Travel Books

The updated, expanded edition of The Last Album: Eyes From The Ashes Of Auschwitz- Birkenau is out, and no less hard-hitting than the original. These black and white photos were not supposed to reach the world: the Nazi order to destroy all personal photos brought to each concentration camp was meant to destroy memories as much as evidence. Despite this mandate, author Weiss uncovered an archive of over 2,400 photos brought to Auschwitz by Jewish deportees across Europe - photos hidden and saved, at great risk to their owners. These photos accompany a traveling exhibition which is making its way around the world, presenting over 400 of these photos and how the deportees arrived at Auschwitz - and how Weiss came to discover them and to research their roots. A 'must' for any serious Jewish history collection - and many a general interest holding, as well.

"The last Album" by Ann Weiss is well organized and well written. It contains 400 remarkable
photographs that were brought to Auschwitz-Birkenau by victims in 1943. These photographs were taken
prior to the Holocaust and depict people bursting with life. This is an extremely unique book, and contains material that was lovingly researched for a period of 15 years. The beauty of this book is that the
photographs and the research accomplished brings to life people that were lost during the dreadful time of
the Holocaust. The book like the author is soft, sweet, articulate and brilliant

I read this book by chance, yesterday, Memorial Day 2003.
Been crying.
It's like Schindler's List or Sophie's choice.
How could they do it?
How can we let them continue doing it?
The animals still are around us, although using another names, another symbols, another motivations.
I kept reading, hoping to find some of the people to be safe at the end, but almost everybody was killed.
Binim, Rozak, Mayer, Bronka, so many of you.
I miss you, my friends.

After reading this book, I feel this should be in every house in every country. You hear so much about the people and the numbers killed that sometimes it doesn't seem real but this book makes it very real. The pictures are so powerful and at the same time so ordinary - they could be pictures of anyone's parents or grandparents. The most haunting pictures are those of the children - you have to wonder how many survived. The stories of the survivors bring it all home - "There's the aunt of the little girl I used to babysit", etc. I found it amazing that these pictures did survive 40, 50 years before being discovered again. Anyone who denies the Holocaust happened should read this book and then try to still say it never happened. Thank you Ann Weiss for bringing these pictures and the stores behind them out of the darkness.

This book is an amazing piece of history. The fact that so many photos brought into Auschwitz have survived is phenomenol as all personal effects were automotically burned by the Nazis murderers. When viewing the photos in this book, which were brought in by those of the Sosnowiec-Bendzin transport, it would also be advisable to read Tadeusz Borokowski's book "This way to the gas ladies & gentleman' as this book covers the particular Sosnowiec-Bendzin transport and outlines in gruesome and terrifying detail what became of many of those on this transport. The photographs bring back to life many who are gone and also tells you those who survived, which is a relief to realise that some of those from the Polish ghettos made it. These photos bring back a lost world that will never return and along with Roman Vishniac's collection of photographs are a piece of history that is very much worth investing in.

(...)
The book starts out with vet Lauren Townsend operating on a tabby when she gets the first sign she is about to have a vision. As quickly as she could, she leaves for home because she never likes the reaction of others when they see her in her trance-like state. Through the killer's eyes, she "sees" a murder taking place, even though it's something that will happen, not something that has happened yet. With the few clues she gets, Lauren travels to Foothills Guest Ranch in Borland, Alberta, where she hopes to be able to find the lady she saw in her vision.

Cal Taggart is the owner of the ranch Lauren is visiting. He's an ex-bullrider who is in danger of losing his ranch and to help save it he opened a dude ranch. It's something he hates to do but to keep from losing the ranch, he'll do it. Sparks fly as soon as Lauren and Cal meet, but Cal is leery of letting anyone get close after his disaster of a marriage and all the unlucky happenings going on with the ranch.

Lauren doesn't know what to think when the lady in her vision turns out to be someone close to Cal, his ex-wife. Should she tell him what she saw or keep quiet and try to figure out who the murderer is herself, since no one has ever believed her when she's spoken of her vision? And despite getting close to Cal, will she lose him when her secret comes out?

LAUREN'S EYES is an engrossing story that had me captivated from the first page to the last. It had all that I look for in a book -- a strong heroine, a hero who just oozed charm, and a mystery that needed to be solved. Throw in some hot sex and I'm not even sorry that I didn't get to bed last night until 5 in the morning. Fast-paced and keeping you on the edge of your seat to know what happens next, LAUREN'S EYES is one not to be missed. :) Ms. Wilson packs quite a punch in this tale and I look forward to reading her again.

Mad

Lauren's Eyes definitely deserved its win in the Rising Voice of Romance contest. Norah Wilson kept me on the edge of my seat throughout the book, and though I'm usually good at figuring out who the villain is long before a book is over, I had to resist turning to the end to find out this time. I wasn't able to guess, because Norah is a master at keeping you guessing.

