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The week of April 30, 2024 The Books of May
Exhibit : A Novel by R. O. Kwon Cactus Country : A Boyhood Memoir by Zoë Bossiere Swiped : A Novel by L.M. Chilton The Ministry of Time : A Novel by Kaliane Bradley Sipsworth by Simon Van Booy Read This Now | Read This Next | Book Buzz | The Bookseller Directory |
The month ahead is full of buzz-worthy books. Yes, we always say that — promoting the buzz-worthy books is the reason for SBR’s monthly Read This Next! list. But it is especially true of the May list, where some of the books have not just several, but over a dozen VERY enthusiastic reviews.|
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Read This Now! Recommended by Southern indies… |
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May You Love and Be Loved by Cleo Wade Children, Juvenile Fiction, Poetry A poem, a prayer, a plea to the universe. Beautifully illustrated and sure the be a beloved gift. Reviewed by Michelle Cavalier, Cavalier House Books in Denham Springs, Louisiana |
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Crow Talk by Eileen Garvin Adult Fiction, Friendship A beloved family lake house, a lonely ornithologist, and a heartbroken mother trying to communicate with her young son come together in this beautiful story of family, love, and overcoming grief. Eileen Garvin does such a solid job weaving characters’ stories as they grow together. Just as in her previous novel, the reader gets a cohesive, heartwarming story while Garvin shows how nature helps heal our hearts. A delightful, fulfilling read! Reviewed by Mary Patterson, The Little Bookshop in Midlothian, Virginia |
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Bookseller Buzz |
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Spotlight on: Worry by Alexandra Tanner 
When you have a sibling, you can have a relationship with almost no boundaries. You can say anything to me; I can say anything to you, and because we’re bound by all of these things—the structure of our family, the understanding we have of one another’s issues, the love we have for each other; we’re always going to be connected. At the same time, it’s a delusion to think that you know a person so entirely because you grew up together—because you have the same parents; because you were raised in the same way. Every person has secrets. Everyone has a complete internal world that you know nothing about. ― Alexandra Tanner, The Columbia Journal What booksellers are saying about Worry 
Alexandra Tanner is a Brooklyn-based writer and editor. She is a graduate of the MFA program at The New School and a recipient of fellowships from MacDowell, The Center for Fiction, and Spruceton Inn’s Artist Residency. Her stories, essays, and reviews appear or are forthcoming in Granta, Los Angeles Review of Books, The Baffler, The New York Times Book Review, and Jewish Currents, among other outlets. Worry is her first novel. |
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The Z Word by Lindsay King-Miller Adult Fiction, Fiction, LGBTQ+ King-Miller’s The Z Word captures the same cackling, DIY, gory energy of the first time I ever watched Return of the Living Dead. Set during the sweltering energy of small-town, Southwestern Pride, Wendy finds herself experiencing the start of the zombie apocalypse in the midst of Pride festivities. There’s found family, betrayal, and evil corporations, all centered around the fun bonding activity of hitting zombies with your car. Reviewed by Mikey LaFave, Avid Bookshop in Athens, Georgia |
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Reading the Room by Paul Yamazaki Adult Nonfiction, Biography & Autobiography, Editors, Essays, Journalists, Literary Collections, Literary Figures, Memoirs, Publishers This pocket-size book takes just an hour or two to read, structurally spans a day and a night, but holds half a century’s wisdom about bookselling. Paul Yamazaki has been the principal book buyer at Lawrence Ferlinghetti’s iconic City Lights bookstore in San Francisco for 50 years. This brief but complex and consequential collection of interviews with a venerable bookseller of color who’s experienced so much is a gift to all who love bookstores. Reviewed by Megan Bell, Underground Books in Carrollton, Georgia |
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The Black Girl Survives in This One: Horror Stories by Desiree S. Evans and Saraciea J. Fennell African American & Black, Collections & Anthologies, Horror, People & Places, Short Stories, Young Adult Fiction  An April Read This Next! Title I love a horror anthology and a final girl story is even better! This book is a mix of powerhouse authors of color that portray strong black women triumphing over baddies – both human and not. Don’t worry, not EVERYONE survives so you’ll still get lots of heart pounding terror, thrills, and chills – plus a side of humor in some tales! Reviewed by Andrea Richardson, Fountain Bookstore in Richmond, Virginia |
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Someone Just Like You by Helen Docherty Childrens, Friendship, Juvenile Fiction, Social Themes
A March/April Read This Next! Kids Title I love this fun story about what makes us unique AND what unites us with others who may not look like us or speak the same language. Great for teaching empathy and kindness, to others and ourselves! Reviewed by Jessica Nock, Main Street Books in Davidson, North Carolina |
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My Love Story with Yamada-kun at Lv999 Volume 1 by Mashiro Comics & Graphic Novels, Manga, Romance I’ve been reading this manga online for a while and am so happy it’s getting an English print! This is one of my all-time favorite shoujo mangas, with a pretty big cast of characters, but all of them are fun and endearing. Akane and Yamada are adorable, and I really appreciate how they get together early on (without rushing the feelings), with the story following their relationship (and their relationship with their friends) closely in a wholesome slice of life. This manga explores different types of relationships and portrays people realistically. The gamer aspect is relatable for the current generation and is fun to read about. I’ll be collecting all the volumes! Reviewed by Kamilah Wong, E. Shaver bookseller in Savannah, Georgia |
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Not Like Other Girls by Meredith Adamo Contemporary, Friendship, Girls & Women, Romance, Social Themes, Thrillers & Suspense, Young Adult Fiction
A March/April Read This Next! Kids Title Adamo’s Not Like Other Girls pairs the emotional power of Speak with a mystery full of plot twists a la A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder. This would be a great pick for teen book clubs. Reviewed by Jill Hendrix, Fiction Addiction in Greenville, South Carolina |
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Decide for Yourself Books that appear on PEN America’s list of challenged books. |
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Batman: White Knight by Sean Murphy Banned Books, Comics & Graphic Novels, Crime & Mystery, Superheroes, Supervillains This arc follows a man named Jack Napier who is bent on taking down Batman and exposing Gotham’s corruption-but is he a savior or a doomsman? Murphy does an excellent job making you go back and forth with this idea until the end. The art is serious and dark, setting the tone of the story well. A fun read, and one you’ll want to return to again and again. Reviewed by Hilton Airall, Carmichael’s Bookstore in Louisville, Kentucky |
Southern Bestsellers What’s popular this week with Southern Readers. |
[ See the full list ] |
Parting Thought “So Matilda’s strong young mind continued to grow, nurtured by the voices of all those authors who had sent their books out into the world like ships on the sea. These books gave Matilda a hopeful and comforting message: You are not alone.” |
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Publisher:
The Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance /
siba@sibaweb.com |
SIBA | 51 Pleasant Ridge Drive | Asheville, NC 28805
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