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The Fall 2009/Winter 2010 Indie Next List for Reading Groups
Printer-friendly version1. Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet: A Novel by Jamie Ford
(Ballantine, $15, 9780345505347)
"In 1986, Henry Lee happens upon the Panama Hotel in Seattle, where discoveries in the basement bring back haunting memories of the 1940s. Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet tells of family pride, innocence, young love, jazz clubs, and internment. This novel will delight all ages -- it's good for reading aloud and great for discussions." --Barbara Theroux, Fact & Fiction, Missoula, MT
2. Mudbound: A Novel by Hillary Jordan
(Algonquin, $13.95, 9781565126770)
"Set in 1940s Mississippi, Mudbound tells the story of how World War II becomes a catalyst for change for those living on a Delta farm. Racism weighs heavily in the story, but Jordan's respect for the complexities of the character's lives, and her pragmatic honesty, build empathy and hope in the reader. This winner of the Bellwether Prize will become a book group favorite." --Dianne Patrick, Snowbound Books, Marquette, MI
3. Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout
(Random House Trade Paperbacks, $14, 9780812971835)
"The book discussion we had about Elizabeth Strout's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel about Olive Kitteridge, a retired schoolteacher in a little town in Maine, was one of the best we ever had. The reading group members were incredibly passionate about their love of the book and their love (and hatred) of Olive. We laughed and cried, and one member called us afterward and asked what we were going to read to get us that riled up again!" --Deb McDonald, Garden District Book Shop, New Orleans, LA
4. Still Alice: A Novel by Lisa Genova
(Pocket, $15, 9781439102817; Pocket, $7.99, 9781439170045, due December 29)
"Still Alice tells the story of a 50-year-old Harvard psychology and linguistics professor in the year following diagnosis of early onset Alzheimer's disease. Her struggles with the effect on her work life, and her family's attempts to cope, are compelling and entirely believable. Genova's doctorate in neuroscience lets information flow naturally as part of a tender story, perfect for book groups." --Carla Jimenez, Inkwood Books, Tampa, FL
5. The Gift of Rain: A Novel by Tan Twan Eng
(Weinstein Books, $15.95, 9781602860742)
"This is a coming-of-age book set in one of the worst times and places to come of age -- Panang, an island off the Malay Peninsula, just before the start of WWII. Sixteen-year-old Philip Hutton is torn between destiny and duty, but how do you choose when duty to country, family, friends, and mentor conflict? This is a lyrical, thought-provoking novel filled with many layers of loss and love." --Ann Carlson, Harborwalk Books, Georgetown, SC
6. The Help: A Novel by Kathryn Stockett
(Putnam, $24.95 hardcover, 9780399155345)
"We've been telling our customers who are members of book groups to read this story of race-ridden, 1960s Jackson, Mississippi. Unforgettable characters live out a story that makes you rage against intolerance as you step into the lives of three Southern women who are committed to creating change." --Gail Wetta, Anderson's Bookshop, Naperville, IL
7. The Well and the Mine: A Novel by Gin Phillips
(Riverhead, $15, 9781594484490)
"Young Tess Moore watches as someone throws a baby into a well. This starts a remarkable adventure through 1930s Alabama, in which two girls try to find out whose baby died and the Moore family just tries to survive. This has been our favorite this year and elicited a great discussion on class, race, and family." --Mary McHale, Fox Tale Books, New Durham, NH
8. The Lace Reader: A Novel by Brunonia Barry
(Harper Paperbacks, $14.99, 9780061624773)
"The Lace Reader is a suspenseful intense read that thoughtfully mixes New England history and lore with the present. This is a one-sitting, must-discuss-afterward type of book!" --Angela Rodman, Third Street Books, McMinnville, OR
