“Every summer I return to F. Scott Fitzgerald's classic, The Great Gatsby, writes Amber Erickson of Colerain Township. “I fell in love with the narrator, Nick Carraway, the first summer I read it, and he is the reason for my consistent return. . . . The characters are fascinating, the story is exhilarating and the language is breathtaking. The temperature at your doorstep only exploits these.”

7-DAY SERIES

• Sunday: Songs that get stuck in your head.   • Monday: Amazing vacations   • Wednesday: Cincinnati secrets and rites of summer.   • Thursday: Where to go for an afternoon of leisure.   • Friday: What some kids are doing this summer.   • Saturday: Remodeling stories.

        The Great Gatsby (Scribner; $12) is the perfect summer novel, she says, responding to the Enquirer's request for readers to tell us what they are reading this summer.

        Like Ms. Erickson, many readers who gave us their picks chose to return to the classics. Ms. Erickson took some literary license in describing how Fitzgerald's writing affects her.

        “In the summer, the intensity of the story and the heat of Fitzgerald's summer setting become a part of you. As sweat drips from your chin, you think of Gatsby's coolness. Ordering a drink, mint julep floats through your mind, and parties become Gatsby-fied, as you buy in excess at party and liquor stores. The Great Gatsby gives you a glimpse into a hot summer fantasy that makes you experience the summer.”

        Here's what some other readers said:

Clancy no, Dumas yes

        Drop your Tom Clancy in the deep end of the pool and pick up The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas (Tor Books; $4.99). This book has everything. The leading man is in trouble from the get-go, dashing from one exciting scene to the next. Women, treasures, danger, fighting and more women.

        Considering that Dumas wrote this action-adventuremore than 100 years ago, it is all the more remarkable, because the prose reads as if it had been written for today's world. The book is more than 300 pages long but never loses its speed. — Kurt Hultquist, Elmwood Place

On the road

        This summer, my family drove to Siesta Key, Fla., and we found a book we couldn't have done without - Along Interstate 75, 2001 Edition: Local Knowledge for the I-75 Between Detroit and the Florida Border by Dave Hunter (Mile Oak Publishing Inc.; $19.95). This book gives you useful information about which gas stations, restaurants and hotels are at which exits, but also gives you stories and information about areas you pass. It makes a long car ride a lot more fun.

        While going through Tennessee, I found an interesting story about “The Body Farm.” Run by the University of Tennessee, it's famous in the crime detection world for determining how long a corpse may have been dead. It mentioned PatriciaCornwell's book of the same name. I picked up The Body Farm (Berkley Pub Group; $7.99) in Florida and couldn't put it down. It's a great murder investigation mystery novel that I'd recommend to anyone. — Amy Fuller

Classics for kids

        Here are three ideas for parents looking for books their kids will find interesting: The Giver by Lois Lowry (Laurel Leaf; $6.50); The Yearling by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings (Aladdin Paperbacks; $5.95); and Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls (Bantam Starfire; $6.50). These books are classics. When your kids get into them, you will know why they are my favorites. — Aleicia Wanninger, 12, Price Hill

Potter a masterpiece

        I have two words for the literature lovers: Harry Potter.

        Before you push this away as a “children's book,” I want to prove you wrong. This verbal masterpiece is engaging for any age.

        The books are a series of four novels that follow the hero, Harry, a young wizard, in his adventures. I have read Hemingway, Dickens, Twain and Voltaire. Not one could compare to the addiction I enjoyed while reading J.K. Rowling. She creates hundreds of pages a person can get lost in, dreaming and clawing their way through a fairyland of whimsical words. The ideal choice for summer reading, pick them up. You won't regret it. — Katherine Kirkpatrick, 17, Symmes Township

Top 10

        Books and reading have been a major part of life for as long as I can remember. My parents read to me before bed when I was an infant. The book I most remember being read was Anne of Green Gables when I was 5. It was the book that really got me reading.

        Today, reading is like a private getaway from life's exhaustion. From all the reading I've done, I have compiled a list of the 10books I like the most, especially for summer reading.

        10. A Song for Jeffrey by Constance M. Foland (Pleasant Company Publications; $9.95).

        9. Across the Wide and Lonesome Prairie: The Oregon Trail Diary of Hattie Campbell, 1847 (Dear America; 4) by Kristiana Gregory (Scholastic; $10.95).

        8. Bunnicula, a series of books by Deborah and James Howe (Aladdin Paperbacks, prices vary).

        7. Bloomability by Sharon Creech (HarperTrophy; $5.95).

        6. Lily's Crossing by Patricia Reilly Giff (Yearling Books, $5.50).

        5. Ramona the Pest by Beverly Cleary (Camelot, $5.95).

        4. The Best Christmas Pageant by Barbara Robinson (HarperTrophy, $4.95).

        3. A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett (Harpercollins, $4.95).

        2. Blue Willow by Doris Gates (Viking Press, $5.99).

        1. Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery (Gramercy, $6.99).

