The January/February 2004 Book Sense 76

1. THE LADY AND THE UNICORN, by Tracy Chevalier (Dutton, $23.95, 0525947671) "Imagining the creation of the famous tapestries now hanging in Paris' Cluny Museum, Chevalier creates a wonderful tapestry of narrative voices; each one provides a slightly different perspective on the artistic process and the relationships among the characters. If you loved Girl With a Pearl Earring (and who didn't?), you will want to line up for this one." --Robert Sheard, Bookshop by the Lakes, West End, NC Also a Penguin Audio (0142800341, Unabridged CD)

2. THE TRUE AND OUTSTANDING ADVENTURES OF THE HUNT SISTERS: A Novel, by Elisabeth Robinson (Little, Brown, $23.95, 0316735027) "This is a gem of a book. Through hysterically funny, sometimes terribly sad letters from older sister Olivia, we learn all about the Hunt sisters, their family, their trials, their triumphs, and their dreams. Buy one for yourself, your sister, your best friend, or anyone who likes a terrific story." --Elaine Petrocelli, Book Passage, Corte Madera, CA Also a Time Warner Audio (1586215868, Abridged Cassette)

3. RETRIBUTION, by Jilliane Hoffman (Putnam, $24.95, 0399151273) "This first novel is a fantastic legal suspense tale from a former Florida states attorney. I hope Hoffman follows up with more books featuring C.J. Townsend!" --Joseph Biernat, Hudson Valley Book Stop, Kingston, NY Also a Putnam Berkley Audio (039915129X, Abridged CD)

4. ORACLE NIGHT, by Paul Auster (Holt, $23, 0805073205) "Oracle Night is an intricate web of stories within stories, an intriguing tale of love and intuition, fiction and reality. Auster's tale of a novelist and a mysterious notebook questions the depth of subconscious knowledge, and allows the reader room to believe … or not." --Dana Barrett, Coffee Buy the Book, Roswell, GA Also a HarperAudio (0060589841, Abridged Cassette)

5. BET ME, by Jennifer Crusie (St. Martin's, $22.95, 0312303467) "Crusie has another hit on her hands with this romantic comedy, a novel in the madcap vein of the films of George Cukor and Billy Wilder -- updated with plenty of modern-day spice. Witty, sharp, and wickedly funny, Bet Me is eminently satisfying." --Karen Keyte, Books Etc., Falmouth, ME Also a Brilliance Audio (1593553927, Unabridged CD)

6. THE FLOATING BOOK: A Novel of Venice, by Michelle Lovric (Regan Books, $25.95, 0060578564) "Take a mental gondola ride with the lush prose of this tale set in Venice in 1468, wherein three men who dare to publish the poems of Catullus are linked together by a mysterious beauty named Sosia. A dazzling debut." --Tara O'Donnell, Paperbacks Plus, Bronx, NY

7. ANY HUMAN HEART, by William Boyd (Vintage, $14.95 paper, 1400031001) "Using fictional diary entries, Boyd has created a magnificent portrait of a man whose life touches on many of the high and low points of the 20th century. Real historical figures are deftly woven into a narrative so real it's hard to believe the diarist, Logan Montstuart, isn't truly the writer. After following Logan's life -- with its humor, adventure, and pathos -- you'll be saddened when it must come to an end." --Kathi Kirby, Powell's City of Books, Portland, OR

8. SOMETHING RISING (LIGHT AND SWIFT), by Haven Kimmel (Free Press, $24, 0743247752) "Cassie Claiborne hustles pool from the time she's 11 (as taught by her Uncle Bud), while her mother smokes and writes poetry and her sister writes about everything, including their ne'er-do-well father. As she did in The Solace of Leaving Early, Kimmel finds the heart of the matter in the hearts of her characters and manages to tweak the reader's heartstrings as well." --Kathy Ashton, The King's English, Salt Lake City, UT Also a Penguin Audio (1565118359, Abridged CD)

9. READING LOLITA IN TEHRAN: A Memoir in Books, by Azar Nafisi (Random House, $13.95 paper, 081297106X) "Nafisi tells of her life in Iran, her experiences teaching literature at a university, and her secret meetings with a group of women who come together to read and discuss books forbidden by Iran's Islamic government. With Iran and Iraq in the news every day, I was excited to find a book that put a human face on this region." --Terrell Aldredge, Wide World Books & Maps, Seattle, WA

