Where's the "star I wonder"

 

mio albero di natale.

i need my guy to put up the stella, though. i'm too stumpy to reach.

Did Dr. Spock know about this ingenious weaning methodology?

overheard: Funny fact: [My sweet little son] wanted to nurse this morning but then told me my breathe stank and then went back to sleep. Score!

What is it with our nation's leaders and grabbing Angela Merkel?

 

girl's gonna have to start carrying a taser to all her G8s.

Ready for the workforce

"you have some kids who have such tiny stitches, they're ready for sweatshops. and then you have some kids who've sewn three stitches along the ten inches of fabric." 

—jak, after helping the kindergarten class sew fleece winter caps

No words

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Haus kleening

Daily
  Make beds.
  Pick up the clutter on all flat surfaces.
  Wipe down kitchen counters, oven, microwave, and stove top.
  wipe down bathroom counters and sinks.
  sort mail.
  wipe down kitchen floor at the end of the day.

Weekly
  Vacuum
  Dust furniture and shelves.
  Clean out fridge; toss leftovers, and reorganize shelves.
  Clean bathrooms.
  Clean mirrors throughout the house.
  Sanitize light switches and door handles.
  Change bed linens.
  Do laundry: wash, fold, and put away.
  Wipe off living room side tables.
  Rinse and wipe out inside of dishwasher.
  Wipe down refrigerator doors, and sanitize handles.
  Sanitize kitchen sink.
  Wash makeup brushes.

Monthly
  Mop the floors.
  Wipe out and sanitize trash containers.
  Wipe down refrigerator shelves and drawers.
  Wipe down baseboards.
  Clean the oven.
  Vacuum or wipe out window tracks.
  Change air filter (every other month).
  Dust open shelving.
  Dust ceiling fans.
  Maintain organization in pantry, cabinets, linen closets, etc.
  Wipe down doors and walls.
  Dust plants.

Every Six Months
  Sort through clothing, books, and magazines, and donate what's not used.
  Dust blinds.
  Dust and wipe kitchen shelves and cupboards.
  Clean washing machine.
  Clean vacuum cleaner.
  Clean computer.
  Reseal grout throughout house.
  Wash inside and outside of windows.
  Wash and wax vents.
  Wash plants.

courtesy of AskAnnaMoseley.com

Not on my list

Circling my prey

considering these for christmas eve dinner . . .

Peach and Sour Cream Tart (here)

 

serves 8 to 10
hands-on 35 minutes
total time 2 hours 5 minutes

Ingredients
flour for the work surface
1 store-bought pie crust
5 ripe medium-yellow peaches, quartered
1 tablespoon honey, warmed
1 16-ounce container sour cream
4 tablespoons confectioners' sugar
2 tablespoons thinly sliced almonds

Directions

1. On a floured surface, roll the dough into a 12-inch circle. Gently drape the dough on top of a rolling pin, lift it up, place it over a 10-inch round tart pan with a removable bottom , and unroll. Press the dough into place. Run the rolling pin over the top of the pan to trim excess dough. Prick the dough several times with a fork. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
2. Place oven rack in upper third of oven and heat to 400°F. Place a baking sheet in oven. Line the crust with parchment paper or foil, fitting it up the sides of the pan. Fill with pie weights or dried beans and bake for 15 to 18 minutes. Remove the weights and paper. Return the tart crust to oven and bake for 5 minutes more. Transfer pan to a rack to cool.
3. Place the peaches in a medium bowl, drizzle with the honey, and toss. In a bowl, combine the sour cream and sugar. Spread the mixture over the cooled crust. Arrange the peaches, rounded-side down, on top. Sprinkle with the almonds. Bake for 45 minutes or until the cream is set, the almonds are golden, and the peaches are tender.
4. Cool on a rack for 20 minutes. Serve warm or cold.

