Colorado Books

Loved this book. I still recall its story of a woman coming to terms with herself and the world... A memorable read... We should all be so brave in our lives!

This book was believeable and very enjoyable. Barbara Samules makes her characters come to life.

I found this a thoroughly absorbing read - in fact, I stayed up reading until 3 am because I couldn't put it down. The writing is lyrical, poetic and sensual, yet grounded in reality and never over the top artsy. The three central female characters all had problems that resonated with my experience, and all the characters (including the men) seemed very real, well rounded individuals. These are *not* cardboard characters marching through plot complications. The book is at heart a love story about permanent attachments - to men, to children, to friends, as well as to one's "proper job" (as Dorothy Sayers put it). I highly recommend it. I would also add, don't read a lot of the earlier reviews -- they give away too many things, and some of the reviewers apparently read a whole nother book. Five stars plus.

This book bowled me over with the depth. Women and friendships with a bit of romance. What more can you ask for. I don't really get into goddesses etc but I did enjoy all the different aspects of the relationships. What you may think isn't really what it is. The writing had lots of descriptions and made me feel like I was there. I love growth in people and couldn't have asked for a better book!

With all the rave over Chick Lit lately, I couldn't help but think about it while listening to the audio of this book. Most of the Chick Lit out there is about a 20 year old girl trying to find herself. As someone a tad (or two or three) over 20, I just can't get into those books. Samuel's characters are not 20-something girls but women who have to deal with real life experiences that I couldn't help but find myself relating to, even though I'm not usually one for most contemporary fiction these days. This was a wonderful "listen" and I'm sure a great read if I had time to read fun literature these days. I've already ordered another of her audio books.

Stepping Off the Edge: Learning & Living Spiritual Practice
Buy this for Wallace Black Elk's picture on the cover--and for everything inside. Black Elk's state is written all over his face. The man's soul comes right through this book. My spiritual teacher, who was from India, told us to study masters who could impart the experience of God, not people who wrote about people who had experience. Black Elk fits the category of those who know.

This book has a great volume of imformation in to the heart of the Lakota. Read twice, you get more out of it.

Well, it took quite a bit of courage to write this book at a time when there was so very much opposition to sharing the knowledge of Creator with us Waisichus (white eyed folks). In the way that only Wallace could speak...here in these pages he comes back to life as the Genius he truly was. He loved to tell people; "I am only a dumb Indian"...and then he'd laugh that laugh "Hee hee hee hee", knowing that he really had one up on all of us. If you read behind the lines, you'll learn something, really learn about Creator and the way things work on this Canka Luta Waste and behind that Canunpa. Enjoy this book....as this is one elder who has passed on and can never be replaced.

This book is a masterpiece of wisdom. It is a pattern for a way a life that can serve every human being upon their journey on this earth.

Being interested in the wonderful subject of Native American thought and "religion" (spirituality), and having enjoyed other books of this genre, I was a "shoo in" to purchase this book. The personal quality and warmth of Wallace Black Elk pervades each page. He writes in the same vein as "Black Elk Speaks" and "Fools Crow, Medicine Man" but with a more modern, present day approach and color. This book should awake understanding of both past and present conditions of life for Native Americans. It is written in a simple and sincere manner and I recommend it to anyone who would like to know more about Indian thought and spiritual practices.

this book contains alot of basics but, also some good tips I could put to use. It's for various age groups. All and all it contains some descent advice.

I also loved this book. In reading it I felt like she was answering all my questions personally. I have recommended this book also to my friends and family. Jo really makes things alot easier.

Always think the Supernanny is right on the money with her advice. Good book for young parents.

What a joy to have an example of what to do for a change; not just theories or ideas of things that might work.

