2008 Indie Next List Highlights

Inspired recommendations from Indie Booksellers ...

Gardens of Water: A Novel by Alan Drew
(Random House, $25, 9781400066872 / 1400066875)
"First-time novelist Alan Drew has created a story that takes you just outside of Istanbul, where a massive earthquake creates circumstances that will bind an American family living abroad and a conservative Muslim family together in ways none could have dreamed. The longing, the hope, and the familial themes fill each page -- Gardens of Water is simply breathtaking." --Calvin Crosby, Books Inc., San Francisco, CA

Mudbound by Hillary Jordan
(Algonquin, $22.95, 9781565125698 / 156512569X)
"Rural Mississippi just after the Second World War is a hard and muddy place. Hillary Jordan's novel Mudbound evokes the era brilliantly -- returning soldiers trying to find their way after the brutality of the war, some facing the continuing brutality of a racist America. A very compelling story." --Cathy Langer, Tattered Cover Bookstore, Denver, CO

Girls in Trucks by Katie Crouch
(Little, Brown, $21.99, 9780316002110 / 0316002119)
"This first novel by Katie Crouch turns the high-fallutin' notions of Southern debutante culture on its ear with a dark and frankly sexual tale of awakening. A page-turner by every account, Girls in Trucks blends steamy scenes and heartbreak with an infectious, dreamlike prose, to deliver a graceful work of literature -- not to be read while wearing white lace gloves!" --Kevin Hunsanger, Green Apple Books, San Francisco, CA

The Outlander by Gil Adamson
(Ecco, $25.95, 9780061491252 / 006149125X)
"The Outlander is a breathlessly told tale of a murderess widow who flees into the mountain wilderness, pursued by her vengeance-seeking brothers-in-law. As she makes her hapless way, she meets up with an entertainingly odd series of characters who propel her on her journey, their eccentricities mirroring her sometimes faltering mind. A marvelous adventure in the early 1900s North American West." --Kathleen Johnson, Prairie Lights Books, Iowa City, IA

How the Soldier Repairs the Gramophone by Sasa Stanisic
(Grove, $24, 9780802118660 / 0802118666)
"A child matures in Bosnia as war comes clanking down his street and he tries to make sense of the good and the bad in the world through stories. A bold novel, and timely." --Russ Lawrence, Chapter One Book Store, Hamilton, MT

The Sister: A Novel by Poppy Adams
(Knopf, $23.95, 9780307268167 / 0307268160)
"This is a stunning, character-rich novel detailing the relationship of two English sisters who have not communicated for 50 years. As the author goes back in time, we learn, through the older sister's voice, the complex and dark secrets that bind them. Readers will be fascinated." --Karen M. Frank, Northshire Bookstore, Manchester Center, VT

The Story of Edgar Sawtelle: A Novel by David Wroblewski
(Ecco, $25.95, 9780061374227 / 0061374229)
"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 Lace Reader: A Novel by Brunonia Barry
(Morrow, $24.95, 9780061624766 / 0061624764)
"Set in past and present Salem, Massachusetts, the story takes off immediately, interspersing splendid detail about the history of lace makers, as well as the famous witch trials, with the modern story of a family's intricate history. The novel is packed with interesting characters (including modern witches) and many plot lines, which come together magnificently at the conclusion. A truly amazing and riveting read." --Karen M. Frank, Northshire Bookstore, Manchester Center, VT

The Gargoyle: A Novel by Andrew Davidson
(Doubleday, $25.95, 9780385524940 / 0385524943)
"Andrew Davidson immerses you in a different reality and takes you on quite a roller-coaster ride. This is an unusual story about the power of love to transcend physical limitations and to transform ugliness into beauty. As we are often told, love is all in the eye of the beholder. This book makes you believe that simple truth." --Miriam Sontz, Powell's Books, Portland, OR

What Happened to Anna K.: A Novel by Irina Reyn
(Touchstone, $24, 9781416558934 / 1416558934)
"Irina Reyn's contemporary take on Anna Karenina is not a remake or a parody or even an homage, but its own story, twice-told, you might say. Filled like a blintz with references to all things Russian, this fast-paced yet ever-atmospheric tale of love and illusion (and disillusion) has the weight of a novel with things on its mind. You will be happy to entertain this second story." --Stephen F. Shapiro, Rainy Day Books, Fairway, KS

