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The Book Sense
Summer 2008 Reading Group Picks
1. LOVING FRANK: A Novel,
by Nancy Horan (Ballantine, $14, 9780345495006 /
0345495004) "Loving Frank is a book that will stay with
you long after the book group moves on. Though a novel, it is
a work of historical significance painting a glimpse of life
at the turn of the last century. It tells of the familiar
conflict in the duty and honor of being a wife and mother
while seeking true fulfillment as a woman apart from those
titles. This story is very much about culture, influence,
vocation, and what we could possibly gain or give up in our
quest for such things." --Bridget Rothenberger, Nomad
Bookhouse, Jackson, MI
2. THE GATHERING, by Anne
Enright (Grove Press, Black Cat, $14, 9780802170392 /
0802170390) "It may have been the Booker Prize that brought
this book to the forefront of the collective consciousness,
but Enright's dark, rich novel of an Irish-Catholic family
facing tragedy is echoing and dark, but full of emotion in the
spaces between. One of the most powerful books I've read this
year." --Russ Marshalek, Wordsmiths Books, Decatur, GA
3. THE TENDERNESS OF WOLVES:
A Novel, by Stef Penney (Simon & Schuster, $15,
9781416571308 / 1416571302) "This beautiful first novel is set
in 1867, in a small settlement in the Northern Territory.
Penny skillfully blends in mystery, history, and adventure in
the story of local outsider Mrs. Ross, who realizes her son is
a prime suspect for a murder. When several groups of searchers
set off across the frozen landscape in search of answers,
Penney manages to deftly reveal the stories behind each of the
characters. This is a great book group selection." --Leslie
Reiner, Inkwood Books, Tampa, FL
4. LUNCHEON OF THE BOATING
PARTY, by Susan Vreeland (Penguin, $15, 9780143113522 /
0143113526) "Renoir comes alive on the page! His intense joy
in color and light will bring you to look at the world with
new eyes. His sensuous pleasure in painting, as if he is
touching the subject, adds to the experience. I found this
book about the painting of a great picture and the people who
posed fascinating." --Deon Stonehouse, Sunriver Books,
Sunriver, OR
5. ANIMAL, VEGETABLE, MIRACLE:
A Year of Food Life, by Barbara Kingsolver, with Steven
L. Hopp and Camille Kingsolver (Harper Perennial, $14.95,
9780060852566 / 0060852569) "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle
inspires! Humorous and eminently sensible reading, whether or
not you follow author Barbara Kingsolver's family's example of
consuming only locally grown food for one year. Long live the
'locovore'!" --Joan Belongia and Diane Burns, Brown Street
Books, Rhinelander, WI
6. KABUL BEAUTY SCHOOL: An
American Woman GoesBehind The Veil, by Deborah Rodriguez
and Kristin Ohlson (Random House Trade Paperbacks,
$14.95,9780812976731 / 0812976738) "Deborah Rodriguez takes us
on a tour of Afghanistan that is sometimes funny, sometimes
sad, and always enlightening. Using her cosmetology skills,
she teaches Afghani women a trade that can provide them with
some income and independence. Along the way, we share her
friendships, cross-cultural miscommunications, and the
frustrations of living in a place where personal safety,
electricity, and hot water are never guaranteed." --Jenny
Stroyeck, The Homer Bookstore, Homer, AK
7. THE UNCOMMON READER: A
Novella, by Alan Bennett (FSG, $15 hardcover,
9780374280963 / 0374280967) "This delightful novella imagines
what might happen if Queen Elizabeth became addicted to
reading. A joy from start to finish!" --Carol Schneck,
Schuler Books & Music, Okemos, MI
8. A THREE DOG LIFE, by Abigail
Thomas (Harvest, $13, 9780156033237 / 0156033232) "Abigail
Thomas' memoir recounts life after her husband sustains a
traumatic brain injury. Her story is the pain and joy of the
human condition distilled in a small volume. She weaves a new
cloth of love from what was and what is. A truly memorable
read." --Donna Bucholz, Mostly Books, Gig Harbor, WA
9. OUT STEALING HORSES, by Per
Petterson (Picador, $14, 9780312427085 / 0312427085) "This
beautifully translated story, set in Norway during World War
II, will give readers a fresh perspective on the far-reaching
effects of the war in the Scandinavian peninsula.
