Bookburger

fall reading list part two

Burger interviewee Rachel Cohn has a new one coming out, and once again she's teamed up with David Levithan, her co-author on the fabulously musical Nick and Nora's Infinite Playlist. This one's called Naomi and Ely's No Kiss List. It's about two childhood friends--a gal and h er gay dude pal--and what happens when they both fall for the same guy. Oh yeah, and there's a chihuahua named Cutie Pie...we love what happens when these two authors get together on the page, and we can't wait to read this one. We've got a brand new copy to give away, too...want it? Comment below and we'll pick a winner on September 15.

between the buns with...rachel cohn

Lissenup, rockers...we bring you Rachel Cohn, effortlessly cool multitasking author of the big books The Steps and Gingerbread, as well as new novels Shrimp and (with her co-author Dave) Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist. We don't know how she found the time, but she stole a second recently to take our famous burger pop quiz....

Who is your favorite writer that most people have never heard of?
Hmm...my tastes aren't all that obscure, I think most of my favorite writers are pretty well known!  I guess I would choose the great writer Dawn Powell, whom I like to describe as "Dorothy Parker, but with a heart."

What kid or teen books rocked your world growing up?
Among picture books, I loved anything Dr. Seuss (but especially "The Ear Book" and "Cat in the Hat"), and among chapter books, I loved (and still love):  HARRIET THE SPY, ARE YOU THERE GOD? IT'S ME, MARGARET, DEENIE, FROM
THE MIXED-UP FILES OF MRS. BASIL E. FRANKWEILER, and anything by Ellen Conford (I guess she would be my favorite YA writer that I'd love kids today to know about).

Describe your ideal place to write.
A dark and lonely cubicle nook, on a rainy day, with my iPod blaring and the rest of the world (outside of my characters) tuned out.

Your life is a TV series. Name the theme song, one event that would be on the "best of" episode, and one that would be on the blooper reel.
The theme song from "And Then There's Maude" would be mine, because (1) it's sung by Donny Hathaway (one of my favorite singers ever), and (2) I'd like to be thought of as a "sister who really cooked."  (For the record, I rarely actually cook.  I am all about the take-out menu.  I do bake on occasion.)

My "best of" episode would be a montage of all the great times spent with family (especially my two sisters) and friends.  The blooper real, sadly, would not be my own - it would be circa many, many years ago, and it would show me and my mom schlepping to the public library to watch the Star Trek (original TV version) blooper real, because back in the olden days before the DVD, that was where you had to go to get your fix of Captain Kirk walking into doors that don't open, or of Mr. Spock flashing an unexpected, non-stoic smile at the camera.

Burger-flippers want to know: have you ever had a job that required you
to wear a geeky uniform? Details, please!
I worked as a front desk clerk at a Hyatt Regency for two days, sort of.  On the first day I wore the uniform jacket.  On the second day I called them and told them I'd eloped to Las Vegas and couldn't make it in to work. I went to see a Mel Gibson movie instead.  (The jacket had everything to do with why I didn't show up the second day.  Also, Mel Gibson, circa 1990.)

We'd like to name a burger in your honor.  What kind of fixins should it have?
I go for a turkey burger (preferably from Barney's in San Francisco) with red onion, tomato and mayo.  Don't forget the fries.

AND...a special Nick & Norah question: what song is at the absolute TOP of your personal playlist right now?
TODAY:  "Spaced Cowboy" by Sly & the Family Stone.
YESTERDAY:  "Get Off the Internet" by Le Tigre.
(And so on.)

PS. burgerites: you can get playlists, podcasts, blogs by the characters, and other key info about Nick & Norah here.