From last week's Indie bestseller lists, available at IndieBound.org, here are the recommended titles, which are also Indie Next Great Reads:
Hardcover
The Lonely Hearts Hotel: A Novel by Heather O'Neill (Riverhead, $27, 9780735213739). "If there is Canadian magical realism, this is it! The Lonely Hearts Hotel is the charming story of Rose and Pierrot, two children raised in a Montreal orphanage in the early 20th century. O'Neill traces their romance from their childhood of entertaining rich people in their homes to their less salubrious post-orphanage careers. When Rose and Pierrot meet again as adults, magic happens--but can this magic survive the rigors of the real world? Fantastic and fabulous in the truest sense of both words." --Susan Taylor, Book House of Stuyvesant Plaza, Albany, N.Y.
Indelible: A Novel by Adelia Saunders (Bloomsbury, $26, 9781632863942). "In her remarkable debut, Adelia Saunders develops an intriguing idea into an extraordinary book. When Magdalena looks at other people, she sees words describing their lives written on their skin. The impact is so disturbing that she often leaves her glasses off and walks through the world in a blur, almost missing an encounter with Neil, the American student upon whose face her own name is written. Would fate have demanded that they meet? The interwoven stories of Magdalena, Neil, and their families raise thought-provoking questions of destiny and freewill. Well done, Ms. Saunders!" --Gillian Kohli, Wellesley Books, Wellesley, Mass.
Paperback
300 Arguments: Essays by Sarah Manguso (Graywolf Press, $14, 9781555977641). "Sarah Manguso is a master of the minimalist form. She can do more with a sentence than many authors can do with an entire book. In this collection of brief ruminations, she covers everything from sex and mortality to ambition, mental illness, writing, desire, and motherhood. These 'arguments' are aphoristic gems in which a seemingly random thought has hardened into a bold, cutting, crystalline truth. There is no exposition. Manguso lets these minute statements stand on their own, and the reader is left with nowhere to hide from direct engagement with a most remarkable literary mind." --Keaton Patterson, Brazos Bookstore, Houston, Tex.
For Ages 4 to 8
NOPE by Drew Sheneman (Viking, $17.99, 9781101997314). "The timeless story of overcoming your fears to enrich your life is told with simple charm in this nearly wordless book. Humor punctuates the tale of a nervous little bird who has plenty of reasons not to leave the nest and a mother bird who knows that flight is worth it in the end. A sweet picture book debut by syndicated cartoonist Sheneman." --Sarah Holt, Left Bank Books, St. Louis, Mo.
For Ages 9 to 12
Ryan Quinn and the Rebel's Escape by Ron McGee, illustrated by Chris Samnee (HarperCollins, $16.99, 9780062421647). "Eighth-grader Ryan Quinn has no idea that his parents are part of a super secret Underground Railroad-type organization that operates in many of the world's most dangerous places. Now he must try to save both of them with the help of some of his school friends. I love the way that debut author McGee gets inside the head of his protagonist and that of his techno-geek friend, Danny. These characters ring true, the action is non-stop, and fans of adventure, spy thrillers, and just plain fun storytelling will be eagerly awaiting the next installment." --Maureen Palacios, Once Upon a Time, Montrose, Calif.
For Teen Readers
Loving vs. Virginia by Patricia Hruby Powell, illustrated by Shadra Strickland (Chronicle, $21.99, 9781452125909). "Powell has written an incredibly moving account of the landmark Civil Rights case of Mildred and Richard Loving versus the State of Virginia. All this interracial couple wanted to do was marry, but to do so in the 1950s was illegal not only in Virginia, but also in 19 other states. Powell's documentary novel, combining primary source material with free verse, adeptly captures the voices and perspectives of all the major players, both inside and outside the courtroom. As a lawyer-turned-bookseller, I am deeply impressed by Powell's ability to clarify a complex issue while simultaneously telling a richly layered story." --Ellen Klein, Hooray for Books!, Alexandria, Va.
[Many thanks to IndieBound and the ABA!]
