Wisconsin Books

The book gives glimpses of his personal life, his upbringing, along with his professional life as a journalist for the Daily News, Sun Times, and finally the Tribune. I have read the Tribune for many years but never did read Royko's columns. I read this book to get an idea of why he was such a revered journalist.

I found that the book had some great stories in it and overall it was an enjoyable read, but I did not emerge as impressed with Mike Royko as I thought I would be. A good book for a nice overview for someone trying to figure who Mike Royko was. If you are not interested in learning about Royko this book will bore you out of your mind.

My oldest son,now in his thirties,greatly suprised me earlier this year when he responded to my question of what book had the most impact on him when he was growing up.He said it was more than just a book;it was the columns of Mike Royko,particularly those describing the views of Slats Grubnick."They countered all the dining room table"liberalisms"you and mom always were urging on me".While Slats and his creator,Royko,are no longer with us to directly influence my son's son on a regular basis,they are brilliantly brought back to life in this loving and honest book by Madison newspaper columnist,Doug Moe.I don't recall reading if Moe ever met Royko in person,but in this absolutely enjoyable gem,written with the cooperation of Royko's family and cohorts,Moe writes with an authority and wisdom that The Great Royko himself would love.See for yourself!As for me,I'm planning atrip to The Billy Goat tavern where I plan to hoist a few:to Slats,Royko,and Doug Moe.Thanks for the memories and inspiration.

Like millions of others, I followed the columns (read: exploits) of Mike Royko when he was in the Chicago newspapers. Doug Moe's biography serves his subject well in lean, workmanlike prose, capturing the flavor of the Chicago streets and neighborhoods as well as the man himself. Moe brings it alive so you can almost feel the ink smudges on newsprint and smell the Old Style in the corner bars in the dim light of winter nights. Photos and anecdotes complement the narrative, which Moe relates with his usual straightforward understated virtuosity (in other words, no sentences like this one), compelling the reader to turn the page to see what is going to happen next. Indispensable reading for anyone who wants to learn more about Royko, the writing life, newspapering, and a certain now-vanished and legendary era in Chicago journalism. The book fills a welcome niche on the bookshelf.

This book is a wonderful look at one of the great journalists of the 20th century. Whether you are a long time fan of Royko or are just curious about who he was and why his writing had such an impact on readers, you are in for a great read. The photos and text work very well together as Doug Moe masterfully takes you from the humble beginnings of Royko's life down through the years to his final days as the most syndicated columnist in America. Royko's story is fascinating. He was not your typical journalism school product since he, in fact, never went to journalism school. He was a self-taught, street-smart genius who learned his craft while on the job. As this book makes clear, he quickly mastered the fundamentals of sound journalism and then went on for decades entertaining and informing us all with his great writing. The book covers the highlights as well as some of the intriguing details of how it all unfolded. I recommend you read it and pass it on to a good friend.

This is far from a comprehensive biography, but still supplies a lot of information that I was always curious about. The pictures alone are priceless. Perhaps some day Studs Terkel or Bill Grainger will write the definitive Royko bio. But for now, those of us who dearly miss Mike's face on Page 3 of The Trib will have to be content with this.

After completing Hippocrene's Beginner's Norwegian and Teach Yourself Norwegian, I was in somewhat of a rut for quite a while. There really aren't any readily available intermediate Norwegian courses out there (that I could find). Listening to Norwegian internet radio, reading Norwegian newspapers, and watching Norwegian TV helps, but can be frustrating because it's a BIG jump from the elementary courses. I had a copy of this book lying around, but I assumed that since I'd completed several other Norwegian courses, I wouldn't get anything out of this text.

Boy, was I wrong. I'm about half way through now, and I can say that it is absolutely excellent. There is no vocabulary overload (a problem with most other language courses I have--and I have lots of them!), concepts are introduced and then constantly reviewed as part of later exercises (most books introduce a topic and you don't see it again... and of course, forget about it), and best of all, there are TONS of exercises (most other courses are pathetically skimpy with exercises).

