Wally Lamb's Guilty Pleasure Is a History of Mad Magazine

New York Times

a day ago

In an email interview, the author of 'She's Come Undone' was proud to say he still follows Oprah's book picks. SCOTT HELLER
Describe your ideal reading experience.
It's early September. I'm on Cape Cod at Truro's Long Nook Beach. There's a warm breeze, the crowds have left and so have the horseflies.
What's the best book you've ever gotten as a gift?
My former publisher, Judith Regan, once gave me a copy of 'To Kill a Mockingbird' signed by Harper Lee.
Do you count any books as guilty pleasures?
In my early teens I got hold of William S. Burroughs's 'Naked Lunch' and hid it behind other books in my bookshelf. Sadly, my mother found it and made it disappear. Much more recently, I enjoyed 'The MAD Files: Writers and Cartoonists on the Magazine That Warped America's Brain!'
What books are on your night stand?
Kaveh Akbar's 'Martyr!,' Beth Macy's 'Paper Girl,' Emma Pattee's 'Tilt,' Kira Jane Buxton's 'Tartufo,' David Litt's 'It's Only Drowning,' Nick Drnaso's 'Sabrina' and 'Pushcart Prize XLIX: Best of the Small Presses 2025,' edited by Bill Henderson.
Want all of The Times? Subscribe.