The March & April, 2001 BookSense 76
As a test, we are adding the BookSense 76 list to our website. The list is made up of the 76 books most recommended by the 1,100+ independent bookstore members of BookSense from all over the U.S. A new list is released every 2 months. Some of these titles are not yet released as we post this list, but all will be published before the end of May. Let us know whether you like our posting this list or not at info@boulderbookstore.com.

The top 10 (across all subjects)

1. MYSTIC RIVER, by Dennis Lehane (Morrow, $25, 0688163165) "We love Lehane's new book; the best work yet from this gifted writer. Rich characters, evocative settings, complex plot lines, and an entirely satisfying conclusion."-Dana Anderson, Bickerton & Ripley Books, Edgartown, MA Also on Harper Audio: Abridged (0694524913); Unabridged (0694525057); CD (0694524646)
2. SEABISCUIT: An American Legend, by Laura Hillenbrand (Random House, $24.95, 0375502912; in stores March 6) "This is the story of America's obsession with one of the greatest racehorses of the 20th century. The descriptions of the races and spills are magnificently vivid, and I felt like I was emerging from 'black-and-white' time and space when I put the book down. It's suspenseful and engrossing; a wonderful read."-Karen Robertson, Twenty-Third Avenue Books, Portland, OR Also on Random Audio (0375417141)
3. HEARSE OF A DIFFERENT COLOR, by Tim Cockey (Hyperion, $23.95, 0786865717) "Baltimore's undertaker/sleuth Hitchcock Sewell is an endearing eccentric-clever, tender-hearted, and sophisticated. The writing is intelligent and witty, and I practically inhaled this book, it was so much fun."-Tripp Ryder, Carleton College Bookstore, Northfield, MN
4. MY DREAM OF YOU, by Nuala O'Faolain (Riverhead, $25.95, 1573221775) "What a pleasure, pure pleasure! To see the main character come to terms with herself gives us all hope. And the twists and turns of the story within the story make for a great subplot." -Linda Matthews, Back Country Navigator, Lake City, CO Also on S&S Audio (0743518454); CD (0743518462)
5. MY FATHER'S DRAGON, by Ruth Stiles Gannett; illus. by Ruth Chrisman Gannett (Random House, $4.99 paper, 0394890485) "This has been a bestseller here for 17 years! This book's gentle fantasy, complemented by charming illustrations, is equally engaging as a first chapter book read-aloud or as a self-read by newly independent readers. These words and pictures still enchant new generations."-Darlene Daniel, PAGES: Books for Children and Young Adults, Tarzana, CA Also on Listening Library Audio (0807282758)
6. COOL FOR YOU, by Eileen Myles (Soft Skull Press, $14 paper, 188712859X) "Poet Eileen Myles transforms a slew of autobiographical material into a narrative that is as bleak as it is redemptive. Each page is imbued with the kind of tone that you want to hear when you pick up the phone late at night and it's a friend calling to catch up. Dark, hip, astonishingly bright. I cannot recommend it enough."-Tom Padilla, Posman Books @ NYU, New York, NY
7. A GIRL NAMED ZIPPY: Growing Up Small in Mooreland, Indiana, by Haven Kimmel (Doubleday, $21.95, 0385499825; in stores March 20) "This is the most touching, best-written memoir that I have read in a long, long time. Kimmel captures life in small town mid-America better than anyone. I'll be recommending this book to everyone I know, and it will be a bestseller."-Dottie Danner, Danner's Books, Muncie, IN
8. THESE GRANITE ISLANDS, by Sarah Stonich (Little Brown, $24.95, 0316815837) "Set in a 1930s resort community, this is the story of two women and the state of their marriages. Stonich has captured in a unique way the essence of ambiguity relationships can have before they mature or break apart. The suspense as the summer unfolds holds the reader's attention in quite a satisfying way. It will be a great book group selection."-Anita Zager, Northern Lights Books & Gifts, Duluth, MN
9. IF THERE WOULD BE NO LIGHT: Poems from My Heart, by Sahara Sunday Spain (HarperSanFrancisco, $17, 0062517406) "Sahara's poems and illustrations are remarkable. This nine-year-old will touch both adults and children with her inspirational poetry about the true power of love."-Elaine Petrocelli, Book Passage, Corte Madera, CA (In celebration of National Poetry Month in April, see the extended poetry section on the back page.)
10. THE TIGER RISING, by Kate DiCamillo (Candlewick Press, $12.99, 0763609110) "Kate's done it again, turning seemingly small characters into larger-than-life personalities. When confronted by a caged tiger, the two main characters' perceptions of freedom and happiness are transformed. After a dizzying sequence of events, their individual passions are granted wings -- and stripes -- and their lives are forever altered. Unforgettable." -Collette Morgan, Wild Rumpus, Minneapolis, MN

