Washington Books

Lorenz did a great job when he wrote this book!
The very first time when I heard of chaos theory was year ago while watching some old documentary about Nostadamus. In film was mentioned chaos theory and said that acceptance of it by many people could change whole look to life and so on. Movie left to me questions - what is that theory, what it's standing for.
Finaly my interest lead me to this book and it clearly showed me what kind of staff is that chaos theory! That was and is really intriguing!
Book is well written. There was of course some places that wasn't easy to understand. I myself have studied high math,encountered differential equations but anyway had some difficulties. That's why not 5 stars to book - it's really not for absolutely everyone although almost close to it. I couldn't stop it reading, I was done in two days.
This book encouraged me for further reading.

Lorenz has done it again. This is a terrific inside look at chaos by the man who made Gleick's book possible. And it had a few interesting new ideas too--who would have thought there was a different way to present fourth-order Runge-Kutta? Who would have thought Runge-Kutta could convert a phase-space circle to a nice-looking fractal attractor? A good book for the air plane.

Edward Lorenz takes a complicated topic and makes it accessible for all people, regardless of prior knowledge of chaos theory. He provides interesting and easy to follow examples of chaos, fractals and complexity. The illustrations are helpful and he includes a glossary of terms to aid the beginning chaos enthusiasts to quickly become familiar with the terminology. Mr. Lorenz gives a brief history of chaos and explains how it is used in the study of mathematics, meteorology, economics, music, and other fields. The book is very interesting and is highly recommended for those who would like to acquaint themselves with the exciting world of chaos.

My first intro to chaos was Gleick's book *Chaos: Making a New Science* which focused on the history of the discovery of chaos. Although this was fascinating - and a good read for those just learning about dynamical systems, strange attractors, and the like - Lorenz's *Essence of Chaos* was much more satisfying. Lorenz analyzes specific chaotic functions, gives you the math (equations are in the appendix) and generally accomplishes what the title suggests - that is, exploring the essence of chaos. I highly recommend it for anyone interested in this deeply fascinating subject.

We bought this for our little vacation following the trail of the Lewis and Clark Expedition through Washington State. We have learned so much about our own state by using this book. Definitely worth the money.

This well organized and very readable book is a combination history book and travel guide. The authors personally traveled to the sites and provide detailed directions and numerous photographs as well as historical and social background.I am a long-time resident of Washington and have learned much from this book. I refer to it often and people who have borrowed my copy have enjoyed it enough to purchase their own copies.Topic coverage varies from a couple of paragraphs to a few pages. The book is organized by geographic regions and the highly detailed index makes it possible to find a place or event quickly.

The authors have produced a very readable and entertaining history of Washington State including the origins of the towns and cities, the people who contributed to their development and how they developed over the years. Organized by regions and highways, it is a must for anyone interested in exploring the byways of the state and learning how it came to be.

As a native of the state, I'm familiar with the popular history of Washington that has been told and re-told many times. That is why it's a joy to come across a book with little known and interesting stories about our past. To come across a sign announcing a small town, and to be able to read about that town in this book gives me a new appreciation for the area I'm driving through and the state I live in.

The book Fate of Ravens, which is written by Tiina Nunnally, has to be one of the greatest mysteries written. Although there was another book written before this, Runemaker, which was also a Margit Andersson mystery, I didn't read it so I don't think you need to read it to understand Fate of Ravens.
I'm not going to start summarizing the book since this is a review, but just so you get the main point of what happens in the book I will explain a little. There are a couple murders that have recently happened in Seattle, and a regular woman who is a translator gets caught up in everything. By the looks of what is going on this woman, known as Margit Andersson, believes that the deaths were tied to things that happened in Nazi-Occupied Denmark during World War II.
While reading the book, you feel that you are living in this world, waiting for the next bit of evidence. There were absolutely no downfalls in this book and everything was always entertaining. Yes, finally a book with no boring parts! These are some of the reasons the book is what it is. It is a great way to learn about the Scandinavian culture.

This is the perfect book to curl up with and forget about the dark winter evenings that have arrived. Every chapter makes you want to continue reading because there is just one more thing to figure out.

The characters feel real, and the environment fits the story which allows the reader to feel relaxed and not have to fight to make the story work. The WW II stories, which are true, give an amazing view into a part of history that has not been shared with many.

This is a book to be shared with anyone who enjoys siting down and reading a book until you reach the back cover. It is a good one night stand.

