The Spring-Summer 2007 Book Sense Reading Group Picks

May 03, 2007

1. WATER FOR ELEPHANTS, by Sara Gruen (Algonquin, $13.95, 9781565125605 / 1565125606) "As Jacob watches the circus setting up next to his nursing home window, he harks back to the Great Depression, when he hopped a train that landed him in the middle of the Benzini Brothers circus. While there, Jacob fell in love: once with Marlena, once with Rosie the elephant. The historical detail and complex mystery at the heart of this gripping novel guarantee a lively discussion." --Cheryl McKeon, Third Place Books, Lake Forest Park, WA

2. THE MEMORY KEEPER'S DAUGHTER, by Kim Edwards (Penguin, $14, 9780143037149 / 0143037145) "A disturbing and discussion-worthy novel that follows the impact of a single split-second decision, and explores the ways in which deception can affect a family." --Barb Shutt, Colby College Bookstore, Waterville, ME

3. EAT, PRAY, LOVE: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India, and Indonesia, by Elizabeth Gilbert (Penguin, $15, 9780143038412 / 0143038419) "A striking memoir about Gilbert's struggle to pick up the pieces of her life after a nasty divorce. She travels to three countries and experiences the world's greatest pizza, the thrill of new love, and the heartbreak of saying good-bye. As we travel with her, we find little pieces of ourselves along the way." --Cole Farrell, Danner's Books & CoffeeShop, Muncie, IN

4. THE YEAR OF MAGICAL THINKING, by Joan Didion (Vintage, $13.95, 9781400078431 / 1400078431) "Didion's masterfully crafted account of her husband's sudden death and the illness of her daughter gives readers a window into the soul of grief. If you have ever wondered how the sun could rise again after the death of someone dear, read this book." --Gee Gee Rosell, Buxton Village Books, Buxton, NC

5. THE KING'S ENGLISH: Adventures of an Independent Bookseller, by Betsy Burton (Gibbs Smith, $15.95, 9781423601241 / 1423601246) "You'll find joy, heartbreak, and lessons for everyone in an independent bookstore, and that's just from the people who work there. Burton's memoir celebrates a career filled with humor, drama, and self-reflection, and she reveals why a small group of very determined people spend their lives championing literacy." --Vivien L. Jennings, Rainy Day Books, Fairway, KS

6. THE MADONNAS OF LENINGRAD: A Novel, by Debra Dean (Harper Perennial, $13.95, 9780060825317 / 0060825316) "In 1941, as the staff of the Hermitage pack up the contents of the museum in an effort to protect the treasures from the Luftwaffe, a young docent walks through the rooms and describes every piece from memory. Many years later, she is stricken with Alzheimer's and relives those wartime days because she can't remember anything since then. It's a heartbreaking, beautiful story." --Susan Wasson, Bookworks, Albuquerque, NM

7. THE INHERITANCE OF LOSS, by Kiran Desai (Grove, $14, 9780802142818 / 0802142818) "With a cast of complicated characters and a storyline that spans India, England, and New York City, this is a tale of individuals struggling to achieve a sense of home against the backdrop of post-colonial life. This book raises important questions about identity, nationalism, globalization, immigration, and belonging." --Amanda Lydon, Good Yarns Bookshop, Hastings-on-Hudson, NY

8. THE TENDER BAR: A Memoir, by J.R. Moehringer (Hyperion, $14.95, 9780786888764 / 0786888768) "Moehringer writes about hardships, and he does it with such compassion and finesse that you almost wish it was your life he was writing about. From his early days in a New York bar to the most hilarious first sexual encounter ever, the author breathes life into challenges we all face. The characters and scenes will stay with you for years." --Andrea Avantaggio, Maria's Bookshop, Durango, CO

9. THE WORST HARD TIME: The Untold Story of Those Who Survived the Great American Dust Bowl, by Timothy Egan (Mariner, $14.95, 9780618773473 / 0618773479) "Egan's fine narrative skills bring to life the story of the survivors of the American Dust Bowl; he depicts their struggles and the spirit that helped them to endure. We are seeing many book clubs read this National Book Award-winner in conjunction with Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath." --Dan Domike, Jackson Street Books, Seattle, WA

