mishaps and successes as she makes her way through the famous tome. Powell's husband is a saint, her kitchen is a wreck, and they eat more butter and cream in a year than they had previously thought possible. This is a fun book for cooks and non-cooks alike." --Sherri Gallentine, Vroman's Bookstore, Pasadena, CA Also a Time Warner Audio (Abridged CD, 1594831068)

MARLEY & ME: Life and Love With the World's Worst Dog, by John Grogan (Morrow, $21.95, 0060817089) "Philadelphia Inquirer columnist John Grogan tells the wonderful, heartfelt story of Marley, a dog for the ages. I laughed, I cried -- but mostly I laughed!" --Jerry Bilek, St. Olaf College Bookstore, Northfield, MN Also a Harper Audio (Abridged CD, 006082994X)

THE TENDER BAR: A Memoir, by J.R. Moehringer (Hyperion, $23.95, 1401300642) "J.R. Moehringer's narrative is like a river. The current sweeps you up and carries you along past wild events and rich characters. His story of growing up is a very human book, and you can't help but recognize pieces of yourself and people you know in everyone involved in his life. I will look back at this book with a bit of nostalgia, a lot of warmth, and a longing for that moment when I first opened The Tender Bar." --Paul Haskins, Village Books, Bellingham, WA Also a Hyperion Audio (Abridged CD, 1401383289)

THE FALLS: A Novel, by Joyce Carol Oates (Perennial, $14.95, 0060722290) "Joyce Carol Oates has once again crafted a masterpiece. The awesome backdrop of Niagara Falls injects a mood of beauty and violence into this absorbing family drama. Be prepared for a fascinating journey." --Beth Hull, The Avid Reader, Davis, CA

FREDDY AND FREDERICKA: A Novel, by Mark Helprin (Penguin Press, $27.95, 1594200548) "Freddy, Prince of Wales, is so intelligent, educated, and undeniably 'royal' that his every action is hapless. Sent on a quest to reclaim the American colonies for the Crown, this intrepid conqueror and his wife, Fredericka, learn what it means to rule and to serve in Helprin's truly hilarious satire." --Joe Foster, Maria's Bookshop, Durango, CO Also a Recorded Books Audio (Unabridged CD, 141933591X)

HEIR TO THE GLIMMERING WORLD: A Novel, by Cynthia Ozick (Mariner, $13 paper, 0618618805) "Cynthia Ozick's new novel brings to life the ferment that was New York in the 1930s, with its traumatized German-Jewish refugees and its homegrown idealists itching to fight Fascists in Spain. Ozick weaves a dark fairy tale into the realism of the Depression, creating a moving novel of dreams, faith, and fortune." --Laurie Greer, Politics & Prose Books & Coffee, Washington, DC

THE MARCH: A Novel, by E.L. DOCTOROW (Random House, $25.95, 0375506713) "Doctorow's story of Sherman's march through Georgia and the Carolinas is compelling, as it plays out in the saddest war scenes. Freed slaves, Rebel prisoners masquerading as Union sympathizers, and rich and poor made homeless by war follow the army as they don't know where else to go. Highly recommended for history buffs, as well as for anyone who loves a dramatic and captivating story, rich with complex characters." --Carla Jimenez, Inkwood Books, Tampa, FL Also a Random House Audio (Unabridged CD, 0739321358)

NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN, by Cormac McCarthy (Knopf, $24.95, 0375406778) "This rough, violent, and powerful novel is at once a nonstop, speeding-train-ride of a read that you absolutely can't put down, as well as a richly thought-provoking philosophical mediation on the changing state of our world and our place, as individuals, in that change. I am still charged and challenged by what Cormac McCarthy has given us." --Robert Sindelar, Third Place Books, Lake Forest Park, WA Also a Recorded Books Audio (Unabridged CD, 1419326945)

TRUE NORTH, by Jim Harrison (Grove, $14 paper, 0802142060) "The novel is about a man's decades-long attempt to come to terms with both his destructive father and robber baron ancestors, who grew wealthy from the timber and ore of northern Michigan. Raw and eloquent, the novel seethes with love, hate, and self-loathing before reaching its brutal conclusion." --Ray Nurmi, Snowbound Books, Marquette, MI

