So my friend Megan published a book. Well she’s published two. One, that I adored a LOT, “Everyone Remain Calm” was only available on Kindle when I got it (looks like you can get a print copy now).
Her new book is out in paperback and I had actually preordered it on Amazon but then I went to hear her read live at Women & Children First (a great Chitown bookstore) and I wanted to get a book signed so I bought one there as well.
SO if you leave a comment and tell me your favorite book of short stories and/or a great “read at the beach” recommendation for my summer vacation, you could win a free copy of her book!
Here, let me give you a teaser. Go read this essay, then come back here and leave a comment, and I’ll enter you in a drawing to win this book! I mean considering how many comments I get these days, you may not have a lot of competition!!!
Hmmm…well, I don’t know if this collection of stories will be any good, but I am planning on reading One More Thing by BJ Novak. It’s been a long time since I read a book of short stories, so I’m excited about it (and Megan’s book sounds awesome, too!).
Well, there are some obvious choices for best book of short stories (almost anything by Raymond Carver or A Good Man Is Hard to Find by Flannery O’Connor), and I love those writers and those collections. But to get further from the beaten path, I loved The Brutal Language of Love by Alicia Erian and How to Breathe Underwater by Julie Orringer. I’m also a big fan of A.M. Homes’ The Safety of Objects and Dave Eggers’ How We Are Hungry, but those two writers can be divisive for some readers. I’m on the lookout for a good beach read, too, so I’m hoping I’ll see some suggestions here.