I'm off to the Windy City for the Special Sections Conference tomorrow, so I decided to pick up a book for myself for the plane ride when I took the kids to the Blasco library on Monday.

I must've walked around those fiction shelves for an hour trying to find something I wanted to read. I just couldn't find anything that looked good and I couldn't -- for the life of me -- remember any of the 312 books I always wanted to read when I had the time.

I looked at Upton Sinclair's "The Jungle" -- it's on Blasco's summer reading list, but... one flip through told me it was not a book this vegetarian could stomach.

I leafed through some of the books on the "new fiction" display, but I didn't care for any of those -- set too far back in history, too confusing, too stuipd, too science-fiction-y (yes, I know that's not a word). Too short, too long, too heavy to lug around on vacation ...

I ended up with "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter" by Carson McCullers. I hope it's worth lugging around an airport. I'll guess I'll find out tomorrow.

After the conference this week, I'm on a blissful week of vacation, during which time I hope to read another book or two, but I need your help. Tell me what books you've recently read and loved.

I am particluarly interested in lighter fare right now (and seems I'll need it if the Amazon reviews of "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter" are correct) You know... a stereotypical good beach read. Maybe a good chick lit novel. Any suggestions? Post below!