The romance was realistic and fraught with tension, the mystery was well-developed and page-turning, and there isn't a speck of sappiness to be found. Now if I could just find a Cal of my own...

Courtesy of CK2S Kwips and Kritiques

If a reader is looking for a passion filled romance with a lot of suspense and a dash of the paranormal, in a unique western setting, this story will meet that need.

Lauren Townsend has the sight. She would often get visions of horrible crimes about to happen, and her latest shows a murder waiting to happen. So off she goes to Western Canada, and a guest ranch, where she suspects the crime is going to occur. She never expects that this trip will change her life irrevocably.

Cal Taggart runs a guest ranch in western Canada and is struggling to make ends meet. This is further hampered by the fact his closest neighbor wants to buy up his land, as he has all the other ranches in the area, so he can sell it for higher profit. Cal had spent his entire life trying to live up to his father's expectations of him, and the pending failure of his ranch is just one more thing of which his father can disapprove.

When Lauren and Cal meet, sparks begin to fly immediately. However, her doubts color her perception of him when she discovers the women she must save is his ex-wife, Marlena. Cal has been disillusioned by love and the last thing he wants is a new relationship. When accidents start happening around the ranch and danger beckons, Cal and Lauren must work together to keep his ranch safe... and his ex-wife as well. But how can Lauren explain why she is so worried about Marlena without him turning from her, unable to accept her gift? Can they overcome their doubts about themselves and each other to be happy together?

Lauren and Cal are both imperfect people who are striving always to be the best that they can. Lauren only hopes to put her special talent of seeing events yet to happen to good use, helping those in her visions, never wanting anything for herself. Cal, a retired rodeo rider, only wants to be happy, and to prove to his demanding father that he is successful and not a failure. They need each other, as they are the perfect match. She can help him realize the only person he needs to please is himself. He can help her realize that it is acceptable to want to be happy doing things for herself. The rest of the colorful cast of characters add depth to the story, all being so well developed that they are not just two-dimensional plot fillers, but important in their own right to the story unfolding about Cal and Lauren.

The plot is wonderfully done, and the mystery of "whodunit" is so well done that readers will be trying to solve the mystery right up to the heart-pounding climax. There are good nail-biting action scenes and tender moments of love and character growth. The suspense is well done, as is the sexual tension between Cal and Lauren. Readers will feel the emotions of the characters, from love to fear to anger to sadness. All of these factors combine to bring about a story that will keep one engrossed from the first page through the last.

Ms. Wilson, Dorchester's 2003 "New Voice in Romance Winner" is most definitely an author to watch. This, her first mass-market release demonstrates her skill for telling a good story, with plenty of suspense and scorching romance. This reviewer is a fan and will be eagerly awaiting more books by this rising star.

© Kelley A. Hartsell, June 2004. All rights reserved.

Lauren's Eyes is a delight. You'll only be disappointed when it's over!

Lauren is such a brave and sympathetic heroine, it's easy to cheer for her. Cal is a luscious hero -- sexy as all hell. All the characters are multi-dimensional and contribute to the intrigue. Buy this book. Buy 2 because you'll want a keeper and a "loaner" copy.

Lauren's Eyes is a book that drew me in and wouldn't let go. I loved the characters. Cal Taggart is a handsome hero, and Lauren Townsend a compelling heroine with psychic ability. The mystery is intricately interwoven into a story I read from cover to cover in no-time-flat. You'll love this book.

Leadership is one of those things that everyone recognizes when they see it but is difficult to define. Part of the problem is that it has so many forms. There is leadership on the battlefield, in the boardroom, in the factory, at academic institutions, in sports teams, in other words there is a leader in just about every activity involving more than one person. It is also a hard activity to carry out, because in nearly all cases the authority that the leader exercises is not based on any authoritarian right. Successful leadership is a partnership between the leader and the led, which means that the leader derives a great deal of their authority from the consent of the governed.
In this book, Rehkopf discusses the strategies good leaders employ from the perspective of the hospitality industry. He has managed hotels and resorts and opened golf and country clubs. His knowledge of the subject matter is thorough, yet his main themes are simple. If you are a manager, interact with your people, take an interest in their welfare and listen to their concerns. Leadership by controlling force is a managerial dead end, it works for a short time, as eventually people will leave. The first to leave will of course be your good people, as they are the ones with the most pride in their work and can more easily find another job.
The advice offered up in this book is sound, the American business world would be much more efficient if more managers were to follow it. Unfortunately, that is not the case. For a variety of reasons, so many managers choose to insulate themselves from their workers. While some professional distance is necessary in the work place, there are times when the human element must take precedence. By applying the basic courtesies of human interaction, good managers can motivate to an extent that no threat can ever achieve.
This book contains a simple blueprint for successfully managing a business in the hospitality industry. As such, all that aspire to or are currently managing in the business would be aided by reading and applying the advice.