Good news/bad news: You discover a fantastic new mystery series. Yay! Then you find out there are only two books in the series, and the author has no immediate plans to write more. Boo! If you haven't yet met Seattle translator Margit Andersson, you're in for a treat. "Fate of Ravens" and its predecessor, "Runemaker," are delightful, suspenseful amateur sleuth tales, featuring, as a bonus, lots of insight into Scandinavian history and culture. What really made these books come alive for me were the characters. Margit and her friends are so well-rounded and real that I half-expect I'd run into them if I stopped by a certain Seattle coffee shop. I enjoyed Margit's cat, Gregor, too. Recommended to all amateur sleuth/cozy fans, but particularly those with an interest in Scandinavia! I'll be keeping my fingers crossed that Tiina will decide to put her translation work aside and bring Margit back some day...

Margit Anderson is working as a translator of Scandinavian languages at Sea-Tac Airport when she watches a senior citizen fall down an escalator, crying "not him!" in Swedish. Though the incident bothers her, Margit becomes concerned when she learns that another elderly Scandinavian fell from a high rise balcony. The police believe the second victim was pushed and ask Margit to help them translate into English items found at the murder scene.

Margit soon realizes that the deaths of the two women were not coincidence, but linked by their work as conductors on the WW II European underground railroad that sent many people to safety. Eventually, Margit meets an elderly Dane, who believes that the women's deaths have to do with their activities five decades ago. As she becomes deeply involved with the case, Margit does not recognize the danger posed to her by an individual who wants his dark secrets from the big war to remain hidden.

FATE OF RAVENS is a well-written regional and ethnic mystery that will please fans of Northwest tales and those who enjoy Scandinavian stories. Margit is a fascinating character and the Seattle-Tacoma area is always fun to visit while reading a good detective novel. Additionally, the historical tidbits add much flavor to the story line. Still, like its predecessor, RUNEMAKER, the charm of this novel lies in the insight to the Scandinavian culture.

Harriet Klausner

Personally, I think the Peterson Guides are far more helpful than the Audobon publications. As mentioned in other reviews, Peterson uses illustrations organized by color and flower configuration. The illustrations are very well done. Audobon uses photos. The idea is that you match your specimen to the photo it most closely matches and follow further identification from there. The books are complimetary and work well together; however, if you can only choose one-- get the Peterson book. Overall, I have had much better success keying out plants with Peterson and repeatedly have found the plant I am looking for overlooked in the Audobon text. The truth be known, I doubt I will ever buy a Audobon plant book again-- perhaps they are better with birds.

I take this guide (and the Audobon Society Field Guide to North American Wildflowers-- west) on all my field trips to identify wildflowers. Though Peterson has fewer real photos, it does have better aids to identify specific wildflowers, as it is organized by color, as well as number and types of petals. The sketches help me do a preliminary id on the wildflower.

I like the book and the topic, however the binding is is such bad shape that the book is useless in the field or for a more robust usage. Can this be fixed?

Though this title may be a little pricy, it is a must have for residents of California, Oregon, and Washington. At any rate, any family within which there is a flower collecter, should have a copy of this excellent resource. Though my family originally purchased this title because of a biology project assigned to my daughter, it has since opened up an interesting world of the natural plant life of this area and even those farther away.

This collection of poems, stories, narratives, folktales, oral histories and essays very aptly portrays the vital importance of salmon to the native peoples of the entire northern Pacific rim - not just as a food resource, but as a basis for their culture and a component of their identities. Several of the contributions, particularly an essay by Jeanette Armstrong, note how sustainable yield was applied in salmon fishing for thousands of years and how the discarding of this principle in modern times has led to the excessive depletion and near extinction of this species. Since I grew up in the Pacific Northwest, I am more or less familiar with the importance of salmon to the local economies and the Native American cultures of the region, so I found the sections of the book dealing with the Ainu of Japan, the Ulchi of eastern Siberia and the Nyvkhs of Sakhalin particularly informative and enjoyable. It is also a bit depressing to learn that like the U.S. and Canada (although not nearly as brutally), Japan and the USSR/Russia similarly mistreated the local populations by, among other things, limiting or restricting their access to traditional salmon runs and/or trying to force them to adopt non-traditional ways of life (assimilation). "First Fish, First People" may be attractively published, with striking cover art and attractive photos and illustrations, but it is not a coffee-table book - its diverse contributions, taken together, outline a philosophy of respect for and wise use of natural resources, as well as (and just as importantly) respect for different cultures and different ways of life. It is almost a cliche to say that it is high time that such lessons sink in at all levels of our modern globalized and hyper-industrial societies.

Aba book of the Year!!

