Melissa Senate

Barnes&Noble.com Book Clubs is holding a month-long discussion about EVERYTHING I NEEDED TO KNOW ABOUT BEING A GIRL I LEARNED FROM JUDY BLUME, an anthology of essays to which I very proudly contributed. I wrote about the crazy summer I turned twelve (1977 in New York City, so think: Son of Sam, the blackout, Elvis permanently leaving the building–okay, that one didn't happen in NYC), and my familly's move from Flushing, Queens to the New Jersey suburbs). Many of the anthology's contributors (including the brilliant Meg Cabot and Megan McCafferty and Alison Pace and the anthology's editor, Jennifer O'Connell) are participating in the discussion and so is, drumroll please: Judy Blume, herself! I've posted a question to her (in the Questions thread) and when and if she answers, I will melt like buttah! I asked who her favorite authors/books were when she was a kid/teenager. 

Here's the scoop from the B&N site: 

Everything I Needed to Know about Being a Girl I Learned from Judy Blume

For millions of American girls growing up, Judy Blume's awkward, self-conscious characters became surrogates, allies, and comforters in their silent struggles. The 24 essays of Everything I Needed to Know about Being a Girl I Learned from Judy Blume honor an unconventional mentor who has entertained readers even as she teaches them. In August we are joined by the contributors of Everything I Needed to Know about Being a Girl I Learned from Judy Blume as we discuss this tribute to one of the most beloved authors of all time. 

And, check out this brand new novel: 

 Okay, not only does this book, FIVE THINGS I CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT, look like great summer reading for these last beach days (look, even People says so), debut author Holly Shumas offers a dating q&a–Dear Holly–on her website (I've already gotten some very good tips–did I mention I am newly single and thinking of sticking the big toe into the unfroggy area of the dating pond?)

A People magazine “Great Read” (July 23, 2007)

“Smart, sharply written, and very, very funny. This is a gem of a book.”–Whitney Gaskell, author of She, Myself, and I

“…offer(s) a deep understanding of human nature.  Topical coming-of-age story with a bright, humane heroine.”–Kirkus Reviews

Nora Bishop is living a life of almosts. She’s almost thirty. Almost committed in her relationship. Almost employed. And she’s almost living her life. Stuck in what she terms her meta-life, she’s thinking and questioning everything to the point of self-sabotage. Then a friend asks Nora to rewrite an Internet dating profile, and the woman with the meta-life discovers her métier. As a Cyrano de Bergerac for the lovelorn, she asks her clients to name the five things they can’t live without. But what are hers? To get answers, Nora will have to stop asking questions. And then do the hardest thing of all: Find herself by losing herself…in real life.

I've just ordered it and this one too. 

Happy Tuesday!