While bookstores are experiencing a small surge in sales, the Association of American Publishers has a less positive outlook: April's 3.5 percent in sales was a vast improvement over the 11 percent plunge of March, but remember the assurances that the book biz was "stable with modest growth" last summer? So far this year, that analysis is three words too long...

That said, there are some beacons of optimism: adult trade paperback sales are up 18.2 percent for the first four months of 2008, and e-book sales have risen more than 36 percent.