Nevada Books

Why does Mr. Benson pretend to be anything more just another person making conjecture about the "ghost", Bruce the Boss, has an album of words and music devoted to Tom Joad's ghost. Does Bruce need a Ph.D. to make up songs about Steinbeck's masterwork. Come on, I could just as well say I'm conducting investigative journalism on Huck Finn.

....especially during the first part of this book, and there seemed to be one misadventure after another, especially with his interviews, and I got tired of those too....and then it dawned on me (and I'm not at all certain the author would agree) that he was not only researching Steinbeck's life, but stumbling into parts of it.

Take his interview with Gwyn, Steinbeck's second wife. For me, what clearly emerged during the author's confrontation with her storytelling ability, her extraverted extravagance, and her occasional bullying, was that Benson was being made to feel exactly how Steinbeck would have felt, especially toward the end of the marriage. And the same with getting lost at times in New York, and feeling "out of touch" here and there, and worrying about bad reviews: I think the biographer actually became the subject of his biography a little, sharing from his own rather humble and introverted point of view what Steinbeck couldn't or wouldn't bring himself to write publicly about regarding his own private struggles, doubts, confusions. What a gift, all the way around.

For any reader remotely interested in the trials and tribulations so frequently associated with writing a book, in this case a biography, this book is a must.
Jackson Benson spent fifteen years writing the definitive biography of John Steinbeck that originally began as a scholarly critique of his works. He was a young professor of American literature at a provincial university in 1970 and felt it part of his job to write about American authors: "I had no idea of writing a biography or of spending a major portion of my life doing so. No one in his right mind sets out to spend fifteen years researching and writing a book-it just sneaks up on you." With this confession the reader is drawn into a wonderful account of his efforts to "save" Steinbeck from what he saw as unjust criticism and general academic denigration.
The book is unusual for a variety of reasons. First, it is highly readable which is rare given the authors scholarly and academic credentials. Benson has a marvelous sense of humor and doesn't hesitate to spell out his own shortcomings and lapses that many times resulted in dire consequences of his own making. His original naivete and ill defined writing plan led to a variety of incidents that are described in a humorous and candid manner.
Second, the author doesn't hesitate to candidly reveal the myriad fears, frustrations, doubts and ever-present economic problems that dogged him throughout the writing process. In reading of his countless setbacks I am amazed he completed the book. His dedication, perseverance, resourcefulness and integrity are both amazing and heartening.
Third, this is a rare instance in which a biographer writes about himself. It is actually an autobiography of the biographer and is done with such grace and candor and style that it is as artful as the biography. This book stands alone as a masteful literary accomplishment notwithstanding its sister biography.

The book is a must have for writers, wannabe writers, researchers, or readers interested in biography, authbiography or the art and craft of writing. It is a unique insight into the writing of the definitive biography of a world literary figure whose centennial birthday is being celebrated throughout this year. The Joads would have been proud.

This is a wonderful book, by a biographer of great heart and soul. Benson spent 15 years researching the life of one of America's most loved authors, and produced a monumental book about a man, a time, and his work. The biography, ``The True Adventures of John Steinbeck, Writer,'' is magnificent. ``Searching for Steinbeck's Ghost,'' also is full of delights -- an X-ray of how a biographer works, tracking down clues, weighing evidence, sorting through conflicting claims, and negotiating with guardians of the subject's legacy. Steinbeck may seem a bewildering figure in an era of endless confessions, because he was a reticent, private person devoted to his craft. He is also an unfashionable figure among many academics. Yet his work is enduring; so, too, is the biography and this How I Dunnit. Benson shunned academic trends, genuinely appreciated the works of his subject, and focused on the life that made those works. This odd little book about that pursuit is well worth finding and reading.

I first purchased these Make a Mix book back in the 70's. They were great for putting good meals on the table for a family of six. Great Saving to! I wore them out and lent them out until I didn't get it back. I have looked and looked for another copy. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

I have used this cookbook and the sequel since they were first released in the 70's. I think mine were purchased in '78. I love to use these mixes as gifts, especially at Christmas and as new neighbor or busy friend gifts. I have just begun my search to replace my very tattered copies. Help appreciated! MBearRn@aol.com

I first borrowed a copy of the 1978 original of this book and discovered it was a must have for any busy cook. Especially those who like to make their meals healthy and free of preservatives. A great gift for a beginner or bored cook.

