Montana Books

Maya Angelou's extraordinary biographies, including "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings," were already part of college English and Humanities courses when former President Bill Clinton tagged her to write "On the Pulse of Morning" for his January 20, 1993 inauguration ceremony. Despite debates regarding whether Angelou is a better prose writer than she is a poet, her inauguration poem is among only a very few, penned by modern poets, that can claim the status of "modern classic." The poet's recital of the work is powerfully majestic and beautifully inspiring.

Aberjhani
author of "I Made My Boy Out of Poetry"
"Encyclopedia of the Harlem Renaissance"
and "Visions of a Skylark Dressed in Black"

The item was received within the time specifications; and was received in excellent conidtion.

on the pulse of morning

Ben Stillman has his toughest assignment since becoming Sheriff of Clantick, Montana Territory in this latest book by Peter Brandvold. The Bar 7 riders were only funnin when they shot Shambeau's mule. But the Metis trapper was not laughing and by the time he was finished, two cowboys lay dead and another scalped alive. Now Ben Stillman must track down the old mountain man in his own territory to bring him to justice. This latest installment in the Ben Stillman is Brandvold's best.

Why half-breed Shambeau killed a couple of men and scalped another wasn't important to some. Now Sheriff Ben Stillman has a murder case on his hands and as the law prescribes, he must hunt down and hang the renegade. But nobody knows the land better than Shambeau and bringing him in isn't going to be easy. And with the Sheriff away from town another group of outlaws sees it as the ideal opportunity to rob the bank.

This is the fifth book to feature Sheriff Stillman and Peter Brandvold gives the reader a twist to the hero being hunted by a posse and him taking them out one by one plot, by having the hero being part of the posse being killed off brutally one by one by the outlaw.

Also Stillman, knowing he must do as the law says, sympathises somewhat with the man he's hunting, as both he and Shambeau are relics from a west where revenge was accepted - and that was why Shambeau had killed wasn't it?

With taking Stillman away from town, Peter Brandvold inserts a great subplot with the bank robbery that allows him to bring the townspeople into the story, characters already familiar to readers of this series.

This book once more proves that Peter Brandvold can tell a gripping story and I would urge all fans of westerns to check him out.

This story continues with the characters from Brandvold's previous "Once" books but spotlights the theme of frontier "justice" in all its brutal, harsh reality. Sheriff Ben Stillman, though reluctant, must track down Louis Shambeau, a "half-breed" French Indian who has applied the only form of justice he knows to right a wrong done to him. As the chase becomes one between ranchers and trapper, it also becomes a Western snapshot of the struggle between the new and the old, between a dying way of life up against the new breed. In the process it shows what went in to the raw life and death struggles that played out on the changing frontier. Brandvold weaves another plot into the struggle back in Clantick, where Deputy Leon McMannigle must face another crisis. To any who have read Brandvold, they know he includes some explicit sex. This may offend some, but one could argue that Brandvold uses it within the context of the story. In fact, when it applies to Sheriff Stillman and wife Fay, it is in the context of a married couple faithful to each other and who continue to be madly in love. Louis L'Amour was sometimes criticized for the opposite, leaving out sex, though he had his reasons (see Education of a Wandering Man, p. 153-154). If readers can handle this part of Brandvold's books, they will find treasures from a master storyteller.

Richard Manning has made me think of my home land in a new way. One Round River should be required reading for those of us who live or want to live in the West, as well as for everyone who uses the fruit of the West - lumber, beef, and especially gold. The message in this book is so important and so well written that I have made my family and friends read it too!

Richard Manning understands the people, and the places, he speaks of in his sharp discussion about mining and its effects on the new (and old) Montana. Were we truly to learn from the past so ably told in One Round River, modern gold mining practice would be outlawed. Would that this could be true... A more honest connection with the Montana landscape, and the lives its people (of all types) will be hard to find. Buy the book. If anything because it's a good read.

