READING L.A.

Virginia Laddey, retired stockbroker:

“Possession: A Romance,” by A. S. Byatt (Random House).

“This book is an entrancing creation; it’s a wonderful story, full of passion and poetry, about two scholars who reconstruct a clandestine and torrid affair between two Victorian poets. It’s quite exciting and intelligent.”

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Michael Tronick, film editor:

“Fall from Grace,” by Clyde Phillips (Morrow).

“It’s the ‘perfect summer read.’ The characters are well-developed and multidimensional, and Phillips’ descriptions put me firmly in each location and situation. The author has a knack for exploring the psyches of both the killer and heroine.”

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Anthony Paul Diaz, attorney:

“A Civil Action,” by Jonathan Harr (Vintage).

“This chronicle of litigation gives a great insight into the building of a complex case. It delves into the personal lives of some of the biggest attorneys in this country, strips away their cold and calculating images and shows that they can be as vulnerable as their clients.”

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Elizabeth Lambaer, doctor:

“What You Think of Me Is None of My Business,” by Dr. Terry Cole-Whittaker (Berkley).

“Many people spend their lives reaching outward to please everyone instead of turning inward to tap their own inner strength and divinity. This book helps you turn off the noise of the outside world to connect to your life’s divine purpose.”