Bloggers Made of AWESOME: Jen H @ The Relentless Reader

Jen @ The Relentless Reader- I have Allison @ The Book Wheel and Rebecca @ Love At First Book to thank for introducing me to Jen H. Why is Jen @ The Relentless Reader AWESOME? She recommends good books, she’s funny on Twitter and she’s all about trying to make the blogger experience better for others (ex: she’s totally not a fan of CAPTCHA and presents good reasons why!)

Bloggers Made of AWESOME: Jen H @ The Relentless Reader

Jennifer- when did you begin blogging?

June 28, 2012. I recently celebrated my one year blogoversary!

How did you come up with the name The Relentless Reader?

I considered SO many names (Wisconsin Word Nerd, etc.). I asked friends and family for advice and posted a HELP ME PICK A BLOG NAME status on my personal Facebook page. But now I can’t remember where in the world the name came from. It definitely fits my personality though.

What are your thoughts on blogging today in an ever-changing book-ish world? Are blogs helping other readers connect with good books?

I certainly hope we are! I love helping people find a great book, it’s one of the reasons that I love to blog. I know that other bloggers help me find fab books to read. Thanks to them my tbr pile is ridiculous!

When you are not blogging (or reading!)- what do you like to do?

I love spending time with my kids. They are 21, 15, & 13. Their favorite thing is avoiding their nerdy mother. So, the whole hanging out thing doesn’t happen often 😉

Also, I like to find a series on Netflix and watch it obsessively for 3 days in a row.

Do you have a #literarycrush?

Atticus Finch from To Kill a Mockingbird. SWOON!

In your opinion, what book has been the best book you have read (so far!) in 2013?

Oh man, this is so hard to answer. 2013 has been packed with great books so far! One fiction that has stuck in my mind is A Constellation of Vital Phenomena by Anthony Marra. Is it my favorite of the year? Perhaps! I’ve also read some incredible nonfiction including The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown

You have a beach vacation planned. What are the 3 books that you must bring?

My summer reading doesn’t look much different from any other season. But if I HAD to pick just a few favorites they would be:

To Kill a Mockingbird (Have I mentioned how swoon-worthy Atticus is?)

The Catcher in the Rye (Yes, I love me some whiny teenage Holden)

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

(This list is subject to change on a daily basis)

Are you an e-book or tree book lover? Or does it not matter?

I think I’ll always like tree books better. With that said, I’m glad that I have a Kindle. I held out on buying one for a long time with some misguided idea of SAVING REAL BOOKS.

How do you find other blogs to read? Recommendations of other bloggers?

When I first started blogging I had a heck of a time finding bloggers with the same reading tastes and sensibilities as mine. I thought for sure that YA book blogs were the only ones that existed! They aren’t my thing. (No hate mail, please!) I finally found a few that I loved and then stalked their blogrolls like a crazy lady. Since then I’ve found the best blogs in the land. I don’t want to name favorites though, that’s like naming my favorite child! BAD IDEA.

Jen H @ The Relentless Reader: Blog, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest.

Thursday Mashup….

Today’s Mashup has several giveaways- so get your book-ish selves to the giveaways!

#giveaways

Luxury Reading is giving away The Lemon Orchard by Luanne Rice

Luxury Reading is also giving away Meet Me at The Cupcake Cafe by Jenny Colgan

Luxury Reading is giving away Looking for Me by Beth Hoffman (this giveaway ends SOON!)

Book-alicious Mama is giving away The Panopticon by Jeni Fagan.

My blog, Traveling With T, is giving away The Lake House by Marci Nault!

Book Lovers Unite news

Tomorrow, Aug 9th, the first set of questions will be posted about The Comfort of Lies. Still time to join in- here is the reading schedule.

Literary Crush news!

Team Rob or Team Edmund? #literarycrush from The Firebird by Susanna Kearsley- Here is a blog post that makes an excellent case for whichever side of the aisle you fall on for this! Susanna Kearsely let 2 of her author friends discuss the reasons why they think their #literarycrush is the best! Read the article and then tell me what team you are on!

Author Spotlight: Stephanie Evanovich

In a previous post, I blogged about meeting Stephanie Evanovich. Talking to her was so nice and she was so interesting- my notebook was filled with things to blog about- so I decided to make this a two-part post!

Author Spotlight: Stephanie Evanovich:

Who are some of your favorite authors?

