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The Southern Bookseller Review 5/23/23

The Southern Bookseller Review Newsletter for the week of May 23, 2023

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The week of May 23, 2023

Reading Green.

Pinecone illustration credit saemilee

Last week SBR sent out a special monthly edition focused on "Nature and the Environment." The monthly themed-based editions of SBR are always great fun to put together, because it affords us a chance to spotlight books that might have been overlooked, and deserve wider notice.

This month’s special issue, which you can revisit here, struck a chord with many readers, for whom the issue of nature and the environment are growing concerns. There were so many reviews submitted for the edition we couldn’t fit them all in the newsletter (a first for SBR!). "Nature," it turns out, is a favorite category for Southern Indie Booksellers. Read more about the books not in last week’s newsletter:

Books tagged "Nature" in SBR

Read This Now | Read This Next | Book Buzz | The Bookseller Directory




Read This Now!

Recommended by Southern indies…

Rogue Justice by Stacey Abrams

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Rogue Justice by Stacey Abrams
Doubleday / May 2023


More Reviews from Bookmarks

Stacey Abrams does it again with another scintillating page-turner. Rogue Justice picks up right where While Justice Sleeps left off, and this time Avery is thrown into a plot involving hacking, cryptocurrency, and energy grids. I definitely learn something every time I read a book by Stacey Abrams!

Reviewed by Kate Storhoff, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina



Bookseller Buzz

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Spotlight on: The Postcard by Anne Berest

 

Anne Berest, photo credit Marie Marot

Before I wrote this book, I knew nothing about my ancestors. And while working on my family tree, I discovered a lot of things, a lot of some strange coincidences that I explain in the book. And I will not spoil it, but these coincidences are, for me, invisible transmissions. You see the things that your ancestors give to you and you don’t know. And this idea of invisible transmission is one of the main theme of my book. And I have read articles on cellular memory – you see, how our cells have a memory of the emotions. It’s a scientific way to explain that our ancestors still live within us and that we still communicate and connect with our ghosts. It seems that in my case and with my Jewish family, they are not totally dead. They were not totally murdered because something still live in me.―Anne Berest, Interview, NPR

What booksellers are saying about The Postcard

The Postcard by Anne Berest
  • This is absolutely the best WWII story I’ve read in a long time! Berest offers a fresh perspective on her family’s tragedy during the German occupation in France. Her personal journey is what makes this book so special. I learned new things and experienced an intimate view of what it felt like to be Jewish. It was overwhelming at times but the story has lingered in my thoughts long after I finished. A must read!
      ― Stephanie Crowe from Page & Palette in Fairhope, AL | Buy from Page & Palette

  • Brilliantly written and moving story of the holocaust, family and storytelling. I was truly hooked on Anne’s writing from the first sentence.
      ―Kelley Barnes from Page 158 Books in Wake Forest, NC | Buy from Page 158 Books

  • Epic, sweeping story about a family fractured by the horrors of WWII. Gripping from beginning to jaw dropping end! Literary historical fiction at its best. Perfect for fans of All The Light We Cannot See or We Were The Lucky Ones, but I promise you’ve never read anything like The Postcard.
      ―Jessica Nock from Main Street Books in Davidson, NC | Buy from Main Street Books

  • This magnificent novel captured me from page one and never let me go. Over the holidays, a family receives an old postcard with four names printed on the back: all of the names belonged to real relatives of the author who were murdered in Auschwitz. The author’s fictionalized search for the origins of the message (a tribute? a threat? a warning?) drives the urgent narrative. I have read a lot of novels and nonfiction about the Holocaust and also a great deal of fiction that features generational trauma and reflections on Jewish identity. I have never read anything that incorporates all of these elements so sensitively. Tina Kover’s translation from the French is invisible in the striking, seamless prose. Devastating. Original. Perfect.
      ―Kelly Justice from Fountain Books in Richmond, VA | Buy from Fountain Bookstore

About Anne Berest

Anne Berest is the bestselling co-author of How to Be Parisian Wherever You Are (Doubleday, 2014) and the author of a novel based on the life of French writer Françoise Sagan. With her sister Claire, she is also the author of Gabriële, a critically acclaimed biography of her great-grandmother, Gabriële Buffet-Picabia, Marcel Duchamp’s lover and muse. She is the great-granddaughter of the painter Francis Picabia. For her work as a writer and prize-winning showrunner, she has been profiled in publications such as French Vogue and Haaretz newspaper. The recipient of numerous literary awards, The Postcard was a finalist for the Goncourt Prize and has been a long-selling bestseller in France.

Tina Kover‘s translations for Europa Editions include Antoine Compagnon’s A Summer with Montaigne and Négar Djavadi’s Disoriental, winner of the Albertine Prize and the Lambda Literary Award, and a finalist for both the 2020 National Book Award for Translated Literature and the PEN Translation Prize.

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Reproduction by Louisa Hall

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Reproduction by Louisa Hall
 Ecco / June 2023


More Reviews from Main Street Books

A quiet yet fierce meditation on birth and creation. Hall pulls us into her own private darkness- the losses of children and fear of death, the loss of the self, the unknowable countries upon which women set off for once they become mothers. All compared artfully to Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein; another story of God-power and chaos, love and despair. Freedom and choice.

Reviewed by Aimee Keeble, Main Street Books in Davidson, North Carolina



Better Living Through Birding by Christian Cooper

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Better Living Through Birding by Christian Cooper
Random House / June 2023


More Reviews from Novel

Better Living Through Birding is a memoir that is very much about birds… but it’s also about so much more. Cooper was thrust into the media spotlight via a viral video in which he was subject to racial threats in Central Park from a dog walker… and he discusses this incident in detail. However, he also discusses growing up gay & black in NYC in the 70’s & 80’s, how comic books and nature saved his life, and how activism against social injustice runs in the family. From Harvard to writing for Marvel Comics & Star Trek to following elusive birds in the most remote places in the world, this memoir is honest, emotionally stirring, and heartfelt. It made me want to go for a nature walk immediately after I finished it.

Reviewed by Stuart McCommon, Novel. in Memphis, Tennessee

Threads That Bind by Kika Hatzopoulou

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Threads That Bind by Kika Hatzopoulou
Razorbill / May 2023


More Reviews from Square Books

Remixes of Greek mythology abound, but Kika Hatzopoulou brings a fresh entry into the trend with a murder mystery focused on the Fates. Io, a descendant of the Fates, is able to see the life threads of people around her and uses this ability in her job as a private investigator. When a surge of wraiths– individuals with maimed life threads– occurs in the city, Io must locate the culprit before the destruction spirals out of control. Threads that Bind is the next must-read for fans of Lore by Alexandra Bracken and Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo.

Reviewed by Charlie Williams, Square Books in Oxford, Mississippi

Oh No, the Aunts Are Here by Adam Rex

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Oh No, the Aunts Are Here by Adam Rex
Chronicle Books / May 2023


More Reviews from Flyleaf Books

A really fun, whimsical picture book capturing the joys (and stresses) of getting a visit from extended family. Vivid illustrations give it extra energy!

Reviewed by Talia Smart, Flyleaf Books in Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Hailstone by Rafael Scavone

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Hailstone by Rafael Scavone
Dark Horse Books / June 2023


More Reviews from Oxford Exchange

I thought I had it all figured out in the start. There are countless stories out there that start out in a similar way. However, this novel really does it’s own thing. I thought it was going to be a werewolf or wendigo type creature. Boy was I wrong. Never expected the climax that actually came!

Reviewed by Ethan Davis, Oxford Exchange in Tampa, Florida

Read This Next!

Books on the horizon: Forthcoming favorites from Southern indies…

We Are Too Many by Hannah Pittard

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We Are Too Many by Hannah Pittard
 Henry Holt and Co. / May 2023


More Reviews from Fountain Bookstore

A May 2023 Read This Next! Title

A unique take on a memoir (kind of) that immediately hurls you into Hannah Pittard’s crumbling world. Her husband has just cheated on her with her best friend. Recounting conversations over a decade, Pittard brings a mix of fact and fiction at times as well when recalling memories with friends, families, and others. The first part’s structure is phenomenal: Told in a play-like format that jumps throughout the years and touches on conversations of eating disorders, infidelity, grief, and just the tender human experience. A book that truly bares its soul to the world, and it pays off in the best way possible.

Reviewed by Grace Sullivan, Fountain Bookstore in Richmond, Virginia

Southern Bestsellers

What’s popular this week with Southern Readers.

The Fourth Wing Knowing What We Know Trust
How to Tell a Story Big

[ See the full list ]

Parting Thought

“Harriet never minded admitting she didn’t know something. So what, she thought, I could always learn.”
— Louise Fitzhugh

Publisher: The Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance / siba@sibaweb.com
Editor: Nicki Leone / nicki@sibaweb.com
Advertising: Linda-Marie Barrett / lindamarie@sibaweb.com
The Southern Bookseller Review is a project of the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance, in support of independent bookstores in the South | SIBA | 51 Pleasant Ridge Drive | Asheville, NC 28805

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The Southern Bookseller Review: Soil. River. Flight.

The Southern Bookseller Review Newsletter for May, 2023

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May 2023

Soil, River, Flight.

Nature and the Environment

This month’s special edition of The Southern Bookseller Review is is dedicated to stories of our relationship to nature and the environment, and to all the wondrous beings that surround us.

“He understood for the first time that the world is not dumb at all, but merely waiting for someone to speak to it in a language it understands.” -Susanna Clarke

Read This Now | Read This Next | The Bookseller Directory


Read This Now!

Recommended by Southern indies…

Soil : The Story of a Black Mother’s Garden by Camille T. Dungy

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Soil : The Story of a Black Mother’s Garden by Camille T. Dungy
Simon & Schuster / May 2023


More Reviews from Books and Books Key West

Observed with a poet’s eye, deeply concerned with social justice, history, community, and the natural world, Camille Dungy’s Soil recounts the process of creating a pollinator garden in her Colorado yard, circling around her history and the history of the plants, animals and politics of the West. “I dig up a lot of awful history when I kneel in my garden,” she writes. “But, my god, a lot of beauty grows out of this soil as well.”

This is a smart, beautiful, wide-ranging book that will draw you in and change how you look at the world around you.

Reviewed by Robin Wood, Books & Books @ The Studios in Key West, Florida


Bookseller Buzz

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Spotlight on: George, A Magpie Memoir by Frieda Hughes

 

Frieda Hughes, photo credit Frieda Hughes

I had this huge bird-shaped hole in my life. I had my painting and my poetry, but my third marriage was crumbling and all the attention I had paid to George really had nowhere else to go. I also had this vast aviary I had built, so I set about determinedly trying to find occupants for it. You can go and buy a bird but that wasn’t what I wanted to do. The birds had to be unwanted and they had to need care – birds that could not otherwise fly free. ―Frieda Hughes, Interview, The Guardian

What booksellers are saying about George, A Magpie Memoir

George, A Magpie Memoir by Frieda Hughes
  • This captivating memoir of life with an unruly magpie had me hooked from the very first page. The eponymous corvid is rescued by Hughes – poet, painter, and daughter of Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes – and quickly becomes a much-loved (albeit very naughty) member of the household. Hughes recounts his impish antics – which include daily games of hide-and-seek with multiple household objects – with affection and wry, exasperated humor.
      ― Jude Burke-Lewis from Square Books in Oxford, MS | Buy from Square Books

  • I want her to write a hundred memoirs. I’ll take twenty more about her animals. This – her first – memoir takes place after the death of her father, during the early stages of a divorce, and prior to the suicide of her brother; Ms. Hughes experienced multiple health issues during the same time frame. She’s lived a life, man, and she keeps on living it, and she’s not immune to describing the beauty of nature and animals in tremendous detail. Fabulous.
      ―Alissa Redmond from South Main Book Company in Salisbury, NC | Buy from South Main Book Company

  • While It is no surprise that deep encounters with nature, including wild animals can be life-transforming, it is always a new delight to encounter a writer with the skill make the experience come alive. Hughes captures the wonder, the mess, the wisdom gained, and the joy in her time spent with rescued birds. Her magpie story is a welcome addition to shelves with Marc Hamer, Helen MacDonald, Lyanda Lynn Haupt, and Sy Montgomery.
      ―Jan Blodgett from Main Street Books in Davidson, NC | Buy from Main Street Books


  • Reading the memoir George will make some readers desperately want a baby magpie of their own in their life and kitchen…until the reality of what damages and chaos a tiny bird can do to one’s house and heart sets in. Frieda Hughes, the daughter of Ted Hughes and Sylvia Plath and an established artist and author herself, decides to move to an acre of land in the Welsh countryside. While gardening and landscaping, she finds a magpie from a destroyed nest that she decides to rescue and George quickly grows and attaches deeply into her heart. Frieda Hughes writes with such vivid clarity all readers will be in her kitchen with her having tea and lovingly watching George as he plays with the dogs and messes every inch of the house. This very personal story will reveal a deep love of all of the wild nature and how it touches and changes our life. Readers will laugh and cry with the writings as we hold out breath every time George flies out our kitchen window and we tensely await his return. With drawings and poetry the author reveals all about the losses and joys of her life and we find her happily at the end with her many rescued animals and enjoying her motorbikes.
      ―Nancy Pierce from Bookmiser, Inc. in Marietta, GA | Buy from Bookmiser

About Frieda Hughes

Born in London in 1960, Frieda Hughes, the daughter of Ted Hughes and Sylvia Plath, is an established painter and poet. She has written several children’s books, eight collections of poetry, articles for magazines and newspapers, and was The Times (London) poetry columnist. As a painter, Frieda regularly exhibits in London and has a permanent exhibition at her private gallery in Wales, where she resides with fourteen owls, two rescue huskies, an ancient Maltese terrier, five chinchillas, a ferret called Socks, a royal python, and her motorbikes.

