The Full Summer 2002 Paperback Book Sense 76

SUMMER 2002 PAPERBACK 76

1. THE MIRACLE LIFE OF EDGAR MINT, by Brady Udall (Vintage, $14, 0375719180; May 21) "Something of a miracle in its own right, this Dickensian tale of childhood woe and redemption is as painfully funny as One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest and as narrative-driven as early John Irving. Brady Udall may be the best-kept literary secret, but not for long."--Betsy Burton, The King’s English Bookshop, Salt Lake City, UT

2. THE NEAL POLLACK ANTHOLOGY OF AMERICAN LITERATURE, by Neal Pollack (Perennial, $13.95, 0060004533) "Like a literary Forrest Gump -- though much better looking, of course -- Pollack travels ‘round the world making history with pals Allen Ginsberg, Joyce Carol Oates, George Orwell, Norman Mailer, Toni Morrison, and many others. This is laugh-out-loud funny."--Stacey Lewis, City Lights, San Francisco, CA Also a HarperAudio CD (0060011688)

3. SEABISCUIT, by Laura Hillenbrand (Ballantine, $15, 0449005615) "Hillenbrand has brought this unlikely champion racehorse and the men who owned, trained, and rode him to vivid life. It is as much a portrait of America during the Depression or a tale of ordinary individuals succeeding against all odds as it is a horse story. This is a captivating, page-turning story of three men and a horse who captured the attention of the entire world."--Laura Hudson, The Bookloft, Great Barrington, MA

4. THE PRIZE WINNER OF DEFIANCE, OHIO: How My Mother Raised 10 Kids on 25 Words or Less, by Terry Ryan (Touchstone, $13, 0743211235) "In the 1950s, Evelyn Ryan managed to support her family and to inspire them with pride, hope, and confidence. Entering thousands of jingle contests, she won food, appliances, a bicycle, a car, and enough cash to make the mortgage payments! An alternately heartbreaking and humorous true story about a woman whose courage will go straight to your heart."--Ellen Davis, Dragonwings, Waupaca, WI

5. EMPIRE FALLS, by Richard Russo (Vintage, $14.95, 0375726403; May) "This is Russo’s best book yet! Miles Roby, lead protagonist and decent son and father, is a beautifully crafted character. He follows in the usual Russo tango: one step forward and two steps back. This is a brilliant book loaded with heart. I simply loved it."--Kay Marcotte, Page One Books, Albuquerque, NM (This book is also the winner of this year’s Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.)

6. MYSTIC RIVER, by Dennis Lehane (HarperTorch, $7.99, 0380731851) "Lehane has forged an urban crime novel of surpassing darkness, but it also has the legs to stand as a fiction of its time and place like, say, Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby. It’s truly an amazing work. Don’t miss it."--Barbara Peters, The Poisoned Pen, Scottsdale, AZ

7. CLOSE TO SHORE: The Terrifying Shark Attacks of 1916, by Michael Capuzzo (Broadway, $14.95, 0767904141; May 21) "Capuzzo doesn’t sensationalize the attacks of 1916 or make the shark out to be a monster. Instead, he creates a vivid picture of life in the early 1900s, a time of blazing change and discovery. This is a very compelling book."--Cory Combs, Christopher’s Books, San Francisco, CA

8. GOD-SHAPED HOLE, by Tiffanie DeBartolo (Sourcebooks, $12, 1570719586; May) "Beautifully written and lovingly told, this story is full of clear, biting prose, a sensual and spirited plot, and wildly amusing characters. Poignant and emotional, this novel will touch your soul."--Maryann Eastman, White Birch Books, N. Conway, NH

9. YEAR OF WONDERS, by Geraldine Brooks (Penguin, $14, 0142001430; May) "Brooks takes us to a village in 1666 Derbyshire during the Plague. She shows us every facet of human nature, as the villagers have voluntarily decided to isolate themselves for the duration of the sickness. An unforgettable reading experience; the best book I have read so far this year."--Louise Blake, Deerleap Books, Bristol, VT

10. BEL CANTO, by Ann Patchett (Perennial, $13.95, 0060934417; June) "One of my favorite books in 2001, I’m looking forward to recommending this to all of our book groups in paperback. A wonderful story about a hostage situation in a foreign embassy, with fascinating characters you grow to know and love, and not always just the ‘good guys.’" --Liz Morgan, Village Bookstore, Menomonee Falls, WI

These three books are among independent booksellers’ favorites of all time, and all are being reissued in beautiful new editions this summer.