        — Reagan Smith, 12, Miami Townshipv

Romeo in any era

        With the heat baking and the bugs eating everyone alive, the people of the Tristate may as well be invisible extras in the movie Cast Away. So instead of talking to painted-face volleyballs, read these great books.

        Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare (Everyman Paperback Classics, $5.95). A time-honored classic filled with drama and romance.

        If the asparagus of literature isn't your flavor, pick one of the updates, West Side Story: A Novelization by Irving Shulman (Pocket Books, $5.99), or Romiette and Julio by Sharon Mills Draper (Aladdin Paperbacks; $4.99).

        Read these books and you, too, can do something other than talk to Wilson. - D.J. Bitter, Covington

Boys of summer

        I recommend The Sports Encyclopedia: Baseball 2001 by David S. Neft, Richard M. Cohen and Michael L. Neft (Griffin Trade Paperback; $21.95) for reading in the summertime or any time of year.

        There are many reasons I am pushing the Baseball Encyclopedia, but I will mention just a few. The first is convenience - every time you open it, there you are. You can never lose your place, or forget where you were in the story. Each page is its own beginning and end.

        Second, baseball's rich history illuminates each page.

        And third, what better way to showcase your brilliance than by answering this Scoreboard Stumper on a warm summer's night: What two Cardinal players sharing the same nickname played on pennant winning teams 34 years apart? “Why, of course,” you shout. “That could only be Joe "Ducky' Medwick and Dick "Ducky' Schofield!” — Anthony Smith, Madisonville

Literary travels

        I'm doing some traveling this summer, all through books. First stop: Cairo, 1914. I'm joining archaeologist/detective Amelia Peabody in the adventure He Shall Thunder the Sky: An Amelia Peabody Mystery by Elizabeth Peters (Avon; $7.50).

        Another destination is Duty: A Father, His Son and the Man Who Won the War by Bob Greene (Harperperennial Library, $14). As his veteran father lay dying in 1998, Mr. Greene finally met someone his father admired: Paul Tibbets, the pilot of Enola Gay.

        Next stop is contemporary London for Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella (Delta, $10.95). I told my husband it was a self-help book, but it's really a funny novel reminiscent of Bridget Jones' Diary (Penguin USA; $12.95).

        My children Jake and Emmy accompany me on the next journey, one back to my childhood. We're reading B is for Betsy (Harcourt Brace; $16) and Betsy's Little Star (out of print, look for it at online auction sites or in used bookstores), both by Carolyn Haywood. This port-of-call may be my favorite, with eager listeners by my side. — Julie Hartmann, Westwood

Kentucky and horses, too

        Kentucky pride shows up in these books: Clay's Quilt by Silas D. House (Algonquin Books, $21.95) is about life in the mountains of Kentucky. Another book about Kentucky is Janice Holt Giles's Shady Grove and Forty Acres and No Mule (University Press of Kentucky; $17). For short stories, Kentucky Straight by Chris Offutt (Vintage Books; $12) and Briar Country: Stories from Blue Valley by Elaine Fowler Palencia (University of Missouri Press, $17.95). — Keith Morgan, Cold Spring

For the audiophile

        Grab your portable tape recorders for a great summer audio-read: Seabiscuit: An American Legend by Laura Hillenbrand, read by Campbell Scott (Random House; $25.95). If you're looking for suspense, humor, pathos and inspiration, this true story of the rags-to-riches horse that captivated a nation during the Depression has it all.

        Revel in the “you are there” racetrack scenes, cheer at the victories, weep at the losses. This is great summertime entertainment, to be enjoyed by all ages. — Bee Summers, Pierce Township

European settings

        Two beautifully written, short paperback novels which take place in European towns are Einstein's Dreams by Alan Lightman (Warner; $10.95) and Girl With a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier (Plume; $12). They transplanted me into the village markets, town squares, cobblestoned streets, ringing church bells, reminding me of our 11 years living in Europe.

        Einstein's Dreams is a collection of fables dealing with the subject of time in Berne, Switzerland. It caused me to look philosophically at Einstein and his interpretations of time.

        Delft, Holland, is the background for Girl With a Pearl Earring. It starts in 1664 and gives a moving account of a 16-year-old who helps her family by working as a maid for the painter Vermeer. Ms. Chevalier describes life at that time and the maid's awakening of her feelings. — Carolyn Ludwig, Indian Hill

Mother picks books

        Ah, summertime! Long weekends, swimming pools, humidity, re-runs and boredom. The challenge to find a good read for everyone in my family requires a trip to the bookstore (and the library's Web site). Even with interests from wrestling to theology, I vow to banish those summer doldrums.

        • For the youngest, studying math and theology, I recommend Bee Season by Myla Goldberg (Knopf; $13). Our future teacher can glimpse into the lives of gifted siblings in a Jewish family.