Relationships are not what they seem, and secrets and duty
preempt a family's struggle to cope with loss. The book
unfolds with the beauty of nature as a backdrop, and it
delights like a rich and colorful gallery of photographs." --Tom
Heywood, The Babbling Book, Haines, AK
10. THE KNITTING CIRCLE: A
Novel, by Ann Hood (Norton, $13.95, 9780393330441 /
0393330443) "A beautiful story about loss and healing, and the
ways in which friendship knits us all together. I couldn't put
this book down." --Susan Francis, Colby College Bookstore,
Waterville, ME
LITTLE HEATHENS: Hard Times
and High Spirits on an Iowa Farm During the Great Depression,
by Mildred Armstrong Kalish (Bantam, $12, 9780553384246 /
0553384244) "Most of us have grown up hearing the stories of
struggle during the Depression, and it's fair to ask what's
different about this one. Kalish has found just the right
balance of wisdom and elegance, not pity, and certainly not
sugar-coating. Book clubs will enjoy connecting the stories
with their own histories." --Beverly Bauer, Redbery Books,
Cable, WI
MCCARTHY'S BAR: A Journey of
Discovery in Ireland, by Pete McCarthy (St. Martin's,
$14.95, 9780312311339 / 0312311338) "Pete McCarthy's account
of travels in his mother's home country of Ireland is simply
the funniest book ever!" --Rich Rennicks, Malaprop's
Bookstore/Cafe, Asheville, NC
TRUCK: A Love Story, by
Michael Perry (Harper Perennial, $13.95, 9780060571184 /
0060571187) "Perry's incredibly funny memoir invites you into
his bachelor life in rural Wisconsin, where his intentions
drift away from fixing up the rust heap gracing his front yard
and toward people-watching, cooking, and falling in love. This
book is a welcoming chronicle of a midlife growth spurt and a
love letter to his neighbors -- and to the idea of
neighborliness itself. It will make you laugh loudly, gladly,
and often." --Mark David Bradshaw, Watermark Books,
Wichita, KS
HALF OF A YELLOW SUN, by
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (Anchor, $14.95, 9781400095209 /
1400095204) "This novel set during the struggle of Biafra to
establish its independence opened my world." --Lynne
Shotton Reed, Misty Valley Books, Chester, VT
HUNGER: A Novel, by
Elise Blackwell (Unbridled, $11.95, 9781932961508 /
193296150X) "Blackwell's novel explores the many faces of
hunger during the siege of Leningrad in the winter of 1941. It
is not only the overwhelming desire for food that motivates
the narrator, but, also, all the various forms of 'hunger' in
the characters in this short but outstanding novel." --Fred
Powell, Main Street Books, Frostburg, MD
THOSE WHO SAVE US, by Jenna
Blum (Harvest, $14, 9780156031660 / 0156031663) "A
breathtaking novel that explores the reality of choices during
World War II and the repercussions on a woman struggling to
find out the truth." --Lynne Shotton Reed, Misty Valley
Books, Chester, VT
WHAT IS THE WHAT, by Dave
Eggers (Vintage, $15.95, 9780307385901 / 0307385906) "What
is the What is an autobiographical novel about Valentino
Achak Deng, one of the Lost Boys of Sudan. His story is one of
immense sadness, desperate loneliness, and staggering
violence. It is also a story of great beauty, where people who
have endured the severest tragedies form families of lost
individuals, and caring strangers open their homes to those
who need support." --Nina LaCour, DIESEL, A Bookstore,
Oakland, CA
THE FRIDAY NIGHT KNITTING CLUB,
by Kate Jacobs (Berkley, $14, 9780425219096 / 0425219097)
"Six very diverse women become unlikely friends as their lives
begin to unravel faster than the sweater pattern they attempt
to knit during their Friday night meetings. Bonds form,
secrets are shared, and hearts are exposed as these women get
to know each other as well as themselves. Knowledge of
knitting is not a requirement for this story of strength and
friendship." --Cathy Allard, BayShore Books LLC, Oconto, WI
HERE IF YOU NEED ME: A True
Story, by Kate Braestrup (Little, Brown, $25.99
hardcover, 9780316118941/ 031611894X) "Kate Braestrup's story
of how she became a chaplain to game wardens in Maine is one
amazingly soulful book, at once thought-provoking and
reassuring. Braestrup, with her wise, calming, and uplifting
presence, is one person you definitely want in your corner."
