Wilson Books

Excellent written! This is a book I want my teen agers, family and friends to read! I was recommended to read this from my friend Joann Wilson, (Steve Wilson's sister). While reading "Nogales" made me emotional knowing some of the people involved. Also being a Mom to Teen agers! Teen agers have too much trust when the world cannot be trusted!!
This book should be recommended in the High School Reading Programs. All ready, I recommended this Book to be placed in our Town Library. Our Library is only the next town over where the Wilson's family use to live!

What a great book. I could not put it down. A story of things gone wrong and two friends trying to make it out alive. Fantastic....

The day that I received Nogales in the mail was exciting and scary. I had read the origional manuscript years ago and knew I was about to open up part of the past that made me very sad. You see, the author of this book, is my brother Steve.
I had trouble putting it down, but there were times when I had to stop to wipe away the tears. It seemed like only yesterday that our family was receivng calls from the prison to tell us to send money or we may never see Steve again. The book was written so well that it took me back easily to when I was 16 and thought I would never see my brother alive again. I have thought many times over the years how anyone could go through what he did and turn out to be the extradionary person that he is today. As hard as it was to turn every page, I could"nt stop. The book just pulls you in. I knew I had to get through all the horrible things that happened to him to get to the ending. I remember the night in the airport like it was yesterday. That was the night our family's nightmare was finally over. That was the night my brother came home.

This is a great book. I have bought copies for my friends. The author describes it well when he says the book is a celebration of all things that can go wrong. It seems that everything went wrong but he survived and held onto his sanity and his humanity.

The story is a really good one and even though the events described are full of horror, you at least know from the title that it has a happy ending. It is just hard to imagine how it can possibly get there. The author writes really well. His short sentences and short chapters keep the events distinct and exciting. Even though the book is described as a memoir, it reads like something happening in real time, not in the past

Each character is crisply drawn so their essence stands out. The lines between good and evil are clear and I suffered with each setback and rejoiced in every gain, no matter how small, for the good guys.

There is plenty of food for thought within the pages. What are the factors that help us keep our humanity? We know that strong values, good friendships, and a sense of humor are essential, but what else does the author point to? Belonging to a community, doing what we can to help those even more unfortunate, and taking opportunities when they show up. The author just tells his story, straight out without editorializing, allowing us to look for ourselves.

This is a book that really engaged me. I have a deep respect and admiration for the man who survived the ordeal and went on to address the injustice. The book is a good reminder that life is capricious and yet we can learn and grow wherever we find ourselves.

This book is great! I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves adventure and true stories. Read and enjoy!

Jerome Wilson's stories are magical. They illumine a world we believe has gone but is still with us. He creates his characters in an objective, mature yet loving voice, letting them live a life of their own. Wanting to prolong the reading pleasure, I barely managed to restricted myself to one story a day.

Like Chekhov and Raymond Carver before him, Jerome Wilson presses his paper against his subject, and rubs it with charcoal, shading it in, letting the texture of the object supply the texture of the work.

What emerges bursts full form in the head of the reader, producing images that begin when the story ends, that remain indelibly pressed upon you, a pressed flower in your head, and yours to keep.

Jerome Wilson's debut collection fulfills a promise that was apparent when the title story was published in Ploughshares over a decade ago. His skillfully woven characters, such as Sonny Buck, Jessie Leigh and Tammy Faye Lovejoy, draw the reader in, not only by the stories they tell, but through their neighbors' stories, the towns the live in and the people they encounter.

Paper Garden takes a trip down south that is sometimes funny, sometimes shocking, but always engaging. By the end of the last story, the reader has been taken on as much as an emotional ride as Sonny Buck on the ferris wheel. Paper Garden is well worth the purchase. I hope we see more from this writer in the future.

Paper Garden by Jerome Wilson, is a collection of short stories. In each story the characters come to life as Wilson takes his readers from the household of Sony Buck, a precarious little boy, to Jessie Leigh, a sweet yet not too bright little girl, to Mr. Pruitt, a spunky old man with a sharp mind.

This book was a delightful read. Jerome Wilson has a gift for grabbing his readers and forcing them to pay close attention to what his characters have to say. Each character was well-developed with a personality all of their own. Oftentimes, I found myself strolling down memory lane while laughing out loud at some of the antics depicted on the pages of Paper Garden and Other Stories.

If you like short stories, I suggest you grab a copy of this book; you'll be glad you did.

T. RHYTHM KNIGHT
APOOO BookClub

I fervently hope that Jerome Wilson's anthology is but the first installment of an insightful and compelling chronicle of his South.

