In this edition of Maximum
Shelf, the monthly Shelf Awareness feature that focuses on an upcoming
title that we love and believe will be a great handselling opportunity for
booksellers everywhere, we present Djibouti by Elmore
Leonard. The review and interviews are by Marilyn Dahl. William Morrow has
helped support the issue.
Djibouti (jih-BOOT-ee) is Elmore Leonard's 44th novel, and is sure to be another bestseller. It combines his trademark cool characters with a fast-paced story taken from the day's news: piracy off the East African coast. The CIA describes the terrain there as mostly wasteland; the U.S. has its only sub-Saharan military base in Djibouti, which is considered a prime location on the front lines in the war on terrorism due to its proximity to Somalia. Our State Department says there is a stable political situation in Djibouti, but cautions strongly against travel by ship in Djiboutian waters, by car (especially after dark) in the city and countryside, and by air since the only paved airport in the nation has never been assessed by the FAA. And yet, Djibouti is a tourist destination, with a luxurious hotel (the Djibouti Palace Kempinski). A perfect dichotomy for Elmore Leonard's magic.
With the
publication of his 44th novel, Leonard is
also celebrating his 85th birthday.
Morrow has created a birthday card for fans to send him, and Shelf Awareness is
delighted to take part in this celebration of a national treasure.