--Mary Yockey, Anderson's Bookshop, Naperville, IL
(Paperback available in July.)
POCKETFUL OF NAMES: A Novel,
by Joe Coomer (Graywolf, $14, 9781555974619 / 1555974619)
"This novel has quirky and endearing characters, a majestic
setting, and a well-written story full of unexpected twists
that ebb and flow. It is the unpredictability of life that
reading groups will find of interest -- as well as this
treasure of a book." --Luanne Ripley Kreutzer, St. Helens
Book Shop, St. Helens, OR
THE VANISHING ACT OF ESME
LENNOX, by Maggie O'Farrell (Harvest, $14, 9780156033671/
0156033674) "This novel about a young woman who ends up
becoming the caretaker of a great-aunt she never knew existed
is a compelling story about family, mental illness, aging,
forgiveness (or not!), and much more. An original book with
many themes for discussion." --Judy Wheeler, Towne Center
Books, Pleasanton, CA (Available in June.)
EAT, PRAY, LOVE: One Woman's
Search for Everything Across Italy, India, and Indonesia,
by Elizabeth Gilbert (Penguin, $15, 9780143038412 /
0143038419) "Elizabeth Gilbert has written a striking memoir
about the struggle to pick up the pieces of her life after a
nasty divorce. As she travels to three different countries, we
travel with her and find little pieces of ourselves along the
way." --Cole Farrell, Danner's Books, Muncie, IN
THE HISTORY OF LOVE: A Novel,
by Nicole Krauss (Norton, $13.95, 9780393328622 /
0393328627) "This is the story of a book and how it is
connected to the characters in Krauss's novel. A complex plot
full of mystery, it all ties together in the end and, yet,
leaves the reader with questions. A wonderful choice for book
groups, I read it twice and enjoyed it even more the second
time." --Lorilee Buzby, Califon Book Shop, Califon, NJ
THE SPACE BETWEEN US: A
Novel, by Thrity Umrigar (Harper Perennial, $14.95,
9780060791568 / 006079156X) "Set in India, this novel about
two women born in different circumstances brings home the
issues of prejudice, social barriers, and the role friendship
can play to break those down... or not. A magnificent book
that brings the problems of discrimination right into the
reader's heart and mind." --Leslie Hakala, Best of Times
Bookstore, Red Wing, MN
WATER FOR ELEPHANTS, by Sara
Gruen (Algonquin, $13.95, 9781565125605 / 1565125606) "Water
for Elephants has heart-wrenching subplots and is filled
with characters who will live on in readers' memories -- and
it brings a 1930s circus to life. Ultimately, it is the story
of the power of love, friendship, and kindness. A poignant,
engrossing novel with a wonderfully satisfying conclusion." --Judy
Mathys, Family Book Shop, Deland, FL
ON CHESIL BEACH: A Novel,
by Ian McEwan (Anchor, $13.95, 9780307386175 / 0307386171)
"This beautifully written novel, about two newlyweds who have
no idea how to communicate their fears and feelings about sex
on their wedding night, explores in fine detail the inner
workings of two interesting characters and the dangerous
twists that can arise from the simplest of causes." --Kate
Randall, Antigone Books, Tucson, AZ (Available after June
10.)