Paper Garden and Other Stories is a vibrant gathering of short stories that are reminiscent of William Faulkner and Eudora Welty. Wilson, however, is not a copy of these literary precursors. I like these short stories because apparently Wilson speaks of his experiences from his perspective -- a perspective covering both urban and rural settings. "The Croquet Players" frolic through a picnic in an urban park and "The Witness Tree" laments the death of a towering grandmother on a rural homeplace.

I also like this writer's terse style that reflects the fluid rhythms -- sometimes calm, sometimes strident -- through which his characters live out their lives. The dialog of Wilson's characters also trumpets reality without being burdensome.

The music of Frank Sinatra is timeless and though the title contains the words "the 101 Best Recordings", you may find that it is just a starting point and find your own 101 favorites. You have over 1000 songs to choose from so your picks are bound to be different than the authors. The book lays out 101 excellent songs, gives information to listeners (date recorded, album it can be found on, arranger, etc.) and tells the background of the song and sometimes an anecdote about when it was recorded. The book is not only for longtime fans of Sinatra's work (though they will be more familiar with all the names, etc.). If your Sinatra cd collection extends to one cd of his greatest hits, then this book can help you figure out where to go next. The stories and anecdotes may not mean much but you can figure out if you want to explore Frank's Columbia, Capitol, or Reprise years. For the experienced Sinatra listener, the book is excellent for starting debate with fellow Sinatra fans or perhaps rediscovering a gem you've forgotten or never really listened to before. Obviously, it is not a biography so don't expect stories about Frank the man, just Frank the singer. My only complaint is that I wish they gave more detail to the songs. I realize they had 101 songs to review, but I wanted more background about the recording session and Frank's opinions and views of the songs. However, there are other books for that.

While this slight volume can't hold a candle to something like Will Friedwald's comprehensive analysis of Sinatra's recorded career, it's quick and handy. Moreover, while the authors' selections will inevitably produce disagreements, their choices are unlikely to provoke incredulity (no "My Way," or recommendations from the "Duets" albums). And when there are multiple versions of the same tune, which is more often than not the case, the authors give helpful rankings of the best choices. But just to give you an idea of how necessarily inadequate a collection limited to 101 recordings is, Sinatra's absolutely sublime, definitive Reprise recording of "I Hadn't Anyone Til You" is not mentioned. Still, I find myself making more use of this book than any other about Old Blue.

Sinatra's approach to lyrical interpretation and his unique sense of tempo is what set him appart from the rest. Sinatra 101 is an excellent compliment to any Sinatra record collection. Too bad there is not a CD Box set of all the songs listed in the book so that readers could read along as they listen to the master at work. As a vocalist and student of Sinatra's sound, I have greatly benefited from Sinatra 101. Sinatra 101 has expanded my knowledge of the music and provides an excellent reference source which I have used to educate audiences during live performances. STRONGLY RECOMMENDED READING FOR ANY SINATRA FAN.

How do you pick the 101 greatest Sinatra recordings? The authors certainly came up with arguably the definitive list,and presented it in a most enjoyable read.Another reviewer wished there was a CD boxed set to accompany the book. I did the next best thing. I have an extensive Sinatra collection and I happen to have all the 101 songs(the correct versions). I bought some high quality cassettes and simply went through my CDs and tapes and put together the audio to the book..three 90 minute and one 60 minute tape covered the 101 songs.Needless to say, it was a labor of love putting these songs in order and is fascinating to read the descriptions and history of the songs as they are playing.

While the popularity of the Sinatra persona will rise and fall as fashions change, the music is timeless. "Sinatra 101'' spotlights the songs and the stories behind them. In concise, to-the-point language, the authors, Ed O'Brien and Robert Wilson, offer the sort of critical insights that will send you rushing back to the songs themselves, giving you the chance to fall in love with the music all over again. What more can you ask?

You may not want to eat striped ice cream afterwards but you will want to go swimming and eat cream cheese sandwiches afterwards and get a part time job. I would recommend this book to any one.

I read this book when I was in 4th or 5th grade. I remember going to the local library and checking this book out all the time. A few years ago I had the opportunity to read it again. It still made me cry at the end. I love the story and characters in this book. I have a ten year old daughter now and I am going to purchase this for her for Christmas. I can't wait for her to read it. I hope she enjoys as much as I did.

I remember this book so vividly! It was the first time I realized that there were children in our country whose parents couldn't give them everything they wanted! It seemed amazing to me that they worked so hard to get her something that I took for granted!
This is a must read for all kids, especially privileged children.