10. PLAYING WITH FIRE: A Novel of Suspense, by Peter Robinson (Morrow, $23.95, 006019877X) "Looking for a tautly woven story with interesting characters and a surprising yet believable plot? Want a tightly constructed thriller with an edge-of-your-seat ending? Either way, Playing With Fire won't disappoint you." --Carol Schneck, Schuler Books & Music, Okemos, MI Also a Recorded Books Audio (1402573707, Unabridged Cassette)

AS COOL AS I AM, by Pete Fromm (Picador, $24, 0312307756) "I am stunned by Fromm's writing, how he gets into the heads of young women and tells their stories so beautifully. His work is sharp, poignant, and full of humor. I could not put this book down -- I had to find out what happened next to the teenage narrator, Lucy Diamond, as she comes of age in Great Falls, Montana." --Margie Morgan, Books By The Way, Vashon, WA

THE AMATEUR MARRIAGE, by Anne Tyler (Knopf, $24.95, 1400042070) "Tyler's latest is a family saga that reveals the joys and terrible heartbreaks that come with forming a family, as well as the shared memories each family member holds. This book held me captivated until the wonderful final pages." --Lesley Kleiser, Montgomery Book Co, Cincinnati, OH Also a Random House Audio (0739310429, Unabridged CD)

APPRENTICE TO THE FLOWER POET Z., by Debra Weinstein (Random House, $23.95, 1400061555) "When aspiring young poet Annabelle Goldsmith meets up with her idol, the 'Flower Poet' known only as Z., she's thrilled at the prospect of an apprenticeship that will help her learn the true meaning of poetry. The last thing she expects to be doing is sewing buttons on her mentor's jacket -- or learning the ins and outs of Z.'s dysfunctional family. In this hilarious journey through academia, author Weinstein is the playful Toto who pulls the curtain aside to reveal the desperation, jealousy, and lust behind the world of prize-winning poets." --Gina Webb, Tall Tales Book Shop, Atlanta, GA

BEULAH LAND, by Krista McGruder (Toby Press, $19.95, 1592640273) "McGruder's collection of literary short stories may be among the best I have ever read. The author's way with words is of a high quality rarely seen in today's writers. Each story is excellent." --Deal Safrit, Literary Book Post, Salisbury, NC

CROFTON'S FIRE, by Keith Coplin (Putnam, $21.95, 0399151125) "It was a pleasure to meet a character like soldier Michael Crofton in such beautifully written prose, and to cheer him on through his adventures, from Little Big Horn to the Zulu war in East Africa. The pleasure of being captivated by the narrator's love of the land, and his family and fellow soldiers, made this the most enjoyable book I have read in months." --Teri Ciacchi, Mother Kali's Books, Eugene, OR

DOUBLE VISION, by Pat Barker (Farrar, $23, 0374209057) "In Double Vision, we meet Kate, a newly widowed sculptor working to hold her life together after a terrible accident, and Stephen, a former war journalist and colleague of Kate's late husband, who moves to Kate's village after his marriage dissolves. Barker's unflinching descriptions of brutal realities are neatly balanced by depictions of the beauty and joy of everyday life. No one brings characters to life quite like Pat Barker." --Carol Schneck, Schuler Books & Music, Okemos, MI

GIRLS IN TROUBLE, by Caroline Leavitt (St. Martin's, $24.95, 0312271220) "This interesting book explores the ups and downs, joys and sorrows, and pitfalls of open adoption. When 16-year-old, pregnant Sara decides on an open adoption with George and Eva, the situation is a painful one, and the reader will empathize with each point of view. The characters are well developed and likable, and the story is compelling." --Linda Vinstra, Great Northern Bookstore, Oscoda, MI

JONAH AND SARAH: Jewish Stories of Russia and America, by David Shrayer-Petrov, Edited by Maxim D. Shrayer (Syracuse University Press, $24.95, 0815607644) "This collection of short stories -- some based in refusenik-era Russia, others reflecting the emigrant experience -- are elegantly written and quite well translated." --Sarah Zacks, Books on the Square, Providence, RI

