New Hampshire Books

Very usefull. Could be a little clearer. You must read carefully. May not be for the novice.

For those of you who are used to the exacting descriptions of the AMC trail guides, beware. This book has a few shortcomings. No maps except regional ones. Maybe that's asking a lot but the route I selected (Contoocook River in NH) had BAD advice on a spot to take a canoe or kayak out. The recommended location was private property with an very ornery owner. Maybe the rest of the book is better researched, but you'd have to prove it to me before I relied too heavily on some such details.

This is not light reading. This is a historical overview of the physiology, use and research at a site with evidence of inhabitation in 2000 BC. The authors go out of their way to avoid committing to *who* was building an astronomical calendar out of stone in southern NH 4000 years ago. Instead, they concentrate on weaving different threads together to show where current research is and why they pursue that direction.

If you've been there. this is a good follow-up to what you've seen. It is also excellent background material prior to a visit. If you have any books by Salvatore Trento, Barry Fell or David Hatcher Childress, this is probably one for your library.

While an interesting review of all the activity that has occurred on Mystery Hill from the time the Pattee family owned it, don't look to this book for any enlightenment whatsoever on the ancient origins of the site itself.

Mr. Goudsward is still too blinded by the bigotry so common in New England scholarship over the centuries. He resurrects a saying so common among 19th Century historians when he writes on page 17, "These cliffs became shelters for wandering Native Americans."

Mr. Goudsward, there was a thriving civilization here with artists, artisans, astronomers, agriculturalists, and more. They developed a lifestyle in harmony with their environment. They moved to winter encampments and then back to summer villages to best take advantage of natural resources. They did not, "wander."

On page 44, in explaining away the Native American origin for the Mystery Hill site, Mr. Goudsward says, "but the theory that natives built the site would actually be more controversial than those suggesting European origin - the current professional dogma is quite adamant the New England Indians did not build in stone."

That is because, Mr. Goudsward, the current professional dogma is filled to the brim with racism and bigotry against Native Americans. There is more than enough proof in the historical records to show that Native Americans of the Eastern Woodlands not only built in stone, but did so for spiritual purposes. They often worshiped on hilltops, particularly rocky hilltops with caves, shelters, splits, clefts, holes, seismic activity, and/or quartz, near springs, waterfalls, or swamps. Rain water that collected in rock, for example, was considered to have medicinal qualities and was often important to ritual.

But Mr. Goudsward didn't learn all of that. Because he follows the current professional dogma.

This is one of my favorite books ever. The writing is outstanding and story is simply magical. Is it possible to fall in love with a book? I did. It's a smart novel and I can't wait to read more Kathryn Davis.

I read Kathryn Davis' book The Thin Place and fell in love with her writing style, wanting more of her work. When I received Labrador in hardback, I could not wait to dive back into her writing style.
As much as I enjoy the so-called "intellectual fiction", this novel was too much of that style. I tried to read at least the first 50 pages but felt myself drowning in her too in-depth work. I know that this was her first novel, so I am willing to overlook it and read her other work. However, I was deeply disappointed in this novel.
I still think she is one hell of a writer and as stated before, I will be reading her other works very soon.

I felt that nothing happened in this novel. I found myself skipping pages just to get to the end. The most exciting event was a community party called the "Spring Fling" where the two main characters danced.

The heroine's past was not fully developed and only given about three paragraphs on the third to last page of the book.

Very boring...I do not recommend.

For Lizbeth Sullivan, providing food and hospitality is a legacy she is proud to have inherited from her family of hoteliers. The one thing that sets her apart from them, however, is her unusual need to establish roots. In Stafford, New Hampshire, she has found a way to accommodate her legacy and her preference by running a successful bed-and-breakfast, which allows her to exercise her expertise in home economics. Colin St. James is in Stafford to restore a house. His clients' recommendation leads him to Lizbeth's bed-and-breakfast where he finds himself delighted with the service and the proprietor whose timid manner and generous heart move him as much as her quiet beauty. An army brat, Colin finds he shares a common background with Lizbeth to a certain extent. Until he met Lizbeth, he was quite comfortable with his pick-up and go lifestyle. But Lizbeth, with her heart steeped in this quiet and appealing town, shows him how tempting putting down roots can be.

