Hi, Bookies: Every time I come across this picture on RealSimple.com, I think it must be the epitome of serenity and coziness and refuge from holiday craziness. Back in the real world, in my fireplace-less apartment, things are still pretty cozy (generally New York City speak for “small”) and serene enough. But where I really take refuge is in a […]
Recent Posts By Maura Fritz
Tom Rachman Checks In
Hi, Bookies: Here’s a nice way to start the week, with answers from The Imperfectionists author Tom Rachman to some questions that were posed. And true to form, his answers are engaging, smart, and make for a good read. From discussion leader Julia Edelstein: • I would love to know how he devised the order of the stories. Was the […]
Get Ready to Hit The Heights
Hi, Bookies: So probably no surprise, given how very, very close it came to winning our October poll, but Peter Hedges’ The Heights is the pick for November. (Rules of Civility did have a surge, though, so maybe we should throw it into the mix down the road.) Our friend Lygeia Grace, Real Simple’s senior food editor and our December […]
Don’t Forget: Vote for Your November Book
Hi, Bookies: Just wanted to get this off to you before the weekend, a quick reminder that our November poll is open only through the end of this coming Monday, East Coast time. Will The Heights win this time around? Hard to say: It’s got some up-and-coming competition. Here are your choices again: The Hare With Amber Eyes, by Edmund de […]
A Question for the February Issue
Hi, Bookies: February being devoted to issues of the heart, our friends down the hall on the print side have this question for you: Who is your favorite fictional couple? (I think it’s obvious which famously star-crossed lovers top my list.) Just reply below, including the title of the book the duo appear in and why they’ve won your heart, and […]
Laura Hillenbrand Answers Your Questions About Unbroken
Hi, Bookies: When Laura Hillenbrand published Seabiscuit: An American Legend in 2001, she won raves for her captivating account of the unlikely champion of the racetrack. But she won admiration, too, for the fact that she’d written the book while suffering from a chronic fatigue syndrome that often left her unable to leave her bed, let alone her home. She […]
Pick Your November Book!
Hi, Bookies: Too early to start thinking about Thanksgiving? Never, I say! I love that time of year. And I realize that this probably sounds as corny as all get-out, but high on my list of things I am grateful for (beyond all you Bookies and your wonderfully smart posts and insights) is the abundance of good books to read. […]
We Have a Winner!
Hi, Bookies: After a nail-biter of a contest, The Imperfectionists won the poll—by just 17 votes. Real Simple Associate Editor Julia Edelstein is our October leader, and she’ll check in a little later this week with a rundown on the book and the reading schedule. See you then!
The October Poll Is ThisClose
Hi, Bookies: This one sure looks like it’s going down to the wire—the two leaders have been seesawing like crazy, first one is up, then the other, separated by as little as one vote. So much fun to watch. (I told you I was a book geek!) Remember, if you haven’t voted yet, the poll is open until 11:59 p.m. ET […]
For the January Issue, We Would Love to Know. . .
Hi, Bookies: The editors of Real Simple, much like everyone else, start thinking about resolutions and fresh starts come the new year, so here’s what they would like to know from you: What book helped you break a bad habit? Post your answer below, including the book’s title and author, and you may see it appear in the January issue […]
