December 5, 2006
Nature Girl Carl Hiaasen Knopf
“Just in time for the holidays - the perfect gift for the reader who likes a twisted, demented and hilarious view of Florida.”
Wild Fire Nelson DeMille Warner Books
“DeMille is the grand master of conspiracy and suspense - better than Dan Brown, better than James Patterson, simply the best as he proves again in this story of global chaos, retaliation and nuclear threat.”
Altruistic Armadillos, Zenlike Zebras Jeffrey M. Masson Ballantine Books
“Every odd and familiar animal you can imagine is exposed and explicated - the perfect for all animal lovers.”
The Cat Who Wouldn't Come Inside Cynthia Von Buhler Houghton Mifflin
“For every cat lover who knows that cats represent all of the love and trust in the world unless they are indifferent.”
Cure Back Pain with Yoga Loren Fishman M.D. & Carol Ardman Norton
“An excellent testimonial for this exercise as a happy alternative to surgery for common back pain.”
A Christmas Secret Anne Perry Ballantine Books
“Another beautiful but deadly Christmas cozy as a vicar is murdered in an English village.”
Last Seen Leaving Kelly Braffet Houghton Mifflin
“Braffet delivers in her second suspense filled book and proves again she is one of our best new authors.”
In Search of Ireland's Heroes Carmel McCaffrey Ivan R. Dee
“That rare publishing event where the sequel is even better than the original. McCaffrey uses original documents to illustrate Irish history from the English invasion through today.”
Teta, Mother & Me Jean Said Makdisi Norton
“The social history and politics of Arab women illustrated by the author's love for her mother and grandmother.”
Why Smart Men Marry Smart Women Christine Whelan Simon & Schuster
“Who would have thunk it? Likes actually attract in this solidly documented expose of who we are.”
Mysteries of Sex Mary Ryan University of North Carolina Press
“Detailed and vastly documented study of gender differences throughout American history. Impossible to ignore.”
Amphigorey Again Edward Gorey Harcourt
“Surely this could not be the last of Gorey whose illustrations highlight television shows, books, and stories better than any other weird, offbeat or just plain strange artist.”
Historic Kentucky James Archambeault University of Kentucky
“Stunningly beautiful photographs of the history and character of the commonwealth of Kentucky. A must have for the Kentucky collector.”
From Lucy to Language Donald Johanson & Blake Edgar Simon & Schuster
“The explanation of the evolution of humankind in East Africa is a great message and here the photographs of the fossils are fascinating and illuminating.”
Beka Cooper: Terrier Tamora Pierce Random House
“This young reader's adventure is a powerful and entertaining tale with just enough wicked twists to create a real “girl power” story.”
The Rising Tide Jeff Shaara Ballantine
“This is historical fiction at its best as Shaara recreates the North African Campaign of World War II with all its gore and glory.”
Blood & Memory Robert Benson Texas Review Press
“A wonderful memoir of a son, husband and father focused on the 1940s and 1950s.”
Monopoly Philip Orbanes DaCapo Press
“What a lucky roll of the dice! With a new version just out, this fascinating look at the origin and history of the world's most popular board game is just in time.”
Choices Under Fire Michael Bess Knopf
“A realistic and heavily documented look at the reality and truth to the choices that were made in World War II from the surprise assault on Pearl Harbor to the Atomic Bombs to the War Crime Trials in both Europe and the Pacific. Morality in war continues to be a difficult story.”
Twilight Willam Gay MacAdam/Cage
“All about an undertaker where teenagers make a terrible discovery in this story about the nature of good and evil by one of the South's best writers.”
Glasshouse Charles Stross ACE
“A great high-tech adventure and fantasy story by one of the bright new star writers.”
The Elements of Murder John Emsley Oxford
“Mix the elements of homicide and a few ordinary chemicals and you get this history of some of the best poison murders. Impossible to put down.”
November 7, 2006
Plains of Abraham J. Houston Gordon
“From Memphis to Quebec this story of loss, love and betrayal resonates with courage, danger and hope. Impossible to put down, the perfect book gift.”
The Way to Win Mark Halperin & John Harris Random House
“Everything Hillary Clinton and John McCain do not want you to know about the road to the White House in 2008. This book is the nonpartisan blueprint for being nominated for president.”
Echo Park Michael Connelly Little Brown
“Celebrate! The next Harry Bosch book is here, the wait is over and it was worth every bit of it. Echo Park is impossible to put down and we both loved this book.”
Hundred-Dollar Baby Robert Parker Putnam
“Parker is the best American crime writer today, bar none. His stories illustrate the kind of values and character we all need and along the way, contrast with the depravity of his classic bad guys.”
Beauty Junkies Alex Kuczynski Doubleday
“Fascinated by plastic surgery but afraid to go under the knife? Kucynksi's explanation of why we torture ourselves to remain youthful is a great snapshot of America's obsession to remain eternally young.”
Firstlight Sue Monk Kidd GuidepostsBooks
“Fans of the author of The Secret Life of Bees will love this book. A great insight into Kidd as she shares her early writings and musings about her spiritual life.”
The Beautiful Fall Alicia Drake Little, Brown
“The perfect book for the fashion junkie. Drake tells all the secrets about what really went on behind the closed gilded doors in Paris.”
