Courtney Parker, Kansas University senior, Lawrence

“‘Haunted,’ by Chuck Palahniuk. It’s about some people who are trying to become writers that all get trapped in a hotel and start to develop psychotic behavior patterns.”

James Rowland, retired, Lawrence

“I just finished ‘The Year of Magical Thinking,’ by Joan Didion. It’s about the death of her husband and daughter. It was very intense because I’ve gone through it myself.”

Payton Bulmer, Ottawa Middle School seventh-grader, Ottawa

“I’m reading ‘Nothing Can Keep Us Together,’ by Cecily von Ziegesar. It’s about these girls who are sort of the head honchos of New York. They all take each other’s boyfriends, cheat, and back-stab and lie.”

Elizabeth Castle, Kansas University freshman, Lawrence

“‘Life of Pi,’ by Yann Martel. It’s about a kid whose father owns a zoo on this island. When his ship wrecks, he gets stuck on a lifeboat with a tiger, a zebra and some other animals. The tiger ends up eating everyone but him.”