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I Wear the Black Hat: Grappling with Villains by Chuck Klosterman (Scribner) 
Chuck is back with a provocative and (as always) often very funny collection of essays on the allure of villainy. Klosterman, who is the New York Times' Ethicist columnist, starts by asking why our allegiances tend to shift toward more complex and dark characters (for example, Darth Vader) as we grow older. From this beginning, he ranges from Machiavelli to O.J. Simpson in the way that only he can pull off. {eBook $11.99}
The Skies Belong to Us: Love and Terror in the Golden Age of Hijacking by Brendan Koerner (Crown)
It sure was a different time, writes Jeff, our staff expert on all things criminal. Those feeling trapped and overwhelmed in their everyday life had an adventurous option--usin' any ol' makeshift weapon to hijack a plane! Of the many incredible tales herein, you might think the most "successful" was the best planned. Ha!
From tiny Coos Bay, OR, to sunny San Diego, from the Black Panther Party International chapter to the homes of the European cultural elite, the two seemingly dissimilar Americans at the heart of Koerner's riveting history exemplified the skyjacking dream. Highly recommended. [Signed copies in stock.] { eBook $12.99} Tampa by Alissa Nutting (Ecco)  Look up a couple of reviews of Alissa Nutting's debut Tampa and you'll quickly find that this is one polarizing book. Is this novel about a predatory female elementary school teacher a brilliant farce, a 21st century update of Lolita, or is it a load of bunk? Even the book's jacket is controversial: it's made of a woolly velour that is either pleasing or aggravating to the touch. This is a book you'll want to form your own opinion of. {eBook $13.99} Shakespeare's Star Wars by Ian Doescher (Quirk)  Shakespeare + Star Wars = Best. Thing. Ever. The Time Traveler's Guide to Elizabethan England by Ian Mortimer (Viking)  Ian Mortimer is currently Martin's favorite writer of history:
"This is history the way history should be taught. A knowledge of which battle took place when and where can be only so interesting compared to what you can learn about the sights, sounds, smells and tastes in mid-16th century England. I'd recommend this book to both history buffs and those who don't think they like history at all. It's that good." { eBook $14.99}
Italo C alvino: Letters, 1941-1985, ed by Michael Wood (Princeton) Italo Calvino was one of the great masters of 20th century literature, famous for his playful, mind-bending works like If on a Winter's Night a Traveler and Invisible Cities. This handsome volume of his correspondence reveals a sharp mind grappling with problems political and literary, with dozens of memorable gems scattered throughout. { eBook $24.49}  Amy Falls Down by Jincy Willett (Thomas Dunne) Jincy Willett is the author of a collection of stories--Jenny & the Jaws of Life--that David Sedaris called the funniest collection he's ever read. (We've sold over 1500 copies.) She also wrote a novel--Winner of the National Book Award--that Augusten Burroughs said was the funniest novel he's ever read. So, I mean, really, what else do we have to say to convince you to check out her latest? {eBook $11.99} The Complete Short Stories of James Purdy by James Purdy with intro by John Waters (Liverlight)  James Purdy remains one of the most baffling cases in American literature. Despite being admired by an eclectic group including Jonathan Franzen, Paul Bowles, Dorothy Parker, Edith Sitwell, and Samuel Beckett, Purdy's work remains at the fringes. This collection, the first complete volume of his short stories, will hopefully go some way toward bringing attention to an unjustly neglected writer.  Ten Things I've Learnt About Love by Sarah Butler (Penguin) Told in alternating voices, Sarah Butler's debut novel Ten Things I've Learned About Love contains not one but two memorable voices--a daughter and father each on quests to find what's missing from their lives. This book will remind you just how important family is. {eBook $12.99} | 
