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New York Times

A word of praise for Ellie Kemper, who did an especially smart "By the Book" in the NYTimes this weekend.

A few things to notice. First, she names Richard Yates's "The Easter Parade" as an all-time favorite. If you have not yet read this one, please read it! Kemper is right that Yates blends a literary sensibility with an admirable sense of unpretentiousness. She's also right to say that there is something addictive about "those depressing Grimes sisters." Even though terrible things happen to Yates's characters, you feel somehow comforted while reading about them. It's the compassion Yates has for people: He says, You're not alone. (Kemper isn't the only Yates fan. In the new movie "Private Life," Jenkins gives her protagonists the surname "Grimes," and I'm sure this is a tip of the hat to Yates.)

Also, note Kemper's description of an ideal reading session. A full hour- 4:30 to 5:30 in the morning- with a huge pot of coffee "just for myself." I think Kemper is right to name this as ideal. Your head can be wonderfully clear and alert in the morning. The hedonism of a full, private jug of coffee feels right. Reading is mentally draining; adding a drug is never a bad idea. (I believe more people would have happier lives if they accepted that one portion of reading is work. If you grant yourself an endless supply of caffeine, and you really commit to being alone with your book for an hour, then wonderful things can happen.) Finally, I know what Kemper means when she says that emerging from an hour of reading feels like a kind of rebirth; your thoughts are (briefly) sharper. I don't believe that that's the right motive for reading--I think reading should really be done for pleasure--but that sense of clarity is a nice side effect.

Kemper's admiration for Nora Ephron, and her distaste for Wilkie Collins ("Why did that woman wear so much white???"): These features are charming.

And I even liked Kemper's unwillingness to slam Trump in one of the final questions. I believe Trump deserves getting slammed, obviously, but Kemper's resistance to that is one sign of her delightful contrarian outlook. She's saying: "Look, the Trump jokes, in this particular section, have grown stale. I'm going to do something different." God bless her for that.

If you have perused the Times "Best Of" book lists, and have some questions, here are my thoughts: "The Perfect Nanny" really is a fun, nasty thriller, and I appreciate that it received attention. The translated title is unfortunate; it makes this book seem "Gone Girl"-esque, and it isn't actually "Gone Girl"-esque. "Early Work" was one of my favorite novels of the year, and I haven't seen anyone, beyond the NYT writer, giving it credit and attention. So, please take heed: "Early Work" is a success. It takes you into another world. It feels fresh. That's not a small achievement.
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