In fact, the approach that this author takes is to give short dialogs and readings for the reader to analyze (containing new topics) and follows them with many, many helpful exercises. You sort of make connections and deductions as you go through the problems. It's a sort of "learning by discovery" approach--a very "active" learning style. It's written entirely in Norwegian (except occasional footnotes) and forces you to think. And like I said, once something is introduced, you are not allowed to forget it. It just keeps coming up. Of course, this approach burns a lot of paper up! The book is nearly 600 pages--most of it exercises. However... GUARANTEED that you'll remember this stuff with this approach! I think one reason that newer texts don't take this "active," exercise-happy, discovery approach is that they are too cheap! ...cut all the exercises out and save a lot of money in publishing cost... or cut it all out and call it an audio-based course :-)

Granted, I don't think this style of teaching will appeal to everyone. But it sure appeals to me. I wish I could find texts written like this one in other languages that I study. Also, I probably wouldn't recommend this book to a complete beginner. I think it might be a bit intimidating at first. But if you've gone through TY Norwegian or Hippocrene's Beginner's Norwegian, and you learn well visually, analytically, and by example, by all means give this book a try! Also, since the book is quite old, the audio is very hard to find. You should have the sound of the language in your head before starting with this book if you can't find the audio. I don't have it, but it's no disadvantage at all since the other courses I've done have quite a lot of audio.

An added benefit is that once you've completed this book, there is another more advanced text that follows (by the same author). Bottom line: for traditional/analytical style learners, this is THE book. You want this book.

Starts with the simplest sentences, in Norwegian, and then progresses using hardly any English. No vocabulary overload, teaches grammer systematically and at exactly the right time in the student's development--not at all like the high school and college texts in German, etc, from which you got only confusion and stress. I took three courses using this book at age 42 (taught by visiting Norwegian women through The Norwegian Society of Texas, fantastic teachers all!) and within a year spoke Norsk as my second language (did 2-3 hours of homework each week, absolutely essential but requires 'motivation'). My German wife later erased all my answers (I wasn't happy!) and taught herself Norwegian as well over several years during our summer months in Norway. It helped to go there every summer for some months (for research and hiking). The book's weakness: colloquial speech is left out altogether. For that, see Sverre Kloumann's Learn Norwegian. We bought the three tapes for that book and my wife later used them extensively. One has the advantage that many Norwegian words are recognizable from English and/or German, but the grammer is extremely simple, like English (but more systematic), in contrast with Russian, old Norwegian, and German. Like the later three, though, the language is phonetic. Neither text teaches dialect words, a disadvantage, given that there are 28 major dialects and far more local ones, but the situation is not much worse in that respect than with German. For dictionary, buy Einar Haugen's Norsk-Engelsk Ordbok.

My mother bought this book at a major university bookstore. So... it must be well thought of... academically speaking. It teaches you vocabulary concurrently with grammar concepts and provides drills and examples to help you remember. The only way to begin learning norwegian. You will learn norwegian with this book. I recommend doing one chapter every two days. The only fault is that it should have word definitions in the back of each chapter. However, it does provide a glossary in the back of the book. For pronunciation, get some tapes. ....

The information on the web is misleading. This is not a textbook. This is a teacher's manual. I made the same mistake-- ordered it as the textbook.

There are (apparently) three separate books under this title. There is a text book (hardback), a teacher's manual, and a student workbook. I (foolishly) ordered the $25 version thinking it was the paperback version of the textbook - wrong. It was the teacher's manual.

We read outloud the first Caddie Woodlawn book, and were so excited about it, we went online and bought the second one. It, too, has been a delight to read at night as our family time together. The stories are entertaining as well as historically informative. The Woodlawn books are a treasure we will always cherish.