Books for Young Readers

11. DAVE AT NIGHT, by Gail Carson Levine (Harper/Trophy, $5.95 paperback, 0064407470) Ages 9-12. "Dave goes from New York's Lower East Side to the Hebrew Home for Boys and into the most fashionable salon of the Harlem Renaissance, all without losing his sense of humor. Don't miss this book."-Wendi Winters, Joseph-Beth Booksellers, Cincinnati, OH
12. THE GRAPES OF MATH, by Greg Tang (Scholastic, $16.95, 043921033X) "Colorful artwork and catchy rhymes make this a fun way to practice math. Not only does it help with counting, it also presents basic multiplication and logic in a manner that is easily understood. I loved this book!"-Katie Abbott, Scott's Bookstore, Mt. Vernon, WA
13. WHERE'S WALLACE?: Story and Panoramas, by Hilary Knight (Simon & Schuster, $17, 0689839928) "I couldn't be more thrilled that this wonderful book has been re-released. Hilary Knight's witty illustrations captured my imagination as a child, calling me back again and again to this cosmopolitan orangutan and the cast of characters who follow him. Waldo, Shmaldo; here is the original search-him-out tale, and I'm giving a copy to every kid I know. "-Wendy Mayer, Capitola Book Cafe, Capitola, CA

Fiction in Paperback

14. ANDORRA, by Peter Cameron (Plume, $12.95 paper, 0452279445) "Over 50 reading groups in our area have read and discussed this wonderful book. It is absolutely my favorite piece of contemporary fiction. I promise you will be visiting the tiny country of Andorra in your imagination and thanking Cameron for taking you there."-Hester Jeswald, Sarasota News and Books, Sarasota, FL
15. BLUE ANGEL, by Francine Prose (HarperPerennial, $14 paper, 0060953713) "A must read for anyone who has ever taught or taken a creative writing class. It is a funny and thought-provoking look at the world of academics and what passes for creativity."-Mary Ellen Kavanaugh, My Sisters' Words, Syracuse, NY
16. THE BOOK BORROWER, by Alice Mattison (HarperPerennial, $13 paper, 0688177867) "You NEED this book! Mattison weaves a beautiful story about a friendship that begins when a woman loans a book. Not only do we get to read the story of these women, we also read the borrowed book, a shocking story about an incident which occurred back in the '20s. A fabulous book club choice; you'll love it."-Karen Huck, Kepler's Books & Magazines, Menlo Park, CA
17. BORROWED HEARTS: New & Selected Stories, by Rick Demarinis (Seven Stories Press, $16.95 paper, 1583220402) "Contemporary short stories designed to make you laugh and shudder. Flannery O'Connor on helium...hysterically horrible."-Jean Matthews, Chapter One Book Store, Hamilton, MT
18. CALL IF YOU NEED ME, by Raymond Carver (Vintage, $13 paper, 0375726284) "Carver's last collection of unpublished stories and essays-all of it razor sharp-reminds us that our dear friend left us before his time."-Kevin Awakuni, Skylight Books, Los Angeles, CA
19. THE DANISH GIRL, by David Ebershoff (Penguin, $13 paper, 0140298487) "The beauty of the writing and the loving kindness with which the characters are treated is evident on every page. I am so pleased to bring this fine, unusual first novel to your attention; especially now that it is in paperback and every book group can read it!"-Michael Barnard, Rakestraw Books, Danville, CA