The Book of Lost Things John Connolly Atria Books
“A powerful coming of age fantasy about loss and loyalty.”
A Stolen Season Steve Hamilton Thomas Dunne Books
“The bad guys here are just as cold as the Canadian winter where Alex McKnight loses the person closest to him. This series of crime novels set in upper Michigan and Canada are fascinating and impossible to put down.”
The Disunited States of America Harry Turtledove TOR
“Turtledove is the grand master of alternative American history and this time Ohio and Virginia are at war with each other. A fascinating novel.”
Wintersmith Terry Pratchett HarperCollins
“A 13 year old girl confronting boys can be a problem, especially when the boy has all of the power of Winter in this fantastic story of adventure.”
The Joke's Over Ralph Steadman Harcourt
“It's a long strange trip and every minute of it is joy and wonder in this combination of the art of Steadman and the writing of Hunter S. Thompson.”
Fragile Things Neil Gaiman Morrow
“These short stories and poems by an American master are haunting and fragile.
Poe in 90 Minutes Paul Strathern Ivan R. Dee
“The very short, very accurate course on one of the great early American writers.”
Tolstoy in 90 Minutes Paul Strathern Ivan R. Dee
“The very short, very accurate course on one of the great Russian writers.”
Borges in 90 Minutes Paul Strathern Ivan R. Dee
“The very short, very accurate course on magic realism and its leading author.”
Pictures Robert Daley Harcourt
“Robert Daley used to write the best police novels set in America and now he writes the best crime stories set in Europe as his private detective investigates the tennis player who is dating the only daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Luxembourg.”
Kidnapped Jan Burke Simon & Schuster
“Burke scores again with this strange and suspenseful novel about a cultish family of wealth who have disowned another family member convicted of murder. If you have not discovered Irene Kelly you have missed a treat.”
The Hounds & The Fury Rita Mae Brown Random House
“For everyone who ever wanted to chase in a fox hunt, this murder mystery will fascinate and delight.”
A Separate War and Other Stories Joe Haldeman ACE
“Haldeman has won all the awards possible and these short stories well illustrate why.”
The Strange Case of Hellish Nell Nina Shandler DeCapo
“This stranger than fiction true story about a grandmother of four who is tried in 1944 under the Witchcraft Law is impossible to put down.”
Dark Angels Karleen Koen Crown
"Finally another book by in Koen's 17th Century Europe series, worth the wait. I loved this prequel.”
Charming, Alarming , Disarming Ann Lee
“Better than the best selling childhood memoirs, this suspense novel is all about overcoming a child's life of abuse.”
October 3, 2006
On Agate Hill Lee Smith Algonquin Books
“One of today's best writers delivers another treasure as a civil war orphan marries a dashing mountaineer in this spell binding story.”
A Sound Like Thunder Sonny Brewer Ballantine Books
“A story of youth in small town Alabama coming of age in the 1940s. Well written and magical.”
Dead Wrong J.A. Jance
“Another great crime novel by one of America's leading mystery writers.”
No Good Deeds Laura Lippman
Award-winning author Lippman succeeds again in making her Baltimore setting come alive with suspense and risks.
In Cold Blood Truman Capote Vintage
An American classic that started a new genre of crime writing.”
Winter's Bone Daniel Woodrell
A great cross between Erskine Caldwell and Truman Capote as Woodrell writes about the Southern life.
Speak Now Against the Day John Egerton
“The precedent for any book about the history of the modern Civil Rights movement.”
All Aunt Hagar's Children: Stories Edward Jones Amistad
“One of today's most compelling author weaves stories about how lives change due to tragedy.”
Uno's Garden Graeme Base Abrams Books for Young Readers
“Simply the world's best illustrator of children's books. Base scores another masterpiece.”
A King's Trade Dewey Lambdin Thomas Dunne Books
Fans of C.S. Forrester's Master and Commander books will love this series. In the latest story Lambdin's hero becomes an abolitionist.”
Sufficient Grace Darnell Arnoult Free Press
Fans of Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd will love this first novel by Darnell Arnoult
September 5, 2006
Triptych Karin Slaughter Delacorte
“Slaughter lives up to her name. She is the most hard boiled writer today. Only read this with the lights on.”
The Night Gardener George Pelecanos Little Brown
“Pelecanos relates the social history of Washington D.C. in a series of detective novels with The Night Gardener about dead bodies in the neighborhood parks as the best story yet.”
Demon Theory Stephen Graham Jones MacAdam Cage
“Halloween scariness gone crazy in the best sense.”
Fire & Brimstone Michael Punke Hyperion
“The terrifying story of the worst mining disaster in American History in 1917 in Montana.”
The Blind Watchmaker Richard Dawkins Norton
“Dawkins is the leading author about evolution for the general public. His explanations work and make sense.”
A Walk on the Nightside Simon Green Ace
“This glittering mixture of suspense and fantasy will grab you and not let go.”
The Exile Kiss George Alec Effinger Orb/TOR
“This tale of survival in the desert focuses the imagination. One of the best books of the year.”
Hounding the Moon P.R. Frost DAW/Penguin
“This book thrills and chills in its challenges about martial arts and the imagination.”