I read this when i was a little kid and couldn't bear to give it away when i cleaned out my room because it was such a good story. Very good read and is very entertaining!

I remember reading this for the first time at about the age of 9 and loving it. I read it many times through the years. I recently picked up a copy for my collection of childhood favorites and have re-read it several times since. The story still rings with impact and life-lessons that still apply in today's world. An enjoyable book for a young girl!

Excellent book. Louise (the mother) writes in a restrained, understated, yet intelligent style that breaks one's heart. Those of us with children who suffer with mental illness will appreciate the details of this story -- we are usually presented with the broad strokes of a family's descent into madness (as we are in Raeburn's "Acquainted with the Night") but this book offers us the small observations that we share with other families in the same situation. The author makes us feel the frustrations of an intelligent woman forced to deal with uncomprehending psychiatrists, teachers, neighbours, and social assistance workers. When you are the parent of a young adult with a mental illness, you are powerless in the face of bureaucracy and Louise reminds us of how soul-destroying this vulnerability can be. As the other reviewers commented, I wish I knew what happened to Louise and her husband over the years, and to their son. I googled her name and the name of the book but was unable to find much.

Our high school library was weeding out books and I came across this book. I instantly knew it was a book about mental illness, being a mother of a son with paranoid schizophrenia. I started to read it and I never put it down. It was painful to read because I knew the hurt and the hopelessness that Louise and her family felt. Her story provides a look into a family that learns to love, live and hope in spite of the heartache and pain they endure. It truely speaks for all of us on this journey. My son is homeless right now because we can not allow him to come home. He refuses medication and is an adult. Even after all this time, there are simply no easy answers for these problems and our federal and state govenments do not do enough. Louise this is a beautiful book, I felt your courage, your pain, your love and I could see Tony and I saw my son.

I have to wonder what was happened to Tony since this book was written in 1968??? Maybe his Mom has written a sequel or up date. Tony was very much like my son in many ways, but his illness didn't erupt until he was around 35 and was diagnosed as Bipolar/manic drepression. Somewhere around 1990. Luckily there were good drugs to keep him somewhat "normal" I hope Louise will contact me to let me know how Tony is doing if she reads this. Inability to get along with other people is paramount in Tony's and my son's world. Paranoia is ever present. My son, as a youngster, used to tell me to quit looking at him when I was admiring my beautiful, blond headed Adonis. So, Louise, if you're stil around, I would love to hear from you!!!1 Best, Anne in North Carolina

I ran across This Stranger, My Son: A mother's story, while packing up my high school library. It is an old title and the book was well worn and needed to be replaced. The title intrigued me and I took it home to read. I was propelled to my childhood by the heart-breaking stories of a little boy lost. You see, I was the sister of such a "monster." I watched as my parents struggled on a very modest income to get help for my brother. My brother, about the same age as Tony, was tormented at school. The safety of home is where he released all his pent-up rage. I hated him; called him a monster and worse. Thank you, Louise Wilson, for allowing me to see that my guilt was really my love for a brother who was ill not mean. My brother has had a fairly normal life because of the recognition of a chemical imbalance for which he takes medication. Please let your readers know how Tony has faired. Now, since this title is out of print, I'll just dust off this book, place a new cover on it and book talk it to my high school students. A sequel would be wonderful...we so care about you, Tony and all of your family.

I read this book as a child of nine in an excerpted version in 'The Reader's Digest' and I have never forgotten the anguish Jane suffered when Tony wiped jam all over her party dress. I managed to get a second-hand copy [...], and it went even deeper this time. I am a mother of a child in England who has ADHD, and thirty years on, the same tags were hung on us as they put on Louise and Jack - bad parent, dysfunctional family etc. Nothing's changed, at all. Deborah Spungen had the same experiences as Louise with her poor daughter Nancy ten years later, and it took the 'experts' just as long to diagnose Nancy Spungen with paranoid schizophrenia. I greatly admire the parents of these two lost children. Does anyone know if anything ever helped Tony as the book ends in 1968? Louise and Deborah, Tony and Nancy, you are in my prayers.

I stumbled on Steven Wilson's work by fortunate accident and was very favorably impressed with this novel. "Voyage" was well-researched, well-written, and very entertaining. I recommend this book to anyone with an interest in WWII history and submarining!

Mike Stanley
Boise,ID

It is a great story, told with a unpresedented pasion and feal of both the human mind and spirit as well as the extensive historical knowledge of facts and myths.
I just hope to see more titles from The author MR. STEVEN WILSON who is, in my opinion one of the best wrighters today.

