Every week or so, The New York Times runs a delightful interview called By The Book. From a boilerplate of questions, authors and other famous figures talk about how reading has changed their lives.
I’ve written about the book before, but I thought it would be fun to answer the questions myself. We’ll see how this goes.
What book is on your nightstand now?
Due to a design quirk of my prewar apartment building, I have never had a nightstand. Plus I read almost exclusively on my Kindle.
What is the last truly great book you read?
The Sentence by Louise Erdrich has a vivid protagonist and a riveting, gorgeously written story. Tookie is imprisoned after a bizarre crime, released, marries her arresting officer, and runs a haunted bookshop in Minneapolis during the COVID lockdowns. Best book of 2022.
What’s your favorite literary genre? Any guilty pleasures?
I love but have grown tired of the suspense genre. I love memoirs. I guess a guilty pleasure might be the occasional celebrity memoir. Ghostwritten and unreliable, they hardly count as books.
What was the last book that made you cry?
A memoir by the father of a toddler who died in a freak accident. It was the saddest thing.
What was the last book that made you laugh?
In The Guncle there were neighbors named Snap, Crackle, and Pop. I remember finding that plotline funny. I probably laughed.
What novels contain the best sex?
You got me.
What is the best book set in San Francisco? Minnesota?
Tales of the City is a great series set just a few blocks from where I live. It captures one moment in time. There will never be another San Francisco like that. For my home state, I’d vote again for Louise Erdrich.
More questions next week!
Books Smitten 