The Summer Paperback Book Sense 76

1. EVERYTHING IS ILLUMINATED: A Novel, by Jonathan Safran Foer (Perennial, $13.95, 0060529709) "If you missed this exceptional novel in hardcover last year, you missed one of the most satisfying books published in recent years. An unforgettable novel that is sure to stand the test of time." -- Holly Van Lyssel, Beaucoup Books, New Orleans, LA

2. THE DIVE FROM CLAUSEN'S PIER: A Novel, by Ann Packer (Vintage, $14, 0375727132) "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. At the book’s close, I felt an unexpected satisfaction and pleasure with the heroine’s decisions." --Leslie Reiner, Inkwood Books, Tampa, FL

3. LIFE OF PI: A Novel, by Yann Martel (Harvest, $14, 0156027321) "Martel weaves a brilliant tale that is part adventure story and part spiritual quest. The part of the book that relates how Pi becomes a practicing Hindu/Moslem/Christian is worth the price of the book, and the portion that deals with Pi and a Bengal tiger adrift on the ocean in a lifeboat together is everything you might imagine and more." --Stephen Grutzmacher, Passtimes Books, Sister Bay, WI A 2003 Book Sense Book of the Year Fiction Finalist

4. RUNNING WITH SCISSORS: A Memoir, by Augusten Burroughs (Picador, $14, 031242227X) "This book is like a hybrid offspring of the writings of Derrick Jensen and David Sedaris, as the author’s story is both insightful and humorous. Anyone who reads this book will have a greater understanding and respect for those who had difficult or unusual circumstances or challenges in their youth. I highly recommend this book." --Lin Orndorf, Malaprop's Bookstore and Café, Asheville, NC A 2003 Book Sense Book of the Year Nonfiction Finalist

5. THE SOLACE OF LEAVING EARLY: A Novel, by Haven Kimmel (Anchor, $13, 1400033349) "This novel is terrific. I love these characters for having absorbed literature and philosophy, and then remembering it as they tried to make sense of their lives and others. Flawed as they were, so many of the characters were so good and lovable. I'll be handselling this book starting the minute it comes in." --Diane Leslie, Dutton’s Brentwood Bookstore, CA

6. THE EMPEROR OF OCEAN PARK: A Novel, by Stephen L. Carter (Vintage, $14, 0375712925) "This fantastic literary mystery is the perfect substitute for War and Peace this summer. At 650 pages, it is well worth the time and energy. The main character's challenge to solve the puzzle left behind by his dead father keeps the pages turning, and the descriptions of the characters and their complicated relationships are fascinating." --Terry Lucas, The Open Book, Westhampton Beach, NY

7. DREAMING WATER: A Novel, by Gail Tsukiyama (Griffin, $12.95, 0312316089) "I loved Tsukiyama's previous books, and although Dreaming Water is very different in content -- taking place in the U.S. -- it features the same sensitive portrayal of women's relationships." --Jean Martin, Joseph-Beth Booksellers, Cleveland, OH

8. INTO THE FOREST: A Novel, by Edna O’Brien (Mariner, $13, 0618339655) "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

9. PRAGUE: A Novel, by Arthur Phillips (Random House, $13.95, 0375759778) "The setting is Budapest in the ’90s, when locals thought far more was happening in Prague. The bars and cafes salute the Jazz Age, catering to a generation in search of riches, the past, and a culture to call their own, but not ready to face the truth. I loved this book." --Barbara Theroux, Fact & Fiction, Missoula, MT

10. MUST LOVE DOGS: A Novel, by Claire Cook (Onyx Books, $6.99, 0451410947) "This book has one of the funniest first chapters I've ever read, and the hilarity mounts from there. A recently divorced preschool teacher is reentering the dating scene at the behest of her large, Irish-Catholic family, who try to set her up with someone... anyone. Zany, colorful characters and a plot with a Murphy's Law kind of inevitability make this a great, fun read." -- Jill Miner, Saturn Booksellers, Gaylord, MI

