|
|
|
|
The week of October 25, 2022 Make a bookseller’s day! 
There are about 70 Southern bookstores whose staff picks and reviews appear in The Southern Bookseller Review. That represents nearly 400 individual booksellers who liked the book they were reading enough to write a recommendation. SBR is founded on the conviction that independent booksellers are one of the most knowledgeable and trustworthy sources for the avid reader looking for their next great book. SBR reviews are written not by anonymous avatars with cryptic usernames, but by real people who talk face to face with their customers. If you have ever discovered a new writer or a new favorite book with the help of an independent bookseller, you can return the favor nominating them for the James Patterson Holiday Bookstore Bonus Program. Patterson has pledged a personal contribution of $250,000, to be distributed in amounts of $500, to 500 booksellers from bookstores who are members of the American Booksellers Association. Booksellers can be nominated by bookstore customers, owners, employees, managers, fellow booksellers, publishing professionals, or authors. Nominations can be made online by completing and submitting a simple nomination form, which asks one easy question: “In 250 words or less, why does this bookseller deserve a holiday bonus?” The deadline to nominate a bookstore employee for a holiday bonus is November 16, 2022. Show your favorite local bookseller some love. Nominate them for a holiday bonus: https://www.bookweb.org/james-patterson-2022
Read This Now | Read This Next | The Bookseller Directory |
|
|
| Read This Now! Recommended by Southern indies… |
|
|
Case Study by Graeme Macrae Burnet Adult Fiction, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Literary, Psychological Fab. a. suspenseful page-turner; b. hilariously cringey; c. who doesn’t need therapy including your therapist? d. elegantly creepy; e. a novel perfect for these times but set in those times. Reviewed by Erica Eisdorfer, Flyleaf Books in Chapel Hill, North Carolina |
|
|
|
Bookseller Buzz |
 |
|
Spotlight on: Into the Riverlands by Nghi Vo
“If the Singing Hills stories have a theme, it’s that they’re stories about stories: how we tell stories and why we tell stories, and where we get it wrong and where we get it right, even when the stories aren’t real or true. When the third volume comes out, I think it will help people see the whole scope of the series, because we’re going back and forth in Chih’s timeline, so back and forth in history. I’m asking people to sit with me for about 100 pages, and just trust me that, whatever I’m telling them, they’re going to have a good time. That’s my hope. ” ―Nghi Vo, Interview, Locus Magazine What booksellers are saying about Into the Riverlands 
About Nghi Vo Nghi Vo is the author of the novels Siren Queen and The Chosen and the Beautiful, as well as the acclaimed novellas When the Tiger Came Down the Mountain and The Empress of Salt and Fortune, a Locus and Ignyte Award finalist and the winner of the Crawford Award and the Hugo Award. Born in Illinois, she now lives on the shores of Lake Michigan. She believes in the ritual of lipstick, the power of stories, and the right to change your mind. |
 |
|
|
Foster by Claire Keegan 21st Century, Adult Fiction, Coming of Age, England, Family Life, Small Town & Rural, World Literature Reviewed by Rachel Watkins, Avid Bookshop in Athens, Georgia |
|
|
|
|
Dickens and Prince by Nick Hornby Adult Nonfiction, Art, Biography & Autobiography, Historical Humor, Popular Culture This was a quick and fun read about two seemingly incredibly different individuals who actually had much more in common than I knew. Hornby’s writing is engaging and funny as always. I came away with some fantastic trivia knowledge and a greater appreciation for both Charles Dickens and Prince. This will be a hit with the pop culture nerds. Reviewed by Melissa Taylor, E. Shaver bookseller in Savannah, Georgia |
|
|
The Luminaries by Susan Dennard Fantasy, Wizards & Witches, Young Adult Fiction This dark, twisty fantasy makes the monsters that roam the forest seem to jump straight off the page! I loved the journeys the characters took and this should immediately be given to anyone looking for a fantasy that is filled with tension, intrigue, a little romance, and just overall creepiness. I will be waiting on the edge of my seat for the second book! Reviewed by Hallie Smith, Main Street Books in Davidson, North Carolina |
|
|
A Spark in the Dark by Pam Fong Animals, Children, Fish, Juvenile Fiction This is a lovely book. Beautifully written and illustrated, it talks about darkness and hope in ways both children and adults can appreciate. And yes, I teared up at the end. Reviewed by Tanya Eakin, Midtown Reader in Tallahassee, Florida |
|
|
Freestyle: A Graphic Novel by Gale Galligan Adolescence & Coming of Age, Children, Comics & Graphic Novels, Friendship, Juvenile Fiction Gale Galligan is THE BEST! I have been so excited to see her first post-BSC graphic novel and Freestyle surpasses all expectations. It’s quirky, inclusive, inspiring, and so very real. And what a concept! Competitive B-boying yo-yo-ing was fun and interesting to read about and I love the way that Galligan captured motion in her art. This will likely be my favorite kids book of the year! Reviewed by Kate Storhoff, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina |
|
Read This Next! Books on the horizon: Forthcoming favorites from Southern indies… |
|
|
Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver Adult Fiction, Coming of Age An October 2022 Read This Next! Title 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. Reviewed by Lia Lent, Wordsworth Books in Little Rock, Arkansas |
|
Southern Bestsellers What’s popular this week with Southern Readers. |
[ See the full list ] |
|
Parting Thought “No tears in the writer, no tears in the reader. No surprise in the writer, no surprise in the reader.” |
Publisher:
The Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance /
siba@sibaweb.com |
SIBA | 51 Pleasant Ridge Drive | Asheville, NC 28805
You have received this email because you are currently subscribed to receive The Southern Bookseller Review.
Please click @@unsubscribe_url@@ if you no longer wish to receive these communications.