2004

Book Bliss: If you're looking for something great to read now, look no further.

My friend Holly Brubach recommended this as one of the sexiest books she'd ever read. This was published in 1912, so sexy doesn't mean body parts but atmosphere. For instance: Wharton describes a couple bumping into each other at the theater. They're attracted, nothing's been said yet...and somehow you're feeling the weight of the air between them-that loaded moment-and it's hard to breathe. I read that scene over and over again, trying to figure out how Wharton did it.

— Amy Gross