Minnesota Books

What a pleasure to discover a "new" writer who truly belongs in the company of women writers such as Anita Shreve and others. Both Summit Avenue and The Real Minerva are haunting novels, calling out to and transfixing the reader with images and emotions so real that we are all with the main characters as they discover and experience blood, betrayal, strength, and sisterhood. We are all able to find the selkie within us, identifying with the shape-shifting of Cora, Penny, and Barbara, as they confront the circumstances that force their transformation for survival and safety, yet protect their inner strength and loyalty, not only to themselves but to other women in their lives.

This writing beckons to the reader to forge ahead, to follow the path of most resistance, and yet to hope there is no ending, only so that the story will go on. However, knowing it has to end, I am left waiting in anticipation for the next book, the next shape-shifter who goes beyond the limits of conventionality, who will shake us from our traditional viewpoints, expectations, and limitations. Here's to stretching, not remaining earthbound, for in truth "sometimes the Gods disguise themselves as mortals and walk among us, at least for a time, before they disappear."

Mary Sharratt is the up and coming queen of early twentieth century mid-western American fiction. She weaves together a rich tapestry of painstakingly researched facts, mythology, folklore and feminism. While her first book explored the intricacies of lesbian relationships in the early 20th century, this one concerns friendship and the often times rocky relationship between mother and daughter. It is about a girl coming of age and accepting her mother's sexuality. A woman making it on her own after surviving abuse. Unresolved resentment. Lust. Incest. Violence. Murder. Infanticide. Colorful characters thrust into vivid by-gone era scenery. All the good things that make for an absolutely enthralling novel, and yet, it is also more than that. For those who are willing to look, it also contains insights and observations into the human condition. Excellent and highly recommended!

The Real Minerva is just that--a real book. Not pretentious, not attempting to ride the trends, not obsessed with overblown language solely for the glory of its author. Not an unreadable creation for people who want to impress their peers by waving around a copy of the latest, hot-for-no-good-reason literary novel.

It is, instead, a story as unforgettable as any fairy tale we heard as children, peopled with characters who not only come immediately to life--they come to live with you. It is a lovely, satisfying story which reminds us that suspense--wanting to know what happens next and being unable to put down the book--doesn't depend upon noisy, gimics.

Mary Sharratt's voice is uniquely her own, yet her work resonates with the marvelously old-fashioned quality of good storytelling. There is not a wasted word here, and you'll find yourself rereading passages, not because you didn't understand, but because the language is so lovely, in such an understated way--like a perfect little black dress.

Don't miss this one!

Having read Mary Sharratt's first book, Summit Avenue, I expected strong female characters--what amazed me was how different, how individual the heroines of The Real Minerva were. How unique this second novel is--it shows new aspects of life as a woman in the beginning of the 20th century, the hardships they face, the decisions they make. Cora, Penelope and Barbara are brave, complex characters, surrounded by a cast of well drawn secondary characters; Irene, Mr Hamilton, the town gossips, Dr Lovell, all are real, breathing people.

The Real Minerva has a rich, compelling plot that keeps you reading. Sharratt has managed to write suspense on every page, with careful word choice and precise use of metaphor. She depicts so many fascinating characters, scenes and events without using one word more than necessary, something few authors manage to do. And she has fun with subtle literary allusions and entertaining coincidences.

Overall an excellent book, heartbreaking and uplifting at the same time, and great fun to read. I can't wait for Sharratt's next novel.

"She's your angel. She saved us both." These are the words we read in the prologue of Mary Sharratt's captivating second novel, The Real Minerva. The woman who speaks shows her daughter, the prologue's narrator, a photograph of the angel, "...taken before she vanished from Minerva and embarked on her long journey." From that moment, we understand that in this story someone will be saved, but something - or someone - will be lost.

The novel centers around the lives of three women - fifteen year-old Penny, her beautiful but emotionally hardened mother Barbara, and Cora, a wealthy socialite who has fled her abusive husband - living in Minnesota in 1923. These characters spring to life on the very first pages and from there grow in depth and complexity. Cora is pregnant, a secret she hopes her brutal husband will never learn. She plans to raise her child alone on her grandfather's farm. Penny's relationship with her mother is troubled in ways far beyond those of a normal young teen and her parent. Barbara is having an affair with the married man they clean house for, and Penny's disgust and disillusionment push her into a terrible quarrel with her mother. Penny runs away to Cora's farm in answer to an ad Cora has placed for a hired girl, and in this encounter we glimpse how deeply their fates are intertwined.