THE LAST CROSSING, by Guy Vanderhaeghe (Atlantic Monthly Press, $24, 087113912X) "The American frontier comes to life, as does the Civil War … and any other events that affect the lives of Charles and Addington Gaunt. When the two brothers are ordered to find their missing brother, an unlikely search party is formed to cover the vast 'medicine line' frontier of Montana and Canada. Storytelling at its best." --Barbara Theroux, Fact & Fiction, Missoula, MT Also a Penguin Audio (1565118537, Abridged CD)

LONE STAR RISING: The Texas Rangers Trilogy, by Elmer Kelton (Forge, $25.95, 0765308916) "Three of Kelton's novels are collected in one volume. The trilogy tells the story of Rusty Shannon, a boy who is rescued from the Comanche and eventually joins the Texas Rangers. Kelton is one of the best writers of Westerns going. He fuses plot, character, and historical detail into a seamless, eminently readable whole." --Peggy Hailey, Book People, Austin, TX

MOTHER COUNTRY, by Peggy Leon (Permanent Press, $26, 1579620957) "Mother Country is nearly as perfect a novel as any I've read this year. Mala's last summer among her family in 1950s Taylor, Nevada, is so rich in word and deed that she'll always have the past to cushion the present and help her steer toward the future." --Marian Fleischman, Sedalia Book & Toy, Sedalia, MO

THE MOVIES OF MY LIFE, by Alberto Fuguet (RAYO/HarperCollins, $24.95, 0060534621) "Seismologist Beltran Soler finds himself recalling 50 of the most important movies of his life, and author Fuguet shows us what it's like to belong to two nations. (Do you really fit into either?) Movie buffs will love this book, as will anyone who has ever been transported in time by re-experiencing a movie, song, or book." --Jim Harris, Prairie Lights Books, Iowa City, IA

NOT THE END OF THE WORLD, by Kate Atkinson (Little, Brown, $23.95, 0316614300) "In Atkinson's new collection of short stories, Charlene and Trudi shop for clothes in a city on the brink of economic destruction, Heidi's cat takes over her life in unprecedented ways, and Marianne continues to live amongst her family -- even after her death. Welcome to the wacky world of Whitbread Award-winning author Atkinson: strange, magnetic, and completely believable." --Nicole Albright, Village Books, Bellingham, WA

PARANOIA, by Joseph Finder (St. Martin's, $24.95, 0312319142) "This story of high-tech corporate espionage is an exciting read filled with interesting characters and situations -- and it delivers one heck of a plot twist!" --Janet Caldwell, Great Northern Bookstore, Oscoda, MI Also an Audio Renaissance Audio (1559279834, Abridged CD)

THE SAPPHIRE SEA, by John B. Robinson (Morrow, $22.95, 0060527250) "This debut taps into legend, the appeal of Africa (Madagascar, what a place!), gemology, and the international market for great stones. This book is good humored, quick paced, and insightful -- don't write it off as another Indiana Jones adventure. It is more a belated coming-of-age story with juicy stuff from an author who worked as a guide on Kilimanjaro, traded in rare gems, and taught English in exotic locales." --Barbara Peters, The Poisoned Pen, Scottsdale, AZ

THE TURTLE WARRIOR, by Mary Relindes Ellis (Viking, $24.95, 0670032654) "After his older brother leaves for Vietnam, Bill Lucas must find ways to survive his alcoholic father's abuse and his mother's slow descent into mental illness. A mix of characters narrate Ellis' amazing first novel, including Ernie and Rosemary Morriseau -- the very people who eventually pull Bill back from the depths of his sorrow. An unforgettable novel." --Katrina Denza, The Country Bookshop, Southern Pines, NC

ADA BLACKJACK: A True Story of Survival in the Arctic, by Jennifer Niven (Hyperion, $24.95, 0786868635) "This is a well-researched story of an amazing Inuit woman and an Arctic exploration that was doomed from the beginning." --Gary Mundinger, The Corner Shelf, Omak, WA

