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February 1, 2022 Meet Mesha Maren.
"One thing that continually shows up in my writing is the question of identity and place and the kind of reciprocal relationship between them." —Mesha Maren (via The Southern Review of Books) Mesha Maren’s debut novel, Sugar Run, received enthusiastic acclaim from Southern indie booksellers when it was released in 2019. Her latest book, Perpetual West, is just as highly anticipated. Meet the author next week on the Reader Meet Writer Author Series:
The riveting new novel by the critically-acclaimed author of Sugar Run, Perpetual West is a brilliant and evocative story of borders—between countries, between lovers, and between facets of the self. Here’s what booksellers think of Perpetual West: I have been dying for this book since I first heard it was going to exist and I was not even a little disappointed. I loved Maren’s first book, Sugar Run and her equally genre-defying follow up is even more beautiful and heartrending. Crossing the Texas/Mexico border and touching on disordered eating, the opioid epidemic, and parenting, this gorgeous book will make you take your time reading it to really soak in the prose. —Andrea Richardson from Fountain Bookstore in Richmond, VA Growing up in a small town in West Virginia, I felt the magnitude of Alex’s and Elana’s cross-country journey to an entirely new place, to a new country. From the first chapter I was drawn into the story and although I’m not finished (no spoilers, please!) I can’t wait to for the ending and to share this story with our readers at Bookmarks. —Beth Seufer Buss from Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, NC This book hooks you early on and doesn’t let go. Elana, Alex, and Mateo are characters you root for, even when they cause harm. This morally complex book will make you cry and think. — Fisher Nash from Carmichael’s Bookstore in Louisville, KY
Read This Now | Read This Next | The Bookseller Directory |
Perpetual West with Mesha Maren|
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Read This Now! Recommended by Southern indies… |
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Small World by Jonathan Evison Adult Fiction, Historical, Historical Fiction The only thing that’s small about this book is its title. Clocking in at just under 500 pages, Small World is a continent-spanning, era-hopping epic. In the present day, a group of strangers find themselves bound by fate on a train hurtling up the west coast, while in the 19th century their pioneering ancestors – immigrants, Native Americans and former slaves – struggle for survival. Despite juggling a large cast, Evison handles the multiple narratives with aplomb, creating an engrossing page-turner that also raises important questions about the American dream and what it means to be American. Reviewed by Jude Burke-Lewis, Square Books in Oxford, Mississippi |
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Bookseller Buzz |
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Spotlight on: She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan
"What I really like about SFF is how it can offer meaningful representation of marginalized identities in a gentler and more cathartic way than realistic contemporary fiction…SFF is really good at is creating types of otherness that don’t exist in the real world. Readers can project aspects of themselves into these characters without having to have the character accurately represent all of our real-life experiences. It helps sidestep that reaction of “oh, that isn’t my experience of my identity.” "–Shelley Parker-Chan (via Locus Magazine) 
What booksellers are saying about She Who Became the Sun
About Shelley Parker-Chan Shelley Parker-Chan is an Australian by way of Malaysia and New Zealand. A 2017 Tiptree Fellow, she is the author of the forthcoming historical fantasy novel She Who Became the Sun. Parker-Chan spent nearly a decade working as a diplomat and international development adviser in Southeast Asia, where she became addicted to epic East Asian historical TV dramas. After a failed search to find English-language book versions of these stories, she decided to write her own. Parker-Chan currently lives in Melbourne, Australia, where she is very grateful to never have to travel by leaky boat ever again. |
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The Sunny Nihilist by Wendy Syfret Adult Nonfiction, Ethics & Moral Philosophy, Philosophy The Sunny Nihilist will open your mind to the brighter side of meaninglessness. (Hear me out.) Embracing nihilism–or at least being open to it–can free you from the constant messages we receive about how every. single. thing. must. have. DEEP. meaning. As someone who detests the phrase “everything happens for a reason” but is grateful for what past mistakes and successes have taught me, Wendy Syfret’s book is just what the doctor ordered. Reviewed by Janet Geddis, Avid Bookshop in Athens, Georgia |
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The Stars Are Not Yet Bells by Hannah Lillith Assadi Adult Fiction, Literary Fiction Stamper brings his trademark storytelling, full of heart and magic, to his story of 4 boys and one incredible summer. Sal, Gabriel, Heath, and Reese are the best of friends, but they’re all headed their separate ways for the summer. Sal is headed to DC to intern for a senator. Gabriel is headed to Boston to work for a nonprofit and save the trees. Heath is headed to Daytona to work with his aunt and cousin while his parents work out their divorce. And Reese is off to Paris for a summer design school. They’ve always been inseparable, so how will they make it through the summer? Reviewed by Anne Peck, Righton Books in St Simons Island, Georgia |
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Golden Boys by Phil Stamper Friendship, LGBTQ+, New Experience, Romance, Social Themes, Young Adult Stamper brings his trademark storytelling, full of heart and magic, to his story of 4 boys and one incredible summer. Sal, Gabriel, Heath, and Reese are the best of friends, but they’re all headed their separate ways for the summer. Sal is headed to DC to intern for a senator. Gabriel is headed to Boston to work for a nonprofit and save the trees. Heath is headed to Daytona to work with his aunt and cousin while his parents work out their divorce. And Reese is off to Paris for a summer design school. They’ve always been inseparable, so how will they make it through the summer? Reviewed by Jennifer Jones, Bookmiser in Marietta, Georgia |
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Hilda: The Wilderness Stories by Luke Pearson Children, Comics & Graphic Novels, Fairy Tales, Folklore, Juvenile, Legends & Mythology Hilda: The Wildnerness Stories is a fun journey through a vast world rich with magic and Pearson expertly captures the childlike sense of wonder one might experience within in. Since these stories feature less dark tones than those seen in some other Hilda storylines, they make a great light read which allow you to test the waters before you decide to swim. Reviewed by Deion Cooper, Foggy Pine Books in Boone, North Carolina |
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Read This Next! Books on the horizon: Forthcoming favorites from Southern indies… |
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Nigel and the Moon by Antwan Eady Business, Careers, Children, Juvenile Fiction, Occupations A February 2022 Read This Next! Title Nigel and the Moon will make your heart swell in the best way! Sure to be a beloved book, Nigel’s story resonates deeply with those who are scared to share their dreams. When Nigel looks up at the moon, anything is possible; but in school he’s hesitant to share. Career week in school is tricky when you want to be an astronaut, dancer, and a superhero! I loved Nigel and his story, and applaud Antwan Eady on this superb debut! Reviewed by Lauren Kean from Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina |
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Southern Bestsellers What’s popular this week with Southern Readers. |
[ See the full list ] |
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Parting Thought “My alma mater was books, a good library…. I could spend the rest of my life reading, just satisfying my curiosity.” |
Publisher:
The Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance /
siba@sibaweb.com |
SIBA | 51 Pleasant Ridge Drive | Asheville, NC 28805
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