READING L.A.

Steve Corn, music industry executive:

“Leonardo’s Mountain of Clams and the Diet of Worms” by Stephen Jay Gould (Harmony).

“A stimulating blend of science and philosophy. Gould’s approach to issues involving science and religion is direct, honest and refreshing. This is a must-read: a wonderful collection of short but insightful essays.”

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Melissa Miller Berry, teacher:

“The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” by Mark Twain (Puffin).

“For several years now, I have read Twain’s classic novel to my eighth grade class, seeing Twain’s world through the eyes of my students. Their insights never fail to reveal something that I hadn’t thought of before.”

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Felix Aguilar, physician:

“The Common Grief” by Roberto Sosa (Curbstone).

“This book of poems about the sense of grief that sometimes affects people is compelling, painful and cathartic, especially for a doctor: We put much of that stuff out of our hearts that’s how we’re trained. But Sosa’s book helped me to deal with all that I’ve seen.”

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Yvette Freeman, actress:

“Inner City Blues” by Paula Woods (W.W. Norton).

“Woods has written both a good murder mystery and an interesting history of Los Angeles. She shows us this city through the eyes of a black woman. Finally in her sleuth, Charlotte Justice, we have a new heroine in the mystery genre.”