The March/April Book Sense 76

Here 'tis, with bookseller quotes; PLEASE feel free to cut and paste them for newsletters, Web sites, and shelf-talkers.

Any on-sale dates that we have for February and March are noted; otherwise, assume January, fall 2001, or earlier publication.

Thank you again for the flood of passionate nominations; another batch of over 1,000 to choose from! Plus, consideration of all past 20,000-plus nominations!

The flier is on press, to you by March 1 at the latest; we're rushing to get it out, as it's a short month.

Thanks again! Don't forget to stamp the fliers with your store address; there's a nice new space at the bottom!!

Carl
Carl@booksense.com

1. THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES, by Sue Monk Kidd (Viking, $24.95, 0670894605) "Kidd creates a narrator whom the reader will grow to love. White, 14, and a runaway, she finds the true meaning of family in a very unusual place: the home of three black sisters who raise bees. Beautifully written, this is a page-turner."-Kathy Westover, The Bookworm, Edwards, CO Also a HighBridge Audio (1565115384; CD 1565115392)

2. ABSOLUTE ZERO, by Chuck Logan (HarperCollins, $24.95, 0060185724) "A former undercover cop. Double-crosses and triple-crosses. A main character narrating from the depths of a coma. A very angry ostrich. Logan's latest has it all, and it all adds up to a fast-paced thriller that puts its author in the same league as Elmore Leonard."-Drew Philips, Warwick's, La Jolla, CA Also a Harper Audio (0060083425)

3. BURNING MARGUERITE, by Elizabeth Inness-Brown (Knopf, $23, 0375411968) "This deserves our wild collective support. A really fresh and seamless story; I can't think of this story being told before. It's utterly amazing that it's a first novel. I may have to ask for more time out front in order to handsell this book. I heartily recommend it!"-Melissa Mytinger, Cody's, Berkeley, CA

4. FRUITFLESH: Seeds of Inspiration for Women Who Write, by Gayle Brandeis (HarperSan Francisco, $23.95, 0062517244; in stores March 5) "This is juicy and delicious. Brandeis is a creative muse and her feminine thought-provoking exercises are truly 'seeds of inspiration' designed to unleash our creative spirit. If she has her way, we will all be fountains of creativity."-Gayle Seminara Mandel, Transitions Bookplace, Chicago, IL

5. RED POPPIES, by Alai (Houghton Mifflin, $24, 0618119647) "This enchanting tale transported me to mysterious Tibet with the story of the son of a powerful, poppy-growing chieftain and his opium-addicted Chinese wife. The writing is so earthy and sensuous. This is Cain and Abel, The Godfather, and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, all rolled up into one great read."-Susie Fruncillo, Lake Country Booksellers, White Bear Lake, MN Also a HighBridge Audio (1565115279; CD 1565115287)

6. ATONEMENT, by Ian McEwan (Nan Talese/Doubleday, $26, 0385503954; in stores March 19) "McEwan weaves an absorbing tale that starts one afternoon in 1935 and unfolds for years to come, profoundly altering the lives of those involved. Readers are entrapped in a tale that commands attention from start to finish. A beautifully written and masterfully crafted tale of growing up, finding love, and the dangers of a runaway imagination."-Kyle Beachy, Verbatim Booksellers, Vail, CO

7. THE GARDENS OF KYOTO, by Kate Walbert (Scribner, $13 paper, 0684869497; early March) "As Ellen recounts the real and imagined details of her first love as a young girl, we are reminded of the power of first love and how it can affect our lives for years to come. Walbert has written a haunting, beautiful book."-Rebecca Jestice, Dickens Book Shop, Lebanon, OH

8. SOPHIE AND THE RISING SUN, by Augusta Trobaugh (Dutton, $22.95, 0525946276) "A charming story wrapped in current themes and issues. What is it about Southern writers that allow them to capture a sense of time, temperature, and place so very well? This is a treasure; I have placed it in the hands of many readers who voice the same enthusiasism."-Marilyn R. Scheerbaum, Bickerton and Ripley Books, Edgartown, MA Also a Random House Audio (0553528866)

