The Full May/June Book Sense 76

As always, PLEASE feel free to cut and paste from this listing for newsletters, Web sites, and shelf-talkers.

By bookseller request, any May books will have "May" in bold on the flier.

The flier is on press, to you by May 1 at the latest.

And, remember, the great bookseller idea to stamp the fliers with your store address and insert a flier into books going onto the hold/special order shelf.

As always, thank you!

Carl
Carl@booksense.com

The May/June 2002 Book Sense 76

1. EVERYTHING IS ILLUMINATED: A Novel, by Jonathan Safran Foer (Houghton Mifflin, $24, 0618173870) "More than one English language is at work in Foer’s absolutely captivating book. This book’s riches (and they are many) lie in its astonishing range of humor and horror, an awareness of past and present, and a presence that takes very certain words to say. Say them Foer does: daringly, hauntingly, and deeply. This is one of the most fabulous books I’ve read in a long, long time." --Rick Simonson, Elliott Bay Book Co., Seattle, WA

2. THE DIVE FROM CLAUSEN’S PIER, by Ann Packer (Knopf, $24, 0375412824) "Packer’s first novel is the beautifully told story of Carrie Bell. When her boyfriend breaks his neck and is paralyzed, she is faced with having to decide what it is she owes to those she loves. The writing is wonderful, not the least bit sentimental, and the people in the book are at once distinctive and familiar. Carrie’s choices and their consequences are surprising yet believable. At the book’s close I felt an unexpected satisfaction and pleasure with the heroine’s decisions."--Leslie Reiner, Inkwood Books, Tampa, FL Also a Random House Audio (0553714988)

3. HAMLET’S DRESSER: A Memoir, by Bob Smith (Scribner, $24, 0684852691; May) "Witnessing the joy Shakespeare has brought to Smith’s life and the ability of Shakespeare’s language to resurrect memories for his elderly students will inspire readers. After reading this delicious memoir, I want to sit with him and hear more and more about him and his ability to hold our hand and walk us through the wisdom of Shakespeare’s language and characters."--Roxanne Coady, R.J. Julia Booksellers, Madison, CT

4. THE CURVE OF THE WORLD, by Marcus Stevens (Algonquin, $24.95, 1565123360; May) "A businessman who has crash landed in the rainforests of Africa confronts his own demons as his wife and son search for him. There is plenty of suspenseful adventure, along with a sense of unease. Every turn of the page brings that ‘oh, no’ feeling, leading up to a surprise ending. This is a novel I can recommend to a lot of readers."--Jeanne Michael, Odyssey Books, Grass Valley, CA Also a Penguin Audio (156511633X)

5. MY LIFE IN HEAVY METAL, by Steve Almond (Grove, $23, 0802116302) "These stories are filled with some of the most vigorous and energetic writing that I have read in a long while! Some of them will make you feel young, some will make you feel old, and some of them might make you blush just a little … but that’s a good thing. A must read for any fan of the short story."--Jen Reynolds, Joseph-Beth Booksellers, Cincinnati, OH

6. A WEEK IN WINTER, by Marcia Willett (Thomas Dunne Books/St. Martin’s, $24.95, 0312287852; May) "A lovely story to linger over, with a beautiful, intriguing setting in Cornwall and characters you’ll hold dear. If you’ve been waiting for another book like The Shell Seekers, well ... here it is! And it’s wonderful."--Susan Wasson, Bookworks, Albuquerque, NM

7. THE MIRACLE LIFE OF EDGAR MINT, by Brady Udall (Vintage, $14 paper, 0375719180; in stores May 21) "This is a masterpiece. Udall has created one of the finest people of all time. Edgar breaks your heart, puts it back together, and never lets go. Be prepared to unplug the phone and ignore your family. This is the best $14 you’ll spend this summer."--Chris Bowe, Longfellow Books, Portland, ME

