Colorado Books

I just finished reading "Not Fade Away" for the second time. The first time I read it a couple of years ago I remember taking it very slowly because I felt each word was so important. Usually a very fast reader, I would stop and go over sentences because I didn't want to miss anything. Impactful ideas were there in every sentence.

I just finished reading it again because I wanted to see how it stood up against "The Last Lecture." And it held up very well. The two books are by (and about) similarly energetic, optimistic men dying of cancer, but they tell very different tales in different styles. I'm glad to say that there's an honesty in this book that wears well with time. Re-reading it again made me very glad that I recommended it last year to a friend whose brother was dying of cancer. They say the best gifts come in small packages, and that's certainly true here. Powerful and enjoyable! Read it.

As a leukemia survivor, married to a wonderful spouse and with three young children, Peter's memoir rings almost too true to me. I actually met Peter a few times in the 80s through one of his dearest friends whom I dated for a short time. Peter was never so enthusiastic as he was when talking about Laura, his soon-to-be bride. You could tell that family devotion, and a strong conscience was deeply rooted in him from an early age.

The basic values given to him by his parents, particularly the sacrifices his mother made, were at the heart of this book. He sacrifices his own personal privacy and makes a gift to his children and others coping with cancer. He shows us what the process feels like. Knowledge, however sad, is somehow empowering.

As a cancer patient, I have plenty of time to reflect and read. If you don't, then I say read it. You won't regret it. This book is at times intoxicating and high-flying, philosophical and deadly real. It is about life, much more than it is about death.

Peter may have not thought that he was a survivor, but he was--every day he lived. Here's hoping that Peter's life, however brief, will never fade away in the hearts and minds of all he loved.

I happened upon an advance uncorrected proof of this book quite by accident. I read a few sentences and thought, "Why not give it a read?" Well, I have to say that the book - both the writing and the content - are absolutely wonderful. Laurence Shames gets all the emotion and humility and pride down flawlessly in the pages of this book. You can't help but wish you had known Peter Barton after reading this.

Mr. Shames wrote a poignant and very real account of the disease that took his life at a very early age. I read this a couple years ago, and just re-read after hearing the story of a "younger" person stricken with cancer. This book will inspire, but will also force the reader to consider; "What would I do? Would I have that much grace and zest and enthusiasm?" The dirt-nap gets us all, this book demonstrates how one man dealt with his impending demise---and teaches valuable life-lessons that we could all use. Highly recommended.

For Peter Barton, a maverick businessman whose career has been characterized by creativity and billion-dollar partnerships, the psychology of cancer was difficult to digest. Unlike most business agreements he has brokered in the media industry, the deal between a terminal patient and his cancer appeared to be a zero-sum game, and the forty-something year old media mogul struggled to bridge the disconnect.

Hardly a person to let death dictate the terms of his legacy, Barton preserved his insights on the matter before he left the living. As such, Not Fade Away -- Barton's chronicle of the last days of his life -- is an attempt at coming to terms with one's finality. The chapters switch back and forth from Barton's first-person narrative and the observations of Barton by a professional writer assigned to shadow the terminal patient during the last stages of his life.

Despite the subject matter, Not Fade Away is an uplifting read because even as death closes in around Barton, we see that life reveals itself in all its sublime beauty. Such a paradox, namely that death is infused with life, leads Barton to embrace both the fact of his imminent death and the ever-present life that surrounds him. Barton reformulates his understanding of the linear aspect of the past, present, and the future, and realizes their convergence and singularity. Just as death is a part of living, we are not fixed to a single point in time; the past, present, and the future are manifest in the now.

Although such notions are not terribly original, Barton's honesty and courage in sharing his innermost fears and doubts during the last days of his life provide a refreshing look at life, death, and perhaps what it means to "not fade away" in a language that resonates with timeless relevance.

I just finished reading this book, and it was not that great. A lot of the facts about the case are there, but there is way too much storytelling. Some parts of the book sound like a fiction novel geared towards 7th graders. I do not like the way the authors tell some of the stories of things that happened. The authors could have been more unbiased, especially when giving facts about the accuser. I felt that a lot of the time they were kind of assuming things about her and how she was thinking. The ending of the book is also horrible, and it is too open ended and fails to really tie into the rest of the book. The last chapter is kind of awkwardly placed at the end, maybe because there was no where else for it to go.... perhaps they need to add on to the book now that more has happened.