10. JESUS LAND: A Memoir, by Julia Scheeres (Counterpoint, $14, 9781582433547 / 1582433542) "This unsparing memoir tells a sad and poignant tale of abuse, alienation, and personal redemption. Scheeres' always-hopeful voice lends humanity to her story and made me imagine her as a flower that grows between the unforgiving cracks in a sidewalk." --Danielle Marshall, Powell's Bookstore, Beaverton, OR

DREAMS FROM MY FATHER: A Story of Race and Inheritance, by Barack Obama (Three Rivers, $14.95, 9781400082773 / 1400082773) "There's much more to Senator Obama than what we see via 30-second political sound bites. This is a terrific memoir that will spur any book group to have a great discussion about race in America." --Susie Fruncillo, Lake Country Booksellers, White Bear Lake, MN

GARLIC AND SAPPHIRES: The Secret Life of a Critic in Disguise, by Ruth Reichl (Penguin, $15, 9780143036616 / 0143036610) "You don't have to be a foodie to enjoy Reichl's latest memoir. As the author reflects on her time as a New York Times food critic, she skillfully and ardently weaves together the personal and the professional to serve up a story told with humor and honesty. A mouthwatering book that will refine your culinary palate." --Beverly Bauer, Redbery Books, Cable, WI

THE GLASS CASTLE: A Memoir, by Jeannette Walls (Scribner, $14, 9780743247542 / 074324754X) "An intense story about a closely knit but dysfunctional family. There is no self-pity here; Walls writes of the colorful members of her family as an almost dispassionate onlooker, rather than the heroine of her own story. My favorite nonfiction book of the year." --Sina Herkelrath, Kepler's Books & Magazine, Menlo Park, CA

THE PLACES IN BETWEEN, by Rory Stewart (Harvest, $14, 9780156031561 / 0156031566) "In 2001, the author, a Scottish journalist, began a trek across Afghanistan... on foot, in the middle of winter. Stewart's moving account of his adventure into the heart of a country ravaged by war and isolated by geography is a vivid and beautifully written masterpiece." --Rocky Jones, Olsson's Books & Records, Washington, DC

PLAN B: Further Thoughts on Faith, by Anne Lamott (Riverhead, $14, 9781594481574 / 1594481571) "Lamott has much to say about hope and despair, love and hate, faith and doubt, and Jesus -- and she says it all with a great deal of humor and much grace. This is a book to treasure, and read time and again." --Judy Park, Mostly Books, Gig Harbor, WA

SHE GOT UP OFF THE COUCH: And Other Heroic Acts from Mooreland, Indiana, by Haven Kimmel (Free Press, $14, 9780743285001 / 074328500X) "This is a warm and witty continuation of Kimmel's first book, A Girl Named Zippy, this time focusing on her much-put-upon mother's decision to go back to school and become a teacher. Kimmel just draws you in and makes you feel as if you were catching up with old friends." --Donna Hawley, Howard's Bookstore, Bloomington, IN

BEHIND THE SCENES AT THE MUSEUM, by Kate Atkinson (Picador, $14, 9780312150600 / 0312150601) "Ruby Lennox narrates her life from the moment of her 1959 conception in York, England (she exclaims, 'I'm alive!'). This debut novel has an interesting structure: in chapter-long footnotes, Ruby tells us about five generations and 100 years of her family, including those who went through the Great War. A Whitbread Prize-winner." --Elisabeth Grant-Gibson, Windows a bookshop, Monroe, LA

THE HISTORY OF LOVE: A Novel, by Nicole Krauss (Norton, $13.95, 9780393328622 / 0393328627) "Krauss ingeniously weaves together the story of an old man kept alive by memories of a love lost 60 years ago in Poland and a 14-year-old girl trying to keep her family together after her father's death. Krauss employs several narrators to fill in the colors of Leo and Alma's lives with humor and grit, leaving the reader deeply satisfied." --Jen Weinberg, Annie Bloom's Books, Portland, OR