Susan Elizabeth Phillips, S.E.Hinton, Catherine Coulter, Anthony Robbins and Jill Shalvis.

What’s going in your beach bag to read on vacation?

It Had To Be You by Jill Shalvis and Ladies Night by Mary Kay Andrews.

What is the best book of 2013 that you’ve read so far?

Stephanie alerted me to the fact that between edits of Big Girl Panties and touring- that she really has not read much this year. However, she did read the 50 Shades of Grey series- and said she liked it. As Stephanie said to me in the book store” 50 Shades of Grey wasn’t War and Peace– but she was entertained.” She also read Breathing Room by Susan Elizabeth Phillips and liked that as well.

How long did it take to write Big Girl Panties?

Three years- but not every day writing. About 9 months of working hard on Big Girl Panties.

What is your writing routine?

I write best from 5am-9am- and I do not write in coffeehouses. I have to have my own space to write!

While writing, did you have a soundtrack in mind for the book? Or to set certain scenes?

The whole time I was writing this book, I listened to Lifehouse’s album Who We Are. The songs that set the scene for Logan and Holly are songs 7,8,9. Song 7 is Easier to Be, Song 8 is Make Me Over, and song 9 is Mesmerized.

Do you have a #literarycrush?

Bobby Tom Denton in Heaven Fall.

Do you have a #literaryconfession?

When I was teen, I discovered S.E. Hinton’s The Outsiders. After reading and loving the book, I used to pretend that S.E. stood for Stephanie Elizabeth (which is my name!)

*Special thanks to Stephanie Evanovich for answering these questions and revealing her #literarycrush and #literaryconfessions!

Bloggers made of AWESOME: Allison @ The Book Wheel

Today, I have Allison @ The Book Wheel as my featured Bloggers made of AWESOME. Why do I like Allison’s blog? She features books that I may not know much about and her posts are always informative!

After reading the interview, I hope you’ll find Allison @ The Book Wheel as interesting as I do!

Interview with Allison @ The Book Wheel

Allison- when did you begin blogging?

I started blogging on and off in January 2011, but I didn’t start book blogging until July of 2012.

How did you come up with the name The Book Wheel?

I named my blog The Book Wheel for so many reasons! Wheels never end and revolve. My love for books is constant, never ending and my entire world revolves around books. Or, you could say that books make the world go ’round. Or, that books make my world go ’round. Or, that the wheel of invention is dependent on books. Or, that books propel us forward. Or, that knowledge depends on a never ending supply of information. Or, that books provide never-ending knowledge. Or, that the supply of books is never ending. Like I said, there are a lot of reasons!

What are your thoughts on blogging today in an ever-changing book-ish world? Are blogs helping other readers connect with good books?

Yes and no. I know that this is probably not the reality of it, but I seem to only meet readers or non-readers. I rarely meet anyone who enjoys reading sometimes. So for those who read regularly, I think that book blogs are a tremendous help in finding the next best thing because the reader is getting advice from an unpaid source (we assume). I don’t know that blogs are very instrumental in helping the sometimes reader, though, because they probably don’t spend much time online researching books and/or reading reviews.

When you are not blogging (or reading!)- what do you like to do?

There are things other than blogging and reading?! Let’s see. I work full-time, have a literary and digital consulting company, and am starting my Master of Public Policy program in the Fall, so reading and blogging may be my only hobbies pretty soon. But, I’m also married to an incredible man and we have two fantastic dogs. We are big fans of hopping in the SUV and heading out on mini road trips. We recently moved to Colorado and love driving into the mountains at random to see where we end up. Most recently, we trekked it 7 hours to the Badlands to watch the sun rise, which was pretty amazing. Oh, and I watch an abnormal amount of Law & Order and L&O SVU. Some may call it an addiction.

Do you have any #literaryconfessions?

I may or may not have read a few Jackie Collins books in my day. I also may or may not have a signed photo of her.

Do you have a #literarycrush?

I know this is cliché, but I love Mr. Darcy. I think this is because I adore Colin Firth and they are one in the same for me. I also recently read A Room With a View so George Is on the list now, too!

What books are you looking forward to reading in 2013?

Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg and The Know-It-All by AJ Jacobs.

In your opinion, what book has been the best book you have read (so far!) in 2013?