Here's the book I wish someone had shared with me years ago.

This is a practical, back to the basics, presentation of every day service opportunities. Ed shared a copy of this book with me and I in turn shared it with one of our General Managers. She was so excited about its content that she requested I send more copies for her managers. We now utilize the book in management training programs, and all of our Department Managers receive a copy.

This book develops a level of understanding among our teams' managers that service is important to everyone, and when customers receive great service consistently, great results will occur.

Thanks Ed for sharing your valuable experiences with us!

For an industry that often lacks leadership guidance and supervisory training, this book delivers the key ingredients needed on the journey to becoming a sound leader. Well-written and easy to read, this book is beneficial for both experienced and new leaders. Rehkopf uses composite examples from his own diverse career in the hospitality industry as the basis for the book. A must read for every management trainee and aspiring leader.

Rehkopf hits a home run with this book. It is logically written, easily read, and full of pertinent examples. Although directed to the hospitality industry, the lessons are applicable to anyone in a leadership role. I've used it in my business and bought copies for all my mid-management people. This book is for owners, managers and all people who aspire to be an owner or manager one day.

A well written and concise book which presents a practical guide on leadership. This book was easy to read and offers many good examples of how to be an effective service based leader. An excellent training tool for all levels of management.

In this fabulous book, it tells you the remarkable story about how the first teddy bears were made. Not only is the story exellent, but it has fabulous illustrations! GREAT JOB MR. MURPHY! i give this book an A+++++++++++++++.
-Stephanie,
Connecticut

The Legend of the Teddy Bear is a "must have" book for every home. It's a beautifully illustrated story that all children will enjoy while actually learning a piece of history. Imagine a child in your life explaining the story to an adult who doesn't know how the teddy bear got his name! This book belongs on all bookshelves, it will captivate children and adults alike. Looking forward to reading more from Frank Murphy!

I didn't read the book. I gave it as a birthday gift to my niece who is a teddy bear enthusiast. The rating I gave was based upon her overwhelming response to the book.

She was so taken with the story that she excitedly wrote a letter to the author. To his credit, the author responded with a handwritten letter that, along with the book, became a show-and-tell project for her 2nd grade class. She talks about the whole thing with stars in her eyes. It's truly priceless.

I give 5 stars to both the book and the author.

Cuddling Teddy Roosevelt is kinda strange...but cuddling a soft bear is better. Who would've known that the teddy bear was named after a president!
In this children's picture book, children will be amazed that they know a bit of history after they read this beautifully written/illustrated book.
~Erin
Age 11

This book appeals to all teddy bear lovers- young and old! It is a great way to share history with children. My kindergarten class throughly enjoyed it cover to cover! A must for anyone who ever had / or has a teddy bear!!

So few modernists understand the depth and sophistication of traditional knowledge. Wade Davis is such a refreshing exception

As far as I'm concerned, Davis is a five-star writer across the board. Not only does this man have more scientific knowledge than he knows what to do with, but he writes about people and plant life with equal flawless prose. This is a good 'starter' book for those who have not yet read him (or, who only heard of "The Serpent and the Rainbow"). His intense interest in, profound respect for indigenous cultures and their people quite obviously generate the trust and knowledge he receives in return. Like his beloved mentor, Harvard's Edward Schultz, he will literally go to 'the ends of the earth'and stay however long it takes so that he may absorb and understand what he finds there. His descriptions (and direct experience)of psychotropic's from the jungles and their place in the culture, should be read by the multi-national plunderers - as well as those whose only frame of reference is Timothy Leary. The natural world around them provide every, single necessary item of life and sustenance for the people. The huge, central-to-life importance of the Shaman is masterfully illustrated. It should be obvious that I cannot say enough in praise of Wade Davis. Go and discover him for yourself, get lost in the wonder of his world - and marvel . . .