While "Magical Melons" is not as good as its predecessor, it's a charming collection of stories that get into the lives of the other siblings and some friends of the Woodlawns. Although Caddie is still present, Clara, Tom, Warren, Hetty, and others get a little story as well.

The book is interesting to a reader of more modern children's literature in its terminology, especially concerning Native Americans. But its heart is in the right place, and those who express negative opinions about the native people are shown to be wrong. The book is also somewhat religious, but not in a specific sense. Religion is just another part of the Woodlawns' lives, and the morals in the stories don't pound you on the head.

I remember riding my bike 4 miles to another library to check this out when I was younger, and I still enjoy the stories today. Recommended reading for anyone that enjoyed "Caddie Woodlawn."

This is an advisory to anyone thinking of buying this book--it's "Magical Melons" with a new title. It's a wonderful book, so if you've never read "Magical Melons," you will enjoy it. Just be aware it's the same book.

Caddie Woodlawn is a hyper pre-teen, 10, who is a tom-boy and loves to do unlady-like things. The great and unbeilievable thing about this book is true. Normally the girls back then were very proper. This is a great book and i highly encourage people to read it. This book was better than Caddie Woodlawn.

Caddie Woodlawn's Family (originally titled "Magical Melons") was written several years after the award-winning best-selling original "Caddie Woodlawn". This is a more loosely connected selection of stories about Caddie and her family which covers a wider span than the original book and even overlaps a bit. Although it sounds a little funny, it works (and even makes sense) since these are true stories written down by Caddie's granddaughter.

The stories are simple, but delightful. Not only do they give readers a glimpse into a different era (and in a way that isn't overly sanitized or modernized), but the stories are delightful in and of themselves. They are so real in illustrating the way children are and the way life is. And the icing on the cake is that they really happened.

If you liked Caddie Woodlawn even a little, you certainly won't want to miss these gems.

I bought this book to gain information and recipes for lefse, but ended up with a wonderful book with stories and memories that I could laugh, cry and remember with. Though I was a "city kid", I spent a lot of time on my uncle's farm, and grew up with my dad's stories of growing up on a farm, so I could relate to Leann's stories. It was very fun to reminisce along with her. By the way, the lefse turned out fabulous!! It's now the only recipe I use.

This book was truly delightful. I am a Canadian and was raised in a small rural town. Leann's stories reminded me so much of my own childhood in spite of the obvious differences, I really couldn't put the book down! Well done! I will certainly look forward to reading some more of her writings.

Christmas in Dairyland is a collection of short, true stories about a little girl growing up on a small dairy farm in Wisconsin in the early 1960s. The book tells of life for a young girl and her family-her father, who did the farming; her mother who, despite being disabled by polio, took care of the house and cooking; and a much older brother and sister, both of whom worked and contributed their incomes to the family.

The stories recall preparations for Christmas at home, school, and church, how LeAnn learned about her Norwegian heritage and, most important, the love that pervaded this close-knit mid-20th century American family. As a bonus, Christmas in Dairyland includes tried and true recipes for many of the Norwegian heritage foods featured in the stories, including lefse (wafer-thin potato bread), Julekake (a rich Christmas bread), fattigman (a deep-fried sweet cookie), and a variety of traditional Christmas cookies. For the more adventurous, there is a recipe for lutefisk (cod that has been preserved in lye). Finally, the book includes instructions for making colorful candles using old crayons, paraffin, ice cubes, and milk cartons.

About the Book
This is a heartwarming book about a vanishing way of life. Small dairy farms, with around 30 milking cows, were plentiful when the author was growing up and they provided a warm and loving home for hundreds of thousands of families back then. There are few left today, as small farms have been abandoned, sold for development, or gobbled up by industrial-scale farming operations. Small dairy farms can no longer provide for a family's financial needs. Even then it was a real struggle. But, though such families were often well below the poverty level in strictly financial terms, they were usually wealthy in love and family relationships, as these stories show.

