Clark Books

At last! An historical novel that's interesting, amusing, and *entertaining* and so *real* you feel you need to clean your boots every time you read a piece of it. Yeah, the pictures are faded. They're *old*, dammit, *real*. These are *everybody's* folks, the way they grew up and loved and lost their limbs just so we could be here. John Sayles, *do* read these books. You'll have another "Matewan" in your hands.

'Labor of love' seems inadequate in describing BEHIND THESE MOUNTAINS, authored by resident-historian, Mona Leeson Vanek. This engaging book narrates virtually every known event of significance in the region, through the use of oral tape recordings, letters, and written documentation. Beginning before the arrival of David Thompson, it contains determined homesteaders, exciting log drives down river, pioneering merchants, establishment of schools and churches, and the horrors of the 1910 forest fire. Countless stories of individuals, ranging from mildly amusing to hilarious enliven this history. Where else in a book of this sort can one find characters who vow to escape from a local jail "disguised as a bunch of radishes?" or a shingle-mill owner who closed down his mill after having to ante up compensation for too many workers' sawed-off fingers - at $1,000 per finger. BEHIND THESE MOUNTAINS stands as the definitive history of its region, the lower Clark's Fork of the Columbia River and the Bull River valley in Sanders County, Montana. The chapter on the Forest Service's arrival in the valley clearly describes the bitter struggles between pioneer ranger Augustus Ferdinand Silcox and local businessmen, led by Clifford R. Weare, who wanted to continue their unfettered exploitation of the public domain. The more than 200 photographs are positioned in the book to match and enhance the text, but reporoduction of many of them obviously is more faded and washed out than the author would have liked. The thorough index is a boon for genealogists. A complete set of end notes contain material that enhance the stories, and if readers ignore the footnotes, they'll miss some stirring accounts of vigilante activity during the 1880s. Excellent accounts of the building of the Northern Pacific Railroad, which opened the northwest area of Montana to settlement, provide vivid accounts of problems along this 'most difficult and expensive division' of the entire NPRR line. Vanek has done her community and Montana a great service

This is a superb book,in my personal estimation.It gives me what I was searching for, a review of the artist's work,excellent pictures,and information on the artist's personal history.
I am partial to figurative work,and having done so much overly detailed work in my past,I look at Akio'sf igures and realise that there is a lot of power to the meaning of "less is more" I am so glad I have it in my personal library,it is a help in conducting myself in where I want to go in my own artmaking.

I thought this book was a great collective of Akio's work from his past work with the vessel to his current figurative sculpture. I would highly recommend it for any ceramic artist.

This is one of the most beautiful miniture books I've ever read. The photography is stunning, even on small scale, and I've found myself paging through it again and again. I originally bought the book as a gift for a friend who was engaged but ended up keeping it for myself! The strong point of this book is definately the pictures. The text is very limited, and I didn't get any new ideas for a wedding that I hadn't heard before, but obviously this miniature edition is very much scaled down from the bohemoth original volume. A must-have for anyone who loves weddings!

I have been reading wedding planning books in order to prepare for my July wedding. Beverly Clark's books have the most class and tradition. I can not afford the large coffee table book but the mini-book is the same with advice and pictures. It is a nice small gift for brides-to-be.

In BITE THE STARS, Eliza Clark draws her characters with bold strokes. Grace and her son, Cole, could be members of your own family, or perhaps the neighbors down the street. Though they don't speak of it, you know they've got troubles, and things don't seem to be getting any better. It would be easy to turn your back on them, tell yourself they're not worth the effort. But take a good look, because by knowing Grace you'll feel better about yourself. And maybe the next time you see her you'll stop and say hello.

Canadian author Eliza Clark's Bite the Stars is a gripping and emotional novel about Grace Larson, the mother of a brutal and violent criminal. Forced into premature labor by the violence of a tornado, Grace finds herself unable to cope with or understand her son Cole, a child who grows up to be as destructive as nature at its worst. As Grace watches her son's trail of destruction, she looks for answers in nature itself. Bite The Stars is recommended to a serious readership as being a poignant, gut-wrenching, compellingly thoughtful and thought-provoking narrative that will not soon be forgotten.

Part II of the "Crazy Horse Chronicles" continues to enthrall. This vivid retelling of the life of Curly, later to become Crazy Horse, explains the early transition to adulthood for Curly and Little Mouse, who become Crazy Horse and Black Robe Buffalo Woman. They grow to maturity during the "Indian Wars" and Crazy Horse earns his name through battle glory. His painful experience of betrayal by family of Little Mouse drives him to forsake his holy name to become "Worm," or One Who Returns to Mother Earth. The bittersweet story of the love of Crazy Horse and Black Robe Buffalo Woman is passionate and fierce and gentle at the same time. Readers will eagerly devour this latest in the series and impatiently await the third in the series.

Nancy Lorraine, Reviewer

Richard Jepperson capably and affirmatively expands his Crazy Horse Chronicles with this touching, tender, fierce, reader-friendly book containing articulate, poetic text and original, beautiful illustrations. There are really only two kinds of books. And they are not children's books and grownups' books but good books and bad books. Black Robe Woman, Lakota Warrior, is most definitely among the former. It's excellent for kids but it is by no means exclusively for them but for all readers of worthy literature. Here is a book you will read to your children and to yourself, not once but over and over again.