My wife and I were getting very frustrated with some of the issues we were having with our 2 1/2 year old, and the techniques in both of Jo Frost's books really helped us save our sanity. For instance, we could never take our son shopping, because he did not want to ride in the cart, and wanted to be carried through the store. If he would get down to walk, he would not hold our hand for long before he would try to run off. My wife and I both suffer from back injuries, so it was just killing us to carry him all of the time, and the tantrums he would throw when we tried to make him sit in the cart, would make us feel like everyone was staring at us. We used the technique of writing a small shopping list for our son, that had some small pictures of items that he could recognize, and gave him a pen to mark things off of his list as we put them in the cart. We did this, and he actually sat in the cart the entire time we were shopping. He has never sat in the cart for any longer than 3-5 minutes tops before throwing a tantrum. The techniques were also great for helping us get our son to eat at supper time, and also to help us get our son under control when it came to hitting and kicking at us. This book is well worth the money. We were beginning to wonder if we were bad parents, but it was just that we did not have the knowledge and tools needed to raise him to respect what we ask him to do. Do not hesitate to purchase this book, or her other book. You will see a drastic difference in your child's behavior as soon as you put Jo Frost's techniques into action. A+++ book

I'm not much of a reader honestly, but I really loved this book! The author really has a way with word play that I really like. This is an example of one of my favorite exchanges from the book that gives you an idea of what I'm talking about.

"Well, I don't see how that's any of your business...and the name's not Mister, it's Eddie. Eddie Kreezer." "I smile and make a bashful act, bending over myself, trying to let him sneak a peek at my newfound bubbles, hoping for a free ride. I figure I can turn his none-of-your-business into Las Vegas with a little bit of sugar."

Seeeeeeeeeeee. I love that! Well written and a VERY solid debut from young Miss Portes. I zipped through this book in 2 days and I imagine that you'll do the same. Pick this one up, I highly recommend it!

Andrea Portes has created an unforgettable narrator with an extraordinary voice. Luli is talking a mile a minute even if most of the talk is in her head as she recounts her life and makes big plans. Luli has been looking out for herself from day one because goodness knows no one else has been. The opening scenes in the Alibi as her parents and the other regulars drink the night away are unforgettable as they proceed from drink one on down the list and she describes each stage and gives advice to the reader. Luli knows exactly where they are going and it is no place good. Her powers of observation and her foul-mouthed analysis are diamond sharp and totally engaging. Luli talks tough, she's witty, she's brilliant, she's bumping along and then something happens or is said that reminds you that she is only 13 and your heart breaks. The encounter with Clement is a terrific piece of economical writing that digs that scalpel into your heart. Luli would have every reason to be a bitter, whiny, mess sitting in a corner somewhere, but this mess is rolling on down the road.

I read Hick in one sitting. It wasn't that the plot had me in suspense (it moved along just fine), but that the writing is so vivid and fresh, I never felt like putting it down. Every line is smart. There's no fat here... no boring descriptions of the scenery to skim over before getting to the action. In fact, I often found myself rereading sections and was even tempted to pull out the highlighter and start marking the best parts.

Though some described this book as dark, the main character Luli maintained a hopeful, practical attitude throughout, which set the tone of the book. She was constantly adapting and making the most of her situation, even in the face of bad circumstances. She never adopted a "poor me" mentality and was not a victim but a survivor.

The one doubt I had was that Luli's voice is a little too wise for a 13 year old. But then I think back to when I was 13, and I can see how a smart girl with no shelter from adult issues would have an older way of thinking. Actually, her naivete about sex was a little out of character for someone who grew up in bars, surrounded by domestic disputes. And, she sometimes seemed to know more about drugs than at other times. I don't think these attempts at naivete were needed. Luli's childlike innocence showed in her literal and honest descriptions of people and places.

Overall, this is an entertaining, thought-provoking, and uplifting piece of work... a real treasure from a first-time author! It's well worth a read!

I started reading Hick on a flight and resented arriving to my destination because I wanted to continue reading. The narrator takes you back to an America you may or may not know personally, but makes you feel at home there. And she takes you to places which are entirely uncomfortable as well, though with a resigned and non judgemental voice which has the effect of drawing you in even more to Luli's journey. The book is captivating. The metaphors, descriptions, and in your face foreshadowing are so well written that I often found myself saying "good one" and rereading just for the pleasure of it, before turing to see what jems the next page offered. I look forward to Ms. Portes next book.