 
Graham-Cracker Pie (here)



serves 8
hands-on time 30 minutes
total time 4 hours 30 miutes

Ingredients
2 cups graham-cracker crumbs
1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick), melted
1 cup sugar, plus 1 tablespoon
2 cups whole milk
3 tablespoons cornstarch
3 eggs, separated and yolks slightly beaten
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preparation:

1. Preheat oven to 400° F. Mix the graham-cracker crumbs, butter, and 1/2 cup of the sugar in a bowl. Set aside 1/2 cup of the graham-cracker mixture. Add the remaining mixture to a deep pie plate or pan and press into place using the back of a large spoon. Bake the crust for 6 minutes. Remove from oven and set aside.
2. Heat 1 3/4 cups of the milk in a medium saucepan until just boiling; lower heat to medium. In a small bowl, mix another 1/2 cup of the sugar with the cornstarch and the remaining milk. Gradually whisk the mixture into the hot milk and cook until creamy, about 2 minutes. Stir a small amount of the hot milk mixture into the egg yolks; add this back into the mixture. Stir constantly for 1 to 2 minutes or until the custard has thickened. Remove from heat and let cool.
3. While the custard is cooling, beat the egg whites with 1 tablespoon sugar until stiff. Stir the vanilla into the cooled custard and pour into the graham cracker pie shell. Gently spread the egg-white mixture over the top of the custard. Sprinkle with the remaining graham cracker mixture and place in a 400° F oven for 2 minutes or until the meringue is slightly browned.
4. Chill at least 4 hours before serving.

 
Pressed-Crust Pear Tart (here)



serves 8
hands-on time 20 minutes
total time 1 hour 5 minutes

Ingredients:
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, plus more for the pan, at room temperature
1 cup all-purpose flour, plus more for your fingers
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 cup sugar, plus 1 1/2 tablespoons
l large egg
2 to 3 Bosc pears, peeled, halved, and cored
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/4 cup apricot jam
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
whipped cream (optional)

Preparation

1. Heat oven to 350° F.
2. Butter a 14-inch rectangular tart pan and set aside.
3. Combine the flour and baking powder in a medium bowl and set aside.
4. Using an electric mixer, cream the butter and 1/2 cup sugar at high speed in a large bowl. Lower speed to medium, add the egg, and beat until incorporated. Gradually add the flour mixture until fully incorporated. The dough will be very soft.
5. Push the dough into the pan with floured fingers to form an even crust. Arrange the pear halves, top to bottom, cut-side down.
6. Sprinkle with the cinnamon and the remaining sugar. Bake until the crust is golden brown, about 45 minutes; let cool.
7. Heat the apricot jam and lemon juice in a small saucepan over medium-low heat, mixing until combined. Remove from heat and brush gently over the entire tart. Serve with the whipped cream, if desired.

Peppermint-Mousse Cake (here)
serves 8 hands-on time 20 minutes total time 3 hours

Ingredients: 
1 16-ounce frozen pound cake
1 cup heavy or whipping cream
2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 8-ounce container mascarpone cheese or sour cream (1/2 cup)
1/2 cup toasted slivered almonds, chopped
1 12-ounce bag semisweet mint chocolate chips, chopped, or 1 12-ounce bag semisweet chips plus 1 teaspoon peppermint extract
1 tablespoon corn syrup
2 tablespoons butter
1 candy cane or 5 peppermint hard candies, chopped

Directions:

1. Defrost the pound cake according to the label directions. Slice it horizontally into 3 layers.
2. In a large bowl, combine the whipping cream and sugar and beat until stiff peaks form. Fold in the mascarpone, almonds, and 1/3 of the mint chocolate chips.
3. Place half the remaining mint chocolate chips in a small bowl and microwave 1 minute or just until shiny. Stir until smooth. Gently fold the melted chocolate (plus half the peppermint extract if using plain chocolate chips) into the whipped cream.
4. Spread the bottom layer of the cake with half the chocolate cream filling and top with the middle cake layer. Spread with the remaining chocolate filling. Set the top layer in place. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 hours to set. (Can be made up to 1 day ahead to this point.)
5. Melt the remaining chocolate chips in a small bowl and microwave about 1 minute or just until shiny. Stir in the corn syrup, butter, and the remaining peppermint extract (if using plain chocolate chips) until smooth. Pour this glaze over the cake. Top with the crushed candy. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Best miscellaneous- and bargain-shopping web sites

overstock.com
Designer clothes and shoes, furniture, sporting goods, electronics, luggage―what doesn’t this site carry? Everything is discounted, and almost all the merchandise qualifies for free shipping.

