Northwest Books

Anyone who has ever done a canoe pack trip in the great north or who has run rapids in a canoe will appreciate the beautiful descriptions of autumn tundra scenery and the harrowing tale told. The story flows beautifully between the physical descriptions of the canoe trip and the invisible bonds forming, dissolving, and reshaping between the paddlers. It is also a cautionary tale for anyone tempted to enter the great north unprepared. Consider buying this as a gift to anyone who is into canoe trips or nature writing / essays.

I read this book years ago and now will order it for my personal library.
An excellent book in my opinion. I am also a wilderness canoeist but have never done a trip as ambitious as this.

I love the far north, can't wait to get back there for another trip next summer.

A a story of tragedy and self-discovery. Haunting and poignant. Grinnell jumps around a bit, and sometimes it is hard to know where he is--on the river or in his head. But all and all, a great read. And the water colors are wonderful.

Bob Muth
Flathead Valley Montana

This book is very well written. It tells about a journey that many men would love to take but do not dare. These men dare, or at least attempt, to conquer nature only to learn that it is nature and the power of God which controls us. Grinnell has a gifted way of telling what will happen yet leaving the reader wondering how it will happen. He also cleverly points out different worldviews and how they can change and be manipulated when humility before God is the only option. If you take this journey along with Grinnell under the leadership of Art Moffat, you may never return as the same person.

Since I'm not much of a cook, I thought this book might be not appeal to me or my lifestyle. However, it is more about the education than the actual practice. The book taught me how to match specific flavors to wine varietals and how they complement each other. I live in Seattle, so the fresh produce and seafood was at my fingertips and it was so easy to take advantage of the recipes. Honestly speaking, I started with the easier ones because I'm a nightmare in the kitchen. The Roasted Pepper soup was exquisite and it was such a delight to cheers a job well done with a choice local wine. Bravo to the people who put this whole piece together. Bravo.

I live in south, but love traveling in the Northwest. Upon return from vacation, I always find myself thinking about all the great fresh flavors and delicious wines I was able to experience while I was away. With 'Eat and Drink", I have found a way to bring those flavors to my own kitchen.

Among our favorites, was the Fennel and Asian Pear Salad with Sweet Coppa Wrapped Green Apple and Citrus Dressing (I wasn't able to get the exact same wine, but the Syrah Rose' that I found worked fantastically with the salad). Also, the Lamb Chops with Rosemary Lavender Fleur De Sel were amazing! A great example of how simple, fresh, high quality ingredients can really make a dish shine. I can't wait til the next booklet is released!

I received this book as a gift and I love it! I have tried about 5 recipes so far and I have really enjoyed all of them. I think my favorites have been the Watercress Pesto and the Pear Gorgonzola and Fig sandwich. The wine pairings have been outstanding and really made me think about which wines go with which foods....and drinking a little wine makes everything more fun, right? I'm going to give this to all of my foodie friends....

This initial book of a quarterly seasonal series is both innovative and accessible - recipes truly for the home kitchen. Most recipes include a cook's tip that suggests a variation on the recipe - simple suggestions that encourage you to customize the dish to your personal taste.

Representative recipes include:
- Roasted Red Pepper Soup
- Watercress Pesto with Fresh Fettuccini (a quick and excellent dish)
- Tarragon and Citrus Dungeness Crab Cakes
- Roasted Beet Salad with Arugula and Pancettta Dijon Dressing
- Flank Steak and Sweet Potato Enchiladas
- Herb Mushroom Pizza

For the paired wines, the wine, winemaker, winemaker's notes, growing region, etc. are provided.

Add excellent, simple photography and a clean, readable layout and this book puts you in kitchen paradise. And while it is geared towards the Northwest, the recipes transport easily to other locales. You may not be able to find the suggested wine but you will have the information necessary to find a stand-in.