CROSSING TO SAFETY, by Wallace Stegner (Modern Library, $13.95, 037575931X) "We love this book, and many of our book clubs have read it. There’s so much to talk about and characters that you feel you can touch. This is a book that you can read at ages 20, 40, and 60; you will take something new away every time."--Valerie Koehler, Blue Willow Bookshop, Houston, TX

GEEK LOVE, by Katherine Dunn (Vintage, $13, 0375713344; June) "One of my favorite books; I still recommend it to people all the time. To this day, I have never read anything like it and I don’t think I ever will. It is fantastic, bizarre storytelling at its finest."--Alie Rosenberg, Brookline Booksmith, Brookline, MA

TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, by Harper Lee (Perennial, $11.95, 0060935464) "Harper Lee crafted a perfect novel that transcended the printed page and became part of the American cultural memory. The author wrote with a razor, thinly slicing scenes, laying them bare with the most innocent, yet irresistibly seductive, prose. To call it one of my favorite books is like calling oxygen one of my favorite atmospheres."--Erik C. Barnum, Northshire Bookstore, Manchester Center,VT

See also the Top Ten and the May/June 76.

ALL WE KNOW OF HEAVEN, by Remy Rougeau (Mariner Books, $13, 0618219226; June) "This novel is set in the framework of a factual and unpretentious account of a contemporary monastic life. It is quite heartfelt and enduring." --Christopher Sullivan, Copperfield’s Books, Calistoga, CA

ASSORTED FIRE EVENTS: Stories, by David Means (Harvest, $12, 0156013541) "A man is brought back to the moment his brother drowned; a distraught businessman goes off to find peace and is met by violence; and in the Pushcart Prize-winning story ‘What They Did,’ suburban sprawl leads to personal disaster. Means establishes himself as a tremendous new presence in contemporary American literature."--Mike Barnard, Rakestraw Books, Danville, CA

BACKPACK, by Emily Barr (Plume, $13, 0452282934) "Witty, self-deprecating, and snappy, this is a refreshing take on the single, neurotic British female genre. Taking a year to travel Asia, our heroine finds romance, intrigue, many highs, and even some happiness."--Genevieve Heater, Scott’s Bookstore, Mount Vernon, WA

BITCH GODDESS, by Robert Rodi (Plume, $13, 0452283108) "Rodi’s novels are among the funniest I’ve ever read, and this one sees his riotous wit turned on Hollywood. You’ll love, pity, and be exasperated by Viola Chute, the B-grade sex bomb whose career Bitch Goddess charts."--Kevin Stevens, Outwrite Books, Atlanta, GA

CANE RIVER, by Lalita Tademy (Warner, $13.95, 0446678457) "Tademy blends fact and fiction to create a powerful story based on her own family’s history: a story of Southern life in the mid-1800s, of four generations of women, each determined to make a better life for her children, and of the perseverance and strength needed to rise from slavery to freedom."--Joan De Lorenzo, The Book Shop, Morristown, NJ

CHALKTOWN, by Melinda Haynes (Washington Square Press, $14, 0743442504, June) "The author follows her debut novel with a brilliant work that brings forth a wonderful collection of characters in the most bizarre town in Southern literature. An unforgettable read!"--Jake Reiss, The Alabama Booksmith, Birmingham, AL

CLAY’S QUILT, by Silas House (Ballantine, $14, 0345450698) "An amazing book. House’s ability to depict the Appalachian region, coupled with his wonderful storytelling ability, makes this a delight to read."--Angie Coleman, Joseph-Beth/Davis-Kidd Booksellers, Cincinnati, OH

THE COLD SIX THOUSAND, by James Ellroy (Vintage, $15.95, 037572740X; June) "Kickstarted just moments after JFK’s assassination and racing up to the fevered summer of 1968, the master of neo-noir takes readers on a pedal-to-the-metal underworld tour of the lunatic ’60s. Ellroy’s prose style is as hard-hitting and brutal as the tale he tells, but once you catch the rhythm and get swept up in the conspiracy, it’s an exhilarating ride."--Jim Cornelius, Paulina Springs Book Company, Sisters, OR

