READING L.A.

Bert Berdis, radio commercial writer-producer:

“Wanda Hickey’s Night of Golden Memories” by Jean Shepherd (Doubleday).

“Shepherd, who wrote ‘A Christmas Story,’ takes the reader on more humorous adventures. The more I’ve learned about this dysfunctional family, the better I feel about my own!”

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Patrick McCullough, graphic communications specialist:

“Super-Learning 2000” by Sheila Ostrander, Lynn Schroeder, Nancy Ostrander (Dell Publishing).

“This is a book of tricks for higher learning using various exercises--intellectual, even nutritional--to increase intelligence.”

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Sylvia P. Maxson, professor:

“The Notebook” by Nicholas Sparks (Warner).

“Sparks has written a fast-paced, fascinating love story so entertaining that you simply cannot put it down. Although it has a familiar and predictable ending, my overwhelming thought was, it can’t end, I want more.”

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Philip Brimble, teacher:

“The Unconsoled” by Kazuo Ishiguro (Alfred A. Knopf).

“I’ve really enjoyed Ishiguro’s other books, ‘Remains of the Day’ and ‘Artist in the Floating World,’ because his characters are so varied. Here he describes the inner life of the main character in clear, reflective, beautifully paced language.”