MORAL DISORDER AND OTHER
STORIES, by Margaret Atwood (Anchor, $13.95, 9780385721646
/ 0385721641) "This novel-in-stories uses shifting
perspectives to follow one woman's life from the 1930s to the
present day, including her roles as dutiful daughter,
protective sister, replacement mother, and caretaker to aging
parents. It's perfect for a book group because each reader
will finish with a different take on who Nell is and what her
choices mean." --Mark Bradshaw, Watermark Books, Wichita,
KS
THE ROAD, by Cormac McCarthy
(Vintage, $14.95, 9780307387899 / 0307387895) "This is a
cautionary tale of post-apocalyptic America that follows a man
and his young son through our dying landscape and into
unimaginable situations. Horrific and heartbreaking, yet
ultimately hopeful, it is a book that I could not bear to read
but could not put down. With contradictions like this there is
much to discuss." --Judy Crosby, Island Books, Middletown,
RI
THE BASTARD OF ISTANBUL: A
Novel, by Elif Shafak (Penguin, $14, 9780143112716 /
0143112716) "Through the eyes of two young women (one Turkish,
one Armenian-American), Shafak explores some of the most
vexing questions of our time. Are we responsible for the
atrocities committed by our ancestors? What action can the
current generation take to heal the wounds of the past?
Despite the deep themes, this is an enjoyable book full of
energetic, fun characters." --Emily Adams, Third Place
Books, Lake Forest Park, WA
THE DEAD FATHER'S CLUB, by Matt
Haig (Penguin, $14, 9780143112945 / 0143112945) "With a
nod to Shakespeare's Hamlet, British author Haig makes
his American debut with this charming and captivating novel
about an 11-year-old boy who must avenge his father's murder.
Phillip's breathless voice remains convincing throughout, and
his compassion for others and indecision regarding his
upcoming deed are endearing." --Dana Shulz, Snowbound
Books, Marquette, MI
THE FLOOR OF THE SKY, by Pamela
Carter Joern (Bison, $16.95, 9780803276314 / 0803276311)
"Set in the Nebraska Sandhills, Joern tells the story of Toby
Jenkins, an aging widow, and the arrival of her 16-year-old
granddaughter, Lila, surly and pregnant. As long-buried
secrets are revealed, themes of love, guilt, and forgiveness
are explored and characters must choose between living in the
bitterness of the past or moving on to live more richly and
fully in the present. Book groups will enjoy exploring the
beautifully drawn characters in this novel." --Sally Wizik
Wills, Sister Wolf Books, Minneapolis, MN
THE GOD OF ANIMALS, by Aryn
Kyle (Scribner, $14, 9781416533252 / 1416533257) "One of
the simple joys of reading fiction is every now and then
stumbling across a fresh new voice and a great new novel. This
bittersweet tale of Alice Winston's growing up on her family's
horse ranch in Colorado will grab you, hold you, and haunt you
long after you've turned the last page." --Jim McNamara,
Harry W. Schwartz Bookshop, Shorewood, WI
THE MINISTRY OF SPECIAL CASES,
by Nathan Englander (Vintage, $14.95, 9780375704444 /
0375704442) "In a country where lies are truths and truths are
lies, the terror of reality is greater than any imagined
terror could be. Be quiet and you might be safe. Be a young
man who reads books, and you could become a 'disappeared.'