9. CROW LAKE by Mary Lawson (Dial Press, $23.95, 038533611X; in stores Feb. 26) "I love this book. Lawson's writing moves seamlessly between past and present in the telling of a family torn apart by circumstance and mended by love and valor. It has everything that makes a great story: love, pathos, humor, suspense, and a strong sense of place."-Mary Kay Watson, Sister Wolf Books, Dorset, MN

10. POETRY SPEAKS: Hear Great Poets Read Their Work, from Tennyson to Plath (w/3 CDs), edited by Elise Paschen and Rebekah Presson Mosby (Sourcebooks MediaFusion, $49.95, 1570717206) "The lyrical voices of these poets remind us of the exhilaration of time, patience, and the sound of words."-Karen Hannah, City Lights Bookshop, San Francisco, CA (Please visit www.poets.org for more about National Poetry Month, and look for an all-poetry 76 in April.)

THE GREAT AMERICAN PAPERBACK: An Illustrated Tribute to Legends of the Book, by Richard Lupoff (Collectors Press, $60, 1888054506) "American literary history at its garish, pulpy, sensational best. A coffee-table art book for the wild at heart, and for anyone who's pulled a book out of their pocket in a bus station at two in the morning."-Bret Bertholf, Tattered Cover Book Store, Denver, CO

WHERE BOOKS FALL OPEN: A Reader's Anthology of Wit and Passion, with paintings by Bascove (Godine, $24.95, 1567921868) "This is a cornucopia of well-known names talking about books and/or writing. And beautifully illustrated. Everyone knows someone who just loves books; this one is perfect for them."-Peggy Hailey, Book People, Austin, TX

COOKING AROUND THE CALENDAR WITH KIDS: Holiday and Seasonal Food and Fun, by Amy Houts (Images Unlimited, $24.95, 0930643143) "Houts has put together a tasty collection of simple recipes children can make in conjunction with holiday and seasonal celebrations, including preparation as gifts."-Marian Fleischman, Sedalia Book & Toy, Sedalia, MO

THE MISFITS, by James Howe (Atheneum, $16, 0689839553) "With humor and sensitivity, Howe explores the issues of name-calling, fitting in, and standing up for what's right. Young readers will appreciate the lesson that youthful rebellion is not always a bad thing."-Eric Robbins, Apple Valley Books, Winthrop, ME

THE DANGEROUS LIVES OF ALTAR BOYS, by Chris Fuhrum (Univ. of Georgia Press, $14.95 paper, 0820323381) "A touching and surprising coming-of-age story, originally published in 1994. It's too bad it was published after the author's death; who knows what we've lost?"-Linda Cohen, Little Professor Book Co. , Temecula, CA

SOMETIMES A GREAT NOTION, by Ken Kesey (Penguin, $14.95 paper, 0140045925) "Kesey's death last fall prompted me to tackle all 632 pages of his 1963 epic novel. Many consider this book to be THE great Pacific Northwest novel. It is definitely worth the effort to read this classic." -Kate Cerino, Paulina Springs Bookshop, Sisters, OR

AFTERIMAGE, by Helen Humphreys (Picador, $13 paper, 0312420641; March) "Amazing, beautiful, incredible. I can't say enough about this novel. Humphreys has included all the things I loved about Jane Eyre and has put a twist on it, making this novel come alive, again and again."-Kathy Crockett, R.J. Julia Booksellers, Madison, CT

BOY STILL MISSING, by John Searles (Perennial, $12.95 paper, 006000780X; in stores March 5) "It has been so long since I cared about a character so quickly, so devotedly, so dearly. The main character will stay with you, along with the likes of Scout and Jo and Holden, making you grin, wince, and cheer."-Joan Barberich, Food for Thought Books, Amherst, MA

THE CLOUD SKETCHER, by Richard Rayner (Perennial, $14.95 paper, 0060956135; in stores March 19) "From the war-torn Finnish landscape to the jazz din of 1920s New York City, a boy dreaming of skyscrapers grows into the architect who can make that vision a reality. Sweeping panoramas, twists of fate, and historical references come together to create an unforgettable reading experience."-Tula Patterson, The Children's Corner Bookshop, Spokane, WA

THE DIAGNOSIS, by Alan Lightman (Vintage, $14 paper, 0375725504) "A must read for the new millennium. Do you feel like your life is on a treadmill and that time is an ever-dwindling commodity? This book, if you can slow down to read it, will help you redefine what's really important."-Lugene Ammentorp, Village Bookstore, Menomonee Falls, WI