Buy it especially for the Sherman Alexix poen at the beginning. It's touches the core of the Salmon environmental and cultural dilemna in the Northwest.

This book is a work of art, and provides evidence that the University of Washington Press, through its cooperation with other smaller publishers (such as One Reel) is doing the work that needs to be done in Northwest history and cultural studies.

This book is a collection of perpectives on salmon from representatives of the peoples around the pacific rim whose lives have centered on salmon for thousands of years. The contributors are talented indigenous writers from the United States, Canada, Japan, and Siberia. The engaging text is amply illustrated with historic and contemporary photographs, as well as drawings. The historic photographs are not the same ones that usually appear. For example, nearly every book on salmon in the nortwest has a twentieth century photograph of Indians fishing at Celilo Falls. Most books use the same photo. This book uses one that features in the forground the cable system that was used to get down to the fishing platforms, with the fishing platforms themselves in the background.

Some of the work in this book has been published elsewhere. But the context it is given here accentuates it in useful ways. For example, Sherman Alexie's poem, "The Place Where Ghosts of Salmon Jump," is engraved into a sculpture in Overlook Park behind the Spokane Public Library and is published in _The Summer of Black Widows_. But in this book it appears beside a nice photograph of the falls as it appears today, and a photo of Mr. Alexie standing on the footbridge above a section of the falls pointing downstream.

Now here is a really great educational book! I wanted to give this book together with Women's Letters by Lisa Gruenwald. Buy these together and have a wonderful women's birthday or Mother's Day gift.
JQ

This made a wonderful gift that keeps "on giving."
The facts are interesting and unusual and it's good to have an insight into the women behind the men that have been in office.
Quite frankly I think most of them could have done a better job than their husbands.
Would highly recommend this to anyone for a good read and quick reference.

I am teaching an extra-curricular high school class this semester on the history of U.S. presidents and wives. This book has some very interesting information on the wives of the presidents. I have found fascinating tidbits from this book which kept my students interested even when the presidents might have proven boring! I am enjoying reading the book on a personal note too!

This huge book bollows Mr. Harris earlier book The Presidents Fact Book where he talked of the Achievements, Events, People, Triumphs, and Tragedies of Every President. Obviously in this book he is not talking about the presidents but their wives.

The first ladies have had their own share of the making of history. In recent years, Jackie Kennedy did a lot towards the creation of the Camelot image of the Kennedy years. Hillary Clinton is certainly remembered for her efforts towards creating universal health care.

These are just two small details of the lives of two first ladies. This book has over 700 pages about their lives, their interests, their activities in the white house and the way that they worked with their husbands to assist in the governance of the country.

And yes, there is a color section of pictures featuring mostly the clothes they wore.

Alisa Kwitney's FLIRTING IN CARS--and it was a book that delivered exactly what the cover ordered--a little hope, humor, sensitivity, and of course romance. Who could ask for anything more?

First and foremost the book focuses on the relationship of Zoe Goren and her daughter Maya. Because that is the reason Zoe is ripped from her favorite place of all time--the city. She's a single mom looking out for her daughter (and her daughter's education with dyslexia) so they head from middle of the city, to smack dab into the country. But not without some difficulty. And when I say difficulty, culture shock is only half of it. Zoe can't drive. Oh and wild animals? Yeah, not so friendly when they are in your house. Even if you do have a cat around.

This book delivered a lot of punch for its 323 pages. I fell in love with Zoe. Her honesty, bluntness, and to-hell-with-you attitude (listen, this woman? Yeah, she knows what she wants and goes after it. No excuses made). And her daughter Maya. Well, I think every woman can identify with her self-confidence issues. I mean who likes to be 13 and not fit in? No one. Then suddenly you find yourself fitting in somewhere... well it can only be called sweetness. And this is where the book thrives. Mother/daughter relationships. Parenting, and how we make some tough choices sometimes, that can hinder dreams and hopes we thought we had. It's all there, wrapped in this great relationship of a hard-working, dedicated mom and her daughter (I can only hope for so much with my daughter).

But I am forgetting something. The whole Out-of-City aspect of the book! Hey, I did the opposite. I moved from the rural Upper Peninsula of Michigan and landed myself in Chicago. Sure it was the 'Burbs, but for anyone that has done that little conversion. It's city. It took me 2 years to feel comfortable roaming the skyscraper, cement clad streets on my own. Now, I'm sad to not be in the concrete regularly. Kwitney also does a good job at creating the isolation that one feels by feeling like an outsider in a small (or big) town. Everything is so unfamiliar--foreign even. And coming from a small town, her whole feelings of being the outsider? Not such a stretch. I feel like that when I go home now. Once you leave the rural... well, it's hard going back. And Zoe had never been there (or wanted to go there) in the first place.