This book was very interesting to read. I have 14 year old daughters, and am always trying to gain some perspective on them. Although the story is told in the first person perspective of the child, the words and language and ideas are those of a much older person. This made the story a little less believable, but no less entertaining. I would recommend this book to those with an interest in how life is different for those who make bad choices.The Glass Castle: A Memoir

Adrian Dater's account of the feud (and it was bloody!) between the Detroit Red Wings and the Colorado Avalanche is chuck a block full of previously unknown, but hilarious, peculiar (Scotty Bowman is a unique dude to say the least), and riveting inside information and anecdotes. Dater, a hockey writer for the Denver Post, is no homer, and plays it fair, being equally snarky and funny about both teams. Dater covered every game of the 90's between these two rivals, and its all facinatingly covered in this book. Its a terrific read and manditory bookshelf inclusion for all true hockey fans.

There's a lot more to learn in this book than just the infamous brawl that took place on 3/26/97. Player backgrounds, behind the scenes issues, trades are looked into and evaluated. The entire history of the feud from Lemieux's hit on Kris Draper which started the whole mess to the finale of McCarty and Lemieux making their peace years later - in different uniforms. The book is not an elongated read. It moves fairly quickly and if your like me and are interested by facts that no one but you will probably ever care about then this one is for you. I do remember thinking during those days that I wish the Rangers vs. their rivals be it the Devils, Islanders or Flyers had that much heat and intensity. It was the last true NHL feud before Bettman and Company slowly began killing the game when teams were still allowed to police the ice, when referees knew how to call a game (and what not to call in a game). When most people across the country could see these games on ESPN(2)and when fans intelligence weren't constantly being insulted by what has now become the PC world of NHL hockey.

I'm a big Red Wings fan, and while this book looked interesting at first glance, I worried that it would be slanted in the Avs favor/perspective given that the author has followed and written about the Avs since they moved to Denver. Happily, this was not the case, as both sides were evenly covered.

The strength of the book is its coverage of the history of several of the major players on each side as well as a revealing look behind the scenes. I watched most of these hockey games, but I didn't know much of what was going on in the front offices and lockerooms.

My only complaint is that more of the on-ice action could have been added in, and I think that this would have fleshed out the entire book more completely. All in all, though, this is a fun read and is strongly recommended for all Wings and Avs fans.

I was suprised by how unbiased this book was. Seeing that it was written by an Avs beat writer I assumed it would be one sided painting the Red Wings as the "Evil Empire" or what have you. That was not the Case. Not only did it cover the major games and playoff series of the rivalry it also gave short Bios of the key people involved ie Bowman, MacCarty, Draper, Roy, and of course Lemeiux.

Adrian Dater takes on the Red Wings/Avalanche rivalry of 1996-2002 in this highly-readable book. While the subject matter is great, the presentation, bias, and overall content level drag this down to just mediocre.

I'm in agreement with the other reviewer who wondered how anyone could find this book to be unbiased. Dater slams the Detroit print & radio media for being "homers" and for being biased, but then prints quote-after-quote of homerism from Woody Paige, much of which is just patently offensive. By contrast, hardly anything is presented from Mitch Albom - widely acknowledged as the best sportswriter in the country. In addition, the photo section is clearly tilted to the Avalanche side of things, in both quantity of photos and in the captions for them.

This book weighs in at a light 237 pages and frankly just does not include enough hockey in it. The sections on Roy/Lemieux/Bowman are all well-written and contain good information but they interrupt the flow of the book and end up feeling like filler. In the end, every series is recapped in a few short pages and very little detail is given to regular season games other than the famous "Revenge Game" of 3/26/97 and the follow-up ones with Lemieux's return match McCarty and the Osgood/Roy fight.

This could have, and should have, been 100+ pages longer with a closer eye cast toward making it unbiased.

Still, this is a must-read for any fan of hockey.

If you're not satisfied with reading what's in the newspaper about Columbine, you need this book.