ESTHER STORIES, by Peter Orner (Mariner, $12 paper, 0618128735) "Like eating a great meal or drinking a complex wine, these stories unfold in stages. The stories are short, some only two pages, but Orner's language and understanding reach much deeper and stay much longer." -Gabriel Haman, Longfellow Books, Portland, ME

THE FUNERAL PARTY, by Ludmila Ulitskaya (Schocken, $11 paper, 0805211322) "In the middle of this charmingly elegant novel is a scene that could either be the beginning of a joke or a morality tale: A priest and a rabbi are summoned to a dying man's bed. Yet in Ulitskaya's astute and heartfelt hand, this scene, and those surrounding it, executes deeply keen observations into human feeling and folly with just the right sense of humor throughout."-Robert Sindelar, Third Place Books, Lake Forest Park, WA

GOB'S GRIEF, by Chris Adrian (Vintage, $13.95 paper, 0375726241; in stores March 12) "A great read. Almost all of the characters have lost someone in the Civil War, and the portrayal of Walt Whitman is particularly human, showing a great man from a personal standpoint. The story was compelling, keeping me guessing about the ending right to the last page."-Buster Keenan, Boulder Book Store, Boulder, CO

IN SUNLIGHT, IN A BEAUTIFUL GARDEN, by Kathleen Cambor (Perennial, $12.95 paper, 0060007575; in stores March 5) "This beautifully wrought novel follows a group of characters living in the path of the great Johnstown Flood, and Cambor captures a moment in time before their lives are forever changed."-Daniel Goldin, Harry W. Schwartz Bookshops, Milwaukee, WI

KISSING THE VIRGIN'S MOUTH, by Donna Gershten (Perennial, $11.95 paper, 0060933585) "When Barbara Kingsolver endorses a novel with her first Bellwether Prize for Fiction, expectations peak. Gersten delivers, in the person of MagdaVasquez, cheeky, wise, generous survivor of a seaside barrio. The words are kissed with a touch of magical realism. What a joy to welcome this new writer, and to anticipate more from her!"-Cheryl McKeon, Third Place Books, Lake Forest Park, WA

LICK CREEK, by Brad Kessler (Scribner, $14 paper, 0743217756; in stores March) "It is impossible not to speak of electricity when writing about this depiction of the people and landscape of 1920s West Virginia coal country. Whether the author is writing of the high-tension towers being constructed by men who wield electricity like a weapon, like magic, or of the emotions of the mountain people, powerless in so many ways, there are intense, emotional currents of love, hatred, grief, and courage running through this book."-Bob Gray, The Northshire Bookstore, Manchester Center, VT

MISS GARNET'S ANGEL, by Sally Vickers (Plume, $13, 0452282977; in stores March) "Vickers manages the inconceivable: she takes a tired theme (old teacher goes to Venice to find happiness) and makes it scintillate with freshness and beauty."-Will Balk, Bay Street Trading Company, Beaufort, SC

OBSERVATORY MANSIONS, by Ed Carey (Vintage, $14 paper, 0375709231) "This brilliantly imaginative first novel is set in a grand old London mansion that has become a rooming house inhabited by a handful of eccentrics. Several strands plait themselves into Carey's amazing story. It has a strange artfulness, making it an extraordinarily satisfying hand-sell."-Paul Ingram, Prairie Lights, Iowa City, IA

THE OLD AMERICAN, by Ernest Hebert (U. of New England Press, $15.95 paper, 1584652136) "Set during the French and Indian Wars, this book tells the story of a self-styled king who returns from an Iroquois raiding party with an English captive. The weaving of the tale of their relationship is a brilliant story. An absolutely wonderful read!"-Colleen Moore, 20-Mile Book Stop, Parker, CO

OUT OF THE NIGHT THAT COVERS ME, by Pat Cunningham Devoto (Warner, $13.95 paper, 0446678023) "This was my pick of the year for 2001 in hardcover. If only Oprah would pick this! It is a magnificent story of overcoming obstacles and hope, and there is no one who will not fall in love with this seven-year-old boy. The elements of racism, ignorance, and poverty are beautifully intertwined with this brave little boy's saga."-Liz Murphy, The Learned Owl, Hudson, OH

