Idaho Books

As told by the people who knew him over his lifetime,(compiled by Denis Brian) The True Gen is the best of all the non- literary books on Hemingway(imho) .Why it has not been available for so many years(in print) is a curiosity..This is one entertaining book.(356p)

Great reading for fans of Papa Hemingway, written with obvious admiration and respect. May be not appeal to the uninformed or casual Hemingway reader. Hard to find now, so grab a copy while you can if you're at all interested.

This "biography" of Ernest Hemingway is the most insightful into the author's life of any I have read. It is absolutely perfect in its presentation of the personal accounts of those who knew Ernest Hemingway. Because of the use of the personal accounts (actual quotes dictated to the author) of those involved, one feels that he truly understands Hemingway and his work through the defining decades of his life. From his life in Oak Park, IL to his last days in Utah, Brian fills the text with exuburance and an uncanny abiltity to bring the reader closer to the subject. The quotes are masterful!

"Hate is My Neighbor" has taken its place on the list of books that have changed me. It read like a novel but the thought "This is TRUE!" was always disturbing the ease of my reading. I was pulled out of the comfort of the life I've chosen to feel some of the pain and frustration of victims of hate. Understanding that it was "history" and not "fiction" meant I couldn't shake the knowledge while I was reading it that this book would not end "happily ever after" for everyone involved. But it wouldn't let me sink into feelings of futility as it reinforced the belief that individuals and groups can make a difference in this world that contains too much hate and injustice as long as it contains ANY hate and injustice. An enlightening read for anyone!

"Hate Is My Neighbor" is a harrowing true story about ordinary Idahoans banding together to fight the Aryan Nations, a neo-Nazi sect which had established a toehold in the Couer d'Alene area. Authors Tom Alibrandi and Bill Wassmuth take you to the town meetings and the clandestine ones in graphic, at times stomach-turning detail. While the book is stunning in its revelations about the virulent hatred which can lie beneath the surface of an innocuous-seeming merchant or housewife, it shows that a brave citizenry can and did conquer it. For the present, at least. The book is written in an unusual style which takes you into the protagonists' minds (Bill Wassmuth being one of them), and this contributes to its spellbinding appeal. I could not stop reading, even at 2 am.

An extraordinary, but true account of combating hate and prejudice in Northern Idaho, that reads like a novel. I could not put it down! This is Wassmuth's own story of organizing a community against bigotry, and violence. His courage and commitment made him the target of an Aryan Nations bombing attack on his own home, but that did not stop him. He went on to found the Northwest Coalition Against Malicious Harassment, and served as its executive director for 10 years.

The hikes cover some of the best hiking over a large area.

it encompasses the hikes that every avid hiker must do before or during death.

I have the first edition of this book and it has been an invaluable guide to the incredible hiking in the Northwest. Living in the east and only getting to the west when business or a vacation take me there (for relatively short periods of time) I've always tried to make the most of the time I did have to hike. I have done about 1/3 of the hikes in the book and have yet to be disappointed. I have other, more detailed, hiking books for these areas but I rely on this one for selecting my hikes. I just wish this type of book were available for other areas of the country.

truly enjoyable, informative and easy to read james angleton was my favorite worth reading for any one interested in idaho history.

The author surmises that Idaho has more loners than any other western state, and he celebrates a dozen of them in his book. Whether Idaho has so many hermits because of geography or luck, it is a far richer place because of them!

The book is an entertaining account of some of Idaho's characters. It is one of those books that you hate to see end.

My husband is from the Twin Falls area and we recently spent a week there. I took this book along with us for ideas on ways to pass our time. It was a great resource! Having grown up in the area, my husband was surprised by how many things were included in the book that he wasn't familiar with. We visited lots of sites that either he'd never heard of or had never bothered to visit. We both had a great time exploring southcentral Idaho with this book as our guide. In fact, I'm going to look for an Off the Beaten Path book for the area I currently live in (Alaska) to see what we're missing here at home.

If you're unfamiliar with Idaho, I would opine that its most outstanding characteristic for the tourist is its clean, clear, white-water wilderness rivers: the Salmon (River of No Return), Snake, Selway, and others. There isn't anyplace in the world that can boast of better and more beautiful float streams.

The guidebook divides Idaho into seven regions and briefy describes interesting places to stay, old-time restaurants, museums and art galleries, annual events, and assorted trivia. Sidebars recount stories of places and people, including Ernest Hemingway, the Nez Perce Indians, and the infamous Ruby Ridge. This guidebook is light and small and well-organized and has all the information you need to find your way to interesting spots around the state, especially if you're the sort of person who's allergic to cute boutiques and cookie-cutter hotels and restaurants. This is the guidebook series that my wife and I carry when we travel in the United States -- but if you're visiting Idaho for the wilderness experience you'll need additional information to what is offered here.

Smallchief

This book is a WONDERFUL resource! I was raised in Idaho, and it contains places even I hadn't heard about. The book details many of Idaho's beauties that the locals normally know about, but a visitor might not notice or be aware of. It isn't the most in-depth place to find information about neat places in idaho, but it is a "must read" for people who want to make their visit to Idaho special and unique.