8. THE NEAL POLLACK ANTHOLOGY OF AMERICAN LITERATURE, by Neal Pollack (Perennial, $13.95 paper, 0060004533) "This mock-autobiography satirically reveals the American author as macho superhero and media star. Throw off everyday propriety and enjoy Neal’s theatrical exposé of personality and media-hung values!"--Nancy Wirth, Kepler’s, Palo Alto, CA Also a HarperAudio CD (0060011688)

9. SEABISCUIT, by Laura Hillenbrand (Ballantine, $15 paper, 0449005615) "Hillenbrand gifts us with an incredible history of a time, a place, and an entire culture. Like other great books about a storm, a ship, an adventure, the legendary racehorse is a wonderful inspiration for Hillenbrand’s larger story … though even if it were just the horse, it would be enough. A great adventure told by a writer worthy of the task."--Laura Snyder, Lucy’s Books, Astoria, OR

10. SPIES: A Novel, by Michael Frayn (Metropolitan/Holt, $23, 0805070583) "On the surface, this is the story of two boys spending a summer at play in England at the beginning of World War II. But, as the novel progresses, layer after layer of this idyllic scene peels away to reveal all sorts of ominous and nasty business. It’s like Forster’s A Passage to India meets Lynch’s Blue Velvet: engrossing, compelling, shocking. One of the best novels to come out of England in a long time."--Michael Boggs, Carmichael’s, Lousville, KY

BASEBALL: A Literary Anthology, edited by Nicholas Dawidoff (Library of America, $35, 193108209X) "Okay, so perhaps Malamud to Dillard to DeLillo may not form a great double play combination, but they are representative of the writers assembled here. Along with the poetry of William Carlos Williams, the reportage of Roger Angell, and the life advice of Satchell Paige, this collection will hold both baseball and literature lovers in thrall. This is the best baseball anthology that I’ve read."--Will Peters, Annie Bloom’s Books, Portland, OR

THE FINAL SEASON: Fathers, Sons, and One Last Season in a Classic American Ballpark, by Tom Stanton (Griffin, $12.95 paper, 0312291566) "A love affair for baseball is passed down from Grandpa to Dad, and now from Tom to his own sons. He touches all the bases in the final year at old Detroit Stadium, from fascinating interviews with former stars and fans to an emotional last game with his Dad. This is just a great book for anyone in the family."--Wyatt and Nancy Young, Drummer Boy Books, Ligonier, PA

See also the Summer Paperback 76, coming in mid-May.

BAD BLOOD: A Memoir, by Lorna Sage (Morrow, $24.95, 0066214432) "Sage’s Whitbread Award-winning memoir of her girlhood in post-war Britain is honest, forthright, and marked by a lack of bitterness. This book will both satisfy and stay with you for a long time."--June Applen, The Book Mark, Atlantic Beach, FL

THE BLUE BEAR: A True Story of Friendship, Tragedy, and Survival in the Alaskan Wilderness, by Lynn Schooler (Ecco, $25.95, 0066210852; in stores May 7) "Framed around a search for the illusive blue bear, this lovingly written book is a tribute to both a treasured friend and the glory of the landscape that is Alaska."--Barbara Hoagland, The King’s English, Salt Lake City, UT

COMPLICATIONS: A Surgeon’s Notes on an Imperfect Science, by Atul Gawande (Metropolitan/Holt, $24, 0805063196) "A highly insightful and readable insider’s look at how doctors work. Great for everyone interested in health care."--Julie Kunkel, Tiger Tales Bookstore, Columbia, MO

THE CULTURE OF MAKE BELIEVE, by Derrick Jensen (Context, $18 paper, 1893956288) "With clarity and compassion, Jensen (the author of A Language Older Than Words) gives us a book full of insight and wisdom. He offers perspectives and commentary on our culture and its historical roots that acknowledge the complexity of our pasts, all the while exploring how our pasts affect our current way of relating to each other. Deeply moving!"--Hilary Berg, A Room of One’s Own Feminist Bookstore, Madison, WI

GRACEFULLY INSANE: The Rise and Fall of America’s Premier Mental Hospital, by Alex Beam (PublicAffairs, $24, 1891620754) "An intimate and intriguing analysis of the history of one of America’s premier mental hospitals, some of its celebrated patients (James Taylor, for one), and mental health care in general."--Phil Smith, Brace Books, Ponca City, OK