Mixed in with actual exerpts from Rachel's diary, the author and Beth Nimmo (Rachel's mom) fill in the missing pieces consistent with her diary entries.

Rachel shows herself to be human (anger, ect.) with the same questions a lot of teenagers have. The answers she decides are real in her life may surprise the reader. Rachel is not some super saint, but a real teen with real questions.

The editorial questions about Rachel's musings on Anne Frank and not living to the age of marriage are not fantasy created by the authors, but recollections of conversations with Rachel by close friends and family.

I would additionally recommend "Rachel's Tears", and "Rachel Smiles" by Rachel's mother, Beth, and her father Darrell Scott.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. The only thing I am going to be critical about is that there are only a few pages of Rachel's journals, with a lot of fictionalized filler written as Rachel's perspective by another author. It would have been great if there were more pages of her journals, in color, with minimal commentary. However this book is geared towards younger readers, who might have needed more guidance in reading about Rachel's life. This would have detracted me, as an adult, from purchasing the book; except that this is the only book in existance with scanned writings by any of the victims, which piqued my interest. Therefore the minimal amount of actual writings by Rachel is a disappointment.

There are some lined pages in here with inspiration for starting your own journal, but to be honest, I would get my own blank book and not write in someone else's. But it might be good for the younger readers.

I also recommend Brooks Brown's book, which has the most details of any Columbine book out there. He talked about his friendship with Rachel in it, which was really sweet.

I highly recommend this book. Based on her real journals, you feel by the end of this book like you knew Rachal Scott personally. Even though it's not the exact journal entries, Beth Nimmo, Rachal's mother collaborated with the writer, and you get the sense that Rachal's true character was captured. This book brings to life a girl mature and inciteful beyond her years. I was humbled and deeply moved by her total commitment to living out her faith in Christ. I appreciate especially her honesty. Her story brings to life the loss of such a beautiful young woman. You don't need to be a teenage girl to read this book, but every teenager should read it.Thank you Beth for allowing us to walk along side her in her last years.

I bought this book for my 16 yr. old daughter and her mind set has changed. After reading this book, all on her own she started journaling and recently asked to be baptised. I thank GOD for Rachel Joy Scott and her parents.

This book will change the way you view life and its meaning. I also recommend you read Rachels Tears as well!

REMEMBERED is the third book in the Fountain Creek Chronicles Series. It follows the life of Veronique Girard as she searches the Colorado Territory for her estranged father. Jack Brennan has turned from guiding families to the west, to become a freighter. After a little reluctance, he agrees to help Veronique find her father among the mining camps of the neighboring area. With his help, Veronique might be able to find her father . . . and a lot more.


Tamera Alexander has once again penned a delightful story that you'll have a hard time putting down. Her rich characters and picturesque settings will captivate you.

I love this author! Can't wait to read more of her books. My favorite of this series was Book 1 and Book 3...i'm sad that i finished the series!!!

I was disappointed with this book after having read and enjoyed the first 2 in the series. I was able to put this book down and come back to it later. It just didn't hold my attention. The ending took a long time in coming, but was then wrapped up a little too quickly with not enough detail. I can recommend it as a sweet romance, but not as a page-turner.

Book three in the Fountain Creek Chronicles Series rewards readers with as delightful a tale as each of the other two. But be warned. You may find a yearning in your heart to travel to old gold mining towns and look for the friends you meet within these pages.

Veronique Girard, born and raised in high society France travels to the Colorado Territory to carry out her mother's death-bed wish. Find her father, a man she barely remembers but whose love has filled her heart all of her life. As she travels into the mountains in search of him, she meets and cares for people whom she never would have associated in France. In the pieces of her life that she struggle to put back together, her faith is challenged as all of her values get remolded.

Jack Brennan returns to Fountain Creel to settle down. Delivering supplies to the gold mining communities is a tough job, but one he is prepared to do. He is not, however, prepared to escort the lovely Veronique Girard to these towns in search of her father.