Oh, and they misspell Red Auerbach's name in the book, I'm surprised no one caught that before it went out.

Overall if you really want to read this, it gives a little insight, but it is not worth your time. If you followed this case in the press and read articles, you probably already know most of the stuff covered in this book and it is not worth it. If you did not follow this case at all and just want something to read that will give you the basic story, then it may be worth it for you.

The book describes a miscarriage of justice in a small town in Colorado. It's amazing to read the story by Shapiro and Stevens about what happened and learn how our legal system is impotent in protecting those that need it most. Also, how some of the public cannot conceive that their heroes may have feet of clay. I was very disappointed to read about the shenanigans of the female defense attorney toward the victim. A sad story that should have ended differently.

that a rich athlete can get away with rape by throwing money at the problem.

This is a very well written book of what happened in the Kobe case last year. Its incredible the case never went to trial after everything that happened.

Jennifer Stevens and Jeffrey Scott Shapiro's summary of the Kobe Bryant drama will most likely be immortalized since the case has been settled and all parties -- including Bryant, the victim and their lawyers are bound to silence. Stevens and Shapiro covered the case up until February of 2004, but very little happened afterwards, leaving the reader with all the pertinent information, including what happened the night of the alleged attack and the police interviews with Kobe. It's a fast turning read, but good luck trying to find a copy in an actual bookstore. Either they're all sold out or maybe there was a recall for a new edition or something. It's pretty hard to locate a copy now. I remember seeing them in Borders when the book first came out, but ended up borrowing a copy from a friend after I had a hard time relocating the book offline. This book reads easily, but almost all of the authors bombshells including the police interview and 3 other women Kobe had strange encounters with has been verified by other sources. It's a fun read and unfortunately it's all there is since no one else has written another book on the case. I'm glad there was at least one book out there that covers all the main points and stories. I'd definitely recommend this book to anyone interested in a broad overview of the case and an inside look at who the main players are.

The slow pace of this book was at times a struggle, but after having completed the novel, I now appreciate the tone and speed of this novel, the gentle unwinding of the characters and their experiences. What kept me intrigued was the mystery ending of finding out WHO and WHY Edith killed. I enjoyed reading the character's journey, struggles and triumphs. I hated some of the characters and LOVED some of the characters. There were some vivid, gory descriptions including the farm accident in the first 1/4 of the book. I think that Haruf captivated the emotions of his characters and lures the reader in - I couldn't put the book down for the entire last half.

I really enjoyed this book. It felt like I was sitting there listening to the story. After completing this book I am now reading Plainsong.

I believe this is Haruf's second book, after Where You Once Belonged, and it is better than that, but not quite as good as Plainsong. It is definitely worth the read...strongly developed characters and a heartbreaking story.

THE TIE THAT BINDS is structured differently than PLAINSONG. For one thing it's written in first person and the narrator, rancher Sanders Roscoe, holds the point of view throughout the novel. But the story is really about Edith Goodnough, who is being charged with the murder of her brother. Roscoe takes us all the way back to the nineteenth century when Edith's father Roy emigrated to Holt County, Colorado. He and his wife, Ada, have two children, Edith and Lyman. Roy is an ornery cuss who treats his family like possessions. Ada, who longs for her home country in Iowa, soon dies and Edith becomes the mother, a role she will play for the rest of her life.

Sanders' father once had a romantic attachment to Edith but Roy rejects him because he's part Native American. His father never quite gets over Edith and makes Sanders help out at the Goodnoughs when Roy tries to make Edith work in the fields. She becomes a second mother to Sanders.

These characters are simply amazing. Lyman Goodnough, who escapes his father during WWII and travels the U.S. for most of his life, is a true original. Little Rena Roscoe, Sanders' daughter, adds a little comic relief to the story when she forms an attachment to the increasingly senile Lyman. About the only character from PLAINSONG that's familiar is Sheriff Bud Sealy, who incites Sanders' wrath when he arrests Edith. Believe me, it doesn't matter; this author can make the most transitory character resonate with life.

