The Books Inc. Marina best-seller list

1. The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest by Stieg Larsson (fiction, hardcover)
2. City of Thieves by David Benioff (fiction, paperback)
3. Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese (fiction, paperback)
4. Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann (fiction, paperback)
5. Little Bee by Chris Cleave (fiction, paperback)
6. Thousand Autumns of Jacob De Zoet  by David Mitchell (fiction, hardcover)
7. The Big Short by Michael Lewis (nonfiction, hardcover)
8. Medium Raw by Anthony Bourdain (nonfiction, hardcover)
9. The Imperfectionists by Tom Rachman (fiction, hardcover)
10. Awkward Family Photos by Mike Bender (humor, paperback)

Books Inc. staff picks

Fiction: Private Life by Jane Smiley
I like good old-fashioned historical novels and this is a leisurely good read. At times I felt like I was reading Willa Cather or Edith Wharton, as Smiley has an elegant style that fits the era (late 1880s, early 1900s). The story is about a woman’s struggle with life and where she fits in. I noted the male characters are extremely lacking in many aspects, so this novel may be directed toward a female audience.
– Bill Dito

Fiction: The Little Giant of Aberdeen County
by Tiffany Baker
Beautifully written story that touches you on both an emotional and intellectual level. It challenges your understanding of beauty, morals, and your sense of right and wrong. Definitely a big must read!
– Amadeus Martin

Fiction: The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake
by Aimee Bender
The specificity of the characters and their emotional landscapes is startlingly acute. Set in L.A., the best city for magical realism, and comprised of crisp, deceptively simple sentences. A read as heartbreaking and delicious as the food represented within.
– Maggie Tokuda-Hall

Fiction: Fault Line by Barry Eisler
Thriller entertainment of the highest order. Lots of great local Bay Area color in this one. Until I finished it, I just didn’t want to do anything else but keep reading.
– Bob Deloria

For kids

New picture book: A Sick Day for Amos McGee
by Philip Stead
So cute it should probably be illegal. A simple story with fabulous woodblock and pencil illustrations that feel vintage even though they’re brand new. I love the penguin’s socks and the elephant’s bottom! You really have to see it to appreciate it fully.
 – Maggie Tokuda-Hall

Rich Ciccotelli is the manager of Books Inc. in the Marina.