One or more members of the family-the wife, a son, or daughter-usually had an outside job that contributed to the family income. And the farm usually provided sustenance-milk, beef, pork, chicken, corn, tomatoes, potatoes, and other produce, while mothers and daughters sewed and knitted to supplement clothing needs.. Most important, farm life developed close-knit, loving families that were strong on self-reliance, responsibility, and respect for hard work. My own wife grew up on such a farm and I have often heard her stories about the joys and difficulties-mostly joys-of growing up that way.

LeAnn R. Ralph's stories tell of the excitement of making ornaments and decorating the Christmas tree in her school room each year (another bygone era) and at home. The annual expedition with her father to select the "just right" tree from the stand of red pine on their farm was one of many experiences that built a strong bond between father and daughter. Then there was the year that she and her older sister climbed a large pine to cut off the very top for their tree because all the other pines had grown so much.

LeAnn learned to make lefse from her mother and tells of the mouth-watering aroma of the freshly made, thin Norwegian bread as she came home from school. "By itself, lefse didn't really taste like much, but once it was spread with butter, sprinkled with sugar and rolled into a log, I would have happily eaten nothing but lefse for breakfast, dinner and supper." It made my mouth water just to read about it and I was happy to find LeAnn's recipe for lefse (and other goodies) at the end of the book.
This is a good book for all ages, from pre-teens through octogenarian. The writing is clear, simple, and direct, easily read by young children, but not so simple as to put off adult readers. Children will connect with

LeAnn's description of a young girl's life on the farm, helping Dad with the chores, helping Mom wrap Christmas presents, yearning for a toboggan, and being surprised by her brother's purchase of a saddle for her pony, Dusty. They'll understand her attempts to get out of wearing boots, heavy coats, and mittens on warm winter days, "just because it might get cold." And some will relate to LeAnn's stark fear of having to stand up in front of all the people at church to sing a solo-memorized in Norwegian-of an old-country Christmas carol. Older folks will feast on the nostalgia, and may get tears in their eyes as they learn how that Norwegian carol affected one old woman in the congregation. People from all generations will enjoy the depiction of a close, loving family as it prepares for and enjoys Christmas in Dairyland.

About the reviewer: Boyd Sutton is president of Northwest Regional Writers and a member of the Yarnspinners critique group. He served for 11 years in the U.S. Army Infantry and Intelligence and wrote professionally as an analyst and manager with CIA for 27 years. He enjoys writing essays, fiction, and humor and has been published in local papers and magazines. Boyd won the Wisconsin Regional Writers' Assoc. Florence Lindemann Humor Contest in 2003. He is working on a spy novel and a nonfiction book addressing how Christian denominational doctrine ("Churchianity") sometimes interferes with Christianity.

This book is delightful! The stories are heartwarming, and ring true. I like how she describes her home life, and there are good authentic recipes in there too. A wonderful, gentle book for anyone you know!

Christmas In Dairyland: True Stories From A Wisconsin Farm by LeAnn R. Ralph is a heartwarming anthology of true anecdotes of rural life on a Wisconsin dairy farm. Even though Wisconsin is still known as America's Dairyland, life on a family homestead is fast being replaced by corporate agribusiness, and the memories treasured in Christmas In Dairyland are quickly becoming unique milestones of an era needing to be preserved in thought and print for the sake of future generations. Christmas In Dairyland is simply wonderful reading and is a "must" for all Wisconsin public library collections.

I'm reading the full Little House series to my 6-year-old, and my 3-year-old felt very left out. This book is perfect for her. It gives some of the sense of Little House, giving an entry to talking about the era and how it differs from now. And she really likes it.
But it doesn't draw you in much -- you don't get any sense of the characters and it misses the beautiful details of the full Little House books.