Hollow Earth David Standish DaCapo
“Fascinating account of literary explorations beneath the earth’s surface. The Edgar Rice Burroughs chapter is revealing and impossible to put down.”
The Triumph of Numbers I.B. Cohen Norton
“A compelling review of how counting has created history and changed our lives for the better.”
I Feel Bad About My Neck Nora Ephron Knopf
"Only Ephron can make the aging process so entertaining.”
Judge and Jury James Patterson & Andrew Gross Little Brown
“Nick Pellisante FBI agent and Andie DeGrasse combine forces to find love and revenge in a Mafia crime boss trial.”
Bitchfest Lisa Jervis & Andi Zeisler FSG
“No home should be without this book. It can save relationships, provide direction for those who want it and offer humor for those who need it.”
The Little Lady Agency Hester Browne Pocket Books
“Move over Bridget Jones and Carrie Bradshaw, Melissa Romney Jones is the new heroine in chick lit.”
Journal Kristine Atkinson & Joyce Atkinson Simon & Schuster
“A pretty fantasy about reading someone else’s diary with appropriate photos. The perfect gift for that hard to please reader.”
Boy Heaven Laura Kasischke Harper Collins
"The Hitchcock ending to this story of teenage love will shock and surprise you.”
Dragons of St. George Len Alberstadt Redline Books
“From the distinctive smell of cordite from the guns to the intellectual challenges, this modern novel by Vanderbilt Professor Len Alberstadt scores a win.”
Special Topics in Calamity Physics Marisha Pessl Viking
“The best book of the year. Impossible to put down, we loved it.”
The Lies of Locke Lamora Scott Lynch Bantam
“A band of tricksters and an orphan may sound like Oliver Twist but these are not your average criminals in this great story of revenge.”
Terrible Fate Benjamin Liberman Ivan R. Dee
“The gripping history of Central and Eastern Europe and how the plunder, massacres, and killings change its history. Genocide is never pretty.”
Friendship an Expose Joseph Epstein Houghton Mifflin
“What are the duties of being a friend? This book gives all the right lessons. A great gift for that special friend.”
August 1, 2006
The Ruins Scott Smith Knopf
“The author of A Simple Plan scores again. How innocence can turn to danger so suddenly in our lives. Two couples on a beach vacation decide to explore a far away Mayan ruin without chilling and disturbing results.”
Break No Bones Kathy Reichs Scribner
“If you like CSI or Without a Trace or Bones, you will love Kathy Reichs. She is better and more entertaining than any tv show. This time her heroine, Tempe Brennan, finds a modern skeleton in ruins of a Native American ground near Charleston.”
In the Dark of the Night John Saul Ballantine
“Darkness can evoke our deepest fears. This Midwestern haunted house story grabs, chills, rocks and pierces you until its hunger is satisfied. For most of us, this is another of John Saul’s great suspense stories. For the faint hearted though, plan not to sleep this month.”
Danse Macabre Laurell K. Hamilton Berkley
“Our heroine Anita Blake daydreams about men, sex, werewolves and vampires until she realizes she is pregnant. Uh oh. This is Stephen King meets Candace Bushnell with enough fear and trembling to raise the dead.”
Identifying Marks Jennifer Putzi University of Georgia
“Think tattoos are overdone today? In the 19th Century brands, scars and tattoos were both a mark of rejection and a sign of survival whether you consider Hester Prynne in The Scarlet Letter or Queequeg in Moby Dick or those poor souls kidnapped on the American frontier. This is a powerful study of fate, biology, and social class in America in the 1800s.”
The Social Life of Pots Edited by Judith Mauche, Suzanne Eckert & Deborah Huntley University of Arizona
“In early America your socioeconomic class status could be identified by the glaze painted pottery that you owned. Is that so different today? Just like fine china patterns today, this book traces today the life of pots through communities, identities, trade, and commerce.”
The World is Flat Thomas Friedman Farrar, Straus & Giroux
“Friedman merges economics, history and technology into an understandable explanation of how and why the world has changed. This is the choice for the thinking bookclub.”
The Shopping Bags Anna Wallner & Kristina Matisic New American Library
“From baby strollers to sunglasses and hair dye, this is the must have guide for today’s consumer and compulsive shoppers”
Swapping Lives Jane Green Viking
“Is the grass greener on the other side? Green delivers an answer with a twist as two women from different countries find out what it is really like to wear each other’s shoes, live with another person’s spouse and raise a family or be single again.”
Baby Proof Emily Griffin St. Martin’s
“You meet the perfect person, you agree that you never want children, you marry and then do you live happily ever after? Not if he changes his mind and she does not. Griffin proves again why she is one of the hottest writers today in this page turner with a twist.”
Water for Elephants Sara Gruen Algonquin Books & HighBridge Audio
“The Benzini Brothers were a third rate circus during the bottom of the Great Depression. As 90 year old Jacob now remembers it, the circus transformed the life of Marlena and himself through the power of love and trust in this heartrending story of freaks, clowns, pain and passion. Sure to be a selection for bookclubs everywhere.”
The Memory Keeper’s Daughter Kim Edwards Penguin
“The most talked about book today. A phenomenal first novel by Edwards. The choice of a father to hide the birth of one of his twins has far reaching consequences.”