Few of us experience life as passionately as Richard Manning: a writer, hiker, fisherman, and nature lover...with an ability to put it all into words. He is our modern day Norman McLean...and I enjoyed 'One Round River' immensely. I can not recommend a book more highly...a 10+++.

Award-winning author Rick Bass presents Platte River, an anthology of three novellas each of which presents a human heart experiencing the infinite majesty of God's natural creation. "Mahatma Joe" is the tale of an evangelist who makes a home for himself in Grass Valley, Montana, and the woman who falls head over heels for his vision of the world; "Field Events" is the story of a woman who pines for an athlete who is even more muscular than her discus-tossing brothers; and "Platte River" is about a man's meditation on the nature and meaning of loneliness, peace, and the search for love. A warm, introspective read, filled with lush imagery of beautiful natural wonders.

You get an overall sense of gloom from the peoples lives in the book, but I believe the author wants you to look deeper than just that. One story is basically the more the change, the more the things remain the same. Another looks at peoples strengths vs. weakness's and surprisingly where you will find them. And, finally, another looks at looking inside yourself. Among this, is the most beautiful and desriptive narrative of mother nature in all her glory. You can easily picture Exactly where and what he is talking about. It never fails that a few words thrown together will bring back memories of your own that you had long forgotten.

These stories are about something that no one else I know of is writing about. I can't make out what it is exactly. I'll leave lists of superlatives to professional book reviewers and just give you what for me is the bottom line -- this book is important

This is not just another quilt book, but one with beautiful presentations. Each person who opens this book will enjoy the pictures and the great instructions. Just don't eat the recipe results on the quilts.

Jane Quinn's QUILTING IN THE COUNTRY: PROJECTS AND RECIPES TO CELEBRATE LIFE'S SPECIAL MOMENTS presents some sixteen projects from wall and lap quilts to ornaments and table decorations, and is a theme-oriented pick for any who would create unique quilts. Accompanying the quilt design suggestions are tips for parties and holiday celebrations and how to display and use the quilts for maximum advantage.

A quilt book that has recipes, shower and other types of party ideas is a great idea. I do so love a book with more than one purpose and Quilting In The Country is that type of book. Each quilt brings another recipe for some wonderful food or party idea.

The first quilt shows a quick way to make the Bow Tie Block while the next quilt incorporates handprints! Farther on is a quilt out of Yo-Yo's and buttons. A felted tea caddy, a table runner, a memory quilt, a log cabin square with leaf printing, appliqué fall leaves, trip around the world, and Christmas Ornaments are all in this book to keep your interest going. So no matter what time of year you purchase this book, you will have a quilt and recipe or party idea for that season.

Each quilt is shown on a full page in color and the instructions are clearly written. There are graphics to help visualize what is being explained. There is a materials and cutting list as well. Six pages give you basic quilting instructions if you need a review and there is a resource list in the back if you are having trouble finding a certain supply.

There is no excuse one can give on why not to buy this book. It is appropriate no matter what the season and any quilter will enjoy making the quilts shown.

I am not Native, this book is directed at the recovery of Native American Women, but I thought this book was incredible.

I bought an extra copy to pass on.


Kim you are awesome, Thank You (Meegwetch)

The book made me think, and any book that can do that, is worth reading. It made me think of being a woman, of being a auntie and a grandmother and the responsibility that holds. It made me appreciate the hardships all Native people had to go through while in the residential schools, and how, in the name of a God and the attitude of assimilation, people were put into such abusive situations. And it made me appreciate the strength that Native women have to overcome such behaviour.
I am not Native, yet I follow the spiritual concepts that were mentioned in the book and it was wonderful to read the history of these traditions and get a better understanding of the traditions.