MY SISTER'S KEEPER: A Novel, by Jodi Picoult (Washington Square Press, $14, 9780743454537 / 0743454537) "As always, Picoult provides us with excellent discussion material! This is one of her best stories, about the moral dilemma of a 13-year-old girl who was conceived as a bone-marrow donor for her leukemia-stricken sister and is now fighting for the rights to her own body." --Amy Sweet, Trails End Bookstore, Winthrop, WA

THE POISONWOOD BIBLE, by Barbara Kingsolver (Harper Perennial, $14.95, 9780060786502 / 0060786507) "A beautiful book about four American sisters coming of age in 1960s Africa under the auspices of their missionary father, who is mad, and their long-suffering mother. It's also an eye-opening portrayal of politics in the Congo." --Elizabeth Frengel, Olsson's Books & Records, Washington, DC

WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN: A Novel, by Lionel Shriver (Harper Perennial, $13.95, 9780061124297 / 006112429X) "This is the timely, tragic tale of a difficult child who ultimately becomes an angry, violent young man. The story, told via his mother's letters to his father, offers an honest examination of motherhood and other relationships." --Lilo Eder, Fort Ashby Books, Fort Ashby, WV

THE WORLD TO COME, by Dara Horn (Norton, $13.95, 9780393329063 / 0393329062) "I could tell you that this romantic mystery is about fables, about art and artists -- Chagall in particular -- about love and treachery and history, but the best reason to read it is its power to enthrall." --Jean Matthews, Chapter One Book Store, Hamilton, MT

ASTRID AND VERONIKA, by Linda Olsson (Penguin, $14, 9780143038078 / 0143038079) "This is the first book in 31 years for which I'm offering a money-back guarantee. (So far, no one has taken me up on it.) It's the story of two women with a great amount of pain in their pasts. They are from different countries, cultures, and decades, yet they heal as their trust develops. A potent reminder of the value of friendship." --Judy Mathys, Family Book Shop, Deland, FL

LOVE WALKED IN, by Marisa de los Santos (Plume, $14, 9780452287891 / 0452287898) "A novel you will fall in love with after reading the first paragraph. A handsome stranger walks into Cornelia's life and changes it forever -- but not in the ways you'd expect. Quirky characters, love, and family bonds speak to the reader on all levels. A big thumbs-up for reading groups!" --Flossie McNabb, Carpe Librum Booksellers, Knoxville, TN

SIGHT HOUND: A Novel, by Pam Houston (Norton, $13.95, 9780393327397 / 0393327396) "This story about a woman and her dog respects the depth of emotional involvement and connection between the human being and the animal, engaging it without sentimentality." --Karen Lacey, A Novel Experience, Zebulon, GA

THE SPACE BETWEEN US: A Novel, by Thrity Umrigar (Harper Perennial, $14.95, 9780060791568 / 006079156X) "Set in India, this novel about two women born in different circumstances brings home the issues of prejudice, social barriers, and the role friendship can play to break those down... or not. A magnificent book that brings the problems of discrimination right into the reader's heart and mind." --Leslie Hakala, Best of Times Bookstore, Red Wing, MN

THE DISTANT LAND OF MY FATHER, by Bo Caldwell (Harvest, $14, 9780156027137 / 0156027135) "This story of a family separated by war remains a book-group favorite. Readers are intrigued by the period detail (pre-WWII Shanghai, 1940s California) and moved by the relationship between Anna and her father. Because the novel is structured as a memoir, the narrative has a captivating immediacy. " --Marian Nielsen, Orinda Books, Orinda, CA

GARDENIAS: A Novel, by Faith Sullivan (Milkweed, $15, 9781571310521 / 1571310525) "A candid tale of a young girl who comes of age in the factory projects in San Diego during World War II." --Barbara Wilson, Butterfly Books, De Pere, WI