THE COLLECTED STORIES OF RICHARD YATES, by Richard Yates (Picador, $16, 0312420811; May) "Although set primarily in post-WW II New York, these stories have lost none of their relevance. Yates sketches scenes from the lives of average Americans and shows how the American dream remains, for most, out of reach. This collection is essential for any serious student of American culture and literature." --Candler Hunt, Olsson’s Books and Records, Washington, DC

THE CRANBERRY QUEEN, by Kathleen DeMarco (Talk Miramax, $12.95, 0786890371; May) "DeMarco’s protagonist is a self-deprecating NYC professional who experiences a great loss. This is a poignant story of growth and discovery that takes her into a world entirely unlike any other she has known, and into a family closer to her than she could have imagined." --Amy Wynn, Builders Booksource, Berkeley, CA

THE DANCER UPSTAIRS, by Nicholas Shakespeare (Anchor, $13, 0385721072) "A remarkable novel, somewhat reminiscent of those by Joseph Conrad. Loosely based on the capture of a Peruvian guerrilla, and with great plotting and characters, it’s one of the most satisfying novels in years." --Brian Rood, Avenue Books, Berkeley, CA

ENTERING NORMAL, by Anne D. LeClaire (Ballantine, $14, 0345445732; June) "This is the story of two mothers who come from two different worlds, but, together, they learn to heal their grief and become more than just friends."--Claire Watkinson, Scott’s Bookstore, Mount Vernon, WA

FIRST LADY, by Michael Malone (Sourcebooks, $15 paper, 1570719713; May) "Though not a mystery per se, the plot is initiated by a murder, the main characters are cops, and it’s wonderful. I love Malone; he’s a cross between Clyde Edgerton and Richard Russo, and with a mystery bent."--Louise Jones, The Northshire Bookstore, Manchester Center, VT

FIVE QUARTERS OF THE ORANGE, by Joanne Harris (Perennial, $13.95, 0060958022; June) "Harris has written a wonderful book, one even better than her Chocolat. The sense of time and place are as perfect as are her beautifully drawn characters."--Nancy Perkins, Book Passage, Corte Madera, CA

THE GARDENS OF COVINGTON, by Joan Medlicott (St. Martin’s, $6.99, 0312980124; May) "A thoroughly charming story of women’s friendships that casts a gentle light on aging, cultural change, and how wit and grace can rule the day."--Gee Gee Rosell, Buxton Village Books, Buxton, NC

GOOD IN BED, by Jennifer Weiner (Washington Square Press, $13, 0743418174) "A Bridget Jones with soul. I wanted to put my arm around the character and say, ‘hey, you are going to be okay.’"--Diana Cohen, Books & Company, Oconomowoc, WI

THE GOOD PEOPLE OF NEW YORK, by Thisbe Nissen (Anchor, $13, 0385720610; May) "An extraordinary first novel and the best coming-of-age story I’ve read in years. You will love feisty Roz and her daugher Miranda, and you’ll both cheer and boo the men who enter their lives."--Kara Howland, St. Mark’s Bookshop, New York, NY

See the Teen and the Children's 76s.

THE GOSPEL OF JUDAS, by Simon Mawer (Back Bay, $13.95, 0316973742; May) This book is incredible, and it hooked me from the very first line. It has it all: romance and betrayal, history (both recent and biblical), and loads of suspense."--Katrina Denza, The Country Bookshop, Southern Pines, NC

GRAND AMBITION, by Lisa Michaels (Norton, $13.95, 0393322955) "Compulsive, vivid, and filled with human drama, this novelization of Bessie and Glen Hyde’s Grand Canyon adventure grips us throughout. This is a winner!" --Laura Hansen, Bookin’ It, Little Falls, MN

HOTEL WORLD, by Ali Smith (Anchor, $12, 0385722109) "This Booker Award finalist weaves its stories around the lives (and afterlife) of five women whose lives tangentially intersect at a particular run-down chain hotel in a nondescript corner of England at the cusp of the millennium. It is an uplifting work."--Anthony Finney, Inkwood Books, Tampa, FL

