Announcing the May 2004 Book Sense Picks

Here is a preview of the May "Book Sense Picks." This list marks the debut of the new format and structure of the booksellers' recommendations component of the Book Sense program. Thanks to the widespread participation of booksellers from coast to coast, it is an especially strong list, with a wonderful range of titles, voices, and publishers.

Independent booksellers in the Book Sense program will receive in the April White Box the first "Book Sense Picks: Independent Bookseller Recommendations" flier (previously known as the Book Sense 76). The flier is designed for store use during the month of May, and it is one component of a monthly three-part program that also includes:

• Both a downloadable PDF flier of 20 additional titles, featuring booksellers' quotes and designed so that it can be distributed in the store, titled "We Also Recommend….." (to access the May PDF flier, click here); and an electronic file of shelf-talkers for in-store use, which will be available on BookWeb.org the week of April 26.
  

• Online listings of bibliographic information for more titles that have been nominated for this time period by independent booksellers with Book Sense, but that have not been chosen for either of the other two lists. This will also be available on BookWeb.org the week of April 26.
  

Book Sense encourages you to share with us your thoughts, comments, and suggestions as you employ of the new Picks program in your store so that we can continue to work to make the program more effective.

To contact us, e-mail [email protected], or call one of the following people from the Book Sense team at (800) 637-0037:

Mark Nichols, ext. 1241
Dan Cullen, ext. 1250
Jill Perlstein, ext. 1283

1. CANDYFREAK: A Journey Through the Chocolate Underbelly of America, by Steve Almond (Algonquin, $21.95, 1565124219) "Everyone out there was once a kid, and every kid once had a favorite candy, one that he or she just couldn't get enough of. Steve Almond seems to have delighted in them all, and in Candyfreak you will read enough sugar-coated candy lore to make your molars ache. Now, pardon me, I've got to rush out for a bag of mini Reese's!" --Steve Turnbull, Joseph-Beth Booksellers, Lexington, KY

2. COTTAGE FOR SALE -- MUST BE MOVED: A Woman Moves a House to Make a Home, by Kate Whouley (Commonwealth Editions, $22.95, 1889833746) "Take one savvy and determined woman, a Cape Cod cottage for sale, and a cat named Egypt, and you have the ingredients for Kate Whouley's successful addition to her three-room house. Along the way, you'll learn just how much a close-knit community of friends and advisors can accomplish." --Fran Keilty, Hickory Stick Bookshop, Washington Depot, CT

3. THE BOOK OF JOE: A Novel, by Jonathan Tropper (Delacorte, $19.95, 0385337418) "When a successful novelist returns to his hometown, he finds the people he savaged in his bestselling book aren't too happy to see him. This is a very funny novel about how it is possible to go home again -- but only if you pay the price of admission." --Len Cowgill, McLean & Eakin Booksellers, Petoskey, MI Also a Random House Audio (0739311379, Abridged CD)

4. THE JANE AUSTEN BOOK CLUB: A Novel, by Karen Joy Fowler (Putnam/Marian Wood Book, $23.95, 0399151613) "The members of the Jane Austen book club form surprising new relationships in a novel that is clever without being cold, moving without being saccharine, and delightfully, unexpectedly funny." --Leslie Reiner, Inkwood Books, Tampa, FL Also a Listen & Live Audio (1593160275, Unabridged CD)

5. MY SISTER'S KEEPER: A Novel, by Jodi Picoult (Atria, $25, 0743454529) "As we follow 13-year-old Anna Fitzgerald's quest for medical emancipation from her parents -- after being conceived to save her sister from leukemia -- we realize that some of the most difficult decisions facing us are not ours to make. A wonderful, page-turner of a read." --Mary Lee Delafield, Blue Willow Bookshop, Houston, TX Also a Recorded Books Audio (1402573219, Unabridged Cassette)

6. THE PEARL DIVER: A Novel, by Jeff Talarigo (Nan A. Talese/Doubleday, $18.95, 0385510519) "This is a poignant and tender story about a young Japanese pearl diver suffering from leprosy who is forced to live her life as an outcast from family and society. Talarigo weaves a story about courage and finding a sense of belonging that will leave a lingering impression on readers." --Susan Harrison, The Country Bookshop, South Pines, NC Also a Recorded Books Audio (1402572778, Unabridged Cassette)

7. SCRIBBLING THE CAT: Travels With an African Soldier, by Alexandra Fuller (Penguin Press, $24.95, 1594200165) Here is Fuller's recounting of an unlikely friendship with a white soldier who fought in the Rhodesian wars. Fuller skillfully captures the spirit of the soldier and conveys the difficulty and poignancy of confronting her own war wounds." --Alana Willhite, Colby College Bookstore, Waterville, ME Also a Recorded Books Audio (1402575890, Unabridged Cassette)

8. LIVE BAIT, by P.J. Tracy (Putnam, $23.95, 0399151478) "I loved this outstanding mystery with its Twin Cities setting and refreshingly unique characters. The two cops who investigate a series of senior citizen murders are standouts. Funny, snappy dialogue and a serious, well-constructed plot make this a winner." --Rochelle McKown, The Raven Bookstore, Lawrence, KS Also a Brilliance Audio (1590866304, Unabridged Cassette)