Kent Haruf has more compassion in his little toenail than some of our religious leaders have in their whole congregation. When Edith's father dies, she winds up alone. Haruf's description of what this does to a person, sent shivers up my spine. I cannot recommend this novel highly enough. I've read PLAINSONG, EVENSONG and now THE TIE THAT BINDS, and I can't wait for the next episode in the lives of the people who live in Holt, Colorado.

The slow pace of this novel works not only to create a sense of the unhurried, methodical, sometimes monotonous lifestyle of rural farm families in Holt, Colorado, but also serves to let the pieces of a mystery slowly unfold with each chapter. The story of Edith Goodnough, accused of murder, is told from a neighbor's point of view, and the narrative voice is in no hurry to get to the heart of the details of the supposed murder, yet manages to divulge and foreshadow enough information to keep the reader's attention piqued.

Ms. Barr does a good job of bringing back characters from earlier books in the series as participants in her novels. It is interesting to follow Anna Pigeon's relationships as they transcend each book in the series and follow how you feel about each character from one novel to the next. Also, there is always a healthy crop of new characters that you learn about as well. In this one, you not only travel with Anna as she works to solve a mystery, but also how she reconnects with Stanton Frederick, who comes back from an earlier novel to help her solve the case. In all, a great read with lots of mystery and great characters to follow through the maze of facts and lies that ultimately leads to finding out who the bad actors are.

Anna's move to Mesa Verde National Park from Isle Royale sets her on track to solve another mystery. Reading this book was a delight because it was more than 50 years ago when I visited Mesa Verde and found it to be one of the most fascinating places five of us Boy Scouts experienced on a 5,000-mile journey through the West. It was good to find that the place retains its special charm. Nevada Barr's ability to provide fine details about the characters and an intriguing plot make this book one you shouldn't miss.

Ill Wind is my third Anna Pigeon novel. Author Nevada Barr (I still wonder if this is her real name) has Ranger Pigeon living with the noisy seasonals, drinking hard, making friends, and... solving a murder.

Pigeon continues her string of "close misses" in her life and in her caseload.

A well-liked temporary ranger is found dead in an Anasazi structure. Is it a natural death, or murder staged to look natural? Pigeon, along with FBI colleague Fred Stanton, analyze every clue to unravel this mystery. Are the Anasazi ruins haunted? Are environmentalists resorting to murder to keep development from occurring?

Anna Pigeon finds out.

No murder in the first chapter here. This book unfolds slowly, with 100 pages under your belt before the foul deed is uncovered. Anna's drinking problem is in full view. She is a very imperfect person.

I have to admit that I thought I had uncovered the mystery fairly early. "Oh, brother," I thought. "That is so obvious."

It wasn't. Theory number two fell by the wayside as well.

Nevada Barr's mysteries are as good as those written by Dick Francis. And if you have an interest in the layout and management of our national parks, these mysteries are brain candy. Enjoy.

Winds always blow across the barren landscape of Mesa Verde National Park, but Anna Pigeon finds them deadly with the murder and the death of a child. One of the great mysteries of the southwest are the Anasazi who left behind beautiful pottery and tiny fragments of their once flourishing civilization.
Nevada Barr captures the marvelous wind cut features of the park in her third Anna Pigeon (park ranger) mystery/suspense novel. A tough subject to handle as it has been done so frequently, Ms. Barr's fine writing and style lifts this one above the rest.
A captivating visit with an old friend.
Nash Black, author of WRITING AS A SMALL BUSINESS and SINS OF THE FATHERS.

I always enjoy Barr's novels because they just strike me as so real. She's done an excellent job of creating a likable character in Anna Pigeon. Anna's wisecracks and her flaws and her admirable traits all combine to make her a character with which the reader is comfortable, a person for whom the reader can cheer.

Another plus of these novels are the vivid settings for each and the way in which Barr lovingly describes them. The author's previous experiences as a park ranger give her work an authenticity that is especially striking. There is a great deal of passion in the description of places and it only heightens the way in which places speak so much to Anna while people remain somewhat beyond her reach.

This was a very nicely written mystery with many seemingly disparate threads that the author was able to tie up very neatly at the end. It was suspenseful and intriguing and I always find her books to be quick reads because they are so compelling that I devour them, eager to find out what will happen next.

