Present Tense

Indie NEXT List

Recommended Reading - September 2010

Indie NEXT Picks from independent booksellers across the nation

    Room

    Room
    Written by Emma Donoghue Little Brown, $24.99



    "Room is like no other book I have ever read. This emotionally powerful story of a young Jack and his mother, held in captivity for seven years, is both a heart-wrenching testament to the power of love between mother and child and a riveting story of overcoming horrible circumstances. Emma Donoghue has written one of those rare books that you will remember reading your entire life, as you will be altered by the experience." --Lanora Hurley, Next Chapter Bookshop, Mequon, WI

    The Gendarme

    The Gendarme
    Written by Mark T. Mustian Putnam, $25.95



    "Injured in WWI, Emmet Conn suffered amnesia as a result of a head wound. Now, at 92, a brain tumor causes long-lost memories to return, as Emmet recalls an earlier life as a Turkish gendarme leading a group of Armenian refugees to the border. The brutality and despair, filth and degradation these people must endure on the forced march mean little to him until he falls in love with Araxie, one of the Armenian refugees, and he begins to perceive his actions and his attitude through her eyes. Mesmerizing, beautiful, and heart-breaking." --Jennie Turner-Collins, Joseph-Beth Booksellers, Cinciannati, OH

    Ape House

    Ape House
    Written by Sara Gruen Spiegel and Grau, $26



    "In her new novel, Water for Elephants author Sara Gruen once again examines the relationship - both emotional and biological - between man and animal. This time, focusing on highly intelligent bonobo apes, she infuses the story with an unexpected level of humor, mystery, and a foray into popular culture. What the reader can be assured of is another thoroughly engaging story, brimming with deftly drawn characters and compelling storylines. A delight!" --Sue Beale, Nicola's Books, Ann Arbor, MI

    The Good Daughters

    The Good Daughters
    Written by Joyce Maynard Morrow, $24.99



    "The Good Daughters follows the lives of two women, born on the same day, in the same hospital, to two very different families. Their lives couldn't be less similar, but the one thing they have in common is a feeling of never quite fitting in. At times comic, at times tragic, at times horrifying, this novel is a fascinating study of what it means to be part of a family. This is not a book to simply read and enjoy, but one that calls out to be shared and discussed." --Joe Eichman, Tattered Cover Bookstore, Denver, CO

    Russian Winter

    Russian Winter
    Written by Daphne Kalotay Harper, $25.99



    "This narrative pas de deux binds Nina Revskaya's mysterious past as the Bolshoi Ballet's rising young star with her reclusive present as an anonymous benefactor of the Boston arts scene. When a rash, youthful decision based on jealousy and insecurity sets events spinning out of her control, Nina spends the rest of her life guarding a dark secret. With this sweeping story of art, love, and Soviet politics come hints of intrigue and betrayal, and even those with the most dazzling talent cannot protect themselves against damaging accusations." --Emily Crowe, Odyssey Bookshop, South Hadley, MA