Oregon Books

The American Sisters series is a great series for those thirsty for more great historical fiction. Laurie Lawlor is a great author, and each book is another good portrayal of a teenage girl in real-life situations in different periods of time. Definately worth your money, if not your time. Fans of good historical novels - series such as Dear America, and authors like Kristiana Gregory and Elizabeth George Speare, or of previous Laurie Lawlor books - I recommend this!

Harriet "Duck" Scott wanted adventure when her family left Illinois to travel in a covered wagon to Oregon. Then Duck's mother died, and her father became a distant stranger. Now Duck and her five sisters and three brothers, with the help of nine hired hands, had to keep their wagon train together. Duck resents her older sisters, who resent her for being mischeivous. As the Scott family crosses mountains, plains, and deserts, and faces heat, hunger, thirst, and exhaustion, Duck doesn't realize just how close at hand her chance to prove herself to her family is.

This book is incredibly boring, and was probably just written to copy the other good series featuring girls from the past (like Dear America). There are a million kids in the Scott family that are gradually introduced through out the book and it's annoying to go, "Oh, so there is ANOTHER kid." The book is extremely boring, and I kept reading and reading thinking that the exciting part just had to come soon. It's disgusting- because they jump around on top of a dead ox. You don't feel for Duck missing her mother because she is dead right when the book starts, and you never get to meet her. Don't waste your money on this book.

The author really made the characters of Duck and her sisters come alive and she described the journey really well. This book was both funny and sad. This is a really cool author & series!

Harriet Scott was a real girl who, in the spring of 1852, at the age of eleven, joined a wagon train for Oregon with her large family (consisting of Harriet, her parents, her five sisters, and her three brothers). More is known about Harriet and her family than most pioneers, because one of her sisters kept a journal that was later published, and Harriet herself wrote and published a memoir as well. Taking the facts and filling in with what was not known, the author has crafted a believable tale about the difficulties and tragedies this family encountered, which included the deaths of Harriet's mother and youngest brother. But what is certainly true for the survivors is that what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Harriet is portrayed as a spirited, adventurous tomboy who develops a fierce loyalty to her family. She often resents her older sisters, who try to curb her spirit and keep her out of trouble. (Some things never change, no matter what century it is!) This book starts of a series that would be enjoyed by fans of the Dear America series.

This book captured my attention right from the beginning. I never guessed the ending until the end. It is a wonderful mystery and and anyone who loves Christian mysteries, will love this book.

This book is well written. It tells the story of two misfits from a small town who are brought back together in the middle of mystery, tragedy and scandal.

Stefanie's marriage to playboy Hunter is in shambles. However, she goes about her daily life in their small hometown with a modicum of respect. When the mill that she and Hunter are fighting over control of in their divorce settlement burns, enter Stefanie's childhood friend, Ryan. Their reunion is joyous for both until Stefanie learns that Ryan is the arson investigator who has come to investigate the mill fire. There is surprise on both sides as they struggle to renew their friendship and develop it into more. But, Stefanie turns out to be the chief suspect in the fire...And, as more crime occurs, Stefanie is sucked deeper into the whirlpool. Can Ryan clear her or will his investigation condemn the one woman he has always loved.

This is fast paced, clear concise writing. It is a fast read with well thought out plot twists. And, it is a Christian Fiction book. Who could ask for more?

I was in the airport traveling and purchased Whirlpool in Cinncinati's airport in the Christian section of the bookstore there. I don't usually read mysteries, so I was pleasantly surprised at the depth and intricacy of the plot. I cared about the characters from page one and I really loved the romantic element weaved throughtout the story. The ending was terrific and very satisfying! Now I'm going to have to read more books by this fabulous author. I'd recommend Whirlpool to anyone who loves a great mystery with engaging characters and an intelligent plot.

Stefanie Canfield is trying to adjust to the hard changes her life has thrown at her recently, including a divorce and the death of her mother. When the mill she co-owns with her ex burns to the ground, she finds herself in the unpleasant position of being a suspect.

Ryan Harrison never wanted to return to Julesburg, but his job as arson investigator brings him back. The only bright spot is a reunion with childhood friend Stefanie. But their relationship becomes strained when she finds out what his job is. The fact that he is trying to bring her back to God doesn't seem to be helping. When she is accused of murder, however, all bets are off.

