Oregon Books

All living things need water, and no one knows this more than farmers. "Water War in the Klamath Basin: Maco Law, Combat Biology, and Dirty Politics" is a look at the drought of 2001, and how the conservation-minded policy makers were set at odds with the farmers - who needed all the water they could get to keep their livelihood alive. A thorough examination of a heavily debated issue, "Water War in the Klamath Basin" is an essential pick for academic and community library environmental studies collections and supplemental reading lists.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

As soon as I finished "Weeding At Dawn" I wanted to open to page one and start all over again, so much is the pleasure to be in Madrone's company as she weaves nonfiction story, journal entry or poem into a rich tapesty of life on the land. Readers who have joyed in the writings of such authors as May Sarton, Terry Tempest Williams, Annie Dillard, to name but a few, will find "Weeding At Dawn" another source for inspiration and delight. Madrone's memoir is richly detailed, deftly turned with just the right metaphors and images; the content is sometimes serious, sometimes humorous, sometimes sensual. It is an evocative portrayal of lesbian country life as well as an invitation to all readers to the meditative richness of rural solitude. Frankly, Thoreau's writings, while certainly full of words to ponder, pales in comparison to this memoir's life in the Oregon woods. I guarantee readers will love the pleasure of Madrone's company not once but many times.

An excellent book for anyone interested in history, travel, women's studies, or the early settlement of the Pacific Northwest. Leighton writes with a accessible, personable style, and makes wonderful non-judgemental observations about the wide range of people she meets. Her sketches of Native Americans and Chinese are particularly poignant and enlightened for her era. Leighton was unafraid of roughing it, and experienced some travel adventures that make thrilling reading.

I purchased this book for my nieces and nephews because they were planning a family trip to Oregon. They found the book to be a lot of fun as well as very informative. I had looked for children's books on the Oregon Trail and found WESTWARD HO WITH OLLIE OX to be the best for young children. I recommend it highly.

Chick

Lawney Reyes is the artistic member of a remarkable Native American family. His brother was Bernie Whitebear, the leader who founded United Indians of All Tribes Foundation in Seattle and led the fight to build the Daybreak Star Cultural Center at Fort Lawton. Their sister, Luanna, was responsible for the establishment of the Seattle Indian Women's Health League. And Lawney, well, Lawney is a superb artist who has created many, many beautiful sculptures and works of art that grace homes, buildings and institutions throughout our state. He is a quiet and unassuming man who has written a quiet and unassuming book of great power and grace. Read it and understand the man. Read it and understand his family, his people, his odyssey. Marvel at the character and talent that has found expression in Lawney and his brother and sister. Thanks to the University of Washington Press for publishing this book so that more people can know and remember.

I live in Portland and like many people don't get out as often as I should. I typically spend my time in and around the city. Wild in the City allows me to take advantage of what the Rose City offers, whether it tame or wild. There are some great ideas for day trips and a ton of interesting facts that keep me reading, even if I don't have the time to experience them all. On the stuff that I've done in the book it's all accurate. There's a ton of great information in this book and anyone who lives in Portland, or is interested in what Portland has to offer, should read this book. Do yourself one better. Buy it. You'll be glad you did once you're looking for something to do on a weekend when you didn't plan on something.

I have read the first diary of Joshua three times, the second one twice. I am about to read the third one, which is this one and I KNOW it will be good. I would also recommend other Dear America books and other books by Patricia Hermes to anybody. They make a realistic fictional person from the colonial times and describes how they feel while telling a conflict at the same time. I've already read seven Dear America Books. I liked every single one of them. And I know this will also be great, too.

In this large, coffee table style book, landscape photographer Ray Atkeson - Photographer Laureate of Oregon from 1987 until his death in 1990 - chronicles the beauty of nature, sunrise to sunset, as seen along the Oregon shoreline. This was the last book he envisioned and played an active role in, the project was carried on and completed by his stepson & protégé Rick Shafer along with writer, poet, teacher Kim Stafford.

The photographer & authors intent, however, was not just to express a journey along any specific coast, but to display a journey of the spirit. To offer a combination of captivating, sometimes subtle and haunting, visuals accompanied by thoughtful text that remind one the world is a gift, something sacred. Slant of light, dance of waves, echo of wind, mystery of mountains and forest...More often than not, earth lends us something worth remembering.

On every other page lies a beautiful Atkeson or Shafer photograph faced with a page of prose written by Kim Stafford . Stafford's small stories illuminate, through memory or imagination, the given scene... Like the best nature journals this book also might, inadvertently, make you want to go through your own photo archives and add a little literary chronicle to enhance them. A well-combined mixture of words and scenics often doubles the impact - proving a momentary glimpse can become an eternity in heart if truly, fully valued.

If you appreciate Kim Stafford`s writing, you will definitely want to own this book ~it's tremendously inspiring. Likewise, if you appreciate first-rate nature photography. I believe it's long out of print but there's often used copies available ~ treasure worth tracking down.

Wineries of the Pacific Northwest is a perfect glove compartment or purse-sized guide to the rapidly burgeoning roster of Oregon wineries. If you are planning to visit Oregon, you need this book!

One of my children recently became interested in moving to Oregon, so I naturally began to wonder about what else there was to see that I had missed on previous trips. I tend to get to the mountains, Crater Lake, great golf courses and to see the algae harvest at Klamath Lake.

Naturally, I've enjoyed visiting wineries all over California, but I've never visited one in Oregon. What a pleasant surprise it was to find this excellent guide.

In 1990, Oregon had 71 wineries. Now there are more than 190 and the number is growing. Oregon ranks second in the U.S. for numbers of wineries and fourth for production.

The state's wineries are conveniently combined into four potential tasting tours. Two are for one day . . . and the one that intrigues me is for 2 to three days. So you could space this out to occupy a tasty week.

For each winery, you get the address, directions, hours, the names of the owners, winemakers and helpful people who work there. In addition, you find out about what Ms. Tadevich's favorite wines were to taste. The book is beautifully illustrated with a combination of photographs, maps and artistic renderings of the locales.

If you don't know much about wine, the basics are explained in the book in reference to the wines of Oregon. You will find out how to read a label, taste a wine, and what foods go well with each wine. There are also references to places to stay and eat, since only one of the wineries has a restaurant in it.

While many wine guides tend to be on the snooty side, this one is very friendly and recounts the fine experiences of speaking with the people who work at the wineries.

You will also find places to make notes on what you thought of the wines so you can order them again after you visit is over.

Oregon is a wonderful place to visit, so make plans to go there and take this guide along with you!

Where else have you not yet tasted wines? I found the experience of eating chocolates filled with champagne in France to be a tasty way to cool off with a little snack. I had no idea such tidbits existed until I went there. You probably also have nice surprises ahead.

Like the other volumes in this unique series of works written in and about the state of Oregon, this collection of stories is excellent. Representing the long history of the area from before the arrival of Europeans (Astoria is the oldest US settlement west of the Mississippi) to contemporary times, the work selected provides a clear window to the diverse people, landscapes and experiences of the state.

These stories are a lively read, from Molly Gloss's disturbing "The Doe" (a nod to Oregon poet William Stafford's poem "Traveling in the Dark") to humorous and historical works of fiction.

This is a handsomely produced collection for story lovers or those curious about the NW.