It's almost magic, the way my daughter is fascinated by these First Little House books ...all of them, all the time. The illustrations are a delight, and prompt her to pointing, and naming the different kinds of animals, as well as "Pa," "Ma," and "Jack" the bulldog. The text is simple, but holds up under repeated readings, and keeps my two-year old captivated. DANCE AT GRANDPA'S, is a nice example of this picture book series, which captures the spirit of Wilder's chapter books in a way that can delight a very young audience. This book, and all we've read from the series, is well worth having on the shelf.

These are great little books (there are several in the series). These are adaptations of the Little House books, formatted as picture books with full color illutrations that are inspired by Garth Williams original Little House artwork. Dance at Grandpa's is an abbreviated excerpt from the Ingalls Wilder novel Little House in the Big Wood. The fun pictures and straitforward text present the incident of a dance and celebration at Grandpa Ingalls' cabin - quite a story as presented in the original novel and adapted well here. The essential elements are presented here with perfectly matched illustrations. One of those books that you hope your kids will choose for you to read at bedtime

I have to admit that my daughter loves these books. But I think they are much less than they could have been. The illustrations are attractive but have no dramatic power and no personality. All the people look the same. The stories reveal no individuality in the characters. Everyone gets along and behaves well, and no desires conflict. I think the idyllic quality is part of what appeals to my daughter, but I think she also enjoys seeing some details of how people lived in a very different time.

My 2-year-old daughter loves this series (My First Little House Books). Dance at Grandpa's was her first and still her favorite. At 2, she is already fascinated by Laura, Mary, Pa, and Ma and their lives...just as I was by reading the Little House series when I was older. Dance at Grandpa's is a wonderful story with beautiful illustrations. I highly recommend it (and the other books) to all parents!

Nancy C. Unger's "Fighting Bob La Follette - The Righteous Reformer" makes a timely and valuable contribution to the biographical record of one of America's greatest Senators and Statesmen. Unger's work easily stands on its own among other great biographies of Senator La Follette, including Belle Case and Fola La Follette's two-volume "Robert M. La Follette" and David Thelen's "The Early Life of Robert M. La Follette 1855 - 1884," among others. A refreshing reminder of what is possible when a politician becomes a Statesman and fights for what is right for all Americans. The book also provides a valid and insightful analysis of the strong influence La Follette's mother, extended family, and wife had on the development of his character, and on the values and motivation which compelled La Follette to an extraordinarily effective and selfless career in public service. America is long overdue for another such beneficent "shaper of democracy," and this book will provide effective food for thought for any true patriot willing to lay down his life for the good of his country. An important book, inspiring, and enjoyable.

I found Dr. Unger's book on Bob LaFollette to be insightful and thorough. In a provocative way, the author challenges some of the common beliefs about LaFollette, and creates a new awareness of his contributions to political history.

As a public library director with a special interest in the Progressive era, I found Fighting Bob LaFollette by Unger exactly what I seek in history writing. It has the strengths of all solid history in its sources but the author draws on other fields, in particular medicine, to broaden our understanding.

More than a century ago, LaFollette said "We are one people" and recognized the importance of minority groups shaping their own future. Before the mass media and big money took over political campaigns, Progressive reformers focused on the needs of average people. In three-hour speeches, LaFollette fought for what was needed and was the right thing for the nation to do. The author's direct and clear prose brings the reformer and the times to life. We can learn much from the book for our time.

Nancy Unger has written an outstanding and insightful biography of one of turn-of-the-century America's most influential political figures. Indeed, it is the first full-scale biography of Robert M. La Follette of Wisconsin. For anyone seeking to understand the Progressive Era this book is a must read, for Unger's subject was at the center of the defining reform struggles of the age - from women's rights and corporate regulation, to labor and political reform. Drawing upon a vast collection of private papers and primary sources, Unger brings to life not only the public persona of "Fighting Bob" but also the private La Follette that few people know about. We learn, for example, how his early life struggles shaped his personality (for good and for ill), as well as how much he relied upon his wife, suffragist and reformer Belle Case La Follette, for advice and strength. Written in a lively yet balanced style, this book greatly adds to our knowledge of a complex and fascinating man and era.

