This is how I spent last week (those are actually my toes). Vacation was wonderful, read four books (loved one, liked two, stopped reading one because I just didn't get into it). The one I loved was by Jill Davis, who wrote GIRLS POKER NIGHT. I couldn't wait for her second book to come out, and it took a long time for that to happen. But Davis didn't disappoint, and I flew through ASK AGAIN LATER. I just love her writing, so crisp and spare to the point, she's brilliant. The thing is, after I finished AAL I started another book that had a ton of hype around it. But with all the hype I just didn't get into it. And, after reading Davis' book imagine my surprise to find out that the hyped book, which just came out, had practically the same story line as AAL - even though AAL came out at least a year ago. The main character even had the same name (Emily)!!!! Both characters were attorneys, both had mothers with cancer, both were estranged from their fathers, both were commitment-phobes, both lived in New York - it was unreal! But as far as quality of story telling and writing, there was no comparison. Davis won hands down.

On the flight back to Boston I happened to sit down next to a man who noticed the book I was reading (Elinor Lipman's ISABEL'S BED) and asked if I liked it. I told him that I'd already read it ten years ago and wanted to read it again. We chatted briefly about the book and I thought, "Nobody cares that much about what anyone's reading - except a writer." Then I saw the manuscript he placed on his tray. And we started talking and it turned out he was a writer. It was Robin Cook. Now, I've never read any Robin Cook, although I'd have at least 20 books to choose from. But last summer our friend was on the Vineyard with us and he was telling me I had to read Robin Cook (our friend is a doctor and so is Robin). We talked practically the entire way back to Boston and so, sadly, Robin didn't get much editing done on his page proofs - which are due to his editor this week. Turns out the main character in his latest book is named Jennifer. I told him that one of the main characters in RICH BOYS goes to Wesleyan, Robin's alma mater. He has a house on the Vineyard and I told him that I have an event there the last week in July for the launch of the Island Summer series. We're hoping to hook up this summer. So enjoyed talking with Robin and listening to his stories, what a really nice guy.

All in all, the perfect end to a perfect vacaction. I couldn't have written a better ending myself.