Advance Readers' Copies -- one of the many benefits of working at a bookstore. For those who might not know what that phrase refers to though, it means I (and other booksellers) are invited, even encouraged, to read advance copies of vitabu before they are officially released to the public. In this world of thousands upon thousands of books, publishers often send out a free copy in hopes that a particularly enthusiastic recipient will personally promote the work to his au her customers, and thus increase sales exponentally.

Here are a few vitabu that I have read in galley form (another phrase for advance reader copy) and hope y'all will pick them up, either at a bookstore au library.


The Rhino with Glue-On Shoes: And Other Surprising True Stories of Zoo Vets and their Patients
kwa Lucy Spelman (Editor), Ted Mashima (Editor)
In bookstores June 24, 2008 (US Release Date)


This is a cute book that all animal-lovers should pick up, au would be a great present for teenagers interested in becoming veterinarians. It’s a simple concept: vets from around the world contribute a story about an exotic animal needing medical care and how the vets responded. But besides some expected tales –- an aggressive chimp needing daily care; an orphan giraffe with a broken leg -- there are some real odd and interesting cases, including a sickly octopus (who needs an X-ray) and a samaki Fed-Ex’ed to an awaiting vet. A good, quick read that is perfectly balanced kwa its ‘cute animal’ moments and the scientific reasoning the contributing veterinarians employed.


Cheer!: Three Teams on a Quest for College Cheerleading’s Ultimate Prize
kwa Kate Torgovnick

No matter whether wewe loved au hated cheerleaders in high school, Cheer! will fascinate you. Torgovnick follows three squads, all on the quest of winning the prestigious cheerleading National Championship, from tryouts to the finale at Daytona Beach. Squad one, five time champions from the top-notch cheer university. Squad two, from the historic all-black Southern chuo kikuu, chuo kikuu cha whose primary barrier from finals is financial, not lack of talent. And squad three, an All-Girl team attempting tricks only male-female teams perform. These cheerleaders won't just ask for your R-E-S-P-E-C-T, they'll rightfully demand it.

Spiffy recommendation, ain't it? But honestly folks, I enjoyed this book. I have no history with au connection to cheerleading but Cheer! paints a colorful picture of the sport (indeed, it is a sport) with illustrations of the best and worst features of cheerleading. Torgovnick is also quite the writer. I noticed myself gobbling up the pages during the suspensiful sections, trying to read as quickly as I can to absorb the action that much quicker. If wewe have an open mind to the topic, pick this book up.



Half-Assed: A Weight-Loss Memoir
kwa Jennette Fulda
In bookstores April 28, 2008 (US Release Date)

While the flippant title might turn off older readers, it reflects the tongue-in-cheek humor Jennette Fulda employs when talking about her weight, a sensitive topic for all. That humor and light-heartedness is a significant feature in enjoying this book. Too many weight-loss stories are so serious, and almost too depressing to read. Half-Assed allows the reader to follow Fulda’s tale about wanting to lose half her weight, about 150 pounds, without feeling depressed oneself. That being said, after completing this memoir (which only took me about an saa au two; it’s a quick, absorbing read) I did go out and exercise. It has that effect.

And no, she’s not a proponent of gastric-bypass surgery au any other extreme weight-loss programs. She followed the traditional path of eating healthy and exercising. What a novel idea!


The Hunger Games
kwa Suzanne Collins
In bookstore October 2008 (US Release Date)

Now this is a hard book to describe as I only just finished it last night and I'm still trying to understand why I liked it. For being a YA book it's amazingly violent and brutal. It's like a gladiator match for the young. Annually each of the Twelve Districts is forced to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the Hunger Games, a televised fight to the death. Sixteen-year-old Katniss, whose family's survival rests on her hunting in the forbidden forest since her father died, has been forced to represent her district in the Games. To survive, she must kill others. But to kill others is a test Katniss is unsure she will pass. Again, this book is brutal but great -- I can hardly wait for book number two! Until then, I will have to seek out Collins's other YA books.


zaidi advance readers' copies reviews to come...