Having hit the Strand used book racks last week and also coming home from my parents’ with a pile of things they recommended, I’ve been reading a lot lately.

The New Yorker: My fabulous mom got me a subscription a few months ago and while they’re pretty quick reads, the fiction’s good for a train ride or whatever. Apparently it’s nowhere near as good as it used to be, but as I didn’t read it regularly then I wouldn’t really know.

Dave Eggers, A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius: Like Infinite Jest, this is one that people have been recommending to me for a while. Although I was initially put off by the self-conscious artiness (witticisms extending to even the copyright page, for chrissakes), once I got into the meat of the book itself I really enjoyed it. When I like a book I tend to just read it straight through, ignoring any other obligations I might have had, and I read this one in about a day.

David Foster Wallace, Girl With Curious Hair: Speaking of Infinite Jest, this is another by the same author. It’s a stories collection, purchased by a sweetheart reader from my list. I’m saving a couple of them for future commutes and such, but I tore through the first two thirds or so immediately and really liked it. It’s pretty much what you’d expect from Jest or any of his other work, but as I like everything else I’ve read of his that’s not a bad thing.

Calvin Trillin, Family Man: Not the sort of thing I would have picked out for myself - not being all that fond of children et cetera - but recommended by the parents and it weren’t bad. I think I read some of Trillin’s columns way back in the day and this was light but entertaining.

William Gibson and Bruce Sterling, The Difference Engine: I hate to speak ill of Gibson, but I picked this up months ago and only finally made my way through it. Bit of a disappointment taken in the context of his other work. Maybe it was the co-authoring thing, but I couldn’t seem to really get caught up in it at all and having finished it now I wonder if it was worth the effort.

Granta: Have loved it for years, still love it. I supplemented my subscription issues with a stack of old ones I picked up at the Strand. Absolutely delicious.