The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by Wroblewski, David Born mute, speaking only in sign, Edgar Sawtelle leads an idyllic life with his parents on their farm in remote northern Wisconsin. For generations, the Sawtelles have raised and trained a fictional breed of dog whose thoughtful companionship is epitomized by Almondine, Edgar's lifelong friend and ally. But with the unexpected return of Claude, Edgar's paternal uncle, turmoil consumes the Sawtelles' once peaceful home. When Edgar's father dies suddenly, Claude insinuates himself into the life of the farm--and into Edgar's mother's affections. Grief-stricken and bewildered, Edgar tries to prove Claude played a role in his father's death, but his plan backfires--spectacularly. Forced to flee into the vast wilderness lying beyond the farm, Edgar comes of age in the wild, fighting for his survival and that of the three yearling dogs who follow him. But his need to face his father's murderer and his devotion to the Sawtelle dogs turn Edgar ever homeward. David Wroblewski is a master storyteller, and his breathtaking scenes--the elemental north woods, the sweep of seasons, an iconic American barn, a fateful vision rendered in the falling rain--create a riveting family saga, a brilliant exploration of the limits of language, and a compulsively readable modern classic.

Keep Your Mouth Shut and Wear Beige by Seidel, Kathleen Gilles Kathleen Gilles Seidel is my one of my all time favorite authors that no on has ever heard of. She has spent the last twenty some years publishing some of the best books you never read for two publishers, and is now on her third publisher and yet another editor. Luckily none of this has affected her ability to write a great story for an afternoon’s read. This is the story of a happy, well adjusted, middle-aged divorced woman who’s adult son is getting married. To a wonderful girl whose parents are determined to put on the best wedding money can buy. A lot of money. Our heroine finds this activity to be equally exhausting and boring. Her ex-husband’s new wife is thrilled and wants to be involved. This is the kind of story Kathleen Gilles Seidel tells best. Nothing earth shaking, no one dies or is chased from country to country. This is just a story of family and problems, much like Jody Picoult without the melodrama.

I Am Legend by Matheson, Richard "In a genre where authors typically employ more gore and violence than plot and character, it is refreshing for a vampire novel to succeed as brilliantly this one. Robert Neville is, to the best of his knowledge, the only human still alive. As he searches for answers, the story moves beyond the horror genre and into the realm of social criticism. A terrific study of solitude and fear." --Jon Stich, DIESEL, A Bookstore, Oakland, CA