New & Recommended New & Recommended (May 04, 2005)

This month's picks by Frank Sanchez, head book buyer at Kepler's Books, is an all-fiction list, including a Pulitizer-Prize winner, a Rick Bass novel, and a heartfelt and beautifully written novel about love.

"The Diezmo" by Rick Bass is a novel set during the days of the Texas Republic. The story is about an ill-fated military expedition to Mexico which turns bloody in a slaughter by rogue soldiers, who are later captured and imprisoned. Bass is the author of the nonfiction "Caribou Rising" and of the story collection "The Hermit's Story."

"Gilead" by Marilynne Robinson is the 2005 Pulitizer-Prize winning novel, by the author of the acclaimed "Housekeeping" more than 20 years ago. In this story, a dying minister leaves a farewell letter to his son. Sanchez said this is a "deep and beautiful book." This is Robinson's second novel, although she has also published two nonfiction books.

""The History of Love" by Nicole Krauss is a novel about an elderly World War II survivor who had written a now-lost novel, "The History of Love." The story carries the plot lines of both fictional books forward, intertwining the characters. It's a touching story of love and loss.

"Pinkerton's Sister" by Peter Rushforth is a novel about a young woman who stays in the attic of her family home, reading the classics and confounding family members, who think she should be seeking a spouse. The novel is set in 1905 New York.

"Chuck Dugan is AWOL" by Eric Chase Anderson is a novel with maps, and a hoot of a story. The author, who is the brother of filmmaker Wes Anderson, has written a lively little story about an 18-year-old dropout from the Naval Academy at Annapolis who goes on a journey to keep his mother from marrying his deceased father's arch enemy. Along the way, he also has to find the treasure his father buried for him. The maps help tell the story.

"Misfortune" by Wesley Stace is a novel by the musician known as John Wesley Harding (he is writing under his real name). The story is about a boy raised as a girl in 19th century England, creating some confusion for the child, especially when puberty hits. Stace and his music group, Love Hall Tryst, will perform a record of the songs in the book or inspired by it.

"The Evil B.B. Chow and Other Stories" by Steve Almond is a collection of short stories by the author of "Candyfreak," who also happened to grow up in Palo Alto. He published a previous story collection, "My Life in Heavy Metal." These stories are set in cities and university towns around the millennium, with people dealing with love and heartbreak.

-- Don Kazak

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