Wow. This is, I think, the longest I've gone since updating. I've been busy this fall with the election, as you no doubt know from reading the blog on the front page of this website. And then I had to reintroduce myself to my poor children, all of whom were in some kind of crisis. A Mercy by Toni Morrison I wish I had another 400 pages of this book. It was the hint of an incredible story, and I was desperate for the whole story.

The Center of the Universe by Nancy Bachrach This is the memoir my daughters will write.

Notes From an Exhibition by Patrick Gale This book terrified me. It was too close. I had to keep reminding myself that this isn't me. I'm nowhere this ill.

Netherland by Joseph O'Neill One of my favorite books of the year.

Novel About My Wife by Emily Perkins I kind of faded halfway through.

Telex From Cuba by Rachel Kushner Fascinating window into a world I had never even imagined.

Art & Ardor by Cynthia Ozick I feel like I learned more about writing from this small essay collection than from anything I ever read before.

Fearless by Matthew Yglesias Compelling read, but I think the movie was better.

Songs for the Butcher's Daughter by Peter Manseau I love a good Yiddish tale.

Whatever it Takes by Paul Tough Every American who considers herself a compassionate and politically astute person should read this book. Immediately.

Take the Cannoli by Sarah Vowell Nobody makes me laugh so hard.

The School on Heart's Content Road by Carolyn Chute Loved the Maine stuff. Had a pretty hard time with the icons.

The Risk Pool by Richard Russo No one writes blue collar despair like him.

Atlas of Unknowns by Tania James I'm a sucker for a good novel about the Indian experience.

The Vagrants by Yiyun Li Terrific writer. Grim grim grim story.

A Supposedly Fun Thing I'll Never Do Again by David Foster Wallace It's so trite to say so, but it's a goddamn tragedy that he's dead. These essays are magnificent.

This Must be the Place by Nora Ephron Very lovely novel.