As a fan of World War II historical fiction, I've read a lot of examples in this genre, and their quality ranges from excellent to dismal.
Shortly after beginning "Voyage of the Gray Wolves", I knew that I had found one of the best examples. Steven M. Wilson's craft allows the reader to share in the emotions of the characters and the dialogue, while still making the pulse race during tautly written battle scenes. The fine treatment of the main characters, both Allies and Axis shows that just in real life, war is rarely about absolute villains and heroes. Rather, Wilson will have you deeply engaged in the exciting victories and crushing defeats of the brave men on both sides of conflict.
"Voyage of the Gray Wolves" is a highly recommended read, and stands up well next to other excellent examples, such as "War of the Rats" by David L. Robbins, or "The Forgotten Soldier" by Guy Sajer. I look forward to Wilson's next foray in this genre...

VOYAGE OF THE GRAY WOLVES is a fast, exciting novel full of adventure and daring. Wilson does a magnificent job of basing his story around Guenter Kern, a German U-Boat captain who realizes that Germany is loosing the war quickly. His mission is a long-shot last hope to the ailing country. Kern faces difficult choices throughout the novel as he begins to clearly see how desperate Germany is. He also has to decide how far he is personally ready to go to remain loyal to his homeland despite his growing discouragement and sickness of a terrible war. Ultimately, Wilson does a great job at making the reader relate to and like Kern. Watching Kern as he is forced to make impossible choices will make the reader appreciate the often horrible intricacies that exist in war. This book will be especially enjoyable for those generally interested in the World War II era, but every reader will enjoy getting to know Guenter Kern.

Review:
Voyage of the Gray Wolves by Steven Wilson
Paperback 352 pages by Pinnacle Books

It is 1944 and the Battle of the North Atlantic is still as rampant as the winter swells. Hitler, Himmler, and others have a grand design that will, in their minds, create a turning point to the war. Their best remaining U-Boat Commander is chosen to lead a squadron of new Type XXI U-Boats against England.

The struggles of this makeshift squadron depleted by the ravages the allies are pouring on Germany make for a great read. They base is a perpetual cloud covered fiord in Norway which was an abandoned fishing village.

The training, problems with the untested boats, supplies, a decrepid tender, untrained crews, and the sudden arrival of
the SS add a great suspense to the book. Those events and the weapon that they are to use make up most of the very good read.

The story also has the approval of Michael DiMercurio and Joe Buff who are also premier submarine novelists.

The books is available at Amazon.com and other outlets. Get it, settle in and read a very good story.

I bought this book since we also own "A Frog in the Bog" by Karma Wilson. Since that one was a favorite, I thought this book was a shoe in. Little did I know, it would quickly become the most popular book with all 3 boys (5 yrs-16 mo). They love the colorful animal illustrations & the rhythmic flow of the text. If they hear me reading it to one boy, they come running & want me to read it over & over. THIS BOOK IS A WINNER!!!

I love all of Karma Wilson's books. My almost 4 year old does too! The art in her books is always great, too. I treasure them all and enjoy reading them to my child.

I bought this for my nephew for his third birthday and he loved it! My three year old also loves this book (we checked it out from the library). The rhyming in this book is great (classic Karma Wilson) and the illustrations are beautiful.

I bought this book to read to my Kindergarten class during Zz week and they loved it. The Scholastics audio read is an excellent addition to the text and the children love to listen to it again and again at the listening center.

My kids and I really love this book! It is so cute and I can see it being one of their favorites for years to come and then for my younger daughter as she gets older as well! Excellent book, would recommend to anyone!

I, like one of the previous critics, should have known better, I also started it late in the evening, at 12:30 was down to the last fifty pages & finally had to give up & go to bed. It certainly is a book that you don't want to put down, very good storyline. Only problem I had was how the villain knew so much about Ann's fathers business & what he had to leave her in his will. It wasn't explained at all how he came to have this knowledge. which actually was very important, as his whole quest of pursuit was based on this.

What a wonderful and moving love story.
Ian Sinclair, 33 is shocked to find himself as appointed guardian of Colonel George Darlington's daughter. A child he has ignored most of her life.
Anne Darlington is a young woman of 19 turning 20 and completely content with the teaching job offered by Mrs. Kemp.
Mrs. Kemp is concerned for Anne's welfare and quietly informs former Major Sinclair that Anne deserves to be presented in London for her coming out season and an opportunity to find a suitable husband.