Oh! This is such a hard question because I have read so many fantastic books. I’m going to cheat and pick one fiction and one based on a true story! My fiction is Book of Secrets by Elizabeth Joy Arnold and the other is The Rebellion of Miss Lucy Ann Lobdell by William Klaber.

You have a beach vacation planned. What are the 3 books that you must bring?

Whatever I have on my list! The only book that I must have is Where the Red Fern Grows and I read it every summer, so I suppose that I’d bring that one. But when it comes to vacations, I’m an equal opportunist.

Are you an e-book or tree book lover? Or does it not matter?

There was a time when I was torn to pieces over getting a Kindle, but then I had surgery and was bedridden for weeks on end and the Kindle saved me from absolute boredom! Now I’m a big fan of the e-reader and have a Kindle and an iPad mini. I still buy paper books when it’s an author that I love, a limited edition, or if I’m attending the signing (I don’t understand ‘e-book signings’), but I love my e-readers.

*If you want to know more about Allison @ The Book Wheel– check out her blog! And join me in congratulating Allison- last Wednesday, July 24, was her 1 year anniversary as a blogger! Also- looks like the NYT got the memo about how AWESOME Allison @ The Book Wheel is before I could post this! Check out her FANTASTIC NYT news here!

Allison can also be found on Facebook and Twitter!

Author Spotlight: Amy Shearn

Monday, Amy Shearn was at Traveling With T for an interview- today it’s all about the Author Spotlight and #literaryconfessions, #literarycrush and more!

Warning: Do not drink anything while reading this- Amy’s quite funny- and she has a way with words!

Author Spotlight: Amy Shearn

What are some of your favorite books, Amy?

Virginia Woolf’s Mrs. Dalloway is the novel I’m always going back to. I just started rereading it for the millionth time. To me it’s the perfect novel – it’s beautiful, funny, sad, complicated, simple. It’s about one day in the life of one woman but it’s also about everything. It’s essentially Ulysses, but without being an asshole.

If you could choose to be a character in a book- who would you choose?

What a great question! Maybe the title character of Virginia Woolf’s (much-stranger-than-Mrs-Dalloway) novel Orlando? Orlando gets to be both a man and a woman and live for 400 years and have all sorts of adventures, which seems pretty rad to me. Though upon consideration I’m not sure I’d actually like to be a man (no offense to men).

If you were not an author, what would you like to be?

Recently I’ve been having some hot-and-heavy fantasies about working in a bookstore. I know it’s not all just reading, talking to people about books, and petting the bookstore cat, but in my fantasy it is.

Do you have any #literaryconfessions?

You know, I was just thinking about how I’ve never read Philip Roth! How has this happened? I think I might get my Author Card revoked for admitting that. I also don’t really read magazines, despite writing for them. I don’t dislike them, I just always end up with a book instead.

Do you have a #literarycrush?

I completely have the hots for Mr. Darcy, who’s such a brooding grouch. It’s so annoying. (Mr. Darcy, my crush, all of it.)

What is your favorite song?

It’s overplayed in every coffee shop in New York City but I still get happy when I hear Neutral Milk Hotel’s “In the Aeroplane Over the Sea.” I love the strange lyrics, and the way it reminds me of a very happy, creatively alive time in my life and the beginning of my relationship with my husband. It’s about dying, a little. It’s also the most romantic of all love songs! I swear.

Do you have any guilty pleasures?

Oh, too much social media, like everyone else. I have to severely limit my Pinterest time or every evening of my life would disappear in an ether of lovely kitchens, glamour shots of typewriters, and nicely-laid-out quotations about being brave.

*Special thanks to Amy Shearn for this Author Spotlight!

Amy Shearn can be found on Facebook, Twitter, and has a website. If you’ve enjoyed the Author Spotlight, grab a copy of The Mermaid of Brooklyn!

Author Spotlight: Beth Hoffman

Beth Hoffman, author of Looking for Me, was here on Monday for an interview. Today, she is back for an author spotlight!

Congratulations to Beth- Looking for Me (along with 20 other books!) was chosen to be part of Deep South Magazine’s Summer Reading List.

Author Spotlight: Beth Hoffman

What are some of your favorite books, Beth?

There are far too many to list, but among my all-time favorites are: Roxanna Slade by Reynolds Price, A Christmas Memory by Truman Capote, Mama Makes Up Her Mind by Bailey White, and A Gracious Plenty by Sheri Reynolds.

If you could choose to be a character in a book- who would you choose?