This is an excellent biography of a most worthy subject. Nancy Unger provides readers with a vivid and often entertaining account of one of the most important American political figures of the early twentieth century. Crucial to Unger's effectiveness is her dedication to balanced histocial writing. Her portrayal of La Follette is multifacted. It is political and personal. La Follette comes to life for the reader, not only enroute to his many political successes but also amid his failures and personal shortcomings. Unger's lauditory praise of her subject is deserving and her sharp criticisms are valid and substantiated. La Follette was an influential and flawed champion of democacy and social equity, and interested readers will thoroughly enjoy this insightful retelling of his life story.

Hank Berlin has come back to Pinery Falls, Wisconsin from Canada, where he went to escape Viet Nam. He's a P.I. now, one among several in this town. So he's a little shaken when his old high school flame, Liz Drucker, asks him to find out who killed her husband Jack, and why.

The trio were very close in high school, but parted ways in college, when Jack was gung-ho to go to Viet Nam and Hank chose not to. Liz had already made her choice by then, but used Hank as a sounding board when her life got rough. Hank hasn't spoken to Liz or to Jack in probably twenty years, but he has lots of memories.

Jack Drucker was killed on the side of the road, in his hot little Corvette. The neighbors either weren't home or didn't see anything. So Hank shifts his focus to Jack's career; Jack was the investigative reporter for the Pinery Falls Torrent, which is owned by his father, Wes Drucker.

Jack's recent stories have dealt with a variety of topics. There is the city council's voting division on some new development; corruption is hinted at but not directly addressed. There is the story on the son of a downstate Mob connection, and his relocation to the area. Why has Wes Drucker gagged the staff at the Torrent; the coverage of the case is minimal at best.

Kronenwetter is a skilled wordsmith. He manages to convey the interconnectedness of small-town life without getting cutesy. He lets the reader see Hank's qualms and trepidations without making Hank a lesser person. He bounces from the present to the past and back again without jolting the reader, as easily as we can slip in and out of our memories. His portrayal of Hank's personal life, and how that interacts with his professional life, underscores how real a person Hank becomes to the reader.

I found FIRST KILL to be a highly enjoyable book, both in the quality of the writing and in the story itself. I think we can expect to see good things from Kronenwetter in the future, and I look forward to that very much. I have only one beef with FIRST KILL, and I hope that this isn't a major spoiler. If you've read TONIGHT I SAID GOODBYE, the last chapters of FIRST KILL will seem familiar. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing, just something that struck me as I was reading. Don't let it stop you from reading FIRST KILL. It will be time well spent.

Private detective Hank Berlin is trying to be a good father when his high-school girlfriend approaches him. Her husband Jack, once Hank's best friend, has been murdered and the police are getting nowhere. Can he take the case?

Hank is conflicted. He still feels desire for Liz, and avoided both her and star reporter Jack ever since returning from Canada where he sought refuge during Viet Nam (Jack went). But he's gotten on with his life, has a girlfriend and a child. Still, he's drawn to the case.

His investigation begins with a look at a major construction project. Where there's construction and city funds, there is the possibility of corruption and one of Jack's recent articles pointed the finger at this project. Then there's the son of a Mafia kingpin living in the neighborhood--a man about whom Jack had recently written an article. Whatever might have motivated the killer, Jack had told his drinking buddy that he was working on a story that would bring down the town's elite--and that certainly provides a motive.

Author Michael Kronenwetter has created a compelling and powerful mystery in FIRST KILL. Private eye Hank comes alive as a father, detective, ex-draft dodger, and drinker. His investigation turns up the usual lot of red herrings, with a sweet twist at the end, but Kronenwetter's story is more about the people, about relationships, about growth and change than it is about a straight murder.

I am happy to recommend FIRST KILL and will certainly be looking for more novels by Kronenwetter.