I loved this book! It has truly simplified my life. I have made almost every mix. I especially love the meat mixes. I am an extremely busy person and this has prevented alot of the traditional take-out pizza! I now cook once a month and dinner is just a matter of a couple of minutes and a few ingrediants. I highly reccomend this book to anyone who wants to save money, time and increase the variety to nightly dinners!

This is a book from GOD. Stephan B. CastorBoBastor, the master of disaster, has truly written a gem here. WE cannot compare to his geological PROWESS. all must bow before the bearded, exquisitely handsome face of stephen. WE must put his picture up across the country on walls, grinning at all the people as if to say "Hello world! I like rocks!how about you!?" Stephen is God. we shall go into the places of worship and place idols of Stephen upon them. we will carve his face onto Mount Rushmore. ALL HAIL STEPHEN!!!!!! He has led us through the dark ages, and heles us get through the cancelation of the show "Growing Pains" He will give those with him the power to breath fire and grow a really hot red beard. BOW TO THE MASTER OF ALL EROSION, OF THE MOUNTAINS, OF YOUR LIFE, AND BOW TO THE MAN WHO'S PET IGUANA SPIFFY WILL DETERMINE WEATHER YOU GO TO GEOLOGICAL PARIDISE IN THE AFTER LIFE, OR BURN FOREVER IN THE FIRE OF ASTROLOGICAL HELL!!!!(geologists and astrologers are mortal enemies.satan is in the face of every astronomer)

Long live Stephen and his mineral fact-filled mind. Stephen B. Castor weaves a passionate and hypnotizing tale using his cunning and ingenuity in this exciting epic. I especially liked the part where he said "rock rock rock, rockrockrock!" These proverbial words really reached deep inside of me and changed my emotional state. Before, one might have compared my status to that of a hopeless stray kitten stumbling about the streets of brooklyn, drenched in rain and tears of sorrow. Now, I find myself overwhelmed by a sensation of bliss, or possibly even sublimity. I am a new and better person because of Stephen B. Castor. Thank you Stephen for all you have done. We salute you!

I must say that this book is difinitive in it's completeness and revelence in Nevada. The authors have done a marvelous and thorough job of data collection and presentation. Nevada's mining scene has changed dramatically from the early 70's when I was an undergraduate in Geology at the University of Nevada, Reno. This book ties that scene with today's mining activities, and is complete and extremely useful for those foraging in Nevada for mineral and mining history and for collectors as well.

Patrick M. Walker
MS Geology - UNR

This book is a gift from God. It touched my heart to the very core. Stephen B. Castor Bo Bastor, Master of Disaster, has really given us a gem here. I say that the handsomely stubbled face of Mr. Castor should be placed upon the gleaming slopes of Mount Rushmore so his visage can beam out to the mountains around with an expression that just says "Hello World! I love rocks! what about you?" His romantically red beard should be placed on posters everywhere, so all may wonder at the vastness of it. I want to be Stephen B. Castor. I want all sceintific reasearch from now on to be devoted to a machine which can make me into stephen B. Castor. I am going to get plastic surgery to make me look like him. He is God. We should have his face placed on each and every religious figure in THE WORLD! think you have been touched by God? well, it was Stephan B. Castor, IN DISGUISE. yes, in order to preserve his secret identity, Stephen B. Castor must disguise himself. but we know your secret now, Mr. Castor! ALL HAIL STEPHEN!!!!!

