The Good Life: Tuck Into a Good Book

3. Presumed Innocent by Scott Turow

If you want a paperback that you can't put down, this is it. Not only does Turow write in an enchanting narrative, the story is gripping, with multiple plot twists to the end. Turow is an attorney by profession, who still practices in Chicago. Don't bother picking up anything else that Turow has written. I bought Burden of Proof, the follow-up to Presumed Innocent, and waded through the 400 or so pages, convinced that it would become a better read. It didn't -- dreck from beginning to end.

4. Everything's Eventual by Stephen King

If you are one of the few people on the planet who hasn't read a book by the King of Horror, this is one for you. Even diehard King fans may be surprised by Everything's Eventual, a collection of short stories. King, who has admitted being miffed at not being taken seriously as a writer, is one of the most talented short-story writers alive today. And he proves it in Everything's Eventual. The stories are eloquent and creative and provide a hearty mix of plot and drama, exactly what you want from a great collection of short stories.

5. Snow Falling on Cedars by David Guterson

This story of a Japanese-American on trial for killing a white fisherman in the Pacific Northwest is gripping from beginning to end. Guterson, who lives in that area, is an eloquent writer who knows just where to put a period. And his skill has paid off. Snow Falling on Cedars won the PEN/Faulkner Award for the best work of fiction by an American author in 1995.

6. The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown

Since this novel was published in March 2003, it has become one of the most discussed novels of the past 10 years. A historical thriller, The Da Vinci Code attempts to expose the Catholic Church for concealing the alleged marriage of Christ to Mary Magdalene. The book is a page turner -- I read it in a single night -- and it is packed with historical trivia about the Catholic Church that makes for an endearing read. Since its debut, The Da Vinci Code has sold more than 25 million copies in 44 languages. My only quibble: It's a good thing you've paid for the book and read through all its pages until you get to the end, where the once suspenseful plot turns to syrup.