Current Newsletter: In celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month

Bookstores with reviews in this week's newsletter:

• Caleb Masters, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina
• Jessica Nock, Main Street Books in Davidson, North Carolina
• Julie Jarema, Hub City Bookshop in Spartanburg, South Carolina
• Sol Johnson, Quail Ridge Books in Raleigh, North Carolina
• Courtney Ulrich Smith, Underbrush Books in Rogers, Arkansas
• Jennifer Jones, Bookmiser in Marietta, Georgia
• Suzanne Lucey, Page 158 Books in Wake Forest, North Carolina
• Johanna Albrecht, McIntyre’s Books in Pittsboro, North Carolina
• Janisie Rodriguez, Copperfish Books in Punta Gorda, Florida
• Flyleaf Books in Chapel Hill, North Carolina
• Krista Roach, E. Shaver bookseller in Savannah, Georgia
• Nicole Tortoriello, Old Town Books in Alexandria, Virginia
• Jan Blodgett, Main Street Books in Davidson, North Carolina
• Maddie Grimes, Parnassus Books in Nashville, Tennessee
• Savannah Laughlin, The Country Bookshop in Southern Pines, North Carolina
• Charlie Marks, Fountain Bookstore in Richmond, Virginia
• Lera Shawver, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina
• Flora Arnsberger, Epilogue Books Chocolate Brews in Chapel Hill, North Carolina
• Kate Snyder, Plaid Elephant Books in Danville, Kentucky
• Melissa Taylor, E. Shaver Bookseller in Savannah, Georgia

Book Buzz Feature: Vanishing World by Sayaka Murata
I have had relationships with humans, but I’ve also loved a lot of people in stories. I’ve been told by my doctor not to talk about this too much, but ever since I was a child, I’ve had 30 or 40 imaginary friends who live on a different star or planet with whom I have shared love and sexual experiences. ……Some say that the worlds I write about are dystopian, but a lot of people think that actually reality is worse… I’ve often felt love, obsession, desire, friendship, a kind of faith, or almost a prayer-like relationship with these men – and they’ve always been men, so it’s a heterosexual relationship – who live inside stories. With Vanishing World I was trying to create a place where it might be easier for people who find it difficult to live in this world.

―  Sayaka Murata, Interview, Guardian

Decide For Yourself Banned Book Feature:
Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover
My first Colleen Hoover read! I can definitely see where all the hype is with her novels. She does pull you in and stir up all the feels. It was entertaining, I thought the female lead character did not stand up for herself enough, and love triangles are always tricky. The most interesting part was learning how the hearing-impaired male lead was able to teach himself to play and write music. Can’t wait to read more of her books!
―Krista Roach, E. Shaver Bookseller in Savannah, Georgia