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Brave the Wild River by Melissa L. Sevigny

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Brave the Wild River by Melissa L. Sevigny
W. W. Norton & Company / May 2023


More Reviews from Main Street Books

What kind of scientist risks the little known rapids of a raging river to document plant life? The first scientists to boat down the Grand Canyon were no daredevils but two intrepid and determined women. Still their tale is full enough of drama and a motley crew of characters to make a great read. More than just a quirky bit of environmental history, their work still resonates today. Sevigny brilliantly captures their experiences as well as the political and social history of the Colorado River. A great read for anyone interested in women in science, natural history, or the American West 

Reviewed by Jan Blodgett, Main Street Books in Davidson, North Carolina

The Nature Book by Tom Comitta

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The Nature Book by Tom Comitta
Coffee House Press / March 2023


More Reviews from Fountain Bookstore

A deftly experimental book that seeks to portray a world sans humans, Nature Book borrows from a history of rich, descriptive prose to reconstruct the cycles of days, seasons, and migrations as they continue quiet and unobserved, separate from human society. And yet, human description and literary convention make up the entirety of this story! This beautifully avant garde novel from an organic and unfettered nonbinary perspective is an awe-inducing teleportation into a beautiful cosmos and a rapidly changing climate as captured throughout the history of literature. Great for reading piecemeal or overwhelmingly all at once.

Reviewed by Amanda Depperschmidt, Fountain Bookstore in Richmond, Virginia

At the Edge of the Woods by Kathryn Bromwich

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At the Edge of the Woods by Kathryn Bromwich
 Two Dollar Radio / June 2023


More Reviews from Novel

Out of necessity, Laura has chosen to live a simpler, yet, courageous life in a secluded, rustic cabin in the woods on the outskirts of an Italian village. Necessity turns into a reorganization of priorities, which I wholly admire, as Laura shares her thoughts with the reader on living with nature, interacting with others, and what it means to survive. Beautiful.

Reviewed by Jill Naylor, Novel. in Memphis, Tennessee

The Eyes and the Impossible by Dave Eggers

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The Eyes and the Impossible by Dave Eggers
Knopf Books for Young Readers / May


More Reviews from Story on the Square

This is the story of Johannes, a wild dog who lives in the park. He runs his round because he is the Eyes for the keeper of the Equilibrium. He decides one day to gain a greater purpose and free his friends the bison. Though for children, I think this story would be enjoyed by anyone who has ever run and felt faster than the sun. Johannes is absolutely endearing, arrogant, feral, and free. Above all else, he’s free and wonderful. I found myself elated with every triumph and breathless with every close call. I loved it and was in tears by the beauty of the writing at the end. I absolutely cannot wait to recommend this to everyone I know. "To be alive is to go forth. So we go forth." Don’t let Johannes slip by you! He’s faster than light, so it might be hard.

Reviewed by Katlin Kerrison, Story On the Square in McDonough, Georgia


Parting Thought

“She read books as one would breathe air, to fill up and live”
—Annie Dillard

Publisher: The Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance / siba@sibaweb.com
Editor: Nicki Leone / nicki@sibaweb.com
Advertising: Linda-Marie Barrett / lindamarie@sibaweb.com
The Southern Bookseller Review is a project of the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance, in support of independent bookstores in the South | SIBA | 51 Pleasant Ridge Drive | Asheville, NC 28805

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The Southern Bookseller Review 5/16/23

The Southern Bookseller Review Newsletter for the week of May 16, 2023

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The week of May 16, 2023

The Bookstores of SBR

Bookshelf illustration credit saemilee

There are about seventy southern independent bookstores which regularly review books for The Southern Bookseller Review. But there are nearly two hundred bookstores across eleven states listed in SBR’s Bookseller Directory.

The directory is a list of bookstores who are part of the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance, and ever-growing network of bookstores invested in their local communities. A new bookstore is always a happy event. Here are some of the newest members of SIBA, and the SBR Bookstore Directory, from this spring:

Book Ferret, Winston-Salem, NC
A new and used bookstore, and "It is a place for book lovers to search, discover, read, & learn together."

Broadway Books, Ashland, KY
A general bookstore with a special focus on children’s books and games, including a Lego wall and a train table!

The Copper Acorn Books & Gifts, Marion, VA
Newly opened in March, The Copper Acorn carries all kinds of books, and in particular showcases Appalachian authors and artisans.

GG’s Library, Prosperity, SC
GG’s started as a book fair that developed such a loyal following they decided to open a permanent location. They focus on children’s books, and frequently host story times and visits from book characters. They are also a presence in schools and children-oriented community events.

Ghostlight Books, Springhill, TN
Ghostlight is a not for profit used bookstore which supports local youth community theatre and arts. It began as a used book drive fundraising initiative and has grown into a permanent store which helps to sponsor free arts education for children in the community

Greene Books, Athens, AL
Greene Books is a bookmobile that serves north Alabama. They appear at local businesses, book fairs and festivals, community celebrations, open houses and markets. The schedule can be found on their website.

Paper Hearts Bookstore, Little Rock, AR
Paper Hearts is a "pop up" bookstore dedicated to creating "an environment that fosters joy, community, acceptance, and meaningful conversation….We want readers to shop with us and leave with a little more joy."

Treat Yo Shelf Books, Mountain Home, AR
Just opened in January, this cozy little independent sells new books and they love to put together bundles and sets of complimentary titles. They are also a popular local event venue,

When did you last visit your local bookstore? Think of what you could be missing!

Read This Now | Read This Next | Book Buzz | The Bookseller Directory




Read This Now!

Recommended by Southern indies…

The Double Life of Benson Yu by Kevin Chong

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The Double Life of Benson Yu by Kevin Chong
Atria Books / April 2023


More Reviews from The Snail on the Wall

The Double Life of Benson Yu is a clever novel about art, childhood trauma, and survival. Comic book artist Benson Yu found commercial success with his Iggy Samurai series, but a letter from someone from his past prompts him to start a new project. This project, an autobiographical graphic novel about growing up in 1980s Chinatown, forces him to revisit his pre-teen self (and vice versa). Different versions of characters from his past seem to coexist as Benson writes and rewrites his past to try to deal with traumatic experiences. For fans of complex stories (with a little time travel).

Reviewed by Elizabeth Hardin, The Snail On the Wall in Huntsville, Alabama

The Adult by Bronwyn Fischer

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The Adult by Bronwyn Fischer
Algonquin Books / May 2023


More Reviews from Epilogue Books

I love when queer women make bad choices. Natalie is eighteen, freshly independent, and painfully naive when she starts an all-consuming relationship with Nora, an older woman who is connected to her own life in surprising ways. Fischer perfectly captures that enraptured feeling of first love, especially with someone older and more experienced. There are parts of this book that are also deeply melancholy; bits and pieces that made me exhale and set the book aside for a minute or two. A little bit heart-wrenching, this one will be perfect for Sally Rooney fans and sad gay people alike.

Reviewed by Gaby Iori, Epilogue Books Chocolate Brews in Chapel Hill, North Carolina



Bookseller Buzz

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Spotlight on: Imogen, Obviously by Becky Albertalli

 

Becky Albertalli, photo credit Becky Albertalli

[This story] was incredibly cathartic to write—though it’s equally terrifying to release it into the world. All my books are personal, but this one’s personal in ways that are unnervingly public. So much of Imogen’s internal monologue mirrors my own questioning process. And even though Imogen isn’t a public figure, she’s internalized the same discourse that kept me tied in knots. For me—and for Imogen—even the idea of questioning felt like a step out of bounds. ―Becky Albertalli, Interview, Nerd Daily

What booksellers are saying about Imogen, Obviously

Imogen, Obviously by Becky Albertalli
  • Imogen’s friends are all queer. As well as her sister. She’s made it her job to be the best ally she can be. Because she’s straight. Right? When Imogen finally goes to visit her best friend Lili at college, she finds herself right in the middle of Lili’s lie: Lili has told her friends that Imogen is her bi ex, but now they’re really good friends. So when Imogen visits, her people pleasing personality has her trying on that identity. And she may find that it fits a lot better than she thought it would.
      ― Jennifer Jones from Bookmiser, Inc. in Marietta, GA | Buy from Bookmiser

  • Tender and hopeful, this is a charming YA about friendship, first queer crushes, and sitting in the discomfort of ambiguity. Imogen is a loving and gentle protagonist who explores the more nebulous parts of coming out as a young adult: how do you know if the flutters in your stomach when you talk to a cute, obviously gay new girl means you’re queer, questioning, or just a really strong ally? (spoiler: you might be queer). What does it even mean to be "queer enough?" (spoiler: it means nothing). Albertalli draws on a lot of her own experiences as a public-facing person whose identity was scrutinized and dissected, and it results in a personal and vulnerable story about growing up and coming out.
      ―Gaby Iori from Epilogue Books Chocolate Brews in Chapel Hill, NC | Buy from Epilogue Books

  • While Imogen is straight, she is definitely an ally. She has a queer little sister and queer best friends. But since one of her friends, Lili, went to college and acquired a circle of queer friends (who all seem amazing on social media), Imogen isn’t sure where she fits anymore. And things get even more confusing when Imogen visits Lili and meets Tessa…who, along with all of Lili’s other friends, thinks Imogen is bi. And now, with possible crush feelings for Tessa, Imogen doesn’t know what to think. More of a questioning story than a coming out story, this will resonate with anyone who might have realized that they’ve been put in the wrong box — by society, by friends and family, by themselves. And Albertalli has a true gift for character’s voices that make them really come off the page.
      ―Melissa Oates from Fiction Addiction in Greenville, SC | Buy from Fiction Addiction

About Becky Albertalli

Becky Albertalli is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of several novels, including William C. Morris Award winner and National Book Award longlist title Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda (now a major motion picture, Love, Simon); The Upside of Unrequited; Leah on the Offbeat; Love, Creekwood; What If It’s Us and Here’s to Us (cowritten with Adam Silvera); Yes No Maybe So (cowritten with Aisha Saeed); and Kate in Waiting. Becky lives with her family in Atlanta, and she’s still not tired of Oreos. You can visit her online at beckyalbertalli.com.

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Pieces of Blue by Holly Goldberg Sloan

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Pieces of Blue by Holly Goldberg Sloan
 G.P. Putnam’s Sons / May 2023


More Reviews from E. Shaver, bookseller

I’ve had a hard time trying to decide what to say about this book. I don’t want to say anything about the plot because I don’t want to give anything away. This is a post-apocalyptic novel unlike any I have read. David’s writing is beautiful and propulsive though the story is kind of a slow burn. Like most of my favorite books, this one left me both heartbroken and hopeful.

Reviewed by Gaby Iori, E. Shaver, Bookseller in Savannah, Georgia



Quantum Criminals by Alex Pappademas

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Quantum Criminals by Alex Pappademas
University of Texas Press / May 2023


More Reviews from Malaprop’s

Perhaps they can’t buy a thrill, but now Steely Dan fans can buy awareness into the lyrics they’ve debated for almost 50 years. With Quantum Criminals, Alex Pappademas and artist Joan LeMay provide cultural context, educated speculation, and bold visuals illuminating the wild rogues and rascals populating the band’s songs. From the famous (Mr. Lapage, Hoops McCann) to the lesser known (Snake Mary, Pixeleen), you’ll have more insight into their memorable cast. Face it, there may not BE just one story behind each song. But Quantum Criminals sure is a fun excursion into what may (or may not) have been in Donald Fagen’s and Walter Becker’s minds.