9. DOCTORED EVIDENCE: A Commissario Guido Brunetti Mystery, by Donna Leon (Atlantic Monthly Press, $22, 0871139189) "Donna Leon's latest features likable characters and a masterful tour of Venice along with the reappearance of a truly great detective in the person of Guido Brunetti. This is a wonderful read." --Carol Erfe, Book Tales, Westerly, RI

10. CURSED BY A HAPPY CHILDHOOD: Tales of Growing Up, Then and Now, by Carl Lennertz (Harmony, $19.95, 1400050456) "Warmhearted and wise, this is a wonderful meditation on home, family, and friends, filled with a sage wisdom that comes only with the passage of time. Whether you're a resident of a big metropolitan high-rise or a small house in the hinterlands, you will find great delight within this book's pages." --Joe Drabyak, Chester County Book & Music Company, West Chester, PA

11. THE BODY OF JONAH BOYD: A Novel, by David Leavitt (Bloomsbury, $23.95, 1582341885) "This is a great entertainment from David Leavitt, who reveals the quirks of writers and the underestimated power of secretaries. The story is like a labyrinth: One is compelled to reach the end, and the fun is entirely in the journey." --Erik Swallow, Lambda Rising, Norfolk, VA

12. IN PRAISE OF SLOWNESS: How a Worldwide Movement Is Challenging the Cult of Speed, by Carl Honore (HarperSanFrancisco, $24.95, 006054578X) "This elegant meditation on the pace of our lives is so seductive that the pages seem to slowly turn themselves. Honore makes a case for relishing life in all its facets, from eating and reading to being connected to our communities. His style is as graceful as are his thoughts, which allows his voluminous research to fold seamlessly into the narrative." --Patricia Raley, Readers' Books, Sonoma, CA

13. THE MAPMAKER'S WIFE: A True Tale of Love, Murder, and Survival in the Amazon, by Robert Whitaker (Basic Books, $25, 0738208086) "The stuff of fiction -- except this romantic and adventurous tale is a true story of a husband and wife separated for 20 years in the 18th century world of the Amazon jungle. It captivates the reader with its dramatic twists and non-stop action, and demonstrates the tenacity of the human spirit." --Margaret Ogle, Allegory Books and Music, Gleneden Beach, OR

14. PAST DUE, by William Lashner (Morrow, $24.95, 0060508175) "Lashner's latest mystery featuring defense attorney Victor Carl is a real page-turner. The plot is twisted, and not everyone is who you think they are! Lashner is becoming the best suspense/mystery writer in his field." --Lee Musgjerd, Lee's Book Emporium, Glasgow, MT Also a Harper Audio (0060722967, Abridged Cassette)

15. THE OCEAN BETWEEN US, by Susan Wiggs (Mira, $24.95, 0778320359) "Centering on the family of a senior Navy officer, this is a heartwarming tale of survival. It brought me to tears, but, more important, made me thankful for the blessings we too often take for granted." --Marissa Goldenman, Armchair Books, Pendleton, OR

16. THE CONFUSION: Volume Two of the Baroque Cycle, by Neal Stephenson (Morrow, $27.95, 0060523867) "From opening detonation to final promise, Stephenson's rollicking and anachronistic follow-up to Quicksilver proves that not all swashes have yet been buckled. In the literary tradition of Barth, Pynchon, and Dumas, this is a most satisfying and enjoyable read." --Russ Harvey, Cody's Books, Berkeley, CA

17. NOT EVEN WRONG: Adventures in Autism, by Paul Collins (Bloomsbury, $24.95, 1582343675) "Not Even Wrong is a brilliantly written look at the development of Collins' son, as the family realizes that the boy has autism and begins to deal with it. Not only is this fascinating reading, but it is also a very practical and valuable tool for anyone looking to learn more about autism." --Donna Cressman, Maxwell Books, De Soto, TX

18. DARK NIGHTS OF THE SOUL: A Guide to Finding Your Way Through Life's Ordeals, by Thomas Moore (Gotham, $27.50, 1592400671) "In this engaging and profound approach to life's difficulties, Moore shuns the quick fix and asks us to embrace our troubles and develop our individual souls. Written simply but passionately." --Jan Owens, Millrace Books, Farmington, CT Also a Penguin Audio (0142800538, Unabridged CD)

19. PRINCE EDWARD: A Novel, by Dennis McFarland (Holt, $25, 0805068333) "This is the story of two unforgettable families living valiant lives despite troubled times in Virginia, when there is fierce conflict over a mandate to desegregate the state's public schools. A hugely affecting novel, both for what it delivers and what it evokes." --Bonnie Reynolds, Small World Books, Venice, CA

20. THE GARDENS OF EMILY DICKINSON, by Judith Farr, with Louise Carter (Harvard University Press, $26.95, 0674012933) "Farr's newest book eloquently delves into Dickinson the gardener, whose passion for and knowledge of flowers was a constant source for her writing. This is essential reading for the poet's large and loyal audience, and gardeners, too. And the book itself is a work of art!" --Terri Merz, Chapters -- A Literary Bookstore, Washington, DC