An artist and a bookstore owner, the narrator's parents in My Mother's Lovers are known in their small town as "those hippies in the purple house." Mimi, the central figure in her daughter Lake's life, is the mother many of us would love to have yet would resent bitterly until we came to understand her. Looking back through a child's observant yet uncomprehending eyes, Lake describes how she was charmed and mystified by Mimi as a young child, then grew to resent her mother's hunger for passion and authenticity, which she experienced as betrayal. Complex and intriguing characters move in and out of Lake's life, such as GraceAnne, a native American hair dresser whose silence invites her customers to confide the bizarre stories of their lives, or Aunt Dee Dee, a would-be Princess who swoops into town bearing clothes, Barbies, and the family's first telephone. Many of these characters, including Mimi herself, have secrets that were not open for young Lake to read, so the adult Lake periodically builds on her childhood memories to imagine for herself their thoughts, experiences, and emotions. Those passages are the most evocative and beautiful in the book. In particular, if you haven't already been captivated by Passanante's poetic, humorous, and visually gorgeous style by the time you reach the sensuous interlude of Mimi and her scarred logger, you will surrender to Passanante then.

My Mother's Lovers is a short novel that compresses in its humorous, tragic, and gorgeous pages the timeless story of a girl's coming of age, her achievement of a hard won wisdom. Love is also the book's subject; there is not one false moment, no cliche, in Passanante's wise and deeply observed treatment of literature's most common theme.

Passanante's book grabbed me in the first chapter, and I never let go. Her descriptions of a child born to flower-children of the 60's in Idaho resonates in an almost magical way. The trials and tribulations of adolescence for the main character are incredibly vivid, painful and surprising. The book is fast moving, thought provoking and wonderfully written.

It's been over a month since I read it, and I can't get it out of my mind--its authentic characters (from Lake, the furious daughter of two leftover hippies to Aunt DeeDee, her mother's super-conventional, miniature, spike-heel-wearing sister, whom Lake longs to live with in "Frisco," to GranVinny, the gruff, flower-loving grandfather Lake has been separated from--along with a gallery of small-town Idaho loggers and hairdressers), its wit (Aunt DeeDee's personal-ads beaux usually "nicked themselves shaving and still had a bit of Kleenex encrusted on a thin red line on his neck"), and especially its haunting theme, of the complex ways in which emotional legacies are passed through generations. Builds to a satisfying, surprising, funny/appalling climax--a unique chase scene that I'd love to see in a movie!

There are times when you pick up a book that you feel you really connect with the author, that somehow you know her and the people about whom she writes. For me, "My Mother's Lovers" was one of those books.

While this is clearly a book of fiction, the vivid description of the characters, particularly the grandfather, resonated with me.

I always enjoy books about young people coming of age in the 1960s and 1970s, perhaps because even at 49 I'm still coming of age. (Or, so I dream.)

This is also a book about a mix of cultures, Italian and Jewish, and about hippies and what used to be the establishment (which so many of the hippies have since become).

I look forward to Passanante's next book.

Norman Clyde has been an enigma to most in the mountaineering community but no longer thanks to this comprehensive account of his life and acheivements.
Well written and well documented this is an exceptional book about an almost mythological American Outdoorsman. It would make a great read for anyone who has an interest in mountaineering or the Eastern Sierra.

Every person interested in the Sierra Nevada and mountaineering will greatly enjoy "Norman Clyde:Legendary Mounaineer of California's Sierra Nevada".The book fills in lots of previously missing information on Clyde's lengthy life and background and contains very interesting comments by people who met him in all kinds of situations. It also contains a thorough list of published and unpublished sources of information on the Sierra Nevada .

I had always wondered about the mysterious man of the Sierras, Norman Clyde. His climbs and abilities were legendary, he logged more first accents in the Sierras that the next 3 climbers combined, he was a prodigious photographer and writer--yet many others were more well-known such as Ansel Adams. I had never found personal insight in to the man until reading this revealing book. Norman was everything from a hero who rescued and found missing hikers long after others had given up, to a loaner that spent so much time alone that he forgot how to talk...but never forgot how to write. A Principal in Independence CA who stood up to protect his school, but was released because he didn't fit in. His climbing accomplishments will never be equaled, but he was banished from leading climbs for the Sierra Club. An amazing man whose story should live in parallel with the majestic inspiration that is found in that special place known as the "Range of Light", the Sierra Nevada mountains. This book is well worth the read.