Reviewed by Rosemary Pugliese, Malaprop’s Bookstore/Cafe in Asheville, North Carolina

They Hate Each Other by Amanda Woody

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They Hate Each Other by Amanda Woody
Viking Books for Young Readers / May 2023


More Reviews from Fiction Addiction

Dylan and Jonah have a long history of despising each other. Their friends have long insisted that the boys secretly have the hots for each other, though. So Dylan and Jonah agree to fake date for a while, and then they can break up and go about their lives without their friends trying to get them together. Except while they’re ‘dating’, they get to know each other — that Jonah works too much because his sisters are everything to him and he doesn’t want them to be taken away, and that Dylan has a brother he hasn’t even talked to in years because of something that happened in their past. And as they open up to each other, they find that maybe friendship — or more — could actually be there after all. This is a poignant story that is as much about Dylan and Jonah’s separate trials as it is about their romance, which makes it that much more satisfying when things work out for them.

Reviewed by Melissa Oates, Fiction Addiction in Greenville, South Carolina

Summer Is for Cousins by Rajani LaRocca

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Summer Is for Cousins by Rajani LaRocca
Abrams Books for Young Readers / May 2023


More Reviews from Flyleaf Books

I still fondly remember the summers spent with my cousins; playing at the beach, board games, sharing secrets under the covers, and of course the ice cream. Growing up my favorite person in the entire world was my older cousin Michael. And I always worried that the next time we saw each other, he would have forgotten me and all the memories I treasured. But just like Michael and I, Dhruv and Ravi understand each other. This book wonderfully captures the whimsy of childhood summers, the distance that comes from being apart, and the moments that matter.

Reviewed by Jamie Kovacs, Flyleaf Books in Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Lost in Taiwan (A Graphic Novel) by Mark Crilley

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Lost in Taiwan (A Graphic Novel) by Mark Crilley
Little, Brown Ink, / May 2023


More Reviews from Bookmarks

Imagine being in a country you know nothing about without your phone to guide you. You might be amazed at what you find, discover about an unknown place or even about yourself. This book takes you on journey through Taiwan and immerses you in the culture. I really loved the adventure of it all and the amazing graphics.

Reviewed by Keeshia Jacklitch, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Read This Next!

Books on the horizon: Forthcoming favorites from Southern indies…

The Storyteller by Brandon Hobson

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The Storyteller by Brandon Hobson
 Scholastic Press / May 2023


More Reviews from The Country Bookshop

A May 2023 Read This Next! Title

Ziggy is just a regular kid. Well, a regular kid who encounters talking coyotes, singing frogs, prophesying snakes, truth-telling horses, a very interesting Grandma, and Nunnehi- spirits who protect those of Cherokee descent. Funny, sad, wise, and jam-packed with adventure, Ziggy’s story, The Storyteller, may be the very best book you’ll read in 2023.

Reviewed by Angie Tally, The Country Bookshop in Southern Pines, North Carolina

Southern Bestsellers

What’s popular this week with Southern Readers.

The Covenant of Water  Tell Anybody The Secrets I Told You All the Light We Cannot See
Lessons from North Carolina Wishtree

[ See the full list ]

Parting Thought

“We read in bed because reading is halfway between life and dreaming, our own consciousness in someone else’s mind.”
— Anna Quindlen

Publisher: The Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance / siba@sibaweb.com
Editor: Nicki Leone / nicki@sibaweb.com
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The Southern Bookseller Review is a project of the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance, in support of independent bookstores in the South | SIBA | 51 Pleasant Ridge Drive | Asheville, NC 28805

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The Southern Bookseller Review 5/9/23

The Southern Bookseller Review Newsletter for the week of May 9, 2023

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The week of May 9, 2023

Booksellers on The Pulitzers

Pulitzer Prize

This week the winners of the 2023 Pulitzer Prizes were announced, including, unusually, two winners for the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.

Both books should be familiar to SBR readers. They have regularly appeared on the Southern indie bestseller list. And they both have frequently been reviewed and recommended by Southern indie booksellers:

Demon Copperhead by Barbara KingsolverDemon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

Barbara Kingsolver’s Demon Copperhead is a brilliant retelling of the David Copperfield story from the perspective of the poor son of a teenage mother living in rural Appalachia. From the first sentence, Demon’s voice grabs us and takes us on an unforgettable journey through his early life. This novel about a resilient boy develops empathy for families and children so frequently dismissed in the national discourse. It is a masterful American story.
– Lia Lent from Wordsworth Books in Little Rock, AR

A novel drenched in sorrow, survival, and possibly sobriety. The later never to be a foregone conclusion as anyone with the fresh wounds or long-healed scars of addiction can attest to. What I am certain of is Barbara Kingsolver has written a masterpiece of 21st Century Appalachia.
– Berkley McDaniel from Reclaimed Bookstore DBA Shelf Life Books in Richmond, VA

Trust by Hernan DiazTrust by Hernan Diaz

Reading Trust feels like seeing a flower bloom: as it opens more and more, it grows in captivating brilliance, and, at its core, reveals a powerful mediation about power and the very nature of truth. The elegance of the style is transportive. With his second novel Diaz proves to be a master of subversion and humanism and one of my favorite writers.
– Luis Correa from Avid Bookshop in Athens, GA

Reading Hernan Diaz’s Trust is like watching that one Olympic sport that appears to be a triathlon but then the athletes start doing archery and fencing–just when you think you know what you’re reading, it becomes something even more impressive and unexpected. I’m obsessed.
– Lindsay Lynch from Parnassus Books in Nashville, TN

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Read This Now!

Recommended by Southern indies…

Summer on Sag Harbor by Sunny Hostin

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Summer on Sag Harbor by Sunny Hostin
William Morrow / May 2023


More Reviews from The Main Street Books

I’ve been impatiently waiting for the second book in Sunny Hostin’s Oak Bluff series! Summer on the Bluffs left me wanting more of the drama, secrets, and jealousy from the three goddaughters of the iconic Ama and Omar. This is Olivia’s story, set once again in an exclusive Black beach community in the North East, this time it’s The Hamptons. I’m sure it won’t disappoint!

Reviewed by Andrea Jasmin, Main Street Books in Davidson, North Carolina

Good Men by Arnon Grunberg

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Good Men by Arnon Grunberg
Open Letter / May 2023


More Reviews from Avid Bookshop

For a book that claims to “chart the downfall” of its protagonist, I knew the ride I was potentially in for. However, the end of the book seems to kick the reader down a notch as well. The trainwreck rubbernecker in me really loved the first 3/4ths of this one: just-a-guy, content with his simple job, generic work friends, paint-by-most-numbers marriage and run-of-the-offbrand-mill child(ren), marking off each on his failure checklist. These tragedies are handled in such off kilter ways, laced with a stealthy wit, to keep the story fresh and engaging without the need to step it up to a fast pace. And though I didn’t NOT like the final quarter, where people are just plain disgusting (the reader just as lackadaisically unobservant as our “hero” to the clues displayed throughout), the final lap just felt like the author rubbing your face in the filth of life. But then again, the book’s a self-proclaimed downfall chart. Please watch your feet as you exit the ride.

Reviewed by Ian McCord, Avid Bookshop in Athens, Georgia



Bookseller Buzz

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Spotlight on: Homebodies by Tembe Denton-Hurst

 

Tembe Denton-Hurst, photo credit Emma Trimm

I went from believing I was an undisciplined person to writing every single morning before work for an hour and eventually finishing a manuscript. I had to start telling a different story about myself because it took some level of consistency and commitment to be able to achieve that. It was also incredibly vulnerable. There was no magazine to hide behind that people already loved and trusted. It was just me and my words. ―Tembe Denton-Hurst, Interview, Morning Person

What booksellers are saying about Homebodies

Homebodies by Tembe Denton-Hurst
  • A searing yet quiet novel that succeeds as a commentary on the racism ingrained within media content, as a relationship drama, and as a story of protagonist Mickey’s path to self-discovery and self-respect. Mickey is a completely believable and sympathetic character whose depression and every insecurity Denton-Hurst represented convincingly. And Lex and Mickey’s relationship troubles were handled so maturely and with such detail, I never really knew whose side to take, which is just what I wanted. A very full novel, but one that executes its various intentions very well.
      ― Sam Edge from Epilogue Books Chocolate Brews in Chapel Hill, NC | Buy from Epilogue Books

  • Homebodies is a fresh, relatable debut about Mickey, a writer whose glamorous position at a media outlet is taken from her with little warning, prompting her to express her feelings about racism in the industry on Twitter–to little response. In the wake of her "failure", Mickey struggles to keep up with her life in New York, feeling like a burden to her partner and a disappointment to her community. Seeking a break, Mickey returns home to Maryland to recalibrate and ends up questioning the life she’s created for herself, especially after running into an old flame. Funny, vibrant, and real!
      ―Julia Lewis from Fountain Bookstore in Richmond, VA | Buy from Fountain Bookstore

  • Tremendous! Mickey’s coming-of-age story is equal parts career decisions and relationship choices. She’s a Black woman in the publishing industry, a writer, who is also a queer woman. Mickey’s story will truly speak to those two populations but will be so relatable to many. And she touches on body image things. You’ll nod along, get teary-eyed, and oh … not to be forgotten, prepare to be heavily entertained with the intimate details! She checks all the boxes of a great book. I’m an official fan of Tembe!
      ―Andrea Jasmin from Main Street Books in Davidson, NC | Buy from Main Street Books

  • I absolutely loved this book! The attention to detail was immaculate. I loved the raw and touching emotion that Tembe Denton-Hurst portrayed. I was rooting for Mickey the entire time through her ups and downs. Denton-Hurst is a beautiful writer and cannot wait for more!
      ―Brooke Parrish from Page 158 Books in Wake Forest, NC | Buy from Page 158 Books

  • This debut novel is AMAZING and I want to put it on everyone’s radar. Tembe Denton-Hurst is a young talent to watch. A smart and incisive examination of being a young Black woman in the workplace, but also a story of returning home, growing apart from childhood friends, and family expectations and first loves. It is so clever and self-aware and I enjoyed every page.
      ―Kate Storhoff from Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, NC | Buy from Bookmarks

About Tembe Denton-Hurst

Tembe Denton-Hurst is a staff writer at New York magazine’s The Strategist and has written for Nylon magazine, them, and Elle. When she’s not writing, Tembe can be found on her couch in Queens, New York, where she lives with her partner and their two cats, Stella and Dakota.

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Pieces of Blue by Holly Goldberg Sloan

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Pieces of Blue by Holly Goldberg Sloan
 Flatiron Books / May 2023


More Reviews from The Country Bookshop

Holly Goldberg Sloan has written the PERFECT beach book. With a little family drama, a handsome stranger who can rewire a crumbling hotel, a recent widow trying to help her three children find their place in the world, resident chickens, a beach ( of course) and a wicked twist that strikes out of the blue, Pieces of Blue begs to be in every beach bag this summer.

Reviewed by Angie Tally, The Country Bookshop in Southern Pines, North Carolina



Abortion by Pauline Harmange

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Abortion by Pauline Harmange
Scribe US / May 2023


More Reviews from E. Shaver, bookseller

This is exactly what we need more of in the ongoing discussion around abortion; nuanced personal accounts of abortions. While Harmange makes no apologies for her decision to terminate her pregnancy, she does describe in clear detail the grief that accompanied her decision and the shame she experienced. The decision to end a pregnancy is never made lightly even when it is absolutely the right choice and it should not be an experience filled with shame that goes untalked about.

Reviewed by Melissa Taylor, E. Shaver, Bookseller in Savannah, Georgia

No Perfect Places by Steven Salvatore

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No Perfect Places by Steven Salvatore
Bloomsbury YA / May 2023


More Reviews from Bookmiser

Another new book by Salvatore and another five-star read. They’re three for three with this reader! Twins Alex and Olly lost a lot when their father went to prison. Their mom works all the time at three jobs, and most of their friends abandoned them. But they’re keeping together. At least, until their dad dies. Suddenly Alex is spiraling and Olly doesn’t know how to help her. Add in the complication of a half-brother they knew nothing about and it’s a recipe for disaster. Can they pull themselves out of this mess before one or all of them self-destruct?

Reviewed by Jennifer Jones, Bookmiser in Marietta, Georgia

Simon and the Better Bone by Corey R. Tabor

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Simon and the Better Bone by Corey R. Tabor
Balzer + Bray / May 2023


More Reviews from Bookmarks

Just like Tabor’s wonderful Mel Fell, his newest picture book Simon and the Better Bone is a delight that plays with the very format of a book itself. A whimsical retelling of an Aesop fable, Simon gets into an argument with his reflection and soon learns where jealousy can lead. Vibrantly illustrated and simply told, Simon and the Better Bone is a perfect read-a-loud book!

Reviewed by Caleb Masters, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Elden Ring: The Road to the Erdtree, Vol. 1 by Nikiichi Tobita

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Elden Ring: The Road to the Erdtree, Vol. 1 by Nikiichi Tobita
Yen Press / May 2023


More Reviews from Oxford Exchange

I knew that someone was writing a comedy manga around the world of Elden Ring, but I didn’t know it was going to hit this level of scale! Following the journey that everyone who played the game also had, except this tale takes the world and twists the situations into joking situations. Very clever idea. I hope this is able to be continued until the conclusion.