I first read this book for as a selection for MOHAI's bookclub and found it amazing. I was glad that Wes showed up to the bookclub meeting and talked for over an hour. I have lived on and off the 'Ave' for well over 10 years and I would often see him and have a cup of tea with him in the 'Ugly Mug Cafe.' This is a must read.

Wes Wehr had that unusual ability of being able to write exactly the way he spoke. The artists he knew come alive on his pages in such a way that I felt I was listening to him tell it to me personally.
I first came to know Wes through the Stonerose Museum in Republic, WA, which he helped to establish and support. As an artist, not only did I thoroughly enjoy his first book and the antedotes that he recorded, but it left me anxiously waiting for his next, The Accidental Collector. Here's an antedote of my own: while in Republic on a dig, a coffee shop in Seattle called him and told him he had left his only manuscript for the Accidental Collector laying on one of their tables that morning!
These two books were supposed to be part of a trilogy, but sadly that was not to be. Wes passed away before it could be completed and we are left to imagine what gems that third one would have held. I highly recommend both these books.

I have really enjoyed this book. For the first time I feel an insight into the Northwest Artists that I have not felt before. It really leaves me asking for more. I hope that Wes will follow up with more details on these incredibly interesting people and their respective relationships with each other. I would recommend this to anyone who is interested in artists and their lives, as well as anyone looking for some honest, open and fun reading.

Not only is it one of the more delightful books I have read recently, it could very well be the best autobiography ever written by a lifetime resident of my hometown.

"The Eighth Lively Art" is at once a colorful history of Seattle in the 1950s, a thoughtful exploration of the artistic process, and a celebration of the connections that exist between people.

Wesley Wehr recounts his life as a young man in Seattle in the 1950s where, as a student of music composition at the University of Washington, he was befriended by such luminaries as painter Mark Tobey, poet Elizabeth Bishop, and actress Margaret Hamilton. He meets painters Morris Graves, Guy Anderson, and Helmi Juvonen, all of whom become lifelong friends. He has encounters with famous twentieth-century figures like photographer Imogen Cunningham and composer Ernest Bloch who offer there wisdom, hospitality, and encouragement.

The book is divided into chapters that focus, for the most part, on individuals he has known and people he has met. The artists convey their ideas about life and love while sharing their personal experiences with and approaches towards the composition process. Wes Wehr also relates his own, often unsuccessful, forays into music and painting during this early stage in his life.

For those of us who have grown up in Seattle, this book is a reminder of how this place has shaped our own sensibilities. How many of us, like the young Guy Anderson, wandered through the Burke Museum as a child looking at Northwest Coast Indian Art or, like Wes himself, spent our late teens hanging out on the Ave?

This book is, most significantly, about the power of friendship. I am so accustomed to living in a world where everything is assigned value based on net worth or earnings potential, I often lose sight of the things which have truly enriched my own life. After reading Wes' account of the various friendships he has established and maintained over the years, I recognized more clearly how very important such friendships have been to me.

The layout and format are excellent. I especially appreciate that the pictures are on the same page as the relevant text. (Books that make me turn to page 437 for the picture annoy me.) You won't be taking this book along in your backpack as you hike in the wilderness, due to its size and weight, but that's what Pojar and Mackinnon's Plants Of The Pacific Northwest Coast: Washington, Oregon, British Columbia & Alaska is for. You'll keep this book at home near your garden, and the wealth of pictures will help you dream and plan about the beautiful natives you could have in your garden.

The descriptions feature recommendations for locations within your garden, helping you put the right plant in the right place. With large native evergreens, this is the absolute critical step, as many a cute little fir has grown up to menace the neighborhood. This book is similar to Kruckeberg's Gardening With Native Plants of the Pacific Northwest but with ten times as many plants to choose from.

The book is not as complete as Hitchcock's Flora of the Pacific Northwest: An Illustrated Manual, but it is much more user friendly. You could spend a lifetime trying to fit every plant in this encyclopedia into your garden, and you would be kept happily busy.

