Night-Table Reading

Griffin Dunne,

director, actor, producer: Butterfield 8 (Random Housej and Appointment in Samarra (Modern Library), by John O'Hara. "I am going through a John O'Hara phase. It reminds me of what my Irish-Catholic relatives must have been like during the time of the Volstead Act, when everyone was young, drunk, and adulterous."

Chris Rock,

comedian: Tumbling, by Diane McKinney-Whetstone (Scribner). "I like reading about black experiences, especially the volatile and progressive civilrights period in black culture. "

Raquel Welch,

actress: Cold Shoulder, by Lynda La Plante (Random House). "I am particularly drawn to books that feature a strong woman as the central character."

Hunter S. Thompson,

journalist: The Death Ship, by B. Traven (Lawrence Hill Books). "A dark and perfect writer, an utterly doomed book. "