I had dinner last night with, among others, a very charming and precocious five-year-old, who informed me that she likes books. I asked her if she had a favorite. She replied, "I have ten favorites, but I haven't memorized the list."

My own list of favorite books shifts over the years, depending on what's going on in my life, my current interests, and other factors. So, my "favorite" book tends to be the one I'm currently enjoying. At the moment, I'm reading (and enjoying) Fay Weldon's newest She May Not Leave . What's your favorite book?