THE BEGGAR KING AND THE SECRET OF HAPPINESS, by Joel Ben Izzy (Algonquin, $22.95, 1565122909) "Sandwiched between professional storyteller Joel Ben Izzy's real-life story are tales from other lands, old and new, each one giving the reader a new way to think about someone or something. This is a book that begs to sit on one's nightstand and be read again and again." --Anne Holman, The King's English, Salt Lake City, UT

BELUGA DAYS: Tracking a White Whale's Truths, by Nancy Lord (Counterpoint, $25, 1582431515) "A McPhee-like journey into the politics, decisions, nondecisions, and biological research regarding the beluga whale. The author fairly and accurately explores issues surrounding the management of a population of Cook Inlet Alaskan whales that may be on a downward slide -- in part, because of pressure from Alaskan natives who are hunters." --Lee Post, The Homer Bookstore, Homer, AK

THE BOOK OF PROBES, by Marshall McLuhan and David Carson (Gingko Press, $39.95, 1584230568) "Like Kafka and Freud, McLuhan is a writer who is often referred to or quoted without being understood, resulting in a shorthand for cultural conditions that everyone recognizes but few can articulate. This title provides a refreshing representation of the philosopher's work, artfully arraying his ideas as brief statements in the space of the page and setting them against stunning imagery and design work by David Carson." --Michael F. Russo, St. Mark's Bookshop, New York, NY

CORK BOAT, by John D. Pollack (Pantheon, $21, 0375422579) "If you've ever had an outlandish idea and did not pursue it, read this book and you'll be energized to try it. John Pollack actually built a boat out of wine corks and sailed it twice -- the last time down a river in Portugal. A hilarious and touching story about friendships." --Hester Jeswald, Sarasota News & Books, Sarasota, FL Also a Random House Audio (0739310038, Abridged CD)

CRAZY IN THE KITCHEN: Food, Feuds, and Forgiveness in an Italian American Family, by Louise DeSalvo (Bloomsbury, $24.95, 1582342989) "This passionate, often painful memoir of growing up Italian in 1950s New Jersey is brimming with joys, sorrows, and, most of all, food: as a unifying force, a sign of love, and a weapon in the battle between generations. Never mind the Sopranos; this is a real Italian-American family, complete with butcher knives (but no bloodshed)." --Barb Bassett, The Red Balloon Bookshop, Saint Paul, MN

CROWDED WITH GENIUS: The Scottish Enlightenment: Edinburgh's Moment of the Mind, by James Buchan (HarperCollins, $29.95, 0060558881) "From squalor to sophistication, Crowded With Genius showcases the some 50 years that Edinburgh shone as the star of 18th century intellectual Europe, and helped shape the future." --Becky Milner, Vintage Books, Vancouver, WA

DOGA: Yoga for Dogs, by Jennifer Brilliant and William Berloni (Chronicle, $14.95 paper, 0811841677) "One of the funniest books out. Haven't you ever noticed that all dogs practice yoga? The proof is right here! The authors are kind enough to include diagrams for the human equivalents so pet-lovers can join their dogs in these ancient postures." --Lisa Wright, Oblong Books & Music, Millerton, NY

ENSLAVED BY DUCKS, by Bob Tarte (Algonquin, $23.95, 1565123514) "Lester Bangs meets James Herriot in Tarte's very funny memoir. In an attempt to please his new wife, Tarte opens his home not only to ducks but to turkeys, geese, parrots, canaries, parakeets, baby starlings, doves, pigeons, and an occasional rabbit. Readers not usually enamored of animal stories will find themselves captivated by Tarte's ironic wit and engaging storytelling." --Dianne Pohrt, Shaman Drum Bookshop, Ann Arbor, MI

FAT GIRLS AND LAWN CHAIRS, by Cheryl Peck (Warner, $12.95 paper, 0446692298) "It took me about three pages to fall in love with Peck's voice: self-deprecating yet confident, and funny beyond imagining. Ten pages later, I realized she was willing to drive this voice into country few comic writers are willing to explore. If Bailey White were a fat, lazy lesbian from Michigan who didn't care who knew it, she still wouldn't be this funny. She wouldn't make me cry either. Peck's personal essays are the real thing, the work of a woman who has come to terms with herself in a way that few of us do." --Paul Ingram, Prairie Lights Books, Iowa City, IA

