Washington Books

Born and raised in Lubec Maine, I grew to love the coast as if it were my own personal playground. As a young lad I would spend my days swimming in the chilly waters off my families private beach, and my nights roasting marshmellows over and open fire. When I was in my teens I went to work in the local sardine factory and spent many days dragging for scallops in the bay.

I moved away from Downeast Maine twenty years ago and I have missed it ever since. I miss the smell of the salt air and the nice cool breeze that always seems to be there. I miss the endless hay fields and the way the trees produce unheard of colors every fall. Most of all I miss the people. They are kind, honest, and carry an accent that could make anyone feel at home.

I bought the book Downeast Maine: A World Apart a month ago and I read it every day. The stories and black and white photos give the reader a true feeling for what it is like living in Downeast Maine. Reading it, I can almost smell the salt air and feel that unforgettable summer breeze. The book really brings me home again. It's wonderfull book!

A summer resident of Maine's easternmost corner, Frank Van Riper goes beyond clam shacks, country clubs and outlet malls to portray how people 'Down East' eke out a living and build a life.

Van Riper, a former White House correspondent for the New York Daily News ably handles both camera and notepad to record vivid, full-frame images of his neighbors. This is fundamentally a book about people, and he has clearly managed to transcend that putoffishness that Maine residents are known for to get their stories alongside their pictures. The text doesn't merely accompany, nor do the photos merely illustrate; they are inseparable components.

There is a timeless quality to these images of people, most seen at work. Only at times does a modern watch or a radar dome on a boat remind you that clams are still dug through back-breaking labor and lobster hauled up one or two at a time. The book was collected over a number of years, and italics note where the subject portrayed died between the portrait and publication -- and you feel the loss.

This is serious documentary, with more than a hint of Walker Evans and Sebastián Salgado, but with light touches as well. Van Riper devotes a page to the peculiar delight of Maine's own Grape Nuts ice cream, a confection that predates -- and in his view, outrates -- Ben and Jerry's chunky conglomerates.

A visually stunning series of what happens when a dead whale washes ashore in his small town of Kennebec closes out the book. The sharply mottled skin of the whale amid the wash-fade of a foggy illustrate the beauty of his corner of Maine, as Van Riper also tells us of hard choices a financially strapped, self-reliant community must face as it struggles to get rid of what is, after all, tons and tons of rotting flesh.

This sensitive portrayal proves that what it means to be from Maine has nothing to do with what bottled water you drink.

Frank Van Riper captures, in his portraits of Maine, the people that he has come to know slowly (is there any other way in Maine?) through his photo excursions to the northeast.

His "moment" photographs are some of my favorites, including the photo of the boy at the pie-eating contest. It's an ageless photograph captured with precision timing and artful composition. These are traits of photographs throughout the book and share the essence of great documentary photojournalism--the ability to capture a simple (almost unseen) moment with artisitc and historic sensibilities. Van Riper captures this quiet beauty in medium format which lends itself to the superb reproductions.

Van Riper's fine images coupled with his words showcase his great ear for telling dialogue honed during his "other" career as a newspaper writer.

This book The Dream Killers is one of the best books I have ever read. From the minute I picked it up I could not put it down. I read it through without stopping. This book is well written and I highly recommed it.

THE AUTHOR CAROL J BURT HAS DONE A FANTASTIC JOB ON CAPTURING THE ABUSE IN THE LAWRENCE FAMILY. YOU WILL FEEL THE PAIN AND DISTRESS THIS FAMILY FELT. IT WILL MAKE YOU CRY AS WELL AS LAUGH. A TRUE STORY OF 50 YEARS OF ABUSE........ITS AMAZING. A VERY INTENSE BOOK. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!! AAA+++

I was deeply touched by 'The Dream killers' by Carol J. Burt. I can not believe that families actually experience what the Lawrence family did. It is really sad and makes me so thankful for the life I lived which is so different from theirs. Talk about endurance, those children went through hell.Truly a book you can't put down, you want to know immediately "what comes next?"

The teacher in me LOVES this book, beautifully done and well written.