Sharratt masterfully shows us how the world sees these three women, how they see each other, how they see themselves. She depicts what we think we already know - that people judge us, that they see us through the lens of their own need to conform. But then she deftly pulls us into the shoes of both judge and judged

There is nothing extraneous here. Even the secondary characters exemplify change and loss and possibility. The story cannot move forward without them. Irene, the bitter daughter of Barbara's employer, along with Cora's husband Adam remind us the dark side of passion is rage. Cora's interaction with the migrant workers who come to help with the harvest shows us the woman she was meant to be. We wonder if this woman is lost forever, and the author means us to. Cora is at once driven and crippled by her fear and hatred of her estranged husband. She wants to save herself, but in the end she cannot. She is too broken. But more importantly, she is us. And through these characters we learn once again that we can run from our lives, but not from ourselves. We must face who we are and chose who we will become.

This story leaves its mark, a mark that honors those who are saved, those who save them, and the price each must pay. For in the end, there is always a price. The Real Minerva does not let us forget that.

The book is interesting reading eventhough the narrator sounds a bit self-righteous to me. Too much of "I always knew best" for my taste. This is only referencing the personal remarks in the book; the description of the grinding poverty in the big cities and what the Depression years did to the people is really well written. All in all, I'd wish that especially young people read this book.

"A Choice of Weapons" is one of my favorite books. The compelling autobiographical story captures for us the experience of one of America's greatest treasures, Gordon Parks. His path from poverty and isolation to riches and notoriety is much more than just a story, it's an accounting of his life as an African American with rural roots in an America that was not welcoming nor supportive-- despite his amazing talent. He overcame that to become one of the world's best-known photographers, filmmakers, poets, and musicians. A fine person, strong with his mother's teaching, he brought his spirit to the world.

Mr. Parks was recently buried in his hometown (Fort Scott, KS), not long after coming home to a wonderful celebration of his life and work-- a celebration that is an annual affair as part of the Gordon Parks Center for Culture and Diversity that has been founded there. I met him during the first celebration in 2004, going into the old Liberty Theatre to view a retrospective of his films. He was charming and personable, and his eyes sparkled with happiness; the peace of forgiveness and homecoming emanated from him. He had struggled and triumphed, and the prairie wind was still fresh within him.

I encourage everyone to read this book and to explore the huge body of Gordon's work. You will be moved. You will be spurred to find the best of yourself...

I write this after hearing the news of his passing. This book gave hope to another youth who had lost his parents and was looking for a reason to become a man. The effect this book had on me cannot be overestimated. It was to set me on the path to becoming a photographer, and to pursue writing among other things. It was required reading for me when I was in High School, and the only book I read all the way through.

I absolutely love this book.
I am an avid reader but reserve my recommendations for very few books and authors. I hold dear a carefully chosen list of books that receive unjustly low profiles and recommend them to always-thankful friends. This book, by Gordon Parks, (as well as Manchild in the Promised Land, by Claude Brown) rank high on my list. Gordon Parks is an amazingly gifted human being.

.... In my opinion,its imagery and descriptive scenarios will have you imagining as if it were you in the midst of the Great Migration. Concluding that "youth as it should be at seventeen was not for me, and that full manhood must come quickly if I was going to make it", Parks describes the journey in which he endures in order to make it through various seasons in the year. In trying to conquer the obstacles that each season brings, Parks learns to rely on his "choice of weapons" which allow him to see different walks of life. If you do choose to read Parks' autobiography, please don't forget to reflect upon what choice of weapons you have chosen in coping with life.

This book has wonderful, colorful pictures that captivate my nephew. The story is fun to read and entertaining for him. The characters spark a lot of questions from the little guy which makes it a great book to read to him. He's only 2 and loves reading it daily. My older 6 year old cousin likes reading it himself and it's one of his favorites too. We'd really like to see more stories from the characters at Junkyard Junction.

We thought this book was very good, we all enjoyed reading this and have read it several times since receiving it.
The pictures are very interesting and the characters are so cute. This would be a very helpful book for any child moving to a new home and needing to make new friends. It helps kids learn how to help each other out when you really need it. Really enjoyed it! Wonderfully done!
When is the next book?

This is truly a wonderful book, with a great story and beautiful pictures. I know that my great nieces and nephews will enjoy this (as I will) for many years to come.

This book is such an amazing example of pure creativity that any child would be delighted to read it. Because of the imaginative quality of the entire book I am left to believe that the authors have a deep understanding of the imaginary nature or essence of childhood. This book won't disappoint you.

This is a wonderful book with great illustrations. It is the perfect Christmas gift for any child. This story about a little bug named Squirt finding a new home in the country and making new friends is great for all ages. I hope there will be more stories to come.

