New & Recommended New & Recommended (November 03, 2004)

This month's picks by Frank Sanchez, head book buyer at Kepler's in Menlo Park, include Bob Dylan's "Chronicles," biographies of two other musicians, and more.

"Chronicles, Volume One" by Bob Dylan is part one of the acclaimed songwriter's autobiography. Just like his music, the book isn't linear, but starts and stops and picks up in different places. There is a wealth of detail about his early years in New York City before he started recording; some very candid revelations and generous comments about some of his fellow musicians.

"Elliot Smith and the Big Nothing" by Benjamin Nugent is a biography of the troubled singer-songwriter who died a year ago from what may have been self-inflicted stab wounds. Smith is best known for the song "Miss Misery" from the movie "Good Will Hunting."

"Django: The Life and Music of a Gypsy Legend" by Michael Dregni is a biography of the man some think was the greatest guitar player ever. Born in a gypsy camp in Belgium in 1910, Django Reinhardt began performing at age 12 and played with jazz bands until he died in 1953. Les Paul, B.B. King, Jerry Garcia and Chet Atkins are among the guitarists influenced by him.

"The Painting" by Nina Schuyler is a lyrically written novel set in 19th century Tokyo and Paris. In the story, a young Japanese woman in an arranged marriage secretly makes a painting of two lovers which she then sends to Paris, where it becomes the obsession of a wounded war veteran.

"Destination: Morgue!" by James Ellroy is a collection of 14 pieces, mostly fiction, about familiar Ellroy territory -- 1950s Los Angeles. By the author of "Crime Wave," "Hollywood Nocturnes" and other books.

"A Complicated Kindness" by Miriam Toews is a novel set in a Mennonite town in southern Manitoba. In the story, a young girl is confused by the disappearance of her mother and sister and confronts conventions of her family's faith.

"Gilgamish," translated by Stephen Mitchell, is an updated version of a book first published in 1750 BCE and which was lost for two millennia before it was found in 1853. The book is about the journey of self-discovery of the king of Urak, which is modern-day Iraq, and has long been lauded by scholars. Mitchell has also translated the "Tao Te Ching" and the "Bhagavad Gita."

"Maeve Brennan: Homesick at The New Yorker" by Angela Bourke is the biography of the Irish writer who became known and respected for her short pieces, especially in the magazine's "Talk of the Town." Brennan first came to America as the daughter of the Irish ambassador and joined the New Yorker in 1949. She died in 1993.

-- Don Kazak

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