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Weekly Words about Books November 26, 2012
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NO SHAGGY DOG STORIES HERE,
JUST MAN'S BEST FRIEND
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As the holidays approach, and with them gift giving decisions, books about pets often fill the bill. With apologies to owners of birds, hamsters, turtles, and other beloved species, this column will focus on a few new volumes dedicated to dogs. Cats can have their say next week.  For dog lovers, perhaps the most spectacular book of the season is the Big New Yorker Book of Dogs, which features, articles, fiction, humor, poems, cartoons, cover art, drafts, and drawings from the magazine's archives. It's an impressive collection, and worth the $45 cover price - I mean, we are talking man's best friend here.
Moving from the sublime to the ridiculous, we have the perfect book for anyone w ho thinks their friend or neighbor is a bit too obsessed with their canine pal. Rabid: Are You Crazy About Your Dog or Just Crazy looks at people's devotion to their pooch pets, from the billions spent on dog products and services annually to the over-the-top attention thrust upon them. There are lots of fun facts and quizzes to test your level of craziness, all presented with humor and affection.
A few other titles to consider are Underwater Dogs (yup, photos of dogs in the drink), Things Your Dog Doesn't Want You to Know: Eleven Courageous Canines Tell All (hilarious essays "written" by dogs for humans) and Inside of a Dog: What Dogs See. Smell, and Know (a cognitive scientist explains how dogs perceive their daily worlds, each other, and humans.) The latter title isn't a brand-new book, but it's becoming a staple in bookstore Pet sections.
In the Children's section, dog lovers need look no further than this year's Caldecott Medal winner, A Ball for Daisy by Chris Raschka. The awar d, presented by the American Library Association, is given to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children. Raschka's wordless story of a dog who loses his favorite toy was described by a member of the Caldecott committee thusly: "Chris Raschka's deceptively simple paintings of watercolor, gouache and ink explore universal themes of love and loss that permit thousands of possible variants."
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BOOKS THAT BOOKSELLERS ARE EXCITED ABOUT
| | For independent booksellers, the arrival of a new Barbara Kingsolver novel is always cause for cheer. From The Bean Trees to The Lacuna, Kingsolver's prose has always been recommended by indies, and the author further endeared herself when she publicly stated "Authors like me would not have a career if it were not for independent booksellers."
So it's no surprise that Kingsolver's newest book, Flight Behavior, debuted at #1 on the independent bookseller bestseller list in its first week of release. The stor y is set in Appalachia and features a restless and sheltered young farm wife, Dellarobia Turnbow, whose discovery of millions of monarch butterflies upends her world and triggers a quest to broaden her horizons.
Kingsolver's skill in telling the story of her feisty heroine allows her to weave a cautionary tale of climate change that sends a clear message while avoiding preachiness. No wonder booksellers are excited.
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TOP SHELF PICKS
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Every Sunday. the San Francisco Chronicle Book Review publishes a list of new books recommended by a Northern California independent bookstore. This is a recent list from the staff at COPPERFIELD'S BOOKS in Sebastopol ( copperfieldsbooks.com)
FICTION
Polish Boxer by Eduardo Halfon
A professor mentors a student, gains wisdom from a Mark Twain scholar and searches for a gypsy musician and that's only part of the story, in this incredible, achingly real yet enigmatic novel.
Round House by Louise Erdrich
Erdrich hits her stride and perfectly captures male adolescent liveliness alongside a family traumatized by the mother's rape, set within Objibwe culture where issues of jurisdiction and justice prove murky and almost unsolvable.
Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore
by Robin Sloan
A lively & fun romp through the world of secret books, codes and young dot-comers using their Google connections to solve the mystery of the un
usual books & their readers in a tiny San Francisco bookstore.
Blasphemy by Sherman Alexie
More brilliant, sometimes biting, always sharp and moving stories of aspects of the lives of present day American Indians. Alexie is a master at bringing humor and heartbreak to the table seamlessly.
NON-FICTION
The Black Count; Glory, Revolution, Betrayal & the Real Count of Monte Cristo by Tom Reiss
Alex Dumas, father to Andre, realizes great success as a soldier in the late 1700's and then is inexplicably ostracized later solely because of his race, in this fascinating biography.
Consider the Fork: A History of How We Cook and Eat by Bee Wilson
An engaging read for foodies, history lovers and anyone with wild curiosity for a great story spanning centuries.
The End of Illness by David Agus
Agus draws us into the world of where medicine is headed - plus how to best support one's health - in this interesting, informative and hopeful book. Now in paperback.
A More Perfect Heaven: How Copernicus Revolutionized the Cosmos by Dava Sobel
A great way to understand why for his times the ideas of Copernicus were threatening to the perceived world order. Now in paperback.
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OH NO!
THE BOOK YOU WANT ISN'T ON THE SHELF?
NOT A PROBLEM!
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Many of you have probably ordered a book from a bookstore, but sometimes folks are reticent because they think it's too much bother for the store. Rest assured,if they offer to order it for you, it's not a bother.
All independent bookstores get a portion of their books from wholesalers who allow them to order single copies from multiple publishers. It's very convenient for the stores, because orders placed on a given day arrive in the store 24 to 48 hours later, which makes re-stocking sold out titles fast and easy.
Most bookstores order from the wholesalers at least once a week; during the holidays, it can occur every few of days. The point is, if the wholesaler has the book on hand, ordering it for you is no problem. So don't be afraid to ask! | |
There's nothing special about ordering a book - indies do it every day!
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Who is this Hut guy?
I'm a former bookstore owner who now runs the Northern California Independent Booksellers Association in San Francisco.
My goal with this newsletter is to keep readers up to date about new books hitting the shelves, share what booksellers are recommending in their stores, and pass on occasional news about the book world.
I'm not into long, wordy reviews or literary criticism; I'd like HUT'S PLACE to be a quick, fun read for book buyers.
I'd appreciate you letting friends know about the column if you think they'd be interested - make sure to tell them it's free of charge.
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