Wade Davis is both an exceptional anthropologist and an exciting writer. The remote and unique cultures that he records in this work give us home bound and over-weight readers a glimpse of hope in the human potential that we all share. We may not be able to travel as he has but through his vivid and engrossing writing, we can celebrate the human spirit that he has witnessed first hand. The special people he introduces to us see the world in different lights, sounds and smells than we do from our homoginized world view. We need to understand these cultures as a way to balance our own as we try to look beyond it to find new ways to meet the ever changing reality of our existence.

an anthropologist and the author of several books (perhaps the best known of which is 'The Serpent and the Rainbow'), Wade Davis is explorer-in-residence at the National Geographic Society and has quite literally traveled the world to search out and study other cultures and their uses of sacred plants. In "Light At The End Of The World: A Journey Through The Realm Of Vanishing Cultures" he has compiled essays based on his researches into the lives, traditions, beliefs, customs, and ceremonies of tribal cultures that range from the Canadian Arctic to the deserts of North Africa, from the rain forests of Borneo and the Amazon, to the mountain communities of the Andes and Tibet, from the swamps of the Orinoco to the wilds of British Columbia, to the cultural landscape of Haiti. All of these cultures share one thing in common - they are in danger of losing their unique ways of life in the face of expanding technological and population encroachments and competitions for resources. A strongly recommended addition to academic, community, and personal library Anthropology and Social Issues reference collections and supplemental reading lists, "Light At The End Of The World" is a compelling read that is an engaging as it is informative, as compelling as it is instructive.

Wade Davis' long career among isolated peoples and cultures has given him an enviable insight. He manages to connect with people at many levels. They are free and open with him, an obvious outsider. Their stories, legends, life modes all come to light under his gentle persuasive powers. In this outstanding account of his travels and his studies, we share much of what he and his mentors have learned.

The primary message in this book is how cultures vary with their environments. Worldwide, Davis notes, only about five per cent of humanity live in areas relatively untouched by European intrusion. They are scattered, often living in what we deem as "savage" or "desolate", yet they survive and flourish when allowed. Hardly rigid in outlook, these people have learned well how to adapt to changing conditions. They have come to know just how to deal with what Nature has provided. Centuries of experience are put to use on a daily basis, following seasonal and other variations. Their knowledge of the local plants in particular has stood them well, and they have much to offer us. Davis describes how this has developed in many regions, with the Amazon basin an area of his special interest.

Davis acknowledges two special influences in his work - David Maybury-Lewis, his tutor, and Richard Evans Schultes who had spent many years in the Amazon area. Davis followed them, but as his study interests grew, so did the range of his travels. North of the Amazon Basin, he enters the mountains of Columbia to learn the ways of the Kogi and Ika people. He takes us to Northwest British Columbia, where the Grizzly retains a meagre residual territory and meets Atehena [Alex Jack] to learn the ways of the shamans who formerly operated there. In lands once part of the Inca empire, he learns the uses of coca leaves - both social and medicinal. Haiti possesses numerous cultures, many with strong ties to the African homeland. That continent's sad history of imperialist intrusion probably created more artificial "national" boundaries than any other region of the world. Such intrusion causes displacement and Davis is witness to the shamanic rituals of a people only recently forced into a nomadic life.

The author concludes his narrative by describing two areas as opposite as one could imagine - the Red Centre of Australia and the snowy reaches of the Canadian Arctic. He recounts the utter innocence of the European invaders in both regions. British explorers and colonists suffered heavily as a result of their failure to understand how "primitive" people could survive better than "well-equipped" Victorians with their advanced technology and ideals of superiority. As elsewhere, long centuries of experience taught the Aborigines to find water in unlikely places and the Inuit to travel lightly and efficiently. Only in modern times have researchers arrived at an understanding of what "primitives" accomplished.

As he freely confesses, however, the work has only begun. This book is not only informative about how indigenous people have survived conditions deadly to us, but provides pointers about how to apply their knowledge for the benefit of us all. Medicines are but one step in what can be adapted for our use. And more Wade Davises are needed to do the tasks before us. Those new scholars, however, must go to those people to learn, not to change their ways to conform to ours. That would be artificial and self-defeating. [stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada]

I really enjoyed reading de le Varre's poignant memoir. He writes with a searing honesty about his challenges and triumphs. Rene is at his best when describing the family he obviously loves so much. Particularly in Andre, his father, the reader will discover an honest approach to a complicated relationship filled with anger and tenderness.

Reading de le Varre's book is one part history and one part travel adventure. His descriptions of both small town life and big time European travel and adventure fill the reader with thoughtful imagery.

I thoroughly enjoyed the trip.

I really liked the book. I think it is a good read for 1) people who know Rene 2) those from or living in Croton 3) interested travel readers 4) and, of course, those who deal with alcohol issues in their lives.

The descriptions and recent history of Croton is awesome. I liked the family backgrounds and also the European perspective which was detailed - especially Vienna, Austria.

It is very sad how things unraveled for Rene's Pop. The career achievements in film by he and his dad are well documented and should be!

Growing up in Croton? This book captured it for me. From Little League to hitting the bottom line on HS football when Croton was the worst team in the County and people in town started to get an inferiority complex that kids in Croton just could not compete with those in other towns! They really believed this. How about running the Croton River rapids? Imagine jumping off Quaker Bridge and floating down the Croton to Fireman's Island! And, the description of HS baseball was very good with the love of being out there playing and learning how to win.

