Carla Waldemar, Minneapolis

I'm reading "Nobody's Fool," by Richard Russo, the Charles Dickens of our time and country, who captures the endearing and exasperating foibles of his small-fry antiheroes with keen observation and kindly humor. And "Factory Girls" by Leslie Chang. I just came back from China and got it from the library. It's a terrific series of interviews and observations on the phenomenon of China's young people leaving the countryside to find work in mega-factories and these kids' ability to rely solely on themselves to get ahead. Great insights, conveyed with sociological neutrality rather than a political agenda.

What's on your bedside table? E-mail lhertzel@ startribune.com.