“'A Year in Provence,' by Peter Mayle. It's a hilarious book about an English couple who moves to France to renovate an old farm house using local French laborers.”

— Missy McCoy, artist, rural Perry

“'Snow,' by Orhan Pamuk. It takes place in Turkey and it's about a man who travels to a remote city to cover a suicide epidemic of Muslim women.”

— Micah Swade, Kansas University senior, Louisburg

“'My Dinner of Herbs,' by Efrem Zimbalist Jr. He was the star of the '77 Sunset Strip' and 'The F.B.I.' series, and it's kind of an overview of his life and career.”

— Brian Dietrich, corporate vice president, Omaha, Neb.

“Right now I'm in the middle of 'Anna Karenina,' by Tolstoy. I decided to read it for fun. You have to read the classics, but it's taking me longer than I expected.”

— Ashley Conrad, KU freshman, Houston

“'Running with Scissors,' by Augusten Burroughs. It's about this kid whose parents are going through a divorce, and his mother ends up letting her psychologist adopt him.”

— Sara Troll, KU freshman, Lawrence