HIDING THE ELEPHANT: How Magicians Invented the Impossible and Learned to Disappear, by Jim Steinmeyer (Carroll & Graf, $26, 0786712260) "Jim Steinmeyer is a renaissance man: historian, writer, Disney Imagineer, television producer, and one of the foremost designers of illusion in the past century. Here, he reveals tightly kept magical secrets while spinning a wonderful and compulsively readable tale about how Houdini made an elephant vanish, and how magicians learned to disappear." --Erik Hemming, University Book Store, Madison, WI

IDYLL BANTER: Weekly Excursions to a Very Small Town, by Chris Bohjalian (Harmony, $22, 1400052157) "Bohjalian and his wife traded their bulletproof apartment in Brooklyn for a yellow house in Lincoln, Vermont. His essays paint Keillor-esque images of small-town life, where the ladies' auxiliary still holds a bake sale at the polling station each Election Day. What a delight!" --Jean Sycle Martin, Joseph-Beth Booksellers, Cleveland, OH Also a Random House Audio (0739309145, Abridged CD)

AN IMPERFECT GOD: George Washington, His Slaves, and the Creation of America, by Henry Wiencek (Farrar, $26, 0374175268) "Wiencek focuses on Washington's relationships with his slaves, and his thoughts about slavery. Washington lived in a society and economy that supported slavery. However, after witnessing the bravery of the black troops during the American Revolution, he made a new will, freeing all his slaves -- the only Founding Father to do so." --Pat Kehde, The Raven Bookstore, Lawrence, KS Also an Audio Renaissance Audio (1559279273, Abridged CD)

JEFFREY BILHUBER'S BASICS: Expert Solutions for Designing The House of Your Dreams, by Jeffrey Bilhuber (Rizzoli, $39.95, 0847825647) "The subtitle promises, and Jeffrey Bilhuber delivers. This is the first book I've seen that clearly outlines steps toward an enjoyable process of decorating your home -- without breaking the bank." --Marcus Rector, Builders Booksource SF, San Francisco, CA

THE LAND THAT NEVER WAS, by David Sinclair (DaCapo, $26, 0306813092) "This account of the great land swindle of the nation of Poyais -- 'the land that never was' -- is a compelling look at how easily people take things at face value, and shows how gullible people can be when they want to believe in something." --Tricia Holtz, The Golden Notebook, Woodstock, NY

THE LAST TIME AROUND CAPE HORN: The Historic 1949 Voyage of the Windjammer Pamir, by William F. Stark (Carroll & Graf, $24, 0786712333) "In 1949, a young man abandons his semester abroad in Europe and travels to Australia to fulfill his dream of sailing aboard a 300-foot commercial ship on the last sail-powered passage of Cape Horn. This book succeeds as both an autobiography and a terrific adventure tale." --Doug Wolfe, Dee Gee's Gifts & Books, Morehead City, NC

LIMBO: Blue-Collar Roots, White-Collar Dreams, by Alfred Lubrano (Wiley, $27.95, 0471263761) "If you attended college but your parents didn't, this book will resonate with you. Lubano uses lots of colorful anecdotes and interviews with 'Straddlers' (those raised in blue-collar families, living white-collar lives) to illuminate the class differences between blue- and white-collar America. A thought-provoking read." --Susan M. Taylor, Wellesley Booksmith, Wellesley, MA

1968: The Year That Rocked the World, by Mark Kurlansky (Ballantine, $26.95, 0345455819) "As a veteran of the year 1968, I really enjoyed this book. It brought back memories of a time I hadn't realized was pivotal in so many ways. I was in Paris in May 1968, wandering around among my fellow students, watching the police in riot gear -- 1968 brought it all back, and put it into perspective." --Steve Bercu, BookPeople, Austin, TX Also a New Millennium Audio (1590074459, Unabridged CD)

SLAVE: My True Story, by Mende Nazer and Damien Lewis (PublicAffairs, $25, 1586482122) "Slave retells the story of Mende Nazer, captured in 1993 at age 12 in southern Sudan and taken to Khartoum to work as a house slave. As you read about Nazer's enslavement and her eventual run to freedom in September 2000, you will weep, rage, and shout for justice. I couldn't put it down." --Libby Manthey, Riverwalk Books Limited, Chelan, WA