LETTERS TO J.D. SALINGER, ed. by Chris Kubica and Will Hochman (U. of Wisconsin, $24.95, 0299178005) "What a gem of a book. I will read some of these letters out loud to my book group. This is a gift, a treat."--Patti Siberz, Bob’s Beach Books, Lincoln City, OR

NEGOTIATING WITH THE DEAD: A Writer on Writing, by Margaret Atwood (Cambridge U. Press, $18, 0521662605) "These lectures on writing and the writer’s life are delightful reading, not only for writers and would-be writers, but for all passionate readers as well. Searching and witty, they draw upon a rich array of provocative sources in poetry and fiction."--Pam Rosenthal, Modern Times Bookstore, San Francisco, CA

NO HEROES: A Memoir of Coming Home, by Chris Offutt (Simon & Schuster, $24, 0684865513) "I simply loved this book. Chris Offut is such an honest writer. He has left his soul on the pages, making this a very memorable book about family, home, the Holocaust and history."--Jerry Bilek, St. Olaf Bookstore, Northfield, MN

THE NOONDAY DEMON: An Atlas of Depression, by Andrew Solomon (Touchstone, $16 paper, 0684854678) "This is a monumental piece of work that is both personal and adroit. Extremely well-researched and documented by the author’s own experience with the illness, as well as the experiences of countless other professionals and patients, Soloman’s humility and generosity offer up ideas and help that most personal growth books don’t touch."--Bill Pillow, Regulator Bookshop, Durham, NC

NOT BY ACCIDENT: Restructuring a Careless Life, by Samantha Dunn (Holt, $23, 0805065857) "What a wonderful book! Dunn tells her story with honesty and humor, and I felt like I’d shared deeply in the experience of her injury and her recovery."--Winnie Knutsen, Books to Go, Devils Lake, ND

RIOT AND REMEMBRANCE: The Tulsa Race War and Its Legacy, by James S. Hirsch (Houghton Mifflin, $25, 0618108130) "I have little doubt this magnificent book will rank among the year’s most important books; we would do well to put it in as many hands as we can. Astonishingly vivid and detailed (especially considering many records were purposely destroyed by the city), this is also tireless in balancing meticulous research with the impassioned viewpoints of both the riot’s victims and its misguided, if adamant, disbelievers."--Dan Blask, Harry W. Schwartz Bookshops, Milwaukee, WI

THE SEA SHALL EMBRACE THEM: The Tragic Story of the Steamship Arctic, by David W. Shaw (Free Press, $25, 0743222172; May) "Long before the Titanic, Cunard had begun a dangerous competition to control the transatlantic shipping trade. This is a fascinating and appalling account of the able Captain Luce and his cowardly crew. This dual business and disaster story is both a great gift and summer read." --Barbara Theroux, Fact & Fiction, Missoula, MT

SOUNDS OF THE RIVER, by Da Chen (HarperCollins, $25.95, 0060199253) "Picking up where Colors of the Mountain left off, Chen heads off for Beijing University. There were many things there to trip up a young man from rural China, and his anecdotes are full of humor and candor. After reading this magnificent tale, you will understand human perserverance and the power of inspiration as never before."--Helen Zimmermann, Ariel Booksellers, New Paltz, NY

THINGS YOU GET FOR FREE, by Michael McGirr (Atlantic, $25, 0871138379) "A Jesuit priest and his mother leave Australia for a European holiday. Warm, witty, wise and wonderful are these musings on faith, family, friends and assorted strangers. A charming tale of trials and travels."--Margaret Poppe, Books & Books, Coral Gables, FL

LOVE IS THE KILLER APP: How to Win Business and Influence Friends, by Tim Sanders (Crown, $21, 060960922X) "This is a new and wonderful kind of business book, from the Chief Solutions Officer at Yahoo. Sanders is out to proselytize about two ‘old’ ideas that need to be accepted anew: 1) That nice people DO get ahead, and 2) That businesspeople need to read more literature. Read this book, too!"--Sue Boucher, Lake Forest Book Store, Lake Forest, IL Also a Random House Audio CD (0553712853)

See the all-Children’s Book Sense 76, coming soon.

