The Nightstand I´m sometimes asked which writers I enjoy reading. I´ve listed a few books, in no particular order, that I found entertaining, unique, and very well written. If you haven´t read them, you´ve missed some great writing. Let me know if you can suggest any for me, too. I´m always looking for new suggestions. Fiction Einstein´s Dreams, by Alan Lightman, 1993. This short, tiny book has very few words, but many thought-provoking ideas. It asks the question, "What would life be like if time moved in circles, or backwards"? Skinny Legs and All, by Tom Robbins, 1990. If you know Robbins, you know how bizarrely he thinks, and how beautifully he strings words together. A Very Long Engagement, by Sebastien Japrisot, 1991. A fascinating story of five French men left to die by their own troops, and a woman searching for the truth of their story. The Black Prince, by Iris Murdoch, 1973. I´ve listed this particular Murdoch book because it´s so typical of her writing, and because the main character, a would-be popular writer, is so real and so English. But any Murdoch book is a treat. The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle, by Haruki Murakami, 1997. Murakami is simply a delight. He´s easy-to-read, very creative, and always paints wonderfully memorable scenes and characters. Another of his books, "Hard Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World,” is also a great introduction to Murakami, but be prepared to be surprised. The Infinite Plan, by Isabel Allende, 1991. You´ve probably read something by Allende already, but I wanted to include this wonderful story because her characters and situations are so improbable and real at the same time. She was born and raised in South America, but much of her work is set in San Francisco. As writers go, they don´t get much better than Allende. The Blind Assassin, by Margaret Atwood, 2000. There´s no such thing as a bad Atwood novel, so pick up any you see. But this is one of the best and it won the Booker Prize. The Song Beneath the Ice, by Joe Fiorito, 2002. A very unique story. A concert pianist walks off stage during a performance, heads toward the door and disappears. Great characters in this book. East of the Mountains, by David Guterson, 1999. An aging doctor, now alone, makes a decision to secretly control his own demise. The twist is a good one, and the story is well told. The Assault, by Harry Mulisch, 1985. This quickly paced novel, by the acclaimed Dutch author of "The Discovery of Heaven", is shorter, clearer and a faster read. And it´s a fascinating story—a political thriller set at the end of World War II. The Angle of Repose, by Wallace Stegner, 1971. When Stegner died in 1993, America lost it´s preeminent writer. This historically grounded saga won the Pulitzer Prize in 1973, and presents an unusually rich assortment of characters. Stegner´s "Crossing to Safety" is another sure bet. Non-Fiction The Discoverers, by Daniel J. Boorstin, 1983. The subtitle of this book is “A History of Man´s Search to Know His World and Himself,” and it actually delivers on that promise. It contains detailed discussions of the discovery, and accommodation, of time, mountains, exploration and scientific advancements. It´s somewhat epic, but you don´t have to read it all at once, either. Boorstin also wrote a companion book called, “The Creators,” focusing on man´s greatest creative breakthroughs. Galileo´s Daughter, by Dava Sorbel, 1999. While the great astronomer worked to understand the secrets of nature, his daughter spent a life of seclusion in a convent. They corresponded frequently and saw each other when they could. Her letters to her father survived and form the basis for this personal picture of their relationship. Interestingly, the book also covers his trial at the Inquisitions for daring suggest the Earth orbits around the sun, and not the other way around. The Wisdom of the Heart, by Henry Miller, 1941. This is my odd one. No, it´s not a self-help book about your love life! It´s a collection of short essays by Henry Miller on a wide variety of topics and people. I´ve included it here because it clearly fits my criteria of being exceedingly well written, and interesting too. Mother Tongue, by Bill Bryson, 1990. I can´t resist this one, even though I´m not even sure you can easily find it. It´s subtitled “English " How it Got that Way". It´s not a text—it´s a fun look at the quirkiness and history of our language.