Johnny Cash Michael Streissguth De Capo
“A new biography of an American legend based on interviews with Tennesseans and the archives of Cash’s manager proves why this man is so beloved by so many.”
The Untold Story of Shiloh Timothy Smith University of Tennessee Press
“This book covers more than just the battle and includes the creation of Shiloh National Military Park, and the attitudes of the people involved.”
Resurrection Tucker Malarkey Riverhead Books
“Fans of The Da Vinci Code rejoice about this novel of the lost gospels of Nag Hammadi which were suppressed by the early church and rediscovered in the 1940s. Resurrection has it all, murder, museums, love, and the hidden role of women.”
The Whole World Over Julia Glass Pantheon Books
“The author of The Three Junes proves again why she is a winner of the National Book Award.”
Ghost Dancer John Case Ballantine
“Chilling suspense in this story of revenge surging toward destruction through a world wide chain reaction. Every fan of John Le Carre and Dan Brown will enjoy this tale.”
The Glass Books of the Dream Eaters Bantam Gordon Dahlquist
“Imagine a Dear John letter that sends you lurching into a hell-bound trip. Your fiancé delivered it on a silver tray ending your engagement and sending you into a spiral of peril and mystery. This is one of the most unusual debut novels.”
Snow Blind P.J. Tracy Putnam
“Computer geeks enter a snowman building contest only to find dead police officers in the ice. If you like your hard boiled crime mixed with sharp edged humor, this mother daughter author team is a top pick.”
Natural Selection Dave Freedman Hyperion
“Dead creatures and strange things that go bump in the night just before they eat you. This combination makes for a great scare and a fun read.”
July 3, 2006
The One Percent Doctrine Ron Suskind Simon & Schuster
“An insider’s view of our national and international war on terror, emphasizing the little known heroes and heroines in our struggle for freedom.”
Executive Secrets William Daugherty University of Kentucky
“The secret history of our undisclosed espionage and covert agents who defend our liberty.”
Cindy in Iraq Cynthia Morgan Free Press
“This brave woman drove trucks for Halliburton in Iraq. A riveting first person account. A must read if you really want to know what is happening in Iraq.”
The Gift of Valor Michael Phillips Broadway
“An unusual and heartbreaking true story about a marine corporal dying in Iraq.”
Last of the Cold War Spies Roland Perry Da Capo Press
“How treason and greed subverted American cold war efforts to limit and contain our enemies.”
J. Robert Oppenheimer Abraham Pais Oxford
“A gripping review of the man who really created the atomic bomb and fought to stop the hydrogen bomb. Read this book and find out why.”
Stargazer Fred Watson Da Capo Press
“This scientific exploration of the telescope is elegant and engaging.”
Husk of Time Victor Masayesva University of Arizona Press
“These photographs are complex and original in their pictures of Native American life.”
The Landscape in Black & White Oliver Schuchard University of Missouri Press
“From the Mark Twain forest to the Arapaho ranch, these photographic scenes of our great nation are a beauty to behold, the next best thing to actually being there.”
Ogallala Blue William Ashworth Norton
“From Texas to South Dakota, there is a 5 trillion gallon underground lake. From the time of the glaciers, this water source has made our nation livable.”
Pilgrimage on a Steel Ride Gary Paulsen Harcourt Brace
“A great book in the genre of the open road as the author takes his Harley from New Mexico to Alaska.”
The Antiquities Act David Harmon, Francis McManamon & Dwight Pitcaithaly University of Arizona Press
“This book illustrates the politics and bureaucracy of a century of efforts to preserve our land and its beauty.”
Brethren Robyn Young Dutton
“A hot blooded epic tale of the order of Knights Templar in the 13th Century. The perfect fix for fans of Da Vinci Code books.
Literacy and Longing in L.A. Jennifer Kaufman & Karen Mack Delacorte Press
“The most talked about book of the summer. Those addicted to books will rejoice, empathize and share it with bookclubs everywhere.”
Blue Monday Rick Coleman Da Capo
“How Fats Domino gave birth to Rock N’ Roll in the 1950s. This book will “Send You” from “Blueberry Hill” to “Ain’t that a Shame”. It is about time Domino got the recognition he deserves.”
The Enemy of God Robert Daley Harcourt
“Suspense and police action are supreme in this New York City murder of a priest.”
Pegasus Descending James Lee Burke Simon & Schuster
“Burke scores an A plus again with this sordid mystery about southern Louisiana, college fraternity boys, neighborhood drug dealers, demented hoodlums, and a young woman passing marked hundred dollar bills.”
The Whistling Season Ivan Doig Harcourt
“A classic story of the American West. Doig paints the reality and beauty of the land better than any living American author.”
In the Name of Friendship Marilyn French The Feminist Press
“The author of The Women’s Room proves why she is the foremost feminist writer today about how women relate and interact.”
Buyers are Liars & Sellers are Too! Richard Courtney Fireside/Simon & Schuster
“The inside story by a real expert on how to live happily ever after with that home you are going to sell or buy.”
Annotated Archy and Mehitabel   Michael Sims, intro Penguin
“These classic tales are brought back to life and truly hold their appeal for a new generation.”