smartbargains.com
A veritable bargain bazaar. Normally pricey goods (like cashmere scarves and Egyptian-cotton sheets) can be picked up at a fraction of their cost elsewhere―up to 70 percent off.

Miscellaneous
duluthtrading.com
Once upon a time, this company was all about tools for construction workers and longshoremen. Now it offers everything from grooming products to toys to toothbrushes for dogs―and tradesmen-tested gear―with a real commitment to customer service.

minimus.biz
Thousands of mini-size products―three ounces or less―make travel a breeze. A brilliant idea.

organicbouquet.com
Pesticide-free blooms from organic farms, some with an added bonus of proceeds going to nonprofit groups partnered with the site.

seacloth.com
Fabrics in poppy tones (and a small collection of home goods) are organized by color, so it’s easy to find what suits your palette.

seejanework.com
The most stylish office supplies and organizational tools ever. 

courtesy of Real Simple

Best gift-shopping web sites

bestcrystal.com
The kind of wedding presents (Waterford, Lenox) you would buy at department stores but often cheaper and with free shipping, no tax, and personal customer service.

dwellstudio.com
Quiet simplicity is the hallmark of the bed linens, table linens, and children’s gifts you’ll find here. Wonderful for out-of-the-ordinary wedding presents.

etsy.com
The place to buy (and sell) one-of-a-kind gifts and inexpensive handmade arts and crafts.

fredflare.com
This stylish emporium offers low-cost clothing, accessories, and home goods, all with a sense of humor.

spoonsisters.com
A much loved source for gifts of a whimsical nature, including―you guessed it―spoons of all kinds.

2jane.com
Based in Britain and quirky, this site features inventive items you may have a hard time giving away.

wrapables.com
Gifts for the home, for the jewelry lover, and even for pets and their owners. Fun and extremely affordable. 

courtesy of Real Simple

Best clothing-shopping web sites

bluefly.comShop top-drawer labels (like Kate Spade and Prada) by color, designer, or price, with deals galore.

bodenusa.com
Cute clothing; fresh, friendly-looking models; and clever copy, plus quick and efficient service.

freddyandma.com
Custom-designed purses, clutches, pillows, and plates on a site that prides itself on excellent customer service.

greenwithglamour.com
The name says it all: organic, eco-conscious, stylish clothing (with goods for the home, too).

hautelook.com
Offers exclusive (free) access to sample sales of designer brands like Tracy Reese and Alice + Olivia.

landsend.com
Time-tested clothing, an easy-to-navigate site, and sales agents who work overtime to make you happy.

llbean.com
The outdoor-gear giant goes above and beyond in its customer service, and everything―everything―is 100 percent guaranteed.

myshape.com
Calculates your body type from measurements you take, then directs you to the clothing made to flatter your shape. Genius.

searchbyinseam.com
Put in the type of pants you’re looking for and your inseam and this especially helpful site searches multiple e-tailers to comparison-shop for you.

shopcerulean.com
Brand-new and just building its inventory. The clothes and the home goods are darling, and there are bargains to be had.

storeadore.com
Locate extraordinary boutiques of both the online and brick-and-mortar sort. Browse by city (New York City, Brooklyn, Boston, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C., are offered now) or category (“great sales,” “girly vibe,” and “quality customer service,” to name a few).

zafu.com
Shop for bras and jeans by body type and style. Makes your number of options manageable and eliminates the guesswork about which bra has the best push-up action or which jeans add a bit of curve to a flat bum.