THE AUTOGRAPH MAN, by Zadie Smith (Vintage, $14, 037570387X) "The autograph man in this engaging novel is Alex-Li Tandem, who collects and sells memories in the form of autographs. Most are even authentic. With humor and sensitivity Smith explores the dreams that motivate all of us --from the most low-down to the lofty." --Anna Cloninger, Carytown Books, Richmond, VA

BEAR ME SAFELY OVER, by Sheri Joseph (Grove, $13, 0802139841) "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 Book Shop, West Lafayette, IN

DEATH AND NIGHTINGALES, by Eugene McCabe (Bloomsbury USA, $13.95, 1582342784) "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 City of Books, Portland, OR

DESIRABLE DAUGHTERS, by Bharati Mukherjee (Hyperion, $13.95, 0786885157) "Mukherjee writes of three sisters from a wealthy Calcutta family, two in the U.S. and one remaining in India. As the youngest sister tries to unearth and understand the past she thought they all shared, we learn about India, about families, about ourselves, and about Mukherjee's fabulous skills as a storyteller and artist." --Wendy Leavens, Wild Iris Books, Gainesville, FL

DIRT MUSIC, by Tim Winton (Scribner, $14, 0743228480) "This literary page-turner by the fantastic Australian novelist is set in a fishing village in Western Australia, where opposing local histories become intertwined through the actions of the female protagonist -- a newcomer to the village whose relationship with two men sets off a chain of unnerving events. The novel achieves a great stylistic feat by allowing the characters' motivations, both known and unknown, power the momentum." --Jamie Kornegay, Square Books, Oxford, MS

THE DREAM OF SCIPIO, by Iain Pears (Riverhead, $14, 1573229865) "Pears' latest novel weaves the stories of three apparently very different men from the same Provençal town, all struggling with the devastating historical events of their times: the barbarian invasion of Roman Gaul, the Black Plague, and Nazi occupation. Each character grapples with the moral questions generated by an ancient text called the Dream of Scipio. This book tingled my intellect with such rich characters; it is simply a joy to read." --Kerry Skiffington, Deerleap Books, Bristol, VT

THE ELEGANT GATHERING OF WHITE SNOWS, by Kris Radish (Bantam, $10, 0553382411) "I wish I could buy a copy for every woman I've ever met. A group of Wisconsin women who have a so-called 'study group' -- but who really just get together to be together --decide to take a walk one night, and they just keep walking. I am so in love with this book, their stories, and their relationships with each other. This book deserves a bigger audience." --Susan Wasson, Bookworks, Albuquerque, NM

THE FOOD TASTER, by Peter Elbling (Plume, $13, 0452284341) "This 'memoir' of a 16th century court food taster 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

HAPPINESS, by Will Ferguson (Perennial, $12.95, 006052510X) "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

HIMALAYAN DHABA, by Craig Joseph Danner (Plume, $13, 0452283876) "Following in the footsteps of her dead husband, a physician's assistant journeys to a remote Indian village, where she reluctantly assumes responsibility for a rudimentary hospital. An uncommonly satisfying first novel sparkling with remarkably accurate descriptions of everything from sky and sounds to the innermost thoughts of a Himalayan villager." --Scott Foley, Grass Roots Books & Music, Corvallis, OR

HOPE SPRINGS [Originally published under the title GARDEN OF FAITH], by Lynne Hinton (HarperSanFrancisco, $13.95, 0062517473) "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

THE HORNED MAN, by James Lasdun (Norton, $13.95, 0393324389) "The word 'riveting' might well have been coined to describe this first-person narration that never lets up. Lawrence Miller, professor at a small upstate New York college, is clearly unraveling, but what's not so clear is why. With an elegant economy of language, and without a detail overlooked, this is entertainment of a high order. Read it in one go." --Chuck Pacheco, Harvard Book Store, Cambridge, MA

INSTANCES OF THE NUMBER 3, by Salley Vickers (Picador, $14, 0312421125) "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