THE PEOPLE'S ACT OF LOVE: A Novel, by James Meek (Canongate, $14.95, 9781841958774 / 1841958778) "The strange yet intriguing tale is set in Yazyk, a small Siberian town, at the end of the Bolshevik revolution. A religious sect, Czech soldiers, a widow, and the village shaman share wartime stories in a realistic, uncomfortable way. The portrayal of war and its aftereffects will provide many discussion topics for book groups ready to take the plunge." --Barbara Theroux, Fact & Fiction, Missoula, MT

SUITE FRANCAISE, by Irene Nemirovsky (Vintage, $14.95, 9781400096275 / 1400096278) "When I read Suite Francise, I had the impulse to give it to everyone I know, it's so deeply, rewardingly good. Nemirovsky died during WWII, and this novel, lost for 60 years, intertwines perfectly told stories from occupied France." --Sarah McNally, McNally Robinson Booksellers, New York, NY

A THREAD OF GRACE, by Mary Doria Russell (Ballantine Books, $14.95, 9780449004135 / 0449004139) "An easy, grace-filled history lesson about the little-known Holocaust terror in the hills and towns of northern Italy. A large cross-section of characters you come to care about on all sides of the war are followed through eerie, harrowing experiences. This is a read not easily forgotten." --Barbara Siepker, The Cottage Book Shop, Glen Arbor, MI

THE WIDOW OF THE SOUTH, by Robert Hicks (Warner, $14.99, 9780446697439 / 0446697435) "A moving tribute to Carrie McGavock, whose Tennessee home was taken over as a hospital for Confederate soldiers during one of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War. She is transformed in strength and spirit by caring for the wounded men. A compelling, historically accurate novel told with personal insight the reader will not soon forget." --Debra Horan, Booklovers' Gourmet, Webster, MA

FOUNDING MOTHERS: The Women Who Raised Our Nation, by Cokie Roberts (Harper Perennial, $14.95, 9780060090265 / 006009026X) "This book is a highly readable and entertaining account of the women who helped found our nation. Inspiring!" --Julie Hansen, The Book Vault, Oskaloosa, IA

THE HORIZONTAL WORLD: Growing Up Wild in the Middle of Nowhere, A Memoir, by Debra Marquart (Counterpoint, $24 hardcover, 9781582433455 / 1582433453; $15, 9781582433639 / 1582433631, paperback available in July) "Marquart -- who grew up on her family's North Dakota farm -- is a talented storyteller. This book is funny and entertaining, yet poignant. Midwestern values and images abound, allowing multi-generational perspectives." --Carole Betts, Courtyard Books, Keokuk, IA

THE WHISTLING SEASON, by Ivan Doig (Harvest, $14, 9780156031646 / 0156031647) "A woman from Minneapolis and her brother move to a small Montana town, where the brother becomes the teacher in a one-room schoolhouse. Doig has created a gentle story of the American West, as told through the eyes of a young boy. A brilliantly written novel with characters you will remember for a lifetime." --Jenny Fischer, The Bookstore, Glen Ellyn, IL

EXTREMELY LOUD & INCREDIBLY CLOSE, by Jonathan Safran Foer (Mariner, $13.95, 9780618711659 / 0618711651) "The reader will fall head over heels in love with nine-year-old Oskar Schell, who undertakes the task of solving a mystery about his father, lost in the World Trade Center on 9/11. Filled with humor and great sadness, this book brings home the immense feelings of grief, loss, and hope." --Leslie Hakala, Best of Times Bookstore, Red Wing, MN

THE GIRL IN THE TANGERINE SCARF: A Novel, by Mohja Kahf (Carroll & Graf, $15.95, 9780786715190 / 0786715197) "Kahf tells the story of a Muslim American woman, and follows her from childhood through marriage and beyond. This book is relevant to anyone who was raised in a religious home and is trying to find his or her own path." --Lisa Sharp, Nightbird Books, Fayetteville, AR

THE HIGHEST TIDE, by Jim Lynch (Bloomsbury, $13.95, 9781582346298 / 1582346291) "This terrific coming-of-age story reminds us of the importance of carefully listening to the people and creatures around us. You will be rooting for Miles all the way, as his marine discoveries change everything and everyone around him. A book for all ages." --Karen Emmerling, Beach Books, Seaside, OR