Neither of them expect the plans their Heavenly Father has in bringing them together for the present and the future. The rugged Colorado mountains, rough miners and difficult western life are nothing when pitted against the love of God for His children and the love of man and woman.

This book is a beautiful journey into our history and the lives of two people who surmounted life's tragedies to find joy. You will have to remind yourself Jack and Veronique are characters for you can surely feel their hearts as you read. And, if you are quiet, you may even hear the clip-clop of horses hooves as the stage coach enters town.

While I simply loved books one and two, this one was very long in getting to the plot, and then, the real reason for the book took up only a few lines, which disappointed me. I will say there were some interesting parts and a lovely story of a young woman coming from France searching for a father she could not remember. She did this for her late mother. I was not at all impressed with the many pages used finally getting to the story. My least liked of the three.

I think the vast majority of us, even if we lived in Estes Park and had an idea to write such a book, would have given up when we grasped the enormity of hiking to every named destination in Rocky Mountain National Park (and several in the neighboring national forests). Lisa Foster didn't. Even though she was ill and often had to hike alone, she persevered. This was truly a labor of love, because not many of us are going to scale the Spearhead or numerous other destinations that require off-trail route finding and 3,500-plus elevation gains. The trail descriptions are very good, and Lisa does not seem to run out of adjectives to describe the splendor. That in itself is an accomplishment well worth noting. The photographs are also spectacular, giving the hiker an idea of the reward for huffing and puffing yourself up a mountain trail. (I've visited the park 16 times since 1995, and I always forget how difficult hiking can be.) Lisa, my hat is off to you.

Comprehensive review of every hike in RMNP. Charts and maps are very helpful and will make our summer hiking trip to RMNP much easier to plan.
Wonderful photographs and detailed notes about each hike.

Whether you are a serious hiker wanting to explore the remote regions of one of the treasures of the US Park system or just want a simple afternoon hike to see a little bit of Rocky Mountain National Park this book will provide all you need. It has excellent topo maps, great descriptions of the trails, lots of information on what to expect and lovely photographs to entice you on. It's printed on heavy, high quality paper in full color; it feels good to the hand. It would make a great gift for the friend who's heading off to explore RMNP!

This guide saved our group countless hours of research in finding the best and most efficient use of our limited hiking time while on our trip. One of the best guides on the subject.

One of the best if not the best hiking guides to the park. I have led and/or followed hikes to 30 or more locales in the park and find this book to have the most complete and accurate write-ups.............

I love this book Just this April, that my wife and I visited the Grand Canyon for the first time together. For me, it was the first time ever. We mostly hiked here and there on the South rim and a bit down into the canyon, but it was nothing big, though it was pleasant. However, I was intrigued with the tales of Glen and Bessie and I wanted to know more. I got another Grand Canyon book through Inter-Library loan and it mentioned that a fellow named Dimock was in the process of publishing a book about them.

So I finally got this book and devoured it, once I got my hands on it. This guy not only heavily researched the Hydes, he also built a similar boat and took it through the Grand Canyon, albeit with a sweep boat as back up. Then he went by kayak to personally survey the area where the Hydes most likely died.

I admit to being taken aback a bit by the book cover, which shows two people in modern garb and wearing life perservers in whitewater. However, who is better to show there than the author and his wife on the replica of the Hydes' "Rain in the Face" while barreling down what is presumably the Colorado River?

I would even bet that this failed exploit provided the idea for Dana Lamb's book "Enchanted Vagabonds", in which he builds a boat and supposedly paddles it with his young wife all the way from California to Panama. However, Dana selected a route where cheating is possible.

I want to thank Brad Dimock for answering what can be reasonably argued about Glen and Bessie.

Although there are some points where the book jumps back and forth upon itself, overall this is an engaging read about an interesting couple and a man's struggle to understand their ordeal. Very easy and enjoyable read in which you become enrapt in what happens next and makes you wonder what the "real" story truly was.

Just returned from 7 day trip down the Colorado River/Glen Canyon. One of the favorite stories was of these "honeynooners". the book is a wonderful adventure and worth a read, particularly if you have the joy of rafting that water. Enjoy!

