A Year in Reading: Hilary Leichter
In June, on vacation, in a used bookstore. Towering paperbacks obstructing every corner. The owner insisted on showing me the novels he could not possibly part with. It was perhaps not the best sales strategy, but it certainly encouraged me to take his recommendations to heart. He was holding a copy of byto his chest. He had just read it for the first time. “I am Ethan Frome!” he declared, beaming. He said that his wife agreed; he was totally Ethan Frome. Back at the Airbnb, I found aon a shelf—serendipity!—and read it in one sitting. Without spoiling anything, I’ll just say: I really hope this lovely bookseller is okay! I really hope he is Ethan Frome.
