The Fall 2003 Small Press Book Sense 76 Top Ten

Here are independent booksellers' picks for the top ten small press titles for the fall. Pads will be in the August white box mailing and a downloadable PDF file will be available at http://www.bookweb.org/read/1474. This Web page also includes links to all past Book Sense 76s.

Very many thanks to all the independent booksellers who shared their enthusiastic nominations for this top ten list.

Friday, August 1, is the deadline for two upcoming Book Sense 76 lists:

• Fall Mystery Top Ten 76, and
• "Get Caught Reading" Halloween Top Ten 76, and

Friday, August 22, is the deadline for

• Fall History Top Ten 76

The Halloween Top Ten 76 is a cooperative effort with the Association of American Publishers "Get Caught Reading" initiative, and though the list will concentrate on titles for young readers, it is hoped that it will include some titles for all ages. The History Top Ten 76 is a co-branded list that gets prominent exposure on The History Channel Web site, a significant marketing opportunity for independent booksellers.

Book Sense 76 Editor-in-Chief Dan Cullen encourages all stores to contribute nominations for these three upcoming lists. Go to http:/www.bookweb.org/read/6305 for a convenient online nomination form. For more information on the Book Sense 76 go to http://www.bookweb.org/booksense/seventysix/.

1. THE LOCKLEAR LETTERS, by Michael Kun, (MacAdam/Cage, $19.95, 1931561362) "Funny, witty, pathetic -- a great anytime read for those between soul-wrenching books … when you want a little something but end up getting a lot more." -- Lindsay Lancaster, Bookworks, Albuquerque, NM

2. A SON OF WAR, by Melvyn Bragg, (Arcade, $25.95, 1559706864) "This wonderful sequel to The Soldier's Return evokes the disappointments of a working-class family in postwar England and the conflicts between family expectations and aspirations. The ending quite literally leaves the reader hungry for more. A marvelous novel with an eye cocked to the foibles of human nature." -- Matthew Lage, Iowa Book LLC, Iowa City, IA

3. BUYING DAD: One Woman's Search for the Perfect Sperm Donor, by Harlyn Aizley, (Alyson, $14.95 paper, 1555837557) "A touching, yet hilarious account of a thirty-something lesbian couple and their decision to have a baby. Gay or straight, anyone should love this true story of the trials and tribulations of getting pregnant without having sex." -- Mitch Gaslin, Food For Thought Books, Amherst, MA

4. DUVEEN: The Story of the Most Spectacular Art Dealer of All Time, by S.N. Behrman, (Little Bookroom, $12.95 paper, 1892145170) "This terrifically entertaining, anecdote-rich portrait of America's most wildly successful art dealer was one of the most popular series of articles in The New Yorker. Duveen's unparalleled access to masterworks of European art dovetailed nicely with his gambler's sensibility and his Svengali-like power over his wealthy clientele. An amazing study that fills in some unlikely holes in art history." -- Joe Murphy, Olsson's Books & Records, Washington, DC

5. THE LOSERS' CLUB, by Richard Perez, (Ludlow Press, $12.95 paper, 0971341591) "This is an irreverent, comic, and heart-wrenching ride through mid-'90s New York City. Our protagonist and 'loser' is Martin Sierra, a relationship-challenged writer navigating his way through rejection letters, East Village clubs, and personal-ad dates in his search for recognition, purpose, and acceptance. This is not a defeatist, dare I say, Gen-X tragedy. Rather, The Loser's Club is a vibrant and hopeful anthem for all of us 'losers' who choose not to wallow (for too long!) in our despair and who find the will to keep searching." -- Heather Lowcock, Joseph-Beth Booksellers, Lexington, KY

6. THE FRANK BOOK, by Jim Woodring, (Fantagraphics, $39.95, 1560975342) "Frank is an anthropomorphous character living in an alien landscape, who seeks out whatever curiosity awaits around the next turn. Like a mixture of dreamscape and nightmare, these comic strip stories can be disorienting, but learning to adjust to Frank's world is part of the fun. The best advice is to treat the stories like a dream -- they make sense in nonlinear ways. Give it 20 pages and you will be hooked." -- Stephen Hammill, Inkwood Books, Tampa, FL

7. AND THEN THEY WERE NUNS, by Susan J. Leonardi, (Firebrand, $14.95 paper, 1563411261) "Don't let the title fool you. This book isn't about your typical nun, your typical convent, or your typical anything. A fun read (yes, a book about nuns is fun!) that keeps you turning pages. You can't bring yourself to put the book down until you know each character's story and what brought her to this special, unorthodox haven for women. Expect the unexpected." -- Valerie Guzman, Kepler's Books & Magazines, Menlo Park, CA

8. REEL VIEWS: The Ultimate Guide to the Best 1,000 Modern Movies on DVD and Video, by James Berardinelli, (Justin, Charles & Co., $21.99 paper, 1932112065) "There's always room for another opinion, at least when it comes to movies. This one's a gem complete with: Running Times (for all us elderly), Ratings (for us parents), and Screenplay Authors (for book and author lovers everywhere), and lots more. Grab it." -- Anne Whalen, Brookline Booksmith, Brookline, MA

9. TALES OF GRABOWSKI, by John Auerbach, (Toby Press, $19.95, 190288180X) "This is a superb autobiographical novel that chronicles the physical and psychological journey of David Gordon/Wladyslaw Grabowski: a Polish Jew who attempts to flee the horrors of the Warsaw Ghetto by changing his identity. The author uses subtle, clear prose to explore the mental and physical transformation of a human being pushed to the limit, and he addresses the question of whether or not we can truly change who we are." -- Shawn Wathen, Chapter One Book Store, Hamilton, MT

10. THE LAST SUMMER OF REASON, by Tahar Djaout, (Ruminator, $14 paper, 1886913579) "This haunting short novel, and potent allegory of a bookseller in a fundamentalist society, underscores what Wole Soyinka describes in his excellent introduction -- that 'the life-and-death discourse of the 21st century is unambiguously the discourse of fanaticism and intolerance.'" -- Jay Weaver, University Book Store, Seattle, WA