This is an intriguing book that is equal parts mystery and romance. The author does a good job of balancing the two elements. As a die hard mystery reader, I felt the mystery aspect was a little weaker then it could have been. The first chapter is a little rough while giving us the background we need to understand the characters. However, these two elements only dampened my enjoyment slightly. I got so caught up in the story and characters that I couldn't put the book down. The spiritual sub-plot felt natural and added another layer to an already engrossing book.

Christian fiction fans rejoice! There's something in this wonderful book for everyone. I'm looking forward to reading more by this author.

Stefanie Canfield is just trying to move on with her life. Her husband left her for his mistress and is currently flaunting her all over town. But Stefanie is nothing if not a survivor. She has opened a small gym and enjoys spending time with her new best friend Val.

Until the fourth of July. Stefanie is uncomfortable when she sees her ex-husband Hunter with his new fiancé Trisha. But things go from uncomfortable to horrible when the mill that Hunter and Stefanie still own together, burns to the ground...and Stefanie is one of the main suspects.

Ryan Harrison is an arson investigator sent to Julesburg to investigate the mill fire. It's hard for him to return to Julesburg because he had lived there when he was in junior high. The only good memory he has is of his friend Stefanie, so he hopes to look her up while he is in town. But Ryan is shocked and dismayed when he discovers that his friend Stefanie is the prime suspect.

Stefanie knows she didn't do the arson, but is suspicious that her ex-husband could be trying to frame her. But things get even worse when a body is located in the mill. Then another resident is found murdered and Stefanie is again the main suspect. Ryan and Stefanie don't know what to do. They are finally having a chance at a relationship together, but something or someone is trying to put Stefanie away in jail.

Lorena McCourtney has written a sweet romance with an intriguing mystery that will keep you turning the pages to find out who done it. I look forward to reading the rest of the Julesburg inspirational romantic mystery series, just so I can stay involved in the goings on of this small town. If you're in the mood for a feel good book with a bit of mystery, pick up a copy of Whirlpool today

This is one of the funniest novels I ever read -- but the scarey thing is that it is a spot-on portrait of a big slice of our world today, from the sports madness to the poison water and mad squirrils as well as the murderous instincts we would rather not acknowledge. An instant classic!
TEK

The cover looked kinda crazy so I picked it up having no idea what it was. This isn't your average sci-fi novel. It's really funny and more of a modern world setting with outrageous things happening to outrageously eccentric people on a college campus. It reminds me of some of William Browning Spencer's stuff, but I like this better.

This is one of those odd books that is unclassifiable. I felt sorry for the football player, as they do belong on college campuses, not in the cemetery, but I recognize that many academics think the worst of them, but although I liked the steel-eating squirrels, and the prose style is superb, the football player I liked best of all, and all of my sympathy went with him -- an unintended effect probably, but I just love sports players, and think that eggheads are too mean in defending their turf, a remainder envy from not getting picked in grade school but getting picked on, but still, this didn't ruin the novel for me, it just raised all kinds of ethical-social questions that heightened the experience of this book.

An interesting and fun novel mixing bizarre elements of sci-fi, pop-culture and academia. A good break from the pompous "literary" writers and the standard sci-fi/fantasy fare, but still filled with ideas well worth looking at. Fans of Phillip K. Dick's later work would probably love this.

This is one of the funniest books I've ever read. If you like De Lillo's White Noise, you'll love Burnt. Highly recommended

Question: A riveting mystery set in Portland Oregon in 1894? How good can it be?

Answer: It can and is an absolutely wonderful book. Libby Seale and Peter Eberle are two terrific characters with high powered charisma set against the backdrop of murder in Portland Oregon in 1894. Libby Seale is a herione for all time. Delightful wit, great historical descriptions, and a plot that will keep you guessing makes this book a "must buy".

I can't wait to read the next Libby Seale mystery.

Once again M J Zellnik pens an exciting and smart mystery. The main murder plot kept me guessing, while the complicated relationship between Libby and Peter kept me thoroughly intrigued. Can't wait for the next installment!

I loved this book -- Libby is a smart, plucky heroine. Peter is a smart sexy leading man. They are thrust into challenging situations not only in terms of solving a crime, but also in their own personal lives. The sexual tension is high, the historical descriptions fascinating, the characters rich and full of complexity. I loved the first mystery, practically devoured this one, and am terribly impatient to read the third. Reading these two books really made me want to visit Portland, as well! The historical settings, the time period of a city changing, the heroine with her difficult past she is escaping from in NY -- all these things leave me wanting more. Thank God for a wonderful heroine to fall in love with. More Libby Seale mysteries, please!

