I spent about six hours yesterday reading Tom Perrotta’s The Abstinence Teacher from cover to cover. He continues to be one of my favorite novelists. For someone outside church subculture writing about someone within it, he treats his Christian character with a lot of respect and, really, I think nails some of the problems within the culture: the battle imagery used in churches, the way the self can divide with a dramatic conversion experience that (unbiblically) attempts to discard the past rather than redeem it, and the difference between faith and religion. Here’s a little dialogue with him about why he started writing the book and it turned into something he didn’t expect.

Ann Dee Ellis finally reveals the cover of her new book, Everything is Fine. Love it. The girl totally looks like someone from an Ann Dee Ellis novel. And, from the expression on her face, everything is clearly not fine. Can’t wait.

It is finally almost time for Tara Altebrando’s second YA to come out! I loved What Happens Hereso much that I blurbed it, and am excited to see it starting to show up on the bloggy radar. If you don’t have Tara’s LJ in your feed, add it!

I was so into my reading yesterday that I almost didn’t go to the Oscar party. But we did, and I only have a few thoughts: boring dresses, yay for “Falling Slowly“, I predicted Juno would win for original screenplay but nothing else, and I guess I have to see No Country for Old Men even though I’m squeamish about violence.

Thank you for all the fantastic song suggestions. I spent a bunch of time and cents this morning on many of your gym picks.

Have a great day!