The Little Book: A Novel by Selden Edwards
(Dutton, $25.95, 9780525950615 / 0525950613)
"Incorporating time travel and historical fiction with a life-altering love story, Selden Edwards' The Little Book magically weaves a believable tale of one family's multigenerational visit to 1897 Vienna. You will want to read this one slowly, savoring every elegantly crafted sentence." --Kathleen Caldwell, A Great Good Place for Books, Oakland, CA

In Hovering Flight: A Novel by Joyce Hinnefeld
(Unbridled, $24.95, 9781932961584 / 1932961585)
"In Hovering Flight is the story of a couple, Addie and Tom, a bird painter and a bird scientist, of their romance and marriage, and of their only daughter, Scarlet. In lovely but precise language Joyce Hinnefeld slowly reveals the larger world and the more intimate landscapes within it. This is a remarkable first novel and a unforgettable story." --Cheryl Upchurch, Capitol Book & News Company, Montgomery, AL

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
(Knopf, $24.95, 9780307269751 / 0307269752)
"Lisbeth Salander -- the girl with the dragon tattoo -- is a truly original character. Salander's computer hacking skills, and her amoral disregard of both laws and individuals, are critical in resolving the case of modern corporate fraud and the disappearance of a young girl 40 years earlier. A European bestseller, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo deserves every bit as much success here." --Ann Carlson, Harborwalk Books, Georgetown, SC

The Blue Star: A Novel by Tony Earley
(Little, Brown, $23.99, 9780316199070 / 0316199079)
"I have been recommending Earley's novel Jim the Boy for years. Now he has written a sequel, set at the outbreak of World War II, with Jim as a high school senior in the same North Carolina community. Highlighting the devastation of prejudice and the emotional turmoil of first love, it is just as wonderful as its predecessor." --Mary Gleysteen, Eagle Harbor Book Company, Bainbridge Island, WA

So Brave, Young, and Handsome by Leif Enger
(Atlantic, $24, 9780871139856 / 0871139855)
"Leif Enger again explores the often transparent line between good and bad, focusing his story on characters who fall in the gray in-between. Failed novelist Monte Becket accompanies his friend, Glendon Hale, a former outlaw, to Mexico to find Hale's estranged wife. Their adventures along the way, and the surprising end of their journey, make for an exciting and thought-provoking read." --Erica Caldwell, Present Tense, Batavia, NY

The Story of a Marriage by Andrew Sean Greer
(Farrar, $22, 9780374108663 / 0374108668)
"This sensitive novel about a love triangle in 1950s San Francisco is a wonderful stew of race, sexual identity, family, and war. Greer's lush prose is full of gems, and the plot's twists and turns fairly take your breath away." --Matthew Lage, Iowa Book LLC, Iowa City, IA

The Art of Racing in the Rain: A Novel by Garth Stein
(HarperCollins, $23.95, 9780061537936 / 0061537934)
"Sometimes, if you are very lucky, fate gives you a special friend. Denny's friend Enzo will stand by him through some of the best and worst times of his life, his faith in Denny bone deep. Enzo is a dog, a dog with a very old soul. Denny is a race driver with natural talent, but sometimes life gets in the way of natural talent, and the road can have sharp bends. Suffused with humor, love, pain, and valor, this should be one of the year's best books!" --Deon Stonehouse, Sunriver Books, Sunriver, OR

Netherland: A Novel by Joseph O'Neill
(Pantheon, $23.95, 9780307377043 / 0307377040)
"In a wonderful understated tone, Netherland tells the story of how Hans, a Dutch banker in New York, tries to cope in the city after his wife and son flee to the UK in the wake of 9 / 11. Unmoored, but still generous at heart, he is brought back to a sense of his life and choices thanks to the colorful characters of the New York City and its surprisingly vibrant cricket community." --Marie du Vaure, Vroman's Bookstore, Pasadena, CA

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
(Dial, $22, 9780385340991 / 0385340990)
"Just after WWII a writer is contacted by a fan on the British island of Guernsey. As events unfold and she goes to Guernsey, the writer learns of the misery, bravery, and ingenuity of the locals when Guernsey was captured by the Germans. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society is like no other book I've ever read, and it's outstanding." --Elaine Petrocelli, Book Passage, Corte Madera, CA

Feather Man by Rhyll McMaster
(Marion Boyars, $15.95 paper, 9780714531489 / 0714531480)
"In this beautifully written and disturbing Australian coming-of-age novel, McMaster tells the story of Sooky, who struggles to overcome her difficult childhood, the effects of which are powerfully portrayed as she moves from relationship to relationship and from Brisbane to London." --Nancy Felton, Broadside Bookshop, Northampton, MA

Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay
(St. Martins Griffin, $13.95 paper, 9780312370848 / 0312370849)
"Sarah's Key is told from both the perspective of an 10-year-old girl whose family is rounded up during the Vel D'Hiv in France in 1942 and an American who presently lives in Paris. The heartbreak is real, the love is true, and the need to find out how their two lives are connected made this one of my absolute favorites!" --Sarah Galvin, The Bookstore Plus, Lake Placid, NY

The Flying Troutmans: A Novel by Miriam Toews
(Counterpoint, $24, 9781582434391 / 1582434395)
"Is it OK to laugh out loud at the misadventures of an earnest but clueless aunt steaming ahead on a road trip with her niece and nephew in a quest to rescue them from their mentally unstable mother and to track down their long-absent father? These are characters with a great sense of humor, and, so, I decided the answer was 'yes.' Miriam Toews mines the darkly comic while exposing the poignant truths in family relationships." --Cheryl McKeon, Third Place Books, Lake Forest Park, WA

The Reserve: A Novel by Russell Banks
(Harper, $24.95, 9780061430251 / 0061430250)
"Over the course of one summer month in the Adirondacks in 1936 lives unravel and secrets are revealed in unexpected ways. Combining suspense and drama, Banks is in top form as he explores themes of old money, the working class, love, and honor. Finally, he illustrates how tenuous all our societal and familial roles truly are." --Sarah Bagby, Watermark Books, Wichita, KS

Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri
(Knopf, $25, 9780307265739 / 0307265730)
"Jhumpa Lahiri's new collection of stories overflows with insights about the secrets we can hide. While these stories examine the crossing and commingling of Indian and Western cultures, the feelings of pride, love, and loneliness ring true in any society. They are jewels." --Rosemary Pugliese, Quail Ridge Books, Raleigh, NC

The Plague of Doves by Louise Erdrich
(HarperCollins, $25.95, 9780060515126 / 0060515120)
"Louise Erdrich's complex history of the families in a North Dakota, mixed-blood reservation town reveals its secrets slowly through the unique voices of the community. These characters require us to pay attention and to move from psychological and philosophical musing to delightful storytelling full of magic and intrigue. Thoroughly enjoyable." --Kathleen Costello, Maria's Bookshop, Durango, CO

The Garden of Last Days: A Novel by Andre Dubus III
(Norton, $24.95, 9780393041651 / 0393041654)
"A masterful psychological portrait of three compellingly flawed, very human characters affiliated with a seedy strip club in Florida, where a little girl goes missing. You might cringe at their decisions once you embark on this steamroller of a book, but you'll devour every explosive page!" --Caitlin Doggart, Where the Sidewalk Ends, Chatham, MA

Home: A Novel by Marilynne Robinson
(Farrar, $25, 9780374299101 / 0374299102)
"Home is set at the same time and in the same Iowa town as Robinson's novel Gilead, but in a different household, where the children of a dying man return home to care for him and to face the demons of their shared past. Beautifully written, Home is a tender portrayal of families, their secrets, their loves, and their faith." --Donna Hawley, Howard's Bookstore, Bloomington, IN

Serena: A Novel by Ron Rash
(Ecco, $24.95, 9780061470851 / 0061470856)
"Buckle your seatbelts, folks, you are in for an amazing ride. Set in the Appalachian Mountains in North Carolina during the Depression, this incredible novel is about love, greed, revenge, and survival -- a story told in epic proportions, complete with a Greek chorus of lumberjacks." --Kathryn Fabiani, R.J. Julia Booksellers, Madison, CT

The Given Day: A Novel by Dennis Lehane
(Morrow, $27.95, 9780688163181 / 0688163181)
"A big, booming American novel. Lahane weaves the history of early 20th -century Boston into an engrossing story of race, politics and family -- a wonderful read." --Britton Trice, Garden District Book Shop, New Orleans, LA

Hope's Boy by Andrew Bridge
(Hyperion, $22.95, 9781401303228 / 1401303226)
"I really like Andrew Bridge's memoir of growing up in the foster care system. Full of compelling characters, Hope's Boy is reminiscent of Angela's Ashes. I'd recommend it to all social workers." --Joyce Frohn, Apple Blossom Books, Oshkosh, WI