Where was that Carvel stand?

I loved reading about Rene's family dynamics, travel excursions throughout his life and in the end learning that he figured out to change his life by choosing a healthy addiction rather than the standard choice of unhealthy addictions. Most of us don't attain this insight of ourselves...
I am sad the book is over... it was a fun travel adventure as well as, life through the eyes of a runner.
LOVED IT!

Diana Hersh

WHAT A MAGICAL LOOK INTO THE LIFE OF A YOUNG MAN WITH A FATHER WHOM HE ADORES AND YET HATES FOR WHAT HE IS DOING TO HIMSELF. THIS WELL WRITTEN STORY HAS FUNNY MOMENTS, AS WELL AS THOSE THAT TUG AT YOUR HEART. THE DESCIPTIONS THAT RENE PAUL HAS WOVEN INTO THE STORY OF HIS TRAVELS ALL OVER THE WORLD, MAKE YOU KNOW SO MUCH ABOUT THOSE COUNTRIES HE HAS VISITED. HE EVEN WEAVES HISTORY OF THOSE PLACES INTO THE STORY.THE AUTHOR HAS HAD AN EXCITING AND YET SLIGHTLY SAD LIFE. THIS IS A BOOK THAT IS HARD TO PUT DOWN WHEN YOU FIRST PICK IT UP TO READ. IT PULLS YOU INTO THE STORY. I LOVED IT AND RECOMMEND IT.

A remarkably insightful memoir...Rene offers a glimpse into the dynamics of a fascinating family. No blame...no guilt...simply understanding and acceptance.

From the simple, true story telling to the beautiful and primitive paintings these books are a joy to read and have. You cannot go wrong with this or any of the other Gaspard and Lisa books.

Lisa's like a 4-6 yo in dog pajamas. She's the best thing since peanut butter and jelly sandwiches (and that's saying mounds, since those are my favorites). Curious, antsy, fun, and self-amusing. I love her. She and Gaspard, an equally cute black furry person, populate Gutman's series. While Gutman's stories are charming, it's the dynamic and colorful illustrations by Georg Hallenslebsen that make the series a memorable read.

In Lisa's Airplane Trip, Lisa goes on a flight for the very first time by herself. On the airplane she befriends a stewardess, irks a fellow passenger with her constant wriggling, takes a nap (using the extra seat after her frustrated seat companion leaves), spills orange juice ALL over herself, gets a bath, and meets the captain. I was reading this at a small bookstore and was embarassed to find myself giggling at the orange juice explosion: Lisa's trying to peek over her seat, standing on something she shouldn't be, when her meal tray tips and vibrantly colored juice goes flying everywhere--especially on her white fur. Just the type of antics you'd expect a curious child to get up to if left by herself. The whole tale is wonderful, especially for a young person who's going on a flight soon and might be a little worried.

My son loves dogs and airplanes so this book seemed like a perfect fit. He is 18 mos and can't get enough of it. He "reads" it to himself all the time. THe story really is told from a little kid's point of view. The description of the airplane food tray is a perfect example of that. My son loves to identify all the little edibles!

My 3 year old nephew travels by plane frequently to see his dad. His grandmother gave him this book and he no longer wants any other read to him. He always takes it with him on the airplane so his daddy can read it to him, he obviously finds comfort in knowing he's not the only young one who flies and can be scared. Beautiful images and a really nice, straightforward story.

My 2 year old daughter loves this book, and so do my husband and I! The illustrations are colorful and entertaining, and the text is engaging and easy to understand. My daughter loves to read along with this book. I also recommend "Lisa In New York", but I didn't care for some of the others in the series. This book is great and I highly recommend it.

I read this to my 7 year old in 2 nights. He is not a reader yet, and finding reading material is a challenge in that the things that he can read himself are too simple to interest him. We have two kittens which he loves, and he could identify with the kitten antics in this book. The story-line kept him interested - although he occasionally wanted to flip ahead to look at the next illustration to anticipate the action. The pictures are wonderful, and this is a warm story. When we finished my son asked if there was another book in the series that we could read!

Bonnie Boadicea "Bo" is a little kitten born into a family with a loving mother and father, but not to kind owners. She is the runt of the litter, and doesn't eat much due to her small size. Her father loves her, and to make her feel special gives her a big name, but calls her "Bo" for short.

One day it is time for the kittens to leave their mother, and the nice warm house. They realize that they are going to be hurt unless they escape from Mr. Withers, who was supposed to take them to the pet shop. So all the kittens run in different directions, and are soon scared, wet and hungry.