The Ministry of Special Cases tells the story of the
parents of a disappeared son, of how every avenue they follow
to find him leads nowhere, of how anyone they turn to cannot
or, worse, will not help. It is a desperate story that ends in
the only possible way it could. Englander's control here is
brilliant." --Patricia Grant, Windows a bookshop, Monroe,
LA
THE PIRATE'S DAUGHTER: A
Novel, by Margaret Cezair-Thompson (Unbridled, $24.95
hardcover, 9781932961409 / 1932961402) "Jamaica will never
feel so close as when you're reading this fictionalized tale
of Errol Flynn's accidental arrival onto this island and into
the hearts of many of its residents, especially young Ida, who
bears his illegitimate daughter, May. They struggle to fit in
to one or the other of their societies, not quite fitting the
white, expatriate society, nor being accepted by the island
natives. A delight." --Dee Robinson, Village Books,
Bellingham, WA
THE PROMISE OF HAPPINESS, by
Justin Cartwright (Bloomsbury, $14.95, 9781596913790 /
1596913797) "Book clubs will find lots to discuss in this
appealing novel of a British family coming to terms with
changes of fortune. Juliet, the favored daughter, has been
released from a New York prison after serving a term for an
art swindle. As her brother gently eases her back to freedom,
the rest of the family anticipates her return. Writing with
wry humor and an sly affection for all the characters,
Cartwright does a masterful job of describing the redemptive
power of love." --Kathy Zickler, University Book Store,
Seattle, WA
THE BEAUTIFUL THINGS THAT
HEAVEN BEARS, by Dinaw Mengestu (Riverhead, $14,
9781594482854 / 1594482853) "Tackling themes of racism, urban
gentrification, and immigrant identity, The Beautiful
Things that Heaven Bears is a powerful novel that should
appeal to book groups. Sepha Stephanos is an immigrant from
Ethiopia, operating a small grocery store in a poor section of
Washington, D.C. As the neighborhood undergoes renewal, it
becomes apparent that Sepha and his neighbors are not part of
the long-term plan. Mengestu's understated style enhances the
story's poignancy and his gentle humor keeps it entertaining."
--Mark La Framboise, Politics & Prose Books & Coffee,
Washington, DC
BETWEEN, GEORGIA, by Joshilyn
Jackson (Grand Central Publishing, $13.99, 9780446699457 /
0446699454) "This hilarious story set down South tells the
story of the Crabtrees and the Fretts, two feuding families.
Nonny, who was born a Crabtree but raised by the Fretts, is in
between in many ways. A book group favorite that inspired
spirited discussion about everything from deaf-mute
individuals to dieting." --Erica Caldwell, Present Tense,
Batavia, NY
COAL BLACK HORSE: A Novel,
by Robert Olmstead (Algonquin, $13.95, 9781565126015 /
1565126017) "If you choose to read Coal Black Horse, be
prepared to ride out of the sheltered mountain hollow that is
the only home you have ever known and experience a war-torn
landscape that will test you and leave you grasping for
familiar shreds of the world you thought you knew. And when
you return to your world after reading this beautiful and
haunting book, be prepared to see all of existence with fresh
new eyes. I loved and was transformed by this novel." --Daniel
W. Chartrand, Water Street Books, Exeter, NH
FIVE SKIES, by Ron Carlson
(Penguin, $14, 9780143113461/ 0143113461) "Three men, all
strangers and all wounded by their pasts, come together in the
Idaho wilderness for a construction project. As they build,
they also create a family and begin to heal. This is a
beautiful story about the power of male friendships, and the
power of the wilderness." --Lisa Sharp, Nightbird Books,
Fayetteville, AR
LAST NIGHT AT THE LOBSTER, by
Stewart O'Nan (Viking, $19.95 hardcover, 9780670018277 /
0670018279) "Last Night at the Lobster is a poignant
portrayal of lives that often go unnoticed. It's four days
before Christmas, and the last day of business for a Red
Lobster restaurant not making its numbers near a fledgling
mall in a no-name New England town. Manny, the manager, is
stalwart in a job that is often thankless, now facing a