What Northrup has to say is as interesting as the way he says it. I really loved his style of writing: chatty, wry, ironic, funny, serious--often at the same time.

I am so happy that he won the 1999 native american journalism award for his editorials, which appear in indian country today , news from inidan country and the circle. this book is wonderful and very funny! the poem he writes about John Wayne visitng Vietnam is a masterpiece and shows " the Duke" for what he really is a wimp and a wuz! get this book it's truly a gem!

This book is brutal without being harsh, funny without being lightweight. In a society where everyone (and I do mean everyone) is made to feel guilty for everone else's suffering, this is a breath of fresh air. The problems Northrup faces every day are aired alongside with the joys. For every pain, he offers a happiness.

And he never says you can't understand. He just offers another way to see his life.

Don't buy Ian Frazier's book if you want any kind of accurate picture of today's Indians. Buy this one instead - this is the book to get if you want to begin to understand the complexities of being an Indian. The author speaks to both the initiated and the ignorant. It's both a moving and a fun read.

I picked this book up at random while browsing the "Native American studies" shelf at my local book megastore, and I was quickly drawn in, reading it cover-to-cover in a day. Jim Northrop is an Anishinaabe who lives on the Fond du Lac Reservation in Northern Minnesota, and in this book he writes about reservation life, about Native American political issues, and about his own travels and experiences. One of the great strengths of this book is his honesty as a memoirist. While sticking largely to a humorous matter-of-fact tone, he does not shy away from his grief at his son's suicide attempt or his difficulties returning from war in Vietnam. Another strength is the conversational quality of the writing itself. At first it bugged me, short sentences put together into these meandering run-on paragraphs, but after some reading I began to think more of Italian vocal technique, where the tone continues, rising and falling, with words just dotted on the surface. Eventually it felt like I was just hanging out with the guy, listening to his interesting stories. There are times when the writing falls down, for example during an extended series of sports metaphors during a dicussion of racism, or in the rather forced series of kangaroo references when describing a tribal "kangaroo court". But despite these problems I found the writing compelling and accessible. I'm not qualified to analyze the political arguments he sometimes makes, but his perspective on treaty rights, sports mascots, and gambling will certainly stay with me, informing and broadening my thinking when I next encounter these issues in daily life.

Oh wow, am I happy to have read this book.
Do you remember the movie "The Duel," with Dennis Weaver? Terrifying!
"French Creek" had, for me, the same level of intensity. Read this and
you'll never drive by another junkyard in your life without thinking of
this book (and driving quickly past the junkyard). Through all the
terror, however, there is a lovely, well-written story about a man, his
hopes and his dreams. The characters are so well drawn that they'll
live in your mind for a long time. Even the characters you wish would
go away quickly and leave you alone because they are SO evil. Excellent book!

The lesson to be gleaned from Peter Rennebohm's "French Creek" is this: In life, bad things really do happen to good people, more often than we'd like to believe, and I guess the best we can hope for is that we, ourselves, are never selected by the vagaries of life to be one of them. John R. Rule is "good people" and when he ventures out one wintry February day from his Minneapolis office deep into the Minnesota hinterlands, searching for a remote auto salvage yard to find a part for an old truck he's restoring, he soon meets some very bad people doing some very bad things. In tone, mood, and geography this novel reminded me of the movie "Fargo"; which in my opinion is one of the ten best American films ever made. Although the two stories are really nothing alike, the landscape in "French Creek" couldn't be bleaker, the bad guys couldn't be worse, and John Rule's predicament couldn't be more desperate. Besides being an author of crime fiction myself, I am also a full time police officer, and let me tell you, Rennebohm has absolutely nailed his worst evil doer in the book, Ray Steckel, from the shop grease embedded beneath his fingernails, to his foul onion and nicotine breath and his stained, yellow teeth. Rennebohm keeps the story moving at a brisk pace and even though "French Creek" isn't so much a "whodunnit" from a pure mystery standpoint, it is a great suspense novel that positively will not disappoint readers of this genre. This one is definitely in the "two thumbs up" category, and I highly recommend it.

Little Blue Whales: a novel

The main character John Rule goes to a junk yard to buy the truck part he needs. He realizes he should not have gone to such lengths to find the part, as he goes to leave the owners of the junk yard have much different plans for John.

The story takes John through many threatening scenes. John looks at his hopes, his dreams, his failures and his successes and is determined not to give into his feelings of hopelessness.You will experience John's terror as he adventures through everything that is being thrown his way.
French Creek is an excellent novel; I could not put it down. Wonderful character development, unexpected story lines, terror, thrills and suspense are incorporated into the story. The novel jumps off the pages, you can visualize the characters and the action taking place as you read.