LA TOUR DREAMS OF THE WOLF GIRL, by David Huddle (Mariner, $13, 0618340777) "The imagery of this book is written with a painter's brush, with many layers and a vivid portrayal of the human experience. Just enough information, with just enough restraint." --Naomi McEneely, Lake Forest Book Store, Lake Forest, IL

LULLABY, by Chuck Palahniuk (Anchor, $13.95, 0385722192) "A witty horror story that follows a reporter as he uncovers the truth behind a string of sudden infant death syndrome cases and a lullaby that once spoken or thought will kill anyone in its path. An original novel that dissects the desire for power while it speaks to the chaos in which we live. Beware: It is not for the faint at heart." --Alissa Haslam, Broadway Books, Portland, OR

MAGNETIC FIELD(S), by Ron Loewinsohn (Dalkey Archive, $13.50, 1564782824) "First published in 1983, this compelling, richly imagined novel is an exploration of our connections with things, with people and, ultimately, with our relationship with place. At times shockingly violent, at others surprisingly lyrical, Magnetic Fields envelopes us in the interrelated worlds of its characters, and explores the coincidental patterns of their lives." --Douglas A. Carlsen, Whitman College Bookstore, Walla Walla, WA

MEET JOHN TROW, by Thomas Dyja (Penguin, $14, 014200295X) "A marketing exec going through a mid-life crisis seeks excitement by joining Civil War reenactments. In studying the dead soldier's persona he has been assigned to recreate, he finds himself becoming possessed by the soldier's spirit. The author really nails the Civil War buff mentality, and his characters are treated with an even hand. This is a very well-crafted novel." --Bob Spear, The Book Barn, Leavenworth, KS

MILK GLASS MOON: A Big Stone Gap Novel, by Adriana Trigiani (Ballantine, $13.95, 0345445856) "The third book in a series about Ave Maria Mulligan of Big Stone Gap in the Blue Ridge Mountains; the story takes us through the trials and tribulations of raising a teenage and willful daughter to losing life-long and true friends. This is definitely a series worth starting." --Diane Campbell, Paulina Springs Book Company, Sisters, OR

MORAL HAZARD, by Kate Jennings (4th Estate/HarperCollins, $11.95, 0007154623) "This novel takes the seemingly opposite worlds of Wall Street finance and the loss of a spouse to disease and shows parallels that one normally would never see. It is amazing that in such a relatively short book, Jennings can address complicated subjects with both the candor and delicacy that they deserve. This novel is one of survival and compassion, and it is a must read." --Maret Orliss, Vroman's Bookstore, Pasadena, CA

NECTAR, by David Fickett (Forge, $14.95, 076530175X) "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. Fickett truly captures the time, place, and people." --Rita Moran, Apple Valley Books, Winthrop, ME

PASADENA, by David Ebershoff (Random House, $13.95, 0812968484) "This is one of the best books we've read in recent years! Ebershoff establishes the ambience of the changing world of Pasadena in the early 1900s with characters we truly care about. But it is Ebershoff's brilliant, enthralling writing that holds you to the end and beyond." --Jane Dawson and Jane Jacobs, The Concord Bookshop, Concord, MA

PERDIDO STREET STATION, by China Mieville (Del Rey, $7.99, 0345459407, July 29) "A fantastic fiction. An amazing tale. An astounding story. Mieville is an ambitious author of prodigious imagination. Part dark fantasy and part science fiction, this may well be the genre's first masterpiece of the 21st century." --Thomas Gladysz, The Booksmith, San Francisco, CA

THE REAL McCOY, by Darin Strauss (Plume, $14, 0452284414) "Strauss follows up his wonderful debut novel, Chang & Eng, with another historical fiction about the legendary con artist/boxer who became the basis for one of America's best-known slang terms. And when it comes to great writing, Strauss is the real McCoy." --Tara O'Donnell, Paperbacks Plus, Bronx, NY

