Have you ever wondered why soda comes in round containers while milk comes in square ones? No, I hadn't either until the question was posed in an article at Design Observer.The answer--that milk's squared containers mean more efficient use of refrigerated space during transport and display, while a soda can's round shape is easier to … Continue reading Why & Wherefore

Daniel B Smith reviews Annie Dillard's latest novel The Maytrees at slate.com, and it's a rave: "At times, The Maytrees acts like vintage Dillard: It contains gorgeous, meticulous descriptions of the outdoors that springboard into the Platonic ether, into meditations on devotion, loss, and time. ... The result is one of the most lucid and … Continue reading Thumbs up for Annie

HarperCollins is offering advance reader copies of Ann Patchett's next book Run, which will be published September 25. Patchett is the author of book club favorite Bel Canto.To get on the list for a copy, email HarperCollins.