From last week's Indie bestseller lists, available at IndieBound.org, here are the recommended titles, which are also Indie Next Great Reads:
Hardcover
The Mermaid and Mrs. Hancock: A Novel by Imogen Hermes Gowar (Harper, $28.99, 9780062859952). "This book was a pure delight from beginning to end. High-class escorts, nouveau riche merchants, madams, back-stabbings, broken hearts, mended hearts, parties, an angry mob, pining, mermaids: what more could you ask from a historical novel taking place in the late 18th century? The characters are so well-rounded I found myself cringing for them in their embarrassment and cheering for them in their triumph. The writing is so atmospheric it feels absolutely authentic. I can't remember the last time I enjoyed reading a book as much as I enjoyed reading this one. The only way to describe this book is as an absolute romp." --Chelsea Bauer, Union Avenue Books, Knoxville, Tenn.
The Real Lolita: The Kidnapping of Sally Horner and the Novel That Scandalized the World by Sarah Weinman (Ecco, $27.99, 9780062661920). "Any fan of Nabokov's Lolita will be enthralled by Sarah Weinman's investigation of the real-life kidnapping and sexual assault that became the basis for the 20th-century masterpiece. Weinman dives deep into the archives to piece together the ties between fact and fiction, even when the author or the victim's family refused to discuss history. Swapping between true-crime journalism and contemporary literary analysis, the author brings new attention to Nabokov's seminal work and draws the tragedy of Sally Horner out of obscurity." --Ariel Jacobs, Solid State Books, Washington, D.C.
Paperback
Man With a Seagull on His Head: A Novel by Harriet Paige (Biblioasis, $14.95, 9781771962391). "Ray Eccles, a nonentity, goes for a walk on his 40th birthday. He seems almost reassured by the thought that he is past the age when something interesting is likely to happen to him. He assumes he is all alone on a deserted beach, but then, in quick succession, a woman appears, they lock eyes, and Ray is knocked cold by a seagull plummeting from the sky. Is it Ray's salvation or doom? Is Ray's ensuing story, told in Harriet Paige's gem-like prose, the stuff of tragedy or farce? Or are we all Ray, placid and longing, dreaming of rising into the sky?" --Ezra Goldstein, Community Bookstore, Brooklyn, N.Y.
For Ages 4 to 8
Crafty Llama by Mike Kerr, illustrated by Renata Liwska (Bloomsbury, $16.99, 9781681191218). "What a sweet, sweet picture book! This husband-and-wife writing and illustration team reminds us that everyone has creativity inside them, something they can share with the world. Now I've decided to organize some crafting circles and dust off my needlework project!" --Buffy Cummins, Second Star to the Right Books, Denver, Colo.
For Ages 9 to 12: An Indies Introduce Title
The House With Chicken Legs by Sophie Anderson (Scholastic, $16.99, 9781338209969). "Twelve-year-old Marinka is not like most girls. She has a pet jackdaw, a foundling lamb, a yaga for a grandmother, and a house that routinely walks, runs, or canters to an entirely new location without consulting its occupants. What Marinka THINKS she wants most is to just be a normal girl with normal friends and the chance to determine her own future. What Marinka REALLY wants is indeed something very, very different. A bit of folk tale, a dose of adventure, and a lot of quirky humor tossed in, The House With Chicken Legs takes readers on a ride they will not soon forget." --Angie Tally, The Country Bookshop, Southern Pines, N.C.
For Teen Readers
A Winter's Promise: Book One of the Mirror Visitor Quartet by Christelle Dabos, translated by Hildegarde Serle (Europa Editions, $19.95, 9781609454838). "I had high hopes since I've been coveting this book since I saw it in a Metro station in Paris a year ago. It definitely did not disappoint. A Winter's Promise is a stellar addition to the fantasy genre booksellers can recommend to adults and teens alike. The worldbuilding is incredible and Ophelia is a heroine you can immediately relate to: clever, resourceful, and constantly underestimated. Dabos delights and thrills readers as Ophelia finds herself caught in the middle of political intrigue and deadly secrets with nothing but her wits to keep her alive. As the tension builds and mysteries are revealed, it's impossible to put the book down." --Katerina Argyres, Bookshop West Portal, San Francisco, Calif.
[Many thanks to IndieBound and the ABA!]