DECKSCAPING: Gardening and Landscaping on and Around Your Deck, by Barbara Ellis (Storey Books, $19.95 paper, 1580174086) "I am in love with this book. I’ve already found three great ideas. And those deck chairs on page 112!"--Molly Cook, Second Story Bookstore, Seattle, WA

RURAL STUDIO: Samuel Mockbee and the Architecture of Decency, by Andrea Oppenheimer Dean (Princeton Architectural Press, $30 paper, 1568982925) "The late Mockbee put his architecture students to work in rural Alabama, building houses, chapels, and meeting places. Using found materials like tires, license plates, and hay bales, they have created useful and inventive structures. In this book you’ll find the great breadth of this experiment in education and sustainable design."--Jeanie Teare, Politics and Prose, Washington, DC

An Incredible Number of New and Familiar Voices to Fill Your Spring and Summer Days

See also the Top Ten on page one, and ask about the Summer Paperback 76, coming in mid-May.

BEAR ME SAFELY OVER, by Sheri Joseph (Atlantic, $23, 0871138417) "I thought this was a wonderful debut novel. It portrayed emotions as they exist in the real world, and I especially liked how the sisters and the two families resolve their many differences."--Tina Kruger, Von’s Books, West Lafayette, IN

THE BOOK OF SHADOWS, by James Reese (William Morrow, $25.95, 0066210151) "A masterfully written gothic novel that completely immersed me within its richly sensual journey. Herculine immediately captured my heart, as she sought to discover ‘what’ she was. A magical tale, complete with unforgettable characters that kept my eyes locked on the pages."--Rosemarie Land, Vero Beach Book Center, Vero Beach, FL

THE CITY OF YOUR FINAL DESTINATION, by Peter Cameron (Farrar, $24, 0374281971; May) "Cameron’s writing is elegant and economical, and this tale of how we avoid or confront life’s choices may be his best yet. Please try this!"--Hester Jeswald, Sarasota News and Books, Sarasota, FL

THE COMPANY: A Novel of the CIA, by Robert Littell (Overlook Press, $28.95, 1585671975) "This is without a doubt one of the best books I’ve ever read. Epic and grand, this sprawling saga of the CIA kept me riveted for nearly 900 pages. Intelligent and fearless, mixing harsh fact with fanciful fiction, and spanning some near 50 years, this is the novel for which Littell will be remembered. He does for the CIA what Margaret Mitchell did for the Civil War!"--Chuck Insprucker, Booksmith, Falmouth, MA

CRAZY AS CHOCOLATE, by Elisabeth Hyde (MacAdam/Cage, $25, 1931561036) "This novel explores parental suicide and the impact on those left behind, and Hyde relates this in an extraordinary way. I read this in one sitting and it stayed with me long afterward. And it will with you, too." --John Presta, Reading on Walden, Chicago, IL

DEATH AND NIGHTINGALES, by Eugene McCabe (Bloomsbury, $23.95, 1582342377) "What a wonderful writer McCabe is. His profound gift of language makes beauty out of a story of deep despair and courage, making this the most moving and memorable novel I’ve read in a long while. McCabe is truly a literary light."--Michal Drannen, Powell’s Books, Portland, OR (Michael Ondaatje and others have been championing this book, which was published in the UK in 1992.)

