Every month the American Booksellers' Association (ABA) asks independent booksellers to pick 20 about-to-be-published books for its 'Great Reads' list, covering all genres and types. I learned last week that The Valley of Unknowing has made the list, which goes out to ABA members, together with a brief review, in a few weeks time. It's another welcome vote of confidence in the book from across the pond, and should encourage independent stores to stock it in time for Christmas. I'm told the big chains take note as well.
A positive nod from any quarter is welcome, but verdicts that go straight to the heart of the retail market are perhaps doubly valuable, in that they can improve the physical visibility of a title - although the growing importance of on-line shopping is perhaps eroding that advantage.
In any case the full list is:
Fiction
A Possible Life: A Novel in Five Parts, by Sebastian FaulksThe Valley of Unknowing, by Philip Sington
Raised From the Ground: A Novel, by Jose Saramago, Margaret Jull Costa (Trans.)
Life Among Giants: A Novel, by Bill Roorbach
City of Dark Magic: A Novel, by Magnus Flyte
Hand for a Hand, by T. Frank Muir
The Confidant: A Novel, by Helene Gremillon, Alison Anderson (trans.)
The Black Box, by Michael Connelly
Dear Life: Stories, by Alice Munro
The Valley of the Shadow: A Cornish Mystery, by Carola Dunn
The Boy in the Snow: An Edie Kiglatuk Mystery, by M.J. McGrath
Cold Quiet Country, by Clayton Lindemuth
Non-fiction
Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power, by Jon Meacham
Constantine the Emperor, by David Potter
Heads in Beds: A Reckless Memoir of Hotels, Hustles, and So-Called Hospitality, by Jacob Tomsky
Memoir of the Sunday Brunch, by Julia Pandl
The Great Pearl Heist: London’s Greatest Thief and Scotland Yard’s Hunt for the World’s Most Valuable Necklace, by Molly Caldwell Crosby
Hands-On Healing Remedies: 150 Recipes for Herbal Balms, Salves, Oils, Liniments & Other Topical Therapies, by Stephanie Tourles
Because I Said So!: The Truth Behind the Myths, Tales, and Warnings Every Generation Passes Down to Its Kids, by Ken Jennings
Song of the Vikings: Snorri and the Making of Norse Myths, by Nancy Marie Brown