20. THE FALL OF THE YEAR, by Howard Frank Mosher (Mariner, $13 paper, 0618082360) "I love Mosher's books set in the Vermont northern wilderness. The stories seem to take place outside of time, relatively unaffected by world events, yet encompassing universal themes, and quietly sharing wisdom gained slowly through generations of independent families. You will love every minute you spend in Kingdom County."-Ellen Davis, Dragonwings Bookstore, Waupaca, WI
21. HARDCASTLE, by John Yount (SMU Press, $10.95 paper, 0870743414) "Set in a coal mining town during the Depression, this story is enthralling. The characters are well drawn and totally believable. The interactions were emotionally honest and compelling. I am handselling this book like mad to those who loved Plainsong and Cold Mountain."- Bryan Morrison, University Bookstore, Seattle, WA
22. HORSE HEAVEN, by Jane Smiley (Ballantine, $14.95 paper, 0449005410) "As fascinating as the horses and the relationships they have with the people around them are, this is also a novel of ideas. Through a variety of characters, Smiley shows how we try to make order out of chaos. This will go down as her most challenging, and her best, novel yet."-Jay Clements, Midsummer Books, Galveston, TX
23. THE HOUSE OF GENTLE MEN, by Kathy Hepinstall (HarperPerennial, $13 paper, 0380809362) "What if there really was such a place? But here it is in this tale of guilt, forgiveness, and redemption, all set in post-World War II Louisiana. The house is a haven for men who have mistreated women and wish to do penance by spending time with women who are unappreciated and in need of tenderness. You are in for a treat. You will love Hepinstall's ability to evoke an atmosphere and manage several storylines that lead to a perfect surprise ending."-Mary Gay Shipley, That Bookstore in Blytheville, Blytheville, AR
24. LOSING JULIA, by Jonathan Hull (Dell, $6.99 paper, 0440234859 "This has everything: a story about World War I, a love story about a lost affair, and the growing old of one man and his family. Past the prime of his youth, Patrick Delaney has to take one last journey to where he had met Julia, the woman of his dreams, years ago. It is a very satisfying story, exquisitely written."-Roberta Rubin, The Book Stall at Chestnut Court, Winnetka, IL
25. MAKE BELIEVE, by Joanna Scott (Back Bay, $13.95 paper, 0316776661) "This is a beautifully written and poignant novel, mostly from the point of view of a child. In Scott's talented hands, a cast of very believable characters caught up in a very compelling story come to life."-Joci Tilsen, Valley Bookseller, Stillwater, MN
26. TEA: A Novel, by Stacey D'Erasmo (Washington Square Press, $13.95 paper, 0743400585) "A lesbian coming-of-age story for everyone. It is about falling in love with women, but more about growing up and finding out what you want to do with your life."-Sandra Torkildson, A Room of One's Own Bookstore and Coffeehouse, Madison, WI
27. WHAT'S WRONG WITH DORFMAN, by John Blumenthal (Farmer Street Press, $11.95 paper, 0967944406) "Do NOT read this book in public! This wry novel about a hypochondriac Hollywood screenwriter had me in stitches…especially when his domineering father was involved!"-Clyde Holloway, So Many Books, Vancouver, WA