Reviewed by Ethan Davis, Oxford Exchange in Tampa, Florida

Read This Next!

Books on the horizon: Forthcoming favorites from Southern indies…

Chain Gang All Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah

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Chain Gang All Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah
 Pantheon / May 2023


More Reviews from Novel.

A May 2023 Read This Next! Title

Crushing like a hammer and sharp as a scythe, Chain-Gang All-Stars is a master class of brutality drenched in grace. From the first page, Adjei-Brenyah exposes our inherent complicity and demands a good, long look inward, and asks what we’re gonna do about it. It’s powerful, exciting, horrifying, and an utterly outstanding feat of contemporary literature. It’s speculative fiction that feels so close to reality that it’s shockingly unsurprising and brilliantly difficult to endure. Damn.

Reviewed by Carly Crawford, Novel. in Memphis, Tennessee

Southern Bestsellers

What’s popular this week with Southern Readers.

The Covenant of Water  Tell Anybody The Secrets I Told You All the Light We Cannot See
Lessons from North Carolina Wishtree

[ See the full list ]

Parting Thought

“If you would tell me the heart of a man, tell me not what he reads, but what he rereads..”
— François Mauriac

Publisher: The Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance / siba@sibaweb.com
Editor: Nicki Leone / nicki@sibaweb.com
Advertising: Linda-Marie Barrett / lindamarie@sibaweb.com
The Southern Bookseller Review is a project of the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance, in support of independent bookstores in the South | SIBA | 51 Pleasant Ridge Drive | Asheville, NC 28805

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The Southern Bookseller Review 5/2/23

The Southern Bookseller Review Newsletter for the week of May 2, 2023

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The week of May 2, 2023

Honoring Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

“Don’t deny the past. Remember everything. If you’re bitter, be bitter. Cry it out! Scream! Denial is gangrene.” — Joy Kogawa

May is Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Read and amplify Asian and Pacific Islander voices this month, beyond this month, and always. We celebrate in May to commemorate the first Japanese immigrants to the United States on May 7, 1843, and the completion of the transcontinental railroad, built with the labor of Chinese workers, on May 10, 1869.

Indie booksellers delight in discovering great stories from under-represented writers and putting them into the hands of avid readers. The Southern Bookseller Review showcases a wide range of AAPI books that Southern indie booksellers loved: Read books by AAPI authors

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Read This Now!

Recommended by Southern indies…

The True Love Experiment by Christina Lauren

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The True Love Experiment by Christina Lauren
Gallery Books / May 2023


More Reviews from The Violet Fox Bookshop

You’ve heard of book boyfriends, but have you heard of book best friends? Let me introduce you to Fizzy Chen – wickedly smart, unabashedly sex positive, and a bit lost in life. I absolutely adored Fizzy. She is wit and feminism and courage – all with an extra sparkle. She may not have had the best luck in relationships lately, but all that’s about to change…I think I made more noises reading this book than any other – laughing out loud, snorting from laughing so hard, squealing at the cuteness, yelling "WHAT!", and telling my husband approximately 1500 times how amazing this book is! I laughed, I cried, and I laughed while crying.

The True Love Experiment by Christina Lauren is the spicy, hopeful, romance that will leave you bursting with joy.

Reviewed by Emily Lessig, The Violet Fox Bookshop in Virginia Beach, Virginia

The Collected Regrets of Clover by Mikki Brammer

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The Collected Regrets of Clover by Mikki Brammer
St. Martin’s Press / May 2023


More Reviews from A Novel Escape

Clover, our main, character is already a bit of a loner when she experiences her first death at an early age when her teacher dies suddenly while reading Peter Rabbit. She also experiences the death of her parents and is moved to a new city to live with her grandpa who raises her. Shunned by others, because of our society’s fear of death and the fact that no one ever speaks about it, Clover becomes even more of a loner. She finds that her job makes it hard for her to meet and keep friends as speaking of death makes people extremely uncomfortable. This book definitely had me thinking and reflecting on my life, made me cry, and I walked away loving the characters and rooting for Clover feeling very happy with the way the book ended. I really enjoyed the originality of our main ‘ job as a death doula it very much intrigued me and peaked my curiosity to pick this book up definitely would recommend.

Reviewed by Angela Hudson, A Novel Escape in Franklin, North Carolina



Bookseller Buzz

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Spotlight on: With My Little Eye by Joshilyn Jackson

 

Joshilyn Jackson, photo credit Scott Winn

I think it is my theater background. I went to school for that and I have been trained to get into other heads and trying to inhabit other spaces and to fully imagine those experiences in empathetic ways. There are all kinds of work that you do as an actor for that. Oddly enough, if I’m writing a play or an essay, those come from a very different part of my brain than a novel. The piece of my brain that heats up when I’m working on a novel is the same piece that heats up when I’m acting. ―Joshilyn Jackson, Interview, Wraparound South

What booksellers are saying about With My Little Eye

With My Little Eye by Joshilyn Jackson
  • Joshilyn Jackson has long been one of the leading novelists of the 21st Century South, but her recent turn towards well-plotted thrillers that pivot on the interpersonal politics of well to do Southerners and the love of parents for their children (however their family came to be) continues in what might be her best novel yet. Jackson mercilessly exploits the rapid gentrification of Atlanta and the explosion of the film industry here to create a familiar yet fresh setting for her story. She also uses our constant nostalgia for the pop culture of our past to weave her tale of a former teen (well, maybe not so much) second-tier star with a stalker who follows her across the country. Huge props to Jackson in her work crafting Honor, an incredibly realistic tween on the spectrum. Honor all but leaps off the page.
      ― Tracie Harris from The Book House in Smyrna, Georgia | Buy from The Book House

  • Jackson’s newest thriller tells us about Meribel Mills, an actress that has moved as far away from home as she can get to avoid a stalker. She thinks she and her daughter are safe in their new home but when the letters – with their distinguished scented markers – arrive at her new place, she can’t believe it. Who can Meribel trust and how far will she have to go to escape the stalker forever and ensure the safety of her family? Fans of her thrillers will eat this one up!
      ―Andrea Richardson from Fountain Bookstore in Richmond, Virginia | Buy from Fountain Bookstore

  • With her newest novel, Jackson gets even twistier with her plots as we read about an actress who moves across the country to escape a creepy stalker who seems to be escalating. Meribel Mills had a popular part in a 90s sitcom and has had steady, though not high profile, work since then. But now she’s got a stalker sending her scary mail and she has a child to protect. So, even though she said she’d never set foot back in Georgia, she moves there from LA for a new TV show. But will that be enough to escape her tormentor?
      ―Jennifer Jones from Bookmiser, Inc. in Marietta, Georgia | Buy from Bookmiser

About Joshilyn Jackson

Joshilyn Jackson is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of ten other novels, including gods in Alabama and Never Have I Ever. Her books have been translated into more than a dozen languages. A former actor, Jackson is also an award-winning audiobook narrator. She lives in Decatur, Georgia, with her husband and their two children.

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Cousins by Aurora Venturini

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Cousins by Aurora Venturini
 Soft Skull / May 2023


More Reviews from Avid Bookshop

My kinda fare: a colorful palette of characters reminiscent of school days when you mush all the cafeteria food together on the tray then dare your neighbor to eat it. Blush-worthy moments galore, like being shot from an early-oeuvre John Waters canon, to land in a Leonora Carrington net. A gourmet gag-fest, even more chokingly delicious in hindsight.

Reviewed by Ian McCord, Avid Bookshop in Athens, Georgia



How to Think Like a Woman by Regan Penaluna

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How to Think Like a Woman by Regan Penaluna
Grove Press / March 2023


More Reviews from Union Ave Books.

As a woman in philosophy, not only did How to Think Like a Woman challenge me, but it gave me an overwhelming sense of being known. Regan Penaluna reclaims the conversation surrounding "the problem of women" with an honesty and self-awareness that is unmatched.

Reviewed by Union Ave Books in Knoxville, Tennessee

Fake Dates and Mooncakes by Sher Lee

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Fake Dates and Mooncakes by Sher Lee
Underlined / May 2023


More Reviews from Fiction Addiction

Dylan’s life revolves around his family — helping his aunt in their Chinese-Singaporian takeout restaurant, spending time with his cousins, remembering his mom. Then Theo comes into his life, with his private school and Ferrari and uber-wealthy family. The two are nothing alike, made even more obvious when Theo convinces Dylan to be his fake date at a family wedding and Dylan gets a look at the drama in Theo’s family. But there’s something real between them, and Dylan finds it harder and harder to ignore it. A super-cute romance with big YA Crazy Rich Asian vibes. And you’ll want to be sure to have snacks handy because the food sounds amazing, and you’ll definitely get hungry!

Reviewed by Melissa Oates, Fiction Addiction in Greenville, South Carolina

Mother of Sharks by Melissa Cristina Márquez

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Mother of Sharks by Melissa Cristina Márquez
Penguin Workshop / May 2023


More Reviews from Main Street Books

Magical and imaginative, this autobiographical picture book follows a young girl’s explorations under the sea as she observes marine life and our critical need for marine conservation. I loved that Mother of Sharks features a Hispanic woman in STEM!

Reviewed by Jessica Nock, Main Street Books in Davidson, North Carolina

Wolf Girl and Black Prince, Vol. 1 by Ayuko Hatta

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Wolf Girl and Black Prince, Vol. 1 by Ayuko Hatta
VIZ Media LLC / May 2023


More Reviews from Quail Ridge Books

I watched this anime several years ago, and I have to say they did an excellent job adapting the manga. I don’t know why I enjoy it so much — the love interest is incredibly toxic, and the main character is a total mess, yet I find myself rooting for them anyway.

Reviewed by Amber Brown, Quail Ridge Books in Raleigh, North Carolina

Read This Next!

Books on the horizon: Forthcoming favorites from Southern indies…

The Secret Book of Flora Lea by Patti Callahan Henry

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The Secret Book of Flora Lea by Patti Callahan Henry
 Atria Books / May 2023

Adult FictionHistoricalWorld War II
More Reviews from Snail on the Wall

A May 2023 Read This Next! Title

What if a book, written from an imagined childhood story, could unlock mysteries of the past and reunite lost loved ones? That’s precisely what happens in The Secret Book of Flora Lea, and Henry lets it all unfold with expert storytelling. This is a beautiful tale of the powers of stories and love. I loved how this book highlights the use of stories to provide comfort in chaos and create bonds that transcend distance and time. I fell deeply in love with Whisperwood and the characters of this lovely novel. This book is one that, upon finishing it, you close it gently, hold it close to your heart, wipe your tears, and smile before you set it down.

Reviewed by Jess Depew, The Snail On the Wall in Huntsville, Alabama

Southern Bestsellers

What’s popular this week with Southern Readers.

Silver Alert Sweet Enough: A Dessert Cookbook Four Winds
Rooted: Life at the Crossroads of Science, Nature, and Spirit The World and Everything In It

[ See the full list ]

Parting Thought

“Each book was a world unto itself, and in it I took refuge.”
— Alberto Manguel

Publisher: The Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance / siba@sibaweb.com
Editor: Nicki Leone / nicki@sibaweb.com
Advertising: Linda-Marie Barrett / lindamarie@sibaweb.com
The Southern Bookseller Review is a project of the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance, in support of independent bookstores in the South | SIBA | 51 Pleasant Ridge Drive | Asheville, NC 28805

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The Southern Bookseller Review 4/25/23

The Southern Bookseller Review Newsletter for the week of April 25, 2023

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The week of April 25, 2023

"Poetry brings people together."

Ada Limon

Ada Limón the 24th U.S. Poet Laureate, has been appointed for a two-year second term. Carla Hayden, the Librarian of Congress, asked Limon to continue in the position to continue her work "to broaden and promote poetry to reach new audiences."

Limón’s priority during her term as Poet Laureate has been to make poetry accessible.

“Everywhere I have traveled during my first term, both nationally and internationally, I’ve been reminded that poetry brings people together. I am looking forward to continuing the important work of celebrating what poetry can do.” –Ada Limón

What Southern indie booksellers think:

The Hurting Kind by Ada Limón
(List Price: $22, Milkweed Editions, 9781639550494,  May 2022)

The Hurting Kind by Ada Limón

Poems of movement, of worry, of a recognized grief and the subsequent small joys that can bloom out of dirt like small flower heads…Limón never, ever disappoints when it comes to understanding the great and terrible spectrum of emotions that is our cross to bear.

–Reviewed by Aimee Keeble from Main Street Books in Davidson, North Carolina | Buy the Book

 

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Read This Now!