Readers who've made Mary Daheim's two mystery series set in central Washington such hits may now move on to Portland for M.J. Zellnik's 'Libby Seale' mysteries. Zellnik's work is set in the past--the 1890s--with accuracy that shows a real love for the era. The details of paper-making in the 19th century and the impact of cheap labor from China add a rich background to the mystery: who died in Hiram Rose's place and who is threatening Mr. Rose's life.

I was instantly caught up in the lives of Libby Seale and her fellow investigator, Peter Eberle. I couldn't put the book down, and was surprised by a few of the plot twists. I also liked that Libby Seale is one smart cookie, perfectly capable of solving a mystery,getting her man, and keeping abreast of the latest fashions. Be sure to add this to your reading list!

Dreamers is an excellent account of the Nez Perce flight for freedom as they are chased by all the stars of the American military. Beginning with Gen. Howard (infamous already for the disaster at Chancellorsville during the Civil War, cameo appearances are made by Gens. Sherman, Sheridan, and Miles. Stadius retraces the path of the Nez Perce from the Willowas, to the Battle at Whitebird, and then the run through the Idaho Panhandle into Montana, through Yellowstone and back up trough Montana. There is a balanced mix of personal accounts of civilians, soldiers, and Nez Perce that makes this a rich historical account. This, coupled with Stadius's own journal account of retracing the Nez Perce Trail and how it looks today makes this a most enjoyable book. It reminds me of William Frassanito's style of taking old Brady photographs and determining exactly where they were taken by revisiting the sites. The reliance on written and oral histories and Stadius's gift of describing the terrain and geography enlivens this book, to the point that I am already planning stages of traveling over parts of this trail. Occasionally Stadius will inject some of his opinions, but overall I most appreciated the contrast of experience from participants and not some attempt at political correctness or personal sermonizing. History as it should be written is what Dreamers is most about. It starts slow, but after Howard starts pursuing across the Lolo pass, I couldn't put it down. I bought this book at the U. of Idaho bookstore when the author was doing a signing, let it sit on the shelf for 7 months, and finally stuck it in my brief case to read on a cross country flight. The return flight has never seemed so short. I highly recommend this book.

I reccomend this book for any one wanting to learn more about the Nez Perce Trail. I found this book very interesting.I have driven parts of the trail myself and found this book to be so factual. The authors respect for the Native American Culture shines through. It is a very interesting book of historical importance. I found myself reading the book with a road Atlas by my side.

Really 4 1/2 stars...
This book weaves together history and one man's interesting journey following the historic Nez Perce Trail established during their courageous 1877 retreat towards Montana and then Canada. Stadius carefully studied McWhorter's notes and adds a few interesting details and quotes overlooked by other historians. My only complaints are 1) the editing could have been a little better; and 2) Stadius misstates Crazy Horse's death date by one day too early and wrongly states that an Indian policeman stabbed him with a bayonet. These observations aside, this book was very touching (part history and part human interest) and I highly recommend it.

I have been a huge fan of the Nez Perce people and their native land ever since I was a child. I grew up in Boise, Idaho, not too far away from the Nez Perce land, and as a boy I remember listening in fascination as my father told me the story of the sad plight of the non-treaty Nez Perce. Decades later, as an adult who suddenly took an interest in reading, I began studying and researching their story myself.

Of supreme importance to me in learning the story of the Nez Perce people was understanding their land and their love of that land. When I read the histories I wanted deeper, more detailed descriptions of the land that they lived in and the trails that they followed. None of the histories quite gave me all the information I wanted. So, I took off traveling through their country and over their trails to experience it first hand. Finally, I heard about this book, and I hoped that maybe it might be the book I had been looking for. I was not disappointed.

Dreamers is the book I wish I had written because the author took the time to take the trip I have often wished I could take, traveling the entire length of the Nez Perce National Historic Trail, researching it and studying it all along the way as he recorded his personal thoughts about events that occurred there.

As pointed out elsewhere, Dreamers is part travelogue and part historical account. This format is obviously not going to appeal to everyone. In fact, I may be one of a very small minority of people who truly appreciate it. But, for me, this book was fantastic.

Martin Stadius has put together a narrative of travel along the Nez Perce trail, and through the stacks of books and articles that have been written about that episode in US history. He navigates both trails well. His blend of personal narrative and historical analysis does a good job of sorting facts from myths, and offers often compelling description of the landscape.

