Oregon Books

"...gritty, marvelous portrait of life in mid-19th century America. I like the mix of the detail of everyday life and the tense and hair-raising moments."loisb@efn.org

The intriguing story of a woman who came to Oregon in a covered wagon in 1851 and lived long enough to see hundreds of automobiles passing by her home in the last year of her life. Here we have the West as it truly was, from the primitive era of the Oregon Trail to modern times of World War I. Dr. Richard M. Brown, History Dept. University of Oregon

For a book published over 40 years ago, this read is still relevant and engaging. With snippets of history, humor, science and just plain common sense, it is a good introduction to life in the high desert from a native's perspective. This book was the one that got me hooked on Central Oregon over 25 years ago, enough to live here. People tend to think of the desert as dry and drab, but it is brightly colored by its people and history. A must read for anyone traveling through or moving to the Oregon Outback.

This is an amazing book for anyone who knows, or wants to know anything about Oregon's high desert and the high desert way of life back in the mid 1900's. Many pictures add to the mental pictures your mind conjures up as you read the most amusing stories of old. After reading this book, I even bought the DVD entitled "Indian Fighter" (Kurt Douglas and his then wife both star!), because the author provided the stock for the movie and talks about it a bit in the book. The DVD is a great way to see the high country the book talks about!

Mr. Friedman's book is fun. Using it is like going on a treasure hunt. Browse through the different regions in Oregon and discover things you didn't know were there, but because of his book you " . . . just have to see."

Oregon is my chosen state to live in and I really want to get to know it intimately. "Oregon For The Curious" is the perfect guide for me to take along on my travels.

Places are easy to find with directions to each listed down to the tenth of a mile. Enough detail on the highlighted places to visit is given to get you curious, but not to give the surprise away.

I'm curious and this book has made me "curiouser and curiouser."

This book has been a part of our family since childhood. I remember my Mother taking it along on family vacations, and we'd stop at all of these cool spots that were recomended by Ralph Freidman. Now that all six of us are grown, we all have our own editions of this book. Whenever I take an Oregon getaway, this book always comes along. Whether it's geology, history, architecture, or anything in between that you're interested in, this book will be a great companion to your explorations.

Oregon III is a gorgeous display of the Oregon coast, waterfalls, fast flowing creeks, brooks,rain and mist. The photographer has sumputuously captured the essence of Oregon: her unending supply of known and hidden bodies of water are a wondrous thing that can be found throughout this stunning state, vividly presented in this outstanding volume. The Pacific Ocean is detailed in all its grandeur of cliffs, jutting rocks, and chilling waters. The undulating coastal beaches offer thousands of rich greens, cool, damp browns, ocean blues and whitecap whites in unending discoveries that take the travelor's breath away at every bend in the road, every view to be found. When a travelor heads inland from the coast, there is the Oregon coastal range to meander through. Off the beaten path are "lost" creeks and water falls that tumble along as they have for thousands of years, all but forgotten unless the travelor stops and walks through the trees, sometimes only a few feet from the highway. Here one may find rich mosses embracing the rocks and boulders, pebbles, and fallen trees that border on a creek hurrying somewhere, laughing with the breezes. So enchanting, one might expect to see fairies or other mystical creatures presiding over a lost kingdom. The photography and text invites the reader to imagine these enticing treasures with deserved pride. The creators of this book take you to the Cascade Range. Don't be surprised to find deep crevices with water trickling from above. If you decide to to traverse such a crevice be wary of the freezing waters that occupy these fissures. The rocks and boulders will be slippery with wet algae or the thousands of years of being splashed on from the falling waters. The coolness will invigorate you as you find yourself succumbing to the pleasure these photographs provide for you. The photography and beautifully written text will take you away momentarily, but you won't find any real satisfaction until you've experienced the reality which is Oregon. When you view this book, you'll know you've had an overwhelming experience, and everytime you open its cover you'll feel Oregon calling, calling. calling..............

Atkeson & Ross capture the beauty of this state in their photography and words. I lived in Oregon 20 years ago and every time I look through the pictures in this book, I'm reminded of its beauty. I never get tired of looking at these photos. The book is split up into several sections: The Oregon Coast (which in itself is a rare treasure), the Columbia River, the Western Valleys (including Salem & Portland), the Cascades (including a couple shots of Crater Lake), and Central Oregon.

While the only true way to view Oregon's beauty is to visit, this book gives an excellent idea of what it's like to live there. Atkeson has some truly marvelous and at times breathtaking pictures contained in this book.

This book sets the standard for reference works on regional artists. Anyone interested in art of the period will enjoy it immensely. There are articles that help define the art movements of the day and wonderful information on over 500 artists - many of them can only be found here. I use this book as a tool in collecting, and any serious collector should not be without it. Have one in your home, your office, and your car (for those finds at estate sales). With this book Oregon artists have come into their own. In addition it is a beautiful book just to browse.

Oregon Painters: The First Hundred Years is the definitive book on the history of art in Oregon. Ginny Allen and Josie Klevit have written a resource book that goes beyond the genre. It sets a new standard to which all future books on this subject will be held to. As useful as any dictionary for looking up general information it also entertains the reader with biographies of the painters that run from brief and factual to lengthy and colorful. A generous selection of color plates makes this book a feast for the eyes as well. This book belongs in the librarey of gallery owners, art collectors, historians and anybody with the slightest interest in the Pacific Northwest or art in general.

This book is fantastic! It replaces having to hire a professional guide for white-water trips. The information is clear, concise and well thought out. Maps and charts provide great detail, and the time mapping to evaluate float time is essential for all those that "do it" and not just "read it." When you float a river, the landmarks can change, flows differ, but this book helps you plan a white-water trip as if you had been down the river a hundred times already. A must have book for any first time trip. His Idaho book is just as good. I tested this book on five different rivers and it has been a life-saver!!

Although few paddlers from outside the region seem to be in on the secret, Oregon offers an excellent diversity of multi-day whitewater trips. Even more amazing is the fact that you can find something to do just about any time of the year and with easy logistics there are several overnight trips that regional paddlers do over long weekends. John Garren gives you the information you need to plan your trip.

If you are looking for a comprehensive guide to whitewater or are exclusively a class 5 steep creeker this is not the guide for you--instead check out Soggy Sneakers which includes over 200 runs in Oregon--but if you want excellent river maps (with access points, landmarks, and rapids), information on river campsites (including estimated group size each can handle), and overall advice on trip logistics for Oregon's classics then this is the guide for you. The guide also includes seasonal hydrographs and several black and white photos that give you an idea of the character of each run. The shuttle maps are another great feature of this guide. For those not familiar with local roads they provide you with an estimate of travel times from key towns and factor in the quality of local roads. Thankfully, you can easily find local shuttle service for many of the runs.

This guide includes 23 runs spread out across the state including the Clackamas (two sections), Lower Deschutes (two sections), Grande Ronde, Hood, Illinois, John Day (two sections), North John Day, Klamath, McKenzie, Metolius, Minam, Molalla, Owyhee (two sections), Rogue, Sandy, North Santiam, South Santiam, Snake through Hell's Canyon, and North Umpqua. Not all of these runs are multi-day trips, but several are and all of them are great runs for river cruisers and popular with rafters. Many of the runs are class III/IV, but a few are primarily class II and a couple even include a class V rapid.

I thought this book was really cool my little sisters checked it out from the library, I was bored one day so I decided to check it out I could'nt put it down I did'nt even want to stop for lunch I wish they would of told us the name of the Judd's Baby and Wade and Amelia finally tie the knot! I really like Robbie he seems so excited over everything just like Phoebe I hope that they tie the knot when there done with the next adventure I recommend this book to anyone it's great!

Oregon at last! Finaly, the Petticoat Party, after enduring more then the usual hardships on the trail, have arrived in the so-called "Promised Land" - Oregon. But for 13 year old Phoebe Brown, Oregon is downright boring. After a few days of farming, Phoebe is just plain fed up. She longs for the adventures and freedoms she experianced on the trail. Is she the only adventuresome person in the whole Oregon Territory?

This is one of those gems, or Diamonds in the rough that comes along once in a very long while. It should stand the test of time and become a classic in its own right.

About the author:

Dave Whiteman was born in 1954 in the Willamette Valley of Oregon. He still lives in a small town in that valley raising his children. Dave is a single parent who originally wrote these stories so that his three sons would know of a special place, with special people, during a magical time, long, long ago. His children are his biggest fans and describe their Dad and his book with their quote "Never judge a book by its Author!" Dave's parents worked in the sawmills and feed-stores of yesteryear, and through example, taught their kids a very strong work ethic and unique outlook on life. They raised themselves and their five rambunctious, hell bent for leather, and just plain strange children, out in the country. Dave thinks it was the town's idea that his family live out in the country as he believes the town wasn't ready for his renegade siblings or their adventures. After reading these stories, you will tend to agree.

About the book:

These are the tales of Dave's adventurous, yet accident filled, youth set in a mostly rural environment. These stories will make you laugh until you cry, scratch your head in total puzzlement, just plain cry and then laugh some more, all the while bringing back many memories of your own childhood, or thankful that these weren't your childhood memories. Some of his laughter and pain, may be your own gain. His body of work has been compared to a cross between Patrick McManus and Garrison Keillor. His body has been compared to a cross between Fabio and Woody Allen. His mind has been compared to a cross between Shakespeare and biscuits & gravy. His stories are a down home account of the last forty years in this changing world. They remind us of some of the simpler times of days gone by. The stories are all true and as he says, "There are plenty of court records, witnesses, physical and emotional scars to prove all of them!"

The book contains 65 chapters and these are a few of the many subjects and exploits within:

How Nutria came to Oregon - Little Connestogas or Spaceships? What mice and the Boot Scoot Boogie have in common, What the police did with the dead deer riding Dave's bicycle, Skinny-dipping with monsters, What love and moonstruck watermelon have in common, Elvis and the bloated cow, Raiding apple orchards at midnight, Why streaking and strolling are not conducive, Crawling naked into a nutria den, Why sometimes FIRE! Just happens, What NOT to do when FIRE! Just happens, Fighting Dust Spitting Cobras on a Christmas Tree farm, What 007, Calvin Klein, J.Edgar Hoover, and the Beatles had to do with bean picking, Hitchhiking do's and don'ts, The dangers of troutsicles, Why cats, pistachio's and bicycles can't be trusted, The downside to converting a chicken coop into a sauna, (Believe it or not, there is an upside) Surviving your siblings in the country, Seeking fame and fortune in Alaska, Porcupines in my pants, And many, many more.

This is a great book to read. Its hard to keep my attention, but this book had my interest. Lots of good imformation.

I always enjoy reading personal accounts of the Oregon/California Trail. Taken from actual diaries, letters, memoirs and reminisces, these are true to life experiences from the pioneers themselves. A few to mention, without being overly exhaustive would be:
Catherine Sager Pringle and her six siblings becoming orphans of the trail when in the course of twenty six days both parents died. They were then taken to and raised at the Whitman Mission in Washington.
Lucy Jane Hall Burnett's account of taking the disastrous Stephen Meek Cutoff.
The insightful David Campbell reminisces traveling to California. After burying their dead, they would have the cattle trample over the ground to deter any Indian tendencies of digging them up for clothing. Also, numerous brief battles in California for statehood are well described.
Patrick Breen's day to day experiences of being stranded for months in the Sierra Nevada Mountains with the Donner Party are harrowing.
James Longmire's memoirs of traveling over the continent are both entertaining and perceptive.
Excellent.

George Taylor has written a complete and informational book about the weather in Oregon. If you are interested in knowing the facts, I highly recommend you read this book.

This book is AMAZING in its information. I am currently studying Oregons Weather and this gave me a boost. You never thought a Hurricane forced storm could ever hit Oregon, but it has! And it looks like more is to come. Besides, if your planning to move to Oregon and is interested in the weather here...this is the book for you! Five STARS!

--Grant