One of the more refreshing aspects of this unique look at women's historical roles in First Nations cultures is it's comprehensive and insightful understanding of the concept of gender balance. Kim Anderson has well illustrated the social structures which adequately served First Nations people across the Americas for centuries prior to European arrival. In addition, she examines the impact of colonialism, genocide and assimilation on that structure without ignoring or minimizing the undermining of women's roles which was crucial to the success of these policies. She finishes by portraying a hopeful and positive perspective which incorporates the lessons of history.

this is a good book that tells the story of two people who are not unalike. they both have problems and both face them and evetually conqure them. they become friends and help each other get through a tradjety that happened.

What a wonderful read. The author gave a clear idea of what it felt like to grow up as a young woman in the 60s. It was an adventure, full of the heart-break of real events. The book pointed out that although life does not often have happy endings, some moments do. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and even read it twice, something I rarely do.

Only children don't want to reveal--even to other only children--what it's like to be an "only." McNamer sprawls the secrets across the page, threads the feelings through the tale, whispers the solitary questions and unspeakable answers.

The interior lives of McNamer's characters echo against an exterior heavy with foreshadowing. This reader often found herself gasping, pulling the still-open book against her breast, knowing and afraid to venture into the inevitable plot events. Yet, except for a few unconnected thoughts and moments, this is a novel that involves the reader throughout and lingers in memory even years after the covers are finally closed

This book is about the experiences of a white boy and an Indian boy who are trapped in the Rockies during the winter. It was written in 1912 and is said to be a true story as told to the author, who in the 1870s lived among the Black foot tribe. Full of adventure, it is also a moving story of cooperation by members of two different cultures, and the friendship that develops between them. I would highly recommend it to parents. I read this book in elementary school and for over 20 years, I could recall scenes from the book, but was unsure of the title. When I moved back to my home town, I searched the local schools for it, without success. I had told my family about this on many occasions and recently my mother found it in her attic. She had bought it at a school book sale years ago and it had been sitting in a box since then. She surprised my on my birthday with it and it was great to read and see how my memory compared with what was actually written.

My dad made me read this when I was about 6th grade. ...
It is a compelling book to read and is apparently all true. It is about basic survival in the rich lands of the rockies. It is not about cannibalism, or Donner-Party survival, but about how wonderful a life you could make for yourself in the old Rockies, starting with nothing but the clothes on your back. It is a tremendously uplifting book.

First read it in the 6th grade and almost every year for the past 30 years. Love this book-a classic.

The book was very useful to me on my recent trip. The river was too high so Montana agates were off the menu unfortunately. The book is as good as any of the others in the series.

I have read this book and found it to be extremely informative and full of good places to visit

As a fellow rock-hound, I can certainly appreciate good directions to off-the-trail sites to collect minerals and fossils. There's no feeling like when you hold a great find in your hands. With Montana's help, the difficulty in finding these locales is greatly reduced. Not only are you provided with a map w/ contour shading, but gps coordinates are given as well. She makes every effort to educate you as well as guide you. I was extremely impressed and pleased by the end result.

I've personally met Ms. Hodges and read her other works; She's an excellent writer and well traveled, with ambition only over-shadowed by her talent. I intend to keep an eye on this geo-journalist, and expect great things of her.

Dolly would be proud!!

A friend who lost her 26 year old son in a car accident introduced me to Barbara Johnson's books. I just lost my 26 year old daughter in a car accident. The Christian humor is therapeutic. It also helps me realize I'm not the only one in this world who has suffered tragic loss, and is helping me deal with and live with that loss.

This book and all the books from Barbara are wonderful and they really help people with there problems and let you know that no matter what problems you have and they seem bad there is someone out there that has more and more hardship than you. She lets you know about gods unconditional love and grace an how we must keep the faith. They are everyday stories and they are wonderful, funny, and loving.

This is a wonderful book! It made me cry and laugh at the same time. The author presents adversity not as the end of our lives but as an opportunity to grow and learn. The book is easy to read but at the same time very profound and inspirational. I would recommend it to anyone who is going through difficult times. The book would help people to be joyful in the midst of adversity.