SINGING BOY, by Dennis McFarland (Picador, $14 paper, 0312420625; March) "A fascinating contemporary story about a random act of violence. McFarland is skilled at descriptive prose, and takes his readers on a very believable and compassionate journey into the minds and souls of his characters."-Lee Duffus, Bookworks, Aptos, CA

THE APPRENTICE LOVER, by Jay Parini (HarperCollins, $24.95, 0066210712; in stores March 5) "This is the literary and romantic coming-of-age of a '70s Columbia dropout who has recently lost his brother in Vietnam, and who tries to find a mentor in a legendary, though despotic poet. It's full of wonderfully wrought language, beautiful imagery, and guest appearances by luminaries such as Vidal and Auden." -Elaine Sopchak, The Book Rack & Children's Pages, Essex Junction, VT

THE BUFFALO SOLDIER, by Chris Bohjalian (Crown, $25, 0609608339; in stores March 5) "I was amazed and impressed by Bohjalian's latest effort. I think it's his best so far! This story about a young black foster child living with a white couple draws the reader in and involves us in the lives of each of the main characters."-Marilyn Sieb, Books & Company, Oconomowoc, WI

CHILD'S BOOK OF TRUE CRIME: A Novel, by Chloe Hooper (Scribner, $23, 0743225120; in stores March) "Laid not so gently upon the bones of the penal colonists of Port Arthur, as well as upon the bones of the endangered creatures of the island (kookaburras, wombats) who converse amongst themselves about the goings-on, this first novel will establish well this young Australian author."-Jim Tenney, Olsson's Books, Washington, DC

CLAIRE MARVEL, by John Burnham Schwartz (Doubleday, $25, 038550344X) "A lush, poetic novel that takes the reader from scholarly Cambridge to romantic France. The fateful love affair between Julian and Claire is a wonderful glimpse at true love."-Sarah Parker, Scott's Bookshop, Mt. Vernon, WA

DEEP IN THE SHADE OF PARADISE, by John Dufresne (Norton, $26.95, 0393020207) "The wedding of Grisham Loudermilk and Ariane Thevenot in Shiver-de-Freeze, Louisiana, is the magnet that collects one of the strangest casts of characters in recent fiction. Even the author gets into the act, taking over various chapters to ruminate about literature, life, and love. A not-to-be missed ticket to fun."-Barbara Hoagland, The King's English, Salt Lake City, UT

ENEMY WOMEN, by Paulette Jiles (William Morrow, $24.95, 0066214440) "The trials and tribulations of a young woman held prisoner during the Civil War are a real eye-opener about life for women left at the home front. The story of her journey of survival is a fitting companion to Cold Mountain."-Tara O'Donnell, Paperbacks Plus, Bronx, NY

THE EYRE AFFAIR, by Jasper Fforde (Viking, $23.95, 0670030643) "Thursday Next is a literary SpecOps detective and a war vet who lost her brother in the Charge of the Light Brigade. The Crimean War drags on because the Goliath Co. makes a lot of money from it. And Acheron Hades is a very bad man intent on doing harm to some of Britain's best-loved literary characters, in a world where art and literature are taken very, very seriously. Jane Eyre will never read quite the same."-Christopher Hubbuch, Ruminator Books, St. Paul, MN

FAIR WARNING, by Robert Olen Butler (Atlantic, $24, 0871138336) "Butler's main character is an auctioneer unlike any you've read about. Your fate will be sealed as soon as you read the first sentence of this novel. Fair warning!"
-Mary Gay Shipley, That Bookstore in Blytheville, Blytheville, AR

FINGERSMITH, by Sarah Waters (Riverhead, $25.95, 1573222038) "I confess to being a Sarah Waters fan. If Fingersmith was half as good as Tipping the Velvet (which was also fast moving, intricately plotted, and set in gaslit England), I'd have been satisfied. Great news: It's twice as good!" -Wendy Leavens, Wild Iris Books, Gainesville, FL

THE GOOD MEN, by Charmaine Craig (Riverhead, $24.95, 157322197X) "A powerful historical novel, written with passion and poetry about the effects of the heretical 14th century Cathar movement on the lives of the villagers of southwestern France. Craig brings both individuals and the period alive with her elegant, detailed writing."-Irma Wolfson, Latitude 33 Bookshop, Laguna Beach, CA

