Taylor Plimpton: I didn’t originally think of the New York night as a character. For me, it started off as the place, the setting, the universe in which the book (and all the characters therein) took place. Of course, because the book explores this universe in depth, one does indeed get to know the night as one might a character. And though I didn’t have the conscious intention of anthropomorphizing the night, human traits do emerge. Like any person you know well, the night can be maddening, funny, beautiful, impossible. As with all human beings, the night is charged with paradox, mystery, boundless potential. And, like any of us, the night refuses to be easily defined.

VM: In the book, you intentionally leave out obvious markers of place and time but could you tell us now what you think was the heyday of NY nightlife as you experienced it?

TP: My main reason for leaving out such specifics was to make the book truly accessible to the reader; people could apply their own experiences of place and time to the page, so that their memories would mingle with my own, and they would feel like they were right there with me… That being said, the heyday of NY nightlife for me was probably, say, 2002-2003 at places like Lotus, et al. Part of it was simply being young and alive with the night and life all ahead of me, but it also felt like there was something special about that time and place. There was this sense of infinite possibility about everything back then, and it’s hard to say if it’s simply the fact that I’m older now and am seeing the night through different eyes, or if the nightclubs themselves have actually changed—it’s probably a little of both—but I don’t always feel that way at the places I go to now… Of course, sometimes, even now, I catch a glimpse.

VM: How fine is the line between trying to have a good time and actually having one?

TP: There’s actually a massive chasm between the two. The thing is, any time you’re “trying” to do something, you’re not actually doing it… It’s like forcing a smile: it just never feels as good as a grin that comes naturally… This is perhaps especially the case with the night: everyone out there “trying to have fun,” and yet somehow many of them are nonetheless miserable. Myself, at times, included. It’s funny, cause one of the book’s main goals is to answer this question of how to have a good time, and yet as the narrator, I am no obvious role model. In fact, I’m probably a better example of someone who tries too hard—a seeker who is forever struggling to find that ultimate moment of freedom, and thus somehow ends up standing in his very own way. I guess my point [and a piece of what we learn from the narrator’s journey] is that “trying” is part of the hindrance. It’s
often when you give up your grand desire to have a good time that you finally do.

VM: Short of ill health or lack of funds, is there ever a good reason not to go out at night?

TP: Every now and then when I find myself home at night with no plans to go out, I’ll hear the sounds of the city drifting in through the window — music and laughter and other whispers of possibility — and I will get this great pang in my stomach, an emptiness, an almost urgent sense that I am missing something… But this is mostly an illusion: sure, if you go out, you’ll probably have a good time, but you’ve had good times before, and you’ll have them again. There is no real rush. After all, as powerful as this desire is to seize every night as if it were your last—and as much as I tend to bow to this desire — sometimes you just need a restful night at home with a good book.

VM: What are you working on now?

TP: I’ve been working on putting together a couple different collections of short essays. One, tentatively titled, “Animals and Other Creatures: True Tales” will be a series of short personal memoirs loosely related to animals (including, of course, humans) and the physical/ biological universe. The other, tentatively titled, “My Father’s Son,” will be a collection of essays about my relationship with my father, George Plimpton.

Taylor Plimpton is a freelance writer and editor based in New York City. His writing has appeared in numerous publications, including Men’s Journal magazine, Dan’s Papers, the Harvard Advocate, and The Rumpus.net. He is the co-editor of The Dreaded Feast: Writers on Enduring the Holidays, an anthology of dark holiday humor published in October of 2009. He graduated with a degree in English from Reed College.

“This is a rhapsodic book: light and free, the model for the memoir of the future — a future in which each moment is precious and the writer is as good as Plimpton at grabbing and showing it to us.”
—Susan Salter Reynolds, Los Angeles Times

Listen to an audio interview with Taylor Plimpton on Barnes & Noble Studio:

To enter to win a signed copy of the book, go to Thrillist.com and tell them where your favorite nightlife spot is this summer!

So I recently took a flight that was slightly overbooked and offered to stay behind. I was given a wonderful little voucher for $400 more travel. Unfortunately, that means I can’t go through priceline.com or some such useful website to buy the ticket, I have to use the airline’s directly, which I couldn’t quite figure out. So I called them, got myself booked on a flight, was quite pleased with the customer service, and went to forward the confirmation to my girlfriend–so she could see when I’m coming home.

Boy was I surprised to discover I was flying out of a different airport. One little letter can make all the difference sometimes. MHT had been entered as MDT, moving my departure location from Manchester, NH to Harrisburg, PA. (Actually, because of the way the e-mail lists your first name, middle initial, and where you’re flying out of, I’d first thought they’d gotten my name wrong: Benjamin D. Harrisburg. Hey, I’ve been mistaken for a certain President, and this wasn’t that far off.)