        • Smart vs. Pretty by Valerie Frankel (Avon Books; $13) examines rival sisters trying for a successful business. Which is better, Brianne and I always debate: beauty or brains or both?

        • For the only boy, I grab Walk of a Lifetime by Alex Meacham (Clifton Hills Press; $13.95). Try out, make the team and enjoy University of Cincinnati basketball with a walk-on player.

        • Clotheslined by Mick Foley's debut novel, I tag Foley Is Good: And the Real World Is Faker Than Wrestling (Reagan Books; $26.95) for my oldest sister (but she has to wait for me to finish).

        • For mom and dad, who finally have the house to themselves, I pick up Cincinnati (Insiders' Guide) by Felix Winternitz (Falcon Publishing, $16.95, downloadable). Enjoy restaurants, parks, and other Cincinnati landmarks that are new again - without the kids. — Erin Fahey, Walnut Hills

Inspired by Gandhi
        Gandhi's Passion: The Life and Legacy of Mahatma Gandhi by Stanley A. Wolpert (Oxford University Press; $27.50) is a perfect summer read for people in Cincinnati. In light of recent events in our area, I think this book would be a most inspirational read.

        Mr. Wolpert presented Gandhi as an everyday man, who did extraordinary things, by his unshakeable standards and seeking of the truth. Gandhi's insistence of nonviolence at all costs was representative of his humble, determined spirit.

        Gandhi's unwillingness to accept intolerance and oppression was just the beginning of his quest to change India through nonviolence and suffering. It's a story that provides many examples of his ability to accomplish incredible advances for India in a manner that insisted on the primacy of love for one's adversary in any conflict as the undefeatable power to change the world. — Patti Paulett, West Chester

Potter is magical

        I hardly need to give my recommendation for readers to take note of this popular series, but here it is anyway: Read Harry Potter! I'm not a child or teen, but a woman in her late 20s, and these are some of the best books I have ever read.

        At first I was hesitant. I suppose I was skeptical of those critics who said these were books both children and adults adore. However, after reading the first few chapters of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, I was hooked. By the end of the book, I had laughed, been on the edge of my seat with suspense, and had even shed a few tears. The books are truly universal because they have elements that appeal to all ages, from adventure children can appreciate, to subjects adults can relate to, such as dealing with loss and searching for belonging.

        This is ideal summer reading because, with children home from school, families can enjoy the books together. And since summer is a magical time for children, shouldn't adults reconnect with a little magic themselves? — Melissa Hunter

Bible misunderstood

        One of the most misunderstood books of our day is the Bible. The Bible is not just a tool for preachers to use on Sunday mornings. It is a fascinating trip into action, adventure, romance and intrigue.

        Will David escape Saul's clutches to become future King? Will Ruth and Boaz find happiness among the the wheat fields? What does the scarlet thread mean to Joshua? Dozens of stories just as exciting are waiting for you in the Bible.

        Where did we come from? Are we alone in the universe? Find the answers to these and other age-old questions in the Bible. Are you depressed, worried or even a victim of substance abuse? The Bible can help you with all of life's problems.

        So don't delay, pick up our copy today, in one of the new easy-to-understand versions, and join the millions who have read the greatest book ever written. — Charles Thompson, Blue Ash

Ideas for teens

        In the crowded world of books, usually books for adults are highlighted more than children's, but adults constantly try to convince their teens to read.

        Maybe some teens do not like to read because they do not know what to read. Here are some options for the struggling teen reader:

        1. The Harry Potter series By J.K. Rowling. It is fun and suspenseful. It takes place in a world with odd words, ways, people and beasts. Don't be turned off by the Harry Potter mania!

        2. His Dark Materials series by Philip Pullman. It's good for those suffering from Harry Potter withdrawal because it is also magical and filled with suspense.

        3. The Ear, the Eye, and the Arm by Nancy Farmer. Fabulous descriptions, suspense in the future.

        4. Dear America, My Name is America, Royal Diaries by various authors. These are believable accounts of historical events as told by people of the time. — By Elizabeth Shirey, 13

Baby Bruce Weimer

        As Nature Made Him: The Boy Who Was Raised as a Girl examines more than the life of Bruce Weimer. The book explores the issue of intersexuality studies and medical opinion through the 1970's to present day.

        The book revolves around baby Bruce Weimer (who later chose to be called David) whose circumcision at age 8 months was so terribly botched that he lost his penis. The prevailing doctor of the time, recommended that Bruce be raised as a girl rather than having the child undergo phalloplasty surgery later in life that would leave Bruce with an only somewhat functional penis.

        His parents consented and raised Bruce as Brenda, but Brenda never truly conformed to being a girl and spent a miserable childhood as a misfit. He later chose to be sexually reassigned as a male.

        The book provides a fascinating look at this complicated issue in the lives of all intersexual babies and adults, in particular the subject case of baby Bruce Weimer. — Juliann Wetz , Glendale

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