This is the novel that won the 2004 PWA/SMP Best Private Eye Novel contest. I'm not surprised it won.

Michael Kronenwetter has done a great job on this book. The plot is briskly paced, and there are enough twists in the story to keep the reader on edge. I really liked the protagonist in the book -- he's not a macho superhuman type, but he's not a dysfunctional wimp either. He's just a normal, realistic human being. This makes him, in my book, the most likable PI I've seen in a long time. I hope for more books featuring this character.

This book, for whatever reason, has largely been ignored by the mainstream press. I think it's easily one of the best mystery debuts in 2005 and I hope that it's nominated for an Edgar and a Shamus award for best first novel. It's that good.

Michael Kronenwetter's first novel left me hoping for a second novel. And I really don't read much fiction. I just read it in about 4 sittings over the holidays. It moves fast and actually got me to turn off my TV.

Hank Berlin is a terrific "unlikely hero" character with which we can all identify. He is the ordinary man confronting extraordinary circumstances, but in a believable way. He's a gutsy, hard-working detective, but also more than that. He's struggling to be a good father, struggling to make sense of a failed marriage, and really looking forward to his next beer.

I'm from northcentral Wisconsin, and I can also add that Kronenwetter's depiction of the fictional "Pinery Falls" is dead-on authentic without ever descending into caricature. "First Kill" is not set in a desolate countryside or a metropolis, but in a typical American small city struggling to save its old downtown. It's the type of setting that's perfect for Berlin--he can find anyone in town within a few minutes, but can also go unnoticed thanks to his ordinary looks and his unremarkable Nissan Sentra.

The novel's Vietnam subtext makes it especially thought-provoking. Kronenwetter doesn't engage in a political discussion about Vietnam. Instead, he explores how the Vietnam era forever changed those who lived through it. Whether you experienced those years or not, "First Kill" will illuminate for you the many ways in which Vietnam still affects American communities.

Can't wait for the next installment!

Hank isn't your stereotypical PI; he's a normal guy trying to do his best with his business, son and life. Even Harry, Hank's six-year-old son seemed realistic. The plot was interesting, took some great twists. I did not see the end coming and was reminded a bit of Lehane. The events and impact of Vietnam was effective yet didn't overwhelm the story. This is a very enjoyable debut and I look forward to Kronenwetter's next book.

I'm familiar with this book and know the author. Plus I've done some of the hikes in this book. It's well done and I think you'll really enjoy the results of the author's extensive research about the entire state. He's found the hikes that will bring you to quiet, scenic spots. In some places he has put together parts of adjoining trails to give you the best of what a place has to offer. Many of his hikes are not well known or are in areas like the Sand Counties where you might not have thought to go hiking.

I heard Eric Hansen speak recently and was impressed by his enthusiasm for what Wisconsin has to offer and for connecting with nature through hiking. His hike descriptions give you a good feeling for why you'd want to hike in each place plus the directions and a trail map. I especially like the extensive "hike finder" in the front of the book where he lets you know which hikes are best for things like waterfalls, quiet lakes, views etc.

The fifty percent of Wisconsin residents who like to hike, most of the eighty percent who like to walk, and visitors to the state will find value in this book. Several premier Ice Age and North Country Trail segments are highlighted. The introductory chapter offers insights for foot travelers to improve this popular and healthy activity. The size of the book is handy. The "For more information" listing on every hike review can be especially useful.

Wisconsin borders two of the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River. It is home to hardwood and evergreen forests, a superb system of lakes and streams, and a wealth of municipal, county, state, and national parks. In Hiking Wisconsin, Eric Hansen (who hiked over 800 miles of Wisconsin trails while working on this guide) showcases the best outdoor hiking trails available to the general public. Each hiking trail entry features hike descriptions, difficulty ratings, and trail lengths. Hiking Wisconsin is enhanced with "user friendly" maps, clear directions, information on camping, seasonal access, and trail restrictions. Hiking Wisconsin is the perfect "take along" guidebook whether you plan to be gone for an afternoon or a weekend or a week. If you are anticipating an outdoor excursion somewhere in the Badger State, then begin your planning by securing and browsing through a copy of Eric Hansen's Hiking Wisconsin!