Recommended by Southern indies…

Closer Baby Closer by Savannah Brown

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Closer Baby Closer by Savannah Brown
Not a Cult / February 2023


More Reviews from Fountain Bookstore

Those who spent a lot of time on the spoken word poetry side of Youtube in the 2010s will recognize Savannah Brown, who’s been bearing her soul for the internet for almost a decade. I was happy to find with this collection, that Brown’s poems have matured while maintaining the same vulnerability, humor, and unabashed desire for attention. Written in free verse and unconventional format, Brown delivers intimacy for the digital age, capturing the feelings of (among other things) being loved and in-love, jealousy and guilt. Skillfully, sensually written and easily digestible!.

Reviewed by Julia Lewis, Fountain Bookstore in Richmond, Virginia

The Soulmate by Sally Hepworth

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The Soulmate by Sally Hepworth
St. Martin’s Press / April 2023


More Reviews from Fiction Addiction

The Soulmate is about two couples, Pippa and Gabe and Amanda and Max. It is a story of family, mental illness, and what it means to truly love someone. The riveting thriller is told from the viewpoints of the two wives, both in the past and the present. Pippa, who is very much alive, is trying to understand what has happened and what she can do to protect her family. Amanda, who is dead is trying to discover exactly what happened that led to her death. One of the best domestic thrillers I have read in ages, the short chapters make you want to read “just one more” so you can find out what has happened and what is going to happen.

Reviewed by Nancy McFarlane, Fiction Addiction in Greenville, South Carolina



Bookseller Buzz

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Spotlight on: Salvage the World by Michael Farris Smith

 

Michael Farris Smith, photo credit Michael Farris Smith

"What you see in the opening pages is the thing that kind of just sticks in my head that I can’t get rid of….this image of a woman standing staring at thunder clouds, with a kid on her hip and the wind blowing and dust in her hair. Something just grabbed hold of me about that image: who she was, what she was doing, what kind of trouble they might be in.” ―Michael Farris Smith, Interview, Poisoned Pen Bookstore

What booksellers are saying about Salvage the World

Salvage the World by Michael Farris Smith
  • Phenomenal! I read this book in one day. Could not put it down, Very gritty, realistic portrayal of a young woman who ran away with the bad boy, leaving her Dad. Now alone with a young child to protect she must flee her home. With bullets blazing and a dead body in the back of the car she stole she must go back and have her Dad help. Can she repair her relationship with her Dad? Can she escape the men after her.
      ― Suzanne Lucey from Page 158 Books in Wake Forest, North Carolina | Buy from Page 158 Books

  • A gripping tale that grabs you by the throat and doesn’t let go until the end.
      ―Rae Ann Parker from Parnassus Books in Nashville, Tennessee | Buy from Parnassus Books

  • Salvage This World presents an apocalyptic vision of a hurricane ravaged south. A perfect setting to test the mettle of an estranged family forced to reconcile all the pain and anger they’ve accumulated over the years in order to escape the coming storm, both literal and metaphorical. Brutal, unforgiving, and utterly compelling to the very end!
      ―Todd Mullins, Quail Ridge Books in Raleigh, North Carolina | Buy from Quail Ridge Books

About Michael Farris Smith

Michael Farris Smith is an award-winning writer whose novels have appeared on Best of the Year lists with Esquire, NPR, Southern LivingGarden & GunBook Riot, and numerous other outlets. He has also written the feature-film adaptations of his novels Desperation Road and The Fighter, titled for the screen as Rumble Through the Dark. He lives in Oxford, Mississippi, with his wife and daughters.

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The Insatiable Volt Sisters by Rachel Eve Moulton

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The Insatiable Volt Sisters by Rachel Eve Moulton
 MCD x FSG Originals / May 2023

Adult FictionFantasyFictionHorrorLiterary FictionParanormalSupernaturalThrillers
More Reviews from Novel.

The Insatiable Volt Sisters is straight-ahead horror, but it looks deeply into struggles of defining one’s own legacy despite a troubled heritage. Told from the perspective of four very different women, Moulton’s characters are flawed and struggling, but also courageous and unrelenting in their choice to face darkness and despair head-on. This book is eerie and mysterious…and I could feel Fowler Island dripping off the pages as the sisters reveal/fight the beast within.

Reviewed by Stuart McCommon, Novel. in Memphis, Tennessee



Planta Sapiens by Paco Calvo

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Planta Sapiens by Paco Calvo
W. W. Norton & Company / March 2023


More Reviews from E. Shaver.

In Planta Sapiens, author Paco Calvo invites readers to challenge the notion of plants as static, reactionary organisms devoid of any agency or cognition. Through a mix of historical context, narrative, and research, Paco investigates the microscopic chemical reactions that drive plant biology and behavior – processes that he and a small contingent of his fellows believe may actually point to plant sentience. While the research findings are thought-provoking, I found myself more interested in the personal journey taken by Calvo to shift his own perspective on plant biology, as well as the significant push back his thinking has received from the greater scientific community. Overall, I found this book entertaining, though I suspect that it may only find an audience with those who are already interested in the subject matter.

Reviewed by Elliot Ambrose, E. Shaver, Bookseller in Savannah, Georgia

Blood Debts by Terry J. Benton-Walker

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Blood Debts by Terry J. Benton-Walker
Tor Teen / April 2023


More Reviews from Bookmarks

Set in NOLA, this book is full of intrigue, magic, messy family drama and mystery. This book tackles, homophobia, white supremacy, and race in a way I’ve never seen before. I love seeing Chris and Clem’s character development as they find themselves and step into their power. I enjoyed every twist and turn and it kept me on the edge of my seat. Loved it!

Reviewed by Keeshia Jacklitch, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Leeva at Last by Sara Pennypacker

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Leeva at Last by Sara Pennypacker
Balzer + Bray / March 2023


More Reviews from Fountain Bookstore

Leeva at Last is the reason I will recommend "kids" books to people of any age. Such a charming, feel-good story of a girl named Leeva, and the journey she goes on to change her community. The illustrations and Sara Pennypacker’s delightful humor tie this precious, yet important book together. Reading this made me feel like a kid again, I cant wait for everyone to enjoy this magical book.

Reviewed by Grace Sullivan, Fountain Bookstore in Richmond, Virginia

The Princess and the Grilled Cheese Sandwich (A Graphic Novel) by Deya Muniz

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The Princess and the Grilled Cheese Sandwich (A Graphic Novel) by Deya Muniz
Little, Brown Ink / May 2023

Comics & Graphic NovelsLGBTQYoung Adult Fiction
More Reviews from Story on the Square

Actual chills at the ending of this novel. ACTUAL. CHILLS. Cam and Brie are the absolute cutest in this story. Cam cannot inherit as a girl, so she happily becomes Count Cam and moves to where she’ll only ever be known as a boy after her father dies. But of course she falls in love with the princess herself! After much fashion and adorable hi-jinks, we have an exciting happy story. This is perfect for fans of The Prince and the DressmakerHeartstopper, and the classic Nimona. Don’t miss out on this darling tale that’s a mix of Victorian and modern age and beautiful artwork.

Reviewed by Katlin Kerrison, Story on the Square in McDonough, Alabama

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Books on the horizon: Forthcoming favorites from Southern indies…

In the Lives of Puppets by TJ Klune

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In the Lives of Puppets by TJ Klune
 Tor Books / April 2023

Adult FictionContemporaryFantasyFictionGayHumorousLGBTQ+
More Reviews from A Novel Escape

An April 2023 Read This Next! Title

An old man and brilliant inventor finds a run down cottage in a forest and decides to live there, far away from the rest of the world. One day he is surprised when a distraught couple who seem to be on the run leave a young boy in his care and ask him to raise the child. Two decades later, the tender-hearted, shy, and brilliant boy finds a broken AI robot and decides to repair it. Shortly after, the world descends upon his family in their forest idyll, forcing the young man to leave on a quest to the world beyond. A place of great danger and risk; but he is accompanied by a small crew of fiercely loyal friends who are determined to help him find what they are looking for. This novel holds all the beautiful, tender sentimentality, found family dynamics, loving humor, and self-discovery that I’ve come to expect from TJ Klune. I absolutely fell in love with every character in this motley crew of creatures. I laughed out loud frequently at the antics of Nurse Ratched and Rambo. I cried when things got tough and painful. I feared for the sweet young man who is trying to find his way. It has all the best parts of a huggable book for me.

Reviewed by Elizabeth DeWandeler, A Novel Escape in Franklin, North Carolina

Southern Bestsellers

What’s popular this week with Southern Readers.

The Trackers You Could Make This Place Beautiful Daisy Jones & The Six
Dopamine Nation A Door in the Dark

[ See the full list ]

Parting Thought

“Literature is the art of discovering something extraordinary about ordinary people, and saying with ordinary words something extraordinary.”
— Boris Pasternak

Publisher: The Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance / siba@sibaweb.com
Editor: Nicki Leone / nicki@sibaweb.com
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The Southern Bookseller Review is a project of the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance, in support of independent bookstores in the South | SIBA | 51 Pleasant Ridge Drive | Asheville, NC 28805

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The Southern Bookseller Review: Why Poetry?

The Southern Bookseller Review Newsletter for April, 2023

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The Southern Bookseller Review: A Book for Every Reader

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April 2023

Why Poetry?

Poetry

This month’s special edition of The Southern Bookseller Review celebrates our impulse to write poetry, the form of storytelling closest to a heartbeat.

“Poetry is nearer to vital truth than history.” -Plato

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Read This Now!

Recommended by Southern indies…

World by Ana Luísa Amaral

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World by Ana Luísa Amaral
New Directions / April 2023

Adult FictionEuropeanPoetrySpanish & Portuguese
More Reviews from Fountain Bookstore

For poetry on joy, wonder, and passion found through the observation of nature, look no further than World, a posthumous work by Portuguese poet Ana Luisa Amaral. Filled with odes and paens to spiders, magpies, and centipedes, World reads like a cheerful wave goodbye to a beautiful planet. Each translated poem sits alongside the original Portuguese, and through both we enter a unique vision of the tiny garden growing in Amaral’s heart. Grand and affirming, Amaral returns to the spring of life with the clarity of winter.

Reviewed by Amanda Depperschmidt, Fountain Bookstore in Richmond, Virginia


Bookseller Buzz

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Spotlight on: Above Ground by Clint Smith

 

Clint Smith, photo credit Carletta Girma

Most of these poems were written as the things were happening, because for me, poetry is the act of paying attention. It is both the creation of art and the mechanism through which I do my best thinking. For me, the poems are time capsules, little archives that allow me to capture a moment or a feeling. And excavating the granularity of those moments makes me more appreciative of those moments as a whole, so the next time a version of that happens, I’m able to more fully be there with it. The period of time during which your kids are both physically able and emotionally willing to have a dance party with you in the kitchen is pretty brief. I think writing poetry helps me hold onto those moments in the same way that a photograph does." ―Clint Smith, Interview, Esquire

What booksellers are saying about Above Ground

Above Ground by Clint Smith
  • Above Ground is a poetry collection that is a heartfelt ode to fatherhood. These poems are imbued with the love, joy, wonder, and uncertainties that accompany being a parent. They also delve into family and ancestry, history and race, turmoil, and above all, hope. This is an important collection that I will highly recommend.
      ― Damita Nocton, The Country Bookshop in Southern Pines, North Carolina | Buy from The Country Bookshop

  • These poems swing wide between specific moments from early fatherhood to indictments of America’s reluctance to make good on its promises. Smith is candid, earnest, and plain in his odes to his wife, children, parents, in-laws, and grandparents. He is artful, searing, and bold. These seemingly simple poems speak volumes.
      ―Adah Fitzgerald, Main Street Books in Davidson, North Carolina | Buy from Main Street Books

  • I don’t think of myself as someone who’s good at reading poetry, but Clint Smith makes me think I might be. His poetry is so easy to read but still forces me to slow down and think about each line. I loved that the poems in this book are mainly reflections and observations on fatherhood. It is a gift to see his love for his children on the page. A lovely book that I’m sure will be treasured by many for years and decades to come.
      ―Kate Storhoff, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina | Buy from Bookmarks

About Clint Smith

Clint Smith is a staff writer at The Atlantic. He is the author of the narrative nonfiction book, How the Word Is Passed: A Reckoning With the History of Slavery Across America, which was a #1 New York Times bestseller, winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award for Nonfiction, the Hillman Prize for Book Journalism, and selected by the New York Times as one of the 10 best books of 2021. He is also the author of the poetry collection Counting Descent, which won the 2017 Literary Award for Best Poetry Book from the Black Caucus of the American Library Association and was a finalist for an NAACP Image Award. His writing has been published in The New Yorker, The New York Times Magazine, Poetry Magazine, The Paris Review. and elsewhere. Clint received his B.A. in English from Davidson College and a Ph.D. in Education from Harvard University.