New Fiction in Hardcover

28. THE AMAZING ADVENTURES OF KAVALIER & CLAY, by Michael Chabon (Random House, $26.95, 0679450041) "If you read serious American fiction, you have to read Chabon, and his new novel is a sudden leap into new atmospheres. It follows the career of two young cousins who create a comic book superhero. The scope of this novel is huge, vividly evoking Europe and New York in the '30s, '40s and '50s, populated with amazingly realized fictional characters who interact with historical people. Chabon has been compared with Cheever and John Irving, but here he leaves them behind and charts his own course in American letters."-Micheal Fraser, Joseph-Beth Booksellers, Cincinnati, OH
29. AFTER DACHAU, by Daniel Quinn (Context, $21.95, 189395613X) "A suspenseful plot involving an alternative end to WW II and the mind-bending implications of a society built on Nazism, reincarnated souls, paranormal research, and an unforgettable climax will leave readers unable to put the book down until the final page. This deserves to be read and debated, and it is an excellent choice for book discussion groups."-Linda Barrett Knopp, Malaprop's Bookstore and Cafe, Asheville, NC
30. AMERICAN FUJI, by Sara Backer (Putnam, $24.95, 0399146911) "Leave your shoes and ideas about Japan at the door. This rich novel has comic elements, a love story, and a mystery, but the real star is modern day Japan and its mysterious culture as seen through Western eyes."-Terry Whittaker, Viewpoint Books, Columbus, IN
31. A BLIND MAN COULD SEE HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU, by Amy Bloom (Random House, $22.95, 0375502688) "Bloom is one of our all-time favorite authors, and this long-awaited collection of stories is just gorgeous. She is a remarkable writer!"-Sarah Butler, Bailey-Coy Books, Seattle, WA
32. THE BONESETTER'S DAUGHTER, by Amy Tan (Putnam, $25.95, 0399146431). "The first part of this marvelous novel is the story of Ruth Young, a writer who finds a manuscript written by her mother. Ruth has her own challenges-her professional life, her partner and his teenage daughters, her ailing mother. The second part takes us back to China and her mother's life before her move to the U. S. The ending is a wonderful resolution to the family and cultural tensions, a warm and moving view of our world."-Alicia Greene, Olsson's, Washington, DC
33. BOY STILL MISSING, by John Searles (Morrow, $25, 0688175708) "It has been so long since I cared about a character so quickly, so devotedly, so dearly. When I read, I look for effortless recognition, for moments of poetry, for a tale that has meaning and charm and that inspires the nervousness of not knowing the outcome. I felt that this writer had showered generosity on me by writing this book. The main character will stay with you, along with the likes of Scout and Jo and Holden, making you grin, wince, and cheer."-Joan Barberich, Food for Thought Books, Amherst, MA
34. DIARIES OF ADAM AND EVE, translated by Mark Twain; illus. by Michael Mojher (Fair Oaks, $18.95, 0965881199) "This book is a delightful view of what Adam and Eve might have thought when they first met. Adam's description of Eve's insatiable curiosity and tender heart is hilarious; equally so is his smugness at impressing her. Eve views him with wariness and some puzzlement, and does notice when he uses big words like superfluous. This is an absolute must-read."-Stacy Furrer, 5th Ave. Books, El Centro, CA Also on Audio (0965881172); CD (0965881164)
35. EVERYDAY PEOPLE, by Stewart O'Nan (Grove, $ 24, 0802116817) "O'Nan is a brilliant and award-winning writer, and in this new book, he vividly captures the struggles and hardships of a Pittsburgh neighborhood by centering the story around an 18-year-old left haunted by the loss of his best friend. This moving story evokes the experiences and realities of urban America in a way that left me a different person than when I read the first page."-Tim Huggins, Newtonville Books, Newton, MA Also on HarperAudio (0694524417)
36. FAMILY ORCHARD, by Nomi Eve (Knopf, $25, 0375410767) "This debut novel has reviewers aptly comparing Nomi Eve to Marquez and I.B. Singer, but she is her own woman and truly fabulous in her own way. This is a six-generation saga of a Jewish family located mainly in Israel, pre- and post-statehood, and in Europe and the United States as well, and the tales are luscious, expansive, fanciful, and gripping. A perfect combination of family history and storytelling verve; I loved it."-Gloria Borg Olds, Broadway Books, Portland, OR
37. FEELING SORRY FOR CELIA, by Jaclyn Moriarty (St. Martin's, $16.95, 0312269234) "I feel lucky to have gotten my hands on such a fabulously thrilling book by such a supremely talented author! I was unable to put the book back on the shelf once I started and read almost as fast as Elizabeth runs. I intend to write a letter to my best friend right now. A delightfully enthralling tale! For anyone who has ever had or been a best friend."-Tara Hoopes, Blue Willow Bookshop, Houston, TX