Girls Like Us: Carole King, Joni Mitchell, Carly Simon -- And the Journey of a Generation by Sheila Weller
(Atria, $27.95, 9780743491471 / 0743491475)
"Sheila Weller's story of three of the most important women in the history of pop music -- Carole King, Joni Mitchell, and Carly Simon -- captures the '60s better than any novel, recalling the stories and songs that have become ingrained in the psyche of America's soul. I would rate this book a 98 -- it has a great beat and you can dance to it." --Jerry Brown, The Bookstore, Radcliff, KY

Twenty Chickens for a Saddle: The Story of an African Childhood by Robyn Scott
(Penguin Press, $24.95, 9781594201592 / 1594201595)
"An astonishingly written story of growing up in modern-day Africa with loving, eccentric, and adventure-loving parents. Every character in this book could fill a novel." --Lillian Kinsey, Bohannons' Books With a Past, Georgetown, KY

All the Way Home: Building a Family in a Falling-Down House by David Giffels
(Morrow, $25.95, 9780061362866 / 0061362867)
"Great memoirs tend to be stranger than fiction, and David Giffels' riotous recollection of human willpower versus decaying architecture, contemptible rodents, and one stubborn octogenarian is no exception. An utterly unforgettable chapter in one young man's life." --Katie Capaldi, McLean & Eakin Booksellers, Petoskey, MI

Chosen Forever: A Memoir by Susan Richards
(Soho, $23, 9781569474921 / 1569474923)
"Susan Richard has written a sequel to Chosen by a Horse, her wonderful memoir. Her new book relates how the publication of Chosen totally changed her life, connecting her to friends and family from whom she was estranged, and to a man who became the love of her life." --Nancy Olson, Quail Ridge Books, Raleigh, NC

Books: A Memoir by Larry McMurtry
(Simon & Schuster, $24, 9781416583349 / 1416583343)
"Larry McMurtry's memoir of his life in books -- buying, selling, bidding, and lusting after -- is full of characters and delights that may never have been seen by the 'average' bookseller, but what many of us wouldn't give for the chance! McMurtry is generous with specifics and musings, personal history, whimsy, and speculations." --Becky Milner, Vintage Books, Vancouver, WA

What I Talk About When I Talk About Running: A Memoir by Haruki Murakami
(Knopf, $21, 9780307269195 / 0307269191)
"Focus. Endurance. Will. Murakami argues that these traits are at least as important as talent in both running and writing -- probably even more important. Whether you're a writer or a runner (or both), or just someone who wants an entertaining read, you'll find a lot to love in this marvelous book." --Dave Mallmann, Harry W. Schwartz Bookshop, Brookfield, WI

The Blue Cotton Gown: A Midwife's Memoir by Patricia Harman
(Beacon, $24.95, 9780807072899 / 0807072893)
"Here is an intimate account of a woman, both her career as a midwife and her life as the wife of a doctor in West Virginia. Her patients' lives are stories of hope and loss; her marriage is a story of love and faith accompanied, too by debt and tension. Well written and heartfelt." --Annie Philbrick, Bank Square Books, Mystic, CT

The Man Who Made Lists by Josh Kendall
(Putnam, $25.95, 9780399154621 / 0399154620)
"This very readable biography gives the reader new insights into the life and work Peter Mark Roget, the man who created the thesaurus (and many more things, including the slide rule). Anyone who loved The Professor and the Madman should read this book!" --Carol Schneck, Schuler Books & Music, Okemos, MI

Dog Man: An Uncommon Life on a Faraway Mountain by Martha Sherrill
(Penguin Press, $25.95, 9781594201240 / 1594201242)
"After World War II and over the course of decades, Morie Sawataishi bred Japanese Akitas and brought them back from the brink of extinction. A remarkable story in deceptively simple prose. Morie is not always a likable man, but his passion rings true, and, in the end, I deeply admired him." --Lisa Stefanacci, The Book Works, Del Mar, CA

1858: Abraham Lincoln, Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee, Ulysses S. Grant and the War They Failed to See by Bruce Chadwick
(Sourcebooks, $24.95, 9781402209413 / 140220941X)
"By linking the stories of Abraham Lincoln, Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee, Ulysses S. Grant, and others, Chadwick creates the historical period at the near-end of the antebellum era. Included is a great portrait of a rather delusional president who is over-confident of his own policies and sure that history will absolve his stands." --Dan Domike, Jackson Street Books, Seattle, WA

Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex by Mary Roach
(Norton, $24.95, 9780393064643 / 0393064646)
"An absolutely fantastic book that will have you laughing and blushing at the same time! As she did with Spook and Stiff, Mary Roach again uses her wonderful storytelling talents to combine her knowledge of science (this time examining current and historical studies of sex) with the curious and absurd." --Lori Kauffman, Brookline Booksmith, Brookline, MA