zappos.com
This favorite of shoe lovers―which also offers clothing, bags, and accessories―provides free shipping both ways, so you can try out anything and everything at no expense. 

courtesy of Real Simple

Best cooking- and food-shopping web sites

chefshop.com
Picture an online supermarket with the most delectable gourmet items. A highlight: Batch’s Best Cherries, which can be ordered all year but are shipped only in July, at the height of their perfection.

ecookbooks.com
A comprehensive depot of cookbooks―more than 14,000 titles―all offered at discount prices.

froghollow.com
The California-based fruit purveyor (its gorgeous peaches have reached icon status) sells delicious fruit spreads and pastries as well.

ginnys.com
Cookware, appliances, and more on a site with reasonable prices and a friendly vibe.

kingarthurflour.com 
A wonderful source for bakers of all levels. It’s famous for flour, but you can also find cake and bread mixes, molds, pans, liners, chocolate chips, books, and more on this cheerful site.

wmboundsltd.com
Pepper mills (and the peppercorns to put in them) are the specialty here, from a company that has been producing the tools for more than 40 years.

zingermans.com
Unusual, old-fashioned, and delicious food finds from all over the country and the world. 

courtesy of Real Simple

Best home-goods shopping web sites

allmodern.com
One-stop shopping for contemporary home goods in an easy-to-browse, simply designed site.

ballarddesigns.com
This sprawling site, with a vast inventory at reasonable prices, is a favorite resource of interior decorators.

brocadehome.com
From Restoration Hardware comes a site full of sexy, curvy, ultra-feminine furnishings.

circalighting.com
Indoor lights, outdoor lights, table lights, floor lights, ceiling lights―and shades―all with free shipping.

designerplumbing.com
A wide-ranging collection of tubs, sinks, vanities, and more to redecorate your bath. Fabulous prices―there's even a section of "blowout specials"―and top-notch customer service.

hableconstruction.com
This sister-owned textile company offers totes, pillows, and other high-quality goods in fun, colorful prints.

homeinfatuation.com
If you're lucky enough to have a patio and a yard, you'll find everything you need to furnish your outdoor space―furniture, umbrellas, grills―here.

laylagrayce.com
Home furnishings (plus clothing for women and children) from around the world, all with a romantic sensibility.

moderndose.com
Reasonably priced reproductions of modern furniture classics, with free shipping and a money-back guarantee.

2modern.com
As streamlined as the modern furniture it carries, this site features the work of eco-conscious designers.

thpcollections.com
Decorative accessories and furniture with a global viewpoint, from sources as equally far-flung.

ugallery.com
Original artwork at every price. A view-on-wall feature lets you try before you buy, so you have an idea of how a work of art will look in your home.

unicahome.com
An eclectic roundup of modern, vintage, and kitsch from big names like Knoll and Herman Miller.

velocityartanddesign.com
Simple, clean, and graphic designs―from artwork to wallpaper―at affordable prices.

wisteria.com
Bright and simply laid out, this site features new, antique, and artfully weathered imports from across the globe. 

courtesy of Real Simple

Golden girl

Too cute

hills and bills pose and prepare to pose with the kennedy center–honors recipients

The wisdom of the 'tubes

"Remember, procrastination isn’t usually laziness. It’s a reaction and escape from anxiety."

 

image from the always-brilliant Hyperbole and a Half

Veni, veni, amica!

Prelude: "Prepare the Way of the Lord," Berthier, Taize' Community (recording) 
Procession to Wreath/Entrance: "Christ, Circle 'Round Us," Schutte (recording) 
Kyrie: Kyrie XVI (recording) 
Responsorial Psalm: 126 "God Has Done Great Things for Us," Haugen (recording) 
Gospel Acclamation: "Advent Alleluia," Joncas (recording) 
Preparation: "Creator of the Stars of Night," trad. (recording)
Eucharistic Acclamations: Memorial Acclamation: Storrington (recording begins at 6:38) 
Lamb of God: Storrington (recording begins at 8:25) 
Communion: "A Voice Cries Out in the Wilderness," Joncas (recording) 
Recessional: improv on "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel," trad. (recording)

Hilarious to me because I have no minors in her care

Overheard: I am so out of it today. I won't even confess all the ways I endangered the carpool children this afternoon. 