`Voice of Conscience' by author Behcet Kaya is a heavy on the heart tale of a young man destined to fight his enemies or those that he thinks are his enemies. In reading `Voice of Conscience' you find that a young man's "conscience" changes his lifestyle drastically and you tour from Turkey to Istanbul to America during this adventure. I found this to be a highly stimulating read and you are forever on the edge of your seat wondering what will happen next to this poor young man again. Behcet Kaya has done an outstanding job in attracting you to his fictional story with grief, losses, love and family all intertwined in one fantastic job!


4****

Mind Fog Reviews ~ Anastasia Cassella-Young
[...]

Voice of Conscience
By Behcet Kaya
Outskirts Press, Inc. © 2007
ISBN-13: 978-1-4327-0628-9

Thoughts of revenge can infest the brain, tear open the heart and consume the soul. Such is the case for 45-year-old Ramzi Ozcomert in Behcet Kaya's book "Voice of Conscience." Vivid memories and horrid dreams constantly took him back to a night of terror when he was just 14. His father, mother and soon-to-be-wed sister were so full of life one minute and then suddenly and brutally, were slain in their beds - victims of an age-old conflict between two Turkish families.

Voice of Conscience follows a young, innocent Ramzi into adulthood as he finds love and a seemingly successful life with everything he could have ever dreamed of, but nothing satisfies his aching soul. Driven by an insatiable desire to obtain justice for the family he'd lost so long ago, the middle-aged Ramzi leaves everything he's built up behind - a thriving business, and a beautiful wife and daughter - to find and slaughter the men who stormed their home that terrible night. However this journey leaves him even more devastated than he could ever have imagined.

This captivating tale is a study of human nature as it explores both the depths of hatred and love that can be felt in one's heart. It also touches on the desire to regain honor and dignity as a human being - but at what cost?

Behcet Kaya has planned out his story well and the characters are vivid throughout. As readers, we come to care about this man who is so torn inside himself. But be prepared for the unexpected twist that fate has in store for him and all who are driven to revenge. Enter into Ramiz's world, where the soul is consumed by the dark clouds of a painful and unforgettable past - where nothing can soothe the savage beast within.

To get a copy of Voice of Conscience go to: http://www.outskirtspress.com.

Ramzi Ozcomert Junior is twelve. Being invited on the annual logging trip with his father means he is a step closer to manhood. Ramzi's determination to prove his strength teaches him endurance. His father's wisdom teaches him much more.

Ramzi's sister, Erin, has their father's support in marrying the man she loves instead of following tradition. Family and friends celebrate the nuptials according to custom. The wedding day is at hand and tainted by threats from the snubbed Kocdag family. As Ramzi's entire life changes, he must rely on the knowledge he gained from his father to make sense of his life and aid him in survival. His travels introduce him to good, bad and devious people, and he quickly realizes he has the intelligence and strength to move on.

Behcet Kaya's descriptive writing pulls the reader into the start of the story. The Turkish village comes alive and the reader is given a glimpse of beliefs and customs inherent for the times. The writing and tone shift as the story progresses and Ramzi ages. Philosophical narrative replaces dialogue. The point of view shifts to show the reader a large overall picture instead of a slice of life.

At sixteen, Behcet Kaya left his small Turkish village for England where he finished high school and pursued mechanical engineering. He became a US citizen in 1985. He and his wife currently live in southern California. Voice of Conscience is his first novel.

Voice of Conscience is a good read for historical appreciation of how culture and beliefs may affect personal choices; however, one must be able to overlook editorial issues. Reviewer: Lisa Haselton, Allbooks Reviews.

One of the most important historical influences on literature is the classic Shakespearean Tragedy. Shakespeare's tragic heroes will be men of status and the misfortunes that transpire will be unexpected and extremely disastrous. The hero will suddenly fall from high status, honor, or happiness. We feel sympathy at the depths to which the hero is suddenly plummeted. As a result, the tragedy will be enormous. Such great suffering and misfortune will affect those he most cherishes. The principal sources of tragic emotions, especially pity, are essential ingredients in the tragedy.