RED POPPIES: A Novel of Tibet, by Alai (Mariner, $14, 0618340696) "A truly engrossing family saga set in Eastern Tibet, where chieftain warlords ruled the land before the Chinese occupation. The novel is brimming with interesting characters --wonderful!" --Alicia Feltman, Copperfield's Books, Sebastopol, CA

THE SANDS OF PRIDE, by William Trotter (Plume, $15, 0452284422) "A compelling and spellbinding work of historical fiction, set in the early days of the Civil War on the Carolina coast. Weaving historical figures into a cast of interesting and complex characters, from blockade-runners to conscripts from the mountains, Trotter provides a fresh look at life during these times. Quite simply a great book." --Barry Johnson, Books at Stonehenge Market, Raleigh, NC

THE SEASON OF LILLIAN DAWES, by Katherine Mosby (Perennial, $12.95, 0060936959) "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 Ltd., Kinderhook, NY

A SIMPLE HABANA MELODY, by Oscar Hijuelos (Perennial, $13.95, 0060928697) "A Cuban composer returns to his much-loved native country after his recovery from the traumas he experienced during WWII. We then journey with him through his memories, witnessing how a simple song he composed charted the course of his life. A wonderful choice for reading groups." --Lesley Kleiser, Montgomery Book Company, Cincinnati, OH

SOME DAYS THERE'S PIE, by Catherine Landis (Griffin, $12.95, 0312309295) "This is the kind of first novel that makes us glad to be booksellers and fiction readers. Ruth and Rose are an unlikely team, but they bring sass and the wisdom of years to the page. The dialogue is crisp and funny and the setting is beautifully rendered. Delightful!" --Duff Bruce, The Open Book, Greenville, SC

SOMETIMES YOU SEE IT COMING, by Kevin Baker (Perennial, $12.95 0060535970) "This is the quintessential baseball novel, with a little romance thrown in --great for men, women, and even young adults." --Hester Jeswald, Sarasota News & Books, Sarasota, FL

STEP-BALL-CHANGE, by Jeanne Ray (Onyx, $6.99, 0451410742) "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, The Book Rack and Children's Pages, Essex Junction, VT

UNDRESSING THE MOON, by T. Greenwood (Griffin, $13.95, 0312303270) "Piper was abandoned by her mother at 14, and now, at 30, is dealing with breast cancer. Sounds like the ingredients for a sentimental bath of a novel, right? Wrong! This is a lyrical and poetic novel about regret and realization; sad, yes, but it's an engrossing and ultimately satisfying reading experience from a novelist who is one of our favorites." --Donna Urey, White Birch Books, North Conway, NH

WHEN THE ELEPHANTS DANCE, by Tess Uriza Holthe (Penguin, $14, 0142002887) "During the Japanese occupation of the Philippines, the native people suffered greatly. But in the midst of struggling to survive, a group of Filipinos tell magical stories from their past. A wonderful read!" --Roberta Kiemele, Lake Country Booksellers, White Bear Lake, MN

WISH YOU WERE HERE, by Stewart O'Nan (Grove, $14, 0802139892) "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

THE YEARS OF RICE AND SALT, by Kim Stanley Robinson (Spectra, $7.99, 0553580078) "Robinson's excellent novel traces an alternate world history, as Europeans disappear due to the Black Death. The scenario proves fascinatingly timely for our present situation, as his sympathetic characters, reincarnated in numerous lifetimes, live through familiar-seeming clashes between Islamic, Chinese, and Native American civilizations." --Michael Matthew, The Toadstool Bookshop, Milford, NH

YOU'RE AN ANIMAL, VISKOVITZ, by Allesandro Boffa; trans. by John Casey (Vintage, $12, 0375704833) "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 Book Store, Seattle, WA

ATOMIC FARMGIRL: Growing Up Right in the Wrong Place, by Teri Hein (Mariner, $13, 0618302417) "In this clear-eyed memoir, Hein tells of growing up on a wheat farm in the Palouse region of Eastern Washington, about 100 miles downwind from the Hanford Nuclear Reservation. She mingles the simple beauty of her childhood with the heritage of the land -- and, unavoidably, the tragedy wrought in the lives of her loved ones." --Mary Kooyman, Scott's Bookstore, Mount Vernon, WA