Some of what I like about this book: Stadius took some good pictures along the route and put them in this book. He spent the obligatory time in Pullman, Washington poring through the McWhorter papers. He listened well to one of the most knowledgeable people alive today concerning the Nez Perce war--Otis Halfmoon, National Park Service Ranger--and gives a good description of that Nez Perce man's storytelling ability. He reveals a sense of ethics in his exploration of places and sources. He recognizes the incompetence of the would-be poachers he saw fishing in a "no fishing" section of Yellowstone Park.

My first thought when I saw this book was that it would be another urbanite's tour through Indian country (like Ian Frazier's _On the Rez_). But as Stadius follows the Nez Perce trail, he deftly weaves together natural history, perceptive observation, good manners, and an inquisitive spirit tempered by respect for the sacred. His prose keeps running smoothly in a manner akin to his miracle bus because he's willing to get out and wade a creek before attempting to drive through, and knows his limits. That scene from the book could stand as a metaphor for his journeys through the pasts and places along the Nez Perce trail.

This book will not have the enduring power of McWhorter's accounts that are based on first hand testimony. But in our time it is one of the better books on the subject.

The good news is that book lists most fishing areas in the state by region. It is very comprehensive. The bad news is that the book only tells you where these spots are by region. You cannot find your way to most of the fishing spots from this book only. You must have an additional map that is detailed enough to show all of the various streams and lakes by name. I found this disappointing.

This book is a must have for anyone fishing in oregon, it tells you about EVERY water thats fishable in oregon. I would give it a 4 for fly fishers because it does not give too much info about fly fishing diffrent waters.

If you fish or plan to fish in Oregon, you need this book. It has all the information that you could possibly need to get to, and successfully fish almost any public and many private bodies of water.

I would also recommend that you carry a copy of the State fishing regs. Some of the things the author says about open season and where you can fish on some river systems has changed.

All in all, this is the second best investment I have made in my fishing hobby. (The first being my license.)

My old edition on Fishing in Oregon was long since falling apart and I was waiting on pins and needles for the new version. I was not dissappointed!

Fishing in Oregon Ninth Edition is even more comprehensive than it's predesessors. The maps are awesome, and the directions are clear and easy to follow.

If you love to fish, this book is THE invaluable resource for all of Oregon!

Perry P. Perkins
Author
"Just Past Oysterville"

It there is a body of water in Oregon with fish in it, its listed in this book. From salmon to largemouth bass, Fishing in Oregon will put you on 'em. My only complaint is with some of the directions to the locations. Unless you're fairly familiar with the area mentioned it can get a bit tricky. Though a good Oregon map pretty much makes up for any difficulty. If you live in Oregon and you fish, this book is a must.

The Journal of Jedediah Barstow is very good. It starts out right after Jedediah's family dies in a flood in a thunder storm. He takes over the journal his mother had been writing and talks about the struggles with food and moving over the lanscape. He tells about the other travlers. He also tells about wagon life. The book ends a few days before they get to oregon. All in all it is a good book.

The Journal of Jedediah Barstow was a wonderful book. I couldn't put it down. The main character lives through a hard journey, even after his parents and sister died fording a river. He gets picked on because he's an orphan and he gets tired of it. He becomes the hero all through the book, first with the bear attack, and then with a friends' son after a fatal rattlesnake bite. Ellen Lavine is a great writer. I think this book had elements of forshadowing because he always said, "It went like this".

In this book a young boy looses his family when they all drown but him. In his diary he talks about all of the people that are on the trip with him, including a Jew who is unliked by everyone except the blacksmith, whom he works for, and an abusive husband who he stands up to after the husband after he scares his daughter so badly that she hides, crouching, underneath the wagon. I liked this book a whole lot. It was a wonderful book. And so short! I read it in one night and I stayed up to finish it. I just didn't want to go to sleep not knowing what would happen next. One of the story elements in this story is suspense. There is so much suspense that it is almost like a thriller novel except not scary.

It takes place on the Oregon Trail. The main character is Jedediah Barstow. After his father, mother, and sister drown during a river crossing Jedediah keeps his mother's journal as his own. After the accident he keeps to himself for a while. then he makes new friends. But but the person he stayed with is very rude to him. His name was Mr. Henshaw. Jedediah chose to stay on the Oregon Trail to fulfill his parents "DREAM". He goes through my hardships but in between there is happiness.