In Voice of Conscience, author Behcet Kaya implements the attributes of a Shakespearean Tragedy to create a modern day story of love, loss, retribution, and redemption. The protagonist, Ramzi Ozocomert Junior., is a young boy living in Atamkoy, Turkey, in 1962. In Ramzi's culture, arranged marriages are often a part of their customs. Ramzi's parents are confronted by a family who want to arrange a marriage between their son and Ramzi's sister. Ramzi's parents deny the request and allow their daughter to marry a man she truly loves. As the family prepares for their daughter's wedding, Ramzi's parents and sister are brutally murdered. Ramzi, fearing he will be murdered, is forced to flee his home.

Ramzi embarks on a journey where he lives in emotional isolation relying on instincts and his upbringing to survive. As he becomes an adult, he develops a strong work ethic and grand career ambitions while at the same time being haunted by the memories of the brutal slaying of his family. While in England, he falls in love with Megan, a young American who is the daughter of wealthy and powerful business man. As Ramzi becomes involved with British High Society, and when he goes to America to become a successful business man, he embraces a new culture and values. Despite his new life and loving family, he is haunted by his family's death and overwhelming guilt for not avenging those who destroyed his childhood.

Within the story, such themes as honor, love, vengeance, obsession, and overwhelming guilt are predominant. Readers will gain insight into a culture and their beliefs while at the same time revealing human qualities that we all share. The blur between justice and revenge is an important theme.

Voice of Conscience is a compelling drama with the author incorporating the traits of a Tragedy very successfully. Readers will empathize with Ramzi's trials and tribulations. It is highly recommended to readers who enjoy compelling stories of human frailty.

Tracy Roberts, Write Field Services

What a great story! I finished, but wanted more. The decriptions of rural Turkish life were fascinating, but the pain of the charatcter and the decisions he had to make are unforgetable. I keep thinking of what would I have done? What would any of us have done? I only hope the author writes more of this type of stories.

Not often do i find a book that keeps my attention....until this one! Avery, Rette and Jen are three single women with a whole boatload of problems with the opposite sex. Great laughs and good twists!

I loved this book. I identified with Avery in this book because I have been in her exact situation. This is a very light read, and one I very much reccommend.

This was just an ok book. There was a lot of droning on and on about unimportant little details. The story is basically about the lives of three girls; Jenn a beautiful and irresponsible young twenty-something who is still living a sorority life and partying. Jenn's sister Rette, the overweight, zero-confidence girl who is dreading her own up-coming wedding because of having to deal with her mother. And Avery, the beautiful, unsure girl who is friends with them both.

Each chapter goes back and forth between the points of view of each girl and kind of skips a lot in between. Kind of out of nowhere towards the end Rette mentions to Jenn about her possibly having a problem with drinking. Of course this opens up a whole new can of worms, late in the story. The whole book seemed like a bunch of unimportant details throughout and then comes to a happy ending conclusion in the last few chapters.

This hardly compares to Ya Ya Sisters. Its an okay read, but it lacks in substance. Read it if your looking for something mindless to pass a night or two.

I loved this book. The best part is that the characters are real. I could relate to everyone. Especially their job experiences, there were so many times when I wanted to shout "That happened to me too!"

As an experienced chick lit reader, I have to say this is one of the best. It's good because it seems like it could so obviously happen. The characters lives are about their lives, not just one story line, but many. Everything doesn't fall perfectly at the end, but thats what makes it relatable.

Loved it!

Extremely well written. I've recommended this book to all my friends and family.. not only is it intriguing and interesting, but its also incredibly informative. It opens your eyes to issues that you probably have not ever thought of. I'd give this book 10 stars if I could.

There is no beast in the garden, unless the author means: the beasts (=humans) in his (=the mountain lion' s) garden!

I read this book because a friend at work had it.
I bought two copies from Amazon after reading it: one for me, and one for a friend researching/photographing mountain lions in South Dakota. I've already loaned out my copy to another friend who lives in Colorado and Nebraska and he said he remembers when the Idaho Springs incident happened.
This book is well written and does read like a detective story - but the reality is chilling. I couldn't stop reading it. I can't wait to read it again.
Thanks to Mr. Baron for such excellent work.
Tim Reigert

"Beast in the Garden" was an extremely interesting book. It was full of facts and entertaining, although although a bit disturbing, at the same time. I live in an area where there are bears in many back yards and this book really takes a very informed look into the suburban/wildlife dynamic. I would definitely recommend it. My daughter is reading it now.

