Montana Books

Time is at a premium on vacation. I feel that we will see some great views in Glacier using this book and stay within our vacation time period. Thanks for writing this with all the details given. Very helpful.

Best Easy Day Hikes for Glacier and Waterton Lakes National Parks is a bit misleading as a title. While there are easy hikes, some are far from it. For example, one hike is nine miles long with a 1200-foot climb while another is over 14 miles long. Fortunately, the distances and elevation changes are clearly marked in the description so it is easy to select those you are willing and able to tackle while leaving the others for the more adventurous. There are also maps for each hike but it sometimes took me a while to use them. The actual trail wasn't always well defined within the larger area portrayed on the map and I often found the trailheads especially difficult to spot. It was not a major problem as I always worked it out in the end but it is an area that could use a bit of improvement.

There are 28 hikes listed and they are broken down into 5 geographic areas of the two parks. My wife and I did 2-3 hikes from each area and found the descriptions to be both helpful and largely accurate. The book is small enough to easily fit in a hip pocket and held up very well during a full week of heavy usage. Color photos would have been a nice addition but that would have made the book both larger and heavier which is not ideal for a pocket guide. Overall, this was a great purchase at an extremely reasonable price.

Its construction is not as durable as one would like for a reference to carry with you while hiking, but what can one expect for that small an asking price? However, the descriptions and maps for each hike are easy to understand--even for the novice hiker. 25 easy hikes are included in the book, with distance, degree of difficulty, time required, and elevation change included. There are no pictures in the book, but still its very well done.

Interesting and nostalgic. I love to look at cookbooks and found this book worth keeping. Good idea to preserve recipes from across our country. I appreciate the number of cookbooks it took to make the selections.

I bought this as a gift, but on looking at the recipes before wrapping it, I ended up copying numerous recipes myself. The Glazed Fresh Apple Cookies are outrageously yummy! Also, most recipes don't require many ingredients, and most cooks have the ingredients right on their shelves already.

One of the best books of recipes from local cooks using local ingredients. Easy to follow and accurate.

This third book of their Justice Series opens with returning character, television reporter, Kat Kowicki as she takes on a powerful U.S. Senator and loses. Not only does she receive a job demotion as a punishment, but she's also moved from her choice Washington, D.C. slot to a less sought after Chicago gig. It's in Chicago, that she receives never before publicly seen evidence of John F. Kennedy's assassination from a retired Chicago police detective. Though he'd brought the evidence to the FBI's attention in the past, nothing had come of it.


Even though Kat's reputation hangs in the balance as someone who might fall prey to a far-fetched conspiracy theory, Kat's curiosity wins out and she investigates the new information with her usual zeal. Her search leads her to the exclusive web site www.CamelotConnection.com, a data brokerage firm founded by retired CIA Assistant Director, Philip Harding. She soon learns that these brokers are collecting private information on everybody, including herself, and selling the information to anyone with a credit card. When Kat becomes a target herself, she calls on two Federal Agents to help her expose the secrets of the Camelot Connection.


The plot, a big one by any standards, takes you to several locations including Caracas, Kazakhstan, and Washington D.C. and is a story that only someone with first hand experience inside the Federal government could portray as realistically as was done in The Camelot Conspiracy. I found the dialogue to be genuine and the characters very fitting for the plot. I would have liked to see more dialogue, so I could have witnessed more interaction between these characters. This would have helped me connect more with people who live in a world that I can only imagine.

Having read the Munson's earlier "Justice Series" titles ("Facing Justice" and "Confirming Justice") I already knew that they bring a realism to their novels that only a former Federal prosecutor and former Federal undercover agent team could write. I also knew that the Munson's write in a family friendly way so I don't need to be embarrassed to recommend their books. What I wasn't prepared for was a a new theory (very realistic) to the JFK assassination as the basis for one of the three plot lines.

As in the other "Justice Series" novels, "The Camelot Conspiracy" features many familiar characters (including Special agents Eva Montanna and Griff Topping) and focusses on the brash reporter, Kat Kowicki who finds herself in the middle of a multi-layered international conspiracy.

Page by page the Munson's draw us in with the many twists and turns only the best novelists can weave.

If you are looking for great mystery and suspense, "The Camelot Conspiracy" delivers. Tired of foul language with no purpose, here is a book that does not stoop to that level. Good writing does not need to feature explicit sex, violence and language. Here is a book you can recommend to anyone who enjoys great suspense.

AND, WOW again!!! My third book by the Munson's who I am so greatful to for their writing style and first hand knowledge of what goes into their books. Unlike some people who tell everything that is in a book, I will just say how it kept me "IN" the book and heart rate up!! Christmas day I took a few breaks, with an excuse to "rest up" but was really reading this book... In my reviews of their first two in the Justice series I have written of their background for being able to bring such a current and focused story into reality. In this book, terrorism is "front and center" with all it's possiblities, and running against the clock. I am so glad to see some of the same characters, which had my mind racing again, wondering who was "really" the bad guy, or good. Sad when it ended. I ordered for other family members who love their work. I don't call it just a legal thriller, because there is sooo much more to it. The undercover work, the trickery... I really don't know of another author with such creds that is out there. This is "stuff" happening NOW!! You can be 16 or 80 and read their book's. I am SO waiting for their next book.

