Arizona Books

This book has 45 tours in 4 areas of Arizona--Northern, White Mountains, Mogollon Rim, and Southern. 136pp. Introductory material on ski history in Arizona, winter hazards, preparing for your tour, ethics and touring, and night skiing. Each tour is covered with a topo map, and is rated by terrain, time, distance, and lists topo maps required. The descriptions describe the route and what you see along the way. Sturdy paper cover. Sadly out of print, but used copies are floating around.

Snake Hunting on the Devil's Highway is a hysterical and fun collection of stories that revolve around two guys who travel to Arizona in search of exotic reptiles and amphibians and find trouble, fun and craziness along the way. I'm sure the book will make a great movie too. Action, adventure and humor are a constant theme in the book. I really enjoyed how the author broke each adventure into its own chapter, which made the book more like a collection of really funny short stories but ended up being very much related. Intelligence comes from the least likely places at times, and the animals described in nice detail are utterly amazing, which makes you feel a little bit more comfortable about snakes, lizards and frogs after reading this book. But its the crazy situations that's so peculiar and incredible in the book that made it extra enjoyable for me. Fascinating how these two guys are experts in something most people would run away from (SNAKES), and these guys run straight for it! I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to laugh, and enjoy themselves for an easy and enjoyable read!

After reading this book you will never again have to simply shrug and stare off into space when queried about your phobia around heading out into the remote desert in the small hours after midnight, the less moonlight the better, to hunt for potentially lethal rattlesnakes or other exotic specimens such as a large toad that urinates profusely upon being picked up by an eager collector. Trust me, your fears will now stand upon a firm foundation.

On the other hand, my bet is you'll also develop a deeper appreciation for some of the more reclusive of God's creatures. While there are a few times you might get mad at certain characters who, in their stupid cruelty, haven't even evolved near as far as their reptilian victims, for the most part this book is good for much merriment. My favorite among the string of tales and anecdotes involves snake-killer Ranger Rick who gets his payback in way that makes you wish you'd been there. He's not permanently damaged by the experience but he sure learns to have a little respect for wild things.

I was very much reminded of Edward Abbey's story-telling style when reading "Snake Hunting." Even though they are easy-going, sitting around the campfire stories, there's an exciting undercurrent due to the potential for disaster at the turn of page. These tales are very human, filled with foibles, phobias and a wee bit of what's termed "foul language." Parental discretion advised? Well, only if you keep your kids in a closet where they never hear the radio, watch TV or connect with the internet. It's pretty tame by modern standards. And, after all, it's about two wild and crazy guys out hunting deadly snakes in the freaking desert in the middle of the night ... I mean, don't judge it by tea party standards.

While this isn't an academic book, Richard Lapidus reveals himself as a brave and serious naturalist in the course of this humorous series of stories. The patient reader will be surprised and rewarded by the information absorbed over the course of reading it. And I wouldn't be surprised if over the course of vicariously trucking along on these adventures and misadventures, you come to feel like you've found a friend. A quirky friend all right, but aren't they the best kind?

If you enjoy stories by the likes of Carver, this book is definitely for you. These stories are like quiet explosions, sneaking up on you with a surprising punch, even though the language is spare and low-key. The segues are a particular treat, tying the stories together into a coherent whole. More than just a collection, this book is a complete piece of work that works together beautifully. "La Luz" and "A Place in France" are my best picks.

I expect to read about Stuart Brannon in a western history book some day. He's been such a role model in my own life and Bly has made him almost a household name in all his westerns. Get a kick out of finding his name in every Bly novel. Must be the author's favorite character too! This last of the series was a real treasure to find and read and savor.

This book brought back many fond memories of stories, songs, and my cherished familia. A must have for the busy Muchacha who can still taste the warm tortillas with butter from her Nana's kitchen. This is Mexican Albondiga Soup for the Soul!

This book contains English translations of the Cantigas. The original Galician-Portugese verses are not included, nor are the musical notations. There are some line drawings of the illuminations, but no plates of the originals. I am a harp student with an interest in early music. The translations have helped me to interpret the music more effectively. This is helpful, accessible book for academics or students of early music.

This Book is Outta Sight! and Dy-No-Mite!

Someone recommended this book to me when I first moved to Tucson after living "up north" all my life. I had relocated to Arizona for a job and was in somewhat of a state of culture shock at the lack of green grass, no four seasons, etc. This book was a real god-send for me. It breaks the year into 12 months and describes what is happening in the environment in terms of climate, wildlife, plant life, and the constellations. It is filled with fun-facts and things to do and watch for, so adults and children alike will find this book fun and interesting to read. It is fascinating learning about the unique-ness of the Sonoran desert and it made me really appreciate how incredible and diverse it really is! I now recommend this book to everyone (native or newcomer) and buy it regularly as a "welcome" gift to my colleagues that relocate here from other parts of the country. I highly recommend it.

Focuses on early Anglo American views of the desert Southwest, and the destructiveness which threatens to destroy the landscape as it originally existed. Uses literature to show how attitudes have changed, have come to support the sustenance of the desert rather than its destructive transformation. But is there still time? Winner, Border Regional Library Association's 1998 Southwest Book Award.

He captured the beauty of that part of the country!