THE HOUSE OF BLUE MANGOES, David Davidar (HarperCollins, $26.95, 0066212545; in stores March 5) "What a beautiful novel. It's so well crafted, with an engaging story set in the late 1800s in India."-Danielle Freeman, Maria's Bookshop, Durango, CO

THE IMPRESSIONIST, by Hari Kunzru (Dutton, $24.95, 052594642X; in stores March 28) "The writing is so crisp and funny and the observations so penetrating; a gorgeous novel. And as always with a first-rate book -- most recently White Teeth and The Corrections -- I want to go back and start over again."-Carla Cohen, Politics & Prose, Washington, DC Also a HarperAudio (0060012404)

IN THE CASTLE OF THE FLYNNS, by Michael Raleigh (Sourcebooks Landmark, $22, 1570717974) "I thought I was reading a memoir, not a novel, so immediate and involving was this story. A very funny and satisfying read."-Renee Barker, Just the Bookstore, Glen Ellyn, IL

INSECT DREAMS: The Half-Life of Gregor Samsa, by Marc Estrin (Blue Hen, $26.95, 0399148361) "As brilliant as Pynchon and as funny as the best of Robbins and Vonnegut, this is a generous gift to the idea-starved fiction reader. Heart, head, hilarity, and history all rolled passionately into one. Don't miss this!"-John Evans, DIESEL: A Bookstore, Oakland, CA

JUST SHY OF HARMONY, by Philip Gulley (HarperSanFrancisco, $15.95, 0060006323) "This is absolutely delightful. The characters are your neighbors and the church is exactly like the one I grew up in. Move over Jan Karon."-Susan Danner, Danner's Books, Muncie, IN

LAMB: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Friend, by Christopher Moore (William Morrow, $25.95, 0380978407) "If Moore only knew how much pain he brings from plucking our funny bones so frequently. Imagine finally being able to fill in the blanks, Moore-style, about the teenage years of Christ, as told by his best friend, Biff. It is a rebellion of words and ideas that few could ever get away with. Devilish fun, told with wit and candor."-David Henkes, University Book Store, Bellevue, WA

LUCKY US, by Joan Silber (Algonquin, $22.95, 1565123204) "A contemporary love story, complete with mismatched lovers, a bit of coincidence, and a large dose of fate. The two New Yorkers and their assorted friends and family are at once unique and familiar."-Leslie Reiner, Inkwood Books, Tampa, FL

MIRACLE AT ST. ANNA, by James McBride (Riverhead, $24.95, 1573222127) "McBride, the author of Color of Water, has done it again, this time in a novel of black soldiers in WWII. A page-turner, told without pretension."-Donna DeLacy, Portrait of a Bookstore, Studio City, CA Also a HarperAudio (0060093188; CD 0060093196)

A MULTITUDE OF SINS, by Richard Ford (Knopf, $25, 0375412123) "The 10 stories herein capture ordinary people in ordinary places dealing with the unhappiness, embarrassment, and heartache of an affair. The reader laughs, gasps and becomes a cautious observer in the created drama of relationships. Ford is simply a master of the short story." -Barbara Theroux, Fact and Fiction, Missoula, MT Also a Harper Audio (0060081325)

RED WATER, by Judith Freeman (Pantheon, $24, 0375420924) "Wonderful historical fiction, told from the perspective of three of John D. Lee's 17 wives; it's eye-opening to those of us who have no understanding of or sympathy for the Mormon polygamist."-Jean Brace, Brace Books & More, Ponca City, OK

THE ROTTER'S CLUB, by Jonathan Coe (Knopf, $24.95, 0375413839) "A very, very funny book about growing up in England in a very difficult time. Girls, politics, unions, the Troubles, and more girls. The narrative is coming from several different angles, melding perfectly into something that stays with you long after the last page is turned. Grab it!"-Anne Whelan, Brookline Booksmith, Brookline, MA

SACRAMENT OF LIES, by Elizabeth Dewberry (Blue Hen, $23.95, 039914854X; March) "A retelling of Hamlet told from the point of view of a modern woman who is the daughter of a politician. This book can be enjoyed as a literary mystery or a psychological drama. I just loved it." -Deb Wehmeier, Garden District Book Shop, New Orleans, LA