Oh--but does she have a surprise in store for her. First there is Mack (he's the romantic interest). Then there is Frances and Gretchen--also transplanted city folk--that, well, help Zoe's isolation issues. And of course a slew of other characters. They keep the country interesting and sorta sway Zoe away from her beloved city. Or at least as much as they can.

And this might be my only complaint with the book. The transition. It takes a BUNCH longer than a year to realize the country/city can work for anyone, you just need to find your place. Hell, it's taken me 10 years to finally find the common ground that works from me (I am 40 minutes from the city. And that is just fine by me). Less than a year and Zoe's completely happy with her beginning driver status, found Mack, and well given her career a face lift? A little like a sitcom. At least in novel form.

But please, don't let that deter you. The characters here are fun, playful, and definitely what keep you reading. The alternating points of view of Zoe and Mack are fun. Sexy. Hot. And well... just read the book. Let's just say, the sex is good (oops, sorry, a bit of a spoiler there). And the relationships all around are believable and definitely make for a wonderfully witty adventure that will make you beg to see where these characters DO land in about 5 years. I mean does Zoe land in the country forever?

I read this a while ago so it's not completely fresh in my mind. That being said, I did enjoy it enough that I wanted to give it 5 stars. This is definitely one of the chick lit books out there with substance. The characters were likeable and the plot line was interesting, with just the right number of twists. I will be buying more from Kwitney.

I just read Alisa Kwitney's latest book, "Flirting in Cars," and I couldn't put it down -- until I had to because I'd finished it. It's a funny and insightful look at relationships between city and country people, men and women, and parents and children. It's a romantic comedy grounded in the reality of country living. The characters are interesting and convincing, perhaps because unlike most in this genre, the author shows them working and parenting, not just flirting. There's a lot of flirting and more too, of course, but the real fun of the book is in the dialogue. Kwitney, like Austen, has the gift of revealing characters (their weaknesses, their aspirations) through conversations. She has a keen but empathetic eye, whether it be looking at two vets bonding over fixing a car or a gaggle of mothers at a private school cocktail party. Highly recommended to distract you from whatever chores you ought to be attending to instead.

Kwitney's latest novel had me up until 2 am turning pages as fast as I could. Her charm works not because we don't know who's going to wind up with one another, but because we want to see how they'll deal with the inevitable ups and downs and culture clashing. Flirting in Cars features Zoe, a Manhattan-based single mom and journalist and Mack, an EMT and driving instructor just back from Iraq, living in his country hometown in upstate New York. Their worlds collide when she has to hire him to drive her around town because she never learned to drive, her dependency awkward and unwelcome from a woman used to being the master of her domain. She feels like she's sacrificing her former cosmopolitan life for her daughter, and Kwitney quickly shows just how lonely, and gossipy small town life can be. Interspersed with the story are op-ed pieces Zoe writes for a city paper back home which further juxtapose her sense of reluctance to leave it behind.

Zoe eventually agrees to take driving lessons from sexy Mack, even though she still has her misgivings about the process. Once they start flirting, then dating, both of them have to deal with their own stereotypes and intimacy issues, along with expectations for the future. Kwitney paints Mack equally as well as someone in conflict between how he's thought of by those around him, and who he is and aspires to be, as a man torn between the world he left in Iraq and his home. Zoe opens up new intellectual worlds to him, but also reminds him that they are very different and wonders whether they can bridge the gap. An environmental issue in the town draws them and their neighbors into action, while they both get to know each other and spar with each other. There are misunderstandings but also plenty of tender moments, and Zoe has to learn to let go of some of her rigid worldviews, especially about what the country offers versus the city. Mack also has to adjust, even as he feels at odds with those around him who he's known his whole life, fenced in by the changes inside him.

There were a few story lines I'd have liked to hear more about; Mack's friend in Iraq who died and their closeness, and Zoe's estrangement from her family. All in all, though, Kwitney again does a fabulous job of imbuing her characters with chutzpah, warmth, and complexity. There's a family argument that's delightful if only to watch the curmudgeonly brother-in-law make a fool of himself. And Zoe's tenderness toward her daughter and her and Mack's sense of family, along with each of them realizing that their relationship is about a lot more than sex, make this book a delight. Charming, funny, sexy, and heartwarming all in one. I was originally intrigued by the story line because I myself live in Manhattan and haven't driven in many, many years after a car accident, and Kwitney handles that part of the plot quite well, but there's a lot more here than just a woman who's afraid of cars, and she does Zoe and all her fears, as well as her feistiness, justice.

