I recently finished:
Notes From a Scandal (Zoe Heller) — excellent
Everything You Know (Zoe Heller) — good
The Brooklyn Follies (Paul Auster) — terrific
and some others that I don’t remember because they weren’t excellent, good, or terrific.

Now I’m reading Small Island (Andrea Levy). I think someone on your blog mentioned it. I’m three-quarters through it and it’s still fabulous.

Since I have forsaken my cable, I actually looked up the last iteration of this post over the weekend and read _Good Grief_ upon someone’s excellent recommendation. I LOVED it. I did not, however, get into _20 Times a Lady_ which was also recommended. Prior to these books, I read _Such a Long Journey_ which is by the amazing Indian author Rohinton Mistry (he also wrote _A Fine Balance_).

I recently finished reading The Case for Democracy by Natan Sharansky. It’s a book with awesome ideas and some great historical reminders, though the author rambles a bit. You will either really love it or really hate it.

Now I am reading Guests of the Ayatollah by Mark Bowden. It’s an account of the 1979 hostage crisis in Iran. The book reads like a novel and includes a lot of details I didn’t know before. let’s just say it’s quite topical right now. Bowden also wrote Black Hawk Down, which got made into a movie.

[Waits for flame from VJ]

I’m still reading lincoln: a novel by gore vidal. but I’m also reading we tell ourselves stories in order to live by joan didion, which is her complete works and 1200 pages. I’m in the middle of the white album. since its not portable, I read it at home and sometimes skip around since its all essays but lincoln is more “portable” book - thus its taking me a while to read both. hopefully will make some progress on lincoln since I have a bit of traveling coming up this month.

In lieu of traditional nesting (with God’s Help, our little one will make an appearance this week), I have been reading everything I can find!! It’s an ecclectic list.

Rebecca (Daphne du Maurier) — awesome!!
Goodnight Nobody (Jennifer Weiner) — fun read. Turns out I had already read it, but thanks to pregnancy-amnesia, didn’t realize it til 1/3 through.
The Jane Austen Book Club (Karen Joy Fowler) — a little disappointing. The Reading Group, Alphabet Weekends, Friendship Test (all by Elizabeth Doyle) — fun reads. The Namesake (Jhumpa Lahiri) — a reread for me — and I loved it just as much this time.Interpreter of Maladies (also by Jhumpa Lahiri) — this is her Pulitzer-winning book — and I didn’t really enjoy it all that much. Maybe I don’t care for short stories??

I am currently making my way through Marjorie Morningstar (I can’t believe I never read this!) and The Devil Wears Prada. I’ll let you know my thoughts…

I’m also reading Small Island, having trouble finding the time though…

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas is very good - a holocaust book that everyone should read.

I love when you do this, Hilary! I’ve added two more to my “Must Read” list: Marjorie Morningstar (I never read it either) and The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. Good thing that I don’t have a lot of work these days!

Marjorie Morningstar is the first book I read in one sitting (I was thirteen at the time). It is such a classic. I hope you both enjoy it!

I reread Wicked in anticipation of reading Son of a Witch both by Gregory Maguire. I also have his Mirror, Mirror in the wings.

Just before that I struggled through a non-fiction book that I think is called All I Needed to Know I learned from Shakespeare. It was okay, but you have to like Willy the Shake.

Some of the rest of these are going on my list now.

I am also trying to get into The Book Thief and I just can’t.

Just finished The Birthdays by Heidi Pitlor. It wasn’t amazing, but was OK.

I like Jennifer Weiner, so thanks for the recomendation, Rebecca!

Re: The Book Thief. It is really one of the best books. And it does take a hundred or so pages before you realize it. Keep at it Essie (and H, when you’re off hiatus) — it’s so worth it. I promise.

I’m also reading Small Island for my book club but I can’t get into it. Everyone said it is really good so I’m trying.

I’ve been on a big chick lit kick lately. I just finished shopaholic and baby (I can’t believe I’m admitting it) and Getting Rid of Mathew. Both were fun reads…nothing too deep.

I am SOOOOO enjoying Marjorie Morningstar. I am so sad that I did not read it sooner!!!

Herman Wouk’s big opus was Winds of War, a World War II novel. Marvelous.

(for those of you following at home:”morningstar” = “morgenstern”)

When I was home over Passover my mom gave me a book to read that she had from her local library. It was Anna Quindlan’s rise and Shine and it was really pretty good!

I’m a huge Jennifer Weiner fan. I have loved all of her books and I’m waiting for her short stories to go into paperback.

I just picked up “Fear of Flying” by Erica Jong. It’s a story about a woman discovering her sexuality. It might be a bit risque. I wanted to read it before Maggie Gyllenhal (sp) did the movie. I love Mag’s work.

The Kite Runner - I always recommend that
Anything by Jhumpa Lahiri - but The Namesake is particulary stunning.
Encyclopedia Of An Ordinary Life - Amy Krouse Rosenthal, so good!

Sarah — keep going with Small Island. The end is worth it!

Hi Hilary. I’m back after a really long time . . .

Since I’ve been gone, I’ve read a lot, but I really enjoyed the “Undead” series by MaryJanice Davidson (Undead and Unwed, Undead and Unreturnable, Undead and Unappreciated . . .). They’re really good summer reads.

I also love the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich.

And I’m currently in the middle of _Survivor_ by Chuck Palahniuk. I like it, but I’m not sure how much yet.

It’s good to be back.