I’d be Thelma Rae Goodpepper in Saving CeeCee Honeycutt. I’m already a lot like her. Just give me a few years and an outdoor bathtub, and I’ll probably turn into her twin!

If you were not an author, what would you like to be?

At this stage in my life, I can’t imagine doing anything else. Though I loved interior design and spent twenty years in that industry building a clientele and opening my own shop, I have no desire to return. If I had to choose something other than writing, then I’d open an animal rescue and rehabilitation facility.

Do you have any #literaryconfessions?

The only literary confession I can think of is that I’ve not read Jane Eyre.

Do you have a #literarycrush?

I’ve never had a literary crush. But if I had to pick one, it would probably be Tom Wingo from The Prince of Tides by Pat Conroy. He is whip-smart, vulnerable, flawed, incredibly human, and so damn funny.

What is your favorite song?

As odd as my answer is, it’s the truth. My favorite song is birdsong—especially red-winged blackbirds. It makes me happy to hear them sing outside my windows.

Do you have any guilty pleasures?

I’m a quiet and simple person. What gives me pleasure is peace and solitude. But I will confess that I have a thing for quality sheets. I change my bed every single day (yes, you read that right…LOL), and I triple sheet like they do in fine European hotels. The sheets must be white and I prefer them to have some sort of lace or cutwork on the hems of the pillowcases. I love to take a hot bath at the end of the day and slip into crisp and cool sheets with a good book. To me, that’s bliss.

Beth- are you a hardback, paperback, or e-book kind of reader?

I like all three for different reasons. While I prefer hardback books, I do love to read on my iPad, especially when traveling.

What are some of the books in your TBR (To Be Read) list?

Thanks to all you bloggers, I have a huge TBR list! But a few titles on that list are: Benediction by Kent Haruf, Whistling Past the Graveyard by Susan Crandall, and Elegies for the Brokenhearted by Christie Hodgen.

*Special thanks to Beth Hoffman for this author spotlight!

Beth Hoffman- when not writing, reading, or changing her sheets- can be found on Twitter, Facebook, or her website.

Be sure and check out the Interview with Beth Hoffman and Traveling With T’s review of Looking for Me.

Author Spotlight: Wendy Francis

Today, Wendy is back to reveal her #literaryconfessions and more!

Author Spotlight with Wendy Francis

Wendy, when you are not writing, what do you like to do with your time?

Most days, I’m doing something with my five-year-old son, whether it’s playing street hockey, baseball in the front yard, or drawing pictures of animals (I always forget the neck for some reason). He’s an active little guy and keeps me busy. Like any writer, I also love to read, then read some more. Reading is still the great escape for me that it was when I first discovered new worlds in Harriet the Spy or The Island of the Blue Dolphins. I also like running, aka jogging. I used to run a fair bit but then stopped because of a knee injury. Recently, though, I’ve been trying to get back into it and hope that soon three miles won’t feel like twenty.

Could you tell us who some of your favorite authors are?

There are so many! I’ll read anything by Elizabeth Strout and Kent Haruf. They’re both masters at creating a sense of place and unforgettable characters. For sheer literary heft, no one can pack a wallop in a sentence like Pat Conroy does. But I also love fiction that features strong female characters, often with a sense of humor. For that, I turn to Elinor Lipman, Jennifer Weiner, Elin Hilderbrand, Nancy Thayer, and Emily Giffin. I guess you could say my literary tastes are all over the map, but that’s how I like it. I’ve just started J. Courtney Sullivan’s The Engagements, and I’m enthralled.

Do you have any #literary confessions?

Well, I’ve never read War and Peace, and I’ve read only parts of Anna Karenina. I always figured I’d pick up Tolstoy later in life when I was smarter.

Do you have a #literarycrush?

I’ve pretty much been in love with Nick from The Great Gatsby (not the movie Nick) since first reading the book in high school. He’s smart, decent, hails from the Midwest, but also has a certain vulnerability that appeals to my protective side. And I was completely charmed by those unassuming McPheron brothers in Kent Haruf’s Plainsong. They strike me as the type of men who would appreciate someone’s inviting them over for a proper dinner. As for real life literary crushes, I always thought I’d enjoy sharing a stiff Southern drink with Pat Conroy. His memoir, My Reading Life, is one of my favorites.

What are some of the books you look forward to reading in 2013?

