Reading Matters

By Melissa August, Harriet Barovick, Autumn DeLeon, Tam Gray, Lina Lofaro, James Poniewozik and Michele Orecklin

President Clinton rarely makes a move without first calibrating how it will play with the American people. So one can assume that the books he brought on his vacation, the titles of which the White House released last week, have been painstakingly chosen to send a message about his legacy.

BOOK/AUTHOR COLD HIT, Linda Fairstein

WHAT IT'S ABOUT Novel about rape case by assistant D.A. responsible for prosecuting sex crimes

WHAT IT SAYS ABOUT BILL He is tough on crime...

[BOOK/AUTHOR] A CLEARING IN THE DISTANCE, Witold Rybczynski

[WHAT IT'S ABOUT] Biography of Frederick Law Olmsted, who designed Central Park

[WHAT IT SAYS ABOUT BILL] ...but has a sensitive side.

[BOOK/AUTHOR] DARK LADY, Richard North Patterson

[WHAT IT'S ABOUT] Novel about driven female attorney committed to solving two murders

[WHAT IT SAYS ABOUT BILL] He values powerful women...

[BOOK/AUTHOR] GUNS, GERMS AND STEEL, Jared Diamond

[WHAT IT'S ABOUT] Study proposing modern European global dominance is the result of advantageous geography, not genetic superiority

[WHAT IT SAYS ABOUT BILL] ...but is not into a power trip himself.

[BOOK/AUTHOR] PRAYERS FOR RAIN, Dennis Lehane

[WHAT IT'S ABOUT] Novel about a private detective's pursuit of the truth behind a Boston woman's suicide

[WHAT IT SAYS ABOUT BILL] He really feels their pain...

[BOOK/AUTHOR] JUST REVENGE, Alan Dershowitz

[WHAT IT'S ABOUT] Novel about a Holocaust survivor seeking revenge on the man who killed his family

[WHAT IT SAYS ABOUT BILL] ...he really feels everyone's pain.

[BOOK/AUTHOR] THE LAST PATRICIAN, Michael Knox Beran

[WHAT IT'S ABOUT] Biography alleging Robert Kennedy was something of a neoconservative

[WHAT IT SAYS ABOUT BILL] Although not born to privilege as some politicians are...

[BOOK/AUTHOR] MEMOIRS OF HADRIAN, Marguerite Yourcenar

[WHAT IT'S ABOUT] Historical novel about Roman Emperor's political advice to his heir

[WHAT IT SAYS ABOUT BILL] ...he really supports Al Gore, and is totally there for him...

[BOOK/AUTHOR] CROSSING TO SAFETY, Wallace Stegner

[WHAT IT'S ABOUT] Novel about two couples and their enduring 34-year friendship

[WHAT IT SAYS ABOUT BILL] ...because he's loyal to those who have stood by him...

[BOOK/AUTHOR] WAVES OF RANCOR, Robert Hilliard and Michael Keith

[WHAT IT'S ABOUT] Tract asserting the extreme right-wing press, primarily in radio, spreads hate and bigotry

[WHAT IT SAYS ABOUT BILL] ...and you shouldn't believe what they'll say about him when he's gone.