READING L.A.

Dick Beverage, management consultant:

“Hornsby’s Heroes of 1926,” by Bob Gorman (Ameron House).

“Gorman self-published this delightful book, which is an account of his grandfather’s experience pitching batting practice for the St. Louis Cardinals in 1926. The players are remarkably candid about race, pay scale and their excitement that season; they won the pennant and the World Series against the Yankees.”

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Bonnie Nadell, literary agent:

“Depth Takes a Holiday,” by Sandra Tsing Loh (Riverhead).

“These are essays from ‘lesser Los Angeles.’ When you’re sitting home alone at night reading, Tsing Loh can actually make you laugh out loud. This is a woman who makes shopping in the San Fernando Valley sound interesting.”

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Linda Goodman Pillsbury, publisher, Perspective Publishing:

“Loving Edith,” by Mary Tannen (Riverhead).

“ ‘Loving Edith’ is lots of fun. It is a witty spoof of the New York publishing scene and is great vacation reading, just sheer entertainment.”

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Leticia Quezada, president, Instituto Cultural Mexicano:

“The Runaway Jury,” by John Grisham (Bantam/Doubleday).

“I’m a big Grisham fan. His books are always thrillers. When I read his books, I read right through. I have to force myself to put them down. This story is interesting, and it also has relevance to what’s going on today.”