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Weekly Words about Books FEBRUARY 17, 2013
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| The current national bestseller list for independent bookstores features several new books making their debut. Among them:
THE AVIATOR'S WIFE by Melanie Benjamin - I'm sure the publisher would be thrilled if everyone who loved the bestselling The Paris Wife (a fictionalized account of the the tumultuous marriage of Ernest Hemingway and his first wife Hadley) also read Benjamin's novel. Certainly this story of the relationship bet ween Anne Morrow Lindbergh and her high-flying husband Charles begs comparisons with The Paris Wife - both are are biographical novels and both focus on women who become stronger in challenging marriages to famous men.
But The Aviator's Wife stands on its own as well, telling a compelling tale of a shy young woman with hidden literary aspirations who attracts the attention of and goes on to marry the most famous man in the world at the time. The union, which takes place at the peak of Lindbergh's popularity, proves to be complicated, challenging, and heartbreaking for Anne, who over four decades survives her husband's fame and hidden dark side, as well as the heartbreaking kidnapping of their newborn son, to eventually write the inspirational Gift From the Sea.
MY BROTHER'S BOOK by Maurice Sendak - This is the last book, published posthu mously, by the famed children's author and illustrator whose Where the Wild Things Are remains a bookstore staple 50 years later. However, this is not a tale for young children; it's a story of two brothers separated by a star smashing into Earth, a story that is clearly influenced by both Shakespeare and William Blake. Sendak's poetic words and dramatic illustrations are both on full display, and the book is a poignant homage to his older brother Jack, whom Sendak credited for his passion for writing and drawing.
KILLING FLOOR by Lee Child. With the success of the movie Jack  Reacher, there has been renewed interest in Lee Child's series of mysteries featuring his lone wolf protagonist. That has spurred the sales of this, the first Jack Reacher novel, and Killing Floor is as good a way as any to be introduced to this ex-military cop who can fight and deduce with equal skill.
By the way, for those of us who are Reacher fans, the choice of Tom Cruise to play the six-foot four-inch, physically intimidating blond was an odd one. The only thing the two might possibly have in common is an appreciation for Katie Holmes.
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ALSO ON THE BESTSELLER LIST (Spoiler Alert - Not a Recommendation)
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Although not doing well in all parts of the country, ObamaCare Survival Guide: The Affordable Care Act and What It Means for You and Your HealthCare is a big seller in the Midwest and South, and its popularity there put it on the national independent list this week.
I mention the book not to recommend it, but to actually issue a warning. The title teases a straightforward guide (although the word 'Survival' might raise a flag), but endorsements from Fox News pundit Dick Morris and Donald Trump are cues that this is actually a blatantly one-sided, oppositional guide to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. If that's your cup of kool-aid, go for it. If not, forewarned.
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A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ME
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My name is Hut Landon. I'm a former bookstore owner who now runs the Northern California Independent Booksellers Association (NCIBA) 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.If you have any friends who you think might like receiving this column each week, simply click on "Forward this email" below and enter their email address. There is also a box in which to add a short message.
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WHERE TO FIND A BOOKSTORE
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Many of you already have a favorite local bookstore, but for those of you without such a relationship, this link will take you to a list of Northern California indie bookstores by region.
If you live or work elsewhere, you can click here to find the nearest indie bookstore by simply entering your postal code.
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