IndieBound: Other Indie Favorites

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 Ensemble: A Novel by Aja Gabel (Riverhead, $26, 9780735214767). "My goodness, I love the quartet of flawed and wonderful characters Aja Gabel brings to life. I felt the heartbreak and triumph each time the ensemble performed. The Ensemble captures everything from the relentless rehearsals to the particular hand injuries musicians worry over to the conflict within the group. Henry, Daniel, Jana, and Britt are each characters unto themselves, but together they create a fifth character: the quartet itself. An inventive novel about the lives of musicians and the world they inhabit, full of tension, ambition, confusion, and loyalty. The Ensemble is a remarkable achievement." --Sarah Bagby, Watermark Books, Wichita, Kan.

Tin Man: A Novel by Sarah Winman (Putnam, $23, 9780735218727). "Michael loves Ellis, Ellis loves Annie, and Annie loves them both. Yet Sarah Winman's blistering novel Tin Man is anything but the usual love triangle. Instead, Winman asks us to consider what remains of love after its object is gone. She crowds this spare little book, set in London, Oxford, and the south of France, with vivid portraits of loss and mourning. At once terse and expansive, Tin Man is a firework flashing in the night--gone too soon but burned forever into the reader's memory." --David Enyeart, Common Good Books, St. Paul, Minn.

Paperback
The Windfall: A Novel by Diksha Basu (Broadway, $16, 9780451498922). "The Jhas are a fairly normal family in Delhi, but when Mr. Jha sells his company for millions and decides to move himself and his wife to a fancy new neighborhood, he sets in motion changes for not only his wife, but also his son studying in New York and his former and future neighbors--changes that are sometimes good, sometimes bad, and uncomfortable either way. Jam-packed with fun and lovable characters, this novel is both a delicious, gossipy indulgence and a fascinating glimpse into the lives of people very different from one another. Those who loved the drama of The Nest will adore this warm, tender, and very funny debut from a fresh new voice." --Kelly Morton, Joseph-Beth Booksellers, Cincinnati, Ohio

For Ages 4 to 8
Hello Hello by Brendan Wenzel (Chronicle, $17.99, 9781452150147). "Hello Hello is filled with colors, patterns, shapes, and comparisons so beautiful and original you get that elusive feeling of surprise and delight on each page. Brendan Wenzel has created another gorgeous book perfect for anyone who has the innate longing to find a connection in the natural world. Best of all, his illustrations are mostly of endangered or threatened animals, and the book includes a lovely note on how readers can help!" --Caitlin Jordan, Kepler's Books, Menlo Park, Calif.

For Ages 9 to 12: An Indies Introduce Title
Like Vanessa by Tami Charles (Charlesbridge, $16.99, 9781580897778). "All I can say is thank goodness the '80s are back in fashion, because this gem of a book is best read sitting in front of a TV tray in a recliner. Inspired by Vanessa Williams' 1983 Miss America win, a headstrong and pushy teacher, and a supportive and scheming grandfather, Vanessa Martin braves the small-town pageant circuit, the potential disappointment of her father, and the challenge of being dark skinned. Vanessa touches the dreamer spirit in all of us, and I cheered her on right through to the end." --Kim Bissell, Broadway Books, Portland, Ore.

For Teen Readers
Tempests and Slaughter: The Numair Chronicles, Book One by Tamora Pierce (Random House, $18.99, 9780375847110). "This is the first book I've read by Tamora Pierce, and I now understand why she is referred to as a master of fantasy writing! Tempests and Slaughter tells the story of Arram Draper, a young boy with the potential to become one of the world's most powerful mages. With the support of his three friends--a 'leftover' prince, a clever girl, and an extremely sassy bird--Arram faces the challenges and adventures of student life at one of the most well-renowned universities for young mages. This fun and magical world Pierce has created was such a pleasure to experience!" --Colleen Regan, An Unlikely Story, Plainville, Mass.

[Many thanks to IndieBound and the ABA!]

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