THE BRIEF HISTORY OF THE DEAD, by Kevin Brockmeier (Vintage, $13.95, 9781400095957 / 1400095956) "This fast-paced, futuristic novel is the compulsively readable story of the people populating The City. The one thing they have in common (besides being dead) is their connection to a scientist who is trapped in Antarctica without food or resources. Matters of memory, survival, human connection, and religion will prompt a lively discussion." --Amanda Lydon, Good Yarns Bookshop, Hastings-on-Hudson, NY

THE SPARROW, by Mary Doria Russell (Ballantine, $14.95, 9780449912553 / 0449912558) "My book club has been meeting for 12 years, and our three-hour discussion of this book was the most intense ever. In a not-too-distant future, a Jesuit mission investigates signs of life on another planet. The reader will care deeply about the characters, and the book will challenge beliefs about faith, culture, and scientific exploration." --Carol Dunn, Northwind Book & Fiber, Spooner, WI

BLINDNESS, by Jose Saramago (Harvest, $14, 9780156007757 / 0156007754) "This book was the subject of the best book club discussion I ever attended. A plague of blindness strikes an unnamed city and touches off a story that offers a daring, searing exploration of societal breakdown and its aftermath." --Lisa Sharp, Nightbird Books, Fayetteville, AR

THE CHOMSKY-FOUCAULT DEBATE: On Human Nature, by Noam Chomsky and Michel Foucault (New Press, $14.95, 9781595581341 / 1595581340) "Like Zeus from his lofty perch on Olympus, launch this thunderbolt to electrify an average list and to put your reading group on the leading edge of intellectual debate in your community." --Shawn Wathen, Chapter One Book Store, Hamilton, MT

THE KITE RUNNER, by Khaled Hosseini (Riverhead, $14, 9781594480003 / 1594480001) "I cannot imagine another book making me understand, and care, about people in Afghanistan as much as this one did. When our store held a discussion on this book, we had more people than we had chairs!" --Leslie Hakala, Best of Times Bookstore, Red Wing, MN

THE RIVER OF DOUBT: Theodore Roosevelt's Darkest Journey, by Candice Millard (Broadway, $14.95, 9780767913737 / 0767913736) "Ride down an uncharted Amazonian river with ex-President Roosevelt, his son Kermit, and Brazilian national hero Candido Rondon -- it's a harrowing, enlightening journey. There is much here to discuss, from the treatment of indigenous peoples to the beauty and lurking danger of the Amazon." --Terry Whittaker, Viewpoint of Columbus, Columbus, IN

SHANTARAM, by Gregory David Roberts (St. Martin's Griffin, $14.95, 9780312330538 / 0312330537) "This book, based on the author's experiences as an escaped convict living in Bombay, draws the reader into life on the dark side of the city. Roberts ponders good and evil, and considers whether doing wrong for the right reason is ever okay. This has all the ingredients of a great book club selection: hauntingly beautiful writing, complex characters with moral dilemmas, and a mysterious location." --Rona Brinlee, The Book Mark, Atlantic Beach, FL

SNOW, by Orhan Pamuk (Vintage, $14.95, 9780375706868 / 0375706860) "Whether it is the wonderful writing, the Turkish setting, or the strikingly relevant political threat of a militantly religious attack on civil society, our book groups have been moved, engaged, and challenged by Snow. The conversations generated were inspired, various, and substantial." --Alison Reid, DIESEL, A Bookstore, Oakland, CA

THE BOOKSELLER OF KABUL, by Asne Seierstad (Back Bay, $12.95, 9780316159418 / 0316159417) "Through Seierstad's book, which draws from her time living with a family in Afghanistan after the fall of the Taliban, we learn about the real effects of religious and cultural beliefs upon the lives of women. We also begin to understand their lives, and their fates." --Karen Lacey, A Novel Experience, Zebulon, GA