38. HERE IN THE WORLD: 13 Stories, by Victoria Lancelotta, (Counterpoint, $23, 1582430993) "Somehow fierce and detached at the same time, this slim volume of stories gives a glimpse into the confused erotic world of young women trying to find their identity somewhere between the Catholic Church and the modern world. Stunning and wise, these stories present a clear look into the edges of passion."-Joy Allen, Davis-Kidd Booksellers, Memphis, TN
39. IN THE SNOW FOREST: Three Novellas, by Roy Parvin (Norton, $23.95, 0393049779) "These are wonderful, quiet gems. Parvin has an intimate understanding of timber country, forgotten mining areas, and the lost spaces of the human heart. There's a lot of tension in these novellas, and a lot of redemption, too."-Marilyn Smith, Printer's Ink, Palo Alto, CA
40. KISSING THE VIRGIN'S MOUTH, by Donna Gersten (HarperCollins, $23, 0060185678 ) The first winner of the Bellwether Prize for Fiction, an award established by Barbara Kingsolver. "Magda Vasquez is a strong and saucy Mexican woman who quickly learns how to survive and thrive in a conservative, male-dominated world. A sumptuous feast of a novel."-Shaina Spreng, R.J. Julia Booksellers, Madison, CT
41. THE LAST BUFFALO HUNTER, by Jake Mosher (Godine, $24.95, 1567921469) "Narrated by a sensitive 14-year-old protagonist, this is the headlong account of the wild Montana summer he spends with a headstrong grandfather who is of no mind to cope with the changes of the 20th century. The reader races right along with them from one confrontation to the next. This is storytelling at its best"-Willard Williams, Toadstool Books, Petersborough, NH
42. MISS GARNET'S ANGEL, by Sally Vickers (Carroll & Graf, $25, 0786708239) "I was wrapped up in this novel's evocation of Venice, the metamorphosis of Miss Garnet from reserved English schoolteacher to budding sensualist, and the story's moving from past to present, from the mundane to the transcendent. An engrossing and lovely read."-Lilla Weinberger, Readers' Books, Sonoma, CA
43. THE OLD AMERICAN, by Ernest Hebert (U. Press of New England, $25, 1584650737) "Set during the French and Indian Wars, this book tells the story of a self-styled 'king' who returns from a French and Iroquois raiding party with an English captive. The weaving of the tale of the impact of their relationship is a brilliant story. An absolutely wonderful read!"-Colleen Moore, 20-Mile Book Stop, Parker, CO
44. SINGING BOY, by Dennis McFarland (Holt, $25, 080506608X) "A fascinating contemporary story about the widow of a man killed in a random act of violence; her son who also witnessed the murder; and her deceased husband's best friend, a Vietnam vet with his own problems. McFarland is skilled at descriptive prose, and takes his readers on a very believable and compassionate journey into the minds and souls of his characters."-Lee Duffus, Bookworks, Aptos, CA
45. SLOW EMERGENCIES, by Nancy Huston (Steerforth, $19, 1883642639) "A new gorgeous novel from the author of Mark of the Angel. A complex, disturbing, and elegant story of a woman torn between love of family and commitment to her art."-Susanne Champlin, Dartmouth Bookstore, Hanover, NH
46. A TINKER'S DAMN, by Darryl Wimberley (MacMurray & Beck, $25, 1878448048) "Set in Florida timber country, the story opens in 1929 with a sawmill accident that ties two families, the Buchanans (white) and the MacGrues (black) together, but damages the close friendship of the two youngest boys. The story unfolds with a theft, the Klan, and revenge, until you are finally shown what a true hero can be."-Phyllis Zell, Chinook Bookshop, Colorado Springs, CO
47. THE WAYFARER REDEMPTION, by Sarah Douglas (Tor, $24.95, 031287717X) "This was an intriguing read from beginning to end, with all the messy relationships, inter-relationships, and odd connections between the characters. I loved it!"-Karlene Clark, Books to Go, Devils Lake, ND
48. THE WEIGHT OF ALL THINGS, by Sandra Benitez (Hyperion, $22.95, 0786863994) "Based on true events in the 1980s, the novel follows a boy and his grandfather in the mountains of El Salvador. Through her beautiful writing, Benitez exposes the horrendous situation of the people there, caught between the regular army and the guerrillas."-Catherine Jordan, Orinda Books, Orinda, CA
49. THE WOODEN SEA, by Jonathan Carroll (Tor, $23.95, 0312878230) "If you've ever awakened from a beautiful dream fraught with bizarre symbolism...you may have been reading a Jonathan Carroll novel. His optimistically cynical works foist growth upon even the most unwilling of his characters. His metaphors have a richness and originality that begs to be read aloud to the nearest passerby. And, like a really good dream, this book stays with you a long time."-Paul Hanson, Eagle Harbor Books, Bainbridge Island, WA