I loved this book. It not only showed what hardship they went through, but it shows the good too. I would reamend this book to anyone who loves a good read.

After the rest of his family drowned while fording a river on the Oregon Trail, Jedediah Barstow finds himself all alone and carrying on the family "dream" which to him has already been shattered. Adopted by the Henshaw family Jedediah finds himself braving the trails of the old west to carry on the family dream. Even through the constant complaints from grouchy Mr. Henshaw Jedediah perseveres knowing he is the only one to fulfill the dream of his family. Through fording rivers, meeting Indians, getting stampeded by bufflo, and carving his name on Chimney Rock, you get to look into the life of a brave young boy carrying on the family dream.

A beautiful book to add to your collection. The pictures are wonderful and to read the book is a joy. A great buy to learn more about lighthouses on the coast.

A beautiful book to add to your collection. The pictures are wonderful and to read the book is a joy. A great buy to learn more about lighthouses on the coast.

I was a little disappointed with the pictures. I was hoping for close up pictures. The photographer seemed to take distant photos. only one or 2 were a frontal view and up close, most were from odd angles.

This pictorial coffee table guide highlights lighthouse history and lighthouses of the Pacific Coast, revealing the development of lighthouses in three states. From the technological evolution of the lighthouse to how they were maintained and are today restored and preserved, Lighthouses of the Pacific Coast provides very beautiful photos spiced with descriptions and information accessible to both destination-bound and at-home enthusiasts.

This book written by Leffingwell and Welty is visually appealing and sets down historical facts in an engaging style. The beautiful photographs taken by Leffingwell are augmented by stories of the politics and history behind the lighthouses and their keepers. They include information about women lighthouse keepers, how the lighthouses were constructed, which have been de-activated, and most important - how to get to the various lighthouses for a visit in person.

The most interesting story was that of a construction crew and Coast Guard team working nearly around the clock for five days to restore the Cape Flattery lighthouse near Neah Bay in Tatoosh, Washington. Also worth noting were the descriptions of life as a lighthouse keeper, the artisanship of making the Fresnel lights, and the automation that replaced the need for human presence in these remote outposts.

As the Oregon Contributing editor at Suite101.com, I am always on the lookout for books my visitors will enjoy and will help them plan their next trip to Oregon. This one is a winner!

This book arrived in A-1 condition, and in a timely manner. I recommend this seller.

This book is not for tent users even though it pretends to be. The focus is mostly on RV's and fishing.
Also, it is frustrating how inconsistent the information is...for example on some campgrounds he mentions how much shade is available but on others he does not. So what am I to assume about the ones that he doesn't mention the shade at all? Also, with some he comments that there are mountain views but others he doesn't. How can the reader know if there are no mountain views or if he just didn't care to mention it that time or didn't have the space to do so in the book? I feel that editing for space has ruined this book.

Don't trust this book! He gives "Rogue Elk Campground" a score of 8 out of 10 for the scenic rating and he doesn't mention it's proximity to a medium traffic highway. We drove all the way there to find that it is basically on the side of the highway. The highway dropped the scenic rating down to a 2. The highway gives Rogue Elk Campground a ton of light and sound pollution and makes it feel unsafe. Stienstra didn't mention any of this.

Untrustworthy, inconsistent book!

The maps and lay out of the book are nice and user friendly though.

My husband enjoy going on camping adventures, and we use all of Tom Stienstra's camping books like bibles. I have noted only one mistake on his California book, but on the whole they are useful and informative.
We plan a trip up the California coast to Oregon, then to Washington.
We plan to tent camp all the way using his books. We did it before a few years ago and it worked out great. I strongly recommend this book or any of his books to anyone who wants to have fun, cheap, exciting adventures camping!

As indicated by reviewers of earlier editions, the Moon Outdoors (previously Foghorn Outdoors) series of campground guides is not without flaws. Even so, we know of no directories which do a better job of addressing campground aesthetics than these wonderful guides. In our experience, the look and feel of a campground is often the single greatest factor influencing the quality of a camping experience . . . and the factor totally ignored by nearly all other campground guides.

There are a number of directories which rate facilities, provide directions, tell you how to make reservations and give you an idea of the cost for a night's stay in a specific campground. This series gives similar basic information and then goes beyond that. This guides from Moon Outdoors actually gives you a feel of what it is like to stay in a specific campground - a bit of a narrative description and a "scenic beauty rating" for each campground plus information about nearby recreation opportunities. We like that a lot.

