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The week of January 23, 2024 Have you voted yet?
 There are still ten days left to place your vote for the books you think deserve to be called "the best Southern book of the year." The Southern Book Prize ballot for best Southern novel, nonfiction book, and young readers’ book of 2023 closes on February 1st. When you vote you can be entered into a raffle to receive a collection of this year’s Southern Book Prize Finalists, a best of the best book stack for anyone who loves Southern literature. Vote Now!Read This Now | Read This Next | Book Buzz | The Bookseller Directory |
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Read This Now! Recommended by Southern indies… |
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Old Crimes by Jill McCorkle Adult Fiction, Short Stories (single author) Jill McCorkle has a heart the size of her beloved North Carolina and nowhere is that more evident than in the pages of her writing. Old Crimes is a story collection drenched with her perceptiveness of the human condition. Each story is as strong as the one before, telling of past mistakes shaping lives. These are absolutely fulfilling, engrossing, and brilliantly crafted. Reviewed by Damita Nocton, The Country Bookshop in Southern Pines, North Carolina |
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Bookseller Buzz |
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Spotlight on: Nonfiction by Julie Myerson  I’ve always wanted to write things that feel brave. That make people slightly uncomfortable. I like reading work that makes me slightly uncomfortable. That’s why I write. I want to be on the edge of what is OK. I don’t want to hurt anybody I love, of course not. But I need to be as honest as I possibly can. What booksellers are saying about Nonfiction 
Julie Myerson is the author of ten novels, including the bestselling Something Might Happen and The Stopped Heart, and three works of nonfiction, including Home: The Story of Everyone Who Ever Lived in Our House and The Lost Child. As a critic and columnist, she has written for many newspapers including The Guardian, the FT, Harper’s Bazaar and the New York Times, and she was a regular guest on BBC TV’s Newsnight Review. She lives in London with her family. |
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Say You’ll Be Mine by Naina Kumar Adult Fiction, Romance, Romantic Comedy Say You’ll Be Mine is an adorable romance with 90s/00s rom-com vibes. It’s also the perfect example of why fake dating (in this case a fake engagement) is one of my favorite romance tropes. Karthik and Meghna are deeply relatable characters who will capture your heart. Reviewed by Kate Storhoff, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina |
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1000 Words by Jami Attenberg Adult Nonfiction, Composition, Language Arts & Disciplines, Writing  A January Read This Next! Title 1000 Words is a guide for writers, but I think anyone interested in reading would truly enjoy this one. I loved the features from some of my favorite authors, and was especially touched by the tender exchange of letters between Jami Attenberg and Keise Laymon. This slim book packs a punch with thought provoking questions that inspire creativity in writers and readers alike. Loved it! Reviewed by Jessica Nock, Main Street Books in Davidson, North Carolina |
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We Got the Beat by Jenna Miller LGBTQ+, Young Adult Fiction A January/February Read This Next! Young Readers Title Jordan is positive that she’s about to land the editor position for her school newspaper, despite the fact that she’s just a junior. But when assignments come out, she’s disappointed to see that not only has she not nabbed editor, but she’s been assigned to cover volleyball. Jordan is not sporty and her nemesis has just been named captain of the volleyball team. Could it get any worse? This fun, sweet YA romcom was a delight to read! Reviewed by Jennifer Jones, Bookmiser in Marietta, Georgia |
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When Sea Becomes Sky by Gillian McDunn Bereavement, Children, Death, Family, Grief, Juvenile Fiction, Siblings, Southern Book Prize Finalist  2024 Southern Book Prize Finalist This is now one of my favorite books. I was devastated for myself and every character I had met along the way while reading this wonderfully crafted story. This book will rip your heart out and put it back together perfectly. I highly recommend When Sea Becomes Sky for readers young and old. Reviewed by Rayna Nielsen, Blue Cypress Books in New Orleans, Louisiana |
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Whistleblowers: Four Who Fought to Expose the Holocaust to America by Rafael Medoff Adult Nonfiction, Biography & Memoir, Comics & Graphic Novels, Nonfiction WOW WOW WOW WOW. Where do I even begin with this review. First of all, the four men this is written about are true heroes and truly badass. Animated like a classic comic book and even is "narrated" by Lee Falk, the creator of the Phantom comics. Broken up into four stories about four men who helped get the news about the Holocaust to America and try to stop the Nazi war on Jews. Each story had my heart racing, tears starting, and honestly I don’t think I blinked this entire book. Random thoughts while reading: It is wild that Alan Cranston was only 24 during the time he printed "the book Hitler didn’t want you to read" ( an ACTUAL English translation of the German Mein Kampf). The Captain aboard the St. Louis was a total badass and refused to let the Jewish refugee passengers go back to Germany if they could not find refuge in Cuba. I absolutely love that there is a real life bio at the end of each story telling you about the actual person the story was written about. It’s heartbreaking that all these men thought that they didn’t do that much to help them in the end (limitations out of their control), but in reality they saved tens of thousands of Jewish people. Absolutely incredible read overall, especially if you are interested in WWII. I am not sure why the stories of these four men are not taught in school, but more people need to be made aware of their courageous stories. Reviewed by Stephanie St. John, E. Shaver bookseller in Savannah, Georgia |
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Decide for Yourself Books that appear on PEN America’s list of challenged books. |
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The Girl from the Sea by Molly Knox Ostertag Banned Books, Comics & Graphic Novels, Dating & Sex, Fantasy, LGBTQ+, Young Adult Fiction This adorable graphic novel about a shape-shifting selkie and a teen lesbian who hasn’t fully accepted her queerness is heartwarming and heartbreaking all at the same time. This is a great book for young queer people with a diverse cast of characters and a lovely sapphic romance that you can easily devour in one sitting. Can’t wait to get this into the hands of young readers! Reviewed by Candice Huber, Tubby & Coo’s Traveling Book Shop in New Orleans, Louisiana |
Southern Bestsellers What’s popular this week with Southern Readers. |
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Parting Thought “I think books are like people, in the sense that they’ll turn up in your life when you most need them.” |
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Publisher:
The Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance /
siba@sibaweb.com |
SIBA | 51 Pleasant Ridge Drive | Asheville, NC 28805
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