Vermont Books

Take a hike but bring along Nature Walks in Norhtern Vermont when you do. In clear, concise prose, Elizabeth Bassett describes natural phenomena and explores human history as she leads you through the 43 walks. The book includes maps, driving instructions and a clear set of walking directions for each walk. You will better understand the geology, flora, and fauna which surround you and have a clear picture of how this land has been used over the millenia. Historic tidbits include Native American settlements, colonial artifacts, Revolutionary War lore, and tales of the Vanderbilt Webb familiy's environmental showcase at Shelburne Farms. The walks include ecosystems not always associated with northern Vermont: sand dunes, bogs, pitch pine forest, and river chasm. More traditional walks include waterfalls, potholes, Arctic-alpine tundra, and northern forests. Grab a copy and take your sturdy shoes, snow shoes or cross-country skis and set out!

I agree that this book is very good; however, the title is misleading. I live in northern Vermont and expected to see some nature walks in my area; however the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont was totally ignored! The title of this book should be "Nature Walks in Northwestern Vermont, Especially the Champlain Valley" because that is the area addressed.

I picked up an uncorrected proof of this cookbook/travel memoir at a tag sale. I am an avid cookbook reader and thought I would check it out. I was so pleasantly surprised by Pane e Salute. The book has two narrators, a husband and wife team who own a restaurant in Vermont (which I am dying to visit!). She tells the stories of the couples' various travels through Italy in each of the four seasons in quick, beautifully detailed vignettes. He provides the recipes from their journeys.
While I truly enjoyed the memoir of the people and places that have blessed the authors' lives, as a self-proclaimed foodee, it is the recipes that make this such a great find. They are simple, flavorful, and have filled my apartment with rich aromas and full tables since I discovered the book. There is something pure about the way this food is prepared that makes you feel great eating and serving it.

New Englanders are fortunate enough to be within a reasonable driving distance to Woodstock, an idyllic Victorian town nestled in the Rutland region of eastern Vermont--perhaps one of the last places one might look for exquisite, authentic Italian cuisine served in an atmosphere that could just as easily be in Siena or Florence as Vermont. For everyone else, there is--thankfully--this book. While Heekin and Barber are not themselves Italian, their long love affair with Italy, its culture and its people have inspired them to the fine culinary heights that come from immersing oneself in the fundamental laws of simple, full-bodied living. They KNOW Italy. Heekin's exquisite, finely crafted prose introduces each section of the book, which is organized by season, and Barber's brilliant recipes (and his flair for imparting them in a way that is truly inspirational) make this lovely volume a must-have in ANY cook's kitchen, especially if you love Italy, real Italian food and what can only be called "authentic living." Live and cook by their recipes, and you'll transform your kitchen and home into a warm, cozy, sun-filled haven for you, your friends and family.

This is a light-hearted book.......great to relax with a cup of tea or coffee for an uplifting experience! A great reminder to be careful what you pray for or what you ask others to pray for!!

Suzy's sence of humor is great. She really knows how to tickle your funny bone. She really knows how to tell a good story. I've read all her books and I can't wait till her next one is out what a treat. This one really touched my heart. Keep up the great work Suzy. Your #1 fan.

After reading Basil Douros' first book about his Greek heritage I could hardly wait to read Roots of the Blackthorn Tree, a story of his wife's Irish heritage. Although I am only one-fourth Irish I could relate to many of the experiences the poor Irish had to undergo when they moved to this country. I was raised in the Middle West with no running water and an outhouse about 50 feet from the main house. All 5 children took the Saturday night bath in the same large galvanized tub using the same water. These and other experiences going back to Ireland when it was invaded by the Celts are related in amazing detail. The Great Irish Potato Famine, which led to the large immigration of the Irish to the United States,is vividly described. Those who are descendents of the Irish who immigrated to Vermont will be especially interested in the living conditions described in that area of the country in the nineteenth century. The book was so interesting I read it in two evenings.
P.S. All my life I have heard the term shillelagh, not knowing where it originated or what it was used for. Now I know!

If you can work your way through a pint of Guiness Stout or sing a respectable Danny Boy--this book will warm the cockles of your heart.Mr Douros weaves an excellent presentation of Ireland's turbulent history from its origin and works his way to a rollicking climax of the activities of a group of present day Irish nestled in a remote section of Vermont that would make any Irishman believe he was back on the old sod.
Mr.Douros again has demonstrated his ability to get to the ROOTS of of any ethnic challenge presented him.Being a displaced irish Vermonter and very familiar with the subject matter,I enjoyed every page to the utmost.

This book is on the shelves in just about every bookstore in Vermont and for good reason, it's a great historical piece. This books fits in well along side of Scott's treasure trove of Northeast Kingdom history, the Northland Journal, his monthly print publication and website. I am a happy subscriber to both and hear that Scott is working on a new book that's forthcoming.
Vermonter dot com approved and recommended.

Rumrunners & Revenuers: Prohibition In Vermont by writer and history enthusiast Scott Wheeler is a close look at a darker chapter in 20th Century American history, and its effects in the state of Vermont as seen through the eyes of fourteen families on both sides of the federal law that banned the production, transportation, sale, and consumption of alcoholic beverages. Engaging stories, and the fascinating details of history itself, spell out an collection true stories that are as informative as they are intrinsically interesting -- especially for students of American history in general, and the history of Vermont in particular.

I believe books of this type are very important as Americans try to cope with ever decreasing efficiencies of government and the accompanying increasing of injustice.

This book puts forth a viable alternative to the massive federal system of supposedly sovereign states we now have, and it should not be lightly dismissed as many are wont to do.