Sometimes the simplest step can put a person in big trouble.

Peter Rennebohm uses that premise to build a novel that stokes up tension at a consistent rate and won't let you put French Creek down until the last page.

John L. Rule goes looking for a part for a pickup truck he's restoring. His search takes him to a salvage yard in a desolate rural area of Minnesota where he confronts danger that puts him in a struggle for his life.

Time after time, Rule escapes one threat only to face another. And, each is a logical, realistic possibility of what could happen to a person in such circumstance. The plot is deftly orchestrated and keeps one turning the pages, seeking just a little more of the same.

Intertwined with this central theme, Rennebohm gives us insight into Rule's character and his relationship with his wife and children and the father-in-law who, while not entirely trusting the man, goes to great lengths to rescue him.

The story is an adrenalin rush that will have you begging for more.

The beautiful serene winter scene on the cover of French Creek belies the terror that awaits the reader inside. John L. Rule, Minneapolis salesman, understands the benefit of combining business with pleasure. He books client appointments near the Minnesota-South Dakota state line so he can finish the business day locating a steering wheel for his old pick-up truck. He was told French Creek is the place to go to get exactly what he needs.

He wasn't told it was also the place to go for the fight of his life. Although he thought the rude junkyard owner was a bit odd, Rule had no idea the owner had plans to make sure Rule and his Ford Explorer never left the junkyard.

Rennebohm knows how to keep a reader turning pages. I could see the characters, see the scenes, and hear the different voices he created. He's also good at weaving the various scenes within a chapter so I never had to wonder too long about what was happening in another part of the story.

Armchair Interviews says: If you want a page turner, this is it.

Keillor is probably best known in the Midwest where his tales of the imaginary town of Lake Wobegon are heard on many radio stations in that region. This book is set in a variety of real Minnesota towns and depicts life in the rural Midwest. Those from these stomping grounds will easily relate to the short stories contained in this book. But even if you dwell in a California metropolis you will still find a warmth, perhaps uncommon, yet very appreciated. Take, for example, the following exerpt quoted from The Notebooks of Carl Krebsbach:
"It was the annual January thaw, nature's way of arousing false hopes and tempting the good people of Lake Wobegon to let lown their guard and not wear a scarf so that nature can kill them. A form of natural selection to reduce the optimist population and promote the survival of embittered stoics who believe that fate is against them. Which it is.
The thaw means that snow on the roof melts and freezes on the overhang of the eaves, forming a dam to back up the water so it can get under the shingles and freeze and gradually rip our house apart, which is nature's goal, to obliterate us. Nature is not benevolent towards us, it wants us out of here. It's good to know this. In summer, you can almost believe otherwise.
Luckily, summer is soon over. As it turns cold, our mood improves. we're excited. Cold is a stimulant. So is danger. It's good to have nature to deal with. That's why self-pity declines in the fall. People don't sit around and anguish over what to do with their lives. Instinct tells you. You're a mammal. Stay warm. Stay close to the food supply. Shovel the roof. Make babies. Make a few extra in case the wolves get one. And then on a cold night in January, you walk out in the moon light and agsinst all reason, beyodn all expectation, you're utterly happy."

In addition to Keillor's down-to-earth story telling this book contains wonderful photography by Richard Olsenius. I actually bought this book because I am a fan of photojounalistic photograghy. Great writing and great photography, a bookshelf is incomplete without this volume.

I was what you would call a "Noobie" to all of Garrison's work until recently. I picked up this book at a college library after speaking to my mother about the Minnesota author project I was recently assigned. She was familiar with his work and suggested that I look into it....so I did. I never thought that this would open up such big can of worms, and I mean this in a good sense. After reading the book from cover to cover, I went on the internet to find out more about Garrison's work and turned up some very interesting search results. I then read it again and now I guess you could say that I'm hooked on the Lake Wobegon saga and I am planning on picking up a couple of his earlier writings related to Lake Wobegon.
I really enjoyed reading this book and I would recommend this book to anyone who has vast, little, or no knowledge of Lake Wobegon.

I was what you would call a "Noobie" to all of Garrison's work until recently. I picked up this book at a college library after speaking to my mother about the Minnesota author project I was recently assigned. She was familiar with his work and suggested that I look into it....so I did. I never thought that this would open up such big can of worms, and I mean this in a good sense. After reading the book from cover to cover, I went on the internet to find out more about Garrison's work and turned up some very interesting search results. I then read it again and now I guess you could say that I'm hooked on the Lake Wobegon saga and I am planning on picking up a couple of his earlier writings related to Lake Wobegon.
I really enjoyed reading this book and I would recommend this book to anyone who has vast, little, or no knowledge of Lake Wobegon.