June 6, 2006
All in My Head Paula Kamen Da Capo/Lifelong
“Everything you hoped never to know about headaches and migranes.”
Crossworld Marc Romano Broadway
“Whether a cross or down this is a fabulous survey of the popular addiction of crossword puzzles.”
Take Up the Black Man’s Burden Charles Coulter Missouri University of Press
“This detailed history of the African American community in Kansas City from the Civil War to War World II sets the benchmark.”
Mr. Lincoln Goes to War William Marvel Houghton Mifflin
“A contrarian view of President Lincoln and his choices during a critical time in our history.”
On/Off Colleen McCullough Simon & Schuster
“The author of The Thorn Birds delivers a detective story that is impossible to put down.”
Crime Beat Michael Connelly Time Warner Audio
“A change of pace from America’s leading mystery writer as Connelly delivers true crime reporting in a compelling manner.”
De Kooning Mark Stevens & Annalyn Swan Knopf
“From commercial illustrations to abstract landscapes to modernism, De Kooning has been a pivotal figure in modern American art as illustrated by this personal biography.”
Stumbling Stone Suzanne Thomas Arbor Books
“Great armchair reading about drugs and the crime culture.”
Sword & Blossom Peter Pagnamenta & Monoko Williams Penguin Press
“An unforgettable love store amidst prejudice & snobbery.”
Peter, Paul & Mary Magdalene Bart Ehrman Oxford
“Today’s most respected biblical historian explains this fascinating triangle of personalities and early leaders of the Christian faith.”
Cottonwood Fall Gary Slaughter Fletcher House
“This World War II hometown adventure ranges from German P.O.W.’s to squirrel hunting to a tour of Chicago in the celebration of American values and true heroes.”
Rocket Man Nancy Conrad & Howard Klausner New American Library
“The true to life story of an authentic hero who flew two Gemini missions and walked on the moon.”
The Hard Way Lee Child Delacorte Press
“Child is the true successor to John D. McDonald and his Travis McGee is Jack Reacher who lands in the middle of a kidnapping.”
Hollow Earth David Standish DaCapo
“Fascinating theories about imaginary places below the surface of the earth.”
Mapper of Mountains I.S. MacLaren University of Alberta Press
“The Canadian Rockies in all their glory and the incredible difficulties of their mapping.”
Men of the West Cathy Luchetti Norton
“The history and photographs of the gold dreamers, land claimers, homesteaders and cowboys.”
Puebloan Ruins of the Southwest Arthur Rohn & William Ferguson University of New Mexico Press
“An exciting presentation of the lifestyles and spiritual practices of the Pueblo people.”
Doing Nothing Tom Lutz Farrar Straus & Giroux
“The perfect gift for that coach potato friend or that slacker child who needs to know how to do nothing.”
The Gentle Order of Girls & Boys Dayo Strom Counterpoint
“The true nature of the psychology of the species is sharply presented in these short stories.”
The Art of Detection Laurie King Bantam
“King demonstrates again how and why she has won all the major mystery awards in this story about a century old manuscript by Sherlock Holmes.”
May 2, 2006
The Debutante Divorcee’ Plum Sykes Miramax
“If you like Bergdorf Blondes then you will love Sykes take on divorce. A delicious twist of a book.”
My Latest Grievance Elinor Lipman Houghton Mifflin
“What happens when a preppie is raised by hippies? Lipman writes an engrossing story of a young girl born in the wrong place and time.”
This is Not a Love Song Sarabeth Purcell Washington Square Press
“One of today’s best authors delivers again in This is Not a Love Song – melodrama meets reality in this terrific love story.”
Riding Dirty on I-95 Nikki Turner Ballantine
“Fasten your seatbelts, Turner delivers another fast and furious read where the women are fabulous and the men learn much needed lessons.”
Little Fugue Robert Anderson Random House
“Can’t get enough of Sylvia Plath? Anderson delivers a compelling mixture of fact and fiction about Plath and those in her orbit both literary and personal.”
English, August Upamanyu Chatterjee New York Review Books
“Mystery and intrigue of India reveals the comedy of human life among the younger generation. English August should be a part of every bookclub.”
Pearl Mary Gordon Anchor Books
“The terror of a mother’s love when her radical daughter becomes a martyr is both tragic and daring. Gordon is one of today’s best writers.”
Lime Ricky Jill Winters New American Library
"If you think you could perform on television, read this funny and wicked chick lit story first. The perfect book for escapism.”
Saving the World Julia Alvarez Algonquin
“Alvarez is one of our leading writers today and she proves it again with this novel about a doctor’s quest for immortality in 1804. If you like Barbara Kingsolver you will love Alvarez.”
The Why Café John Strelecky Da Capo
“What if the menu at your local restaurant also offered you choices of what to do with the rest of your life? The perfect book for a group discussion.”
Going Indian James Hamill University of Illinois
“Fascinating account of the history, ancestry and practices of Oklahoma Indians from a highly original point of view.”
Edgar Allan Poe & The Juke-Box Elizabeth Bishop Farrar Straus & Giroux
“Even his fragments captivate and darkly illuminate the human spirit.”
