Another Way to Buy Local This Year
I often receive books in the mail to review, particularly when they’re written by local authors. Because we don’t have a regular ‘book review’ feature in this magazine, these books constitute an ever-growing pile at the edge of my desk, waiting for the opportune time to write about them in bulk. Guess what? It’s now an opportune time, as thoughts turn to the holidays (yes, it really is time to think about shopping for Christmas). When you’re looking to give a gift, what could be better than sharing some of the local knowledge and talent that’s represented by this collection? Most are of a size that’s perfect for stuffing a stocking, and all demonstrate the high level of storytelling talent we find in our communities. Consider the following:
Body of a Dancer. By Renee D’Aoust. Published by Etruscan Press and selling at retail for $15, this 171-page paperback is a story of Renee’s time as a modern dancer in New York in the 90s, including her training at the Martha Graham Center for Contemporary Dance. Renee, who spends part of her time in Clark Fork and part of her time in Switzerland, is a gifted writer telling a gritty story of the brutal life of a dancer today. You can purchase this book directly from Etruscan Press ($12, http://tinyurl. com/b4oxrbw), online at Amazon, or from local booksellers. The Friction of Desire. By Sandy Compton Yes, that’s our Sandy Compton, and The Friction of Desire (it’s not what you might think) is his fifth book. Published by his own Blue Creek Press, the 190-page fictional paperback tells the story of Larry —60, depressed, and a recovering addict—as he tells it in a series of meetings with his psychiatrist. Sandy, whose column, The Scenic Route, is a regular feature in these pages, writes in a way that all can identify with as he tells the stories of love, pain, fear and redemption that weave through all lives. You can purchase the book directly from CreateSpace ($12.95, http://tinyurl.
com/a2bo5vq), online at Amazon, or from local booksellers.
Hunted. By Dale Selle Published by the Bonner County Historical Society, Hunted tells “the true story of outlaw Mike Donnelly and his sidekicks, whose history of crime and punishment in the Pacific Northwest—including the murder of William Crisp at Hope, Idaho in 1923— spanned a period of 40 years.” This book offers a unique view of life in our area in the early decades of the last century. Dale Selle was a high school teacher in Washington and Idaho for almost 20 years before spending the next two decades as a volunteer for the local historical society. The 220-page paperbook can be purchased at the museum (611 S. Ella in Sandpoint), or with a credit card by phone (208-263-2344) for $18. Jailhouse Grub—Sanders County Jail Recipes & and History of Old Jail Museum. By Fredi Pargenter A 103-page, comb-bound paperback published by the Sanders County Historical Society, Jailhouse Grub looks at local history through the eyes (and records) of the county jail. Included are biographies of all the sheriffs who served at the jail, plus some of their more famous cases, interspersed with dozens of vintage photographs and almost 50 recipes of food served in the jail (cooked by the sheriffs’ wives). “Wild game, fish, berries, lots of potatoes and farm-grown vegetables were the main ingredients of jailhouse grub” and the book features several wild game recipes. You can buy the book locally in Thompson Falls for $10, or purchase by mail (the $12 includes shipping) from SCHS, PO Box 74, Thompson Falls, MT 59873. Legendary Lake Pend Oreille Idaho’s Wilderness of Water. By Jane Fritz and Friends Although we’ve mentioned this book before in the River Journal it’s well worth another mention. Published by Keokee
Books, this 419-page paperback includes hundreds of photos, including 16 pages of the legendary work of Ross Hall, plus 16 full-color plates. A collection of stories introduces you to the 111-mile story of this truly legendary lake, including public recreation sites, paddle routes, guides to the lake’s fish and fisheries, plus a guide to more than 30 hiking trails along the lakeshore. Author Jane Fritz is an award-winning environmental journalist and oral historian, and is joined in these pages by local writers Kevin Davis, Gary Hassler, Cate Huisman, Marianne Love, Heather McElwain, Patrick McManus, Jim Mellen and Dennis Nicholls, along with a forward by Hazel Hall and an introduction by Francis Cullooyah. You can buy the book at the Sandpoint General store online ($24, http://tinyurl. com/arme3o9), at Amazon, or at local book stores.
On the Trail of the Ice Age Floods: The Northern Reaches. A geological field guide to northern Idaho and the Channeled Scabland. By Bruce Bjornstad and Eugene Kiver Another Keokee Books guidebook, Ice Age Floods is a geological view of North Idaho and the Channeled Scablands. With 480 pages, this paperback guides the reader to “experience, firsthand, the striking aftermath of the Ice Age floods.” Information on 39 hiking/biking trails, five driving tours and two aerial tours will allow you to witness 19 types of land forms and 65 flood-features in the landscape you see around you every day. The book is $26 online from the Sandpoint General Store (http://tinyurl. com/ae2kuyw) and can also be purchased from Amazon and at local book sellers. Priest River And Priest Lake: Kaniksu Country. By Marylyn Cork, Jeanne M. Tomlin, and Diane E. Mercer Part of the Images of America series from Arcadia Publishing, this 128-page paperback includes over 200 black and white images from the early years of settlement in Kaniksu
Continued on next page
November 2012| The River Journal - A News Magazine Worth Wading Through | www.RiverJournal.com | Vol. 21 No. 11| Page