Fans of Keillor's "A Prairie Home Companion" are already an imaginative sort. We know what Arlene Bunsen looks like, or Pastor Inquist. We've got a good idea how Roger Hedlund has been rotating his crops, and the main goings on on Main Street. We don't need pictures of this area because we already know it by heart--we've seen it on the radio. This book does exactly what it should...it doesn't dispel our images of Lake Wobegon, but gives us pictures of its neighbors and people living their lives in rural Minnesota. All the images are sepia toned. With a few exceptions, the subjects are unposed and candid, getting ready for the prom, or readying the field for corn.

The composition of the shots are superb. The short prologue gives a first person retelling of how Keillor invented the town that "time forgot and the decades cannot improve." That introduction, however, is so short that it's almost unfair to say that this is a Garrison Keillor book. He essentially wrote the foreword (although it's not titled that way), and the pictures tell the real story.

My only disappointment is that there isn't any color. Certainly sepia tones give us nostalgia the way we'd like to remember it, but sunset on a farm is something you can't appreciate in shades of brown. Rural life has its monochromatic moments, to be sure, but there's enough color and life to help us remember that not everything is nostalgia.

This gripe doesn't detract from the beauty of this book, though. Thankfully we never see Lake Wobegon, only hints and shadows. It allows us to preserve our preconceptions, but gives us a deeper feeling of connection with the area. If you're a fan of APHC, you probably already own this book (or you should). If not, take a look at a lifestyle that might be foreign to you.

From the Central Minnesota prairie, in beautiful black and white pictures and picturesque prose, here is the Genesis of Garrison Keilor's magical mythical Lake Wobegon, site of "A Prairie Home Companion." Here we get to *see* the strong women, good-looking men, and above average children of and for whom he speaks on Saturday nights. Accompanying Richard Olsenius' stunning photography (how can the viewer not be deeply moved by the picture of the veterans at the St. Wendell cemetery on Memorial Day?) are excerpts from the Radio Show, interviews with inhabitants, and essays and musings from Keilor - like this:

"Culture isn't decor, it's what you know before you're twelve. It sticks with you all your born days. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree. You can try to wrestle free of it, like those geese who trail the V-formation, trying to look as if they aren't part of this bunch, as if flying south were a personal decision on their part, but your feint towards independence only makes it clearer who you really are. Some people like hot dish better if it's called cassoulet, or pot roast if it's pot-au-feu. Fine. Suit yourself. Same difference."

Whatever you call those culinary delights, you'll like this book. Come see Father Kleinschmidt's Annual Blessing of the Snowmobiles. Ja, you betcha! Reviewed by TundraVision.

In the genre of police procedurals many writers have attached themselves to one detective whose career provides the basis for a continuing series of novels. Michael Connelly's Harry Bosch, Ed McBain's Steve Carella, Stuart Kaminsky's Abe Lieberman, and Robert Parker's Spenser are current examples of detectives who never seem to age and whose careers are limited only by the imagination of their creators. These detectives share many traits. They are admired and respected iconoclasts, driven by a sense of justice that is coupled with integrity. Quite simply, they are characters that have earned the respect and admiration of their readers. Their authors have created protagonists that we care about.

Minneapolis police detective Marshall "Mars" Bahr has the potential to join the detectives previously mentioned. He makes his third appearance in KJ Erickson's THE LAST WITNESS, a mystery that demonstrates that Bahr has the potential for a long-running career and many future appearances in Erickson's novels. Mars Bahr is on the final days of his assignment as a Minneapolis homicide detective. He will soon be transferred into a new division assigned to solve "cold" murder cases. But before the transfer, Mars is left with one final case, the type of case that both fictional and actual detectives dream about --- the big celebrity homicide.

Bahr is a rugged individualist detective with admirable and unique qualities. Recently divorced, he is devoted to his eleven-year-old son Chris. Unlike most non-custodial parents, but like most rugged individualist detectives, Mars willingly pays large amounts of child support and provides for all of Chris' extracurricular needs. The relationship between Mars and his son faces several tests during the course of THE LAST WITNESS. How Mars confronts these challenges establishes him as an outstanding father in addition to being an accomplished detective.

Tayron "T-Jack" Jackman is the star point guard of the Minnesota Timberwolves. He is also the prime suspect in the murder of his wife. THE LAST WITNESS is not really a mystery in the sense of determining who killed Terri DuCain Jackman; Bahr has no doubt that T-Jack is the killer. The mystery is how he was able to murder his wife when he appears to have a rock solid alibi, one that is even supported by his wife's parents. At the time of Terri's death, T-Jack was with his wife's parents and her attorney hashing out the final details of a divorce settlement. It was to be a lucrative settlement, large enough to eliminate a motive for murder.

