Q. As the "What I'm Reading" writer, people often ask: what am I reading?

A. Like many I've interviewed, I usually read books for work — ones I'm reviewing for local or Mainland newspapers. I just reviewed "Food Fray," a fascinating narrative and cautionary tale about the genetically modified food issue. But I do read for pleasure, recently "Atmospheric Disturbances" by Rivka Galchen — a knockout debut novel about a psychiatrist whose wife has been replaced by a simulacrum. Over the holidays, I began a few waiting patiently on my shelves: "Kafka on the Shore," a reality-bending novel by Haruki Murakami, one of my all-time favorite authors; "When You Are Engulfed in Flames," David Sedaris' newest collection of humorous essays; and "Sense and Sensibility" for a refreshing dose of Austen's perfectly precise prose.

Q. What kind of books do I most like?

A. Literary fiction with a distinctive narrative structure — like David Mitchell's "Cloud Atlas," which rotates like a kaleidoscope through six narrators in diverse places and time periods. I also love novels that delve intimately into other countries and cultures, particularly Japan, China and India; and writers with a knack for observation and metaphor that enchant me with their prose no matter what the subject — Faulkner and Toni Morrison immediately come to mind. Daring and unabashed nonfiction, like the new environmental politics presented in Nordhaus and Shellenberger's "Break Through," or sharp travel narratives that take me inside places I might never alight, such as Alexander Frater's "The Torrid Zone," likewise captivate me.

Q. Since this is my last column, will this experience contribute to my next reading choices or new writing projects?

A. I've thoroughly enjoyed writing this column, and talking with many remarkable individuals. It has been eminently rewarding to see the world, books and ideas through their eyes, if only for a conversation. My must-read list has grown even longer, and my knowledge of people and the world has expanded — that helps in life and any writing project I undertake. If possible, I'd continue "What I'm Reading" for many years, but Advertiser space cuts mean that now I will focus on writing for local and national magazines, copywriting and blogging about the book world on my Web site www.literarylotus.com, where I post reviews, never-before published full and new interviews, and more. I thank you all for reading this series, and to those with whom I've spoken since 2006, for opening up your libraries and thoughts to me. It has been a pleasure.