I love this book and so do my students. It has wonderful pictures and great information about Washington State. One of the best features of this book is that it can be used for young children or older children. Each page has low level reading text and then on the side of each page there is higher level text with a lot more detail and factual information.

I love these books, and I am 35 years old. These books are so fun for my kids. I have one for almost every place we have lived(we have moved around quite a bit). I love the information in these books, very educational and yet entertaining. Highly recommend them.

Eat a Bowl of Tea by Louis Chu was first published in 1961. It's a satire of New York's Chinatown's bachelor society.Characters include the Ben Loy the son of a "bachelor" father. He has been sent to China after WWII to get married. After getting married to his bride Mei Oi, they return to America where he finds himself impotent to love his traditional good wife. Another character Ah Song is a thug and a gambler who seduces Mei Oi. The story continues and basically depics Chinatown and the Chinese Americans of the time. In the novel there are examples of the language with the heavy Chinese accent. The story expresses the theme of the bachelor's society and and the morals of a traditional wife compared to a prositute. Pages 250

Truly original. There are no "oriental" stereotypes in this important book. It is purely Asian American. I'm sure it will be treasured throughout the years. Eat a Bowl of Tea came out in 1961 and it is the first Chinese American novel set in Chinese America. That alone should motivate you to buy this book. It's a shame that Louis Chu is no longer with us, he could've authored more books -- "Wow, your mother!"

After reading Louis Chu's book, much of recent work by Asian Americans seemed even more lackluster than before. Chu writes about Asian American culture with the emotional depth and dignity that it deserves. I got this book from my brother who also felt dissatisfied with the representations of Asian life a la Amy Tan, Kingston, etc. They don't seem to write with the same respect for Asian romanticism that Chu recognizes with such literary power.If you want to see an intimate, caring portrait of NYC Chinatown, start here...

This book (and all in the portable poets collection from Everyman's Library) is wonderfully presented, bound, printed and the size is truly perfect for carrying around day to day or packing for a trip. The selection of Tennyson's work is broad - as such it is has something for everyone and every occasion, though if you have or desire a complete collection your money would be best spent elsewhere, unless you don't mind duplicates. As with all Everyman's Library publications it is hardcover with a nice cloth page marker, making it all the more portable.

This is one of the best collections of Tennyson's poems I have ever read. Tennyson's wonderful poems are artfully compiled into this book. I would recommend it to anyone who loves Tennyson's poetry or just wants to see what its all about.

According to Wikipedia , Tennyson is the second most quoted author in the English language, after Shakespeare. This collection provides a surprisingly broad survey of a poetic career spanning more than sixty years. The book is portable , attractively packaged and needing you, to take it on a trip to mountain or beach.( Or a mid-winter's read by the fireside.) The selections are often stirring and profound and there is an over-arching ambience of melancholia...." Come down , o maid , from yonder mountain height "...It's all high drama I tell ye.

Feng Shui is the ancient Chinese art of manipulating and arranging your environment. The idea is to attract chi, a positive life energy, so that it flows smoothly, unblocking any obstructions in your body and environment. Feng Shui evolved from the theory that people are affected in a positive or negative way by their surroundings. Denise Osborne is a Feng Shui practitioner with ties to Hollywood. She has written short films and screenplays, created inter-active web characters, is highly traveled, and has expertise in native American Arts. She gives Feng Shui presentations around the country and owns a studio which sells Feng Shui products called Wind and Water House.

Salome Waterhouse and Germaine Brilliante are friends. Germaine is a member of a four-person woman's group called SOW (Stewardship of Women) who help out less fortunate women. They run a safe house called the Women's Place, and vote to hire Salome to conduct a Feng Shui presentation. But all is not well. June McGann has hired Germaine, an ex-reporter, to follow her wild sister, April. April was the former fiance of Salome's worst enemy, a Duncan Mah. As Germaine and Salome drive to Salome's home after her presentation, they find that someone has thrown a molotov cocktail through her living room window. This is all a prelude to the murder of Honey Lee, June McGann's home organizer:

"'Oh dear,' Germaine whispered. She pulled up to the curb just short of the street and behind a small crowd of onlookers. Salome grabbed her handbag, and with a worried look said, 'Do you mind waiting while I find out what's going on?"'