Gail Tsukiyama

DREAMING WATER (St. Martin’s $23.95, 0312206070) "A beautiful, sensitive book about love, loss, and the process of letting go. You get into the characters’ minds and come out counting your blessings."--Katie Sondergaard, Howard Street Booksellers, Hibbing, MN (Three of Tsukiyama past paperbacks have been 76 picks, and are reading group favorites: WOMEN OF THE SILK, THE SAMURAI’S GARDEN, and LANGUAGE OF THREADS)

EDUCATING WAVERLEY, by Laura Kalpakian (William Morrow, $24.95, 0380977680; May) "This will be a great book for us this summer. What a blast to find a novel about family, love, and community that will have great appeal for both men and women."--Julie Norcross, McLean and Eakin Booksellers, Petroskey, MI

THE FOODTASTER, by Ugo DiFonte; trans. by Peter Elbling (Permanent Press, $26, 1579620477; May) "This ‘memoir’ of a 16th Century court foodtaster is a tour-de-force. It’s a funny and moving tale of a man making the best of what could be a bad situation. I look forward to putting this marvelous book in the hands of grateful customers."--Bob Deloria, Books Inc., Laurel Village, San Francisco, CA

GARDEN OF FAITH, by Lynne Hinton (HarperSan Francisco, $20.95, 0062517465; May) "A great visit with my old friends from Hope Springs. Hinton’s characters share life’s joys and sorrows, ups and downs, all by supporting each other."--Kay Vincent, Bohannons’ Books With a Past, Georgetown, KY

GOULD’S BOOK OF FISH: A Novel in Twelve Fish, by Richard Flanagan (Grove, $27.50, 0802117112) "This vast, artful epic is the most audacious yet from this wonderful Tasmanian novelist. Sculpted from a turbulent national history, this vibrant story poses as the journal of a penal island convict who relates brutal and hilarious tales of the island’s eccentric inhabitants and the atrocities they perpetrate. Flanagan’s narrative sweep, vivid imagination, and rugged poeticism make him a world-class author."--Jamie Kornegay, Square Books, Oxford, MS

HAPPINESS, by Will Ferguson (Canongate, $24, 1841952753; June) "A hilarious romp! A lowly sub-editor at a major publishing house discovers a manuscript in the slush pile that becomes the ultimate self-help book, unleashing unmitigated happiness on the world. Aging baby boomers, self-absorbed self-helpers; they’re all here."--Barbara Bogart, Bear River Books, Evanston, WY

THE HAUNTING OF L, by Howard Norman (Farrar, $24, 0374168253) "Norman tells the story of a young photographer’s apprentice who falls under the spell of a mysterious photographer and his beautiful bride. Set in Halifax in early 20th century, this is in some ways a coming-of-age tale, one where innocence runs headlong into greed, opportunism, and betrayal. A really great read."--Leigh Batnick, Politics & Prose Bookstore, Washington, DC

HENRY’S LIST OF WRONGS, by John Scott Shepherd (Rugged Land, $24.95, 1590710010) "After 10 years and a night of despair, Henry realizes that he has committed horrible acts and must make reparation. A modern twist on Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, this novel draws the reader into a week of apologies, knockout blows, greed, and a mysterious woman pushing Henry along the path to redemption. A funny, fast-paced story."--Katie Abbott, Scott’s Bookstore, Mount Vernon, WA

INSTANCES OF THE NUMBER 3, by Salley Vickers (Farrar, $23, 0374177023) "I loved observing the way these quirky characters interacted with each other when life (and death) throws them together. A thoughtful ghost story full of humor, pathos and surprises."--Debra Ostrokolowicz, Booklovers’ Gourmet, Webster, MA

INTO THE FOREST, by Edna O’Brien (Houghton Mifflin, $24, 0618197303) "A disturbing look into the tortured soul of a man who is haunted by his past. Those haunts drive him deeper into an inner evil that he cannot release himself from. You are drawn into this book until the very last page."--Joy Winslow, Danner’s Books, Muncie, IN

LAND WHERE MY FATHERS DIED, by Joe Edd Morris (Context, $24.95, 189395627X) "I loved this book! Just out of prison, Jo Shelby goes on a quest to track down his great-great-grandmother’s legacy in Mexico. I will be enthusiastically recommending this gem to my customers." --Linda Matthews, Back Country Navigator, Lake City, CO