MoBo plays her closet like a virtuoso, yo

Best fashion sense among the six-year-old set ever

this is my darling little niece's new hat. she picked this out. and chose the colors. a unicorn hat. a knit unicorn hat.

god, i love my niece.

"My thoughts are dirty, too."

from http://www.welovefine.com/4137-i-love-you.html

Of particular note

*respectful silence*

Listageddon: Or, what we ought to be reading at the end of 2012

the best books of 2012: in many genres, according to lots and lots of different sources,* for you, dear reader; an ongoing compilation


recommended by three or more outlets


2312: a novel by kim stanley robinson -- B&N


A
the age of miracles: a novel by karen thompson walker -- B&N

alif the unseen by g. willow wilson -- NYT

all we know: three lives by lisa cohen -- NYT, PW

almost never by daniel sada, trans. katherine silver -- NYT

american dervish by ayad akhtar -- HP

an american spy by olen steinhauer -- NYT

american tapestry: the stories of the black, white, and multiracial ancestors of michelle obama by rachel l. swarns -- NYT

american triumvirate: sam snead, byron nelson, ben hogan, and the modern age of golf by james dodson -- NYT

arcadia by lauren groff -- BP, NYT, WPBR

are you my mother? a comic drama by alison bechdel -- B&N, NYT 

the art book: new edition by phaidon press -- B&N

the art of daniel clowes: modern cartoonist by daniel clowes, ed. alvin buenaventura -- B&N, WPBR

the art of fielding by chad harbach -- GQ

as if by michael saler -- HP

astray by emma donoghue -- BN

at last by edward st. aubyn -- BN, NYT


B
the barbarous years: the peopling of british north america; the conflict of civilizations, 1600–1675 by bernard bailyn -- PW

barack obama: the story by david maraniss -- NYT 

batman: earth one by geoff johns, ill. gary frank -- BN

the beautiful anthology: essays, stories, and poems ed. elizabeth collins -- DC

beautiful ruins by jess walter -- B&N, H, NYT

behind the beautiful forevers: life, death, and hope in a mumbai undercity by katherine boo (interesting note: kitty boo penned the pulitzer prize–winning expose' of the broken d.c. systems that lead to the abuse of people with mental disabilities, which i've read multiple times and posted here and here. she's amazing.) -- A, B&N, NYT, WPBR

belzoni: the giant archeologists love to hate by ivor noel hume -- NYT 

billy lynn's long halftime walk by ben fountain -- A, H, NYT, WPBR

birds of a lesser paradise by megan mayhew bergman -- HP

the black count: glory, revolution, betrayal, and the real count of monte cristo by tom reiss -- NYT

blasphemy by sherman alexie -- NYT

blood, bones, and butter: the inadvertent education of a reluctant chef by gabrielle hamilton -- GQ

the book of mischief: new and selected stories by steve stern -- NYT

breasts: a natural and unnatural history by florence williams -- NYT

bring up the bodies by hilary mantel -- BN, PW, NYT, WPBR

broken harbor by tana french -- B&N, WPBR

building stories by richard ware -- B&N, NYT, PW, WPBR 

by blood by ellen ullman -- B&N, NYT 

by the iowa sea by joe blair -- BP


C
canada by richard ford -- B&N, NYT, WPBR

carry the one by carol anshaw -- BP, NYT

city of bohane by kevin barry -- NYT

crimes in southern indiana: stories by frank bill -- GQ

collected poems by jack gilbert -- NYT

coming apart: the state of white america, 1960–2010 by charles murray -- NYT


D
dancers among us: a celebration of joy in the everyday by jordan matter -- B&N

daniel fights a hurricane by shane jones -- DC

darwn's ghosts: the secret history of evolution by rebecca stott -- NYT

days of destruction, days of revolt by chris hedges and joe sacco -- WPBR

dc comics: the new 52 by dc entertainment -- WPBR

dear life: stories by alice munro -- NYT

defending jacob by william landay -- B&N

detroit city is the place to be: the afterlife of an american metropolis by mark binelli -- PW