THE SNOWFLAKE: Winter's Secret Beauty, text by Kenneth Libbrecht and photography by Patricia Rasmussen (Voyageur, $20, 0896586308) "Spectacular illustrations by micro-photographer Rasmussen are literally the stars of this ode to the beauty of one of nature's smallest miracles. Physics professor Libbrecht explains how a snowflake is born and how its symmetry and complexity develop. The snowflakes are coming, ready or not, so be prepared to be awed by the endless diversity of this tiny phenomenon!" --Sue Roos, The Concord Bookshop, Concord, MA

A SPLENDOR OF LETTERS: The Permanence of Books in an Impermanent World, by Nicholas A. Basbanes (HarperCollins, $29.95, 0060082879) "A book to chew, ruminate, and peruse at length. Does it matter if we preserve original material, or only the substance? Basbanes questions, offers multiple perspectives and historic references, and discusses the use of technology in the world of books and documents." --Becky Milner, Vintage Books, Vancouver, WA

TIDYING UP ART, by Ursus Wehrli (Prestel, $16.95, 3791330039) "Frivolity is good for the soul! The author takes a variety of famous pictures and attempts to tidy them up with wonderful, thought-provoking results. A great book for all ages and levels of art appreciation." --Laura Ziock, Altamont Books, Livermore, CA

TWISTY LITTLE PASSAGES: An Approach to Interactive Fiction, by Nick Montfort (MIT, $29.95, 0262134365) "The first book about the history and theory of interactive fiction, also known as text adventures. Lots of great examples." --Caleb Wilson, Davis-Kidd Booksellers, Nashville, TN

WHEN SMOKE RAN LIKE WATER: Tales of Environmental Deception and the Battle Against Pollution, by Devra Lee Davis (Basic, $16.95 paper, 0465015220) "For years, Davis and others have performed the difficult and exacting work of proving the connection between industrial pollution and unnecessary death. The power of this book comes from the very personal way that epidemiologist Davis is able to take dry statistics and use them to tell stories in human terms. It deserves a place in the hands of everyone concerned with public health, the environment, and social justice." --Will Peters, Annie Bloom's Books, Portland, OR

ZINGERMAN'S GUIDE TO GOOD EATING: How to Choose the Best Bread, Cheeses, Olive Oil, Pasta, Chocolate, and Much More, by Ari Weinzweig (Houghton Mifflin, $19.95 paper, 0395926165) "Weinzweig's knowledge of edibles leads the reader to a fuller enjoyment of good food and gourmet dining. A must for cooks and diners." --Harold Hicks, Books on the Bluff, Townsend, GA

THE BOOK ON WRITING: The Ultimate Guide to Writing Well, by Paula Larocque (Marion Street Press, $18.95 paper, 0966517695) "Ah, brevity and clarity -- just what we need! This book explains how to write clearly and is appropriate for all types of writing. The anecdotal style makes it a pleasure to read."
-- Donna Cressman, Maxwell Books, De Soto, TX

THE SOUND OF PAPER: Starting from Scratch, by Julia Cameron (Tarcher/Penguin, $19.95, 1585422886) "Reading one of Cameron's books feels as if I'm getting together with a good buddy. Her friendly prose offers meditative advice on accepting where we are on our creative paths, and on moving beyond our blocks. Her book provides a jump-start for the creativity that is in all of us." --Katrina Denza, The Country Bookshop, Southern Pines, NC

THE CAVE, by Jose Saramago (Harvest, $14, 0156028794) "This is a story of the clash between craftsmanship and the consumer society -- and much more -- told with a rare combination of human richness and philosophical depth, by a master storyteller." --Tom Campbell, The Regulator Bookshop, Durham, NC