I would like to see the U.S. break-up into several smaller confederations, and perhaps Northern New England is the place to start! All great empires fall apart. Let's do it with dignity!

This book is a must read!

Professor Naylor provides a brilliant rationale for secession from the degenerate zionist controlled American Empire. Neither revolution nor reformation is a viable option at this time so why not a third way? Secession, an idea whose time has come. Secession, the answer to tyranny. Why be a slave when you can be free? After reading this tome you will want to pack your bags and head for Vermont to take part in what will no doubt be the climatic struggle for freedom in this century. Where do I sign up to join the Second Vermont Republic?

Noel Perrin is great. I love all his books about living the simple, back-to-the-land rural life written by someone who is not quite an outsider and not quite an insider.

Noel Perrin is great. I love all his books about living the simple, back-to-the-land rural life written by someone who is not quite an outsider and not quite an insider.

What's a biofeedback practitioner to do when a conference honoring your field's Jonas Salk (who gropes you in a hot tub with his wedding-banded hand) becomes a bloodbath on skis, you're under suspicion for murder because your scarf apparently strangled one of the victims, your entire vocation comes under attack by fanatic fellow doctors, and all the while your cheating ex-husband and homicide-cop love of your life insist on making your emotions spike off the EEG scale?

If you're biofeedback practitioner and heroine Carrie Carlin, you "get your kicks out of livin' dangerously" (as anti-biofeedback antagonist Flo Zimmer says), act like a lightning rod for assassins, and stick your nose in where it doesn't belong. When people around married but roving-handed conference honoree Dr. Hubert Freundlich start dying, it's up to the much-suspected much-shot-at Carrie (whose scarf puts her under suspicion) to unravel the mystery on the Vermont ski slopes. In true amateur-detective fashion, Carrie proves she's earned her PhD (Plucky Heroine Degree) by uncovering a killer you only begin to suspect the second half of the book. The killer's motives are real, human and even understandable, but still despicable.

The secret is truly juicy, but plays second fiddle to Carrie and her engaging, endearing personality, her devotion to her children, her sparkling commentary, and her marriage dilemma with sexy-but-flawed cop Ted Brodsky, who tries to protect her despite herself. A fun page-turner.

This year the annual International Association of Biofeedback Practitioners is being held at the Snowridge ski resort in Sunnyville Vermont. The attendees include Carrie Carlin, who has a small practice in Bergen, New Jersey. She is particularly excited about this conference because the guest speaker, Dr. Hubert Freundlich, has made a significant breakthrough in the field, one that Carrie can use in her own practice.

At her first meeting with Hubert, he makes a pass at her in a hot tub filled with people, one of whom is his wife. At lunch the next day his assistant, Charlie Anders drunkenly hints that he has something on the good doctor. Shortly after that, he is murdered and Carrie gets involved when it's is discovered he was wearing her scarf. It turns out that her friend Dr. Joe Golden had the scarf in his possession and was going to give it back to her before it mysteriously disappeared. Joe also got into a fight with the victim one hour before he was killed but Carrie is sure he is innocent and intends to prove it over the objections of her significant other because he doesn't want her to be used as bait by an overzealous policeman.

This amateur sleuth tale showcases a heroine who is prone to take risks even when she is only indirectly involved in a homicide investigation. She is exasperatingly stubborn and so good hearted that readers find themselves rooting for her and wanting her to back off while also feeling sorry for her lover who has to put up with her. Nancy Tesler knows how to write an extremely exciting who-done-it that can't be put down.

Harriet Klausner

'Soup's Hoop' is a wonderful,charming and above all hilarious story, and I can't believe it's out of print! Peck has a special way of writing his books so they always make you smile, and 'Soup's Hoop' fully lives up to that. A fantastic book to read aloud. Horray for Soup!

I'd recommend this book for those who are ranging from 3rd grade and above. My first time I read it, I wasn't really interested. But I tried it again and found it to be extremely humorous and an interesting story. Its about two kids, Soup and Rob who are in love with the game of basketball. They meet this plummer named Piffle Shootensinker, a basketball star from Pretzelstein, some where in Europe. He is unstoppable. Soup and Rob have an idea: have Piff play for city basketball team and play in the biggest game of the year. But Piff has a few drawbacks, he is homesick, misses his dog, and can only sink a basket when he listens to the music of his homeland. So Soup and Rob come up with a another facinating idea: make a SPITZENTOOTLE. What's that? You'll just have to read "Soup's Hoop" and find out what happens and read how clutzy these two kids are.

This book gets a 10 out of 10 from BridgePros. At BridgePros.com we have been lucky enough to review some of the best products about bridges. This book just adds to the list. The information and pictures are wonderful. The book is laid out very well with 15 different tours to take of the bridges. The history of each bridge was researched well with all the source laid out nicely. This book has a great appendix for the bridge novice, including: A summary of the bridges, a covered bridge glossary, and a great explanation with pictures of the different bridge trusses, a section on the bridge builders, and finally a reading list. The book ends with a comprehensive index. This book is the first place you should look to learn about anything on Vermont's covered bridges and how to see them all! This reviewer traveled to Vermont in October 2000 to check out some of the tours listed in this book. They were laid excellent. Very good guide.

This extremely well written book contains a wealth of information and beautiful color photographs about all of the covered bridges in Vermont. The author has also drawn nice maps so that visitors can locate the bridges, which is very helpful. Anyone who is interested in covered bridges should own a copy of this fine book. I find it well worth the price and highly recommend it!