I've been a lover of books ever since first learning to read. Growing up, my favorite places were school and the public libraries.

Tom Lake, Ann Patchett’s latest novel (out last year) has a lovely Michigan connection, along with nods to Chekov and Thornton Wilder.

My daughter and I are in a rift right now. Actually, as it has carried on for nearly three years, perhaps rift is too mild of a word. Broken