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The Wonder Paradox by Jennifer Michael Hecht

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The Wonder Paradox by Jennifer Michael Hecht
Farrar, Straus and Giroux / March 2023


More Reviews from Underground Books

In this warm and wise invitation to a poetry-enriched life, atheist poet and historian Jennifer Michael Hecht shows us how to gather our own collection of poems for daily practices, holidays, celebrations, and even emergencies, all through exploring how world religions, art, and science address the subject of each chapter, introducing a relevant poem, and offering a poetry lesson—from alliteration to Japanese list poems to Romanticism and beyond. 

Reviewed by Megan Bell, Underground Books in Carrollton, Georgia

Short Film Starring My Beloved’s Red Bronco by K. Iver

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Short Film Starring My Beloved’s Red Bronco by K. Iver
Milkweed Editions / January 2023


More Reviews from Epilogue Books

This is a collection about grief, a persistent grief so steady, so patient, that it grows dear. Iver’s words are cinematic, their poems traceable stories by themselves that resonate and interact with each poem that follows it. I think A Medium Performs Your Visit and Who Is This Grief For? are the highlights of the collection. "My acupuncturist says/ you enjoy this, don’t you./ She’s talking about my grief. I say who else will."

Reviewed by Sam Edge, Epilogue Books Chocolate Brews in Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Couplets by Maggie Millner

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Couplets by Maggie Millner
 Farrar, Straus and Giroux / February 2023


More Reviews from Fountain Bookstore

Couplets is a fresh and modern poetry collection that delves into polyamory, identity, and queerness amongst other themes. A love story written in stanzas, but reads like a novel or a short story, I truly cannot get enough of this. We follow one woman’s coming out and the love she yearns and searches for. A fantastic meditation not just on queerness, but also relationships as a whole, I cant recommend it enough.

Reviewed by Grace Sullivan, Fountain Bookstore in Richmond, Virginia

Animals in Pants by Suzy Levinson

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Animals in Pants by Suzy Levinson
Cameron Kids / April 2023


More Reviews from The Country Bookshop

Practically Perfect for Poetry month, this pants filled picture book will tickle the funny bone of preschoolers and parents alike!

Reviewed by Angie Tally, The Country Bookshop in Southern Pines, North Carolina


Parting Thought

“A poet’s work … to name the unnameable, to point at frauds, to take sides, start arguments, shape the world, and stop it from going to sleep.”
—Salman Rushdie

Publisher: The Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance / siba@sibaweb.com
Editor: Nicki Leone / nicki@sibaweb.com
Advertising: Linda-Marie Barrett / lindamarie@sibaweb.com
The Southern Bookseller Review is a project of the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance, in support of independent bookstores in the South | SIBA | 51 Pleasant Ridge Drive | Asheville, NC 28805

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The Southern Bookseller Review 4/18/23

The Southern Bookseller Review Newsletter for the week of April 18, 2023

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The week of April 18, 2023

Looking forward to Independent Bookstore Day

Independent Bookstore Day 2023

Indie Bookstore Day marks its 10th Anniversary on Saturday, April 29th, 2023. Always held the last Saturday in April, IBD is a one-day national party that takes place at indie bookstores across the country. Every store is unique and independent, and every party is different. But in addition to authors, live music, cupcakes, scavenger hunts, kids events, art tables, readings, barbecues, contests, and other fun stuff, there are exclusive books and literary items that you can only get on that day.

In some areas bookstores have come together to celebrate together. "Bookstore Crawls" are being held in Charlotte, Atlanta, New Orleans, and in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Bookstores which sell audiobooks via Libro.fm may also be part of the "Golden Ticket Game" — yes, an actual Golden Ticket a la Willy Wonka which entitles the finder to 12 audiobook credits. The tickets are hidden at indie bookstores across the country.

Other things stores are doing: A Short Story Pizza Party, Make Fairy Crowns and Wizard Hats, Dress up as your favorite book character, Store Gift Cards. Click here to see a map of participating bookstores but if your local bookshop isn’t listed, check with them anyway. Many bookstores have special events planned even though they aren’t participating officially.

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Read This Now!

Recommended by Southern indies…

The Path to Kindness by James Crews

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The Path to Kindness by James Crews
Storey Publishing, LLC / April 2023


More Reviews from Fountain Bookstore

While I love poetry, I will admit to being a beginning reader still finding my way and what I like in the genre. Some of my favorite contemporary poets (and pretty much all of the dead ones) are so depressing though. Beautiful and powerful, but depressing. The Path To Kindness was an unexpected discovery! This anthology explores the themes of connection and joy. Uplifting and accessible from diverse voices, I turn to it often and have given many copies to friends.

Reviewed by Kelly Justice, Fountain Bookstore in Richmond, Virginia

Camp Zero by Michelle Min Sterling

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Camp Zero by Michelle Min Sterling
Atria Books / April 2023


More Reviews from The Violet Fox Bookshop

Michelle Min Sterling’s debut novel, Camp Zero, imagines the world in the year 2050. Climate change has made much of the world uninhabitable, natural disasters are more prevalent and more dangerous, the wealthy are wealthier, the poor are still poor, and white men are still trying to colonize land belonging to indigenous people with the foolish notion that they can make it better by "civilizing" it. Sounds pretty bleak, right? It is, but there are glimmers of hope and beauty too. While some people in the future are still choosing money and power, others are choosing love and community.

Camp Zero is the kind of dystopian novel that is both terrifying because of how plausible it is and incredibly important because it explores how we might change that future world. It also asks deep questions, like who will survive and what will it take? And will doing what it takes to survive just make us monsters in the end? Amidst the questions, one thing is clear – we must open our eyes. This story is a road sign to our blind spots, whether it be hope blinding us to reality, privilege blinding us to our own malice, or grief and fear blinding us to love. 

Camp Zero is a collection of deeply personal stories set in a world on the verge of collapse. If you’re hungry for the next piece of dystopian literature, Camp Zero will feed that craving. This book will swallow you whole and spit you back out again with a new perspective.

Reviewed by Emily Lessig, The Violet Fox Bookshop in Virginia Beach, Virginia



Bookseller Buzz

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Spotlight on: The Wager by David Grann

 

David Grann, photo credit David Grann

"I came across an 18th-century eyewitness account of the expedition by John Byron, who had been a 16-year-old midshipman on the Wager when the voyage began. Though the account was written in archaic English, and the lettering was faded and hard to decipher, it instantly sparked my curiosity. Here was one of the most extraordinary sagas I had ever heard of: a crew battling typhoons, tidal waves and scurvy; a shipwreck on a desolate island off the Chilean coast of Patagonia, where the castaways slowly descended into a real-life Lord of the Flies, with warring factions, murders, mutiny and cannibalism.

And that was only part of the saga." ―David Grann, Interview, BookPage

What booksellers are saying about The Wager

The Wager by David Grann
  • Grann is a wonderful history storyteller. This little known story of The Wager, a warship in in the late 1700’s, shipwrecked around Cape Horn. This most unusual story of mutiny and survival is mesmerizing. And the surprising twist at the end kept me enthralled. A must read!
      ―Stephanie Crowe from Page & Palette in Fairhope, Alabama | Buy from Page and Palette

  • Few authors are able to write nonfiction history that reads like a page turning adventure novel, but David Grann is one of them. The gripping story of The Wager’s shipwreck and the survivors’ divergent tales of the events that followed kept me on the edge of my seat as I devoured this book. And Martin Scorsese has already acquired the film rights!
      ―Josh Niesse from Underground Books in Carrollton, Georgia | Buy from Underground Books

  • The Wager is a tense historic tale that was forgotten until recently thanks to David Grann. It’s filled with the most questionable aspects of human nature when order breaks down, but it’s also a nod to the strength of spirit as it pertains to survival. Additionally, Grann delves into the casualties of British colonialism and the dangers that come along with ego. This book is dramatic, well-researched, and it is perfect for history buffs looking for nonfiction that reads like fiction.
      ―Stuart McCommon from Novel in Memphis, Tennessee | Buy from Novel
  • When The Wager, a British warship, wrecked off the coast of Chile in 1741, death seemed certain for all on board. But, astonishingly, a small number survived. David Grann’s account of The Wager’s ill-fated voyage and its aftermath – including murder and mutiny – is rich with vivid detail and utterly compelling.
      ―Jude Burke-Lewis from Square Books in Oxford, Mississippi | Buy from Square Books

About David Grann

David Grann is the author of the #1 New York Times bestsellers Killers of the Flower Moon and The Lost City of Z. Killers of the Flower Moon was a finalist for the National Book Award and won an Edgar Allan Poe Award. He is also the author of The White Darkness and the collection The Devil and Sherlock Holmes. Grann’s investigative reporting has garnered several honors, including a George Polk Award. He lives with his wife and children in New York.

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The Only Daughter by A.B. Yehoshua

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The Only Daughter by A.B. Yehoshua
 HarperVia / April 2023


More Reviews from Flyleaf Books

To me, Rachele’s journey feels as if it has no defined end, and that’s a good thing. It starts as she leaves class for Christmas holidays, but every new interaction feels like a new adventure. Yet, those adventures are all short, ending within our gaze. Combined, they display life as Rachele is experiencing it as a young, well-off, Jewish girl in post-WWII Italy. The journeys that others are on will continue, but not within the understanding of our protagonist. A quick, introspective read that dives into the consciousness of a child in an unfamiliar time and place.

Reviewed by Jamie Kovacs, Flyleaf Books in Chapel Hill, North Carolina



Womb by Leah Hazard

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Womb by Leah Hazard
Ecco / April 2023


More Reviews from Bookmarks

This book is FASCINATING — I kept reading things out loud to my husband and saying "DID YOU KNOW THAT??" Despite being packed with information and descriptions of scientific studies, this book is such an easy read. I think part of this is that the author is a podcaster, so she knows how to explain things in a conversational manner. I am continually flabbergasted by how little work we’ve done to study uteruses. What a magical organ!

Reviewed by Kate Storhoff, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Bianca Torre Is Afraid of Everything by Justine Pucella Winans

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Bianca Torre Is Afraid of Everything by Justine Pucella Winans
Clarion Books / April 2023


More Reviews from Parnassus Books

This novel truly has everything: a little romance, a self-discovery journey, and a dash of murder. It’s all delightfully narrated by Bianca, whose voice is funny, endearing, and authentic. I enjoyed every page and missed the characters when I finished.

Reviewed by Chelsea Stringfield, Parnassus Books in Nashville, Tennessee

Always Anjali by Sheetal Sheth

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Always Anjali by Sheetal Sheth
Random House Books for Young Readers / April 2023


More Reviews from Fiction Addiction

Any child who has ever been teased will relate to this delightful picture book about a young girl who at first feels embarrassed for being perceived as different and then learns to celebrate her own uniqueness. It also has lovely themes of family and friendship. Interestingly enough, my name Jill inspired a very similar schoolyard rhyme as the one that Anjali experiences in the story.

Reviewed by Jill Hendrix, Fiction Addiction in Greenville, South Carolina

Sunbeams in the Sky, Vol. 1 by Monika Kaname

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Sunbeams in the Sky, Vol. 1 by Monika Kaname
Yen Press / April 2023


More Reviews from E. Shaver Bookseller

A cute romance with a slight twist! I like that there’s some light suspense mixed in. The main character’s trauma feels very natural and I wonder how they’ll sort out the incident in later volumes.

Reviewed by Lana Repic, E. Shaver, bookseller in Savannah, Georgia

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Books on the horizon: Forthcoming favorites from Southern indies…

You Could Make This Place Beautiful by Maggie Smith

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You Could Make This Place Beautiful by Maggie Smith
 Atria/One Signal Publishers / April 2023


More Reviews from Fiction AddictionSnail on the Wall

An April 2023 Read This Next! Title

Maggie Smith shares with readers an intimate reflection as she goes through a personal heartbreak, or rather a thousand tiny heartbreaks, over the course of her thirteen-year relationship. Not only centered around love and loss, her memoir looks at the complex issues of modern womanhood and patriarchy. Though I have not personally experienced the pain she details in her memoir, I felt as if I have because of the power of her words. You will find someone you know in her story and it will help you understand their pain a little better. Maggie Smith has the ability to take the human feelings and emotions we all have, but sometimes lack the words to describe, and present them through a beautiful metaphor that can make you feel seen and understood. She does not stay in the pain; she evolves, changes, makes herself new, and always finds a way to make life beautiful.

Reviewed by Abby, The Snail On the Wall in Huntsville, Alabama

Southern Bestsellers

What’s popular this week with Southern Readers.