snowstorm that shuts down the town. O'Nan uses brilliant
nuance to tell a deeply moving story of life in the work-a-day
world." --Sarah Bagby, Watermark Books, Wichita, KS
THE ROPE WALK: A Novel,
by Carrie Brown (Anchor, $13.95, 9780307278098 /
0307278093) "In a category with To Kill a Mockingbird,
this is a beautiful story of a friendship between a young boy
and girl as they visit and read aloud to a dying neighbor." --Jenny
Fischer, The Bookstore, Glen Ellyn, IL
STEALING BUDDHA'S DINNER, by
Bich Minh Nguyen (Penguin, $14, 9780143113034 /
0143113038) "Bich Minh Nguyen's memoir captures the many
nuances of being Vietnamese in 1980s right-wing Grand Rapids,
Michigan. To cope with life, she develops three different
worlds -- the one inside her home, outdoors in Grand Rapids,
and in books and television. A great book that I will
recommend to my book club." --Andra Tracy, Out Word Bound,
Indianapolis, IN
THE PULPWOOD QUEENS'
TIARA-WEARING BOOK-SHARING GUIDE TO LIFE, by Kathy Patrick
(Grand Central Publishing, $13.99, 9780446695428/ 0446695424)
"Here's Kathy Patrick's hilarious, down-to-earth account of
her life and how books have affected her -- and how they can
affect you, too. If your bookstore had an exchange
program, I'd love to be sent to Beauty and the Book, Patrick's
bookstore/hair salon." --Elizabeth Haas, Tattered Cover
Bookstore, Denver, CO
THE SECRET OF LOST THINGS: A
Novel, by Sheridan Hay (Anchor, $14.95, 9780307277336/
030727733X) "This story of the search for a lost Melville
manuscript is such a book-lover's book! So much of our
character is revealed through this novel's truly diverse and
interesting folks, and their various connections to and
obsessions with the world of books." --Karen M. Frank,
Northshire Bookstore, Manchester Center, VT
THE THIRTEENTH TALE: A Novel,
by Diane Setterfield (Washington Square Press, $15,
9780743298032 / 0743298039) "A woman raised in a bookstore
receives a mysterious invitation to write the famous, and
reclusive, novelist Vida Winter's untold biography. But is the
account Vida gives her the truth, or yet another fabrication?
This debut novel is an atmospheric and gothic tale that grips
you from the outset and never lets go. Truly a book-lover's
book." --Paul Hanson, Eagle Harbor Book Company, Bainbridge
Island, WA
THEY DID IT WITH LOVE, by Kate
Morgenroth (Plume, $14, 9780452288973 / 0452288975) "On
the surface, this is a light-hearted group of well-off women
who have moved from New York City to the country and have
started a mystery book club. However, one of the members turns
up dead, and Morgenroth keeps the plot twists coming. The
literary criticisms the characters make about mysteries are
just frosting on deliciously complex spice cake." --Lauretta
Nagel, Constellation Books, Reisterstown, MD
THE MADONNAS OF LENINGRAD: A
Novel, by Debra Dean (Harper Perennial, $13.95,
9780060825317 / 0060825316) "In 1941, as the staff of the
Hermitage pack up the contents of the museum in an effort to
protect the treasures from the Luftwaffe, a young docent walks
through the rooms and describes every piece from memory. Many
years later, she is stricken with Alzheimer's and relives
those wartime days because she can't remember anything since
then. A heartbreaking, beautiful story." --Susan Wasson,
Bookworks, Albuquerque, NM
MAN GONE DOWN: A Novel, by
Michael Thomas (Grove Press, Black Cat, $14, 9780802170293
/ 0802170293) "Not a plot-driven page-turner, but no less
riveting, this is one of the most intricately detailed surveys
of interior life I've read. A great work of fiction,
particularly if you judge it by the standard of how it does
the thing that no other art form can." --Sarah McNally,
McNally Robinson Booksellers, New York, NY
MONIQUE AND THE MANGO RAINS, by
Kris Holloway (Waveland, $17.95, 9781577664352 /
1577664353) "This memoir of a Peace Corps volunteer in Mali
and the friendship she develops with a young midwife is
moving, informative, thought-provoking, and great for
discussion. What I learned about village life in Mali and,
above all, about Monique will stay with me for a long time."