Working against a time limit created by his transfer, Mars is relentless in pursuing each lead. Along with his partner, Nettie Frisch, it is obvious that Mars will not stop until justice is done for Terri Jackman and her family. Each twist in the investigation and each new discovery keep the pages of this intricate mystery turning at a rapid rate. Erickson keeps the reader guessing, but in Mars Bahr's new assignment is with a newly created state agency that will investigate old, unsolved homicides. It is the perfect job for a detective of his inimitable talents. It is equally ideal for a writer of KJ Erickson's ability. We can look forward to many more Mars Bahr investigations.

--- Reviewed by Stuart Shiffman

K.J. Erickson's books just keep getting better and better. I absolutely couldn't put this one down! The plot and characters grab you from the very first page.

In this third novel in the Marshall "Mars" Bahr series, author K.J. Erickson has delivered a terrific plot, engaging characters, and a nail-biter finish that comes out of left field. Mars is in his final days as the lead detective assigned to a special unit created by the previous police chief. Because of a regime change in the department, Mars and his intelligent assistant Nettie are happy to be moving to the Cold Case Unit at the State's Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. But one last murder intervenes.

The wife of flashy basketball star, Tayron "T-Jack" Jackman has been viciously murdered in her home. Mars intuitively knows that Jackman must be responsible for Terri DuCain Jackman's death. He very quickly learns that T-Jack was obsessively controlling and brutal toward his wife, beating her regularly. Unfortunately, at the time of the murder, the cocky ball player was with Terri's wealthy parents wrapping up a one hundred million dollar deal in which he would divorce Terri and walk away. Not only does he get the hundred mil, but upon his wife's death, he also gets the five-year-old daughter whom he doesn't ever plan to let Terri's stricken parents see.

Everyone involved in the investigation believes Jackman arranged to kill his wife, but proving it is another matter. It doesn't help that the new chief of police is a nincompoop or that Mars is soon struggling with departmental politics of the worse kind. Dead bodies start surfacing, and simultaneously, issues with Mars' ex-wife and son, Chris, crop up and cause a very harried Mars to sweat the impending deadline to close the case.

With Erickson's dynamite cast of characters and an engrossing plot that won't quit, this book is a real page-turner. Erickson has herself a wonderful new franchise that could go on a long time in much the same way that John Sandford's Lucas Davenport series has. I can't wait to read the fourth book in the series, ALONE AT NIGHT. ~Lori L. Lake, author of lesbian fiction and freelance reviewer for Midwest Book Review, Golden Crown Literary Society's "The Crown," The Independent Gay Writer, and Just About Write.com.

This is author Erickson's best effort, and it is a very
rewarding book to read.
Her earlier efforts were good, but in this story, she really
expands her characters, and she establishs depths that are first-rate.
The story is that the wife of a very nasty, abusive, egocentric
pro athlete is killed at home, just as her family and husband,
with lawyers, are finalizing their divorce settlement. Everyone, from her family, to the public, onto the police, believe the athlete-husband was responsible for her horrible
death, but he seems to have an iron-clad alibi, and the police
even reach dead-ends (in more ways than one) when trying to work
out how the guy would have arranged the murder by other persons.
The story is compelling, with much tension and mystery, as it
moves forward, and the police, especially Mars and his partner,
are straining to solve the killing within a tight time frame.
Mars and his partner are moving from the city PD to another
agency within days, and the new police chief is fumbling around,
interfering with their investigation because of his own personal
agenda, and his old friend, the Mayor, is willing to stand by
and let the investigtion falter so she can make her own political game work. The reader can feel the frustration of these capable police investigators as they keep following leads
that aren't solving the crime, as they try to re-think how it
could have happened, all the while the clock is running out
against them.
The author does an exceptional job of building the supsense,
while pitting that against the shrinking time factor, and most
readers will really enjoy the unfolding of the mystery; the
solution will surprise many, and it will unfold in such a way
that most readers will genuinely have a difficult time putting
the book down after starting the final revelations.
This author's ability takes a giant step forward with this effort. We can only hope for similar, future efforts.

I've found a new author. This novel is by far one of the best page turners I've read in a while. It was so hard to put down. Mars has joined my list of favorite detectives. Loved his relationship with his son. He's a top-notch detective, along with his cohorts. The story was so compelling and wonderfully written. I'll definitely be reading Ms Erickson's previous novels featuring Mars. Police procedurals have always been my favorite, and this one is tops. I thoroughly enjoyed.