SEARCHING FOR INTRUDERS: A Novel in Stories, by Stephen Raleigh Byler (William Morrow, $23.95, 0066212944) "In beautiful prose, Byler gives us a strong, dark and haunting story of a young man trying to discover himself in the wake of pain and tragedy. The best novel I have read in a while."-Tim Huggins, Newtonville Books, Newton, MA

SNOW ISLAND, by Katherine Towler (MacAdam/Cage, $25, 193156101X) "This first novel has a wonderful Shell Seekers quality to it. It's full of tragedy, war, regrets, and redemption, reminding one how much fun it is to get lost in a good novel."-Fred Powell, Main Street Books, Frostburg, MD

THE STARS CAN WAIT, by Jay Basu (Henry Holt, $21, 0805068872) "A tender coming-of-age Holocaust story set in German-occupied Poland. Living in terror but still living and working and believing in life, are powerful themes in this first novel."-Joci Tilsen, The Valley Bookseller, Stillwater, MN

THE SWEETEST DREAM, by Doris Lessing (HarperCollins, $26.95, 0066213347) "Through the members of an extended family in London, Lessing follows a dream of changing the world, from the idealism of the 1960s to the sobering world of post-colonial, AIDS-ridden Africa. No mere nostalgia trip, this powerful, complex novel has the feel of telling it like it was, and is." -Laurie Greer, Olsson's Books & Records, Bethesda, MD

BATAVIA'S GRAVEYARD: The True Story of the Mad Heretic Who Led History's Bloodiest Mutiny, by Mike Dash (Crown, $25, 0609607669) "I loved this, in a deeply unsettling way. Dash has a unique ability to transport you into the historical detail of the time. I was completely captivated."-Sarah Costin, The Northshire Bookstore, Manchester Center, VT

BREAKING CLEAN, by Judy Blunt (Knopf, $24, 0375401318) "A rancher on the Montana highline, Blunt fought bitter cold and isolation, as well as fighting for herself, knowing that as a rancher's daughter and a rancher's wife, she would never really inherit the ranch. This is a beautifully written memoir, as good as anything I've ever read on the rural West."-Marcia Rider, Capitola Book Café, Capitola, CA

GROWING UP TRUE: Lessons From a Western Boyhood, by Craig Barnes (Fulcrum, $22.95, 1555913504) "A lovely memoir of a family in postwar America told by their youngest son. The parents give their sons a strict but loving childhood, with lessons that are as relevant today as yesterday. A gentle reminder of the values that have made our country great; a kind of William Bennett for the rest of us."-Margaret Maupin, Tattered Cover Book Store, Denver, CO

IN THE PRESENCE OF FEAR: Three Essays for a Changed World, by Wendell Berry (The Orion Society, $8 paper, 0913098604) "In this small book, Berry has condensed the recipe for social, political, and economic change. The fear we experienced after Sept. 11 can be a catalyst to straighten our priorities on every level. If you feel confusion and a sense of dissonance as business as usual eclipses our recent horrors, then read this book. Berry is a modern day Thoreau."-Margaret Shindler, Ecola Square Books, Cannon Beach, OR

LETTERS TO A YOUNG CONTRARIAN: The Art of Mentoring, by Christopher Hitchens (Basic, $22, 0465030327) "In a sparkling style, Hitchens gives advice to young dissenters everywhere. Like a version of C.S. Lewis's Screwtape Letters written for the real, modern world, this should be on every bookseller's graduation table this summer."-Doug Anderson, The Book Bag, Valparaiso, IN

MOTHERLAND: Beyond the Holocaust; A Mother-Daughter Journey to Reclaim the Past, by Fern Schumer Chapman (Penguin, $13 paper, 0140286233) "An amazing book about a woman who travels back to Germany with her mother, who, as a 12-year-old girl, was sent away by her parents during WWII. The parents died in concentration camps, and this journey is made to make peace with the past. It touched me deeply, and we're recommending it to book clubs."-Sue Boucher, Lake Forest Book Store, Lake Forest, IL