EVIL INTENTIONS is clearly written like a screenplay, with obvious scenes in mind. It takes a little while for the reader to identify the characters, who are well drawn and interesting. Salome Waterhouse is a gentle Asian woman with high intelligence and an interesting background. Her ex-husband is a best selling author of mysteries, and her background work with him plus her keen powers of observation make her the perfect sleuth. Feng Shui permeates the tale, creating a nice juxtaposition to the unsavory characters that make up the underworld that Salome, her friend Jude, and her ex-husband, Gabe explore. New alliances form in this skillful tale.

Shelley Glodowski
Senior Reviewer

Feng Shui is the ancient Chinese art of manipulating and arranging your environment. The idea is to attract chi, a positive life energy, so that it flows smoothly, unblocking any obstructions in your body and environment. Feng Shui evolved from the theory that people are affected in a positive or negative way by their surroundings. Denise Osborne is a Feng Shui practitioner with ties to Hollywood. She has written short films and screenplays, created inter-active web characters, is highly traveled, and has expertise in native American Arts. She gives Feng Shui presentations around the country and owns a studio which sells Feng Shui products called Wind and Water House.

Salome Waterhouse and Germaine Brilliante are friends. Germaine is a member of a four-person woman's group called SOW (Stewardship of Women) who help out less fortunate women. They run a safe house called the Women's Place, and vote to hire Salome to conduct a Feng Shui presentation. But all is not well. June McGann has hired Germaine, an ex-reporter, to follow her wild sister, April. April was the former fiance of Salome's worst enemy, a Duncan Mah. As Germaine and Salome drive to Salome's home after her presentation, they find that someone has thrown a molotov cocktail through her living room window. This is all a prelude to the murder of Honey Lee, June McGann's home organizer:

"'Oh dear,' Germaine whispered. She pulled up to the curb just short of the street and behind a small crowd of onlookers. Salome grabbed her handbag, and with a worried look said, 'Do you mind waiting while I find out what's going on?"'

EVIL INTENTIONS is clearly written like a screenplay, with obvious scenes in mind. It takes a little while for the reader to identify the characters, who are well drawn and interesting. Salome Waterhouse is a gentle Asian woman with high intelligence and an interesting background. Her ex-husband is a best selling author of mysteries, and her background work with him plus her keen powers of observation make her the perfect sleuth. Feng Shui permeates the tale, creating a nice juxtaposition to the unsavory characters that make up the underworld that Salome, her friend Jude, and her ex-husband, Gabe explore. New alliances form in this skillful tale.

Shelley Glodowski
Senior Reviewer

Feng Shui is the ancient Chinese art of manipulating and arranging your environment. The idea is to attract chi, a positive life energy, so that it flows smoothly, unblocking any obstructions in your body and environment. Feng Shui evolved from the theory that people are affected in a positive or negative way by their surroundings. Denise Osborne is a Feng Shui practitioner with ties to Hollywood. She has written short films and screenplays, created inter-active web characters, is highly traveled, and has expertise in native American Arts. She gives Feng Shui presentations around the country and owns a studio which sells Feng Shui products called Wind and Water House.

Salome Waterhouse and Germaine Brilliante are friends. Germaine is a member of a four-person woman's group called SOW (Stewardship of Women) who help out less fortunate women. They run a safe house called the Women's Place, and vote to hire Salome to conduct a Feng Shui presentation. But all is not well. June McGann has hired Germaine, an ex-reporter, to follow her wild sister, April. April was the former fiance of Salome's worst enemy, a Duncan Mah. As Germaine and Salome drive to Salome's home after her presentation, they find that someone has thrown a molotov cocktail through her living room window. This is all a prelude to the murder of Honey Lee, June McGann's home organizer:

"'Oh dear,' Germaine whispered. She pulled up to the curb just short of the street and behind a small crowd of onlookers. Salome grabbed her handbag, and with a worried look said, 'Do you mind waiting while I find out what's going on?"'