HELL AT THE BREECH, by Tom Franklin (Perennial, $12.95, 0060566760) "Franklin is one of America's finest writers. Based on historical events in late 1800s rural Alabama, Hell at the Breech tells the story of a mysterious murder and how it leads a group of poor farmers to form a secret society to punish those they believe responsible. In beautiful prose, Franklin weaves history and fiction to reveal larger truths about human nature and our capacity for good and evil, revenge, and redemption." --Tim Huggins, Newtonville Books, Newton, MA

HE'S THE ONE, by Timothy J. Beck (Kensington, $14, 0758203241) "An extremely engaging book, in which Beck brings us back to the odd-couple gay worlds of Eau Claire, Wisconsin, and Manhattan -- and introduces new characters, who mingle with ones brought back from his first book, It Had to Be You. Beck has made this book even more enjoyable." --John Murphy, Sisters And Brothers, Albuquerque, NM

MRS. KIMBLE, by Jennifer Haigh (Perennial, $13.95, 0060509406) "I love to begin a book without first reading the jacket copy ... especially one like this, where I managed to get well into the book before realizing exactly what was going on. The character of each of the three Mrs. Kimbles was beautifully developed -- and through these women, we learn about Mr. Kimble. What a great book-club book!" --Liz Murphy, Learned Owl Book Shop, Hudson, OH

PARADISE ALLEY, by Kevin Baker (Perennial, $14.95, 006095521X) "An extraordinary tapestry of the events surrounding New York City's Civil War draft riots. The novel follows the lives of six characters, using flashbacks that illuminate the experience of Irish immigrants and African Americans. Baker's book is carefully researched and beautifully written." --Rita Moran, Apple Valley Books, Winthrop, ME

THE SEDUCTION OF WATER, by Carol Goodman (Ballantine, $13.95, 0345450914) "Goodman's sophisticated and well-written novel is a tale of the secrets mothers keep and the daughters who must live with the consequences. When Iris Greenfelder decides to write a biography of her famous science-fiction-writing mother, who died mysteriously in a hotel fire in Coney Island, she sets off a complex chain of events. A great read." --Kate Cerino, Paulina Springs Book Company, Sisters, OR

WAITING FOR AN ANGEL, by Helon Habila (Norton, $13.95, 0393325113) "Habila's voice streams brilliantly from the page in this story of a young journalist who faces conditions both horrific and life-affirming under military rule in Lagos, Nigeria. In a time of confusion, loss, and devastation, we still recognize the story as our own -- finding oneself at the juncture of childhood and adulthood." --Jean Westcott, Olsson's Books & Records, Arlington, VA

WHEN THE MESSENGER IS HOT: Stories, by Elizabeth Crane (Back Bay, $12.95, 0316608467) "These stories, each with fully realized characters, are fresh, fresh, fresh. Crane has wrapped the reality of life up in the beautiful package of humor." --Helen Zimmermann, Ariel Booksellers, New Paltz, NY

THE WOMAN WHO KNEW GANDHI, by Keith Heller (Mariner, $12, 0618335455) "The Woman Who Knew Gandhi examines the bumps to which even a long-term marriage is subject, and is a meditation on growing old. Martha Houghton, whose friendship with Gandhi only becomes public years after his death, is a believable, many-layered 74-year-old. This is a thought-provoking read." --Janet Rhodes, HearthFire Books of Evergreen, Evergreen, CO

THE BREATHTAKER, by Alice Blanchard (Warner, $24.95, 0446531391) "Were the mutilated corpses the result of a countryside ravaged by a tornado, or something more sinister? Blanchard presents a whirlwind of danger, a vortex of clues, and a funnel cloud of mystery in this fascinating and frighteningly believable thriller." --Twyla Peace, Chapter 11, Lawrenceville, GA

THE CODEX, by Douglas Preston (Forge, $24.95, 0765307006) "A billionaire father disappears with his fortune, leaving a note for his three sons that says if they want their inheritance they must find his tomb. This makes for a rollicking good adventure story set in the jungles of Honduras. The three adventurers couldn't be more different, and how they cope with each other, the elements, and other treasure seekers keeps the reader cheering them on." --Diane Cowan, Village Bookstore, Menomonee Falls, WI Also an Audio Renaissance Audio (1593973624, Abridged CD)