AS LONG AS THE MOON SHALL RISE, by Ellen Moore Anderson (Ed.) (Holy Cow! Press, $24.95, 0930100948) "This visually and intellectually satisfying book is a compilation of art and observations about the moon. Editor Ellen Moore Anderson has brought together sources as varied as children's nursery rhymes to observations by astronauts, poets, and philosophers. Each section is illustrated by beautiful art collected from all around the world." --Linda Walonen, Bay Books, San Ramon, CA

HOLY TANGO OF LITERATURE, by Francis Heaney (Emmis Books, $12.99 paper, 1578601592) "In Holy Tango of Literature (this is an anagram of 'anthology'), Francis Heaney has written poems in the style of famous poets, and each bears a title that is an anagram of the poet's name. This is the perfect gift for the English teacher or poet on your list!" --Eric Robbins, Apple Valley Books, Winthrop, ME

THE KING'S ENGLISH: Adventures of an Independent Bookseller, by Betsy Burton (Gibbs Smith, $24.95, 1586856871) "Be prepared to lose yourself in this lively and passionate memoir from bookstore owner Betsy Burton as she shares a wealth of wonderful stories from the independently owned The King's English Bookshop in Salt Lake City." --Joe Drabyak, Chester County Book & Music Company, West Chester, PA

THE LITTLE GUIDE TO YOUR WELL-READ LIFE, by Steve Leveen (Levenger Press, $17.50, 1929154178) "Not so much a book about what to read as it is full of wonderful advice on how to become a passionate reader. I thank Steve Leveen for telling wanna-be readers that it's perfectly okay to give up on a book if it doesn't grab you by page 50. Goodbye, reader's guilt! Hello, book love!" --Ken Favell, Harry W. Schwartz Bookshop, Milwaukee, WI

THE AMERICA'S TEST KITCHEN FAMILY COOKBOOK: Featuring More Than 1,200 Everyday Recipes From America's Most Trusted Kitchen, by the Editors at America's Test Kitchen (America's Test Kitchen, $34.95 ringbound, 0936184876) "This new cookbook is sure to become an American classic. It is a vast collection of recipes, techniques, and tip boxes. It is user-friendly and lavishly illustrated. I love it!" --Elizabeth Rainbow, Goerings Book Store, Gainesville, FL

BOUND FOR CANAAN: The Underground Railroad and the War for the Soul of America, by Fergus M. Bordewich (Amistad, $27.95, 0060524308) "Weaving a fascinating cascade of tales detailing the Underground Railroad, this book shows the pervasiveness of the human spirit in dangerous times. All readers -- white and black -- will be uplifted and enlightened." --Bob Wells, Barrett Bookstore, Darien, CT Also a Harper Audio (Unabridged CD, 0060760648)

THE CITY OF FALLING ANGELS, by John Berendt (Penguin Press, $25.95, 1594200580) "Can't decide if you're in the mood to read a mystery, great literature, travel writing, or history? All this, and more, is brilliantly captured in this truly sensational look at the fire that destroyed one of the most treasured landmarks in Venice, the world's most beautiful city." --Jake Reiss, The Alabama Booksmith, Birmingham, AL Also a Random House Audio (Unabridged CD, 0739308785)

A CRACK IN THE EDGE OF THE WORLD: America and the Great California Earthquake of 1906, by Simon Winchester (HarperCollins, $27.95, 0060571993) "This informative look at the devastating 1906 San Francisco earthquake is also a fascinating perambulation through time and place. This book opens your eyes to the fragility of our place in the world." --Richard Bennett, Shiretown Books, Woodstock, VT Also a Harper Audio (Unabridged CD, 0060823879)

THE DEVIL'S TEETH: A True Story of Obsession and Survival Among America's Great White Sharks, by Susan Casey (Holt, $25, 080507581X) "What other creature than a great white shark can inspire such a mix of awe, fascination, and primeval fear? Casey thrusts you into the world of shark researchers fighting nature, bureaucracy, and tourism profiteers to advance our knowledge of these largely unknown creatures." --Rosemary Pugliese, Quail Ridge Books, Raleigh, NC Also a Random House Audio (Abridged CD, 0739320440)