--Nancy Felton, Broadside Bookshop, Northampton, MA
WHISTLING IN THE DARK, by
Lesley Kagen (NAL, $13.95, 9780451221230 / 0451221230)
"I'm convinced that Sally O'Malley is real -- she's that vivid
and alive to me. Her sister Troo and her friends and neighbors
are, too. Her Milwaukee neighborhood teems with life's small
pleasures, hard-won joys and nearly unbearable sorrows, all
observed through the prism of 10-year-old Sally's perspective
on life, death, loyalty and love. I'll be recommending this
affecting first novel at every opportunity to customers and
reading groups." --Diana Cohen, Books & Company,
Oconomowoc, WI
ABUNDANCE: A Novel of Marie
Antoinette, by Sena Jeter Naslund (Harper Perennial,
$15.95, 9780060825409 / 0060825405) "The 'abundance' of the
title refers to the wealth of love Marie Antoinette appears to
have for her husband, her children, her mother, and many
friends at court. While the revolution stripped her of her
crown, her husband, and every material possession, it could
not take away her loving soul. I absolutely loved this book
and look forward to recommending it with love to many fellow
book-lovers." --Karen Vail, Armchair Bookstore, Dennis, MA
A GREAT AND TERRIBLE BEAUTY, by
Libba Bray (Delacorte Books for Young Readers, $9.99,
9780385732314 / 0385732317) "Libba Bray's novel may have been
written as a novel for teens; however, the historical setting,
mystery, fantasy, and touch of romance are just as appealing
for adults. Bray masterfully explains the trials and
tribulations for women in the Victorian era and relates the
characters to modern life." --Cathy Allard, BayShore Books
LLC, Oconto, WI
MISTRESS OF THE ART OF DEATH,
by Ariana Franklin (Berkley, $15, 9780425219256 /
0425219259) "A serial killer, suspicion focusing on one
particular ethnic group, discrimination against a female
doctor, politics influenced by money -- sound familiar? Maybe,
but this book is set in the medieval Cambridge of Henry II.
There are timeless themes of prejudice, ignorance, and
intolerance to explore, a motley cast of delightfully drawn
characters, and an intriguing plot." --Nicola Rooney,
Nicola's Books, Ann Arbor, MI
RASPUTIN'S DAUGHTER, by Robert
Alexander (Penguin, $14, 9780143038658 / 0143038656) "Our
book club was 100 percent in agreement about loving this
title. We all were interested in the Romanov tragedy, and
Rasputin is one of the most fascinating characters involved in
the revolution. The novel will prompt discussion of the
parent-child relationships in the Rasputin and Romanov
families and the interdependence of the families, as well as
the effects of revolution on individuals and society." --Deb
McDonald, Garden District Book Shop, New Orleans, LA
CHRISTINE FALLS: A Novel,
by Benjamin Black (Picador, $14, 9780312426323 /
0312426321) "John Banville, Booker Award winner, writing under
a pen name, has written a solid, dark, absorbing mystery, set
in 1950s Dublin, that is full of the history and Catholic
influence of the time. This literate thriller introduces an
intelligent, stubborn hero you will be eager to follow to the
next tale." --Leslie Reiner, Inkwood Books, Tampa, FL
RESTLESS: A Novel, by
William Boyd (Bloomsbury, $14.95, 9781596912373 /
1596912375) "This novel has it all -- a great mystery,
international intrigue and espionage, historical realities,
and family relationships -- and it is written in wonderful
prose. Reading groups will want to discuss war-time
duplicities past and present, mother-daughter differences, and
the strength of women in any conflict." --Helene Meyer and
Kathleen Dixon, Islandtime Books & More, Washington Island, WI
FIELDWORK: A Novel, by
Mischa Berlinski (Picador, $14, 9780312427467 /
0312427468) "Fieldwork is a mystery story within the
story of a journalist with the same name as the author.
