We’re about bookstores. Independent bookstores, to be precise. But — to be wildly simplistic about the whole thing — without books there wouldn’t be bookstores. We like books and that’s why we like bookstores. So while we’re going around spreading the word of the independent bookstore, we’re also occasionally giving the nod to specific books, either through our “recommended reading” series (which tend to be about books that relate to a specific holiday or time of year), our night stand updates (which includes a list of the books we’re reading or have just read or are about to read) and the books that bookstore owners or employees have recommended to us (which often give us some insight into the store).
Which means that while our goal in keeping this Web site going isn’t necessarily to review books, we find ourselves doing a lot of just that. We decided that we should keep a running list of the books we mention on our pages, so that anyone who wants to can check out our opinions. There was some discussion of the best way to organize the books: we agreed on alphabetical but by author or title? As the co-founder with the least amount of available memory, I argued for organizing by title which I have at least a SMALL chance of remembering, unlike authors’ names which just sail right over me without visiting for a second.
So, alphabetic by title, here we go:
1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before 
Columbus, by Charles C. Mann
The 39 Clues: The Maze of Bones, by Rick Riordan
84, Charing Cross Road, by Helene Hanff
25 Month Until College: The Don’t Panic, Step-by-Step, What-When-Why-How Guide for Students and Parents, by Judy McNeely
“Brother Robber,” by Helen Christaller
America, America, by Ethan Canin
Animal Life, by Charlotte Uhlenbroek
Anne of Green Gables, by L.M. Montgomery
The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein
Art: The Definitive Guide, by DK Publishing
As a Driven Leaf , by Milton Steinberg
Atonement, Â by Ian McEwen
The Autobiography of Alice B. Tolkas, by Gertrude Stein
Back to the Coast by Saskia Noort
A Beautiful Blue Death, by Charles Finch
Beauty Salon, by Mario Bellatin
Breaking Dawn, by Stephenie Meyer
Catching Fire, by Suzanne Collins
Citizen Vince, by Jess Walter
City:Â Rediscovering the Center, William H. Whyte
Clash of Civilizations Over an Elevator in Piazza Vittorio, by Amara Lakhous
The Concubine of Shanghai, by Hong Ying
Doubt, by John Patrick Shanley
Eclipse, by Stephenie Meyer
The Elegance of the Hedgehog, by Muriel Barbery
The Encyclopedia of Earth: A Complete Visual Guide, by Michael Allaby
From Green to Gold, by Harold Enrico
Frost/Nixon, by Peter MorganÂ
Gardens Private & Personal: A Garden Club of America Book, by Nancy D’Oench
G’DEE, by Helen Fine
The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society , by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
The Housekeeper and the Professor , by Yoko Ogawa
 The Idea That Is America, by Anne-Marie Slaughter
L.A. Modern, by Tim Street-Porter
Life Studies, by Susan Vreeland
Louvre: 400 Masterpieces, by Erich Lessing
A Mindful Christmas, by Barbara Elizabeth Kilikevicius
Moscardino, by Enrico Pea
Mr. Lincoln’s Boys, by Staton Rabin, illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline
My Name is Red, Orhan Pamuk
New Moon, by Stephenie Meyer
Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By In America , by Barbara Ehrenreich
Nine Stories, by J.D. Salinger (look at the stories starting at number 39)
Old Filth , by Jane Gardam
The Painted Veil by W. Somerset Maugham
Performance: Richard Avedon, by Richard Avedon
Poetry Matters, by Ralph Fletcher
Race Matters, by Cornell West
The Reader, by Bernhard Schlink
The Return of the Prodigal Son, by Henri Nouwen
Revolutionary Road, by Richard Yates
The Shadow Catcher, by Marianne Wiggins
Shantaram, by Gregory David Roberts
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, by Ann Brashares
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan , by Lisa See
So You Want to be President?, by John Warner
 The Story of Edward Sawtelle by David Wroblewski
The Story of Marriage by Andrew Sean Greer
The Swallows of Kabul, by Yasmina Khadra
Tad Lincoln’s Father, by Julia Taft Bayne
Tears of Autumn , by Charles McCarry
“The Thanksgiving Visitor” by Truman Capote
The Thief and the Dogs, by Naguib Mahfouz
The Things They Carried, by Tim O’Brien
Twilight, by Stephenie Meyer
Valentines, Ted Kooser
Vanity Fair: The Portaits: A Century of Iconic Images, by Graydon Carter
Wherever IÂ Lie is Your Bed, edited by Margaret Full Costa and Marilyn HackerÂ
The Wordy Shipmates, by Sarah Vowell
The Writing Class , by Jincy Willett
“A Worn Path,” by Eudora Welty
X-Rays: See Through the World Around You, by Nick Veasey
Yves Saint Laurent:Â Style, by Pierre Berge
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Your energy and voices on this site are most appealing.
I wish you read books for children 6-12 and doglovers. I would really like to send you our Planet Of The Dogs series.
You can see sample chapters and info on http://www.planetofthedogs.net.
Best wishes,
Robert McCarty
Barking Planet Productions -
Another great read is SaVvmari Survival Guide: A Reference Manual for Surviving Hard Times it features 1,000s of compiled resources within reach to agencies, services and programs nationwide that will help you weather these tough times http://savvamri.com
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Oops! http://savvmari.com
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Kim & Claire…please, please find the time to read and review the new Maggie O’Farrell book, The Hand That First Held Mine. Absolutely the best read I’ve had recently!
Robyn
Laguna Beach Books -
Can I suggest two quality, intelligent and utterly enticing reads – Crow Lake by Mary Lawson and Home by Marilynne Robinson.
I recommend both of these books to anyone who enjoyed “Hedgehog” or enjoys disciplined and restrained considered writing. -
No David Foster Wallace, Palahniuk, Vonnegut, Stephen King, or Danielewski! C’ mon
Reply
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