Ruth Langan's second installment of her "Sullivan Sisters" trilogy is well written. It has an engaging style, which centers itself around a persistent change in point of view among the primary characters, including Loretta a ninety-two year old widow who nurtures the love that is developing between the hero and heroine. Colin St. James is an endearing hero who is a throwback by way of occupation as well as manner. He is an architect who loves to restore old houses, preserving their history while retaining their function. He is also gallant and charming when it comes to Lizbeth and Loretta. Lizbeth is a little harder to understand through no real fault of her own. She displays a great deal of strength despite her shyness and she loves being a part of a community. She is clearly a person meant for hearth and home. But in terms of development, Lizbeth was slightly lacking. Langan does hint that a previously painful experience with love gives the heroine pause when it comes to giving her heart but because she never allows her audience insight as to the reason why, it is difficult to sympathize with Lizbeth or to find any development on her part to be credible because it gives the impression of being too sudden. "Loving Lizbeth" has an appealing hero and a wonderful setting. The heroine is admirable but she would have been far more engaging if we had as much access to her thoughts as we did Colin's.

New Hampshire and Vermont are two small, lightly populated states stuck next to each other in northern New England. Little does anyone know that a major feud has been going on between them for years, a feud that won't end anytime soon. The feud is explored in this book by contributors from both sides of the fence.

Vermont has its liberal political outlook and its statewide ban on highway billboards. New Hampshire, on the other hand, is very conservative and its first in the country Presidential primary makes it the center of the American political universe every four years. People in Vermont wear funny sandals and talk about world peace. New Hampshire residents sell liquor at toll booths and drive without seat belts. The one thing they agree on is their dislike of Mssachusetts.

Every weekend the roads are full of European sedans in custom colors packed with casual clothing and the latest sporting equipment bearing Massachusetts plates. Every driver is in a major hurry to relax; woe to anyone who gets in front of them on the road. But, once they get outside of Massachusetts, they stop at every stone wall, covered bridge and quain country store so quickly that they activate their car's air bags. The other thing that people from Massachusetts do on weekends is shop at outlet malls. Seeing (or more accurately, hearing) several women all wearing noisy nylon jogging suits, and making a beeline for the nearest sale rack, is something to behold.

Vermont looks like a postcard. New Hampshire's largest city, Manchester, has a main street that concludes in a dead end. People in Vermont go out to eat and listen to National Public Radio. The first thing one sees in New Hampshire is a toll booth where the attendant has trouble making change from a $5 bill, followed by a state liquor store.

This book is hilarious and a little eye-opening for this native New Englander. It equally insults the people of both states, it's very easy to read, and is highly recommended.

Although the potential for interesting facts, developments, and history certainly exists in the comparison of Vermont and New Hampshire, this collection falls short. It eventually ends up with rude, false pieces that are of no real interest or value. Too bad the editor did not put more effort into this collection

This map has excellent detail, a lot of information and is very durable. The map can be folded many different ways and holds up well. This is the map that I used the most.

I'm not happy because I needed a map showing all three states on a single sheet. I already have individual state maps that are better.

I was wondering did he ever become president of the united states of america?

You are not going to get a glamorous recount of history from this book but it is a great detailing of the physician who signed the Declaration of Independence for New Hampshire. To only a few people is this book worth taking a second look.

I have just received my copy of this book and wanted others to know that the roads described as 'backroads' are not necessarily so. Route 116, Damon Road in Northampton, Old Deerfield, Route 9 through Williamsburg...they are all fine roads, but some are actually quite heavily traveled. These are not the dirt roads shown on the cover! Though the rides may be fine for some (even most) they are not as quiet and safe for children as you might be expecting.

How do you tell your children about the Challenger explosion? This is a very well done book on the life of Christa McAuliffe :Teacher/ Astronaut. I like how the illustrator used colored pencils,yet made the pictures so realistic.If you want to learn more about Astronauts , don't miss this. You will be able to dicuss that some occupations are dangerous as well as exciting. My HELMET off to the family of Mrs. McAuliffe . Thanks for the look into your lives. God Bless You ! Keep REACHING FOR THE STARS .

Gerry and Sue Hardy hae put together a basic guide to fifty hikes in teh State of Connecticut. Its easy to scan through and pick out easy hikes from hard ones as they ordered well. Some basic maps are provided and light overview of the trail.

However, if you want more information, you are based served to research on the Internet. You will discover that some of the Nature Centers are part of other organizations. And these larger organizations offer different and alternate hiking trails. In other words, the book is a bit outdated.

The moral of this review is for you to investigate these trails further as only a basic overview is provided here. Therefore, the three star rating sounds appropriate.