Ian's problem was in remembering the wonderful holiday seasons that he and his siblings enjoyed when they were younger. Darlington's lawyer informs Ian that Darlington has not been in contact with his daughter for a number of years.

Anne's sensibleness in gallantly facing an attempted hold-up and actually helping him because of his wounded leg started to put a crack in the protective cover he uses to guard his heart.

He is laid out with a fever and his brother, Valentine Sinclair, the Earl of Dare shows up with his pregnant wife, Elizabeth [MY LADY'S DARE].
Dare thinks Ian is foolish to take on the guardianship of Anne because of her father's part in nearly getting Ian killed.

Ah well, they go to London and with Elizabeth's help collect the necessary clothing needed for Anne's come-out. Then Anne meets Doyle Travener who wished to court her. She foolishly get mixed-up in a brawl over a chimney sweep child. Ian comes to the rescue and takes a bit of a beating which Doyle stops. And the plot thickens.

Dare is called again to see to his brother in his wounded state. Dare has informed Anne that he would gladly kill anyone who harmed his brothers. Too bad that Darlington is already dead.

It seems that Anne and Ian have speaking eyes and romance is blooming where it would not be acknowledge. Ian cannot marry someone because of the metal near his heart that could end his life at any time. He won't even inform the Earl of his problem or allow the doctor to speak of it either.

Ah, the misunderstandings of love. Even when Ian asked Anne to marry him she didn't trust him to love her. Duty and all that rot!
Anne was still wanting the love she saw when she spied Elizabeth and Val dancing in the moonlight in the garden [and barefoot no less].

Most excellent characters - great plot even if a bit obscured - enough little tid-bits and emotions to keep the plot going - and loved the inclusion of family problems and brotherly love.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED - so far it is turning out to be a great trilogy +

I usually don't go for Regency romances, I tend to prefer contemporary romances, but this book was incredible! Ian Sinclair, a handsome war hero who is devoted to the principles of honor, comes back from war with potentially fatal wounds. He discovers that he is now the legal guardian of a child he has never met, the daughter of the man whose actions nearly killed Ian. Ian, however, does not wish to hold the father's shortcomings against the daughter, and travels to the rural school to take her to his home for the holiday season. Ian is shocked to discover that his ward is no child, but a young woman who steals his heart. Ever the gentleman, however, Ian could not bear to subject her to a life of anything less than perfection, and he knows he is hardly perfect. He instead plans a Season for her, to introduce her to the eligble bachelors of London society. When will he learn that he's Anne's perfect husband?

This book is almost perfect itself, and the characters are quite charming and realistic. I wish that more attention had been spent on the events that occur in the last part of the book. I also wish that some of the other themes had been emphasized - Anne's father's actions against Ian, for example, as well as the age gap between Anne and Ian (which seemed to be a slight problem in the beginning, but was not addressed at all in the remainder of the book). Altogether, however, Ian is everything a romantic hero should be, if you go for those war-hardened, gentlemanly types (and I do! WOOHOO! ;)) An excellent book, and definitely a keeper.

Ian has serious physical disability from service in Peninsula War but, for love of his family, will not share burden. Then he finds himself responsible for Anne, his enemy's orphaned daughter. Unwilling to burden his brothers, how much less willing he is to burden this vibrant young woman who has chance to marry a healthy husband. After meeting Ian and sharing mutual rescues from very dangerous situations, Anne cannot imagine life without him. She is desolate when Ian tells her he cannot return her love. The solution to their problem is not cotton candy but strong meat for a "mere" regency novel. The courage, honor, integrity of these characters remind me of Patricia Veryan, Dorothy Dunnett, Joan Wolf.

Having read three of Gayle Wilson's books by now, I SHOULD know better than to start one in the middle of the night! "I'll just read a few pages, to break the insomnia. . ." Yeah, sure, it's like eating just one cashew! I usually like sexier books, but the plots are so interesting, the characters so entirely likable, if not lovable, and the details so flavorful, that I loved this book. For once, the heroine did not do stupid things; she was level headed and loving. Although I was frustrated that Ian did not express his love for Anne (assuming, with cause, that he was about to die), I did not feel "Oh, come ON! You expect us to believe this impediment?" Sometimes romances' impediments are so stupid that no one would allow a misunderstanding, etc. to continue, but Gayle Chase does not write that. Another reviewer said that the ending was unbelievable, but I disagree. A good novelist's job is to create a world in which unrealistic events happen all the time and if she's good, the reader accepts them. I accepted that Ian and Anne overcame their many difficulties. I only wish Chase had written more after they achieved happiness. All in all, even if you don't usually like regencies, this one is a keeper!