Memoir and History

50. ATOMIC FARMGIRL: The Betrayal of Chief Qualchan, the Appaloosa, and Me, by Teri Hein (Fulcrum, $22.95, 1555914438) "Hein grew up on a wheat farm 100 miles downwind from the Hanford Nuclear Reservation. She mingles the simple beauty of her childhood with the heritage of the land, and, unavoidably, the tragedy wrought in the lives of her loved ones. Read it for history, for humor, for heartache."-Mary Kooyman, Scott's Bookstore, Mount Vernon, WA
51. THE BASQUE HISTORY OF THE WORLD, by Mark Kurlansky (Penguin, $14 paper, 0140298517) "A marvelous work of cultural history and appreciation of the Basques-a people with no country of their own, but who have always viewed themselves as a nation."-Stefanie Berntson, Bookshop Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA
52. BEETHOVEN'S HAIR: An Extraordinary Historical Odyssey and a Musical Mystery Solved, by Russell Martin (Broadway, $24.95, 0767903501) "History buffs as well as classical music lovers will find this an absorbing historical hunt. You are in for a captivating time that includes the wonder of genius, life in the 18th century, and the cutting edge of scientific research."-Laurie Krushenisky, MacDonald Book Shop, Estes Park, CO
53. A BULLFIGHTER CHECKS HER MAKE-UP: My Encounters with Extraordinary People, by Susan Orlean (Random House, $24.95, 0679462988) "Our customers loved Orlean's The Orchid Thief. Now, we can all enjoy her 35 profiles (written for The New Yorker) of fantastic, and fantastically strange, people, from the first Spanish female matador to a New York real estate broker who, 'like Superman, can see through walls.' You, too, can see through walls, with Orlean's insights into these lives."-Esther James, Politics & Prose, Washington, DC
54. THE CUSTOM OF THE SEA, by Neal Hanson (Wiley, $15.95 paper, 0471399779) "A terrific read, with a style not unlike The Professor and the Madman. It's got a great story that reads like fiction, and it's a well-written history that goes to the heart of the chain of events and ensuing trial."-Susie Fruncillo, Lake Country Booksellers, White Bear Lake, MN
55. A FISH CAUGHT IN TIME: The Search for the Coelacanth, by Samantha Weinberg (HarperPerennial, $13 paper, 0060932856) "The story of a prehistoric species thought to be extinct but then discovered in 1938. A lesson in ichthyology as well as human nature, Weinberg weaves a tale of excitement, confidences, and fear, bringing us fully into the world of the coelacanth-an amazing creature that has been brought from the depths of the millennia to the curio chests of 20th century scientists."-Amy Wynn, Builders Booksource, Berkeley, CA
56. A HEARTBREAKING WORK OF STAGGERING GENIUS, by Dave Eggers (Vintage, $14, 0375725784) "This book starts out with a witty transformation of the copyright page and continues with clever stylistic and linguistic tours all along the way. Eggers tells his own very personal story of the loss of his parents and his struggles to raise his brother in a way that immediately enlists our sympathy, entertains us, and reflects the realities of our world. The title is actually quite true!"-Donna Cressman, Maxwell Books, DeSoto, TX
57. MY WAR GONE BY, I MISS IT SO, by Anthony Loyd (Penguin, $14 paper, 0140298541) "This is a journalist's extraordinary memoir of life on the frontlines of war, but equally fascinating are his tales from the home front. His difficult relationship with his father, along with civilian life, delivers him to the comforts and sickness of heroin. A rare gem of a biography, an existential war journal that recalls Michael Herr's Dispatches, and one that will ever so sharply, painfully tilt your view of peacetime life."-Jamie Kornegay, Square Books, Oxford, MS
58. ON BULLFIGHTING, by A.L. Kennedy (Anchor, $11 paper, 0385720815, in stores March 20) "As agile with language as any torero is with cape and sword, Kennedy takes us from the brink of suicide (her own) to the bullfights of Spain. Ghosts of the past, Lorca, and Goya flit through her ruminations even as she closely and factually describes the art and science of the corrida de toros in this mesmerizing and artful book."-Betsy Burton, The King's English Bookshop, Salt Lake City, UT
59. RICH MEDIA, POOR DEMOCRACY: Communication Politics in Dubious Times, by Robert McChesney (New Press, $17.95, 1565846346) "Combining detailed scholarship and a rich historical understanding of the communications industry, McChesney writes with muckraking zeal as he details the disastrous effects of corporate control of the media. This is, perhaps, the most important book on media conglomeration recently published."-Will Peters, Annie Bloom's Books, Portland, OR