The story of Glen and Bessie Hyde is the greatest Grand Canyon mystery. They are the honeymoon couple that disappeared without a trace in 1928. Many myths and legends have evolved in the intervening years (including a segement of "Unsolved Mysteries"). Brad Dimmock is a Colorado River guide (and a very good writer) who duplicated the couples ill fated journey down the Colorado. He has interwoven the historical material with his own modern attempt using a sweepboat similiar to the one the Hyde's used. I read this while visiting the canyon again. It was great sitting on the patio at the Lodge on the North Rim reading this fascinating account. If you love a great mystery or you love Canyon lore, you'll love this book.

I think, at first, the cover scared me away, but once I started reading I was involved. I must applaud Brad Dimock's writing skill. He has written a book with the timbre and cadence of a Jon Krakauer about an episode of which we know very little. While Glen Hyde's life was well documented by his family, very little is known about Bessie Hyde or how the Hyde's marriage was holding up under the pressure of their Colorado River float. Despite this dearth of information, Dimock has succeeded in bringing Glen and Bessie to life. We care about these two people, who disappeared over 75 years ago, and we follow the scanty thread of facts that Dimock has been able to gather, hanging on to each clue in the hope of learning their fate even though we know from the beginning that the Hyde's were never found.

Sunk Without a Sound can stand side-by-side with the best of Jon Krakauer and David Roberts.

You come across very few people in life
a) who know what they are doing
b) who can teach others with good examples
c) who do not have any vested interest in sharing the knowledge.

The authors of this book come under this category. Not only they seem to have worked on many best of breed SOA projects, they have a very good ability to impart this knowledge. They discuss the pros and cons of all the options and let reader choose what is best for his/her situation.

This book seems to have the right mix of technical, management and business knowledge about SOA. Like many business oriented books it does not limit itself to discussing the organizational challenges and project management aspects. Like technical books, it does not limit itself to web services. This book opens your mind to the real IT landscape in today's organizations, particularly its heterogeneity. It opens your mind to thinking how SOA can connect these heterogeneous systems and make them productive. I have really enjoyed reading this book after completing my architect certification.

Frankly, I thought SOA was just a bunch of marketing hype until I read this book. The authors begin by clearly explaining of the kinds of problems SOA is trying to solve, and how other architectures tried and failed (or partially succeeded) to solve these problems. In fact, you don't get a definition of SOA until chapter 4, which is a good thing. The advice and strategies are well-reasoned and practical. The organizational roadmap seems to be unique among SOA books, and is clearly derived from experience. The case studies highlight the kinds of tradeoffs each organization had to deal with, along with lessons learned. Finally, I found this book to be very readable and interesting.

This book was an excellent broad overview of the technology related items associated with an SOA adoption. It is a good read for an IT manager or architect that is more concerned with the bigger picture. This book, combined with a book that has more of a business oriented slant, such as Service Orient or Be Doomed or Service Blueprint make a great combination for enterprise architects interested in the potential of SOA.

May be I was expecting too much out of this book, it provides good categorization of different types of services and the roadmap - however I feel it lacks some details on the technical implementation part as to what tools/technologies/standards are ideal to implement this architecture.

Again, may be my expectation was not realistic.

This is a great introduction to SOA. The authors focus on the fundamentals of SOA, displaying both wisdom and honesty as they discuss the structure of an SOA, its essential and optional elements, strategies for SOA introduction (from technical and organizational points of view), SOA oriented project management techniques, success (and failure stories), etc.

The book is refreshing in the way that it avoids the vendor induced hysteria associated with new technologies choosing instead to calmly and objectively discuss the fundamental forces driving SOA adoption: federation, heterogeneity, agility, reuse.

Additionally, the authors display a healthy dose of independence as they discuss the merits and lack thereof of over-hyped technologies such as Enterprise Service Buses and BEPL systems. This is clearly a book written by people who have actually built SOAs, as opposed to sit on WS-* committees or implement SOA related junkware.