A Traveler’s Road Map To Good Reading

This being summer and, consequently, a season for vacation, it’s always good to be aware of what types of reading material are out there.

One unusual source that crossed my desk lately is something called “Tales for Travelers,” a series of short reads put out by Penton Overseas, Inc., a Carlsbad, Calif.-based publisher.

The reads are unique in a couple of ways. One, they are all short stories, printed in a format that resembles a road map. This shape, as the publisher points out, is easily tucked into a purse or jacket pocket “for ease of reading in cramped areas such as plane, train or commuter seats.”

Two, they are sold by the dozen. There are four volumes of editions now in print, and each is priced at $12.95.

“Tales for Travelers” aren’t for the Barbara Cartland crowd, though. The authors included in the series boast such literary names as Roald Dahl, W. Somerset Maugham, John Cheever, Edith Wharton, Truman Capote, Anton Chekhov, D.H. Lawrence, Saki and Flannery O’Connor.

For ordering information, call (800) 748-5804. Purchases can be made by credit card or money order. Either way, though, a company representative says that it takes about two weeks to receive the goods.

Easy to be heard

Hall Closet Book Company, the Seattle-based audiobook company, has released its third effort - Rebecca Brown’s “The Gifts of the Body” (3 hours, three cassettes unabridged, $19.95).

Brown’s book, which is read by the author, involves a home-care worker who cares for persons with AIDS. As a hardbook book, it won both Washington State Governor’s Writer’s and Pacific Northwest Booksellers’ awards.

The other available audiobook selection by Hall Closet, which specializes in gay and lesbian-oriented titles, are “Fadeout” by Joseph Hansen and “Hallowed Murder” by Ellen Hart.

The company expects to release Tom Spanbauer’s “The Man Who Fell in Love With the Moon” in September.

For further information, call (800) 895-8915.

Riches to be had - maybe

According to H. Glenn Carson, author of “A Guide to Treasure in Idaho” (Carson Enterprises, 127 pages, $11.95, ISBN 0941620-64-6), a fortune is waiting for those hardy Idahoans willing to seek it.

Of course, if it were easy at all, Carson wouldn’t be wasting his time printing up such a dinky book that is little more than a regurgitation of tall tales about lost riches.

Example: In the chapter (the book is broken down by Idaho counties) on Kootenai County, Carson writes that, “Saltice, Indian Chief, is said to have buried a cache of gold on the Spokane River. It was thought to be somewhat upstream of Post Falls.”

Well, that certainly narrows it down a bit, eh?

Actually, Carson admits that treasure-hunting, even in the Gem State, is a long shot.

“The book cannot guarantee the finding of outlaw loot or gold nuggets in Idaho,” he wrote. “However, reading the book will definitely make the reader want to go to Idaho and try to do those things.”

To order, write to: Carson Enterprises, Inc., Drawer 71, Deming, NM 88031-0071.

On the shelves

Prolific writer Carlos Schwantes, who teaches history at the University of Idaho, has a new book out - sort of. Actually, it’s a revised edition of his 1989 study “The Pacific Northwest, An Interpretative History” (University of Nebraska Press, 568 pages, $50, $25 paper, ISBN 0-8032-9228-7).

In a review of the original publication, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer called it “an excellent overview of the region” and said it contained “arguably the best collection of photos and drawings anywhere in print that illustrate the whole of Northwest history.”

The reader board

(Following are the remaining area readings for July that were available at press time):

Sondra Schulman, author of “Moon People,” will read from her novel at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Auntie’s Bookstore, Main and Washington.

James Lee Burke, author of the Dave Robicheaux mystery series, will read from his new novel, “Cadillac Jukebox,” at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Auntie’s Bookstore.

Stimson Bullitt, author of “To Be a Politician,” will read from his memoir, “River Dark & Bright,” at 7:30 p.m. July 24 at Auntie’s Bookstore.

Hanneke Ippisch, author of “Sky,” will read from her World War II memoir at 7:30 p.m. July 27 at Auntie’s Bookstore.

, DataTimes