Romantic Comedy A Fever in the Heartland The Last Thing He Told Me
Red Notice Squished

[ See the full list ]

Parting Thought

“Reading is my inhale, and writing is my exhale.”
— Glennon Doyle

Publisher: The Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance / siba@sibaweb.com
Editor: Nicki Leone / nicki@sibaweb.com
Advertising: Linda-Marie Barrett / lindamarie@sibaweb.com
The Southern Bookseller Review is a project of the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance, in support of independent bookstores in the South | SIBA | 51 Pleasant Ridge Drive | Asheville, NC 28805

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The Southern Bookseller Review 4/11/23

The Southern Bookseller Review Newsletter for the week of April 11, 2023

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The week of April 11, 2023

April is Poetry Month

character reciting, credit eka panova

"The lunatic, the lover and the poet / Are of imagination all compact" -William Shakespeare

April is always a favorite month among booksellers, the one month of the year when poetry takes over their staff picks sections, their window displays, their reading lists. Their open mics tilt towards verse instead of memoir, their customers — even the ones who don’t read poetry as a rule — will pick up the odd and interesting little volumes bookstore staff leave around in strategic places in the hopes they will be noticed.

For the rest of the month readers will see a plethora of poetry reviewed in the Southern Bookseller Review. But even though April is the month most readers start to notice poetry, the booksellers who love it have been reading and recommending poetry books all year long. Watch next week for SBR’s special all-poetry issue. But in the meantime, why wait? There are 100 posts tagged "poetry" at SBR:

Poetry reviews at SBR

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Read This Now!

Recommended by Southern indies…

The Best Strangers in the World by Ari Shapiro

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The Best Strangers in the World by Ari Shapiro
HarperOne / April 2023


More Reviews from Avid Bookshop

As a near-constant NPR fanatic (my ringtone is "All Rings Considered" from Bojack Horseman and I wake up to Morning Edition) with friends in journalism, really enjoyed this peek behind the curtain of journalism and the human element of stories that cannot always be told on air. Ari Shapiro weaves together stories of his childhood growing up in North Dakota, with the story of meeting his husband, with his journalism, and his cabaret show with Alan Cumming in a way that makes this memoir irresistible to put down. Moments in this collection of journalistic stories made me laugh out loud, while others made me tear up in their poignancy and relevance. A beautiful collection to remind any reader of the importance of human connection.

Reviewed by Mikey LaFave, Avid Bookshop in Athens, Georgia

Wings Once Cursed & Bound by Piper J. Draken

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Wings Once Cursed & Bound by Piper J. Drake
Sourcebooks Casablanca / April 2023


More Reviews from Copperfish Books

This book is A TON of fun! There’s a Thai bird princess (with animal companions!), vampires, werewolves, witches, fae, and a host of other supernatural creatures! Not to mention the adorable (and age-appropriate!) romance between said Thai bird princess and one of the vampires!!! The dialogue is quick and witty, the characters are quirky and delightful, and I absolutely cannot wait for the next book in the series!

Reviewed by Lucy Perkins-Wagel, Copperfish Books in Punta Gorda, Florida



Bookseller Buzz

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Spotlight on: What Happened to Ruthy Ramirez by Claire Jiménez

 

Claire Jiménez, photo credit Damion Meyer

"This novel was originally a short story that I began writing ten years ago. So, it is difficult to pinpoint its exact beginnings, but I know that I was thinking a lot about loss, family, the violence of migration, and identity. I watched a lot of reality tv in my twenties and the short story began with the premise: what if you recognized somebody from your past on tv, somebody who you lost? I’m interested too in the way that women disappear every day in real life and how representations of Black and Brown women are often missing or distorted in pop culture." ―Claire Jiménez, Interview, She Reads

What booksellers are saying about What Happened to Ruthy Ramirez

What Happened to Ruthy Ramirez by Claire Jiménez
  • For fans of Angie Cruz, What Happened to Ruthy Ramirez is at times laugh out loud hilarious while also delivering an poignant account of a young woman searching for herself as she searches for her sister. The first page left me breathless! Jimenez delivers a sophisticated, plainspoken account of a Latina teen grappling with the urge and opportunity to escape her Staten Island family while also recognizing the value of the intense, turbulent bond she has with her mother and sister.
      ―Adah Fitzgerald from Main Street Books in Davidson, North Carolina | Buy from Main Street Books

  • What Happened to Ruthy Ramirez is the story of a missing Puerto Rican teenage girl living in New York, and the heartbreak that has amplified over the years since her discovery. When her sisters think they spotted their sister as an adult on a reality show, they begin a hopeful plan to find and bring Ruthy home. Jimenez is a talented storyteller, weaving in humor and letting each character shine while exploring a very real, very heartbreaking story. Highly recommended for book clubs and readers who enjoy books like Olga Dies Dreaming.
      ―Beth Seufer Buss from Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina | Buy from Bookmarks

  • Two things are true about the Ramirez family: 1. Family is important 2. Family sticks together (right?) For over a decade, the Ramirez family has been struggling with the disappearance of Ruthy (oldest daughter, big sister). With no new information in years, the search feels over, that is until her sister’s see someone who looks remarkably like her on a reality TV show. Hijinks ensue as they attempt to get in contact with "Ruby" aka Ruthy without their mother finding out. But hey, sometimes family is you, your older sister, her baby, your mother, and your mother’s best friend who still dresses in powersuits. Funny, moving, and fast-paced, this is one book I’d recommend for literally anyone.
      ―Jamie Kovacs from Flyleaf Books in Chapel Hill, North Carolina | Buy from Flyleaf Books

About Claire Jiménez

Claire Jiménez is a Puerto Rican writer who grew up in Brooklyn and Staten Island. She is the author of the short story collection Staten Island Stories, which received the 2019 Hornblower Award for a first book from the New York Society Library and was named a finalist for the International Latino Book Awards, a New York Public Library Favorite Book about New York, and Best Latino Book of 2019 by NBC News. She received her MFA from Vanderbilt University and her PhD from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. In 2020, she cofounded the Puerto Rican Literature Project, a digital archive. Currently she is an Assistant Professor of English and African American Studies at the University of South Carolina. Her fiction, essays, and reviews have appeared in Remezcla, AfroHispanic Review, PANK, The Rumpus, and Eater, among other publications. What Happened to Ruthy Ramirez is her debut novel.

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Earth Angel by Madeline Cash

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Earth Angel by Madeline Cash
 CLASH Books / April 2023


More Reviews from Epilogue Books

Describing this as “the paperback that swallowed the phone” makes sense because reading this with no comprehension of the current state of existence of being Online for people age 21 to 30 would be like reading the late-night musings of a particularly nihilist alien. Cash manages to satirize the seemingly non-satirical by pinpointing the weirdness of current existence and just rolling with it. Destroying your sister’s leg to give her a better choice at a beauty competition? Yea sounds right. A terrorist organization getting an image makeover by advertising that they’re body positive? Sure why not. The other day I saw a TikTok where the AI voices of Biden and Obama were arguing foreign policy while playing Overwatch. Nothing is real!

Reviewed by Ndobe Foletia, Epilogue Books Chocolate Brews in Chapel Hill, North Carolina



A Brief History of Earth by Andrew H. Knoll

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A Brief History of Earth by Andrew H. Knoll
Mariner Books / April 2023


More Reviews from Fountain Bookstore

This short natural history book is a great pick for anybody who liked Sapiens or Astrophysics for People in a Hurry, anybody who likes the work of Mark Kurlansky or even Michael Pollan. It is a look at the four billion-year journey of our planet. The author is a professor of ecology and earth and planetary sciences. This book took him two decades to write but will probably only take you a couple of hours to read. It’s a fun fascinating look at the ground beneath your feet and will give you a sense of perspective and new appreciation of your home in the universe.

Reviewed by Kelly Justice, Fountain Bookstore in Richmond, Virginia

Robin and Her Misfits by Kelly Jacobson

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Robin and Her Misfits by Kelly Jacobson
Three Rooms Press / April 2023


More Reviews from The Haunted Book Shop

A queer retelling of Robin Hood full of heists, heart, and Florida humidity."Steal from the rich–give to ourselves!" is Robin and her Merry Misfits’ chant as they leave their secret hideout affectionately called Nottingham deep in the north Florida wilderness for fast-speed highway robbery. Each girl has her own secrets and past, and some don’t stay buried for long. I adore classic retellings, especially if they’re gender-bent, full of found family, and set in a familiar setting. Daisy Chain is my favorite character because I enjoyed how she spoke in Shakespearean quotes and only Robin could translate. Also because of how many layers she contained that we weren’t even privy to until we arrived at the chapters in her point-of-view. Jacobson did an amazing job capturing all the nuances of each main characters’ personalities as well as the found family that made Robin Hood and his Merry Men such a beloved classic.

Reviewed by Candice Conner, The Haunted Book Shop in Mobile, Alabama

Special Delivery by Polly Faber

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Special Delivery by Polly Faber
Candlewick Press / April 2023


More Reviews from Bookmarks

A delightful and vibrantly illustrated book about how your favorite books travel around the world to get to your doorstep and all the dozens of hands who handle it along the way. A fun read aloud with lots of interesting facts at the back. Who knew learning about the supply chain could be so charming?!?


Reviewed by Caleb Masters, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina

What Happens Next?: Talent Show Troubles

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What Happens Next?: Talent Show Troubles
First Second / April 2023


More Reviews from The Country Bookshop

A Choose your own adventure graphic novel with ZOMBIES!!! Can a book actually get more fun than this? Sure to be a hit with graphic novel fans looking for a little something new, What Happens Next may actually be that young readers are clamoring for the next book in this fun new series.

Reviewed by Angie Tally, The Country Bookshop in Southern Pines, North Carolina

Read This Next!

Books on the horizon: Forthcoming favorites from Southern indies…

Once There Was by Kiyash Monsef

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Once There Was by Kiyash Monsef
 Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers / April 2023

ChildrenFairy Tales & FolkloreJuvenile Fiction
More Reviews from Fiction Addiction

An April 2023 Read This Next! Title

Marjan is having to deal with a lot for a teenager — her mom died years ago, leaving her with a strained relationship with her dad…but now her dad’s died suddenly, too, and Marjan has to keep his veterinary practice up and running in addition to her schoolwork and basic necessities. Then Marjan finds out that her dad wasn’t just a vet, that the mythical animals from the stories he told her are real, and he would treat them when needed — and now Marjan has inherited that responsibility, as well. It’s a responsibility that Marjan isn’t sure she wants, but she decides to at least see what it’s all about. And her life changes, sometimes for the worse, sometimes for the better, but ultimately in the ways she needs. A story that will appeal to both middle-grade and young adult readers who love myths, about discovering the missing parts of yourself — whether you know they’re missing or not, and whether or not you want them.

Reviewed by Melissa Oates, Fiction Addiction in Greenville, South Carolina

Southern Bestsellers

What’s popular this week with Southern Readers.

White Cat, Black Dog: Stories Guardians of the Valley The Maid
How the Word is Passed Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret.

[ See the full list ]

Parting Thought

“Reading brings us unknown friends.”
— Honoré de Balzac

Publisher: The Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance / siba@sibaweb.com
Editor: Nicki Leone / nicki@sibaweb.com
Advertising: Linda-Marie Barrett / lindamarie@sibaweb.com
The Southern Bookseller Review is a project of the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance, in support of independent bookstores in the South | SIBA | 51 Pleasant Ridge Drive | Asheville, NC 28805

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The Southern Bookseller Review 4/4/23

The Southern Bookseller Review Newsletter for the week of April 4, 2023

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The week of April 4, 2023

The Florida Book Awards

Florida Book Awards

Florida may have been in the news recently for its heightened scrutiny of books in school libraries but the truth is Florida is a state with a rich and vibrant literary tradition and community which simply can’t be overshadowed by current events or politics. The Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance, which produces SBR, counts 135 independent bookstores in Florida — which represents only part of the number of bookstores in the state. Florida is home to one of the biggest book festivals in the country, and it is also home to a robust bilingual literary community.

In March the Florida State University Libraries announced the 2022 Florida Book Awards Winners, celebrating the best of Florida literature of the year. To be eligible, authors must be full-time Florida residents, or in the case of the nonfiction winners, the books must focus on Florida.

There are eleven categories, including Spanish-Language publications and (new this year) Poetry Chapbooks. Winning books cover everything from the creation of the Everglades to the history of the Cuban Sandwich, from literary novels to cozy mysteries to exquisitely illustrated children’s literature.