BAD BLOOD: A Memoir, by Lorna Sage (Perennial, $13.95, 0060938080) "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

DRESS CODES: Of Three Girlhoods -- My Mother's, My Father's, And Mine, by Noelle Howey (Picador, $14, 0312422202) "If you've wondered how girlhood has changed over the years or why an outwardly successful man could defect to the other gender, read Howey's poignant and charming story of three very different and admirable women." --Karen Maeda Allman, The Elliott Bay Book Company, Seattle, WA

FOURTEEN: Growing Up Alone in a Crowd, by Stephen Zanichkowsky (Basic, $15.95, 0465094015) "No Cheaper by the Dozen! This is an honest, intense book about being lost in the middle. This book really struck a chord with our customers who grew up in large families." --Jo Ann Van Reenen, Nonesuch Books & Cards, South Portland, ME

HOBO: A Young Man's Thoughts on Trains and Tramping in America, by Eddy Joe Cotton (Three Rivers Press, $12, 1400048095) "Cotton is a 20-something, self-proclaimed hobo who has hopped freight trains for the past nine years. Bouncing through what is left of our contemporary frontiers, maneuvering around truck stops and casino buffets, his stories evoke broken American landscapes, brimming with our excesses of consumption and waste. He is a finder and a seeker." --Cleve Corner, Politics & Prose Books & Coffee, Washington, DC

HOW TO LOSE FRIENDS & ALIENATE PEOPLE, by Toby Young (DaCapo, $14.95, 0306812274) "All the horrible things you've ever heard or imagined about rich Manhattan in general, and the Vanity Fair zeitgeist factory in particular, are confirmed in Young's wicked account of his stint as a contributing editor for the premier arbiter of celebrity buzz. Young's short-lived exercise in precipitous downward mobility combines Woody Allen's humor, Christopher Hitchens' bad habits, and Candide's conviction that no matter how lousy things get, surely this is still the best of all possible worlds." --Bob Gray, Northshire Bookstore, Manchester Center, VT

MY FATHER'S WAR, by Julia Collins (Four Walls Eight Windows, $13.95, 1568582609) "I am very excited about this memoir, which follows Collins' father as he does a tour of duty as a Marine in the Pacific, alternating with passages of Julia's youth, where her father and mother are both alcoholics. Ugly arguments and broken promises are counterpointed by nostalgic memories." --Daniel Goldin, Harry W. Schwartz Bookshops, Milwaukee, WI

NO HEROES, A Memoir of Coming Home, by Chris Offutt (Simon & Schuster, $13, 0684865521) "I simply loved this book. Offutt 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 College Bookstore, Northfield, MN

THE TENDER LAND: A Family Love Story, by Kathleen Finneran (Mariner, $13, 0618340742) "The subtitle 'A Family Love Story' is so central to this affectionate story of a 'normal' family beset by a tragedy. Finneran's intelligence and insight bursts from the pages as she describes her parents and her late brother, Sean." --Janet Koehne, Joseph-Beth Booksellers, Cincinnati, OH

A THOUSAND BELLS AT NOON: A Roman Reveals the Secrets and Pleasures of His Native City, by G. Franco Romagnoli (Perennial, $12.95, 0060519207) "Romagnoli is a master at setting scenes and portraying characters. This book will open up the ancient city to anyone who doesn't have an intimate knowledge of it." --Liza Bernard, Norwich Bookstore, Norwich, VT

A THOUSAND DAYS IN VENICE, by Marlena De Blasi (Ballantine, $12.95, 0345457641) "If you've ever questioned the chance of a divorced woman on vacation meeting a handsome stranger, read this. The author catches the eye of a handsome stranger in a Venetian café and romance ensues. A deliciously true story that spares none of the difficulties of starting a new life in a new culture with someone you barely know, but it skips none of the beauty or joy either." --Babette Heistand, R.J. Julia Booksellers, Madison, CT

WHY I'M LIKE THIS: True Stories, by Cynthia Kaplan (Perennial, $12.95, 006051261X, June) "Kaplan is smart, funny, brave, wise, and totally original. It's an amazing collection, one you'll want to read again and pass on to all of your friends. You'll think you're reading the female David Sedaris; it's that good." --Paula Herman, Book Passage, Corte Madera, CA
Suspense for Summer!

