The winning story of Boston Review's 15th annual fiction contest is online; I think it's unpretentious and moving.

Advance Reading Copies are the new cute dogs -- they do all the romantic luring for you. (They also make excellent -- and free -- birthday presents.)

"Hey babe, I have a great idea for this weekend!" I can just picture the look so many boyfriends' faces

I finally got around to reading my May email update from Goodreads.com, one of several social networking sites for book nerds like me. (I use it primarily to keep track of my own current reading habits / progress; I’m less interested in reading/writing reviews.) Since I joined about a year ago, the site has continuously improved; recent updates include the ability to purchase books directly from your “To-Read” list, and an addictive, reader-formulated book quiz.