I finished this book several days ago. Once I started it, I couldn't put it down (so I didn't). This biography is a balanced picture of a man who was an enigma. I really appreciated that Pavlik didn't try to go beyond the available material to create a juicy analysis, even though a psychologist could have a field day analyzing Clyde. Clyde could spend months alone in the mountains, but also spent lots of time climbing with others, seemingly without ever letting down his guard enough to provide a cohesive picture of his personality. Pavlik's biography of this great, multi-faceted mountaineer is highly readable and informative. Pavlik describes Clydes's heroic side (pure love of the mountains), as well as his self-sabotaging side (e.g, getting fired as principal at Bishop H.S., insulting those weaker than he). For mountaineers, Pavlik presents descriptions of specific climbs.

Very captivating. Combines great technical detail, romance, life & death struggle; a hero who is very strong and yet full of compassion. If you like military action, this is a great book.

Rhombus is the kind of story you just can't put down. From the very first page, the story grabs you and won't let you go. I found myself coming back again and again until I finished it. Gore has done a splendid job of weaving and spinning a terrific plot, chuck full of interesting characters. An absolute must read! Dudley Henriques International Fighter Pilots Fellowship

Good things do come in threes. I rank Gore's writing up there with two other West Virginia natives. Christum has the air warrior skills of Stephen Coonts'Jake Grafton and the warm emotional side of Homer Hickam's Sonny. His technical knowledge is used in a way that makes the story enjoyable, as opposed to Clancy's style of trying to overwhelm and impress the reader. I wonder if Gore still has that '64 Mustang I admired as a kid when it sat in his parent's driveway on College Park.

At last there is an action hero with moral values-he loves his his children and his wife,loves his country and leans on his faith with God for strength. The story is believable and the historical events in the book have a new twist. If there was a Michael Christum he would remind me of my brother.

Still with Me is a wonderful read, beautifully written and warmly delivered. It is universal in its message and will touch anyone who has lost a parent. I began reading the book in a restaurant as I dined alone; but became somewhat self-conscious as I cried almost as many times as I laughed, and sometimes that happened on the same page. This book promises to be not only a best seller but would make a splendid movie.

I felt as though I was in the same room with Andrea King Collier listening to her tell this story. It is a true account of the roller coaster of emotions that accompany caring for an ill parent. The book demonstrates the importance of preventative health care and the reasons to advocate for one's own health. It is fortunate that Andrea had the support of her husband, the distraction of two young children, the strength to care for her mother, and a sense of humor to help make it through even the darkest of days. This book is a tribute and an inspiration to all women.

I was so moved and so utterly totally shaken by this book that I have been crying though the reading, my nose running and my chest tight. Now I am just raw with my grief. This book isn't so much about Ms Collier's mother as it is about all our mothers.
I am one of those daughter's who has taken on the care of an elderly parent. My mother is still living and I have been her "assisted care" for several years. In the years since my mother suffered a debillitating stroke I have struggled with the varying feelings of helplessness, inadequacy, andger, resentment - all of those and more.
This book is a gift to all of the daughters, all of the caregivers. It gave me permission to cry, to let it all out.
Beyond a clearly superior ability to write - the author posesses an indefinable quality that allows her to dip into universal truths and make them personal and immediate. "Unflinching" as one review characterizes it, does not even come close.

"Still With Me" is a story of love, life, illness, loss and healing. It is an emotional journey that made me smile, laugh out loud, talk back to the book, and shed a few tears as I read.
This is a well-rounded look at how an illness affects the entire family, not just those closest to it. The depth of the love between the author and her mother is so clear in this story. The importance of annual exams and taking full advantage of access to medical care could be considered the moral of this story.

As a mother, I pray that my daughter will not have to face this experience; as a daughter, I pray that if I am faced with this, I will handle it with in such a loving and caring manner. This is a "must read" for anyone interested in health issues, dealing with a terminal illness, or just an old-fashioned story of the special bond shared between mothers and daughters.

I look forward to future work by this author as her style of writing allows the reader to visualize the setting and the story will tug at your heart and beg you finish it. This is not "light reading", more a story with a message of love. It was wonderful!

This book is a real page turner. Once I started reading it I could not put it down. It was satisfying from beginning to end and I did not want it to end. I highly recommend it.

Delightful rendition of the Pioneer spirit. Easy to read and hard to put down.

The struggles and hardships survived by this family should make us think twice about whining when we've had a bad day at the office, the dog throws up on the carpet, there's a traffic jam on the way home, the cable guy is four hours late, or any of the other happenings we find annoying in our modern lives. (how about that three-day trip to town and back?) As an animal lover, I skimmed over the semi-graphic descriptions of trapping animals. Other than that, an enthralling read.

I was turned on to this book by the authors great nephew. This woman's tale of hardship, perseverance and determination is one to be admired by all. An easy read and a wonderful adventure.

I am pleased with my purchase. My book arrived quickly and in as stated condition. The book contained all the information I need to plan my up coming trip. I will keep it with me on the trail as a reference to flora, fauna and trail head information.

It's nice to see Tim Hauserman come out with a guide to the Tahoe Rim Trail so soon after the trail's completion. The Tahoe Rim Trail is destined to be one of the elite distance hikes in the West, right next to the High Sierra Trail, John Muir Trail, and Skyline to the Sea Trail. Having been to the Tahoe area, and recently finished reading the guide, I am already planning a thru hike on the trail for next year.

This book has a number of excellent features. The use of Tom Harrison maps (and the expertise of Jeffrey Schaffer) in the trail description chapters give the prospective hiker far more detail than typical guidebooks do. This is especially important in planning the logistics of a 150+ mile hike. In addition, Hauserman has done an excellent job of breaking the trail down into managable day-hikes and/or overnight trips. Those who, like my wife, want to complete the trail in 2 or more summers will find his organization useful. Finally, the trail description of each segement begins with helpful notes on water sources, camping locations, etc, which will greatly assist both thru hikers and those sampling the trail on a day hike.

If the book has a problem, it is the amount of space it devotes to introducing the Tahoe area and the trail. Less than half the book is devoted to trail description. While the rest of the material made for fascinating, and sometimes funny reading (Hauserman has a great sense of humor) it does add to the weight of the book. I appreciate this in my armchair, but will undoubtably be less happy with it on the trail. Other Wilderness Press Guides to similar sized trails are more compact (and still have great maps). Despite this small criticism, the book is an excellent buy and Hauserman has done a good job summarizing what will surely be one of the premier hiking trails in the years to come.

The author clearly knows and loves the area; a good thing because The Tahoe Rim Trail is the only guide out on this recently completed trail. Both planning and take with you information are in the book. When you are ready to go, just cut out the trail descriptions to take with you. I would also buy a Tom Harrison Lake Tahoe Recreation Map. The book's maps are good, but not convenient for map and compass work.

About the review lead: I was just reading along, checking out the background information chapter, and the flora and fauna chapter, then hit the Lets All Get Along chapter. On this multiuse trail, hiker, horse and mountain bike interactions are common. The Sharing the Trail With Horses section led off with "A horse believes that everything will eat it until proved otherwise" (from Sonja Willits, TRT Newsletter). That phrase made me smile and instantly simplified the horse-hiker rules I have heard. It is now engraved in my brain. I - a non-biking hiker, appreciated the Dirt User's Hints (for bikers). The chapter was rounded out by the Inconsiderate Backcountry Blockhead rules for how to be a bad hiker.

Good information in Weather, Water and When to Go chapter. This is where the author's local knowledge is obvious. Snow is a factor for many months, Lightning for others. Some of the paragraph leads: Elevation, Which Way the Mountain Faces, Lee of the Mountains:..., The Wind..., Dehydration, Hypothermia, Avalanches.

The Users Guide chapter has info on, for example: what to take, where to fish, where to take the kids, lists the trailheads, and is addressed to horse people and mountain bikers as well as hikers.

The meat of the book is the Trail Descriptions chapter. The author has organized it so that the entire 165 trail can be completed in eight trips varying from about 15 to 30 miles each. Each trip write-up follows the same format, a Tom Harrison map of the route, paragraph(s) on Difficulty, Best Seasons (when to go), Highlights, Heads Up! (cautions - water, etc.), Tips for Mountain Bikers, Getting There, and the actual Trail Description.