LAST YEAR’S JESUS: A Novella and Nine Stories, by Ellen Slezak (Hyperion, $22.95, 0786867418) "Slezak writes with an urgency that feels like the swing shift at Chrysler, that howls like a wet infant, and throbs with the insistent back beat of sweatshop labor. A dazzling and revealing collection."--Robert Segedy, McIntyre’s Fine Books, Pittsboro, NC

Tim Winton

DIRT MUSIC (Scribner, $26, 0743228022; May) "Three souls, half a world away on the coast of western Australia, deal with guilt, loss, and each other in this powerful novel. Although White Point and Coronation Gulf are fictional places, Winton describes them with such skill that they stay with you long after the book ends."--Marcia Rider, Capitola Book Café, Capitola, CA Just reissued in paper: CLOUDSTREET ($14, 0743234413) and THAT EYE, THE SKY ($11, 0743234421). And Winton’s classic, THE RIDERS ($12, 0684822776), is already available in paper.

LET THEIR SPIRITS DANCE, by Stella Pope Duarte (Rayo/HarperCollins, $24.95, 0060186372; May) "An incredible first novel. Block out time to read this in one sitting, because you won’t want to leave the world and the people Duarte brings to life in this pilgrimage of a Chicano family from Phoenix to the Vietnam Memorial Wall. This is an important, healing book with universal appeal."--Charlene Taylor, Reader’s Oasis, Tucson, AZ

LOST NATION, Jeffrey Lent (Atlantic Monthly, $25, 0871138433; May) "From the opening words, I was riveted by the heart-piercing dialogue, the sparseness of the setting, and the assault of the characters. I loved every second of this book! (And Lent’s first one, In the Fall, as well.) I’m hooked, and will put this book into the hands of all of my customers."--Annie Kyrkostas, Book Mark Café, Oyster Bay, NY

MY MOTHER’S ISLAND, by Marnie Mueller (Curbstone Press, $24.95, 1880684829) "If you’re looking for something really substantive that explores the mother-daughter relationship, read this novel. It’s all here: guilt, love, fear, resentment, and the hope that everything will be better. A powerful and beautifully written work that begs to be discussed."--Fran Keilty, Atticus Bookstore, Middletown, CT

NECTAR, by David Fickett (Tor, $23.95, 0765301741; May) "This novel traces a New England farm family through several generations, uncovering unsettling family secrets. Closer to Carolyn Chute than Richard Russo, I found Nectar almost addictive in the way it held my interest. Fickett truly captures the time, place, and people."--Rita Moran, Apple Valley Books, Winthrop, ME

OXYGEN, by Andrew Miller (Harcourt, $24, 0151007217) "Two brothers with much to resolve come together due to the impending death of their mother. Read it with someone in the room, as you will want to share passages out loud. Writing as intoxicating as pure oxygen."--Terry Whittaker, Viewpoint Books, Columbus, IN

POINT FURY, by John Maxwell (Scribner, $25, 0743222075) "A fabulous thriller! His descriptions were very reminiscent of Stephen King and his story line reads like James Patterson. Maxwell has a bright future!"--Linda E. Burg, The Little Read Book, Wauwatosa, WI

THE SEASON OF LILLIAN DAWES, by Katherine Mosby (HarperCollins, $24.95, 0066212723) "I found this book charming: a combination of a Salingeresque coming of age of a discontented adolescent and the romantic story of two of his icons. Full of delightful characters; a very entertaining and sometimes poignant story."--Rondi Brower, Blackwood & Brouwer Booksellers, Kinderhook, NY Also a HarperAudio (0060082976)

THE SOUND OF THE TREES, by Robert Gatewood (Holt, $25, 0805068023; May) "This is the most stunningly written novel I have read in many years. This first novel takes place in the Southwest in the ’30s, as a teenager rescues his mother from an abusive father, and they ride on horseback north toward Colorado."--Susan Bachrach, Moby Dickens Bookshop, Taos, NM

STAY, by Nicola Griffith (Doubleday, $23.95, 0385503008; April) "Noir fiction at its modern best. The protagonist has lost a loved one, just as a friend arrives to get help in finding his own girlfriend who has disappeared while on a business trip. This book has a feel somewhere between Touch of Evil and Sleepless in Seattle. A fine line to walk, but Griffith proves herself an expert."--Todd Morgan, The Lafayette Book Store, Lafayette, CA