FREAKONOMICS: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything, by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner (Morrow, $25.95, 006073132X) "Levitt delves into topics as far-reaching as how and when sumo wrestlers cheat, why drug dealers often still live at home with their moms, and how Roe v. Wade is linked to the crime drop of the 1990s. Freakonomics challenges conventional wisdom and makes for fun reading." --Will Peters, Annie Bloom's Books, Portland, OR Also available as a Harper Audio (Unabridged CD, 0060776137)

JAPANLAND: A Year in Search of Wa, by Karin Muller (Rodale, $23.95, 1594862230) "Muller brings fresh eyes to the complex, rapidly changing Japan that exists side by side with the less frequently seen traditional one. Her book knocked me over." --Karen Maeda Allman, The Elliott Bay Book Company, Seattle, WA

THE KNOW-IT-ALL: One Man's Humble Quest to Become the Smartest Person in the World, by A.J. Jacobs (S&S, $14 paper, 0743250621) "You wouldn't think a book about self-education could be funny, but once you dive into The Know-It-All, you'll wonder why more of them aren't. Jacobs' attempt to read the entire Encyclopaedia Britannica gives us an alphabetical look at what it means to gain knowledge and apply it to life." --Tara O'Donnell, Paperbacks Plus, Bronx, NY

LAST CHILD IN THE WOODS: Saving Our Children From Nature-Deficit Disorder, by Richard Louv (Algonquin, $24.95, 1565123913) "As our increasingly electronic society plugs in more and more, our children are becoming detached from the very world they live in. Richard Louv's Last Child in the Woods will either be the wake-up call for this generation or the epitaph for the next." --Geoff Jennings, Rainy Day Books, Fairway, KS

THE LOST PAINTING: The Quest for a Caravaggio Masterpiece, by Jonathan Harr (Random House, $24.95, 0375508015) "Jonathan Harr sweeps you up and carries you along with the excitement and disappointments involved in the search for a lost Caravaggio. Once in a while, as in this story, we get proof that truth really is stranger than anyone can imagine." --Nicola Rooney, Nicola's Books, Ann Arbor, MI Also a Random House Audio (Unabridged CD, 0739313940)

OUTWITTING HISTORY: How One Man Rescued a Million Books and Saved a Civilization, by Aaron Lansky (Algonquin, $13.95 paper, 1565125134) "Passionate college kids studying Yiddish enact a bold plan. The result: They single-handedly rescue Yiddish culture from historical obscurity. The magnitude of what they accomplished is enormous, and Lansky's story is an exciting and moving account of the just-in-time resuscitation of Yiddish's vibrant literary heritage. Oh, how I loved this book!" --Elaine Sopchak, The Book Rack & Children's Pages, Essex Junction, VT

PLAN B: Further Thoughts on Faith, by Anne Lamott (Riverhead, $24.95, 1573222992) "I can't tell if Anne Lamott is a humorous spiritual writer or a spiritual humor writer, but she always makes me laugh and always makes me think." --Terry Lucas, The Open Book, Greenville, SC Also a Penguin Audio (Unabridged CD, 0143057340)

IN PRAISE OF SLOWNESS: How a Worldwide Movement Is Challenging the Cult of Speed, by Carl Honoré (HarperSanFrancisco, $14.95 paper, 0060750510) "This elegant meditation on the pace of our lives is so seductive that the pages seem to slowly turn themselves. Honoré makes a case for relishing life in all its facets, and his style is as graceful as are his thoughts, which allows his voluminous research to fold seamlessly into the narrative." --Patricia Raley, Readers' Books, Sonoma, CA

THE RELUCTANT TUSCAN: How I Discovered My Inner Italian, by Phil Doran (Gotham, $25, 159240118X) "Sit back, put your feet up, and take a vacation with Phil Doran and see how we all can discover our inner Italian -- and stop the American madness. Learn the language, savor the food, drink the wine, laugh and cry. In the end, you'll want to sell your house and move." --Chris Vietmeier, St. Helens Book Shop, St. Helens, OR