9. The Outlander: A Novel by Gil Adamson
(Harper Perennial, $14.99, 9780061491344)
"The Canadian Rockies, described with intensity, are the stage for an outlaw heroine's improbable ride from vengeance, both her own and that of her victim's kin. Thrilling in the way an imaginative page-turner should be, the story is nonetheless hooked upon the barbs of real events and real personalities." --Neil Strandberg, Tattered Cover Bookstore, Denver, CO
10. The Housekeeper and the Professor: A Novel by Yoko Ogawa
(Picador, $14, 9780312427801)
"A young, single mother is dispatched by her agency as the tenth housekeeper to try to meet the unusual demands of tending house for a mathematics professor who's suffered a serious brain injury. She not only manages to meet the challenge, but she discovers a beautiful new world for herself and her son through their unique relationship with this extraordinary man. A very tender and absolutely delightful story!" --Linda Findlay, University Book Store, Seattle, WA
| Outstanding Debuts |
Couch by Benjamin Parzybok
(Small Beer Press, $16, 9781931520546)
"Simply one of the best, most enjoyable, and most original books I've read in a very, very long time. This novel about a fantastic orange couch is a lyrical story of a heroic quest undertaken by flawed but intrinsically good people. Humorous and glorious, celebratory of the sacred thing that lies inside each (OK, most) of us -- I'm recommending Couch to everyone!" --Beth Simpson, Cornerstone Books, Salem, MA
Dear American Airlines: A Novel by Jonathan Miles
(Mariner, $13.95, 9780547237909)
"Estranged from his only daughter for some 20 years, Benjamin R. Ford is overjoyed when he receives an invitation to her West Coast nuptials. However, in transit to the happy event, American Airlines strands him in the purgatory of Chicago's O'Hare. Vexed by this development, Ben spends his time composing a ferocious letter of complaint to the air carrier. In the course of this missive, readers come to learn of his life, loves, and -- oddly enough -- the world of translated literature. While Benjamin Ford might remain earthbound, author Jonathan Miles definitely soars in this frantic and funny debut!" --Joe Drabyak, Chester County Book & Music Company, West Chester, PA
The House at Riverton: A Novel by Kate Morton
(Washington Square, $15, 9781416550532)
"Grace Bradley has had a very long life and is now starting to fade. When she receives a letter about a film that is soon to be made about a tragedy that occurred between the world wars at Riverton, an estate where she was a housemaid, she is forced to relive her years of service at Riverton and her life after leaving it. You will be totally drawn into Grace's life and will not want the book to end." --Roberta Kraft, Alibi Books, Glenview, IL
Right of Thirst: A Novel by Frank Huyler
(Harper Perennial, $14.99, 9780061687549)
"This story of a successful cardiologist who volunteers to help with earthquake relief in a poor Islamic country is my favorite book of the year, a tender and unexpected tale of a man in search of a purpose. Plenty to argue about in this perfect reading group pick." --Joe Foster, Maria's Bookshop, Durango, CO
Rooftops of Tehran: A Novel by Mahbod Seraji
(NAL, $15, 9780451226815)
"Set in Iran in the 1970s, Mahbob Seraji's novel of young love in a nation headed toward revolution infuses sad events with a lot of humor as well. This is a wonderful book that I hope reading groups will discover and discuss." --Jennifer Wills Geraedts, Beagle Books, Park Rapids, MN
Sweeping Up Glass: A Novel by Carolyn Wall
(Delta, $14, 9780385343039)
"Olivia Harker Cross' story is a mystery, a love story, and a course in history all in one fine novel. Reading groups will find a wealth of topics for discussion and enjoyment." --Cindy Reinhardt, University Bookstore, Edwardsville, IL
| Visiting Other Worlds |
The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery, Alison Anderson (trans.)