STEP-BALL-CHANGE, by Jeanne Ray (Harmony, $22.95, 0609610031; May) "The ordinary stuff of life: love, marriage, divorce, and home remodeling, presented in a wise, witty, laugh-out-loud novel. The author of bestselling Julie and Romeo gives us a look in the mirror at the stuff of the American family."--Jenn Fontaine, Bookrack and Children’s Pages, Essex, VT

THREE JUNES, by Julia Glass (Pantheon, $25, 0375421440; May)"I loved this. The characters are so real and wonderful, I miss Fenno and Fern, and the children, the brothers, and the wives. I loved how the author captured each individual voice and gave them life."--Calvin Crosby, Books, Inc., San Francisco, CA

THE TRUE SOURCES OF THE NILE, by Sarah Stone (Doubleday, $23.95, 0385503016) "Stone’s sentences are fluid, balanced, and precise, especially in their descriptions of life in a hostile environment. This was a very satisfying, thought-provoking novel that can be read on several different levels, from a fast page-turner to an important novel about our humanity."--Betty Renner, Merritt Bookstore, Millbrook, NY

UNLESS, by Carol Shields (4th Estate/HarperCollins, $24.95, 0007141076; May) "This is a wise, compassionate, often wry novel of a family coping with the sudden, inexplicable estrangement of a beloved daughter, told from the point of view of a mother who could only be a character drawn by Carol Shields. I couldn’t put it down." --Virginia Valentine, Tattered Cover Book Store, Denver, CO Also a HarperAudio (0060098899)

WILD GINGER, by Anchee Min (Houghton Mifflin, $23, 0618068864) "A story about a young Maoist whose naive but real belief in a movement is followed by disillusionment and the raw reality of being a part of a repressionist state."--Jenny Lawton, Just Books, Greenwich, CT

WISH YOU WERE HERE, by Stewart O’Nan (Grove, $25, 0802117155; May) "O’Nan has an immense range and an ear for the perfect pitch of the human heart. Three generations of the Maxwell family gather for a final visit to their summerhouse, one year after the death of the family patriarch. Take this book with you on vacation, but be warned: you may be so compelled by the Maxwell’s gathering, you’ll be late to join your own!"--Cathy Keibler, Hawley-Cooke Booksellers, Louisville, KY

WOMAN MADE OF SAND: A Novel in Stories, by Joann Kobin (Delphinium, $23, 1883285232) "An insightful look into an everyday family. Each story spans just enough time and change to allow your imagination to fill in the gaps. An extraordinary read about often ordinary moments."--Carrie Sutherland, J.W. Beecroft Books & Coffee, Superior, WI

YOU’RE AN ANIMAL, VISKOVITZ, by Allesandro Boffa; trans. by John Casey (Knopf, $18, 0375405283; in stores May 21) "This is sexy, funny, winsome … and a word-lover’s dream! It is a cross-disciplinary joy! With every incarnation, Viskovitz becomes a more compelling, hilarious, mercurial character. Though he never becomes human, he is humane, and has plenty to show us about the nature of many things, most of all, love."--Dawn Martin, University Books, Seattle, WA

Here are a few more novels we’re still recommending from earlier this year or late last year that you may have missed. We indies don’t give up on our favorites easily.

A FINE PLACE, by Nicholas Montemarano (Context, $21.95, 1893956210) "Aside from the disturbing premise of the bias crime, this is a real slice of life and portrayal of family dynamics (any family). Family issues and how they are resolved (or not) are at the core of this terrific debut novel." --Carmela Marano-Moeller, Buchmeister Books, Chatham, NJ

PALLADIO, by Jonathan Dee (Doubleday, $24.95, 038550179X) "To say that these characters are painfully modern would only begin to convey how compulsively readable this book is. This novel is a commentary on our society, and I believe it will be the novel for 2002."--Julie Jacobson, The Book Stall at Chestnut Court, Winnetka, IL