My reading pile is high! Elin Hilderbrand’s new novel, Beautiful Day, is just out, so that will be in my beach bag. I’m also looking forward to Revenge Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger. Others on my list: Karen White’s The Time Between and Nancy Thayer’s Island Girls. And I’ve yet to read The Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach: I’m told it’s not really about baseball, and I’m looking forward to it.

If you could be best friends with a character in a book, who would you pick? And why?

I really loved Hildy in Ann Leary’s The Good House, even if Hildy has a drinking problem she won’t admit to. Hildy is well-steeped in her New England town’s history and has a fabulous sense of humor matched by her compassion for her friends and family. I’ve no doubt that it would be a hoot to be her friend.

What is your idea of a perfect day?

A perfect day is one spent relaxing with my family, preferably somewhere near a beach. It would include swimming, goofing around with my son and step-kids, and reading. Ideally, it would also be topped off by a glass of wine and a late-night dinner with my husband. Nothing too out of the ordinary but spectacular nonetheless.

*Special thanks to Wendy Francis for agreeing to this Author Spotlight and revealing her #literaryconfessions and #literarycrush.

For more information on Wendy, check out my Interview with Wendy Francis, or Wendy’s website. To read my review of Three Good Things, click HERE.

Author Spotlight: Colette Freedman

Colette Freedman, author of The Affair, stopped by Traveling With T to talk about her #literarycrush, #literaryconfessions, favorite books and more.

Author Spotlight: Colette Freedman

Colette, when you are not writing- what do you like to do with your time?

I love to cycle and am currently training for a triathlon, though I’m a bit nervous about the swimming part. I also love to read, travel and I am trying to learn to cook because my only current culinary skill is making Grilled Cheese Sandwiches.

Could you tell us who some of your favorite authors are?

Stephen Fry, Ann Patchett, Nick Hornby, Kazuo Ishiguro, Jackie Collins & Michael Scott.

Do you have any #literaryconfessions?

Try as I might, I still can’t get past “Call me Ishmael.” (Sorry Herman Melville)

Do you have a #literarycrush?

My literary crush is Atticus Finch. He is noble, honest, a good father and someone who stood up for what he believed no matter what the cost. And it didn’t hurt that the incredibly sexy Gregory Peck played him in the film.

What are some of the books you are looking forward to reading in 2013?

Lionel Shriver’s Big Brother and Stephen King’s Dr. Sleep…I loved The Shining and can’t wait for the sequel.

If you could be best friends with a character in a book- who would you pick? And why?

Tina Fey in BossyPants. Who DOESN’T want to be best friends with Tina Fey?!!! She is funny, smart, self deprecating, entertaining and loyal. Perfect qualities of a best friend.

What is your favorite “guilty pleasure” song?

It’s a toss up between Jefferson Starship’s “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now” and Adele’s “Someone Like You.”

*Special thanks to Colette Freedman for the author spotlight.

Colette Freedman, author of The Affair, is hard at work on her second book (for a teaser about the title, come back on Wednesday to read Colette’s interview!) Need to know more about Colette? Check out her website or Twitter. Want to see how funny Colette can be? Read her post Colin Firth, Brad Pitt, and why I Love Book Clubs– it’s adorable and so funny!

To read Traveling With T’s review of The Affair, click HERE.

Lori Nelson Spielman: Author Spotlight

On Tuesday, I posted an interview with Lori Nelson Spielman- who just had her debut novel, The Life List, published! It’s in stores- just waiting for readers to come by and pick it up!

Today, Lori is back to talk about her #literaryconfessions, #literarycrush and more!

Author Spotlight: Lori Nelson Spielman

1. Lori, when you are not writing- what are some of your favorite things to do?

–I love to sail, and here in Michigan we’re lucky to have the fabulous Great Lakes. I love listening to live music, baking, traveling, reading, and being outdoors. Most of all, I love time with my friends and family, sharing a meal or chatting over a glass of wine.

2. Could you tell us some of your favorite authors?

–Some of my all time favorites are John Steinbeck, Maeve Binchey, Elizabeth Berg, and Edith Wharton.

3. What book (or books!) will you always make room for on your shelf?

–The Help and East of Eden. Always.

4. Do you have any #literaryconfessions?

–Ha! Yes, I do! I’ll whisper it to you: I never finished Harry Potter. And I’m not talking the series, I’m talking the first book, The Sorcerer’s Stone. I started reading it with one of my students, but he returned to school before we’d finished and I never picked it back up.