(Europa Editions, $15, 9781933372600)
"This story of an aging concierge and a 12-year-old girl in an exclusive apartment house in Paris was a huge hit in France. Pithy, erudite, and full of heart, this book should be on everyone's must-read list." --Lisa Wright, Oblong Books and Music, Millerton, NY
A Golden Age: A Novel by Tahmima Anam
(Harper Perennial, $13.99, 9780061478758)
"A Golden Age is both a personal and a political history. The revolution of 1971 in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) is seen through the lens of family relationships, where choices that are sometimes perceived as abstract in the history books have immediate and heart-stopping consequences for individuals. Anam's writing is precise and her characters complex. The culture and the region are depicted in rich detail, and the plot builds to an ending that is both perfectly logical in the context of the novel and breathtaking in its daring. What more can a reader ask?" --Lilla Weinberger, Readers' Books, Sonoma, CA
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
(Dial, $14, 9780385341004)
"Just after World War II, a journalist and author is looking for her next big project when by chance, she receives a letter from a man on Guernsey, the British island that was occupied by the Germans. Gradually she becomes absorbed into the stories and lives of the island's inhabitants. Funny, poignant, and charming, this is a novel that would make a marvelous read for anyone." --Ray Nurmi, Snowbound Books, Marquette, MI
The Jewel Trader of Pegu: A Novel by Jeffrey Hantover
(Harper Perennial, $13.95, 9780061252716)
"Forget the mysterious and exotic location, this is a novel universal in its substance. When 16th-century Jewish trader Abraham goes to Asia, he encounters an alien culture but also discovers a world of love and beauty. You can call it exquisite, incisive, provocative, but there are really not enough adjectives for this brilliant gem of a novel." --Bill Cusumano, Nicola's Books, Ann Arbor, MI
Sonata for Miriam: A Novel by Linda Olsson
(Penguin, $15, 9780143114703)
"I loved Astrid & Veronika, Linda Olsson's superb first novel, and her second novel, Sonata for Miriam, lives up to her early promise. In it, Adam leaves his adopted home in New Zealand to delve into his parents' past in WWII Poland and into his own past in Sweden. Olsson writes beautifully about relationships and of the choices we are sometimes forced to make because of events and the actions of our loved ones." --Carol Dunn, Northwind Book & Fiber, Spooner, WI
The White Tiger: A Novel by Aravind Adiga
(Free Press, $14, 9781416562603)
"Balram Halwai narrates his tale through letters written to the Premier of China over a seven-day period and tells the story of how he climbed out of poverty and into the life of a successful entrepreneur. In telling his story, The White Tiger opens a window onto the chaos and inequality of Indian society." --Cynthia Claridge, Paulina Springs Books, Sisters, OR
| Memorable Women |
Oxygen: A Novel by Carol Cassella
(Simon & Schuster, $15, 9781416556114)
"Dr. Marie Heaton, a successful anesthesiologist at a prominent Seattle hospital, must come to terms with an operating-room tragedy, including the fallout from the hospital, the patient's family, and her conscience. Cassella has written an absolutely honest emotional portrayal of a kind, strong, and dedicated woman caught up in a crisis of doubt and remorse. A provocative, intelligent, and beautifully faceted book." --Tova Beiser, Brown University Bookstore, Providence, RI
The Scent of Sake: A Novel by Joyce Lebra
(Avon, $13.99, 9780061662379)
"In 19th-century Japan, women were not even allowed into the family owned brewery business, as they were considered bad luck and contaminated. This is the amazing story of Rie, the daughter struggling to gain and retain control of the house of Omura dynasty. Joyce Lebra fills her novel with one-of-a-kind characters and a one-of-a-kind story. I loved it!" --Lillian Kinsey, Bohannons' Books With a Past, Georgetown, KY
The Secret Scripture: A Novel by Sebastian Barry
(Penguin, $15, 9780143115694)
"This is a haunting story of memory and how seemingly small decisions can have large consequences. As 100-year-old Roseanne, a patient in a mental institution, tries to reconstruct her life, she realizes that memory is not always reliable, and that truth may not be attainable. In addition to offering readers characters with grace and writing that is mesmerizing, The Secret Scripture invites discussions about what 'truth' is and how cultural circumstances and individual choices define a life." --Rona Brinlee, The Book Mark, Atlantic Beach, FL