SUMMER IN BADEN-BADEN, by Leonid Tsypkin; trans. by Roger Keys (New Directions, $23.95, 0811214842) "An inspired literary pilgrimage, this novel begins with a man on a train reading the memoirs of Dostoyevsky’s widow and develops into a richly imagined, yet factual recreation of his life and work. In polished, controlled prose, this book is a beautiful, passionate homage from one Russian writer to another."--Laurie Greer, Olsson’s Books & Records, Bethesda, MD

TESTIMONY OF AN IRISH SLAVE GIRL, by Kate McCafferty (Viking, $24.95, 0670030651) "This historical fiction delves into the practice of indentured servitude and slavery in Barbados, and how the Irish and Scots were simply stolen away from their families to work out their lives on sugar cane plantations. This is a riveting book about a little known piece of history."--Jen Butler-Brown, Grass Roots Books & Music, Corvallis, OR

VIOLENCE, NUDITY, ADULT CONTENT, by Vince Passaro (Simon & Schuster, $24, 068485726X) "Get past the title and you’ll find a mesmerizing literary thriller that nails contemporary urban angst dead to rights. Set over six months in the life of a troubled defense attorney, the plot is as precisely engineered as any Grisham page-turner."--Mike Lindgren, Tudor Bookshop, Kingston, PA

WAVEMAKER II, by Mary-Beth Hughes (Atlantic, $24, 0871138352) "Wonderful, moving fiction with a histrionic pull; it’s quite a literary achievement for a debut. A subtle, emotive novel for a discerning audience."--James Piechota, Books at a Glance, San Francisco, CA

WIDE BLUE YONDER, by Jean Thompson (Simon & Schuster, $24, 074320512X) "A divorced mom and her 17-year old daughter are not getting along well at all. Elaine is feeling old and superfluous; Josie is feeling free and more than a little unwise. This is both a sharp and entertaining novel, with a clear eye toward everyday American life. I loved it."--Terry Flynn, Third Place Books, Lake Forest, WA

THE YEARS OF RICE AND SALT, by Kim Stanley Robinson (Bantam, $25.95, 0553109200) "Robinson has again written a novel hugely broad in scope, and strangely timely in topic. More than a what-if story, this is a truly wonderful speculation on history, religion and culture, and on the recurring troubles of human existence. A spectacular and engrossing work of literature."--Russ Harvey, Cody’s Books, Berkeley CA

BETWEEN BITES: Memoirs of a Hungry Hedonist, by James Villas (Wiley, $24.95, 0471214205) "Trenchermen and gourmands will both enjoy this irascible book replete with recipes and chapters on the great chefs: Bocuse, Claiborne, Childs, Fisher, et al. A delightful read by a highly heretical hedonist. Enjoy!"--Jim Tenney, Olssons Books and Records, Washington, DC

Interested in mysteries? Ask about the Mystery 76 Top Ten, coming in June.

AS FOR IRELAND, by M. Mallace (Sakonnet Press, $29.95 paper, 0970933304) "This is a wonderful new guide and a delight to read. It’s full of lush photographs, detailed drawings, historical information, and literary references." --Linda Stivala, Gansevoort House Books, Little Falls, NY

PASSPORTER WALT DISNEY WORLD 2002: The Unique Travel Guide, Planner, Organizer, Journal, and Keepsake, by Jennifer Watson, Dave Marx, and Allison Cerel Marx (PassPorter Travel Press, $21.95, spiral-bound, 1587710021) "This is great! It’s a super way to catalog and evaluate the Disney attractions, restaurants, and hotels. I especially liked the pockets in the back to store and record daily memories."--Jan McKeag, Journeys of Life, Pittsburgh, PA

If you can’t find one of the 76 books of interest to you on our shelves, we will gladly special order it for you. Prices and availability are subject to change. These 76 books have been chosen by the independent booksellers of America and the staff at Book Sense, after which publishers were approached for promotional funds to help with the printing of this flier. Books appear here whether or not the publisher has agreed to participate.