What a great read, just a pleasure to read the works of Sigurd. His stories give a real feel for what it is like in nature and gives a desire to enjoy the outdoors! His writing style is inviting and detailed, Truly a classic!

Every small story in this book seems to bring us peace & serenity. Sigurd brings out the part of a person that is called to nature and is connected with the earth. Every time we read from the book it seems to recenter us and put us back on track for better more fulfilling living.
The only semi-negative comment would be that his writing is very male dominated. This is not totally surprising since it is written in the early to mid 1900's.

This is the best book ever written on wilderness.

This book consists of 28 essays, each a few pages long. The essays discuss general themes related to the outdoors, with reference to the North Country from Minnesota to Alaska. Olson is a marvelous writer, and the essays are captivating.

The book is divided into three parts: "Primal Heritage," "Search for Meaning," and "The Imponderables." The first group of essays ruminate on themes such as nomads, hunter-gatherers, silence in the woods, and the implications of these themes for modern life. The second group on meaning concerns one-word themes such as harmony, aliveness, beauty, and simplicity. These essays would provide an excellent basis for discussion in a book group or a classroom setting.

The third group is the least successful, and moves to a poorly-developed religious climax. In earlier essays in the book, Olson revealed himself as a Christian who sees the beauty of God's creation in the great outdoors. In the third part he moves toward a more synthetic position, finding common ground among many religions. That's fine, but it leads him to two essays on an "emergent God," which don't really work. He is a nature writer, not a theologian, and it shows.

Though many of his themes are timeless, such as the need for people to discover their true nature away from their urban lives, Olson discusses many anachronistic practices. When he would arrive in camp, his chores might include cutting pine boughs for a mattress, chopping down a tree for firewood and tent poles, and other destructive practices. Those are no longer possible.

Olson also reveals himself as a man living in a patriarchal time. He would disappear into the woods for weeks or months at a time, leaving his family behind. In this book, he mentions his son Sig several times but never mentions his wife, who presumably raised Sig and managed other household chores. Olson also sings the praises of his canoe-makers, and the joys of simple food in the backcountry such as rice, beans, and meats, but he does not raise any of that food himself. This reveals him as being connected to a wider economy and to people such as farmers who cannot disappear into the woods as he can.

Would Olson have been able to live his life in the woods without his wife, farmers, canoe-makers, and others living their lives in a house? The thought never crosses his mind, but we should ponder it.

This book compiles some of Olson's best writings. In it, his last book, Olson further explores the concept of self-reflection and self-discovery through wilderness solace. His writing will be of interest to anyone who enjoys the outdoors (especially canoeing), but also readers who enjoy general contemporary philosophy.

The Boundary Waters in northern Minnesota (BWCAW) -- 100 million acres of pristine lakes interconnected by overland portages and streams -- is the closest place to heaven I've seen on this earth. Journeying through it in a canoe, one is struck by its "cumulative grandeur" as a friend described it to me.

Many uninitiated visitors from out of state just arrive in Ely, get outfitted, and head out with little advance preparation. Most of them live, but this is not the way to experience the Boundary Waters. Along with books on the specifics of canoe tripping and camping, and back country cooking, you will want to research possible canoe routes in this indispensable book and its pendant, volume 2 on the eastern region. If you're planning a trip, keep in mind that trips out of Ely generally fall in the western region, trips out of Gunflint fall in the eastern region, but a single trip can easily wind through both regions.

This book provides specific routes that can be followed exactly or used as an outline for a trip you customize. Each itinerary gives helpful general information: suggested trip length; miles per day; number of lakes and rivers; and number of portages (overland routes between lakes); and difficulty level. It also tells you which Fischer maps will cover the trip ... but I prefer the McKenzie maps myself. Then comes a full description of what you can expect to encounter on the trip, highlights along the way, tips for avoiding pitfalls, etc. If you're new to this kind of wilderness experience, you should read several itineraries -- even ones you don't plan to follow -- to get a feel for the terrain. If you're a BWCAW veteran, then reading these itineraries will fuel your daydreams! (You may even learn something to make your next trip go more smoothly.)

The book also includes general information on planning your trip: BWCAW reservations and regulations, advice to trip planning, an introduction to the ecosystem and its attractions and dangers, recommendations for camping guides and other references.

A couple of caveats. When the blowdown of July 4, 1999, that leveled 1/3 of the trees in the BWCAW hit ... this book was just going to press -- a fact that is acknowledged in the Preface. Recovery of this vast ecosystem will take a century or more, and the landscape has been altered forever. Therefore, to a certain extent this book was obsolete before it was even published. Needless to say, not all descriptions and photos represent what you are likely to find in the hardest-hit areas -- although lakeshores, with more windfast trees, are in many places the only trees still standing, extending a curtain between the paddler and the devastation inland.