Bo meets a nice sailor and gets into all kinds of mischief with him on the boat he works on, and is soon a sailing cat with a nice home and a kind owner.

This is a must read children's book that anyone, young or old, would enjoy.

I read this book aloud to my 6 year old daughter and she loved it. My 12 year old niece happened to be here at the same time and would also chide me into reading "one more chapter". I have a hard time finding stories to read aloud to my daughter that are at a lever that she can enjoy. This was excellent and I'm sure will be read again and again in our family.

The CD/book edition of _Little Bo_ is a must for young children. Julie Andrews Edwards reads as well as she sings. This edition adds much to the written text. The CD can be used as a series of short readings. The conclusion of each chapter is accompanied by gentle music that tells the child or parent that there is a natural break. The author researched the book well, and the portions of the book that take place on a fishing boat during a severe storm are very plausible. Henry Cole's soft drawings do much to convey the flavor of the story.

Bo, the kitten, and her siblings were sent away during a snow storm by the owner because their sire was an alley cat. Bo finds a friend in Billy Bates, a sailor aboard a fishing boat. Bo survives a severe storm and the dislike of the boat captain. Billy and Bo leave the boat to find new lives for themselves.

As a child I fell in love with the actress Julie Andrews in Mary Poppins and The Sound of Music. Still an outstanding actress, I enjoyed her recent Princess Diaries, I am continually amazed at her abilities. If singing like a nightingale and acting weren't enough, she has also proven to be equally talented as an author! My eleven year daughter bought Little Bo two years ago with her hard earned allowance money. She couldn't put it down then and frequently goes back to enjoy it over again. She is currently reading it to her five year old sister who can't wait for bedtime now since she so enjoys her bedime story. The only problem is that their eight year old brother runs off with it at the most inopportune times thus wreaking havok! He thought if he could sneak away and read it in hiding no one would tease him. Boys who are almost nine are only supposed to read cool stuff, you know. He, too, found Little Bo irresistable and no longer even tries to hide it. I'm beginning to wonder if Mary Poppins wasn't really a fictional character at all but a chapter in Julie Andrews life. Don't stop now Ms. Andrews. We love you!

Soennichsen attempts to capture "my reverence for Death Valley's geology, history, and harsh environment. It is a reverence conceived in naiveté, nourished through repeated exploration, and polished with the passage of time. It is the story of how this region helped construct my views on the environment, tourism, solitude, and religion, among other topics. It is part memoir and part adventure tale; part history and part coming-of-age story." (xiii) He compares the Valley to a harsh mistress whom he still loves. One who "did not seek to hide its appearance with vegetative cosmetics, did not adorn itself in soft and sumptuous outer garments or employ subtly filtered lighting or cool desert breezes the tempt my senses." (xii) Not all the narrative, wisely, emerges from such extended metaphors. These are deployed sparingly, for maximum effect.

He knows the power of the fanciful placenames we use to try to account for Death Valley's weird formations. Our attempt to play Adam shows both our bold confidence that we can control nature, and our failure to understand the ineffable forces that outlast us. Our naming reveals their power over us far beyond what words can convey. Nevertheless, he tries in a variety of registers to explain some of the fascination that this territory's provoked in him and within a few hardy, or deluded, people over the past century and a half.

William Lewis Manly's tale-- as retold skillfully by Soennichsen-- of his fellow pioneers who took what would become a fatal short cut for some in their party in 1949-50 (ironically a much wetter winter and more forgiving climate than usual) here's interspersed with chapters on the geology and dessication, the mining and pioneer days, the unpredictable weather, the flora and fauna, the crazy folks, The Devil's Racetrack mystery of gliding boulders, more crazy folks, his earlier forays into danger, burros, and what can be seen off the main roads that circle the National Park. Unfailingly, he gives enough insight into his own experiences without getting bogged down in superfluous details from the rest of his life.

He selects only what's appropriate to illuminate the Valley, from his point of view, and supplements it sparingly but deftly with the records from history and fellow sojourners. I sensed that much more could have been told about the mining camps in particular, but other guides and academic works did this. The context, nonetheless, for such efforts as the 20-Mule Borax Mule Team that in turn spawned the now-nearly forgotten (he makes an aside to it) "Death Valley Days" show by Ronald Reagan before he entered 60's politics remained undernourished. Yet, we can find out more in longer, or less accessible, works. He appends a short list of sources selected, but I would have liked much more annotation or specific suggestions for other media. (There's a URL given on the dust jacket with www. plus the main title of his book as a single word plus dot-com; I tried it today and found a dead link, however.)