Inhuman Bondage David Brion Davis Oxford
“The dark tragedy and inhuman treatment that created slavery in the western world from the time of the Amistead Case through the kingdom of cotton while all the politicians desperately avoided the truth.”
Reinventing the South Mark Royden Winchell University of Missouri
“The importance of the Nashville Renascence cannot be overstated in motivating and guiding the rebirth of the southern literary movement as the Vanderbilt Fugitives and the Agrarians led the way.”
Get Carter Bill Carter Fines Creek
“This reads like a movie except its real. Nashville’s own Bill Carter was a secret service agent in Dallas when President Kennedy was murdered and he now tells the inside story as well as his adventures with everyone from the Rolling Stones to Jimmy Hoffa in this important and exciting book.”
Revolutionary Characters Gordon S. Wood The Penguin Press
“Wood explains why and how we created such a brilliant generation of leaders in the late 1700’s and what made them different.”
Ruairi O Bradaigh Robert W. White University of Indiana
“A dark and depressing biography of an important figure who has served as a leader of the Irish Republican Army who rejects the peace process.”
A History of the Crusades Robert Lee Wolff & Harry W. Hazard University of Wisconsin
“This six volume series is the preeminent scholarship work on the crusades of western Europe and the resulting military conflict in the Middle East.”
Lake Monster Mysteries Benjamin Radford & Joe Nickell University of Kentucky
“They are at it again with a close look at tall tales – or maybe true tales – with great photographs that may or may not be fake.”
Eye Witness Travel – Italy D.K. Publishing
“The most up to date and informative guide to all the wine, opera, art and shopping. A must have for any traveler.”
Hippo Eats Dwarf Alex Boese Harcourt
“Crude humor can be funny especially when there might be a small kernel of truth in some of these wild and outrageous rumors.”
Naked Angels John Tytell Ivan Dee
“Brilliant social history of the Beat Generation as reflected in the writing of Kerouac, Ginsberg and Burroughs.”
The Tibetan Book of the Dead edited by Graham Coleman Viking
“No student of modern religion can afford to miss this modern authoritative translation of the leading Tibetan Buddhist text.”
A Map of Glass Jane Urquhart MacAdam Cage
“This brilliant narrative journey about a former lovers disappearance shows the true conflict in humanity.”
The Language of Elk Benjamin Percy Carnegie Mellon University
“Character controls and dominates these brilliant short stories.”
Dead Aim Thomas Perry Random House
“Nobody does murder, mayhem and mystery better than Perry.”
April 4, 2006
A Hole in Juan Gillian Roberts Ballantine
“Who knew that school teacher could be so much fun and suspenseful at the same time. A smashing success of a mystery.”
The Fifth Horseman James Patterson Little Brown
“The Women’s Murder Club strikes again as a series of hospital deaths strikes too close to home for one of the club members.”
Prior Bad Acts Tami Hoag Bantam
“Hoag excels at mixing romance with Hitchcock suspense in this police procedural mystery. This thriller is impossible to stop reading.”
The Rabbit Factory Marshall Karp MacAdam/Cage
“Discovering a brand new mystery author is always exciting and Karp is worth the adventure. His Los Angeles detectives must solve a brutal murder at FamilyLand (read Disneyland).”
Dark Light Randy Wayne White Putnam
“White is better than John D. MacDonald. Heresy but true. This time Doc Ford agrees to salvage a boat that was sunk in 1944 in a tale of unrelenting intensity.”
Dirty Blonde Lisa Scottoline HarperCollins
“Move over Judge Judy, Scottoline’s female judge Cate Fante is sharper, faster with her tongue and judgment but also at risk of being a homicide victim.”
The Hunt Club John Lescroart Dutton
“A wicked federal judge and his dead mistress equal a deadly combination for private eye Wyatt Hunt. Mix that with a Nancy Grace court tv type commentator and the sparks fly, as well as the murders.”
The Tell-Tale Corpse Harold Schechter Ballantine
“Edgar Allen Poe comes back to life in this historical fiction mystery where Poe and his old circus friend P.T. Barnum investigate a string of horrific murders. A brilliant and grisly display of New York and Boston in the 1800s.”
Dating is Murder Harley Jane Kozak Broadway
“Better than Janet Evanovich, Kozak’s six foot blond artist Wollie Shelly arranges dates, investigates crimes, but just can’t seem to straighten out her own funny and sexy life.”
All in One Piece Cecelia Tishy Mysterious Press
“Fans of female mystery detectives will love this second outstanding book in the Reggie Cutter series. Her psychic powers never hurt in solving crime except now Reggie is the main suspect when her new tenant is found murdered with his blood all over Reggie’s home.”
The Alpine Recluse Mary Daheim Ballantine
“A cozy mystery in a small town with Jessica Fletcher type characters who unfortunately, to the reader’s delight, are involved in murder by arson where stock fraud, madness and scandal rule.”
Gone Jonathan Kellerman Ballantine
“The 20th and best of the police psychologist Alex Delaware novels as he solves yet another murder involving young people, a beauty and the usual narcissistic culture of southern California proving again that Kellerman is simply the best police procedural author.”
The Templar Legacy Steve Berry Ballantine
“The perfect fix for every Da Vinci Code addict, the secret of the Knights Templar and their treasure is revealed.”
