Jens Lekman topic of June: Grace Paley
Jens Lekman recommends that you read Grace Paley as that's his chosen topic of the month for June: http://www.jenslekman.com/records/smalltalk.htm
I concur, though it probably helps if you're Jewish (and/or socialist). But seriously, besides her excellent short stories, she's one of the very few poets whose work I've read and consistently enjoyed. Oh, and Jens also says he's finishing up mixing a new EP too.