EVIL INTENTIONS is clearly written like a screenplay, with obvious scenes in mind. It takes a little while for the reader to identify the characters, who are well drawn and interesting. Salome Waterhouse is a gentle Asian woman with high intelligence and an interesting background. Her ex-husband is a best selling author of mysteries, and her background work with him plus her keen powers of observation make her the perfect sleuth. Feng Shui permeates the tale, creating a nice juxtaposition to the unsavory characters that make up the underworld that Salome, her friend Jude, and her ex-husband, Gabe explore. New alliances form in this skillful tale.

Shelley Glodowski
Senior Reviewer

After 35 years of not fishing I found this book invaluable and brought me up to date on equipment, regulations, as well as what lakes and streams were producing. Hats off to this author. William Collins

Terry Rudnick has one of the best jobs on this planet! He fishes the state and writes about it to make a living! Wow! If you live here or not and want to know the inside scoop about fishing in Washington State, this is the book. From fishing on a holding pond for the Grand Coulee Dam (Banks Lake), Curlew Lake near Republic to the Seep Lakes at Pot Holes, you should read this before you load up your RV and your fishing gear.
Terry knows all the experts, like say Dave over at Coulee Playland on Banks Lake.
One reminder: If you are out of state, don't violate the Washington State Fishing Laws or you will be in a WORLD OF HURT. Read the Fishing Regulations carefully before throwing a line in the water. The regs are complex and in many cases vary as to the stream, river or lake you're fishing in! On line go to: http://wdfw.wa.gov. Keeping a 14-inch bass is not worth the pain and suffering you will experience if they catch you! Otherwise, welcome and have fun!
Bob Clark, Kirkland

Where are all those great fishing holes? Where do you take visitors when they want to go Steelhead in early November? This is the book you. Find those holes, just around your block, ( really!!!), or just a few miles away. Thanks Terry.....

This book will inspire any resident of the nation's capital to see what they've missed. If you've seen it all, this can only enrich your experiences.

I loved this book. I live in Washington half of the year and this book was great on telling you the things that make DC what it is. It is a short read and I suggest to anyone who like those story behind the scene.

A book for the people who live in the Washington, DC area and want to see the city from a new and funny angle. Great book to give to history buffs.

Although well-researched and scholarly, this history of the predominantly black Seattle Central District is enjoyable and accessible for the non-historian due to Dr. Taylor's engaging writing style. The book touches on broader topics than the title might indicate, for example, inter-minority relationships between the Asian- and African-American communities. I found his treatment of the opposing views on school busing, w/in the black community, to be an example of how one can approach respectfully discussing differing--even sharply differing-- points of view. There are extensive footnotes for those who would like to go on to read his sources. This book is a "good read."

Though Seattle's experience may be somewhat different from other parts of the country, the issues were still (and are still) complex. This book not only puts it all in context, but leaves you hungry for more. It's an opportunity to discover unsung heroes, mourn blaring injustices, and refresh the belief that we can still learn from the past in order to forge a better future. As a native of Seattle who spent 8 years living in Georgia, I especially appreciated the breadth of information. Reading Taylor's book inspired me to read Horace Cayton's autobiography and follow up on some of the other sources Taylor drew on. Well written, dynamic, and comprehensive.

The review that follows says it all, but I want to add that this is THE book for African American history in the Seattle area. I found it moving and thought-provoking. Anyone serious about understanding issues of diversity in the Pacific Northwest should begin with this book.