IN CUBA I WAS A GERMAN SHEPHERD, by Ana Menendez (Grove, $13, 0802116884; May) "A masterful collection of connected short stories about Cuban immigrants in Miami. This book offers an insider’s view of what life was like, and may still be, in Castro’s Cuba."--Molly Beck, Quail Ridge Books and Music, Raleigh, NC

JOHN HENRY DAYS, by Colson Whitehead (Anchor, $14, 0385498209; May) "A complex yet highly entertaining (and occasionally hilarious) yarn that explores the effects of technological revolutions on the souls and bodies of two black men. I would compare it very favorably to DeLillo’s Underworld."--Kevin Ryan, Green Apple Books, San Francisco, CA

THE LAST SAMURAI, by Helen DeWitt (Talk Miramax, $14.95, 0786887001) "This is the best novel I’ve read in a while. It’s an over-the-top intellectual novel that, rather than failing its initial promise, actually gets better and better. It’s wise and funny and beautiful; an amazing first novel."--Nat Herold, Atticus Books, Amherst, MA

THE LAST REPORT ON THE MIRACLES AT LITTLE NO HORSE, by Louise Erdrich (Perennial, $12.95, 0060931221) "This book is a deep journey of spirit, moving through the illusions and realities of sensuality, sexuality, gender, and religious belief. A complex story that is the framework for simple truth."--Linda Bryant, Charis Books and More, Atlanta, GA

THE LECTURER’S TALE, by James Hynd (Picador, $14, 0312287712) "A dazzling novel about academic ambitions, as a college professor does anything to keep his job. Literary theory, semiotics, psychobabble, and sexual identity all combine for a rollicking satire."--Claudia Pino, Chinook Bookshop, Colorado Springs, CO

MARY AND O’NEIL, by Justin Cronin (Delta, $11.95, 0385333595) "My favorite novel of last year is now in paperback. A debut novel that follows two people through college, into marriage, and having children, it’s a story of family relationships that will strike an emotional chord with readers of any age or gender."--Jan Levinsky, The Book Stall at Chestnut Court, Winnetka, IL

MIRABILIS, by Susann Cokal (Blue Hen, $14, 042518532X; May) "Cokal creates a wonderful tension between the often outrageous elements of her story and the precision and mastery of her style. At the center of the story is a wet-nurse in medieval France and her unlikely comrades. A spellbinding, absolutely present tale."--Marjorie Darraugh, Pegasus Books, Berkeley, CA

MOON WOMEN, by Pamela Duncan (Delta, $12.95, 0385335210) "A gritty yet tender look at the ties that bind daughter to mother to grandmother. Even if you are far removed from their rural way of life in the North Carolina mountains, you will find common ground with the Moon women. This book touched me deeply."--Margie Frazier, Frazier’s Books, Lexington, NC

MY DREAM OF YOU by Nuala O’Faolain (Riverhead, $14, 1573229083) "A beautifully written, surprisingly humorous novel about a woman at midlife trying to escape her grief over her best friend’s sudden death. She travels to her homeland, Ireland, to research a novel and finds herself reconnecting with her family and sense of place and purpose. This is all you could wish for in a literary novel."--Linda Barrett Knopp, Malaprop’s, Asheville, NC

NEVER CHANGE, by Elizabeth Berg (Washington Square Press, $13, 0743411331; May) "Who knew that in helping a friend die one could learn to live again. This book was written from the heart, for the heart. I fell in love with all of the characters in Berg’s latest book. A joyful tear-jerker."--Kim Andis, Viewpoint Books, Columbus, IN

NO ONE THINKS OF GREENLAND, by John Griesemer (Picador, $14, 0312283369; May) "This is one of the best books I’ve read in a long time. When we discover what really lies beneath these characters on a secret Army base in Greenland, our hearts are moved beyond belief."--Lynne Shotton Reed, Misty Valley Books, Chester, VT

OUR ARCADIA, by Robin Lippincott (Penguin, $14, 0142001236; June) "With elements of Woolf and Forster, but in an entirely American fashion, Lippincott has created a gorgeous work celebrating friendship, art, and the feminine spirit in life. This is a book that lingers and inspires."--Erik Swallow, Lambda Rising Bookstore, Norfolk, VA