This is a simply brilliant exposition of the Boulder that I grew up in. Baron examines the situation well and pays attention to the wildlife issues that were relevant at the time and are still relevant now. A few historical problems do come up, but they are merely anecdotal and hardly detract from the story.

Two things really make this a great book:
-if you're from Boulder or the Front Range, you'll be saying "Oh, I've been there" or "Hey, I know that guy" throughout the whole book.
-this book is action-packed. If they could make a movie out of it, they should.

Most of all, Baron pays attention to the characters and really goes in depth with who they are. I'm mostly interested in wildlife, however I found his portrayal of the people the most exciting.

Gerry Roach has written one of the best guide books I have ever had the pleasure of owning. If you have the basic experience needed for climbing 14'ers this book is extreemly usefull. Complete and well written from approaches to technicial route descriptions. $ 12 bucks. Huh ? Oh the one negitive is you would not want to through this book in your ruck sack it weighs about 5 lbs.

This is the definitive volume on all Colorado 14ers. It includes detailed information from locations of trailheads to routes and photos that will allow even a novice to safely climb in Colorado.

I bought this book for my husband and he loves it. He has been to Colorado 3 times and always reads it before he goes and takes it with him on the trip.

This should be the backbone of anyone's guidebooks for climbing 14ers. It is extremely well organized and has tons of useful data. You will not be dissapointed. Get the book and get out there!

I have climbed two of the Fourteeners listed in this book and I wish I had this book before doing so. The book is simply, in my opinion, the best, most complete guide to climbing these mountains that I could possibly imagine. I'm doing four more this month and I've used this book to do all the planning, including which TOPOs to buy and which trailheads to use and which routes up the mountains to take. He provides excellent maps in the book itself and great descriptions of each ascent. He also carefully describes the different levels of difficulty a climber/hiker will encounter and applies those definitions systematically throughout his book. It's a first rate guide and worth every penny paid.

I had read two dozen intro-to-Judaism books, but found Rabbi Kushner's explanations to be comprehensive, accessible, profound, and quite moving. He provides a great overview in the broadest sense of the word - instead of focussing on the details of Jewish history, ritual, practice, prayer, or belief, he does a superb job of summarizing or encapsulating the underlying attitudes, assumptions, values, and "whys" of Judaism. "To Life" is an excellent resource for anyone wanting to know what Judaism is *about*, beyond the superficial aspects of Jewish practice, holidays, events, words, etc.

This is an amazing book by an amazing man. It's valuable for Jews and people who want to know about Jews as well. Additionally there is a good section in the book about Jews and Christians and why we ought to get along. It's the kind of book that makes you feel good after you read it.

I was born to catholic parents, later in my teens became a methodist, about two years now I've been doing a lot of reading about judaism.
During the course of reading this book I learned a lot. Specially the last chapter where he expresses his opinion about both faith.
When I was a catholic I was guided into believing that the jews where not really the good guys. What they did was unforgiving. (read any book about the expulsion of the jews from Spain in 1492 and after, that should give you a very good idea.) Until recently (1962-65) the vatican published the "Nostra Aetate" asking the jewish community for forgiveness for past "mistakes" and for the christian (catholic) community to make peace and be more tolerant with jews.
As a methodist ( and other branches for that matter )that part of history "doesn't" apply. Why? Well protestants started around the 16th c. and much later. That doesn't mean that they are saints either, they have their blemishes too. But what is more troublesome about them (evangelicals) is the insistence of converting you over. No matter what the conversation may be, sooner or later the pitch comes. I know, I've done it.
The only way to get along is like Kushner proposes in his book, is a mutual respect for each others faith. (period) His opinion about the events of the crucifiction (refering to the jews participation) might not coincide with many, after all he is jewish, and indirectly he is expressing two thousand years of pain and suffering, unfortunately some of it is still with us today. So think about it, what would your opinion be if you where in his place.
I highly recommend this book to all non-jews and jews alike.