I've been doing aromatheraputic work for over 8 years. I have my own reference materials, I also have a huge library of texts. I love this book. It is such a reliable basic. If you want a great place to start, this is it.

For a newcomer to aromatherapy or even a seasoned veteran this has the information to really spark a creative interest in the use of essential oils and aromatherapy.

We recommend this book to anyone who has a passion for beauty and health. It has some very useful solutions and a caring author.

Roberta Wilson has created a very useful, friendly, fun book. I have several books on aromatherapy and essential oils, and this is the one I refer to the most often. Ms. Wilson has included a reference section, which provides the folklore & herbal heritage, medicinal uses, emotional effects, primary actions, and cautions of each oil. There are many recipies to try and follow, along with suggestions for creating my own formulas, as well as ways to use the blends, such as in a diffuser, straight from the mixture bottle, etc. A resource guide, recommended reading, and bibliography are in the back of the book. I have other books on aromatherapy, but this one is the cornerstone of my collection, and the one I use most often.

This is the book that started it all for me. Roberta Wilson puts aromatherapy into laymans terms. This book is facinating and revealing. She gives you the folklore & herbal heritage, medicinal uses, beauty benefits, emotional effects and primary actions as well as many formulas for common ailments. This book is my primary reference guide to date.

I have been studying aromatherapy for about 3 months now and have collected several books, but this book is the one I always check with. I have enjoyed it so much! If you are new to aromatherapy this is THE book!

This book has everything a casual offroader or overlander would want (this book does not cover the hardcore break stuff, tear up your rig trails). Great descriptions of the trails and the road surface you be riding on. Great turn bu turn directions to each trail with GPS coordinates! Also explains some of the history and highlights of the trail and rates all trails for remoteness and beauty. Interesting book just to read for fun. There is no better off road book available!

I bought this, and another book about place to go off-roading in so-cal. This book is like the bible of southern California.
Not only does it have extensive trail location and info, it is a virtual encyclopedia of So-Cals towns, cities, how they got their start. In addition it has extensive info on native species, of plants and animals, important founders of California, and much more. I would definitely recommend it.

I've been using this book for close to a couple years now. While I don't consider myself a novice to off-roading, I definitely don't fall into the rock-crawling group, preferring to use my 4x4 to simply get me to new and out-of-the-way places when time permits. Thus far it has proven to be an excellent resource for quick weekend off-roading getaways and for reading up on new trails to explore. In fact, I've enjoyed this book so much I wound up buying two others as gifts for family and friends. The photos and overviews of each trail definitely help give a good feel for what to expect. If you're a techno-geek like me, being able to plot a computer-generated map using the detailed GPS coordinates will prove highly invaluable (though I have discovered a few critical--though easily identifiable and correctable--errors in the coordinates), and with a handheld GPS I don't need to worry about the often-unusual orientation of the printed maps. For those of us who love exploring, this book will make a fantastic resource.

After being transplanted to Southern California from the Northwest, I felt hemmed in, separated from all things natural. Backcountry Adventures has helped to change that. It's a wonderful guide to exploring the region.

The hefty book begins with a historical, botanical and geographic guide to the region, highlighting Southern California's explorers, settlers, missionaries, bandits, flora, fauna and more. It then moves into the individual descriptions of off road routes.

The book is geared towards exploring Southern California's outdoors with a 4WD and might disappoint the Glamas crowd who is focused doing awesome things in their trucks. But, for those of us looking to justify the excess of our SUV's with some exploration, it's perfect.

Each route guide begins with a simple rating guide which rates the trail on a number of qualities like driving difficulty and remoteness, then moves into a description of its history and the history of the region it explores. Next comes a description of the route itself, and then a detailed turn by turn guide with GPS coordinates.

The only real complaint I have with this book is that sometimes routes can be difficult to find without reading through the entire guide. It does contain a few "20 most scenic routes" and whatnot lists, but includes no way to find, say, the most remote routes in the book.

The other thing I'd suggest to improve the book is an accompanying website with downloadable GPS coordinates and user comments. Typing in the coordinates for a route is needlessly time consuming, and being able to download them from the internets would be wonderful. Hearing feedback from other drivers would also be great.

All in all, this book has helped to liberate me from the urban sprawl of Southern California, and for that I'm very grateful.

Tons of info, loads of great photos show you clearly what to expect on each trail. I'll be buying the Northern Cali book next.