Following a lead on an anthropologist found dead in prison,
Berlinski embarks on a journey in which he encounters
missionaries, scientists, and the local people with whom they
interact. Readers of Fieldwork may ask themselves the
reasons for and the effects of fieldwork abroad, whether it be
by a missionary, a journalist, or a scientist." --Carol
Dunn, Northwind Book & Fiber, Spooner, WI
LONELY WEREWOLF GIRL, by Martin
Millar (Soft Skull Press, $16.95, 9780979663666 /
0979663660) "Martin Millar can spin a tall tale with the best
of them, and leave you hiccupping with laughter and smiling
ruefully in recognition. His latest is a story of a confused
young werewolf overwhelmed by the pressures of life, who gets
taken under the wings of two well-meaning, but very naive
students. Offbeat and wonderful, with a sympathy and
understanding for outsiders, the lost, and the lonely." --Rich
Rennicks, Malaprop's Bookstore/Cafe, Asheville, NC
MISTER PIP, by Lloyd Jones
(Dial, $12, 9780385341073 / 0385341075) "Lloyd Jones' novel of
a teacher on a war-ravaged island will seduce you with the
charm of its beginning chapters, but will also shock with an
impact that will leave you thinking about Mister Pip
for some time to come. This is the sort of book that makes you
want to write a fan letter to the author -- and to talk to
your fellow book club members right away." --Andy Lillich,
University of Oregon Bookstore, Eugene, OR (Available
after May 20.)
PEONY IN LOVE, by Lisa See
(Random House Trade Paperbacks, $14, 9780812975222 /
0812975227) "This is the saga of Peony -- the pampered,
cloistered daughter of a wealthy household in 17th-century
China -- betrothed to an unknown suitor but drawn to a man who
awakens in her previously unfelt emotions. See has created a
vivid picture of China under the Manchu dynasty in this
extraordinary novel." --Elaine R. Cremaldi, Square Books,
Oxford, MS
THE SUMMER BOOK, by Tove
Jansson (NYRB Classics, $14, 9781590172681 / 159017268X)
"A modern classic about living both simply and hand-in-hand
with nature. Jansson's episodic story of rural Finland is
moving yet too graceful and mature to stoop to sentimentality.
I can't imagine a book more likely to make readers fall in
love with Scandinavia so completely." --Adam Walter, Third
Place Books, Lake Forest Park, WA
GRACE (EVENTUALLY): Thoughts
on Faith, by Anne Lamott (Riverhead, $14,
9781594482878 / 159448287X) "Delightfully irreverent, yet
faithfully steady, Lamott's contemplative, honest, and soulful
essays on spirituality and life are always funny and full of
heart." --Stacie Williams, Harry W. Schwartz Bookshop,
Milwaukee, WI
IN DEFENSE OF FOOD: An
Eater's Manifesto, by Michael Pollan (Penguin Press,
$21.95 hardcover, 9781594201455 / 1594201455) "Michael Pollan
argues the straightforward argument: 'Eat food'. While this
seems simple and obvious, in the age of 'nutritionism' that we
live in, with all the health claims on packaged foods, it
proves difficult and confusing to simply eat food -- real
food. There is so much talk about what nutrients are
beneficial or detrimental to our health, but it is almost
impossible to analyze the effects of one single nutrient on
our health. Instead, we should simply 'Eat food.'" --Angie
Fesperman, Inkwood Books, Tampa, FL
THREE CUPS OF TEA: One Man's
Mission to Promote Peace ... One School at a Time, by Greg
Mortenson and David Oliver Relin (Penguin, $15,
9780143038252 / 0143038257) "Greg Mortenson has done the
incredible in some of the poorest parts of the world by
building schools and giving children in Pakistan and
Afghanistan what they need most, an education. Required
reading for all of the leaders of the First World." --Claudia
Wohlfeil, University of Idaho Bookstore, Moscow, ID
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