The Billionaire's Vinegar: The Mystery of the World's Most Expensive Bottle of Wine by Benjamin Wallace
(Crown, $24.95, 9780307338778 / 0307338770)
"Benjamin Wallace has uncorked an absolutely fascinating account of the world's most expensive bottle of wine, an intoxicating read with the complexity and nuances of a great vintage. As your book 'sommelier' I recommend that you drink deep of this heady narrative concerning world-class connoisseurs, deep-pocketed collectors, and -- quite possibly -- a diabolically clever con man." --Joe Drabyak, Chester County Book & Music Company, West Chester, PA

Waiter Rant: Thanks for the Tip -- Confessions of a Cynical Waiter by The Waiter
(Ecco, $24.95, 9780061256684/61256684)
"Reading this entertaining front-of-house answer to Kitchen Confidential reminded me of all the summers I spent waiting tables -- and reminded me to tip more generously." --Cheryl Patton, Eclipse Coffee & Books, Montevallo, AL

America Eats! On the Road With the WPA -- the Fish Fries, Box Supper Socials, and Chitlin Feasts That Define Real American Food by Pat Willard
(Bloomsbury, $25.99, 9781596913622 / 1596913622)
"Pat Willard is a terrific food writer, and this book, which traces the WPA's 1935 documentation of American food traditions throughout the country, will have you itching to go on the road yourself to try and find the out-of-the-way diners, restaurants, and communities where food and its celebration take you to new gastronomic heights. If you love food, food writers, food junkies, food festivals, and food history, you must read America Eats!" --Gayle Shanks, Changing Hands Bookstore, Tempe, AZ

Dewey: The Small Town Library Cat Who Touched the World by Vicki Myron, with Bret Witter
(Grand Central, $19.99, 9780446407410 / 0446407410)
"When a cold, wet kitten is pulled from a library book-return box on a winter day in Spencer, Iowa, no one could imagine what changes this very extraordinary cat would bring to a town and a library director -- both in need of some good news. More than a memoir, this book is a lesson in love, devotion, and a sense of community spirit." --Janet Hart, Bookpeople of Moscow, Moscow, ID

American Lightning: Terror, Mystery, the Birth of Hollywood, and the Crime of the Century by Howard Blum
(Crown, $24.95, 9780307346940 / 0307346943)
"Artfully blending narratives of Clarence Darrow, D.W. Griffith, and William Burns, Howard Blum has written a masterful account of the bombing of the offices of the Los Angeles Times and the trial of the McNamara brothers. Blum gives a strong portrayal of the labor unrest at the start of the 20th century in this excellent history of a society on the cusp of a new era." --Bill Cusumano, Nicola's Books, Ann Arbor, MI

Now You See Him: A Novel by Eli Gottlieb
(Morrow, $22.95, 9780061284649 / 0061284645)
"This nuanced, intelligent novel is told from the point of view of Nick, a man in his thirties facing a collapsing marriage, and life, as tragic events send him on a completely new road. Richly written, this thrilling novel's twists and revelations gloriously delve into the nature of truth, friendship, marriage, and our own perceptions of ourselves." --Joe Eichman, Tattered Cover Bookstore, Denver, CO

Curse of the Spellmans by Lisa Lutz
(Simon & Schuster, $25, 9781416532415 / 1416532412)
"This second entry in the nonstop, frenzied, comedic world of Isabel Spellman, P.I., is both more convoluted and funny than The Spellman Files. This time, Izzy finds herself confounded by nearly everyone in her life and, of course, unable to leave anyone alone until she gets to the bottom of the many mysteries surrounding her -- including her weirder-than-usual family." --Terry Gilman, Mysterious Galaxy Books, San Diego, CA

Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith
(Grand Central, $24.99, 9780446402385 / 0446402389)
"The remarkable achievement of Child 44 is its invocation of a paranoid, brutal Orwellian domain in which society's moral compass is spinning like a roulette wheel. This snowy, bitter world is realized with cinematic vividness, and the plot maintains a nerve-wracking tension throughout. A great thriller for people who don't always read this genre." --Ken A. White, SFSU Bookstore, San Francisco, CA

City of Thieves: A Novel by David Benioff
(Viking, $24.95, 9780670018703 / 0670018708)
"Set against the war-torn backdrop of Leningrad, two teenage boys end up, through stranger and stranger twists of fate, traveling cross-country to find a dozen eggs in exchange for their very lives. In the process, they learn more about human nature, both in themselves and others, than can possibly be explained. Wickedly funny and incredibly sad, it's far too short to be this lovely -- and yet it is." --Russ Marshalek, Wordsmiths Books, Decatur, GA

