What do literary types have queued up on their nightstands and ready to read before lights-out? We asked a few of them, and here’s what they said.
Elle Cosimano:
Fat Kid Rules the World” target=“_blank”>Fat Kid Rules the World by K.L. Going. Voice. So often we hear the word voice regarding literature, and it seems such a hard thing to define. This book — these characters — have such true, authentic voices. At times, hilarious enough to make me laugh out loud, and heartbreaking enough to make me cry. This one has earned a permanent place on my nightstand.
Grasshopper Jungle” target=“_blank”>Grasshopper Jungle by Andrew Smith. I’ve loved every book written by this author. Smith’s books are always an auto-buy for me, and the day they arrive they go straight to the top of my TBR pile. This crazy story of hungry, horny, six-foot-tall praying mantises (and love and connection and the end of the world) promises to be a wild ride, and I’m certain it won’t disappoint.
Elle Cosimano
writes stories about creepy, dark (and sometimes sexy) things that go bump in
the night. Her debut YA thriller, Nearly Gone, was released March 25, 2014, by Kathy
Dawson Books/Penguin Books for Young Readers. Congratulations, Elle!
Jennifer Keats Curtis:
One Summer: America, 1927” target=“_blank”>One Summer: America, 1927 by Bill Bryson. This is off to a fantastic start. A few years ago, I was shocked to learn how much I love history and have spent the past several years consumed by World War II nonfiction, trying to keep up with my husband. I picked this book because my godson recommended it and I wanted to eke the clock a bit.
Baby Owl’s Rescue, Turtles In My Sandbox, SEAHORSES, Saving Squeak: The Otter Tale, and a new nonfiction book, Kali’s Story: An Orphaned Polar Bear Rescue. As she continues providing assemblies, author-in-residencies, and writing workshops to elementary-school students, she has broadened her audience to tweens and teens. In partnership with the nonprofit State of Maryland International Reading Association Council and Maryland Library Association, she spearheaded the launch of MY-Say, Maryland’s first online magazine written by middle-school students for their peers. To learn more or to request a school visit, visit her website or find her on Facebook.
Jenn Lawrence:
I seem to experience frequent changes in my reading mood, so the variety of books on my nightstand is quite vast. The following is just a sample of the books occupying my bedtime reading attention:
The Secret History” target=“_blank”>The Secret History by Donna Tartt. I recently read The Goldfinch and was inspired to once again pick up the book that introduced me to Tartt’s work: The Secret History. When I read it the first time, I wasn’t yet blogging, nor did I have a network of readers around me to discuss my experience. Therefore, to make up for lost time, I chose it as the April selection for the book club I lead at One More Page Books & More. Time hasn’t changed my adoration and appreciation of this novel!
Jenn’s Bookshelves, she is a founding member of Bloggers Recommend and assists various public-library systems in creating reading-group resources and discussion topics. She also leads a healthy, active fiction book club at her home away from home, One More Page Books in Arlington, VA.
