LIANE HANSEN, host:
Our summer readers during the past three months have included a critic.
Mr. WITOLD RYBCZYNSKI (Author; Critic of Urban Planning): I usually give books for reviewing and that's always fun because they just come out of the blue, it's sort of like meeting somebody unexpectedly.
HANSEN: A librarian.
Ms. CAROL STOUDT (Librarian): We did a survey and asked what their favorite books were and I guess most of the responses are what I consider items for our subversive literature shelf.
HANSEN: A brigadier general.
Brigadier General WILLIAM GRIMSLEY (U.S. Army): Even on deployment I take books. Even in Iraq last time, I found I had time to read.
HANSEN: A playwright.
Ms. SARAH RUHL (Playwright): I just finished "The Curtain" by Milan Kundera, which is wonderful. I have a crush on him. That's all I can say.
HANSEN: And this week, you. Here's what some of you read this summer.
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Ms. MARIAN MOORE(ph) (Resident, Harvey, Louisiana): My name is Marian Moore. I live in Harvey, Louisiana, which is a suburb of New Orleans. I just finished reading "Cripple Creek" by James Sallis. One character is a policeman who has been to prison because he shot his partner. He ends up getting more or less drafted into being a policeman in a small town because he's the most qualified person, and it's his adjustment to becoming involved in society again when he is somewhat of a loner. My usually guilty pleasure: trashy vampire novel. They're full of romance and sex and you can finish them in an afternoon practically.
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Ms. DEBORAH LEER(ph) (Resident, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania): I'm Deborah Leer from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. I read a book called "What Is The What?" The author is Dave Eggers. It's about a Sudanese boy who leaves his village and becomes part of what we call the Lost Boys of Sudan. And it was thrilling to read. I mean, it's a page-turner just like oh, I don't want to finish this book because I might not find another book this good to read again.
Mr. SHALLY DAN(ph) (Lawyer, Denver, Colorado): I'm Shally Dan. I live in Denver, Colorado. I'm an attorney here in Denver. This summer, I have been reading a book by Robert Fisk called the "Great War for Civilization," which is a marvelous detailed memoir of his 35 or 40 years as a war correspondent in the Middle East.
It helps to bring into sharp relief the issues of religious conflict and political struggles in Iraq, Iran, Algeria. All these things are - come to life in a way that we don't generally get to read in our daily papers. Love to read. Love the thought of getting a book, holding a book. And I can find a quiet spot around 4 or 5 a.m. and spend an hour or two before the sun comes up and, you know, just have a cup of tea and spend an hour or two reading.
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