Eric Hansen's guidebook provides the reader with hikes that take you away from traditional trails and allows the hiker solitude and ability to experience nature in some of its purest forms. I have personally travelled on some of the trails listed. His directions are clear. The book provides Eric's insight into various experiences along the routes. Erics's keen awareness of the environment and trail savvy makes this book a must for any serious trails enthusiast interested in the midwest outdoors.

I have just read this book and I think I could place it among the ones I liked the most (together with Gerald Durrell's ones): what I prefered was the poetic that filled the whole book , in the descriptions of landscapes, and people, that poetic you can't find in modern writers.

A window into a time and place where men culture and tools were formed by a harsh natural selection process. The wide open range wild herds of cattle and horses a few men isolated from civilization. Henry Hudson was there, his first impressions are from the viewpoint of an educated Englishman examining barbarians. He then gets immersed in the environment and sees the deeper human experience and the effects of total freedom and self reliance on the character of men

If you are a fan of turn-of-the-century literature as I am, you will find this narrative a good read. I had never heard nor read anything about this Hudson fellow until I recently began to read "The Sun Also Rises", which, as you may know, is Ernest Hemingway's first novel. Hemingway nonchalantly mentions Hudson and the travels of Lamb briefly in his story. I was intrigued as I gathered Hemingway himself had read the book and apparently liked it well enough to mention. Or perhaps I am mistaken. Regardless, this book is really as series of tales of adventures in the jungles of South America. You meet the natives, the food, the lifestyle and the beautiful girls (as you might expect; latino woman are notably lovely, in my experience). It should be noted, however, that the author, being a product of his times no doubt, is not particularly sensitive to political correctness.

"Dangerous if read too late in life", Hemmingway.

This is an excellent book if you can find it.

This book was discussed on either Public Radio or Oprah had the author on to discuss this book--I can't remember. I read this book all in one day. It is a collection of stories that aren't very long but the characters have depth which allows the reader to feel like you have read a short book after each story. I shared this book with my Mom and my really good friend and they agree; it is a very good book.

I have read all of Ansay, and like her work alot. I never just read her work, I feel it. This collection shows that short stories are her strength. My favorites were the title story, Lies, and Spot Weaknesses. No one who's been a girl or had a daughter should miss Spot Weaknesses. It captures perfectly the pain of adolescence and the mother/daughter dance. Evolution is wonderful, too. Ansay has a way of crystalizing details and exposing emotional truths that we all intuit but rarely articulate. She manages to consistently get things "right", including the snapshots of animals which inhabit virtually all of her stories. I got this book from the library, but plan to buy it to reread and share.

I enjoyed reading this book of short stories so much that I bought a copy for my mom. She enjoyed it too. It's definitely not an uplifting collection, but the pieces feel honest and real.

I have read all of Ansay, and like her work alot. I never just read her work, I feel it. This collection shows that short stories are her strength. My favorites were the title story, Lies, and Spot Weaknesses. No one who's been a girl or had a daughter should miss Spot Weaknesses. It captures perfectly the pain of adolescence and the mother/daughter dance. Evolution is wonderful, too. Ansay has a way of crystalizing details and exposing emotional truths that we all intuit but rarely articulate. She manages to consistently get things "right", including the snapshots of animals which inhabit virtually all of her stories. I got this book from the library, but plan to buy it to reread and share.

OK, I have now read pretty much everything written by A. Manette Ansay! I am hooked on her books! I have loved every single one of them, and this one is no exception. She has such a wonderful way of describing regular, down-to-earth people! I liked all the stories in this book. Sure, they may be sad or depressing, but they're written in such a wonderful way!