So I had to call back. And do it all over again. All due to one tiny miskey. There are plenty of times, I’ll grant you, when a typo doesn’t make THAT much difference. Sure, it can reflect poorly on you or communicate something about your level of care/dedication, but it doesn’t change the meaning of the word your reader can figure out. However, it’s best to build the habit of catching typos whenever possible so that you are ready when that one typo comes along that can change everything. Fortunately, I managed to catch this one before 24 hours had passed, or else I wouldn’t have been able to get it refunded.

• For more funny, insightful typo take-downs, visit The Great Typo blog.

• Follow them on Twitter – #mostcommontypos – and give in to the irresistible allure of bad spelling.

We’re giving away copies of The Great Typo Hunt!

Then come back here and paste the link. Oh, and we’d love to know what your typo “pet peeve” is, too! (Winners chosen at random and notified by email. Limited quantities; while supplies last. No purchase necessary.)

4 to 6 servings

I don’t keep a lot in my freezer, but one thing you’ll always find there is a
package of frozen peas. They’re sweet, they have a lovely green color, and
when pureed they can satisfy a craving for a starchy food. If you’re not a big
fan of peas, at least give this a try. I think it’s going to be your new favorite
thing. I can’t resist eating it straight out of the bowl!

1 (10-ounce) package frozen peas, thawed
1 garlic clove
1⁄2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
1⁄4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus more to taste
2⁄3 cup olive oil
8 (1⁄2-inch-thick) slices whole-grain baguette or ciabatta bread,
preferably day-old
8 cherry tomatoes, halved, or 1 small tomato, diced

For the pea pesto: Pulse together in a food processor the peas, garlic, Parmesan
cheese, salt, and pepper. With the machine running, slowly add 1⁄3 cup of the
olive oil and continue to mix until well combined, 1 to 2 minutes. Season
with more salt and pepper, if needed. Transfer to a small bowl and set aside.
For the crostini: Preheat a stovetop griddle or grill pan over medium-high.
Brush both sides of each of the bread slices with the remaining 1⁄3 cup olive oil
and grill until golden, 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer the bread to a platter and
spread 1 to 2 tablespoons pesto on each slice. Top each crostini with 2 tomato
halves and serve.

You know that we love sharing great reads! We reach our community through the Read It Forward newsletter, website, Facebook, and Twitter. We also share books through various partners, including reader sites like BookBrowse and retailers like Amazon. It’s a thrill to see readers out there in the world sharing our excitement about great books – which is why we love hearing from you!

Below are some terrific reader reviews for David Klein’s debut novel Stash. Nothing makes us want to read a book more than another voracious reader saying “you’ll love it!”



Five-star reviews from BookBrowse First Impressions

• “This read packs a punch from the beginning to the very end!” —Sharon S. (Stanley, N.C.)

• “[A] seamless plot-line that strikes at the myth of quiet, peaceful, and boring suburbia.” —James G. (Warwick, NY)

• “Wow! From the first page, I was hooked.” —Bill L. (Hilliard, OH)

• “Stash was extremely entertaining, fast-paced, and well-written. I thoroughly enjoyed it.” —Susan S. (Lafayette, CA)

• “I would recommend this for book clubs. The ending, in particular, would be good fodder for conversation.” —William B. (East Peoria, IL)



More five-star reviews from Amazon Vine Voice

• “The pages fly…lively, energetic, and easily accessible, but it is also thought provoking and ultimately bold.” —switterbug (Austin, TX)

• “I seriously finished this book in one day, and no, it’s not a quick read…it’s just THAT good!!” —M. Buehl “Informed Mama” (Northern CO)

• “Klein explores moral dilemmas without sermonizing.” —Jill Shtulman (Chicago, IL)

• “What an amazing debut!” —Book Lover

• “This book was quick to hook me.” —HighVoltageGirl (Orlando FL)



• Get the reader’s guide for Stash by David Klein – a perfect book group book!

To enter for a chance to win a copy, read an excerpt from Stash by David Klein and post your comments below. (Winners chosen at random and notified by email. Limited quantities; while supplies last. No purchase necessary.)

The Wall Street Journal raved about If Trouble Don’t Kill Me by Ralph Barrier, saying “If [Berrier] has yet to master the fiddle, he rarely hits a false note on the page, expertly rendering the cadence and bygone culture of the Hall boys from The Hollow and proving himself a storyteller to do his elders proud. Less than a decade after the death of the surviving twin, Clayton, in 2003, Mr. Berrier has brought the ‘last of the old-timers’ back to life.”

We’re giving away copies of If Trouble Don’t Kill Me!