The Likeness: A Novel by Tana French
(Viking, $25.95, 9780670018864 / 0670018864)
"Cassie Maddox is a former undercover detective working in domestic violence when she is called to the scene of a murder of a girl who bears an uncanny resemblance to Cassie herself. Stranger still, the victim's name is apparently Lexie Madison, an identity fabricated by Cassie years ago. As layers of secrets are revealed, this mesmerizing novel will keep the reader riveted!" --Tova Beiser, Brown University Bookstore, Providence, RI

The following titles, chosen as Indie Next List Great Reads in hardcover in 2008, will be reissued in paperback in January 2009. Watch for them at your local independent bookstore!

People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks
(Penguin, $15, 9780143115007 / 0143115006)
"Admirers of Geraldine Brooks (and great literature in general) will be delighted by this beautifully fashioned novel. The ancient Haggadah she uses as the centerpiece of the story travels through the centuries and illuminates the lives of its various keepers, as well as each historical era. Detailing both ancient history and the complex life and times of its modern restorer, this novel delivers an amazing richness and a marvelous story!" --Karen M. Frank, Northshire Bookstore, Manchester Center, VT

The Jewel Trader of Pegu by Jeffery Hantover
(Harper Perennial, $13.95, 9780061252716 / 0061252719)
"Forget the mysterious and exotic location -- this is a book 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 previously unknown. You can call it exquisite, incisive, and provocative, but there are really not enough adjectives for this brilliant gem of a novel." --Bill Cusumano, Nicola's Books, Ann Arbor, MI

Life Class: A Novel by Pat Barker
(Anchor, $14.95, 9780307387806 / 0307387801)
"In this story, Pat Barker has captured it all -- the sounds, smells, and mystery of love and relationships during a time of newfound art and war in 1914. Her characters come alive with their passion and human behaviors -- a wonderful read by a noted author!" --Kathleen Dixon, Islandtime Books & More, Washington Island, WI

Remembering the Bones: A Novel by Frances Itani
(Grove, $14, 9780802144003 / 0802144004)
"Georgie is on her way to London for lunch with the queen, as one of 99 lucky Commonwealth residents born the same day as Elizabeth II. Her car slips off the road and she is trapped at the bottom of a ravine. As she wills herself to stay alive, she takes a poignant and comic journey through her 80 years, proving there is no such thing as an insignificant life." --Marian Nielsen, Orinda Books, Orinda, CA

A Slave No More: Two Men Who Escaped to Freedom, Including Their Own Narratives of Emancipation by David Blight
(Mariner, $14.95, 9780156034517 / 0156034514)
"These narratives by former slaves Wallace Turnage and John Washington are gifts to 21st-century writers and historians. The power and rawness of the stories moved me. I appreciate those who preserved the narratives for us, and, also, Blight for bringing them out in such a wonderful way." --Keri Holmes, The Kaleidoscope: Our Focus Is You, Hampton, IA

Helping Me Help Myself: One Skeptic, Ten Self-Help Gurus, and a Year on the Brink of the Comfort Zone by Beth Lisick
(Harper Paperbacks, $13.95, 9780061710735 / 006171033)
"Beth Lisick emerges as one of the great storytellers of our generation, joining the ranks of David Foster Wallace and Cintra Wilson with her hilarious and poignant tales of immersion into the million-dollar self-help industry." --Stacey Lewis, City Lights Books, San Francisco, CA

The Memoirs of a Beautiful Boy by Robert Leleux
(St. Martin's/Griffin, $14.95, 9780312361693 / 0312361696)
"This memoir of a gay boy growing up in Petunia, Texas, is funny, occasionally poignant, and impossible to put down." --Blake Hardy, Outwrite Bookstore & Coffeehouse, Atlanta, GA

Trail of Crumbs: Hunger, Love, and the Search for Home by Kim Sunee
(Grand Central Publishing, $13.99, 9780446697903 / 044669707)
"Kim Sunee, the globe-trotting food editor, has written an incredible memoir! Dive into this amazing life of a courageous woman, who was abandoned by her Korean mother, raised in New Orleans, has owned a bookshop in Paris, and, now, is an executive with one of America's most respected magazine publishers. Brilliant!" --Jake Reiss, The Alabama Booksmith, Birmingham, AL