Jenny is home from college for the summer and is feeling unsettled with her life but can't figure out exactly why.

Restless Jenny awaits news of a journalism job in Texas with eager anticipation. When not helping around the house or playing with her younger brother and sister, Jenny finds solace in a secluded field where she spends hours getting lost in books. Finding a new friend to confide in and share her dreams with, soothes Jenny's soul, but she needs to confront and accept her past before she's able to make any strides toward the dreams she has for her future.

Clarke's passion for historical subject matter shines through with solid writing which transports the reader back in time effortlessly. She has created layered characters who are empathetic, caring, and independent. The entertaining writing allows the readers to examine a moment in history as though they were on location with the characters. The realism with history makes reading the novel an educational experience.

Linda Weaver Clarke's first historical/fiction novel, "Melinda and the Wild West," was a semi-finalist for Reader Views "Reviewers Choice Award 2007." Clarke writes articles for newspapers and teaches a Family Legacy Workshop where she encourages people to write their family history and autobiographies.

"Jenny's Dream," the third of five novels in the series A Family Saga in the Bear Lake Valley is a recommended read. It shares a notable lesson on how one's impressions may be tainted by one's experiences. Reviewer: Lisa Haselton, Allbooks Reviews.

Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (8/08)

"Jenny's Dream" is one of five novels from the series: "A Family Saga at Bear Lake." As with the other novels, the author incorporates true experiences into fictional accounts. I haven't had the pleasure of reading the other novels; however, I found myself totally captivated by this family and plan on reading more of the series.

In this book, Jenny's story is told. It is 1908, and Jenny is twenty-years-old. She has returned home after being away at college for two years. In addition to being an educated woman, she is a competent equestrian and an excellent marksman. She lives with her family in the valley of Bear Lake which is in Paris, Idaho. This is in the beautiful Rocky Mountains. She is the daughter of Gilbert Roberts. Her stepmother is a beautiful woman named Melinda. She has a four-year-old sister, Kayla, and a ten-year-old brother John. Jenny loves her family dearly, however, she feels the need to move away and have a fresh start. She is greatly troubled by events that happened in her childhood and would like to escape from the painful memories.

As a child, Jenny was a tomboy and spent a great deal of time assisting her dad on the farm. Now that she is a woman, she is unable to do those things. Instead, she spends her days reading and daydreaming about visiting all of the exotic places that she has read about. As a matter of fact, she has decided to drop out of college to go to work for a magazine in Texas. As she makes these plans, she meets a new neighbor named Will. He is twenty-four and still unmarried. Will finds himself drawn to Jenny. He loves both her beauty and her intelligence. Jenny is pretty set in her ways and does not want to be distracted into remaining in the valley. Will needs to find a way to let her know of his feelings. Jenny needs to find a way to overcome her painful childhood memories.

"Jenny's Dreams" tells a really beautiful story that incorporates the value of loyalty, love, family and forgiveness into it. I found myself greatly enjoying the romances between Jenny's parents and between Jenny and Will. Each relationship demonstrates friendship, respect and love. I also enjoyed how the author put real experiences, taken from her family and friends, into the plot. This is a great touch because it makes the story seem more real. One of the biggest examples of this is the story of Old Half Paw who is a giant grizzly bear that is endangering the lives of both humans and livestock. His story is borrowed from the true story of Old 3 Toe, a real grizzly.

"Jenny's Dream" is a wonderful story to read. It is a wholesome novel that will be able to be enjoyed by family members of all ages who would enjoy a great historical romance. I think that this series is destined to be a classic.

Reviewed by Allison King for RebeccasReads (12/08)


Linda Weaver Clarke has captured the essence of reaching for your dreams, no matter what happens to throw you off the path of getting there. In "Jenny's Dream," the third book in "A Family Saga in Bear Lake, Idaho" series, eldest daughter, Jenny, is home from college for the summer. She is feeling trapped in the small town of Paris, Idaho and wants to go out in to the world and accomplish something to show everyone she is more than a pretty girl. Her writing is what keeps her ambition in full drive, until she meets Will. He isn't the most `handsome' man in town, and he is only a farmer, but she becomes close friends with him. Will secretly falls in love with Jenny, but does she feel the same way? Jenny's past haunts her ability to move forward in her life in love and her dreams of being a writer. She will have to make a decision that might hurt those closest to her, for her dreams to come true.

In the meantime, Jenny's dad, Gilbert, is helping in the search of an old grizzly bear that is attacking the local sheep and scaring the town folk. He feels the need to be a part of the hunt, even thought his wife, Melinda, is against it. When he comes face to face with the legendary bear, Three Toes, Gilbert must balance the safety of the town with the concern of his family for his life.

I loved this book as much as I did the first two books in the series. I was drawn in to Jenny's life and wondered what decisions she would make for her future. The amazing details of the family dynamics, descriptions of the beautiful scenery and the historical facts of the time all made the story believable. The ease of the writing made it feel as though I was eavesdropping in on their lives. I didn't want the story to end (which it won't since their will be two more books in the series)! The best part of the book was the relationship that grows between Jenny and Will. The author didn't use the stereotypical `handsome' male for the male character. This was refreshing to me, since all of us on this earth aren't as perfect as most book characters are made out to be. This relationship reminds us that getting to know a person from the inside first and being friends, can grow in to something more.

