This week, we were struck by how we related to each and every thing our fellow 'Fisters sent to us to compile for this column. While we won't go as far to give you the rundown on what we have on our online reserve list, or what we're looking forward to buying the next time we're in one of our fine local independent bookstores, we just can't restrain ourselves from self-indulgently chiming in on what the rest of our esteemed colleagues have to say this week.

SFist Jer was fascinated by a new lifestyle magazine on the racks for two reasons: 1) it's seven bucks! and 2) it's from The Economist. Despite the apparent incongruity of a lifestyle magazine from the folks at the Economist, so far Intelligent Life: New Trends For Smart Living is a pretty swell read. Jer is only on page 40 of 140 -- the length and dense content somewhat allaying his concerns about the price. Particularly interesting so far have been the pieces on gluttony and the "dirty little secret about California wine."

SFist Eve just picked up a new magazine, too! She's looked at Herbivore the last few times she's been in line at Rainbow, but she has to pick up the latest issue, with the cover story "Why Not Eat Your Pet". She's sort of a self-hating vegan, in that she finds herself cringing at how staid and humorless a lot of vegan lit out there is, but not so with Herbivore. She's in love.

SFist Sarah is reading the short story collection Children Playing Before a Statue of Hercules, as compiled by David Sedaris (who else?).

SFist Eve's brother Patrick just met David Sedaris last week, when he (Pat, not Sedaris) "worked security" for a Sedaris reading at The Strand. Did you know that Sedaris loves zombie movies? Even if you didn't, are you at all suprised? Neither was SFist Eve.

Rain just finished Down Came the Rain (no relation) by Brooke Shields (definitely no relation). She'd like to assure you that she put the book on reserve BEFORE Tom Cruise started hashing all over Shields and her use of medication to ease her severe post-partum depression. She decided to read it because she's always been fascinated by celebrities who admit to being a little...loopy. The book is short, and a very fast read, and definitely entertaining if you get off on celebrity voyeurism. And Rain would also like to admit that it is not the first book by Brooke Shields that she's read. She also read--as a teenager--Shields' guide to college life, On Your Own, and to this day, she follows Brooke's advice on mascara application.

SFist Eve didn't know she could feel closer to Rain than she already did, but then she read the above mentioned piece. She, too, was influenced by Shields at a young(ish) age, as she has been doing the conditioner-and-bun thing Brooke advocated in On Your Own since she read the book her sophomore year of high school, and has the matted tresses to prove it. She also briefly considered following Brooke's advice on the importance of remaining a virgin (hey, if Brooke had she certainly could have avoided that depression) before giving it up later that year. Hi, Mom!