READING L.A.

Megan Minsky, paralegal:

“Animal Dreams,” by Barbara Kingsolver (HarperCollins).

“ ‘Animal Dreams’ describes the life of a woman raised by a single parent: her critical father who sees things not as they are. Her attempt to make sense of her life and come to terms with her relationships are moving and brave.”

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Kathy Smith, fitness professional and author:

“The Cobra Event,” by Richard Preston (Random House).

“Preston’s story is a disturbing reminder that we no longer live in an age when war affects only limited areas. There’s no limit to the destruction caused by biological weapons, and the chilling facts behind this story of germ terrorism suggest what may be in store for us.”

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Cathy Rogge, retired high school teacher:

“Women at the Crossroads,” by Michelle L. Renaud (Gordon & Breach).

“An oddly heartwarming story of the prostitutes of Senegal, this gutsy drama tells how a community of poor and disenfranchised women is making crucial decisions to prevent the selling of sex as a survival strategy from becoming a death sentence.”

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Cherie Troped, copy writer:

“The Wonder Worker,” by Susan Howatch (Alfred A. Knopf).

“This novel about love and redemption takes place in modern London when an overweight, shy woman falls in love with a charismatic minister. While it focuses on religion, the book’s real life comes from the emotions it so expertly depicts.”