"Jenny's Dream" is a book for all ages and can wrap you up and make you feel warm inside with the love and hope that dreams can come true if you believe hard enough.

Terry Johnston writes like a man who was there as events unfolded. He leaves no doubt that he was there--not during the events, but at the locations. Weaving contemporary newspaper articles and original letters throughout the text firmly roots this novel in time and space. This, plus occasional historical footnotes quenches a historian's thirst for authenticity. It made me want to go and visit these places for myself, equipped with Johnton's literary visual aids.

Terry Johnston's "Lay the Mountains Low" is a must for the avid fan of western history. Part of the Plainsmen series, we are not gifted with the rugged Irishman Sheamus Donnegan, as he is on duty miles away trying to quell a different Indian uprising (this makes Johnston's writing less fictionalized)instead we fall in love with numerous characters both Native American and European. This is the second part to a trilogy about the Nez Perce War of 1877, focusing on the drama which occurred after the Battle of White Bird Canyon and culminating with the tragic Big Hole Battle. Johnston takes you to the campsite, the fort, the trail ride, the battle ridge, and makes you consider how you would stand up against the elements, enemy and morality. Without a doubt, this is Johnston's best piece of work and is a must read for all fans of the Great American West. Make special note to read the afterword as Johnston provides information on his fact-finding trips thoroughout the West. Johnston provides valuable information and insight to battle sites, cemeteries, forts and historical road-side stops...again, Johnston gives the reader a seat on the fifty yard line to some of our nation's most famous locations.

As always with Terry, a great book, an excellent way to learn about the history of the American West. If you are looking for a typical shootem up western this is not the book for you. This book is not for the faint hearted, there are few heros here, just a people fighting for their freedom and their lives against impossible odds. There is a lot of pain and and heart break here for both the Nez Perce and the whites, but mostly for the Nez Perce. This book really got to me, it was heart breaking reading what happened to the innocents on both sides. My family,s history goes back over 150 years in the west, so Terry,s books have special meaning for me. Read this book and you will never forget it.

This handsome volume opens with a few pages of introduction about the Wasatch Mountains, followed by forty pages discussing the progress of the Painters of the Wasatch Mountains; an account illustrated in colour with examples of the artists' work which often highlight interesting comparisons. The text is informative accessible and well written in a conversational style. The last thirty pages of the book provide brief individual biographies of the artists.

However the real delight of the book is the nearly two hundred and thirty pages comprising the Portfolio of Images, full colour reproductions, one or occasionally two to a page. The large almost square format of the book allows for good size images without the need to turn the page to accommodate those of landscape proportions; and a few pictures are even reproduced life size. The quality of the images is excellent often revealing the texture of the brush work in the original. Most artists are represented by quite a few examples of their work, they provide for a range of painting styles; the majority of the paintings are in oils, with a few watercolours, and date from around the 1850s to as recently as 2005. In total there are about two hundred and seventy five artworks in colour.

This is a sumptuous work, what an art book should be with the emphasis on the beautifully reproduced paintings and the text kept to a minimum.

A stunning book. Anyone who is a fan of the mountain wilderness cannot help but enjoy viewing this book. It takes you back to the time when 'white eyes' first happened upon these mountains. The delicate color, the wide field, and the land itself breathes life. A treasure.

A big coffee-table book, with exactly the kind of panaromic images you expect. You can while away an afternoon gazing at these cooly complacent views of an idealized West.

Okay, so she's one of my best friends BUT EVEN SO, I never knew she could write this well. Her memory is sharp, her observations hard and clear, and her insights are not for the polite or faint of heart. Koskela's early life in the harsh world of Idaho farming country is told with wit and clarity. It may not be gracious but it is REAL and you will find yourself laughing, tsk, tsking and looking back with a new vision on your own childhood. I've known Alice for over 20 years--she's incapable of telling even the most innocent of white lies and so understandably she has written a book of truths. This will by MY Christmas gift this year!

I thoroughly enjoyed this graceful, sweet, honest and sometimes heart wrenching memoir. As the illustrator, I was honored to be a part of it.

A beautiful intimate story of a young girl growing up in rugged Idaho.This is not a story full of sweetness, but of the tough life small farmers and their family encoutered in their fight for survival. I loved it from beginning to end

This beautifully illustrated book explores the physical and ecological roots of Idaho's civilization by following its longest river from Henry's Fork, through desert landscapes, cutting deep through ancient rock formations flowing out through Hell's Canyon (deepest in North America)... (I may have stole part of this from some other review I read.) If I did I apologize!

An excellent book on the Snake River Plain from pre-historical archeological time through to critical water and people issues that confront not only that area but the world as a whole. The format, design and layout were excellent and the written content moves through beautifully. The pictures and insets greatly enhanced the message of the book.

Snake examines this unique region in southern Idaho from the perspectives of geology, history, anthropology and current politics. Snake combines excellent illustrations, graphics and photos with a very informative text. The book is a must buy for both natives and visitors who want to know more about the region.