The Last Templar Raymond Khoury Dutton
“Theft of a secret device from a museum type artifact display; a perilous chase; all involving long concealed secrets related to the Knights Templar. If that almost sounds like the Da Vinci Code, it should and Khoury’s book is just as thrilling.”
The Ethical Assassin David Liss Ballantine
“What happens when a student trying to make a living as an encyclopedia salesman witnesses a murder? A mixture of Carl Hiaasen and John Dunning in this dark comic mystery that is impossible to put down.”
The Patron Saint of Plagues Barth Anderson Bantam/Spectra
“A deadly fever is swamping the Mexico City hospital and a virus investigator for the American CDC must confront this man made plague and discover the culprit. A true thriller that moves at a furious pace.”
White Shadow Ace Atkins Putnam
“Destined to be a classic crime novel, new author Ace Atkins writes passionately and dangerously about Tampa Florida and the Mafia in the 1950’s. This is The Sopranos in a reality show and it is based on a real crime.”
In Plain Sight C.J. Box Putnam
“Box is one of the best mystery writers today with characters that surprise you while seeming to be people you could know – or at least could imagine if your thoughts run to murder and mayhem.”
The Fallen T.Jefferson Parker Morrow
“Read this and find out why two of Parker’s last four books have won the best mystery novel of the year award. An internal affairs officer appears to commit suicide but the investigation soon reveals connections between his death and a ring of prostitution and a circle of financial corruption among the city of San Diego officials. Author Parker continues to score an A Plus with his writing.”
Nightlife Thomas Perry Random House
“A Los Angeles mob boss hires a private eye to investigate the murder of his cousin in Portland, Oregon. Perry’s Jane Whitefield series about a Native American Indian woman who can make your identity disappear is the most outstanding of the last twenty years and this new detective could equal her.”
Kill Me Stephen White Dutton
“Psychologist Alan Gregory plays a minor but critical role here but no matter since his latest patient provides more suspense than a broken roller coaster ride. The bad guys are willing to kill anyone for enough money and the readers will get more than their money’s worth in this bizarre thriller by White.”
The Two Minute Rule Robert Crais Simon & Schuster
“The Hitchcock twist at the very end of this story is jolting, frightening, and not for the faint hearted. A bank robber makes parole but runs every risk, violates every rule to solve the murder of the son he abandoned, but ultimately finds honor in breaking the law.”
The Skin Gods Richard Montanari Ballantine
“This is the kind of dark but exciting suspense that won’t let go of you as Philadelphia homicide detectives try to stop a seeming mad man who is re-enacting Hollywood movie murders starting with the movie Psycho and getting more gruesome from there.”
March 7, 2006
His Lovely Wife Elizabeth Dewberry Harcourt
“The down and dirty version of how women are sometimes defined by the men they marry and all the disaster that follows. Impossible to put down.”
Magic Hour Kristin Hannah Ballantine Books
“In this gripping novel, a child psychiatrist must deal with a speechless six year old girl who has been discovered in a forest. Sure to be nominated for awards and adopted by all the bookclubs.”
The Sultan’s Seal Jenny White Norton
“All the mystery, fantasy, romance and allure of the Ottoman Empire await in this historical fiction about the murder of an English Governess.”
The Thrall’s Tale Judith Lindbergh Viking
“An epic tale of three women joined by slavery, abuse and power in 10th Century Christian Greenland. Perfect for all who love historical fiction. ”
The Messenger of Magnolia Street River Jordan Harper San Francisco
“Jordan proves again why she is one of today’s best writers in this magical tale about three friends fighting a strange presence that threatens their home. Sure to be a bookclub favorite.”
Averno Louise Gluck Farrar Straus Giroux
“Light and pattern. Body and soul. The rhythm of Gluck’s poetry validates again her Pulitzer Prize winning talent.”
Grits, Friends Are Forevah Deborah Ford Dutton
“Funnier than the Sweet Potato Queens, sharper than the Ya Ya’s, this novel reads like Little Women on acid.”
Searching for Jane Austen Emily Auerbach University of Wisconsin
“A compelling and serious examination of the connections between the life and the writings of the one and only Jane Austen.”
The Life All Around Me By Ellen Foster Kaye Gibbons Harcout
“At last, the sequel to Ellen Foster. Gibbons delivers another compelling story in her unmistakable voice.”
Women Shaping the South Boswell & McArthur University Missouri Press
“A brilliant collection about women who were leaders in transforming the southern United States during critical times.”
Anne Boleyn Joanna Denny Da Capo
“The best and the worst of the woman who would be queen no matter what the cost for English society, the Catholic Church, or King Henry the VIII, but then he probably deserved the turmoil and trials.”
Candy Girl Diablo Cody Gotham Books
“The best and the worst of a girl gone wrong who is really something else entirely since Cody spent a year voluntarily as a stripper as she intentionally left her “normal” life to experience the mystery, thrill, and degradation.”
Prostitutes & Courtesans In the Ancient World Faraone & McClure University of Wisconsin
“An intelligent history of the legal, religious, and social impact on and about ladies of the night as they have plied their trade through the centuries.”