A very interesting pioneer photographer!!
Frank S Matsura lived and worked in the frontier of a New World (The Far West) and a New Century (ended XIXth century and begining XXth century).
Maybe Frank Matsura photographs are not the opposite but the complementary ones of Edward S. Curtis.
I think that portraits, of all kind of people (white and indian, cowboys and clerks, young and old, male and female), are stunning; the subjects of the photogragh seem to be plenty of confidence with the photographer, who sometimes even makes selfportraits with his customers. Sense of humor is present in Matsura's pictures, as also a light eroticism in some of them.
He just lived ten years in Okanogan County but seems that he was wellknown and loved by everybody there, having lots of friends coming from all social class and race.
His photo "Stamp of the World" (Peaches On Display) reminds the coat of arms of Matsuura Clan.
But the mystery of his arrival to America still remains: why a young high class well educated japanese decides to leave his home and go abroad?
Some facts: his parents were dead and his family power had declined, he was poor and he was christian. Did he was looking for the promised land? or just going away from something...?
At the Archives and Special Collections of the Washington State University Librarie there is a mysterious postcard that contains Japanese writing on the reverse. A loose translation was done by Richard Kwon in 1981: "Do you from time to time dream about things in Japan?. Hope you do. This picture card was made and printed by Nihon Post Card Club. And I thought it's beautiful and I am sending you one. Mother says you take good care of yourself." Signed, Kyo-ko. What kind of relationship had Frank Matsura with the woman who wrote him this card?
Frank Matsura made a great amount of photographic work between 1903-1913, in just ten years; and there is a clear evolution and improvement on his work through this ten years.
I think that Matsura is a great unknown pioneer photographer, besides his mysterious and interesting life, and this splendid JoAnn Roe book makes posible for us to go inside Matsura's photographs.

My family has a copy of 'Frank Matsura Frontier Photographer' because my grandmother moved to Conconully in 1902 with her family and then married in 1905 and remained there for some time. My mother was born there. Possibly some of the old photos of my grandmother and grandfather in their courting days were taken by Matsura - but at the very least they knew him. I also found several of Matsura's postcards in my grandmother's belongings when she died. The book is marvelous and I have shared it with my family; and have been curious to know whether it is still available in case we want another copy.

Frank (Sakae) Matsura was the direct descendant of Emperor Saga of Japan, through the lords Matsura of Kyushu, Hirado Island actually. His illustrious past was not discovered until after the publication of the book. I simply was curious about unanswered questions and kept digging. In 1983, the publisher sold the movie rights to a Tokyo production company working for network TV Asahi. The resultant two-hour "made for TV" docu-drama starred a famous Japanese actor, Morio Kazama, and was aired in Japan in 1984. Heibonsha Publishers released a Japanese language edition in 1983, with an updated text, long out of print. In addition, a different publisher bought the rights to exhibit thirty of Matsura's prints from this book for one year throughout Japan. The book won the following awards, among others: Governor's award (Washington), Pacific NW Booksellers' Award, a Merit Award from Photographic Society of New York, National Fed. of Press Women Award. It received reviews in about 100 newspapers and magazines, including a several page review in Popular Photography. The unfolding of Matsura's story has been a thrilling saga for me. It paralleled the period when Japan was emerging from its self-imposed curtain and entering the Meiji Restoration period. Matsura's father and uncle were not only of the lordly family but were special samurai loyal to the Shogun. After the Meiji Restoration of 1868, they were "out of a job," and turned unsuccessfully to being tea merchants. Matsura's parents both died, leaving him an orphan to live with his uncle. For years he lived and worked at the Shoei Gakuen in Tokyo, still a prestigious school, founded by his uncle and aunt. He learned English there. He was baptized in the Takanawa Presbyterian Church of Meguro-ku, Tokyo,(still operates) founded by a relative, and baptized by Kumaji Kimura, founder of the YMCA in Japan. Why Matsura suddenly left for the USA is yet unclear, despite exhaustive research, but possibly he discovered he had TB and did not want to spread it to the school children. Nonetheless, his photography, inspired by still another Japanese great, is a major legacy. The book lives on. It was partly the reason for the awarding to me of the first President's Award of the Japan-America Society, because the book garnered immense good will, as well as renown. My agent is investigating the reprinting of one or both books (USA and Japan). The story has been a lasting satisfaction for me personally to introduce. By the way, I have not erred in spelling his name. The heads of family have translated to one "u"--Matsura. Others are two "u"s or Matsuura..people frequently ask me about this matter. I am in touch with his family (discovered through my research) and have been made an honorary Matsura.