READING L.A.

Theresa Bonpane, executive director, Office of the Americas:

“Alias Grace” by Margaret Atwood (Nan A. Talese/Doubleday)

“This book is great. It’s very interestingly written. It shows how the main character survived. The documentation of the true story is woven throughout. The basic story is factual.”

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Rene Cardenas, Spanish-language play-by-play announcer, Los Angeles Dodgers:

The poetry of Ruben Dario

“I like the way he writes. He’s so different. We call him the savior of the Spanish language. I like the way he puts things; the way he transports you to the clouds.”

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Rafael Gonzalez, regional collection coordinator, L.A. County Library System:

“America’s Dream” by Esmeralda Santiago (HarperCollins)

“I actually read it in both English and Spanish. The author seemed to really get inside her character. Also, I liked it because she used Puerto Rican idioms. I think it was a slice of Puerto Rico.”

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Lisa Petitmermet, department head, Ikea Burbank:

“Life 101” by John Roger and Peter McWilliams (Prelude Press),

“It’s a motivational self-help type of book. It’s a feel-good kind of book. It makes you look at your life. It’s motivating.”