the devil all the time by donald ray pollack -- GQ

the devil in silver by victor lavelle -- NYT, PW

devil in the grove: thurgood marshall, the groveland boys, and the dawn of a new america by gilbert king -- B&N

a disposition to be rich: how a small-town preacher's son ruined an american president, brought on a wall street crash, and made himself the best-hated man in the united states by geoffrey c. ward -- NYT 

district comics: an unconventional history of washington, d.c.  ed. matt dembicki -- WPBR

the diviners by libba bray -- DC

the dog stars: a novel by peter heller -- B&N

dora: a headcase; a novel by lidia yuknavitch -- DC

double cross: the true story of the d-day spies by ben macintyre -- B&N

drama by raina telgemeier -- WPBR

drawn together by aline and r. crumb -- WPBR

drift: the unmooring of american military power by rachel maddow -- B&N


E
the elephant keeper's children by peter hoeg -- HP

enchantments by katheryn harrison -- NYT

the end of your life bookclub by will schwalbe -- A, B&N 

the expats by chris pavone -- BP


F
far from the tree: parents, children, and the search for identity by andrew solomon -- B&N, NYT

farther away: essays by jonathan franzen -- HP

the fault in our stars by john green -- A, BP, HP

the fear: robert mugabe and the martyrdom of zimbabwe by peter godwin -- GQ

flagrant conduct: the story of lawrence v. texas; how a bedroom arrest decriminalized gay americans by dale carpenter -- NYT

flight behavior by barbara kingsolver -- NYT

the flight of gemma hardy by margot livesey -- BP

fobit: a novel by david abrams -- B&N, NYT

the folly of fools: the logic of deceit and self-deception in human life by robert trivers -- NYT

the forgetting tree by tatjana soli -- NYT

forgotten country by catherine chung -- BP


G
gatherings of waters by bernice l. mcfadden -- NYT

girl walks into a bar: comedy, calamities, dating disasters, and a midlife miracle by rachel dratch -- DC

god's hotel: a doctor, a hospital, and a pilgrimage to the heart of medicine by victoria sweet -- B&N

gods without men by hari kunzru -- B&N, NYT

gone girl by gillian flynn -- A, B&N, H, HP

good american by alex george -- BP

the grey album: on the blackness of blackness by kevin young -- NYT

a grown-up kind of pretty by joshilyn jackson -- BP

gypsy boy by mikey walsh -- BP


H
haiti: the aftershocks of history by laurent dubois -- NYT

happiness is a chemical in the brain by lucia perillo -- PW

hello goodbye hello: a circle of 101 remarkable meetings by craig brown -- B&N

HHhH by laurent binet -- NYT

a hologram for the king by dave eggers -- A, H, NYT

home by toni morrison -- NYT

hope: a tragedy by shalom auslander -- BP, NYT

house of stone: a memoir of home, family, and a lost middle east by anthony shadid -- WPBR

how children succeed: grit, curiosity, and the hidden power of character by paul tough -- NYT

how music works by david byrne -- NYT

how should a person be? a novel from life by sheila heti -- H, HP, NYT


I
immobility by brian evenson -- HP

in one person by john irving -- NYT 

the invisible ones by stef penney -- BP

iron curtain: the crushing of eastern europe, 1944–1956 by anne applebaum -- NYT, PW, WPBR


J


K
kayak morning: reflections on love, grief, and small boats by roger rosenblatt -- NYT