The other caveat, which should be needless, is that even if you have mapped out a specific route, you must be prepared to alter it in case of weather, low water in streams, or other unexpected occurrences. Be alert and adaptable.

As we read the descriptions of "Easier" and "Challenging" routes we realized that Beymer lives at a higher physical level than we do. The information is well-presented and useful, but it would have been nice to find some routes appropriate to our out-of-shape adults and younger kids preferences

I have canoe camped in the BWCA since 1971 and have found previous editions of this guide essential for my trip planning. This well-written, newly-revised edition is even better. It contains the latest information on obtaining a permit for entry into the area as well as general information regarding the destructive storm that swept through the BWCA on July 4, 1999. The 2000 edition is slightly larger in size and with bigger print is easier to read. It is also about 70 pages longer than the previous book. The author has changed the format of the route numbers to better correspond to the entry points, making it easier to relate the two. There are updated photos throughout the book and some route recommendations have been changed. This edition is full of information to make your trip planning into the western region of the BWCA easy. It allows you to choose routes based on your physical ability (easy to rugged), fishing desires (it lists type of fish in 185 western region lakes), scenery (waterfalls, pictographs), time constraints (suggested routes for over 50 2-8 day trips), etc. It tells you how to reach each entry point and one of my favorite statistics, the popularity rank of each entry point (I like to find solitude as quickly as possible). This is trip planning guide, and does not provide detailed camping "how to" information, although the author refers you to reliable books on this subject. I recommend it and am planning to purchase the revised eastern region edition as soon as it is available.

This is a great book to start your plans for a trip into the Boundary Waters. There are suggested routes for every entry point in the western region and whether you use the suggested route or not it's a great place to start!

Now in a thoroughly updated and revised sixth edition, Boundary Waters Canoe Area: Western Region continues to be the definitive guide for outdoor enthusiasts seeking to enjoy a land of beautiful landscapes and wildlife. Veteran travel writer and outdoorsman Robert Beymer provides details on 27 entry points in the western part of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area and includes important information on the length of time needed to complete each trip, distances and difficulty of each trip, number of lakes, rivers and portages encountered; and the maps required. Boundary Waters Canoe Area: Western Region is enhanced with a four-color pullout map and is a "must" for canoeists, anglers, vacationers, and hunters seeking to enjoy what this unique and remarkable country have to offer.

This book is an excellent general reference for fishing in the BWCA, covers catching, cleaning and cooking. It also provides much-appreciated reminders on disposing of the carcass appropriately and proper camping etiquette. The charts review all the lakes of the BWCA and what you'll be fishing for.

Please don't forget to read the epilogue. It is a beautifully-written and touching short story that captures the essence of what the BWCA means to so many people.

A Boundary Waters Fishing Guide was the only book I chose to portage in the Boundary Waters of northern Minnesota and it guided me to the best lakes and streams and told me what fish types are best in the locations I was traversing and how to catch them. While I am a fishing novice, this book provides location-specific information even pros will appreciate. Only available used I believe.

This is an excellent book, with lots of great tips for the novice and perhaps the expert. There are techniques that are very specific for the BWCA and the species of fish, time of year, etc. Michael Furtman goes into good detail of all fish found in the boundary water. He also discusses how and when to catch them.

If you love fishing and are heading to the BWCA, I would recommend bring this book with you!

Jeremy
Duluth,MN.

Let me first say that this is one fantastic reference book. It's almost worth the purchase price just for the lake data at the back, which includes among other things the species that inhabit almost every fishable lake in the BWCA and Quetico. The book has some occasionally confusing illustrations of underwater land formations, as well as diagrams of how to fillet the fish you catch. Furtman clearly knows his stuff.

I read through the whole text as a canoe guide who didn't know much about fishing and who had never even cleaned a fish. I still haven't filleted my own catch, but I feel confident I could do it if the situation called for it. As a tenderfoot fisherman, I had to read and re-read the book to absorb all of the valuable details, and I am going to purchase my own copy to bring on trail as a reference this summer. Like I said, the lake data, combined with the best lure types for each species, is worth the purchase price and will improve your results 100%.

Michael Furtman nails it on the head for the anglers new to Northwoods fishing. This is a must have book as it will provide you with the essentials for tackling the majority of fish you will find in the Boundary Waters. It's even small enough to take with you and read on the spot. Easy to read and understand along with many diagrams for further explanation.