Black Women in America is the most authoritative resource for African-American Women's History on the market. Published by England's Oxford University Press, it explores the historical contributions of Black women to American life. The 3 volume set is enormous in scope, yet is presented in well illustrated compact volumes. Biographies and critical essays illuminate the past from America's Revolutionary War Era to the present. Black Women in America is an inspiring resource for libraries and living rooms. This well researched encyclopedia set reminds us of the noble ideals that make America great.

Those serious about African-American and women's history MUST include this encyclopedia in their reference collections.

Award-winning writer Janet Clark presents Blind Faith, a novel about the Roman Catholic clergy sexual abuse scandal as experienced through the eyes of young Jack O'Donnell and his family during the late 60s and early 70s. A sincerely told tale of the severe physical and emotional pain caused by the breech of trust, as well as the sinister cover up that the church hierarchy engaged in. An involving story about the blind faith of a community manipulated, children betrayed, and the struggle to cope with hopelessly tangled emotions. Highly recommended.

In Blind Faith, Janet Clark uncovers the secretive, frightening, abhorrent, and unfortunate world of a sexually abused child. It is a melancholy story of broken trusts, beliefs, and loyalties, and yet, is inspirational seeing how someone can find the strength to fight back against the powerful, rise like a Phoenix, and overcome seemingly insurmountable circumstances.

The action takes off in the second paragraph, slows down to let the plot catch up, then takes off again. This pattern of going back and forth continues to a logical, exciting conclusion with characters that seem like next door people. As a woman who likes suspense and action, I liked the book a lot, as did my husband, who is a real action fan. This is the second book by this author I've read and I'm waiting for his next. Oh, yes, and I love the Ventura County setting. As a Southern Californian, it's right next door.

Lots of action and good characters I liked (and some pretty bad ones I didn't!). It moved right into the story on page one, and the plot moved quickly and kept me on my toes. A woman who likes good suspense, it had just the right amount of romance,too: enough for me and not too much for my husband, who liked it so much he did not put it down until he was done. The chase through the city and the battle on the highway were thrilling and real. BLOOD OF THE HELGSBERG, his first Matt Clark thing is next on my list, and then I'll eagerly await this writer's next effort.

I am usually not a big fan of memoirs, preferring biographies instead, but a friend's suggestion led me to "Bloodsisters" and I'm the richer for it. It is the story of a young girl snatched from the loving care of a foster mother by a clueless family court judge and returned to her biological family-and her abusive father. At the heart of the story is the deep bond that develops between Annie and Kate, Annie's strong-willed, tough, fearless sister who protects Annie from the advances of their father. It's written beautifully, lyrically, but Travalini pulls no punches in getting the reader into the head of a child abuser. There are some brutally honest moments as Travilini forces the reader to look at the reality of child abuse full on. But there is humor too, and tenderness and empathy.

Travalini makes some unique decisions in the composition of her memoir. Instead of writing in the voice of an adult looking back, Travalini writes in the voice of Annie as a 10 year old. The consistency of the voice in describing Annie's innocent view of the world, fractured by the reality of her father's monstrousness is what gives the narrative its power. Also, Travalini doesn't fall into false sentimentality or bathos. She eschews the temptation to grind an axe by presenting a balanced view of her father as a person who does demonstrate a humaneness and decency at times but who is prevented by his demons from revealing his better side. In the end it is a true and moving story of love, forgiveness, and redemption. I recommend it highly.

In her non-fiction tale of a childhood horribly gone wrong, Billie Travalini creates memorable characters and paints unforgettable pictures that will delight and haunt readers for a long time to come. Travalini depicts Annie and Kate, the "Bloodsisters" of the title, bonding together to try to escape the violence and sexual advances of their father. In the beginning of the story, we see Annie leaving the loving home of a foster mother, "Mama Cope," to return to her biological parents, who had rejected her at a very young age. From the first scene, we see life through Annie's eyes as she rides in the front seat of a garbage truck with a driver who has a glass eye, stroking her beloved cat "Sissy Jupe," and pushing as close to the door as possible, wishing to escape from a frightening future.

Through her use of detail, Travalini puts readers in the truck with Annie, and through her eyes we see her June Cleaver type of mother and especially her father-a Bible-believer who always lies. We also get to know Annie's sisters, Rose, a whiner interested only in appearances, and Kate, the spunky tomboy, who shows Annie how to survive a frightening world by using her imagination. Together Annie and Kate explore the neighborhood stores and the woods nearby, playing tricks on unsuspecting adults and inventing their own language.

Travalini's story has the ring of truth, and she holds us in suspense up to the very end. Will Annie survive the menace of her predatory father? And what will happen to Kate and the rest of the family? Readers will turn pages eagerly to discover the answers.

Great meals from great pickers

The Bluegrass Music Cookbook is a great book...a must for any fan of Bluegrass Music or curious about the genre.

Actually, I've only tried a couple of the recipes, so that should make you ask "How can he review a cookbook if he hasn't tried out the recipes?"

Good Question...The Bluegrass Cookbook is one of the best books to introduce someone to the significant Bluegrass players of today and yesterday. There are lots of great photos that I saw for the first time in this book, and great biographical notes on each of the featured artists. Its a great book to browse, and even the knowledgeable historian can pick up something new after each browse.

And by the way...given the Southern rural heritage of Bluegrass Music, you know the cookin's great!