Literary Second Dates

Reading a book by a new author is a bit like internet dating - a calculated risk. You make a choice based on superficial criteria ("hmm, looks interesting"), make a modest investment of time and money ("$11.99 and only 300 pages, what have I got to lose?"), you pretend you're just looking to make a casual connection ("I need something to read on the train") when you're really seeking a lifetime commitment ("I would cut off a limb and trade it for an advance copy of your next book"). Sometimes there are no sparks whatsoever but you decide to go to a movie this weekend because it beats another Saturday night of Netflixing (Yaa Gyasi), sometimes you're intrigued enough to surprise her the next day with tickets for an out-of-town concert by her favorite band (Emily St. John Mandel), sometimes you're so into her that stalking suddenly seems like rational behavior (Laila Lalami). Here are some contemporary female authors with whom I've downloaded a second time.