L
a land more kind than home by wiley cash -- NYT 

the last lion: william spencer churchill; defender of the realm, 1940–1965 by william manchester and paul reid --  B&N

the layered garden: design lessons for year-round beauty from brandywine cottage by rob cordillo, david l. culp, and adam levine -- B&N

the leftovers by tom perrotta -- GQ 

the light between oceans: a novel by m. l. stedman -- B&N

life in color: national geographic photographs by annie griffiths -- B&N

the lifespan of a fact by john d'agata and jim fingal -- HP

lincoln's code: the laws of war in american history by john fabian witt -- NYT

little america: the war within the war for afghanistan by rajiv chandrasekaran -- NYT

lone wolf by jodi picoult -- BP


M
magnificence: a novel by lydia millet -- B&N

marbles: mania, depression, michelangelo, and me; a graphic novel by ellen forney -- WPBR

marigold: the last chance for peace in vietnam by james G. Hershberg -- WPBR

the marriage plot: a novel by jeffrey eugenides -- GQ

married love: and other stories by tessa hadley -- NYT

memoir of a debulked woman: enduring ovarian cancer by susan gubar -- NYT

the middlesteins by jami attenberg -- A

modern cuisine at home  by nathan myhrvold and maxime bilet -- B&N

morality by christopher hitchens -- A, B&N

my friend dahmer by derf backderf -- B&N

my heart is an idiot: essays by davy rothbart -- DC, HP

my poets by maureen n. mclane -- NYT


N
the night swimmer by matt durant -- BP

ninety days: a memoir of recovery by bill clegg -- HP

no animal we could name by ted saunders -- DC

no one is here except all of us by ramona ausubel -- BP, HP

nw by zadie smith -- NYT


O
the obamas by jodi kantor -- NYT

object lessons: the paris review presents the art of the short story ed. the paris review -- HP

oddly normal: one family's struggle to help their teenage son come to terms with his sexuality by john schwartz -- NYT

the odds by stewart o'nan -- BP

on a farther shore: the life and legacy of rachel carson by william souder -- NYT

office girl: a novel by joe meno -- DC

the one: the life and music of james brown by r. j. smith -- NYT

on saudi arabia: its people, past, religion, fault lines—and future by karen elliott house -- NYT

on the spectrum of possible deaths by lucia perillo -- NYT

open city by teju cole -- GQ 

the orphan master's son by adam johnson -- BP, B&N


P
page 1: great expectations by graphicdesigns& -- HP

the passage of power: the years of lyndon johnson by robert a. caro -- B&N, H, NYT

the patriarch: the remarkable life and turbulent times of joseph p. kennedy by david nasaw -- NYT

pearls freaks the #*%# out: a (freaky) pearls before swine treasury by stephan pastis -- WPBR

penelope by rebecca harrington -- DC, HP

people who eat darkness: the true story of a young woman who vanished from the streets of tokyo by richard lloyd parry -- NYT, PW

phantom by jo nesbo -- B&N

the power of habit: why we do what we do in life and business by charles dughigg -- B&N

prague winter: a personal story of remembrance and war, 1937–1948 by madeleine albright -- B&N

pulphead: essays by john jeremiah sullivan -- GQ

pure by julianna baggott -- NYT


Q
quiet: the power of introverts in a world that can't stop talking by susan cain -- B&N


R
ragnarok: the end of the gods by a. s. byatt -- B&N

the receptionist: an education at the new yorker by janet groth -- DC

red brick, black mountain, white clay: reflections on art, family, and survival by christopher benfrey -- NYT 

reinventing bach by paul elie -- B&N

reporting the revolutionary war: before it was history, it was news by todd andrlik -- B&N

the right-hand shore by christopher tilghman -- NYT

the round house by louise erdich -- A, NYT, PW

rule and ruin: the downfall of moderation and the destruction of the republican party; from eisenhower to the tea party by geoffrey kabaservice -- NYT