THE PASSAGE, by Connie Willis (Bantam, $6.99, 0553580515) "Writing about researchers looking into near death experience, Willis does her usual fine job juggling millions of details, humor and pathos in one great novel."--Kathy Magruder, Lee Booksellers, Lincoln, NE

PERFECT ARRANGEMENT, by Suzanne Berne (Plume, $13, 0452283221; May) "It is very easy to slip into the separate worlds of these two modern parents. It is even easier to see how each step they took to cope with the demands of modern parenting and two incomes led them deeper into trouble. An engaging, believable, and captivating novel."--Tom Heywood, The Babbling Book, Haines, AK

PINK CADILLAC, by Robert Dunn (Coral Press, $19.95, 0970829302; July ’01) "This novel will transport you to the birthplace of rock and roll as it also chronicles the beginning of the end of Jim Crow in Memphis. The characters are larger than life, and yet believable in the way that it takes giants to effect cultural change. The author knows blues and early rock in the intimate way of a guitarist caressing people’s lives out of his guitar strings. This is one super book."--Bob Spear, The Book Barn, Leavenworth, KS

SALT AND SAFFRON, by Kamila Shamsie (Bloomsbury, $14.95; 158234261X; May) "A Pakistani woman returning home after completing college in America must reconcile her yearnings with her familial responsibility. Her world is a complex tapestry of old ways and new, woven together by family legends and secrets. Shamsie imbues the story with a fresh and uncommon lyricism, mingling drama, mystery, romance, history, and comedy, with a hint of Rushdie-esque wit and magic. This book overflows with pleasures and pure enchantment."--Herman Fong, The Odyssey Bookshop, South Hadley, MA

THESE GRANITE ISLANDS, by Sarah Stonich (Back Bay, $13.95, 0316815586) "Stonich has captured, in a unique way, the essence of ambiguity relationships can have before they mature or break apart. The suspense, as the summer unfolds, holds the reader’s attention in quite a satisfying way. It’s a great book group selection."--Anita Zager, Northern Lights Books & Gifts, Duluth, MN

A TORTOISE FOR THE QUEEN OF TONGA: Stories, by Julia Whitty (Mariner, $12, 0618119809) "A brilliant (scintillating even) collection of stories about a highly original array of characters, ranging from Charles Darwin to a tortoise from Aldabra. Whitty uses her knowledge of the natural world as few other writers of fiction have even attempted. She joins Andrea Barrett in offering fiction of the natural world with vision, elegance and authority."--Elise White, Orinda Books, Orinda, CA

THE TORTURER’S APPRENTICE, by John Biguenet (Ecco, $12.95, 0060007451) "What powerful, haunting writing! I would read one story, take a breath, then go back for more."--Marge Grutzmacher, Passtimes Books, Sister Bay, WI

WOODEN SEA, by Jonathan Carroll (Tor, $13.95, 0765300133) "The latest book by one of the most honored authors of fantasy is rooted in present-day reality. An unusual book, but so readable that the fantasy is understandable and provocative."--Libby Price, Full Circle Bookstore, Oklahoma City, OK

THE WORST DAY OF MY LIFE, SO FAR (Harvest, $14, 0156007185) "I raced through this novel in four days, all the time moved by how it dealt with a fundamentally grim subject--Alzheimer’s."--Dov Cole, DYGNYTI Books, Hamden, CT

See also the Top Ten and the May/June 76.

AUGUSTA GONE: A True Story, by Martha Tod Dudman (Perennial, $12.95, 0060014156) "This is the harrowing story of a mother’s enduring love for her out-of-control teenage daughter. Set in a small coastal Maine town, the author tells of her experiences with insight and honesty."--Marcia Rider, Capitola Book Cafe, Capitola, CA

BALSAMIC DREAMS: A Short But Self-Important History of the Baby Boomer Generation, by Joe Queenan (Picador, $14, 031242082X; June) "Queenan, in one of his most vitriolic and funny books, examines what went wrong with the baby-boomer generation. How did the generation that promised not to sell out end up wearing ponytails, listening to Billy Joel, and worrying about the quality of their balsamic vinegar? Hilarious."--Derek McGann, The Toadstool Bookshop, Milford, NH

