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"The Martian" by Andy Weir & raspberry-nectarine popsicles
Is it just me, or is everyone obsessed with space these days? At first I thought it was just me, because I read Andy Weir's excellent novel The Martian in a little over a day earlier this month. Then...
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The TBR List: August 7
Last night was one of the best TV nights in a long while. The GOP debate had plenty of drama and Jon Stewart signing off was touching and wonderful. It's also sad, of course. If you don't like Jon...
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"The Lives of Others" by Neel Mukherjee & ricotta-stuffed chicken breast
If you were a fan of The Lowland, you’ll love The Lives of Others. Shortlisted for the 2014 Man Booker Prize, Neel Mukherjee’s second novel is a dazzling portrayal of the turbulent political system in...
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The TBR List: August 14
Hello from Phoenix! I write to you from a coffee shop called Cartel, where the cold brew is pleasantly mild enough to drink without intervention of sweetener or creamer. A rare feat. This weekend,...
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"The Vacationers" by Emma Straub & Plum Bistro’s Mac & Yease
The Vacationers by Emma Straub follows the Franny and Jim Post on a two-week vacation in Mallorca with their two children, Sylvia and Bobby, Bobby’s girlfriend, and Franny’s best friend and his...
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The TBR List: August 21
Last Friday night, I was taking in this gorgeous sunset over the Desert Botanical Gardens in Phoenix. Tonight I'll be attending a wedding reception in downtown Chicago. Who knows what next week will...
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"Cutting For Stone" by Abraham Verghese & spicy parmesan-garlic twists
Some stories are notable for how their characters' paths cross and diverge in ways that are sometimes delightful and convenient, plot-wise, but often also too perfect to be real. In Cutting For Stone,...
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The TBR List: September 4
That moment when you're talking to your editor about assignments for Monday and she reminds you it's a day off. Glorious. I hope your weekend resembles mine -- full of friend time, me time and plenty...
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The TBR List: Sept. 11
True life: I just realized I hate Labor Day. I mean, I love the long weekend, but the four-day work week throws off my groove and the end of summer (look at it — so beautiful!) is always sad. But I...
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“The Illegal” by Lawrence Hill & poulet chez yoyo
A good book is a lucky find; a good book that ricochets off current events, helping us see them in a new way, is an even luckier find. The Illegal is that rare book. When it’s published in January,...
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"Fates and Furies" by Lauren Groff & raspberry-peach crumble
I often wonder how my husband perceives me. How does my voice sound to him? Does he think I have a good side? Can he tell when I agree to his plans out of laziness rather than interest? Do I actually...
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The TBR List: October 2
Growing up in a Pakistani-American house where we had Western food probably once a week, I never appreciated seasonal veggies like acorn squash. This year, though, I've been really embracing autumn....
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The TBR List: October 10
Hello from beautiful Colorado! It's my first time here (if you don't count the time I got stranded here on a layover during a snowstorm) and it's shaping up to be a lovely weekend to celebrate a...
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"Andrew’s Brain" by E.L. Doctorow & Black Forest cupcakes
Andrew’s Brain by E.L. Doctorow opens with an aggrieved Andrew recounting the day he gave his infant daughter to his ex-wife, afraid that he would harm the child if left as her caretaker. It is...
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The TBR List: October 23
Autumn in the Northeast is beautiful. We spent last weekend with family near Boston and spent an afternoon at Walden Pond, where the poet and author Henry David Thoreau famously lived in solitude for...
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"Falling Man" by Don DeLillo & roasted broccoli grilled cheese
This wasn’t the easiest book to read, to put it lightly. Anyone from the New York City area will feel a few stabs reading through Don DeLillo’s vivid descriptions of the days following September 11,...
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The TBR List: Oct. 30
I'll keep this short because I'm about to be late for work: If there's anything better than fresh-baked cookies from a friend, I don't want to know. Here's hoping you have a fun, safe and not tooooo...
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The TBR List: Nov. 7
I gave myself the day off yesterday because it was my birthday. Hooray, I'm 28! Not sure how much longer I can keep pushing off "adulthood." Anyway, the highlight of the day by far was dinner at the...
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"The Postmortal" by Drew Magary & pickled cucumbers, carrots and red onions
My favorite movie when I was growing up was Death Becomes Her, starring Bruce Willis and Meryl Streep. In the film, Meryl Streep drinks a potion promising eternal youth and life, but is warned to take...
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The TBR List: Nov. 13
If you follow me on Instagram, you might think I eat really healthy, interesting and lustworthy foods all the time. You'd be right on the third count -- if you consider Sour Patch Kids to be as...
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