THE SHADOW OF THE WIND, by Carlos Ruiz Zafon (Penguin, $15, 9780143034902 / 0143034901) "Set in Spain in the heyday of Franco's fascism, fear is prominent in the life of young Daniel Sempere. His father, a bookseller, takes him to the Cemetery of Forgotten Books, from which he selects a book that must be kept secret. Soon, Daniel is consumed by the book and its author. A literary, literate, and magical tale of love, loss, obsession, and, best of all, books." --Kathy Ashton, The King's English, Salt Lake City, UT

With Little Women -- MARCH, by Geraldine Brooks (Penguin, $14, 97, 80143036661 / 0143036661) "Growing up with two sisters (one named Amy Beth) I was immersed in the story of Little Women from a very young age. This book rounds out that family tale in a way very few prequels, sequels, or parallel stories do... and it surely will send readers back to the original novel." --Chuck Robinson, Village Books, Bellingham, WA

With Howards End -- ON BEAUTY, by Zadie Smith (Penguin, $15, 9780143037743 / 0143037749) "My book group hugely enjoyed pairing this title with E.M. Forster's Howards End, which Smith said inspired her book, which is an articulate 21st-century examination of class difference, as well as race, family, and identity." -- Marian Nielsen, Orinda Books, Orinda, CA

IN THE COMPANY OF THE COURTESAN: A Novel, by Sarah Dunant (Random House, $13.95, 9780812974041 / 0812974042) "Escaping the sack of Rome with her jewels concealed, courtesan Fiametta makes for Venice with her servant Bucino. Starting over isn't easy, but the two possess wit, beauty, and business savvy. Dunant elegantly layers impressive research under a compelling tale and sharp insights. A book to argue over and dig into again and again." --Nicola Rooney, Nicola's Books, Ann Arbor, MI

SAVING THE WORLD, by Julia Alvarez (Algonquin, $13.95, 9781565125582 / 1565125584) "A fascinating 19th-century story of efforts to combat smallpox is wrapped in a contemporary story with similar themes: fierce commitment to persons and causes, the promise and limits of medicine, and the inevitable injection of politics into idealism. This is a great choice for book clubs and historical fiction fans." --Joyce Gray, Mitchell Books, Fort Wayne, IN

SNOW FLOWER AND THE SECRET FAN: A Novel, by Lisa See (Random House, $13.95, 9780812968064 / 0812968069) "To open this mesmerizing novel is to open the door to a foreign world. Lisa See brings the unsung world of a poor 19th-century Chinese woman, her life and her loves, into glorious relief. This richly textured, deeply felt, and historically informative novel is not to be missed." --Tova Beiser, Brown University Bookstore, Providence, RI

THEIR EYES WERE WATCHING GOD, by Zora Neale Hurston (Harper Perennial Modern Classics, $13.95, 9780060838676 / 0060838671) "Hurston, a jewel of the Harlem Renaissance, created a fascinating depiction of the founding of an all-black town in 1930s Florida. Hurston was an anthropologist and folklorist -- she displayed that knowledge in her characterizations of Janie Crawford and Tea Cake. A must-read." --Elizabeth Frengel, Olsson's Books & Records, Washington, DC

BROKEN FOR YOU, by Stephanie Kallos (Grove, $13, 9780802142108 / 0802142109) "With well-crafted plotting and crackling wit, Kallos tells the story of Margaret, an elderly Seattle woman who discovers she has cancer, and who opens her home to people who become a second family. The layers of meaning and powerful message of hope of this debut novel are perfect for reading groups." --Leslie Reiner, Inkwood Books, Tampa, FL

GODS IN ALABAMA, by Joshilyn Jackson (Warner, $12.95, 9780446694537 / 0446694533) "Jackson will keep you guessing throughout the entire book. It is filled with characters that, although I don't always like them, are completely compelling. This book has it all: It's humorous, sad, angry, and hopeful." --Mary McHale, Fox Tale Books, New Durham, NH

