From a New York Times By the Book interview headlined “Richard Russo Misses the Purity of Childhood Reading”:

What books are on your night stand?

“Such Kindness,” by Andre Dubus III, “Tom Lake,” by Ann Patchett, “Wellness,” by Nathan Hill, “Art and Fear,” by David Bayles and Ted Orland.

What was the last great book you read?

“Small Mercies,” by Dennis Lehane. Think of all your favorite hard-boiled authors (Hammett? Chandler? Ross Macdonald? Robert Parker?) and their tough guy heroes (Spade? Marlowe? Lew Archer? Spenser?). Not one of them could take Lehane’s Mary Pat in a fair fight, and they wouldn’t last a day in his Southie.