THE RIVER OF DOUBT: Theodore Roosevelt's Darkest Journey, by Candice Millard (Doubleday, $26, 0385507968) "This incredible and riveting account of Roosevelt's 1914 journey through the Amazon left me in awe of how much punishment a man can take and still come through a winner." --Jim Peloquin, Buckhill Bookshop, Lititz, PA Also a Random House Audio (Abridged CD, 0739323032)

A YEAR IN THE MERDE, by Stephen Clarke (Bloomsbury, $22.95, 1582345910) "This hilarious and good-natured pseudo-chronicle of the life of a Briton in France will have readers laughing out loud. When you're not laughing with him, you're sure to be laughing at him, but rest assured, you will be laughing." --Tova Beiser, Brown University Bookstore, Providence, RI Also an Audio Renaissance Audio (Abridged CD, 1593977557)

DON'T GET TOO COMFORTABLE: The Indignities of Coach Class, The Torments of Low Thread Count, The Never-Ending Quest for Artisanal Olive Oil, and Other First World Problems, by David Rakoff (Doubleday, $22.95, 0385510365) "In the spirit of David Sedaris and Sarah Vowell at their funniest, he pokes fun at himself and the world around him. David Rakoff is hysterical." --Marggie Skinner, Book House of Stuyvesant Plaza, Albany, NY Also a Random House Audio (Unabridged CD, 0739323350)

IMMORAL: A Novel, by Brian Freeman (St. Martin's Minotaur, $22.95, 0312340427) "Newcomer Freeman has written a tight, clever thriller in his first outing. This story of a brutal serial killer is fast-paced, exciting, and gripping. Just when you think you have it figured out, Freeman pulls a fast one and gives the reader a totally unexpected and stunning conclusion." --Tim Schulte, Mitchell Books, Fort Wayne, IN Also a Blackstone Audiobooks Audio (Unabridged CD, 0786177780)

PARDONABLE LIES: A Maisie Dobbs Novel, by Jacqueline Winspear (Holt, $23, 0805078975) "It's not often that someone comes up with a fresh new take on the series detective novel, but Jacqueline Winspear has done it beautifully with young female private investigator Maisie Dobbs. Two investigations take Maisie back to her past as a nurse in WWI. While she looks into the deaths of two British soldiers, someone is trying to put an end to her investigations -- by killing her." --Carol Schneck, Schuler Books & Music, Okemos, MI Also an Audio Renaissance Audio (Unabridged CD, 1593978146)

THE POINT OF FRACTURE, by Frank Turner Hollon (MacAdam/Cage, $24, 1596921269) "This gripping tale of a carefully planned murder and the resulting criminal trial is enhanced by Hollon's gift of insight into human psychology." --Phil Smith, Brace Books & More, Ponca City, OK

PRINCE OF THIEVES: A Novel, by Chuck Hogan (Pocket Star, $9.95 paper, 0743496825) "Four childhood friends from Charlestown, Massachusetts -- home of more bank robberies than any square mile in the world -- rob banks for their livelihood and for the camaraderie. This is a gritty novel featuring an intricately woven plot about friends watching their way of life disappear." --Sue Richardson, Maine Coast Book Shop, Damariscotta, ME

TYRANNOSAUR CANYON, by Douglas Preston (Forge, $24.95, 0765311046) "Douglas Preston has done it again. Set in the Badlands of New Mexico, this novel follows the search for an incredible relic of the Jurassic Era. This is an action-packed read with a satisfying ending that leaves readers with an intriguing question to consider." --Linda Walonen, Bay Books, San Ramon, CA Also an Audio Renaissance Audio (Unabridged CD, 1593977794)

WHISKEY SOUR: A Jack Daniels Mystery, by J.A. Konrath (Hyperion, $6.99 paper, 078689072X) "Take a jigger of Ed McBain's 57th Precinct books, add the humor of Evanovich's Plum series, then garnish it with a Chicago police detective by the name of Jacqueline 'Jack' Daniels, and you have a fabulous debut by J.A. Konrath! I'm already thirsty for the next." --Monette Draper, The Mystery Company, Carmel, IN

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