This book earns five stars for its clear prose, careful composition, and thoughtful analysis of this infamous expanse. Although the cover and titular typeface make it at first look less than the well-informed investigation that the contents reveal, and the lack of a usable map or representative photos does detract unfortunately from my perfect rating overall, this book's recommended. The photos tended to be rather indistinct, as if random snaps, and did not depict the splendor or strangeness of the sights his words witness.

I admit a bit of confusion. He cites verbatim the dangers of desiccation from Richard Lingenfelter's standard history, while he contradicts what Lingenfelter asserts on the previous page of "Death Valley & the Amargosa": that the Shoshone term "Tomesha" did not mean what Soennichsen in his own introduction's first sentence asserts: "Ground on Fire." (xi; cf. Lingenfelter 1986: 11-13--also reviewed by me.) Lingenfelter traces this false "Paiute" etymology to a 1907 "one-liner" from a geologist. Lingenfelter gives "Coyote Rock" as the probable Shoshone derivation from what was once the largest Indian village there. Thus, as both authors agree, the mythic and the illusive certainly reign over the landscape.

Speaking of placenames, Soennichsen's map, while it reminded me of an affectionate sketch one might take away from an insider who shares his own points of interest on a napkin with you after a long conversation in a local bar near the Valley, on paper's too cramped and idiosyncratic to serve the curious reader wishing for more precision and an easier comprehension of the many sites referred to in the text.

Yet, these remain minor faults compared with the book's strengths. I admired Soennichsen's style, both as a thinker and a chronicler of his beloved realm. For roughly four decades, as he sums up his book's scope, he's been roaming when he could these quiet lands, preparing to tell the tales in this brief, lively, but serious record of what lurks beyond the myths of this often forbidding, yet coyly inviting, place.

He's edited this efficiently told collection of interrelated essays down, I estimate, from a larger work, and the discipline in crafting his reflections shows in the meditative, yet never dull, pace. With touches of self-deprecation, memories of lots of beer in coolers, and the right amount of anecdotes, he tells entertaining yet educational stories. As with Edward Abbey's "Desert Solitaire," this updates the ancient wonder of the American desert for our times; Soennichsen has the advantage of moving further west than Abbey into what still seems to me a Mojave that has lacked the attention from nature writers that it deserves and earns in the hands of such earlier efforts as the late Colin Fletcher's "A Thousand-Mile Summer."

Soennichsen's final chapter accomplishes this feat of verbal reclamation best. Without revealing why I think his night in Surprise Canyon proved so apt a name for such an encounter as the one he relates, he also cocks a sober eye towards our hubris and chides our refusal-- in a wilderness that often punishes the foolhardy visitor-- to respect the limits that such a desert represents to all of us who drag motorhomes and generators out there into the silence. We wish to see Mother Nature from the comforts of only our frigid automobile window, or perhaps after tearing it up under our 4WD's spattered windscreen. Without getting sanctimonious or hypocritical, he marvels at relentless human endeavor to tame such an awesome place. Also, he elicits respect for the hidden places that should not be domesticated.

I did not expect the penultimate pages of this little book to end with a chapter citing Sartre, but it's again testimony to Soennichsen's skill that he can integrate a profound observation into his own reflections without it coming off as showing off. At Chris Wicht's Panamint camp, he finds intimations that connect with Wordsworth's "inward eye which is the bliss of solitude." (qtd. 168) Our existential solitude, as he learns one midnight, takes us into our minds as the most mysterious of all our landscapes, where even Death Valley may look tamer by psychic comparison.

I thoroughly enjoyed how Soennichsen interwove the historical stories from the past and the factual geographical information with his personal experiences in Death Valley. I liked this book so much that I bought it for my parents.

I throughly enjoyed this book about Death Valley and the author's experiences there. My family used to visit Death Valley regularly on our way to other destinations during our vacations. This book brought back numerous fond memories of my childhood thinking about the mysteries and dangers of the Valley to the pioneers that dared to brave that fantastic wilderness. I was both informed and entertained while reading this wonderful book. If you are even the slight bit curious about Death Valley and the people who explored it, read this book. You'll be pleasantly surprised at the discoveries on each page.

Ok, so... I'm acquainted with this author (online only) because one of his other interests is one I share, and we hang out on the same message board. So when the book came out, I came here to Amazon and bought a copy, just to support John, even though I had NO interest at all in Death Valley.

Well, I started reading it after having it in my "to read" pile for a couple of months, and must say I am VERY pleasantly surprised. John has a great writing style - very accessible, and easy to read. I also like the way you have the past interspersed with the present in this volume. I learned so very much from this book, and have actually told my husband that I'd like to visit Death Valley at some point. (Though, I must admit, I'm one of those city wimps who would want air conditioning & cold water at all times. *grin*)

I'd highly recommend this book to anyone - whether they do or do not currnetly have any interest in Death Valley. It will suck you in and make you long to see this lowest point in America. I am so very pleased that I enjoyed it :) - I honestly thought before I cracked the book open that I'd read 20 or 30 pages then put it away due to a lack of interest.