5. Do you have a #literarycrush?

–Okay, this is really a confession, since my crush is based on a real person, the author of Shantaram, Gregory David Roberts. His character, Lindsay, was courageous and kind, strong yet gentle. I listened to this book on audio, so the Australian accent didn’t hurt, either!

6. What are some of the books that will be in your beach bag for 2013?

–Oh my gosh, there are so many fantastic books out there. I’m reading The Glass Wives right now, Amy Sue Nathan’s terrific debut novel, and I just received a copy of Anita Hughes’ Market Street, which is sure to be a fun read. My book club is reading Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter and I hope to find time for Caroline Leavitt’s latest, Is This Tomorrow, along with Meg Wolitzer’s The Interestings.

7. What was your favorite childhood book?

–Here’s another #literaryconfession: My childhood library was pretty lame. I did read and love some of the Laura Ingalls Wilder books, but mostly I’d swipe and devour my brother’s Encyclopedia Brown books. In third grade Miss Travis read The Boxcar Children to our class and I was completely and utterly spellbound. I’d have to say that was my favorite.

8. Was there a person or a book series that helped start your love of reading?

–I remember being at my grandmother’s house when I was about ten, bored to tears, and finding an old dime store paperback called, First Love. It was my first romance/YA and I couldn’t put it down. That’s when I discovered how much fun it was to get lost in a novel. I’d love to see that silly book now.

9. If you were not an author, what would you want to be?

–My fantasy profession would be either a pastry chef or an actress. I know—acting seems inconsistent with my earlier claim of not enjoying the spotlight or public speaking, right? But something shifts when playing a character. I’ve dabbled in community theater, and someday, when time allows, I’d love to audition again.

10. If you could be a character in a book, who would you be? Why?

Wouldn’t it be fun to be Anne, from Anne of Green Gables, living at the Avonlea farmhouse on Prince Edward Island? She’s a great character, spunky and smart, with a great imagination and joy for life.

Author Spotlight: Karen Brown

Karen Brown, author of The Longings of Wayward Girls, found some time in her schedule to stop by to talk about her #literarycrush, #literaryconfessions and more!

Look for The Longings of Wayward Girls to be in stores July 2nd. It’s a psychological thriller that might give a person second thoughts about children playing in the woods.

Author Spotlight with Karen Brown

1. Karen, when you are not writing- what are some of your favorite things to do?

Reading comprises much of my free time. Even though it is intricately part of the life of a writer and in that sense might be considered “work,” I’ve always been an avid reader. I also find time to fit in running, which I enjoy, and hosting family gatherings.

2. Could you tell us some of your favorite authors?

This is such a hard question for a writer—I read for different reasons—but ultimately my favorites are those that somehow inform my own work, so on that note, some classic and current favorites: Emily Bronte, Shirley Jackson, John Cheever, William Trevor, and John Updike (my male triumvirate). Other writers who interest me: Claire Messud, Steven Millhauser, Jeffrey Eugenides, Don Delillo, Josh Weil, Lauren Groff, and Elizabeth Strout. (I’ve revised this response five or six times—clearly my favorites change from day to day.)

3. What book (or books!) will you always make room for on your shelf?

The Stories of John Cheever, first edition, with the inscription: To Mary Lee in honor of our sojourn in Naples, and other things, March 1979, Mary L. Ward. (My grandmother’s book)

4. Do you have any #literaryconfessions?

As an academic who sometimes teaches American literature I’m ashamed to confess I’ve never read a word of Moby Dick. (But I have read Sena Jeter Naslund’s wonderful Ahab’s Wife!)

5. Do you have a #literarycrush?

I love the “Mad Men” era, and John Updike’s male characters are awfully bad in a good way, so I’d say Richard Maple from Too Far to Go: The Maples Stories.

6. What are some of the books that you want to read for 2013?

So very many on my list, but here are a handful: The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer, The Flamethrowers by Rachel Kushner, A Constellation of Vital Phenomena by Anthony Marra, You Are One of Them by Elliot Holt, The Son by Philipp Meyer.

*Thank you, Karen Brown, for answering these questions.

Look for my review of The Longings of Wayward Girls and my interview with Karen Brown. Once you read, The Longings of Wayward Girls, come back and let me know how it was!