READING L.A.

Mezzie Montooth, sandwich store manager:

“Still Life with Woodpecker” by Tom Robbins (Bantam).

“Any book that makes redheads divine is OK by me. Did you know that the pyramids were built by redheaded people and that Thomas Jefferson, who put the pyramid on the dollar bill, was a redhead? It’s amazing what Robbins knows.”

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Buzz Aldrin, astronaut, writer:

“The Whole Shebang” by Timothy Ferris (Simon & Schuster).

“As I prepare to write a book for the 30th anniversary of Apollo 11 in 1999, I’m reading Ferris with interest. He explains so simply such complex issues like the formation of the universe that I’m convinced we need more writers like him if we ever hope to think clearly about star travel.”

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Martin Chalifour, principal concertmaster, L.A. Philharmonic:

“The Stand” by Stephen King (NAL Dutton).

“I’m a real science-fiction buff, and this is a perfect escape from reality, just like music. In his book, King presents an interesting scenario of how our world can be turned upside-down.”

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Kris Neri, mystery writer:

“A Hard Light” by Wendy Hornsby (Dutton).

“This is the latest Maggie MacGowen mystery, and I always want to know what’s happening in the characters’ lives. I love the subtlety and the seamless quality of Hornsby’s writing.”