What Are You Reading?

Well, hello there!  And Happy Spring.  Even though the winter we had in NYC this year was not so bad at all, I'm very pleased at the arrival of sunny skies and warm weather and running outside and leaving hats and scarves and gloves at home.  Another even though: even though it seems that winter would be the best time to read, what with the being inside avoiding the cold weather and all, my own reading (and I don't think I'm alone here) always ramps up a little bit when the weather warms up. My most recents: the entire HUNGER GAMES trilogy in advance of the movie.  I loved the books and though the movie held so close to the book, I didn't love it as much.  I may be alone there.  Inspired by the media frenzy that surrounded the return of MAD MEN to Sunday nights, I read (for the first time) Rona Jaffe's THE BEST OF EVERYTHING.  If you haven't already I recommend taking the predecessor of all predecessors to Sex and the City for a whirl...it started so much (!) and was terribly engrossing, and I thought, quite sharp. I also just devoured an advance copy of Stacey Ballis' upcoming OFF THE MENU.  Loved. I told her the book made me want to run across the street to Sur La Table (true story: I live across the street from a Sur La Table) and be a better woman.  You can see what I mean on July 3.

Up next: I would love to be reading the copyedits for my next book.  I'm wondering where they are and I'm getting close to that place where wonder can turn into angst.  I deal with the uncertainty and the feelings it brings up in the best way: I keep hitting the "get mail" button.  And until something happens, I'm about to dive (er, wade slowly) into Joan Didion's THE YEAR OF MAGICAL THINKING.  This is partly because I love Joan Didion and partly because the protagonist of the novel I am currently writing has lost a lot --a lot a lot.  Much more than I ever have, so I thought reading this book would help me get in touch with certain feelings.  I'm a little scared though as I heard it was very tough and I can be a little bit of a lightweight.  Has anyone else read it?  I'd love your thoughts.  And then after that, I'm reading the book right below:  Sarah Pekkanen's THESE GIRLS.  Can't wait.

And what are YOU reading and what's on your TBR list?  I'd love to add to my own, so please let me know in the comments.

Til next time,

Alison