Mysteries

60. 100 FAVORITE MYSTERIES OF THE CENTURY, edited by Jim Huang (Crum Creek Press, $12 paper, 0962580465) "The Independent Mystery Booksellers Association voted on which books best defined the 1900s. This book offers mystery lovers this list chronologically and alphabetical by author, along with reviews and bookseller comments on these as well as books that should have made the list. Have no fear, this book well represents all the different kinds of mysteries from cozy to hard-boiled. This book is a must for mystery lovers."-Sheri Kraft, Alibi Books, Glenview, IL
61. FOLLY, by Laurie R. King (Bantam, $23.95, 0553111035) "This is a wonderful tale of a woman coming to grips with her sanity after losing her husband and daughter. She moves to an island off Washington State and begins to rebuild her late uncle's home as well as her own life. This is King's best book so far, and we here all think this should be an award winner!"-Jean Utley, Book'em Mysteries, South Pasadena, CA
62. A HEART OF STONE, by Renate Dorrestein (Viking, $23.95, 067089558X) "A story of family life and tragedy told by Ellen Van Bemmel, whose parents run an American newspaper clipping service in Amsterdam. The excellent and compelling debut of this Dutch writer is not to be missed!"-Mary Price Dunbar, Beaucoup Books, New Orleans, LA
63. OVER TUMBLED GRAVES, by Jess Walter (Regan Books, $25, 0060393866) "This book has a depth that isn't usually found in suspense novels. Jess Walter goes beyond the stereotypes and creates three-dimensional characters. Thoroughly readable and intelligently done!"-Diana Billings, Chapter 11 Books, Atlanta, GA
64. RIGHT AS RAIN, by George Pelecanos (Little Brown, $24.95, 0316695262) "Pelecanos is America's best kept literary secret, but it's time to blow the lid off the whole damn thing! With writing that comes at you like a hard right punch, dealing with hard issues of race, justice, and vengeance as two ex-cops play out their struggle on the mean streets of D.C., Pelecanos is not afraid to shine the light of truth on a corrupt landscape. If you're looking for a new hero, look no further." - Robert Segedy, McIntyre's Fine Books, Pittsboro, NC
65. ROSS MACDONALD: A Biography, by Tom Nolan (Poisoned Pen Press, $17.95 paper, 189020854X) "This moving and well-researched biography of the man behind the classic Lew Archer novels deserved all of the acclaim and awards it received in hardcover. Nolan shows the man behind the novels in a manner that nicely parallels Macdonald's own tradition of having the past affecting the present."- Mary Elizabeth Hart, Mysterious Galaxy, San Diego, CA