THE BOTANY OF DESIRE: A Plant’s Eye View of the World, by Michael Pollan (Random House, $13.95, 0375760393; May) "Is it possible that apples, potatoes, marijuana, and tulips used us to further their own survival? Paradigm shifting, impeccably researched, and entertaining; a great read."--Morley Horder, Eagle Harbor Books, Bainbridge Island, WA

COMFORT ME WITH APPLES: More Adventures at the Table, by Ruth Reichl (Random House, $13.95, 0375758739) "This is a warm but sometimes rocky tale, as Reichl’s love of food and writing takes her to Paris, L.A., China, and New York. Her story is irresistible, as we are introduced to familiar foodies such as Waters, Puck and Fisher. If you are a foodie or just have a good appetite, you will savor this book."--Marcus Rector, Builders Booksource, San Francisco CA

DOUBLE FOLD: Libraries and the Assault on Paper, by Nicholson Baker (Vintage, $14, 0375726217) "Due to the invention of microfilm and other data storage methods, libraries are throwing away tons of old newspapers, pamphlets, maps, and books. Baker makes a very strong argument in support of keeping all of our historical material intact and preserved for future generations. This is an eye-opening reading experience." --T. Cantrell, Hawley-Cooke Booksellers, Louisville, KY

DRAGON SEEKERS: How an Extraordinary Circle of Fossilists Discovered the Dinosaurs and Paved the Way for Darwin, by Christopher McGowan (Perseus, $17, 0738206733; May) "This is an amazing account of the early Victorian naturalists, geologists, and eccentrics who were the first to search out the remains of dinosaurs. These men and women made great strides in our understanding of fossils, but their discoveries have been forgotten in the post-Darwin era. Their stories are told here with all of the excitement of a first discovery."--Felice Farrel, Ariel Booksellers, New Paltz, NY

MILKING THE MOON: A Southerner’s Story of Life on this Planet, by Eugene Walter, as told to Katherine Clark (Three Rivers, $14, 0609809652) "This memoir has all of Capote’s piquant garrulousness and Welty’s sweetness and exquisite attention to detail. No one has captured this slice of the ’60s as well as the legendary bon vivant Eugene Walter, who always seemed to be in the middle of big things wherever he was."--Lisa Howorth, Square Books, Oxford, MS

NICKEL AND DIMED: On (Not) Getting By in America, by Barbara Ehrenreich (Owl, $13, 0805063897; May) "What began as an almost quirky journalistic experiment has come together as a great economic and social study of America’s modern working class and the struggles that are faced by much of our population. This is a must read."--Ivy Langtree, R.J. Julia’s, Madison, CT

THE PIANO SHOP ON THE LEFT BANK: Discovering a Forgotten Passion in a Paris Atelier, by Thad Carhart (Random House, $13.95, 0375758623) "Carhart becomes friends with the owner of an old Parisian piano store, and his visits become an education about the history and art of pianos and their sound. This is a wonderful look at a little piece of Paris and the world of music."--Debbie Lane, Bookshelf, Truckee, CA

POSITIVELY 4TH STREET: The Lives and Times of Joan Baez, Bob Dylan, Mimi Baez Farina, and Richard Farina, by David Hajdu (North Point Press, $14, 086547642X) "Hajdu takes the reader through the early days of folk music (Guthrie, Leadbelly, Seeger) right up through the birth of rock. This is the stuff of modern music myth made fresh for all of us today."--Corey Mesler, Burke’s Book Store, Memphis, TN

A PRIMATE’S MEMOIR: A Neuroscientist’s Unconventional Life Among the Baboons, by Robert Sapolsky (Touchstone, $14 paper, 0743202414) "The author’s life with a baboon troop in Kenya is funny (sometimes very funny) and fascinating (baboons really are a lot like us). I highly recommend this book."--Judy Rodel, Downtown Books, Hudson, WI

RIVER TOWN: Two Years on the Yangtze, by Peter Hessler (Perennial, $13.95, 0060953748) "Peace Corps volunteer Hessler describes a striking, baffling city in sparkling prose. This is the Paris to the Moon of China."--Esther James, Politics & Prose, Washington, DC

