READING L.A.

Kathleen Locke, marketing manager:

“The Hand I Fan With,” by Tina McElroy Ansa (Anchor).

“After reading this novel, I found myself searching for ‘spells’ to conjure up a man too. The characters, Herman and Lena, make magic in this story. The lessons that Herman leaves her with last a lifetime as she opens up to the sensual woman-spirit inside her.”

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Anahoo Gupta, business executive:

“Succeeding Sane,” by Bonnie St. John Deane (Simon & Schuster).

“The point of Deane’s story is this: People fall down, but winners get up. Her book is a must-read for anyone who cares about becoming a champion as a professional and as a human being.”

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Anne Meyers, museum administrator:

“Tender at the Bone,” by Ruth Reichl (Random House).

“For a foodie and longtime fan of Reichl, this memoir has all the ingredients for a deliciously satisfying read: humor, poignancy, joy, charm and the sugar and spice of her own great truths. And it’s as fun to try the recipes as it is to read.”

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Marianne Grant, technology consultant:

“Mansfield Park,” by Jane Austen (Penguin).

“I first read Jane Austen when I was 14 and thought this novel was marvelous. Today it’s still as good and even more relevant. Fanny Price is an incredible character, and the story’s moral tone is so compelling.”