Any northwest gardener with the slightest interest in gardening with natives will want to add this book to his or her shelf.

This is a must have for the Northwest gardener whether you are a long time NW gardener or a new one. Large photos with excellent descriptions.

I've been growing NW natives for 25 years with successes and failures (and a lot of fun). With this book, I would have had many fewer failures! I've pulled it out a dozen times already this season and it's never failed me. Excellent photos, descriptions, and propagation instructions. It looks like a tea-table treasure, but it performs like a combination field guide and cultivation handbook. Highly recommended.

This is the best book on NW natives I've found. Great pictures, descriptions and very complete. If I could only have one native plant book this'd be the one. Worth the pirce

If you have interest in geology, catastrophies, and particularly in the Missoula Floods, this is one of the best books to read.

It provides an overview of the geology and effects of these massive floods of 15,000 years ago, but even more, it provides driving directions, lodging and fuel suggestions, and fantastic day and multi-day trips to view the current day results of the Floods.

I've been to many of the areas covered by the book, and it still pointed out many things I had failed to see and understand.

If you are going to be traveling anywhere in Eastern Washington, the Columbia River Gorge, Northern Idaho, or around Missoula Montana--buy the book. It's a very entertaining read and a wonderful way to open your eyes to what has happened to create the extraordinary formations in the inland Northwest.

This book tells of events so implausible that even your imagination will have difficulty comprehending them. If I have any complaint about the book it is that it fails to sufficiently emphasize how amazing it is, for example, that molten lava once upon a time ran nearly 400 miles before coming to its stopping place. The authors seem to almost be afraid that if they point up the apparent absurdity of it all, the reader would decide the whole book was a well written hoax! It was not a hoax, though, and the story of what happened in the Pacific Northwest once upon a time is well told. It is of greatest interest, obviously, to those of us who live here in the midst of the results of fire, fault and flood, but, for those elsewhere with vivid imaginations, it is a cracking good book. This is one time when what actually happened is more exciting than anything one's imgination can possibly conjure up!

I really enjoyed this book. But I may be different that you. I like rocks, massive basalt cliffs, immense coulees, and the beauty of arid lands. These and much more can be found in this wonderful book by Marge and Ted Mueller. If you're excited about these things then this may be a book you'd enjoy also, especially if you live in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. This book is really more than just a basic, easy-to-read geological primer of the Columbia River Basin. It is a trip-planner with detailed instructions on how to go and see the stuff for yourself. I've already been to a couple of the locations and have another short trip planned for this fall. This book is exactly what I hoped it would be when I bought it from Amazon.com. I've never found another book quite like it. Enjoy!

Growing up in Oregon's Willamette Valley, basalt cliffs have watched over my life. More flood basalt and Rocky mountain gravels and mud are under my feet, and for most of my life I've lived within the shores of glacial lake Allison. When I go the rugged Pacific coast I look at beautiful haystack rocks and headlands where the same lava streams flowed, or I climb volcanic peaks just inland. Flood-wrenched lavas greet me in my travels up the Columbia and Snake Rivers, through the gorge, coulees and hills and through the valley of the Grande Ronde to overlook the Snake River canyon, over a mile deep. Fossils lie beneath similar formations in John Day country.

Fire, Faults & Floods bring the processes that created this to life. It would be useful and handy enough as a guidebook for traveling to various places and interpreting them with short hikes and drives. However, it goes way beyond this, interesting enough to hold your attention as you turn each page, filling in more and more details and drawing them into a cohesive whole.

If you have money and interest left after this book, for a more historically-oriented story of Harlan Bretz, and additional local details, pick up a companion book "Cataclysms on the Columbia" by Allen, Burns, Sargent, and Sargent.

This collection of poems, stories, narratives, folktales, oral histories and essays very aptly portrays the vital importance of salmon to the native peoples of the entire northern Pacific rim - not just as a food resource, but as a basis for their culture and a component of their identities. