Oregon Books

I found this book very useful. I especially enjoyed the rear section that graphically showed the comparision between each plant. Plenty of photos and more specific than other books. Highy recomended

Terry Eagleton is the voice of neo-Marxism. Most of his other books do not even make sense to me at all. But two of them must be read by all accounts. And I do not understand why most people did not realize this. This book is very very funny, I have given this book as a present to smart people arround me and they all liked it, so I am not a lonely psycho telling this to you. If you know a little about Wittgenstein and the history of the early 20th century, you can easly make an afternoon a reading feast. Enjoy. In "the gatekeeper" this time he tells about his autobiography, yet I still believe that this book is his best work (my subjective reality, read and see that it is not that subjective after all) cause it is so much fun to read it.

Harvey Kaiser first caught my attention with "The Great Camps Of The Adirondacks" which were the precursors to the National Park System's own architecture. Kaiser thoroughly guides the reader through detailed architecture in most of the great parks in the western states (California, Washing and Oregon). Form, content, structure, function combined with natural beauty and history are explored in detail with photographs and architectural diagrams. Very few buildings are missed. History of each park is also included giving the reader more than just an architectural lesson, but a journey through the nation's greatest man-made treasures in the nation's greatest natural parks.

This is a wonderful book. The first time I read it, I was very impressed. It is very well written and beautifully illustrated. Once I finished the read, it felt more like having seen a movie, than having read a book.

Over the last 10 years or so, I have made many trips to the Wallowas (this is where the story takes place), and have come to love the natural diversity of the area and the independent nature of the people that live there.

One day I was in a local Wallowa area bookstore, looking for items on local history and found this book. I read it and the story touched my heart - so much so, that over the past several years, I've bought at least 6 copies to give to friends and relatives.

Several months after reading the book, I was on a deer hunt in the Wallowas with my son. I was focused on finding a way to a remote high bluff overlooking a wild river valley. It had been a long and difficult 4wd ride over bad terrain, and at some point in checking my maps, I realized I was about to cross the "Cat's Back".

Traveling through the area, I remembered reading the book and realized that this was where the story took place. I recognized important locations from the paintings, photos, and well written prose contained in the book.

The beautiful illustrations accurately reflect the natural beauty and ruggedness of the area. It did not take much imagination to envision the hardships this small family faced, and it was also easy to understand why they may have wanted to call this place home.

Thinking back, in my minds eye, I could see little Caroline leaning into the wind - straining to hear the music ...

There's no need to go out there though - you can just buy the book.

Can't recommend it enough.

Finally, someone who actually knows something about gangs and their prevention has written something to help teachers and parents deal with this problem. "Ask Nicky" provides an superb source of material for classroom study sessions that actually involve the student not just lecturing them on the "right" thing to do.

Again, an excellent book and well worth every penny.

Frontier historians have long been appreciative of the path-breaking establishment of Astoria as a fur-trading post on the Columbia River in 1811 and its short history as a pawn in international rivalries. James P. Ronda, well respected for his work on the Lewis and Clark Expedition, presents in this book the first full-length study of Astoria to appear since Washington Irving's "Astoria" in 1836. The result is a fine work that is more significant than just a story of adventure in the Pacific Northwest or just one more account of a single aspect of the fur trade. It moves with a sweep and a dimension that places the little post on the banks of the Columbia River in the vortex of world events, a pawn in games of international rivalry and chance.

Ronda describes carefully the efforts of John Jacob Astor, head of the Pacific Fur Company and several other business enterprises, to establish Astoria as the capital of his far western trading empire during the first decade of the nineteenth century. That effort moved from New York to Washington to St. Petersburg to Montreal to Canton as he manipulated international politics and appealed to personal desires. Astor, motivated by a quest for wealth but fortified by a sense of national prominence, appealed to the expansionist-minded politicians of the United States to gain support for Astoria's creation. He was finally successful and in 1811 the site was settled by representatives of the Pacific Fur Company traveling in two contingents, one overland and the other by sea. For the next three years Astor and his lieutenants battled bureaucracy in several nations, international ambitions on the part of several countries, rival fur trading companies, and the economics of the business to keep Astoria in operation. They failed, and it succumbed during the War of 1812 only to become one of the British North West Company's posts for the next twenty years.

But "Astoria & Emoire" is more than a recitation of the life and death of the American settlement. Although it is little more than a footnote in most history texts, if Ronda had limited his book to the Astoria's history irrespective of other events that affected it I would have questioned the necessity of its publication. Instead, Ronda provides an excellent study in the history of international relations at several levels of governments and between private citizens. Astoria is, essentially, a case study in business and politics in an international setting. Ronda's work, moreover, is a social history. He uses some untapped historical materials to reconstruct life on the trips to and from Astoria as well as activities at the post. In so doing, he presents a very useful portrait of activities in an early fur trading establishment. He describes something of the interrelationships of cultures and allegiances between the Americans, the Indians, the French and British Canadians, the Russians, and the Hawaiians. This social portrait is especially welcome also as a glimpse of the diversity present on the early fur trading frontier.

"Astoria & Emoire" is one of several refreshing books to appear on the development of the American West. It is a commendable work, and because of the skill of its author its 344 pages of narrative make interesting reading. One word of caution, however, this is not just western or frontier history, it is sophisticated analysis of several historical trends focused through the lens of Astoria; present in it also is social history and business history and diplomatic history and probably some other types of history yet unnamed. Those seeking staid fur trade literature with the emphasis on minutiae will be disappointed. Those readers pondering broader vistas, however, will be rewarded by considering Ronda's work.

Astoria resident Karen L. Leedom presents Astoria: An Oregon History, an extensively researched, informed and informative local history of the city of Astoria, Oregon - the oldest European-American settlement west of the Rockies - illustrated with black-and-white photographs and featuring three self-guided tours. Chapters tell of Astoria's colorful past dating all the way back to the 1500s. From Native American life to the rise of logging and fishing to Oregon's first female surgeon and dramatic Coast Guard rescues, Astoria: An Oregon History is as fun to read as it is educational. Highly recommended for anyone traveling to Astoria, whether for business, pleasure, or a family visit!

Great for shorter trips in this high cost fuel economy. Author's sketches are great!

This book is a must have for anyone traveling Interstate 5. I especially like it for the details on pet areas and trailer access. It's the perfect size to fit in the glove box. This book also makes a great gift! The information on the kiosks around our local area is helpful too. If you are even in the next town over, you can look in the book and find a spot to stop.

This is a fun and charming book that makes for great road reading. There are so many fun things to know, that although we live in Oregon and know a bit about our own state, we learned a lot! We have also given this book as a gift four or five times to visitors. We really enjoy it!