Whereabouts Press.

Whereabouts Press

1111--8th St. Suite D, Berkeley, CA 94710-1455

www.whereaboutspress.com

Three exciting literary companion guides are perfect take-along totes for any visitor or traveler, as well as perfect armchair reads for any who would visit the country vicariously. Take Barbara Ras' COSTA RICA (1883513006, $13.95): sound and fine ltierary quality is the feature of all twenty-six stories, organized regionally and presenting lively insights into the country's culture, organization, wildlife, and daily life. From the Northern Zone to the Southern Pacific Coast, COSTA RICA's excellent narrative stories bring to life the underlying nuances of the country's experience as no ordinary travel guide could accomplish. Or choose Katherine Silver's CHILE (1883513138, $13.95), which charts both the natural history and the political changes the county has experienced over time. There are a little over twenty stories here--again, most available for the first time in English, so don't expect repeats of the same classics. The literary quality is outstanding, the narratives read smoothly and vigorously, and Chile's underlying passions and culture come to life. Robert Ross edits AUSTRALIA (1883513057, $13.95), which journeys a little further down history to cover the colonial period to modern Australia, capturing a good chunk of Australian historical influence in the process of using 25 tales to present the continent's evolution. From urban to rural experience Australia comes to life. These will make exceptionally solid farewell gifts for any heading overseas--or any with fond memories of a visit, who want solid literary explorations.

Diane C. Donovan

West Coast Editor