BLOOD OF VICTORY, by Alan Furst (Random House, $24.95, 0375505741) "Furst once again follows the dangerous and forlorn lives of Russian, Turkish, and French dissidents, intellectuals, and freedom fighters during the darkest days of WWII. He is our new Le Carré, in both elegant style and intricate plot. Don't miss this, his latest and best." --Robert Greene, Bookpeople of Moscow, Moscow, ID

THE COMPANY: A Novel of the CIA, by Robert Littell (Penguin, $15, 0142002623) "This is 900 pages of fine espionage storytelling that will keep you burning the candle at both ends. The story is of the Cold War CIA, starting in 1951, with both U.S. and Russian recruitment of CIA and KGB agents, whose lives will intertwine and crisscross. I'm hooked." --Jenny Lawton, Just Books, Greenwich, CT

THE LAST BOY, by Robert Lieberman (Sourcebooks, $14, 1402200579) "Part thriller, part eco-allegory, this is a book that will make you sit up and think about what we are doing to our planet." --Jan McKeag, Journeys of Life, Pittsburgh, PA

OPEN AND SHUT, by David Rosenfelt (Warner, $6.99, 0446612537) "A new author for me! I loved this first mystery, new in paperback. It's full of delightful dry wit, and features a golden retriever." --Liz Murphy, Learned Owl Book Shop, Hudson, OH

PERFECT MATCH, by Jodi Picoult (Washington Square, $14, 0743418735) "Picoult is one of my favorite writers, and this is one of her best. Assistant D.A. Nina Frost must deal with the emotional turmoil that comes when a crime strikes her own family. If you have never read this author, this is the place to start. I guarantee you will want to read all her books." --Dana DeVito, Moravian Book Shop, Bethlehem, PA

POINT FURY, by John Maxwell (Pocket, $6.99, 0743453409) "A fabulous thriller! His descriptions were 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

AN INTIMATE LOOK AT THE NIGHT SKY, by Chet Raymo (Walker, $16, 0802776701) "Long summer nights beg long evenings looking up at the stars. Raymo gives us a loving look upward by someone who knows what to see." --Russ Harvey, Cody's Books, Berkeley, CA

THE BLUE BEAR: A True Story of Friendship and Discovery in the Alaskan Wild, by Lynn Schooler (Ecco, $13.95, 0060935731) "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

CAN'T BE SATISFIED: The Life and Times of Muddy Waters, by Robert Gordon (Back Bay, $15.95, 0316164941,) "Gordon takes me to the juke joint where the blues are muddy and the sound is sweet, sweet soul. Muddy hums and hollers -- reminds me that his music, like his life, is a brilliant beat that can't be satisfied." --Lindsay Lancaster, Bookworks, Albuquerque, NM

EINSTEIN'S UNFINISHED SYMPHONY: Listening to the Sounds of Space-Time, by Marcia Bartusiak (Berkley, $14, 0425186202) "This is the story of the search for gravity waves --one of the last unverified predictions of general relativity and a discovery likely to reveal the universe like flicking on a light switch. Bartusiak writes of this heroic task with a care that forgets no one, from Sir Isaac Newton all the way to you, the reader. A wonderful, informative, inspiring read." --Jeff Williams, Olsson's Books & Records, Bethesda, MD