| A Backdrop of War |
City of Thieves: A Novel by David Benioff
(Plume, $15, 9780452295292)
"I have just met two of the most likable and remarkable characters, Lev and Kolya, young Russian men trying to survive the Siege of Leningrad who are given a chance to save themselves from death if they can find a dozen eggs for the wedding cake of the daughter of a powerful and ruthless Russian colonel. Thus begins an odyssey that is at times disturbing, but the beauty of this novel is in the writing. It contains humor along with sadness, and these two men forge a friendship that is priceless." --Carol Katsoulis, Anderson's Bookshop, Naperville, IL
Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay
(St. Martin's Griffin, $13.95, 9780312370848)
"This emotionally intense story of a young girl who is caught up in a roundup of Jewish families in Paris during World War II is a powerful selection for reading groups." --Sandy Palmer, Wy'east Book Shoppe & Art Gallery, Welches, OR
Waltz With Bashir: A Lebanon War Story by Ari Folman, David Polonsky
(Metropolitan, $18, 9780805088922)
"Adapted from the Academy Award-nominated animated film, Waltz With Bashir stands by itself as a brilliant graphic memoir in its own right. It grapples not only with enforced military participation in evil and the psychological after-effects of the 1982 Israeli invasion of Lebanon, but also with memory and the devious alternates to true remembering. Waltz With Bashir is a production of love, a moody masterpiece of art styles and narrative sophistication." --Nick DiMartino, University Book Store, Seattle, WA
| Contemporary Masters |
Cost: A Novel by Roxana Robinson
(Picador, $15, 9780312428464)
"Roxana Robinson's latest novel looks at the cost of being involved in one family member's crisis: the emotional and psychological cost, the cost in time and energy, and the financial cost. Crossing generational lines and effortlessly changing point-of-view from one fully-realized character to another, Cost is a gripping story and an excellent reading group choice." --Molly Young, Orinda Books, Orinda, CA
Lush Life: A Novel by Richard Price
(Picador, $15, 9780312428228)
"Like a modern, urban Crime and Punishment, this brilliant book is an intimate study of the interior lives of everyone touched by a too-quick trigger finger. You will be haunted by Price's riveting portraits of the self-pitying initial suspect, the lonely young perp, the disillusioned detective, and the victim's family, as well as the New York City neighborhood they share." --Carla Jimenez, Inkwood Books, Tampa, FL
Serena: A Novel by Ron Rash
(Ecco, $14.99, 9780061470844)
"Macbeth moves to the Depression-era Great Smoky Mountains in the finest novel yet by Ron Rash. Ambitious newlywed timber moguls George and Serena Pemberton ravage the mountain landscape while savaging their competitors and fiercely resisting allies of the budding conservation movement. Filled with Shakespearean levels of deception, cruelty, and retribution (mountain-style), Serena speaks to current times with its portrait of modern business greed colliding with a very old land and its inhabitants." --John Grooms, Park Road Books, Charlotte, NC
Unaccustomed Earth: Stories by Jhumpa Lahiri
(Vintage, $15, 9780307278258)
"This new collection by Pulitzer Prize-winning Jhumpa Lahiri presents eight short stories centered on Bengali families who have immigrated to the U.S. These quiet but powerful stories, detailing the lives of families perhaps very different from our own, teach universal truths." --Sarah Goddin, Quail Ridge Books, Raleigh, NC
| Intriguing Tales |
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
(Vintage, $14.95, 9780307454546)
"The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo is a fast-paced mystery with a compelling plot, and with even more compelling characters. I was totally hooked by this story, and Lisbeth Salander has quickly become one of my favorite characters. She's tough, independent, clever, and vulnerable all at once, and I loved following her through the twists and turns of this amazing book." --Elizabeth Jordan, BookPeople, Austin, TX
The Good Thief: A Novel by Hannah Tinti
(Dial, $15, 9780385337465)
"Hannah Tinti's The Good Thief features an orphan, a con man, a giant zombie, a mad doctor, a dwarf, and a sinister factory. Need I say more? It takes a pretty incredible writer to create a 19th-century boy's adventure story with a wry, 21st-century sensibility. Once you begin, you'll be saying 'just one more chapter.'" --Jessica Stockton, McNally Jackson Books, New York, NY
That Mad Ache: A Novel by Francoise Sagan, Douglas R. Hofstadter (trans.)