PALESTINE, by Joe Sacco (Fantagraphics, $24.95 paper, 156097432X) "This may be the most creative and important work ever produced on the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. Sacco is unique, a courageous comics journalist who brings the reader closer to the real lives behind the headlines. The drawings are forceful and honest; the narrative is utterly compelling. An absolute must; on a par with Spiegelman's Maus."-Asher Brauner, Bookshop Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA

RESCUING JEFFREY, by Richard Galli (Griffin, $13.95 paper, 0312283407) "Richard and Toby Galli faced a parent's worst nightmare in 1998: trying to convince doctors to allow them to make the decision to let their 17-year-old son Richard die following a diving accident, which left him paralyzed. You will be moved by this heart-wrenching book."-Molly Beck, Quail Ridge Books, Raleigh, NC

SLEEP DEMONS: An Insomniac's Memoir, by Bill Hayes (Washington Square Press, $15 paper, 0671028154) "I loved Hayes's look at the mythology of sleep. His book effortlessly drifts between topics, seamlessly blending research on sleep disorders with a candid memoir. It is a work unlike any other I have read, and one with which I am sure many readers will identify."-Vincent Desjardins, The Snow Goose Bookstore, Stanwood, WA

A THOUSAND BELLS AT NOON: A Roman's Guide to the Secrets and Pleasures of His Native City, by G. Franco Romagnoli (Steerforth Press $25, 1586420364; in stores March 12) "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

THE TIPPING POINT: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference, by Malcolm Gladwell (Back Bay, $14.95 paper, 0316346624) "This was my favorite book of 2000, and it's now in paperback. A fascinating subject and examination; don't miss it."-Mary Vituccio, Sugden Book Store, Marietta, OH

THE TROUSER PEOPLE: A Modern-Day Explorer Tracks the Victorian Adventurer Who Taught Burma to Play the Empire's Game, by Andrew Marshall (Counterpoint, $26, 1582431205; in stores March 4) "Marshall sets out to explore the pre-colonial history and present condition of mysterious Burma. A stunning book, wonderfully told."-Michael Drannen, Powell's Books, Portland, OR

THE VOYAGE OF THE CATALPA: A Daring Escape, a Perilous Journey and Six Irish Rebels' Flight to Freedom, by Peter Stevens (Carroll & Graf, $26, 078670974X; in stores March 12) "A potential bestseller, this is an extremely well-written account of a heretofore little known event in 1800s American history. As best as I can summarize, an Irish rebel who has gone on to literary glory in Boston undertakes a yearlong sea voyage to rescue six countryman exiled in Australia by the British. Read it for yourself; it's a fascinating, fascinating true story."-Steve Foley, Joseph-Beth Booksellers, Cleveland, OH

HELL TO PAY, by George P. Pelecanos (Little Brown, $24.95, 0316695068; March) "Pelecanos once again rocks my world. If you have not sampled some of his very real mysteries, then I encourage you to belly up to the bar and start doing shots of George P."-Robert Segedy, McIntyre's, Pittsboro, NC

TELL NO ONE, by Harlan Coban (Dell, $6.99 paper, 0440236703; in stores Feb. 26) "I couldn't put this down. Not part of the Myron Bolitar series (if you're not familiar with Coben, you'll want to read his other books, too), this is a totally different stand-alone novel: very suspenseful, with an extremely likable main character."-Karen Spengler, I Love a Mystery, Mission, KS

THE BIRDS OF HEAVEN, Travels with Cranes, by Peter Matthiessen; illus. by Robert Bateman (North Point, $27, 0374199442) "Here is a book that fills the reader with awe: awe for the decade-long journey Matthiessen undertook across five continents in order to view all 15 species of crane, and awe for the knowledgeable blend of nature and politics expressed in evocative, poetic prose. An inspiring book, gorgeously illustrated, to be savored, treasured, and acted upon."-Mary Fellows, Annie Bloom's Books, Portland, OR

JOURNEY OF THE PINK DOLPHINS: An Amazon Quest, by Sy Montgomery (Touchstone $16, 0743200268; March) "This wonderful travelogue of a woman's search for the elusive pink dolphin captures the creatures and people, the very soul of the Amazon. She is able to make you forget the modern day as she immerses you in a timeless world."-Dana Devito, Moravian Bookstore, Bethlehem, PA