THE HISTORIAN, by Elizabeth Kostova (Back Bay, $15.99, 9780316154543 / 0316154547) "This debut novel leads readers on a search for the tomb of Vlad Tepes, "aka" Vlad the Impaler... the real Dracula. As you follow three generations on the hunt for Dracula, you will feel as if you are in the Carpathian forest, so elegantly descriptive is Kostova's writing. You'll view the Dracula story in a whole new light." --Jenn Hardacre, The Bookshop, Venice, FL

SUFFICIENT GRACE: A Novel, by Darnell Arnoult (Free Press, $14, 9780743284486 / 0743284488) "We loved this debut novel as a hardback; now that it's in paperback, we'll be able to really handsell this gem about protagonist Gracie, the voices we all sometimes hear, and how our actions have a ripple effect." --Patricia Worth, River Reader, Guerneville, CA

CASE HISTORIES: A Novel, by Kate Atkinson (Back Bay, $13.99, 9780316010702 / 0316010707) "This is not only a thriller, it's a funny story with lots of surprises, including the main character -- a man with a dark side. The reader has to follow three plots and interesting characters, and the book is hard to put down!" --Lilo Eder, Fort Ashby Books, Fort Ashby, WV

LABYRINTH, by Kate Mosse (Berkley, $15, 9780425213971 / 0425213978) "Medieval intrigue, secret societies, fanatically devoted followers, parallel stories centuries apart, adventure, danger, devotion -- what more could you ask for? Only that the end did not come quite so soon." --Nicola Rooney, Nicola's Books, Ann Arbor, MI

MOUNTAINS BEYOND MOUNTAINS: The Quest of Dr. Paul Farmer, a Man Who Would Cure the World, by Tracy Kidder (Random House, $14.95, 9780812973013 / 0812973011) "Our book club discussion ranged from the impact one person can have in the world to the inadequacies of the health care system. Dr. Farmer's hard work and indefatigable spirit are brilliantly portrayed by Tracy Kidder, who tried to keep up with the doctor as he ran clinics in Haiti and fought to change international protocols in treating multiple drug resistant tuberculosis." -- M.K. Sneeringer, Edmonds Bookshop, Edmonds, WA

THREE CUPS OF TEA: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace ... One School at a Time, by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin (Penguin, $15, 9780143038252 / 0143038257) "This adventure story / spiritual manual describes Mortenson's near-death experience in the Himalayas, after which Pakistani villagers nursed him back to health. Relin delivers a fascinating account of the results of Mortenson's vow to build schools in that area." --Sue Bradley, Tinman Artworks, Spokane, WA

AND SHE WAS: A Novel, by Cindy Dyson (Harper, $13.95, 9780060597719 / 0060597712) "The story of a young, wild woman working in a bar in Dutch Harbor alternates with an ancient mystery. Dyson captures the flavor of a town on the edge of civilization, populated with people who are running from the past -- and a land that nurtured an ancient culture on its wild and rocky shores." --Jenny Stroyeck, The Homer Bookstore, Homer, AK

NEVER LET ME GO, by Kazuo Ishiguro (Vintage, $14, 9781400078776 / 1400078776) "From the Booker Prize-winning author of The Remains of the Day comes an unforgettable, edge-of-your seat mystery that is at once heartbreakingly tender and morally courageous regarding what it means to be human. This novel is moving and profound, and it's one of my favorites in the last few years." --Sheila Burns, Bloomsbury Books, Ashland, OR

THE COLONY: The Harrowing True Story of the Exiles of Molokai, by John Tayman (Scribner, $16, 9780743233019 / 0743233018) "This is the perfect title for a book group: It has human drama, horrifying turns of events, and it brings up issues you could discuss for days. Leprosy is not a cheery topic, but this book ultimately is a satisfying read on all levels." --Barb Bassett, The Red Balloon Bookshop, St. Paul, MN

MOLOKA'I, by Alan Brennert (Griffin, $13.95, 9780312304355 / 0312304358) "This is a well-written, touching account of the history of those forcibly taken to Kalaupapa, the leprosy settlement on Moloka'i. Brennert creates a living, breathing character, Rachel, who demonstrates the strength of the human spirit. A can't-put-down book that will spark discussion." --Donna Bucholz, Mostly Books, Gig Harbor, WA

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