(Basic Books, $14.95, 9780465010981)
"One side of this book is That Mad Ache, a fresh translation of the French novel La Chamade, written by Francoise Sagan, whose Bonjour, Tristesse became an international sensation when the author was 19. Flip the book over and the other side is Translator, Trader, a brilliant, 100-page essay on the controversial art of translation by the translator himself, who is none other than Douglas Hofstadter, the Pulitzer Prize-winning genius who wrote Godel, Escher, Bach. That Mad Ache is a witty, ironic dissection of upper class French lovers, which gracefully bares the souls of Sagan's characters and watches them misunderstand each other. It's a labyrinthine journey into the human heart in a fresh, invigorating new translation." --Nick DiMartino, University Book Store, Seattle, WA
Mr. Sebastian and the Negro Magician: A Novel by Daniel Wallace
(Anchor, $13.95, 9780307279118)
"'Peculiar' and 'compelling' best describe this novel, where loss and identity are closely intertwined and where youthful misunderstandings can have lethal and heartbreaking consequences in adulthood. Wallace is a masterful storyteller, blurring the line between magic and reality." --Emily Crowe, Odyssey Bookshop, South Hadley, MA
Now You See Him: A Novel by Eli Gottlieb
(Harper Perennial, $13.99, 9780061284656)
"In Now You See Him, Eli Gottlieb takes readers deep inside the human heart and asks the question, 'How well do we know the people we love most?' This is one of those novels that remains with you long after you have read the last line." --Kathleen Caldwell, A Great Good Place for Books, Oakland, CA
The Unit: A Novel by Ninni Holmqvist, Marlaine Delargy (trans.)
(Other Press, $14.95, 9781590513132)
"A taut, creepy, yet thought-provoking page-turner, The Unit is a meditation on the consequences of complacency, the value of human life, and what we're prepared to give up for security and comfort. Beautifully written, it will keep you guessing until the last, surprising page." --Molly Young, Orinda Books, Orinda, CA
| Friendship and Family |
The Art of Racing in the Rain: A Novel by Garth Stein
(Harper Paperbacks, $14.99, 9780061537967)
"That this protagonist is an Airedale-Lab mix does not detract from his wisdom, depth of spirit, or, well ... humanity. Enzo is there for Denny as he strives for success as a race car driver, and as more poignant turns of fate befall him." --Cheryl McKeon, Third Place Books, Lake Forest Park, WA
The Condition: A Novel by Jennifer Haigh
(Harper Perennial, $14.99, 9780060755799)
"Set in New England, The Condition realistically portrays the story of a family undergoing separation as they face their only daughter Gwen's diagnosis of Turner's syndrome, a condition that prevents puberty from occurring. Twenty years later, the family is shaken when Gwen, now a young adult, falls in love. There are endless possibilities for book club discussion in Haigh's insightfully written novel, in which family ties are both limiting and liberating." --Jane Glaser, Next Chapter Bookshop, Mequon, WI
On the Divinity of Second Chances: A Novel by Kaya McLaren
(Penguin, $14, 9780143115182)
"Who hasn't dreamed of getting a second chance? Jade and her family find themselves needing and getting just that, and you'll love sharing their journey. Although their struggles are real, Kaya McLaren keeps the story light and fun, quirky and real. If you are searching for a great read with lots of discussion material, this book is the perfect choice." --Andrea Avantaggio, Maria's Bookshop, Durango, CO
The Story of Edgar Sawtelle: A Novel by David Wroblewski
(Ecco, $16.99, 9780061374234)
"This beautifully written family saga is set on a farm in Wisconsin, where Edgar -- born mute -- and his family raise prize dogs. This idyllic setting is upended when Edgar's Uncle Claude returns home and their world begins to fall apart. This is a coming-of-age story, a mystery, an epic novel, and, most of all, a story about the mystical relationship humans have with animals. You won't find a better read." -- Karen Schwettman, Fox Tale Books, New Durham, NH
| The American Scene |
Breakfast With Buddha: A Novel by Roland Merullo
(Algonquin, $13.95, 9781565126169)
"Otto Ringling's sister tricks him into taking her guru on a six-day trip from New York City to the family homestead in North Dakota. Initially quite put off by the crimson-robed Buddhist monk, Otto resigns himself to his fate, and the two have a hilarious sightseeing trip across the country. You will laugh your way through this tale and wish you could be riding along in the back seat!" --Linda Smith, Sister Wolf Books, Park Rapids, MN
Netherland: A Novel by Joseph O'Neill
(Vintage, $14.95, 9780307388773)