Have we found instances where we liked a campground more or less than the book's author? Of course. Tastes differ and things change over time. Even so, we would rather have an admittedly subjective rating of a campground's intangibles than to have nothing to go on but a recitation of facts and figures.

Are the Moon Outdoors Guides the only ones we use? No. But they are ALWAYS the first place we turn when selecting a destination campground.

If you camp this is the book to have, espcially if you tent camp and want to find all the small campgrounds. I love finding all the tent campgrounds, this is the definite book for the NW.
five stars is not enough for the work that went into thsi book.

I really love the Iditarod and the team spirit in general, but this book discribes a whole new level of commitment that is purely amazing. Without a lot of self-pity, the blind musher discribes how she got together her dogs, trained and then ran the Iditarod. It goes into a lot more detail than this, obviously, but it doesn't get boring. If you want the ins and outs of sled-dog racing, this is it. If you want a great feel for woman/dog teamwork and devotion, this is it too. I highly recommend it.

I just read this book and found it very fascinating. I was able to relate as a woman athlete, but can honestly say that I will never understand the kind of difficulties this young woman has faced and continues to overcome on a daily basis. I have always wanted to travel to Alaska and see the Iditarod first hand. Rachael has given me a wonderful insight into the race until my dream is possible. After reading this book you will realize that your limits should be set by yourself and only by yourself. Thanks for your incredible story, and CONGRATULATIONS on your 2006 Iditarod finish!!!

The Iditarod, let alone any sleddograce, is not something one does "on the side". You have to organize, to train, to plan, be prepared against the elements, love the athletes, become one of them. Simply said: it takes guts and without it there is no glory.
Rachael has set her goal and reaches it, with all the extra handicaps one can think of. It shows the reader that if you have anything you want, anything you really desire, you've got to go for it and cross all the borders you encounter. There is no "but..." I have nothing but the deepest admiration for Rachael!

Wow. At first I was really enjoying it, but when she started making remarks about the ignorance of recreational mushers, my level of admiration halted and started to drop. I personally wouldn't have said that she couldn't do it, but just because a recreational musher (along with some racers too) said that she couldn't doesn't mean that she can generalize and say that ALL recreational mushers are ignorant about mushing. As a long-time recreational musher, that really made me not like her. As I started looked at her from a different angle rather than the girl-who-overcomes-the-odds, she turned into an arrogant person who uses her eyesight as an excuse for special treatment.

I don't know much about dog racing, but this story had me mildly interested all the way through, and I learned a lot, not only about the sport, but about blind people and how one girl's courage catapulted her into a 500 mile, grueling endurance race across the wildest parts of a wild countryside. Rachel speaks candidly about how, when she was young, she wanted to be part of the clique of "popular girls" who ruled the roost at school, and how these uncaring girls mocked her and humiliated her for even trying.

She didn't like being treated as some sort of second class and in a way, you can see the whole of her subsequent career as a sort of insolent salute to the girls who made her life hell. Her family was supportive, up to a point. But the challenge of the Iditarod Trail frightens even the most dedicated guides. And some unimaginative, if concerned, fellow sledders told her she was crazy, being blind to attempt such a physical feat. For even strong men with both eyes sometimes went mad along the trail. The ITC wasn't helpful, and she had to appeal to them in person. What would she do if she had to go to the bathroom, for example? Rachel answers these questions with the frank good humor for which she has been known all over the world of sled racing. One indication of the deeper pain involved is that, usually, Rachel cries sometime during a race. But finally she's at a point where she's having fun and it shows not only in her work, but in the pages of this delightful book. My brother who gave me NO END IN SIGHT knows of my love for the books of David Sedaris, and he thought that Rachel might be some relation! Well, there's no direct blood connection (and her name is "Sedoris") but she is like David Sedaris in being able to find the humanity and humor even in the most awful of straits.

Yes, it's "heavy sledding" at times, especially if like me you're a newbie with next to no knowledge of anything she's talking about and anything she's been through. But, there's a helpful glossary at the back of the book so all you non-mushers can decipher the somewhat specialized lingo. You'll be crying out "Haw!" and "Hike!" like seasoned trailhounds. Ever wonder what kind of personality you would have as a canine? Are you the wheel dog type or the swing dog, a team dog or a lead? Check out NO END IN SIGHT.