More lovely reads from lovely ladies

As promised last Sunday, I asked some of the ladies photographed by Nigel Barker for the July issue of the Philippine Tatler to share with The Reading Club some of their favorite books.

INA AYALA

(July Issue, Philippine Tatler cover)

“In college, I remember being blown away by Ayn Rand’s The Fountainhead. It really is unforgettable. For lighter reading, armchair travel comes to mind so I would recommend Redmond Hanlon’s travelogue, In Trouble Again. (You get to adventure down the Orinoco River with Redmond — a witty and humorous traveling partner — without packing your bags.) A few years ago, after reading Malcom Gladwell’s The Tipping Point, I bought copies for everyone I knew!”

MARGARITA FORES

(In the middle of entertaining guests at her wawa Esther Araneta’s 40th birthday, I finally got Gaita to share her favorite books):

• The Transforming Power of Hospitality in Business by Danny Meyer and Raving Fans by Ken Blanchard: “Meyer is New York’s most innovative restaurateur and one of my idols. His ideas, as well as Blanchard’s on how to create an edge in your market, are quite remarkable.”

• The Art of Travel and The Architecture of Happiness by Alain de Botton: “He has insightful points of view on my two most favorite passions after food — travel and creating beautiful and inspired spaces.”

• The Martha Rules by Martha Stewart and Go Negosyo: Joey Concepcion’s 50 Most Inspiring Entrepreneur Stories: “Stewart’s career and ability to reinvent herself have always been an inspiration. Her work was a major influence when I started 20 years ago. Reading about her life and beliefs is always a great source of learning. Reading about other people’s success stories, especially Filipino ones, can be the best encouragement when one still has many more dreams to fulfill.”

LUCY TORRES GOMEZ

“I love books by Ruth Reichl, namely Tender at the Bone, Comfort Me with Apples, Garlic and Sapphires and Remembrance of Things Paris. She writes passionately and vividly and reading her work is like journeying through her life with her, eating the same food, seeing the same places, loving the same people, feeling the same emotions. She is like a fun friend everybody would like to have. It is easy to disappear in another place with every page I read and I like that because it is a kind of magic that only dreaming and books share.”

VICKY ZUBIRI

“The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom. This book has given me strength and peace in times of crisis.”

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The Reading Club recommends Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows for young and “older” readers alike. It is the last of the seven-volume series according to its author, J.K. Rowling, but then again who can say what she’ll feel a year from now? (She also said, “Never say never.”) It’s available at National Bookstore and Powerbooks branches.

And this week The Reading Club recommends some wonderful home interest magazines such as Elle Décor, both UK and US editions, Metropolitan Home and O At Home. Subscriptions are available from Emerald Headway at 647-1890 or 94.

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Your comments and suggestions are welcome at readclub@aol.com.