DYNAMITE ROAD, by Andrew Klavan (Forge, $25.95, 0765307855) "What a fun read! Klavan has created convincing, believably flawed characters, plus a complicated plot featuring a twisted mastermind criminal -- and a story that's told in an almost sweet way." --Lise Friedman, Dutton's Brentwood Books, Los Angeles, CA

THE KILLING OF THE TINKERS, by Ken Bruen (Minotaur, $22.95, 0312304110) "A masterpiece of mean, spare prose that brings to mind Raymond Chandler. While attempting to find the murderer of several young gypsies, Jack Taylor comes up against all sorts of major stumbling blocks, many of his own making. This is one you'll go back to and reread for the language itself." --Anne Whalen, Brookline Booksmith, Brookline, MA

KISS THEM GOODBYE, by Stella Cameron (Mira, $23.95, 1551667452) "Stella Cameron's vivid characters come to life in this 'twisted' murder mystery that's rife with deep, dark secrets -- and where everyone has a motive for murder. If you enjoy murder mysteries with a romantic twist, you'll truly enjoy this book." --Stephanie Geyer, Village Bookstore, Menomonee Falls, WI

LIFE, LIBERTY AND THE PURSUIT OF MURDER: A Revolutionary War Mystery, by Karen Swee (Bridge Works, $23.95, 1882593782) "An outstanding debut Revolutionary War cozy. Widowed innkeeper Abigail Lawrence must appear neutral as her New Brunswick, New Jersey, inn is forced to house British troops -- although she herself favors independence. Then, one of her paying guests is murdered, and Abigail must expose the murderer while not upsetting the British. This is a well done, edgy wartime story set in New Jersey before the turnpike and The Sopranos!" --Mary Jane Weber, The Town Book Store, Westfield, NJ

MURDER OF A BARBIE AND KEN, by Denise Swanson (Signet, $5.99 paper, 0451210727) "The fun continues in this witty cozy series featuring a school psychologist continually faced with batty relatives, bureaucratic nonsense, and the occasional body or two. In this case, the victims are so 'perfect' almost anyone might have wanted to kill them, and Skye Dennison is right in the thick of the investigation." --Lelia Taylor, Creatures 'n Crooks Bookshoppe, Richmond, VA

THE 37TH HOUR, by Jodi Compton (Delacorte, $21.95, 0385337132) "This first novel features Minneapolis Detective Sarah Pribek, who must find her missing husband. I quickly got caught up in Compton's characters and was disappointed when I turned to the final page. I can't wait for the next book featuring Pribek." --Sue Richardson, Maine Coast Book Shop, Damariscotta, ME Also a Brilliance Audio (1593551169, Unabridged Cassette)

TWILIGHT AT MAC'S PLACE, by Ross Thomas (Griffin, $13.95 paper, 0312315848) "A deliciously complex comedy of intrigue and murder set against the backdrop of the Iran-Contra hearings in Washington. This new edition of an overlooked 1990 novel is part of an ambitious program to bring Ross Thomas' work back into print. He was America's greatest crime novelist, and his sophistication and wit are timeless." --Jim Huang, The Mystery Company, Carmel, IN

OWLS AND OTHER FANTASIES: Poems and Essays, by Mary Oliver (Beacon, $22, 0807068683) "Oliver connects us to the natural world with breathtaking immediacy. This book of bird poems and essays is a joy to behold." --Helen Sinoradzki, Annie Bloom's Books, Portland, OR

STITCH 'N BITCH: The Knitter's Handbook, by Debbie Stoller (Workman, $13.95 paper, 0761128182) "This is the hippest handbook for knitters I've ever seen! The easy instructions and helpful illustrations (and the ultra-cool patterns compiled from crafters all over the U.S.) make this book a must-have!" --Emily Stavrou, Schuler Books & Music, Grand Rapids, MI

WEEKEND KNITTING: 50 Unique Projects and Ideas, by Melanie Falick (Stewart, Tabori & Chang, $24.95, 1584792914) "I'm delighted to be recommending Falick's wonderful new book, which has as its focus quick-knit projects and simple gifts, and which includes family recipes, suggestions for yarn and style variations, and patterns for cozy wearables. A gift every knitter will appreciate!" --Linda Urban, Vroman's Bookstore, Pasadena, CA