HOW TO READ LITERATURE LIKE A PROFESSOR: A Lively and Entertaining Guide to Reading Between the Lines, by Thomas C. Foster (Quill, $12.95, 006000942X) "I believe every book group would greatly benefit from reading this title -- it could expand anyone's personal reading experience. Without being dry, this book provides a simple framework to help us understand symbolism and the connections between all literature." --Kimberly Hughes, Village Bookstore, Menomonee Falls, WI

NATURAL GRACE: The Charm, Wonder, and Lessons of Pacific Northwest Animals and Plants, by William Dietrich (Univ. of Washington Pr., $16.95, 0295982934) "Who can resist it? You must read 'Crabs,' no, better yet read 'Alder,' on third thought why not 'Dirt' -- oh, heck, they are all wonderful! Dietrich's writing style evokes smiles, charms away your preconceptions, and awakens a new love." --Christine Walrath, Browsing Bison Books, Deer Lodge, MT

SMALL WONDER: Essays, by Barbara Kingsolver (Perennial, $12.95, 0060504080) "These wide-ranging essays compose, for this reader, the most eloquent and beautifully powerful response to the September 11th tragedies. Kingsolver brings her passion to bear on large issues -- globalism, war and genocide, genetically engineered foods -- while embracing the virtues of conservation, wild places, basic human kindness, and, yes, independent bookstores. How fortunate we are to have a brilliant novelist whose keyboard clicks every bit as lively for her nonfiction." --John Willson, Eagle Harbor Book Company, Bainbridge Island, WA

THE VERB TO BIRD: Sightings of an Avid Birder, by Peter Cashwell (Paul Dry Books, $14.95, 1589880013) "Cashwell has a command of words that bring color and character to the dense canopy of the avian world. His stories will comfort and guide all who attempt to execute the befuddled dance of novice birding." --David Henkes, University Book Store, Bellevue, WA

FRENCH QUARTER FICTION: The Newest Stories of America's Oldest Bohemia, edited by Joshua Clark (Light of New Orleans Publishing, $16.95, 0971407673) "This is an engaging mixed-genre anthology that includes authors ranging from Robert Owen Butler to Poppy Z. Brite, from Andrei Codrescu to Richard Ford. A literary gumbo, plain and simple." --Michael Sell, Canterbury Booksellers, Madison, WI

THE REPUBLIC OF EAST L.A.: Stories, by Luis J. Rodriguez (RAYO/HarperCollins, $12.95, 006093686X) "A powerful collection of stories by one of America's most dynamic and gritty writers, Rodriguez's tales simmer with urban desperation. This book is a testimony to the power of community." --Bill Pillow, The Regulator Bookshop, Durham, NC

BATAVIA'S GRAVEYARD: The True Story of the Mad Heretic Who Led History's Bloodiest Mutiny, by Mike Dash (Three Rivers, $14.95, 0609807161) "This is a remarkable, detailed account of a 17th century shipwreck off the coast of Western Australia and the subsequent mutiny and unbelievable rescue by an 800-mile trip in a longboat. Dash writes impressively, bringing this long-lost era to life." --John Bennett, Bennett Books, Wyckoff, NJ

MASTER OF THE SENATE: The Years of Lyndon Johnson, by Robert A. Caro (Vintage, $19.95, 0394720954) "A Texas politician rises to national office through a disputed election that is taken all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, but his leadership abilities grow once in office in an amazingly short period of time. This is the story of Lyndon Johnson during his Senate years, perhaps the most powerful senator in the history of that body, and how he used his extraordinary power to achieve and obstruct, create and destroy." --Jay Clements, Midsummer Books, Galveston, TX

THE ORNAMENT OF THE WORLD: How Muslims, Jews, and Christians Created a Culture of Tolerance in Medieval Spain, by Maria Rosa Menocal (Back Bay, $14.95, 0316168718) "This book is the story of how the little-explored flowering of European Islamic culture informed the language, art, architecture, and poetry of the eventual Christian West. A timely work of history, its implications resonate with the present and suggest what may be possible in a peaceful interfaith future." --Anthony Finney, Inkwook Books, Tampa, FL