"Hans van den Broek, the narrator of Joseph O'Neill's rich, beautifully written novel, finds his life and his marriage breaking down in post-9/11 New York City. When Hans is drawn into the world of league cricket games, he begins a friendship with Chuck Ramkissoon, a Trinidadian expat and a somewhat delusional self-promoter and part-time gangster -- that helps carry him through the dark times. The pure voice of Hans rolls along so smoothly and precisely that, in the end, it is difficult to imagine Hans not at your side." --Ray Nurmi, Snowbound Books, Marquette, MI
The 19th Wife: A Novel by David Ebershoff
(Random House Trade Paperbacks, $15, 9780812974157)
"A fascinating tale of polygamy and its effect on those who practice it. This novel really tells two tales -- that of Jordan Scott -- a young man who was thrown out of his fundamentalist sect and who is now trying to clear his mother of murder -- and that of Ann Eliza Young, the wife of Brigham Young, who went on to denounce polygamy. This is an amazingly researched, well-written novel!" --Mary Cowen, Anderson's Bookshop, Naperville, IL
| Love, Loss, and the Whole Damn Thing |
The French Gardener: A Novel by Santa Montefiore
(Touchstone, $15, 9781416543749)
"The French Gardener is one of the best books I've read in a long time. This story of love and family made me cry, made me laugh, and, most of all, made me think. We all need reminders to notice the beauty of nature surrounding us and to slow down enough to enjoy the true simplicity of life." --Tresa Mott, The Next Chapter, Knoxville, IA
Shelter Me: A Novel by Juliette Fay
(Avon, $14.99, 9780061673399)
"Janie LaMarche has been recently widowed by a preventable accident. She is left with two young children and a lot of grief and anger, but also with the kind of family we all would hope for. As we read, her grief is palpable, her frustration with people and their clumsy attempts at sympathy understandable. This is a novel with wonderful book group discussion potential." --Patricia Worth, River Reader, Lexington, MO
The Story of a Marriage: A Novel by Andrew Sean Greer
(Picador, $14, 9780312428280)
"A daring story of three unpredictable characters navigating the treacherous waters of class and race issues, of forbidden love, and of patriotism in the years right after WWII, The Story of a Marriage offers an imaginative, moving and wholly satisfying tribute to the real complexities of the human heart." --Marie du Vaure, Vroman's Bookstore, Pasadena, CA
| A-List Nonfiction |
Annie's Ghosts: A Journey Into a Family Secret by Steve Luxenberg
(Hyperion, $24.95 hardcover, 9781401322472)
"Every family has a secret. Steve Luxenberg discovers his shortly before his mother dies in her eighties. While she had told everyone throughout his life that she was an only child, his mother actually had a sister who had been institutionalized in her twenties. Luxenberg's journalistic approach to discovering the truth about his aunt is fascinating, as he mines the underlying story of secrets and their effects on families. A great reading group nonfiction pick." --Valerie Koehler, Blue Willow Bookshop, Houston, TX
Heirloom: Notes From an Accidental Tomato Farmer by Tim Stark
(Broadway, $14, 9780767927079)
"Tim Stark wants to leave his uninspiring job and figures that if he can lay claim to a few acres of his family's farm in Pennsylvania he might be able to make a go of it. He tells the story of a resourceful life and all of the interesting characters he meets along the way, from groundhogs and cantankerous neighbors to New York's top chefs. If you believe in supporting and buying locally grown produce, this entertaining, funny, and well-written memoir will be an inspiration." --Harvey Finkel, Clinton Book Shop, Clinton, NJ
Stubborn Twig: Three Generations in the Life of a Japanese American Family by Lauren Kessler
(Oregon State University Press, $18.95, 9780870714177)
"This account of a Japanese-American family explores the immigrant experience, World War II internment camps, and the fight against injustice. Kessler spent a lot of time with members of the Yasui family, and the result is an immensely engaging read. It's an absorbing history lesson of the story behind the story." --Terry Dallas, Armchair Books, Pendleton, OR
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And here are some suggestions of great titles for reading groups of younger readers... When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins Love Is the Higher Law by David Levithan The Amanda Project, Book 1: invisible i by Stella Lennon, Melissa Kantor Candor by Pam Bachorz The Cupcake Queen by Heather Hepler Eli the Good by Silas House Hate List: A Novel by Jennifer Brown Pop by Gordon Korman Purple Heart by Patricia McCormick |