Poetry

66. A BOOK OF LUMINOUS THINGS: An International Anthology of Poetry, edited by Czeslaw Milosz (Harcourt, $15 paper, 0156005743) "A wide-ranging collection of concise poems that will be cherished by both poetry lovers and general readers. It is the perfect book to recommend to anyone looking for inspiration, solace, or joy."-Suzanne DeGaetano, Mac's Backs Paperbacks, Cleveland Heights, OH
67. THE BOYS AT TWILIGHT: Poems 1990-1995, by Glyn Maxwell (Houghton Mifflin, $14 paper, 0618064141) "An invaluable selection of poems from Maxwell's previous collections, many of which are unavailable in the U.S. Maxwell is surely one of the major new voices in contemporary poetry."-Herman Fong, The Odyssey Bookshop, South Hadley, MA
68. THE HOUSE OF BLUE LIGHT: Poems, by David Kirby (LSU Press, $14.95 paper, 0807126179) "When the book jacket invokes Dave Barry, Emerson, Spaulding Gray, Rilke, and Bette Midler, you get some idea of how much fun these poems are...and how difficult to describe. Suffice it to say that you find yourself feeling that each of these poems is over way too soon."-Susan Ramsey, Athena Book Shop, Kalamazoo, MI
69. FEAST: Poems, by Tomaz Salamun (Harcourt, $22, 0151005605) "Master contortionist, heliocentric aerialist: Salamun's newest book of poetry is a lard-free must-see."-Adam Reich, City Lights, San Francisco, CA
70. I PRAISE MY DESTROYER, by Diane Ackerman (Vintage, $12 paper, 0679771344) "Ackerman is in love with life, all of it -- aging, longing, and dying included -- and she describes it all with the sensuality of a naturalist."-Vicki Gray, Book Passage, Corte Madera, CA
71. POEMCRAZY: Freeing Your Life With Words, by Susan Goldsmith Wooldridge (Three Rivers, $13 paper, 0609800981) "I have read dozens of books on writing. Unfortunately, that is all I usually do-read them. Poemcrazy, on the other hand, actually got me writing again. No grim mechanical exercises here; Wooldridge's ideas are lively and fresh. Worn as it already is, Poemcrazy will always be close at hand."-Laura Hansen, Bookin' It, Little Falls, MN
72. SPRING ESSENCE, by Ho Xuan Houng (Copper Canyon Press, $15 paper, 1556591489) "We have been handselling this wonderful book for several months, and we're gratified to see it getting such spectacular acclaim."-Tracy Wynne, Cover to Cover Booksellers, San Francisco, CA
73. STAR IN MY FOREHEAD, by Else Lasker-Schuler (Holy Cow Press/Consortium, $12.95 paper, 0930100883) "These poems are excavations of the soul; her words are fragments of an internal city of experience. A remarkable collection, it remains a lyric testimony to the incalculable depth of the heart."-Karen Wallace, Dutton's Brentwood Bookstore, Los Angeles, CA
74. ZINC FINGERS: Poems A to Z, by Peter Meinke (Univ. of Pittsburgh Press, $12.95 paper, 0822957248) " Meinke is the Alex Rodriguez of contemporary poets, i.e. the complete package. He can write in classical forms-sonnets, villanelles, sestinas-blank verse, free verse, even a concrete poem here and there. Meinke is the most human of poets. His love poems are never blind to the pain of loss, his poems about the humor of daily life always contain a little nod to the heartbreak of living. If I had to put together a team for a Rotisserie Poetry League, my first pick would be Peter Meinke."-Michael Boggs, Carmichael's Bookstore, Louisville, KY

Sports and Springtime!

75. SPORTS GUY: In Search of Corkball, Warroad Hockey, Hooters Golf, Tiger Woods, and the Big, Big Game, by Charles P. Pierce (Da Capo, $15 paper, 0306810050) "Pierce possesses a humanity that shines through when he writes about the people that play the sports. Whether he's taking the luster off the myth of Tiger Woods or lionizing the guy who holds pole vaulting clinics in his barn, his writing rings true and heartfelt. You should not miss the Sports Guy."-Stan Hynds, Northshire Bookstore, Manchester Center, VT
76. TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALLPARK: An Illustrated Tour of Baseball Parks Past and Present, by Josh Leventhal (Black Dog & Leventhal, $29.98, 1579121128) "This book is oddly shaped and does not sit on a shelf too well, but is it cool! It features every major league park and stadiums from the past, including the Negro League Parks. It gives details and vital statistics on such important matters as hot dogs, mascots, and scoreboards, along with hundreds of color photographs and drawings. This is a must book for every baseball lover."-Linda Johnson, Cover to Cover, Tavernier, FL

How Can You Tell An Independent Book Store From A Chain? INDEPENDENTS HAVE BOOK SENSE

Passion. Knowledge. Personality. Community Involvement. That's what it means to have Book Sense and that's why Boulder Book Store has joined with thousands of independents around the country to make our customers more aware of the dedication and diversity you can find by avoiding cookie cutter chains and seeking out independent businesses.

Book Sense is, in part, a marketing campaign (designed by those very smart "Got Milk?" people) to promote awareness of independents. You can now see the Book Sense logo in the windows of your favorite local book stores. Plus, when you're traveling, you'll be able to seek out new independents that really reflect their local culture.

Look for the bi-monthly Book Sense newsletter, as well as our Book Sense Bestseller display at the Boulder Book Store. You can also purchase Book Sense gift certificates, which are good at more than 1,100 Book Sense stores across the country!