My Fundamentalist Education Christine Rosen Public Affairs BBS
“Intelligent design and creation science all acted out in a six year old child’s backyard as young Christine Rosen experiences the heartache and terror of growing up.”
Ginseng Dreams Kristin Johannsen University of Kentucky
“Ginseng, originally grown in the Appalachian Mountains, sells for $2000 a pound and supposedly has extraordinary medical powers. This academic study answers all of the questions about the truth and falsity of ginseng.”
A More Perfect Union Hana Schank Atria
“Why experience power dating or blind dates, when you can just get married? The question is whether the bride will be Cinderella or Bridezilla.”
Brookland Emily Barton Farrar Straus Giroux
“One woman’s determination to inspire the construction of the Brooklyn bridge in a searing post modern version of early life in New York City. Sure to be adopted by the bookclubs.”
Bitter is the New Black Gen Lancaster New American Library
“A memoir about a true smart aleck who enjoys her self centered ego driven life and makes us do the same.”
Twilight of the Superheroes Deborah Eisenberg Farrar Straus Giroux
“A warm but cutting collection of short stories that almost, but not quite, charges out of control.”
Pretty Little Dirty Amanda Boyden Vintage
“How to admire and be jealous of your best friend in a coming of age story about suburban life.”
February 14, 2006
Where Love is Found Susan Burmeister-Brown & Linda Swanson-Davies Washington Square Press
“These stories glimmer with irony. intrigue and insight.”
Tales from Da Hood Nikki Turner Ballantine Books
“These sizzling stories are so hot you will need a shower afterwards.”
Wedding with Spirit Gertrud Mueller Nelson & Christopher Witt Three Leaves Press (Doubleday)
“How to survive and prosper during the proper planning of the perfect wedding.”
A Special Education Dana Buchman Da Capo
“A sensitive and forthright memoir about the real life of a mother who learns from her special needs child.”
Sonnets of the Portuguese Elizabeth Barrett Browning
American Smooth – Poems Rita Dove Norton
“Scintillating and brilliant - one of our greatest poets”
500 Manga Heroes & Villains Helen McCarthy Barron’s
“All about the visual craze of modernistic Japanese characters that entrance the young people of the world.”
Russian Fairy Tales Aleksandr Afanas’ev Pantheon
“Frightening, disturbing and enthralling, all with a fine Russian twist.”
Pets in America – A History Katherine Grier University of North Carolina
“Outstanding social history of our relationship to our pets.”
Sex Among the Rabble Clare Lyons University of North Carolina
“During times of great unrest, a close examination of sexual customs and practices illustrates the true nature of society.”
The Bondwoman’s Narrative Hannah Crafts (Henry Louis Gates) Warner
It’s Like That Cheryl Robinson New American Library
“A wonderful follow up novel full of the mystery and joy of life.”
A Will to Win Dwight Lewis
“The unbelievable story of the most successful athletic program in the country.”
The Civil Rights Movement in Tennessee Bobby Lovett University of Tennessee Press
“The definitive history of the Civil Rights struggle and how Tennessee and its college students provided so much of the leadership.”
The Known World Edward P. Jones Amistad/Harper Collins
“A truthful novel embracing all the horrors of our moral failures about slavery.”
At Canaan’s Edge Taylor Branch Simon & Schuster
“Branch’s trilogy is the most important social and political analysis of modern American history in his complex treatment of the impact of the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.”
How Race is Made Mark M. Smith University of North Carolina
“A magnificent illustration of the deceit and denial about race used to try to justify hatred, bias, and immorality.”
Slavery and the Making of America James & Lois Horton Oxford University Press
“The struggles for freedom and more about the slave culture in America.
January 3, 2006
Talk to the Hand Lynne Truss Gotham
“Wit humor and fierce lessons for life”
Julie & Julia Julie Powell Little Brown
“Great fantasy for every chef and every weekend cook”
The Year of Magical Thinking Joan Didion Knopf
“Impossible to put down - the honesty and truth of loss and grieving”
Just a Sister Away Renita Weems Warner Books
“Best devotional and guide book for 2006”
The Google Story David A. Vise Delacorte Press
“Want to make a billion dollars and have fun? This is the book.”
Confessions of an Economic Hit Man John Perkins Plume
“A How to Guide to Start Your Own Halliburton type company and make millions”
The Experts Guide to 100 Things Everyone Should Know How to Do Samantha Ettus HighBridge
“Everything from the best way to win an argument to how to shampoo your hair”
The Know it All A. J. Jacobs Simon & Schuster
“Brilliance or battiness, this memoir is better than TV’s Jeopardy, smarter than Mensa and more fun than Trivial Pursuit”
The Tipping Point Malcolm Gladwell Back Bay Book
“How little things make a difference and create social and cultural movements”
The Wall Street Journal Complete Money & Investing Guidebook Dave Kansas Three Rivers Press
“The best one volume guide to how to get rich slowly and safely”
1001 Natural Wonders You Must See Before You Die Michael Bright Barron’s
“Astonishing photography and compelling places”
Conspiracy of Fools Kurt Eighenwald Broadway
“Corporate and business collapse on a grand scale”
Simply the Best 250 Prize-winning Family Recipes Weight Watchers Hungry Minds Inc.
“A proven way to eat healthy”
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