BUY THIS BOOK!! Recommended by a relative, I had preconcieved ideas and little interest in Death Valley, but started reading it anyway. What a great surprise awaited me within just a few pages! I was transported back and forth between the past and the present, gaining a reverent respect for my ancestors who dared to take this trek through the valley's harsh conditions and then finding myself in awe of the fascinating workings of nature to sustain life and even beauty in such a place.

Reading "Live!From Death Valley: Dispatches from America's Low Point" introduced me to diverse and interesting characters from both long ago and not so long ago, pulled me into mystery and danger, brought me knowledge of botany, wildlife and geology I had never realized before and along the way came many laugh out loud moments that made me look around for someone, anyone, to share them with!!

John Soennichsen's love and expertise of Death Valley shines through and has made me re-think my position that vacations should only be taken on tropical beach's! Wonderful reading!!

Ted Kooser, the poet, has written a beautiful little book of memories of his home. In this day of war and constant fear mongering it is a wonderful surprise to find a book this sweet. I passed it around my poetry group and some expected poetry. These small essays are like poetry in their beauty but they are vignettes about the people and the place.

Poet (and now Poet Laureate) Ted Kooser wrote this collection of prose pieces while in his early sixties, all of them appreciations of his daily life and memories of family going back to his boyhood in Ames, Iowa. Living today in a farmhouse near little Gardner, Nebraska, not far from Lincoln, he first describes the rolling terrain of the land and its Czech and Bohemian settlers, whose descendants continue to provide a cultural identity to the region. The essays are sprinkled with Czech and Bohemian proverbs, reflecting the wry common-sense wisdom of the Old World that informs his point of view.

Not all of them essays, some are short prose poems, spun out usually in one or two long sentences that reach a breathless climax that is, well, breathtaking. Reading his work, you are struck by his sincerity and the intensity of his awareness. While a man of strong opinions, they are rarely expressed directly and only seldom ironically, as when he describes the willful spraying of herbicides in road ditches by two county workers who have no sense of the risks to their health and the environment.

Identified on the book jacket as a retired insurance executive, Kooser embodies a kind of risk aversion that celebrates what is steady, dependable, and unthreatening in his world. There are rarely shadows, and when they do appear it is with a surprise that is shocking, as when a woman tells of an elderly aunt whose family was murdered by a farm hand when she was a teenager. Even his bout with cancer is told with a kind of emotional reserve and matter-of-factness that belies the anxiety he experienced over a six-month period of recovery.

Kooser is clearly abreast of the modern world, but everywhere in his writing, there's a lightness of touch - a gentleness - that harks back to a quieter time in our social history. His touching memories of his father are a tender evocation of post-war America that would easily stand beside illustrations by Normal Rockwell. E. B. White's wonderful essays on rural living in "One Man's Meat" also come to mind. Like White's, his vision is informed by humor, but rarely at the expense of other people (unless you take exception to his characterization of Republicans as "smug"). Even pheasant and coyote hunters with their arsenals and SUVs are seen as earnest and only incidentally comical.

Thanks to the University of Nebraska Press for bringing this fine book to print. Each page is a pleasure.

I am not the sort of person who revisits books. I tend to move on to things that are new since there is so much out there calling to be read. But with Koozer's "Local Wonders" I have had to make an exception. I have read certain sections of it 3 times already and find them as compelling each time. This collection of four seasonal essays contains so many examples of wonderful writing that I am amazed that this book has not received more attention than it has. I was raised in New England, but I " know" many of the people and situations that Koozer is so eloquently writing about. This is a book to be read and your leisure because it is very much like spending time with an old and wise friend. I cannot recommend it enough.

This book is easily the best I have read in years, in terms of the sheer ability to write and pass along interesting and intelligent thoughts. Admittedly, I identify with Mr. Kooser's purchase of a place in the country, and his clear enjoyment of the quiet, contemplative life, but the writing alone is worth the purchase for anyone. I actually thought it was a book of poems when I bought it but, no, it is even better. It is a poet writing a series of brief observations clearly, interestingly, and with great care. Thank you, Ted.

A wonderful book of concise snapshots of rural living. I loved to read each sentence slowly and get the gems packed into each lovingly crafted sentence. So many books these days are too repetitive and include superfulous information that doesn't add to the scene. Every word and sentence is worth reading here though! To me a mix of "The old man and the sea" combined with Willa Cather. Read it like you are eating a rich dessert; you don't need to eat it all in one setting or in large gulping bites. Treasure the book in comfortable places.