In one volume there is one of Wolfe's strongest story collections, essays on the Book of the New Sun, and a collection of entertaining miscellaceous essays. The story's are varied and all very powerful (though in different ways). The essays on New Sun are insightful without ruining the book. The other essays on literary topics are far more insightful than any snobbish literary professor's.

These stories are the work of a man with a sharp mind and a wicked sense of humor. Most of them are science fiction, but many are unclassifiable. For instance, "Forlesen," a story with many levels of meaning, attempts to sum up the twentieth century experience in forty-four pages and does it pretty well. There is non-fiction as well, including Wolfe's hilarious essay on knife-throwing. From my limited experience I'd say that Gene Wolfe is one of the most underrated science fiction writers.

Gene Wolfe's collection CASTLE OF DAYS is a must for fans, especially those who enjoyed his four-volume great work the Book of the New Sun. It consists of three parts, "Gene Wolfe's Book of Days", "The Castle of the Otter", and "Castle of Days."

"Gene Wolfe's Book of Days" is a collection of some of Wolfe's short stories, each representing a particular holiday. While these pieces are generally lighter and less substantial than Wolfe's other short stories of the late 70's and earlier 80's, there are several stories that are highly worthy. "Forlesen", representing Labor Day, is a clever jab at life in a corporation and it shows that the Dilbertesque workplace is nothing new. "The Changeling" represents Homecoming Day. A chilling and haunting piece, it takes place in the same town as Wolfe's early novel PEACE and illuminates a cryptic reference made there. This story alone makes CASTLE OF DAYS worth getting for fans of PEACE.

The second part of the book is "Castle of the Otter", named in jest after the mispelling of THE CITADEL OF THE AUTARCH which appeared in a 1982 issue of Locus. Subtitled "a book about the Book of the New Sun", it is a collection of essays about Wolfe's best-known work and can greatly expand one's knowledge of that world. "Words Weird and Wonderful", for example, defines all the archaic words in THE SHADOW OF THE TORTURER. "These Are the Jokes" is a collection of witty jokes, each told by a different character from the Book of the New Sun. "Onomastics" explains the names of many characters. "Castle of the Otter" was written when two of the four volumes of the series had been published, so it is a bit light on detail from THE CITADEL OF THE AUTARCH. Nonetheless, if you loved the Book of the New Sun, this part makes CASTLE OF DAYS the next Wolfe work worth getting.

The final section is "Castle of Days", which is a collection of diverse essays from the late 1980's. I found this the least interesting section, as much deals with science fiction fandom and a few pieces are rather quaint. However, there is the highly interesting essay "The Secret of the Greeks" which explains some of Wolfe's work on the Soldier series and why classical languages and literature are a worthwhile pastime.

All in all, CASTLE OF DAYS is an essential purchase for fans of Gene Wolfe. I didn't pick it up until six years after I read and was fascinated by the Book of the New Sun, and I instantly regretted missing out on such an illuminating collection. I can't recommend this collection enough.

As a Montanan cowgirl myself, I found Chip of the Flying U truthful and entertaining. The characters are real and the story is innocent. B.M. Bower knew the characters she created and it shows.

This book is just a cute little book definately from a time gone by. Easier read than a Lamour, but still a pretty solid western, even by today's standards.

This is a terrific escape book, one that deserves a "10" rating for its entertainment value. The characters are appealing, the language is incredibly clean by today's standards, and there is much laugh-aloud humor. "Chip of the Flying U" is tremendous fun!

As the previous reviewer notes, the 1995 edition is most useful. Unless you buy used from Amazon, you WILL get the 1995 edition. It contains many crucial updates and additions.

Route descriptions are surprisingly detailed for a guidebook. Most important peaks have multiple routes described. Seeing as how there is effectively zero route information on the internet, you're stuck with it. Luckily, the book is very good!

Be sure you get the 1995 revised edition of this book. I received the original 1984 edition, and it is heavy on text and light on route maps and photos. Many of the peaks and routes have no supporting photos. I suspect the 1995 revision has corrected this. Climbing guidebooks need to be visual.

This guide covers most of the peaks in the park. Many of the mountains not covered here are at least mentioned and Edwards proclaims the apparent ease of these climbs. My experience agrees with this surmission. I have been on the mountains of the park with, and without the guide. When the guide was in possession, the climb was greatly simplified. Well done and a must for those interested in climbing mountains in Glacier National Park!

This is an excellent guide. A fun and exciting read filled with wonderful stories, images and local knowledge.

This book told me all I needed and wanted to know about Montana

I stumbled upon the Compass America series at a local book store and couldn't believe the quality compared to other travel books.

This particular selection was superb. The author is passionate about Montana and the photographs are some of the best. The combination was far supierior to anything else I've seen.

The information provided on areas of the state were vivid and provided a good desription of the differing sections of the state. Within each of these various sections were specific descriptions of towns and cities.

Of course, areas of interest to travelers were highlighted, but not in a generic "FYI" format. The descriptions and trip advice have an actual caring quality, as though its author really wants you to enjoy Montana.

