“A Language Older than Words,' by Derrick Jensen. He's an environmentalist who talks about how we forget the language of the world and clutter it with our own verbal language. He says we need to take a step back and listen to the language of the world.”

— Danielle Maigaard, server, Lawrence

“I am reading 'Zombie Curse,' by Arthur M., M.D. Fournier and Daniel Herlihy. It's about the HIV and AIDS epidemic in Haiti and about the author setting up a clinic there. It's an awesome book.”

— Kristine Kurtz, Health Corps volunteer, Lawrence

“'Caramelo,' by Sandra Cisneros. It's about a Latin American family growing up Latino in Chicago and Mexico and about the divisions in their family.”

— Andreas Graf, Kansas University sophomore, Lawrence

“'Tender is the Night,' by F. Scott Fitzgerald. It's about American expatriates in France. It's his best book. It's better than 'Gatsby.'”

— Ryan Devlin, magazine editor, Brooklyn