S
sad desk salad: a novel by jessica grosse -- DC

sailor twain: or, the mermaid in the hudson by mark siegel -- B&N, WPBR

salvage the bones by jesmine ward -- NYT

san miguel by t. coraghessan boyle -- NYT

saul steinberg: a biography by deirdre bair -- NYT

seating arrangements: a novel by maggie shipstead -- B&N, DC

the second world war by antony beevor -- B&N

shadow of night: a discovery of witches by deborah harkness -- B&N

shine shine shine by lydia netzer -- NYT

shooting victoria: madness, mayhem, and the rebirth of the british monarchy by paul thomas murphy -- NYT

short nights of the shadow catcher: the epic life and immortal photographs of edward curtis by timothy egan -- NYT

shout her lovely name by natalie serber -- NYT

the signal and the noise: why some predictions fail—but some don't by nate silver -- B&N

silent house by orhan pamuk -- NYT

the sleepy hollow family almanack by kris d'agostino -- DC

the smitten kitchen cookbook: recipes and wisdom from an obsessive home cook by deb perelman -- B&N 

the snow child by eowyn ivey -- BP

the social conquest of earth by edward o. wilson -- NYT

sometimes there is a void: memoirs of an outsider by zakes mda -- NYT

spillover: animal infections and the next human pandemic by david quammen -- B&N, NYT

the starboard sea by amber dermont -- BP, NYT

stories i only tell my friends by rob lowe -- GQ

suddenly, a knock at the door by etgar keret -- HP

sweet tooth by ian mcewan -- NYT

swimming home by deborah levy -- HP, NYT

swimming studies by leanne shapton -- HP


T
talulla rising by glen duncan -- B&N

the taste of war: world war ii and the battle for food by lizzie collingham -- NYT

telegraph avenue: a novel by michael chabon -- B&N, H, NYT

the testament of mary by colm toibin -- NYT 

the things that matter by nate berkus -- B&N

this is how you lose her by junot diaz -- B&N, HP, NYT

thomas jefferson: the art of power by jon meacham -- B&N, NYT

three strong women by marie ndiaye, trans. john fletcher -- NYT

tigers in red weather: a novel by liza klaussmann -- DC

the tiger's wife by tea obreht -- GQ

toby's room by pat barker -- NYT

turing's cathedral: the origins of the digital universe by george dyson -- B&N


U
the underside of joy by sere prince halverson -- BP

V
victory: the triumphant gay revolution by linda hirsham -- NYT


W
watergate by thomas mallon -- NYT

we only know so much: a novel by elizabeth crane -- DC

what we talk about when we talk about anne frank: stories by nathan englander -- NYT 

when god talks back: understanding the american evangelical relationship with god by t. m. luhrmann -- NYT

when i was a child i read books by marilynne robinson -- HP 

where'd you go, bernadette? a novel by maria semple (note: bff 'netta recommended this to me a few days ago. you go, 'netta, literary tastemaker!) -- B&N, DC

why be happy when you could be normal? by jeanette winterson -- B&N, NYT

why does the world exist? an existential detective story by jim holt -- NYT

why nations fail: the origins of power, prosperity, and poverty by daron acemoglu -- WPBR

wild: from lost to found on the pacific crest trail by cheryl strayed -- B&N

wild girls: a novel by mary stewart atwell -- DC

wind through the keyhole: a dark tower novel by stephen king -- B&N

winter journal by paul auster -- H

winter of the world by ken follet -- B&N

wizziwig: portrait of a serial hacker by ed piskor -- B&N

a wrinkle in time: the graphic novel by madeleine l'engle, ill. hope larson -- B&N


X


Y
the yellow birds: a novel by kevin powers -- B, HP, NYT

young house love: 243 ways to paint, craft, update, and show your home some love by sherry petersik and john petersik -- B&N


Z
zona: a book about a film about a journey to a room by geoff dyer -- HP



 * Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, BookPage, DailyCandy, GQ, Hollywood.com, The Huffington Post, The New York Times, Publisher's Weekly, The Washington Post Book Review,