Present Tense
More Information
Indie NEXT List
Recommended Reading - February 2012
Indie NEXT Picks from independent booksellers across the nation
A Good American
Written by Alex George Amy Einhorn Books/Putnam, $25.95
"In these crazy, sad times, when fear and greed seem to be defining our responses, it was wonderful to be reminded of the irreplaceable role imagination has played in making our country great and of the various ways of being 'a good American.' Frederick and Jette flee Prussia in 1904 and make their new home in Missouri. Their story is told by their grandson, James, and like the best family stories, is filled with the coincidences, missed connections, and both the tragedy and magic of ordinary life. George breaks your heart with the quiet sacrifices and secrets of his characters but never forgets the wonder and humor of living. Carrying the reader across the generations with music and food, religion and prohibition, racism and patriotism, A Good American makes this unique family's story seem familiar in the best of ways."--Leslie Reiner, Inkwood Books, Tampa, FL
Defending Jacob
Written by William Landay Delacorte, $26
"Engrossing from the first page, Defending Jacob will keep you on the edge of your seat and then it will break your heart. What appears to be the story of a lovely family with a teenage son becomes a nightmare of suspicions, accusations, isolation, condemnation, and ultimately tragedy when an assistant district attorney and his wife watch as their only son is arrested for the murder of a classmate. We tend to see those we love with our hearts, which is not always the same as reality, and life can come crashing down in a hurry. I was blown away by this book!"--Susan Wasson, Bookworks, Albuquerque, NM
The Snow Child
Written by Eowyn Ivey Reagan Arthur Books, $24.99
"This love story, set in Alaska, is really a love story about Alaska. Ivey describes the achingly beautiful landscape without making it seem an easy place to live. Based on an old fairy tale, this is the story of a childless couple who make a snow child one evening only to find a real little girl the next day. As the girl grows through the years, we know that this enchanting story will have the twists that we have come to expect with tales that teach us lessons about life. Friendships, marriage, parenthood, and survival -- all set in an unforgiving but entrancing landscape. I loved it!"--Valerie Koehler, Blue Willow Book Shop, Houston, TX
The Mirage
Written by Matt Ruff Harper, $25.99
"Here's another page-turning, mind-reeling masterpiece by Ruff. Imagine a world where the United Arab States is threatened by Christian fundamentalist terrorists, a world where a few good Homeland Security Agents have to fight corruption and conspiracies to protect all they believe in. I predict this is the novel that everyone will be talking about in 2012. And it's not just provocative, it's a darn good read!"--Tegan Tigani, Queen Anne Avenue Books, Seattle, WA
A Grown-Up Kind of Pretty
Written by Joshilyn Jackson Grand Central Publishing, $25.99
"The Slocumb women have the curse of having to deal with bad men and early motherhood. Mother Liza and grandmother Jenny are doing everything in their power to make sure that 15-year-old Mosey doesn't find herself in the same predicament. Jenny unearths human bones while digging in the backyard, and with Liza too ill to explain them, Mosey decides to take it upon herself ot find the answers to her family's secrets and end the curse once and for all. This is a fast-paced and enthralling read that pulls you in and won't let you go until the very end."--Morgan Kiedrowski, Next Chapter Bookshop, Mequon, WI