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 Heights: A Novel by Peter Hedges (Dutton, $25.95, 9780525951131/052595113X). "Peter Hedges's latest novel is set in Brooklyn Heights, and it tackles major issues: fidelity, parenthood, status and culture. Hedges handles them all with finesse, using a fantastically dry wit that is mixed with empathy and humanity, rendering all of his characters flawed, complex and, ultimately, lovable."--Andrea Talarico, Anthology New and Used Books, Scranton, Pa.
Animal Factory by David Kirby (St. Martin's, $26.99, 9780312380588/0312380585). "Centering on three different tales of large-scale factory farming, David Kirby takes the industry to task for its destruction of the environment, its deleterious effect on the family farm and rural America, and its lies, which have led to government inaction. Kirby's description of how the animals are treated is chilling, and I can guarantee that you'll never eat pork with a clean conscience again."--Matthew Lage, Iowa Book, Iowa City, Iowa
Paperback
Cast Member Confidential by Chris Mitchell (Citadel, $15.95, 9780806531281/0806531282). "Chris Mitchell--skateboard photographer, obsessive graffiti tagger and all-around hipster--signed up for a gig at Walt Disney World, inspired after meeting another extreme sports dude who has bought into the Disney lifestyle. Mitchell learns a few things--for instance, almost everybody is gay (he is not)--and his memoir is good fun. And yes, no matter how good your hair is, everyone in character must wear a wig."--Daniel Goldin, Boswell Book Company, Milwaukee, Wis.
For Teen Readers
Front and Center by Catherine Murdock (Houghton Mifflin, $16, 9780618959822/0618959823). "This is the third and final book in the trilogy started with Dairy Queen and continued in The Off Season. This time, D.J. Schwenk spends her junior year in high school dealing with basketball, boys and the Big Ten, not necessarily in that order! It's fun to watch D.J. and to see how she perseveres over her various challenges and develops the courage to make difficult decisions."--Carl Wichman, NDSU Bookstore, Fargo, N.D.
[Many thanks to IndieBound and the ABA!]
