Currently reading. Genuinely can't decide if it's charming or annoying.

I really enjoyed this. I'm not sure it's very deep, but it is clever and very entertaining.

http://www.openlettersmonthly.com/novelreadings/tempest-of-the-headspace-margare...

My book club chose this and I was not looking forward to it, but I'm actually enjoying it a lot. It reminds me of the great Canadian TV series 'Slings and Arrows'.

I'm about half way through and enjoying this a lot. It brings back memories of my own walks in NYC, though I've only ever been a visitor.

Had a recent Twitter exchange about how much some of us appreciate heroines whose competence is conspicuous and makes them attractive to the hero. Eugenia is definitely in this group - yay.

I liked the premise and characters quite a lot, but I couldn't shake the feeling as I read that (sexy bits aside) this read like a pat YA novel. It hit on all the obvious points and humanized them but seemed really predictable.

I'm really enjoying this so far. Franny has just met Leon Posen and the scene got me wondering which living author would be as thrilling for me to meet as he is for her...I can think of several I'd be fascinated to meet (Ian McEwan, Hilary Mantel, Kazuo Ishiguro, for starters) but none I'd be quite so fan-girlish about.

12 chapters in with my class so far and I at least am loving it (as usual). There's something so fearless and joyous in Dickens's language, as if he's trying to see how much he can do with it -- unlike many contemporary authors who streamline and leave out as much as possible.

I thought this was a good read but not, ultimately, a great novel. I reviewed it for Open Letters Monthly:
http://www.openlettersmonthly.com/mind-the-gap/

A bit to my surprise, because at first glance the fragmented form looked like it might be a bit precious for my taste, I ended up loving this. It is a multi-faceted book that gives a compassionate look at a pretty unusual woman and her writing. My review is forthcoming in the TLS.

Starting Bleak House this week in my 19th-century novels class. Here's hoping they find it as thrilling as I always do!

The first book I read from my Christmas haul! I really enjoyed it, probably because it is quintessential Anne Tyler, meaning it was predictable - or consistent - in a good way (for me). More here:

http://www.openlettersmonthly.com/novelreadings/in-this-house-anne-tyler-a-spool...