Here is this year’s list of winners. And here are a few of the things independent booksellers have said about some of the winners:

If Your Babysitter is a Bruja

If Your Babysitter is a Bruja by Ana Siqueira (Simon & Schuster)
Young Children’s Literature Bronze Winner

Super cute story that balances English and Spanish! Perfect for Halloween but really you can read this one year-round — witches are cool! And I’m always a fan of any picture book that requires you to rotate the book to see the words. -Kate Storhoff from Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, NC

All Day is a Long Time

All Day is a Long Time by David Sanchez (Harper Books)
General Fiction Gold Winner

This harrowing semi-autobiographical account of a young man addicted to crack and whatever else he can get his hands on and his possible salvation through books and higher education. Riveting, funny, and sometimes gross, Sanchez delivers the goods no matter how uncomfortable or self-deprecating the details may be. Plus, bonus "Florida Man" weirdness! -Seth Tucker from Carmichael’s Bookstore in Louisville, KY

A Dish to Die For

A Dish to Die For by Lucy Burdette, aka Roberta Isleib (Crooked Lane Press)
Popular Fiction Bronze Winner

Lucy Burdette’s cozy mysteries always provide entertainment , with a generous amount of food/restaurant critiques, and this one is no exception as you read about a dead body, an old recipe book, and of course, murder. However, what I truly liked about this book was how Burdette incorporated issues that are transforming Key West…the dispute about big tourist ships at the harbor; the purchasing of property by wealthy speculators and the divide it’s causing for the "locals" regarding their jobs and housing. These are all current, controversial issues. A tough line to draw between traditional and progressive Key West. An insightful, unexpected storyline in a very good cozy mystery. -Karen Solar from Copperfish Books in Punta Gorda, FL

Read This Now | Read This Next | The Bookseller Directory




Read This Now!

Recommended by Southern indies…

House of Cotton by Monica Brashears

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House of Cotton by Monica Brashears
Flatiron Books / April 2023


More Reviews from Underground Books

In this gritty, ghostly Affrilachian gothic debut, Magnolia, in the wake of her grandmother’s death and possibly pregnant, takes an offer to “model” as the late beloveds of the rich at a funeral home run by the strange Mr. Cotton. The voice and the VIBES are all there, and this book has a lot to say about grief, death, race, class, and sex in the Bible Belt South. The writing is strong and beautiful—a writer to watch.

Reviewed by Megan Bell, Underground Books in Carrollton, Georgia

The Thick and the Lean by Chana Porter

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The Thick and the Lean by Chana Porter
Gallery, Saga Pres / April 2023


More Reviews from The Violet Fox Bookshop

The Thick and The Lean by Chana Porter is part sci-fi, part speculative fiction, part cookbook, and part love story. At its core, it’s a simultaneous celebration of life’s pleasures – including food, sex, community, nature, and reading – and a critique of the things that plague our modern world – namely corporate greed, classism, and the shame we’ve been taught to feel for who we are and what we desire. The story itself is captivating, the characters are wonderful, and the world-building is incredible. Beyond being a great book, The Thick and The Lean also feels important. It asks big questions like what makes a person worthy or good? And where do our societal values come from? Why do we deny ourselves things like food, ambition, and love? And what happens when we embrace our nature, our history, and begin living in a way that’s not only true to ourselves but also better for our world as a whole?

The Thick and The Lean does deal with a lot of heavy topics, but don’t let that deter you. It’s chock full of hope and beauty too. In a world where reality is quite bitter, it’s a story of human kindness, found and chosen family, and the power of a good book. The Thick and The Lean is a buffet of delicious characters, a story meant to be savored and explored. In a word, it’s umami. Don’t deny yourself the pleasure of devouring this book!

Reviewed by Emily Lessig, The Violet Fox Bookshop in Virginia Beach, Virginia

Ozark Dogs by Eli Cranorn

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Ozark Dogs by Eli Cranor
Soho Crime / April 2023


More Reviews from Union Ave Books

Mixing identity conflict and family secrecy with blood-ties and murder, Eli Cranor delivers a literary punch with his newest novel, Ozark Dogs. Set in the Ozarks, this story follows a true crime case involving drug-smuggling Klansmen turned evangelicals and a Vietnam War vet named Jeremiah, who is committed to saving his granddaughter from a dark path, even if it means getting himself into trouble. I absolutely could not put this one down. The prose is immersive, and the depth with which Cranor writes is beautifully nuanced.

Reviewed by Leo Coffey, Union Ave Books in Knoxville, Tennessee



Bookseller Buzz

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Spotlight on: Once There Was by Kiyash Monsef

 

Kiyash Monsef, photo credit Jane McGonigal

"If I had a dollar for every writer who told me of their childhood love for the d’Aulaires’ Book of Greek Myths…what is it about that book?

Everyone has an illustration that’s stuck with them. For me, it’s the kraken rising up out of the ocean. And for a lot of people it was one of our first exposures to really old stories and a deep, continuous mythology. They’re unapologetically complex, internally referential, and ask a lot of young readers, visually and narratively. When you work hard to enjoy something at a young age, it leaves an impression." ―Kiyash Monsef, Interview, Horn Book

What booksellers are saying about Once There Was

Once There Was by Kiyash Monsef
  • When Marjan’s father is mysteriously murdered, she discovers he was a veterinarian to the kinds of mythic creatures in the stories he once told her…and she inherited his power to care for beasts like griffons and gnomes herself. Once There Was is an emotionally rich, beautifully told story, full of adventure, mystery, and magical realism, with great Iranian-American representation, about the paradox of living—wonder and responsibility, grief and connection—that I’d love for readers of all ages to enjoy and engage with.
      ―Megan Bell, Underground Books in Carrollton, Georgia | Buy from Underground Books

  • I absolutely loved the writing in this book. Not overly stylized fantasy– well-grounded in relatable language and situations, not "high fantasy". The relationships are tender and sweet and cover everything from friendships, to parent/caregiver, to romantic. The plot develops well, the ending is satisfying without being twee. The character development is spot on and I’ve never met a unicorn more fascinating! Monsef’s gentle treatment of the traumatic effects of grief and loss are beautiful.
      ―Elisa Forshey, Givens Books & Little Dickens in Lynchburg, Virginia | Buy from Givens Books & Little Dickens

  • Marjan is having to deal with a lot for a teenager — her mom died years ago, leaving her with a strained relationship with her dad…but now her dad’s died suddenly, too, and Marjan has to keep his veterinary practice up and running in addition to her schoolwork and basic necessities. Then Marjan finds out that her dad wasn’t just a vet, that the mythical animals from the stories he told her are real, and he would treat them when needed — and now Marjan has inherited that responsibility, as well. It’s a responsibility that Marjan isn’t sure she wants, but she decides to at least see what it’s all about. And her life changes, sometimes for the worse, sometimes for the better, but ultimately in the ways she needs. A story that will appeal to both middle-grade and young adult readers who love myths, about discovering the missing parts of yourself — whether you know they’re missing or not, and whether or not you want them.
      ― Melissa Oates, Fiction Addiction in Greenville, South Carolina | Buy from Fiction Addiction

About Kiyash Monsef

Kiyash Monsef is an Emmy Award–nominated producer and director; a writer of short stories, videos, comic books, and games; and a designer of innovative conversational and voice interface experiences. Once There Was is his first novel.

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A Living Remedy by Nicole Chung

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A Living Remedy by Nicole Chung
Ecco / April 2023


More Reviews from Main Street Books

I loved Nichol Chung’s debut memoir, All You Can Ever Know, so I couldn’t wait to read her latest, A Living Remedy. Continuing to explore themes of identify and race, A Living Remedy also delves into themes of grief, class and our fractured healthcare system up through the days of the COVID 19 pandemic. I want to spare the reader spoilers because I was riveted by Nicole’s experience of growing up, moving across the country from her adoptive parents and raising a family of her own. Her exquisite writing and tender vulnerability makes this a stand-out memoir for me. Highly recommend!

Reviewed by Jessica Nock, Main Street Books in Davidson, North Carolina

This Delicious Death by Kayla Cottingham

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This Delicious Death by Kayla Cottingham
Sourcebooks Fire / April 2023


More Reviews from Story on the Square

This Delicious Death follows the story of Zoey and her three friends two years after a disease that renders half the general public "hollow" or cannibalistic monsters. Unlike zombies, however, they’re fine as long as they eat regularly and the world has created synthetic flesh for them to get their ghoul on. So going to the Desert Bloom Music Festival in the desert for one last trip before the friends go their separate ways after high school should be perfectly fine, right? Between being in love with her best friend, the glamourous Celeste and one of their friends going missing and possibly feral, this wasn’t the kind of trip Zoey was expecting. Okay, so I have to say, while i love sapphic stories, it had been hard for me to get into them for a while. This Delicious Death had me hook line and sinker from the very beginning. The world building was fascinating and the story itself was gripping. I cannot wait to sell this one in store!

Reviewed by Katlin Kerrison, Story On the Square in McDonough, Georgia

The Artist by Ed Vere

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The Artist by Ed Vere
Doubleday Books for Young Readers / April 2023


More Reviews from Square Books

A dinosaur book about art, narrated by the dinosaur. Warm and measured, it becomes an instruction manual of sorts, while ultimately transforming into a tribute to an artist, by a dinosaur. Actually, the whole book is by an incredibly good author/artist (not a dinosaur, yet).


Reviewed by Jilleen Moore, Square Books in Oxford, Mississippi

39 Clues: The Maze of Bones: A Graphic Novel (39 Clues Graphic Novel #1) by Rick Riordan

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39 Clues: The Maze of Bones: A Graphic Novel (39 Clues Graphic Novel #1) by Rick Riordan
Graphix / April 2023


More Reviews from Flyleaf Books

This was a series that made my childhood, and the graphic novel truly did it justice! I am so excited for a new generation of kids to be introduced to Amy and Dan Cahill, and the winding mystery of the Cahill legacy.

Reviewed by Jordan April, Flyleaf Books in Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Read This Next!

Books on the horizon: Forthcoming favorites from Southern indies…

Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez

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Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez
 Forever / April 2023

Adult FictionCity LifeContemporaryFictionHumorousRomanceRomantic ComedyWomen
More Reviews from Bookmarks

An April 2023 Read This Next! Title

Is there such a thing as a meet-ugly? Out of an utterly disastrous first "meeting" (they didn’t actually even meet, just started jumping to wrong conclusions) grew a ten-tissue romance for the ages. I also was delighted that the town of Wakan, the actual seemingly "inanimate" objects in the vaguely magical town, such a huge silent character in Part of Your World, got a bit role in Yours Truly. No one does foreshadowing like Abby Jimenez.

Reviewed by Lisa Yee Swope, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Southern Bestsellers

What’s popular this week with Southern Readers.

The White Lady Poverty, America The Cat Who Saved Books
The Invisible Kingdom The Magician's Elephant

[ See the full list ]

Parting Thought

“Ah, how good it is to be among people who are reading.”
– Rainer Maria Rilke

Publisher: The Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance / siba@sibaweb.com
Editor: Nicki Leone / nicki@sibaweb.com
Advertising: Linda-Marie Barrett / lindamarie@sibaweb.com
The Southern Bookseller Review is a project of the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance, in support of independent bookstores in the South | SIBA | 51 Pleasant Ridge Drive | Asheville, NC 28805

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The Southern Bookseller Review 3/28/23

The Southern Bookseller Review Newsletter for the week of March 28, 2023

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The week of March 28, 2023

Read These Next! The April Books

Read This Next!

Five new books have been selected by Southern booksellers for April’s Read This Next! List!

SBR’s Read This Next! highlights new books that are receiving exceptional, and exceptionally enthusiastic, buzz from Southern indie booksellers. Each of the selected books has several cheerleaders among booksellers, who can’t wait to give them to their customers. The list is posted the first of each month, but here is a sneak peek of the titles selected for April, and what booksellers have to say about them:

Above Ground by Clint Smith
Above Ground is a poetry collection that is a heartfelt ode to fatherhood. These poems are imbued with the love, joy, wonder, and uncertainties that accompany being a parent.
– Damita Nocton from The Country Bookshop in Southern Pines, NC

Once There Was by Kiyash Monsef
A story that will appeal to both middle-grade and young adult readers who love myths, about discovering the missing parts of yourself — whether you know they’re missing or not, and whether or not you want them.
–Melissa Oates from Fiction Addiction in Greenville, SC

Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez
Is there such a thing as a meet-ugly? Out of an utterly disastrous first "meeting" (they didn’t actually even meet, just started jumping to wrong conclusions) grew a ten-tissue romance for the ages.
–Lisa Yee Swope from Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, NC

You Could Make This Place Beautiful by Maggie Smith
Maggie Smith has the ability to take the human feelings and emotions we all have, but sometimes lack the words to describe, and present them through a beautiful metaphor that can make you feel seen and understood.
–Abby from The Snail on the Wall in Huntsville, AL

In the Lives of Puppets by TJ Klune
This novel holds all the beautiful, tender sentimentality, found family dynamics, loving humor, and self-discovery that I’ve come to expect from TJ Klune.
–Elizabeth DeWandeler from A Novel Escape in Franklin, NC

Current Read This Next! books and what SIBA booksellers have to say about them can always be found at The Southern Bookseller Review

Read This Now | Read This Next | The Bookseller Directory