ROAD ANGELS: Searching for Home on America’s Coast of Dreams, by Kent Nerburn (HarperSanFrancisco, $14, 0060698683; June) "Nerburn travels the West Coast from Canada to Big Sur in search of a release from his past, evoking memories of Stegner, Pirsig, and so many others who have gone West and on the road looking for a new beginning."--Leon Zimlich, Chaucer’s Books, Santa Barbara, CA

RUNNING AFTER ANTELOPE, by Scott Carrier (Counterpoint, $14, 1582431795) "I just love this book. It’s an episodic memoir anchored by Carrier’s ongoing quixotic attempts to catch a pronghorn antelope on foot. Carrier’s voice is like a cross between Sedaris and Shepard. Sometimes he seems so damn serious and existential that you almost don’t realize that he is being funny."--Christopher Hubbuch, Ruminator Books, St. Paul, MN

SEASON OF THE BODY: Essays, by Brenda Miller (Sarabande, $14.95, 1889330698) "A remarkable collection of creative nonfiction. Miller connects her experiences of the body, her body and the bodies of others, in a language so personal and yet so moving I found myself teary. These essays are also infused with her sense of spirituality. These sensual pieces are one woman’s tribute to bodies, hers and ours."--Jeanne Fondrie, Village Books, Bellingham, WA

SOMEHOW FORM A FAMILY: Stories That Are Mostly True, by Tony Earley (Algonquin, $13, 1565123603; May) "Having read this book I now understand why Earley is so highly regarded. These essays are brilliant! They are personal, but the themes are universal. Like his short stories, Earley presents his characters in a way that you come to understand and care for them as if they were your own family."--Jerry Bilek, St. Olaf Bookstore, Northfield, MN

STRETCHING LESSONS: The Daring That Starts from Within, by Sue Bender (HarperSanFrancisco, $14.95, 0062516833; May) "I finished this with an immense feeling of gratitude to Bender, as she allows readers to follow her earnest efforts to stretch her body and soul, to become bigger, braver, and more honestly herself. I instantly wanted to share this book with my mother, my sister, and, well, just about every woman I know."--Linda Urban, Vroman’s Bookstore, Pasadena, CA

TOO CLOSE TO THE FALLS, by Catherine Gildiner (Penguin, $14, 014200040X) "This is a richly funny memoir of a precocious child who at the age of four begins to help out at the family pharmacy. She has lots of adventures, including a brush with celebrity when she delivers a prescription to Marilyn Monroe on the set of Niagara. One of our absolutely favorite books to recommend."--Suzanne DeGaetano, Mac’s Backs Paperbacks, Cleveland Heights, OH

TOUCHING MY FATHER’S SOUL: A Sherpa’s Journey to the Top of Everest, by Jamling Tenzing Norgay (HarperSanFrancisco, $14.95, 0062516884; May) "The son of the first Sherpa to reach the Everest’s summit has written a deeply affecting book. It’s as much a journey into self and family as it is an account of a successful ascent of Everest during the disastrous 1996 season. We are richer for his trip."--Robby Bick, Bunch of Grapes, Vineyard Haven, MA

A VOYAGE FOR MADMEN, by Peter Nichols (Perennial, $13.95, 0060957034; June) "This is the story of nine men who set out in 1968 to be the first to sail solo around the world. Nichols does a masterful job of weaving their stories into a gripping narrative. I found this book harder to put down than any in memory."--Tom Allen, Stacey’s Bookstore, San Francisco, CA

UPHILL WALKERS: Portrait of a Family, by Madeleine Blais (Grove, $13, 0802138926; May) "I thoroughly enjoyed being introduced to the Blais family. Loved the biting wit, references to those ‘feisty ’50s’ nuns, and reminiscing over the incredible social innocence of the times."--Susan H. Waite, Harry W. Schwartz Bookshops, Brookfield, WI

WALKING THE BIBLE: A Journey by Land Through the Five Books of Moses, by Bruce Feiler (Perennial, $14.95, 0380807319) "A wonderful book that takes readers on an unforgettable journey. Walking the Bible brings the Old Testament to life and makes it accessible to all."--Brian Lapidus, Chapter 11 Books, Atlanta, GA