The Trail descriptions are detailed - example: turns north and in .8 mile, switchbacks down... Sidetrips to interesting places off the TRT are boxed off from the normal text. Finally, Alternative Routes are discussed. I am familiar with the 50 mile part of the TRT that coincides with the Pacific Crest Trail and found those descriptions quite accurate.

After the trail description chapter is one on Other Tahoe Area Attractions where the author has brief information of some of his favorite trails in the area. Not the end of the book though. The book winds up with information on Resources, Recommended Reading, Mileage Tables, Tim's Top 5 Places...

Nice job on the book design - black and white photos, maps, white space and illustrations make the book pleasant reading compared to most trail guides.

An essential resource for anyone planning to hike the TRT.

Having just completed the Tahoe Rim Trail I must say that Tim Hauserman's book was, as many Appalachian Trail hikers say of Bryson's Into the Woods, my bible. The book was great for two reasons.

First and foremost, it is a truly comprehensive guide that allowed me to carefully plan my trip. For each segment he includes useful maps, dead-on descriptions of each segment, directions to your start and end points, difficulty assessments and tips for mountain bikers. The highlights described for each section give the reader just enough to whet one's pallet and make them go out and hike. His suggestions for side trips are a great way to plan longer more enjoyable journeys into the glorious Tahoe surroundings.

Tim's way of writing is both humorous and informative. This unique style makes his opening chapters a fun and pleasant read. In covering a wide array of topics such as trail history, flora and fauna, when to go and the not to be missed "getting horsey on the TRT" Tim gives his readers a taste of Lake Tahoe, back country culture, and crucial tips.

The books only flaw is that weighing in at 15 oz. no thru-hiker would actually want to carry it with them on the trail. However for a day hiker I recommend taking out the relevant pages, or perhaps making photocopies.

All in all I think this book is well worth it. In addition to being the perfect guidebook, it is a great read.

This review is really a review of all of Robert Cameron's books of aerial photography. He has many, including books of New York City, San Diego, L.A., Chicago, etc., and every one is packed with huge, colorful, full-page aerial photos. Cameron also knows a lot about the history of the cities he photographs, writing insightful captions, and many times including old aerial photos for side-by-side comparisons.

Cameron doesn't just shoot random shots - he focuses in on landmarks, buildings, neighborhoods, parks, events, etc. The shots are so clear that, if you've been to the city, you'll be able to pick out details you remember, like a park bench you sat on or a statue you admired.

As far as the Las Vegas book goes, well, this city changes so much that now, in 2004, some of the photos are a little out of date. For example, the Bellagio was not even dreamed up yet, and the New York New York is shown under construction. Still, the wide variety of shots, from the Strip and Downtown to the sprawling suburbs to the Hoover Dam, canyons and deserts from the California line to the Arizona line, make this book exceptional. You can spend quite some time just taking in the details on a single page.

This was Camerons last original photo essay and it is a nice creshendo. Vegas is not the most beautiful place Cameron has photographed, I mean in all fairness who can compete with Carmel, Yosemite, and San Francisco, but he makes Vegas sparkle with his fantastic eye. Vegas is a city that photographs well, the desert colors really respond to the camera, one can't help but be amazed at all the construction and I'm from Houston! As a man from the west, it was fiting that Vegas should be Cameron's last hurrah, I mean if this city does not symbolize todays Sunbelt I don't know what does. I may have not chosen this city to be his last, but that does not dampen my appreciation of his talent and the beauty of his photography. I highly recommend this book as I do all of his wonderful photo essays.

I've always been a fan of photography from the air and have taken many myself. Robert Cameron has shown the beautiful city of Las Vegas in a way that most other books on Vegas (and there's a lot)lack.

The photos are crystal clear and have captions that explain the photo. Probably the most intriging of the photos are the ones of the Hotel and Casinos. The Luxor, MGM Grand, and the Stratosphere are all excellently photoed.

A great soverniger for anybody wanting to go or have been to Vegas.