Story last updated at
2:35 p.m.
Thursday, January 2, 2003
Homer readers look locally for literature
by Carey James
Staff Writer
Sharon Bushell's "We Alaskans," released earlier this fall, took the bestseller spot this year.
Local and locally known authors topped the bestseller's list in Homer in 2002, with Alaska stories snagging seven of the top 10 slots at the Homer Bookstore
Sharon Bushell's "We Alaskans," released earlier this fall, took the bestseller spot this year, a turnaround from last year when national books topped the list.
Bushell's interviews with Alaska homesteaders apparently caught the attention of readers, as did "Kachemak Bay Years" story of Elsa Pedersen's homesteading days in Bear Cove. While Pedersen lived in Sterling before passing away shortly before her book came out, bookstore co-owner Sue Post said the book filled a niche for readers looking for stories of old-time Alaska.
Homer Bookstore
Top Ten List
"We Alaskans," by Sharon Bushell
"Kachemak Bay Years," by Elsa Pedersen
"Chips from the Chopping Block," by Jay Hammond
Wild Horses of Summer Bay," by Margarida Kondak
"Jim Rearden's Alaska" by Jim Rearden
"Four Agreements," by Don Miquel Ruiz
"Harris & Me," by Gary Paulsen
"Rowing to Latitude," by Jill Fredston
"Years of Wonders," by Geraldine Brooks
"Tisha," by Robert Specht
"It is really beautifully done," Post said. "Rebecca Poulson of Sitka did woodcut illustrations throughout the book, and she is familiar to many people in Homer."
Former Alaska governor Jay Hammond's sourdough stories "Chips from the Chopping Block," took the No. 3 slot in the bestseller list after Hammond visited Homer earlier in the year for a book signing.
"Wild Horses of Summer Bay" by local author Magarida Kondak was no. 4 on Homer's Bestseller List.
One of two children's books to make it on the list this year is by local author Magarida Kondak, titled "Wild Horses of Summer Bay." Kondak's story of a young child enamored with horses is illustrated by her sister-in-law, who lives in Oregon.
"Jim Rearden's Alaska" fell from the No. 2 slot last year to No. 5, beating out the what Post refers to as the token self-help book, "Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom."
Post said the self-help book seems to have a following in homer as an easy to read guide to a fulfilling life, but none of the bookstore staff had read it yet, so those seeking more details will have to check it out themselves.
Perhaps as a indicator of the power of hand-selling is "Harris & Me," a hilarious young adult book by Gary Paulsen. The book was read by Lee Post and put on the bookstore's "guaranteed good" list, as well as recommended to many seeking a hilarious read. As a result, it climbed to the seventh place.
"Rowing to Latitude," by Alaska adventurer Jill Fredston took the eighth-place slot this year after the author made two visits to the Hamlet in recent years for book signings and slide presentations.
Finishing off the list are "Year's of Wonder," a gripping novel about a small town's attempt to keep out the plague, and "Tisha," a popular Alaskana book about a school teacher who moved to Chicken, Alaska, to teach.
"Rowing to Latitude," by Alaska adventurer Jill Fredston took the eight-place slot this year.
Not far from the top 10 considering its late year release is "You Know You're in a Small Town When," series of comic strips by Lorraine Williams of Homer. The comic book was Homer's No. 14 best seller.
Post said the list runs in parallel with most years at the bookstore with one surprising and some might consider hopeful deletion.
"You Know You're in a Small Town When," series of comic strips by Lorraine Williams of Homer was Homer's No. 14 best seller.
"There were no diet books in the top 10 this year," Post said.
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