The beauty and heart within this book is amazing. I don't see how anyone could read it and not walk away affected if not completely changed. The author has a way of writing that makes you feel alive. I encourage anyone, regardless of faith, to read this book. I, for one, am giving several away for Christmas presents.

I love love love this book. I am Jewish, but this book really helped explain a lot of things to me that I never knew before or never thought of before. Harold Kushner is so articulate (a quality which I envy!), and he knows how to explain things or present them in a simple to understand way. I recommend this easy to read book to everyone who ever asked me about Judaism, and certainly anyone who is interested in conversion (I meet quite a few people in my line of work who approach me about that). If you want to know more (hence, the ALMOST), visit your local synagogue or look for some websites on the internet (I like aish.com, and I am NOT an orthodox Jew).

This non-fiction book is about the expedition of John Wesley Powell and their pioneering and death-defying exploration of the Grand Canyon in 1869. Powell, a college professor who had lost an arm at Shiloh, was well-prepared to map the canyons of the Colorado and do a scientific andgeological survey. Unfortunately, he was no leader, and the expedition suffered terribly for it. He rounded up a crew of mountain men and ne'er-do-wells, as well as a few neurotic former Civil War veterans and set off in rowboats that couldn't have been more ill-suited to running the violent rapids of the Colorado. Powell and his men saw amazing sites, but they almost perished multiple times. Finally there was a mutiny in which several men ended up leaving the party and trying to hike out of the canyon(they were never seen again); the others ran the rapids and somehow lived to tell the tale.

While I liked learning more about Powell's expedition, Dolnick has little sense of pacing, and uses annoying modern metaphors every time he gets the chance. The result is a plodding read on what should have been a can't-miss story. Down the Great Unknown has its merits, but the definitive book on Powell and the Grand Canyon has yet to be written.

Reviewer: Liz Clare, co-author of the historical novel "To the Ends of the Earth: The Last Journey of Lewis & Clark"

I've "rafted" the upper Colorado.

Of course that was in a motorized raft, led by experienced pilots, with a map and they did all the cooking and if something really bad happened the ranger service could chopper in and get me (Hey, I *did* hike out from Phantom Ranch)

I can't conceive of doing it in an ungainly rowboat, without a steering oar, having little provisions, without a map or even knowledge of the river (what happens if you hit a 100 ft fall and nowhere to portage?), and where a broken ankle would have meant an almost certain death -- and with one arm.

Truthfully, its amazing this exposition survived.

Dolnick weaves in Powell's embellished account with the other expedition journals to craft a balanced account of the expedition, along with correlating the trip with known features of the canyon. Dolnick describes the tensions within the team -- categorizes their moves, good and bad and tracks their trailblazing passage.

Excellent read.

I enjoyed this book very much. So much that I have loaned it to family and friends to enjoy.

This is a pretty decent book for the newcomer who has never read anything about Powell. I found it less entertaining than my fellow reviewers though, as it follows the tedium of the daily journals a little too closely. I also found the narrative to be interspersed with too many digressions. These range from opinions of the Green/Colorado river by modern rafting experts to accounts of other early rafting expeditions, and a lengthy 2-chapter segment on the American Civil war and Battle of Shiloh. This latter exercise contributes nothing to the book, by the way! The reader is also left in the dark about the Native American peoples, Mormon settlers, and miners who inhabited this area at the same point in time ... Really, it is as if the expedition were done in a vacuum. Even worse was the lack of information on 9 of the 10 men who took part in the expedition. While there is more than enough about John Wesley Powell, readers get only sketchy details about the lives of the other 9 men. Even the simplest details like where these men were born is left out, nor are we given much about the kinds of lives they lived (careers, families, etc.) prior to the expedition (and precious little afterwards as well). Although 6 of these 9 men were, like Powell, fellow Union veterans of the Civil War, but we get nothing about their wartime experiences! We also have no clue what motivated them to join this expedition. This oversight would not doubt have suited the egotistical Powell, but is a serious oversight for a modern historian.

This book was informative but not a real "page turner". The author went off on tangents often that took away from the story at hand. It was not a bad book, but it was not full of the adventure that you would have expected the trip to have been.