I am a dislocated Appalachian that took the food bull of Seattle by the horns, but that was before this book. Now I am sure I will be THE Seattle epicure-genius among my circle with this book tucked into my collection. I am amazed by the variety of food resources, from chocolatiers to ethnic markets, where to get the greatest baguettes. I also love the anecdotal sections on the pioneers/owners of some of these purveyors. Oh, and recipes! There is humor, knowledge, pleasure, and respect written here, and a love for Seattle and the food treasures it offers. Buy it.

Yes, I know of no other book guide to Seattle's ethnic food culture. Considering how important a food town this is, it's really a shame this book wasn't written sooner. But, it's here & it's very good. I agree w. almost all of Ms. Calcott's food recommendations.

My quarrels are w. what is left out. What happened to ethnic restaurants?? I know there are many of them & it would've added to the size of the book & the time it took to research it. But a food guide that leaves out restaurants has left out something very important.

Richard

The book is delightful to read. I am not from the Seattle but it makes me want to visit, just to hang out in places like James Cook Ltd for cheese or Gelatiamo for ice cream or Il Fornaio for bread. It provides great inside information on the `in' places to go to. Miss Calcott is a food connoisseur. I can relate when she says she dreams about food. My imagination often takes me to enchanting places like Florence and Paris and thoughts of fabulous food are never far behind. The anecdotes that precede each section are interesting. Well done!

Wow!!! a complete review like the big cities. Very comprehensive by a first rate writer. I had the pleasure to meet Katy at a party ne week and is she knowledgeable. about Seatle. You would think she had lived here all her life.

A food lover's bible!!

This is a must see, must read book about "Forest Giants." If I had the loot to RV this would be a road map to follow. As a nurseryman I appreciated the detailed information about each species, the beautiful handrawn representatives of each major tree of the group -- be it Incense Ceder, Fir, Spruce etc.

Despite 35 plus years in horticulture, this book had much I could learn from. It is wonderfully written and illustrated.

I cannot think of no better book I could have gifted myself for my Christmas yet to come.

Secateur

This book rocks! It inspires as well as informs! The line drawings are especially amazing. Van Pelt selects specific angles for each drawing, such that he captures the unique qualities of each individual tree. These renderings are beautiful and accurate. Each one can be studied for hours. The photographs could have been a bit more creative, but he follows an effective strategy by showing a human in most pictures. This allows the reader to understand the immense size of these giants. The text provides an excellent natural history, conveying to the reader an intertwined tale of ecology, history, and discovery. Lastly, I was especially impressed with the fact that Van Pelt included so many tree species and individuals. By doing this he has allowed us to truly appreciate the diversity, beauty and uniqueness of these amazing trees.

This is an awesome book of personal accounts, illustrations, and photographs of magnificent individuals of Pacific coast conifers. Van Pelt knows these trees like no one else, having journied to, measured, and stood in awe at each of the giants depicted. His writes with witty reverence and from a deep understanding of the ecology of giant trees. Featured in the book are the author's beautiful line drawings of the trees, which capture the amazing structural complexity of their crowns in a way not possible with photographs. This book is a must for all tree lovers and those interested in coffee table adventuring into the last great forests of the Pacific coast.

This book affects people deeply. Certainly it did me. It is a simple and absolutely passionately beautiful account of giant trees, how they're discovered, how they're measured. Van Pelt's drawings are amazing. I think this book is a classic and I think it will live in print for many, many years.

This was a really refreshing novel written in a light and humorous way, yet dealing with serious relationship issues. Have been to Fox Island and loved the portrayal of that area. Tony & Price Shadowbrook are charming characters and give an intriguing look into a married couple's and writing team's inner life. Was very disappointed to learn there are only three books in this series!

This Hidden West series is GREAT. I wish there were more. The Bly's combine local history, mystery, suspense and romance all into one great book. Well written. Religion isn't pushed in the book, it comes naturally.

This book is a about a husband and wife writing team. They work together but definately don't always see eye to eye. I liked it because it showed marriage in a positive light. The couple often talk to God when they are having struggles. This book helped to remind me that when I have struggles I can talk to Him wherever I am whenever I like. You wind up really liking this family. I bought the other two books in the series and am excited to read them.

This series is one of the best I've read. The books are easy, quick reading and hold your interest. The stories incorporate intrigue as well humor in the relationship of the husband/wife team characters. I recommend buying all 3 in the series!