Traveling to Montana? Then pick up the book and get ready to experience the grandeur of the world's most beautiful places.

Not going to Montana? That's fine too. This beautiful book will help you enjoy a get away of the mind.

A later Nero that holds up very well. For dialogue between Wolfe and Archie it is one of the best and could be the funniest of them all. I have reread it several times and it is always fun.

This is almost the end of the line for Rex Stout and Nero Wolfe. By this time (1969) Stout has become an institution and, sadly, a little out of the mainstream. He'd resolved that his characters would never age, and they don't. However, the world around them has changed so much...

So it makes great sense for Rex to become Tex, and send Nero and Archie out to the wild, wild west. Things don't change here. Men are men, and women know their place.

It's a little similar to "Too Many Cooks," where Wolfe has to curb his irritations and be deferential to a host, whether or not he perceives himself to be a jewel resting on a cushion of hospitality. He's out west, and his pride does not allow him to show his discomfort.

Wolfe winding down...it's sad to see fewer witty and memorable lines, but always great to see Archie and Wolfe working as only they can...

Despite the title, this story has (slightly) more to do with _The Father Hunt_ than with _Death of a Doxy_; the research compiled by Amy Denovo on Lily Rowan's father is now being turned into a book. One of Archie's fellow guests during his vacation at Lily's ranch in Montana (the Bar JR) is Wade Worthy, the biographer who's working on James Rowan.

However, the dude of the title was Philip Brodell, who had returned to the area after seducing Alma Greve the year before - Brodell was found dead from a shot in the back on a huckleberry-picking expedition. Alma's father Harvey is now in jail, charged with murder, but Lily and Archie are convinced he's innocent, since they've both known him for years (see "The Rodeo Murder" in _Three at Wolfe's Door_). Archie takes an unpaid leave of absence from Wolfe until the case is finished. Wolfe, of course, isn't prepared to have Archie gone for an open-ended length of time, so after pulling a few strings to find out exactly what the case against Harvey is, he appears unannounced at the Bar JR soon after receiving Archie's letter, and he and Archie get to work on the investigation.

It's cool to see Wolfe loosen up a little; as a guest in someone else's domain, he'd be violating his personal standards if he took his eccentricity too far. (Archie, after watching him a little, says it's obvious Wolfe promised himself not to complain about the food no matter what.) Archie, for his part, has made friends over years of vacation visits to Lily out here: to name two, Woody, who runs what he calls the Hall of Culture (the dance hall and cinema pieces of it support him) and can hold his own in dinner conversation with Wolfe, and Carol, the wife of the accused and an ex-rodeo performer herself, who doesn't have a bible in the house to swear on, so she uses a saddle she won at the height of her career.

Some other neat touches include, but are by no means limited to: the guests at the dude ranch where the victim was staying; checking up on the alibi of Brodell's would-be rival for Alma Greve's affections, involving a history teacher, some chickens, and a roofing company; and a hilarious little passage wherein Archie takes time out to discuss censoring one of the wranglers' commentary on Brodell, a deserving victim if ever there was one.

I enjoyed Digging Dinosuars. John Horner's enthusiasm for the subject is easily apparent. The book is not overly technical, (although a basic understanding of geology/paleontology helps in fully understanding Horner's theories.) and has a very casual tone. The theories presented are full of clever and logical interpretations of the fossils found. While Horner also gives descriptions of things beyond factual support, he identifies which is imagination, and what is supported. The biggest flaw is the book's orginization. Horner seemed to be attempting to explain everything at once, changing topics for every paragraph. But beyond that, I enjoyed Digging Dinosaurs.

Digging Dinosaurs really gave a clear and interesting spin on the work that goes behind finding fossils. I loved it!

"Digging Dinosaurs" is far more than the continueing search for traces of these vanished beasts. It is a glimpse into the mind and lives of the people who have dedicated their lives to understanding this fascinating topic. Co-authored by Jack Horner, probably the most influential paleontologist alive today, the book reads at times more like a novel than a scholarly research. Fast paced, often humerous, this is a great read for anyone interested in our world's far ancient past.

This book is unbelievably detailed when it comes to trails to hike etc. However the book is fatally flawed (for me) in that it has absolutely *no* information about lodging! I am planning a trip to Montana with my three kids and I wanted to know about where to stay in Glacier Park, whether we should consider a ranch stay, and if there were once-in-a-lifetime experiences such as a dinosaur dig or a wagon train ride. Not one of these questions were answered by this book! However, once you are at Glacier I imagine the detailed information about trails and scenery (and a few stores etc) would be quite useful.

If you want to explore Montana, whether you have kids or not,
this is the book to use! There are places to go that are
easy to get to with good directions. The hiking trails are
easy enough for everyone and there are interesting museums
and cultural sites. You will definately find this helpful
and insightful!

Montana or beyond, this is a creative, intelligently written guidebook for both nature and natural lovers of cultural and historical resources. Clear, well written stories depict the landscapes in a manner that both entertains and directs children and adults to the wonders that Montana has to offer. Take a drive, book a flight, either way, this book is a delight!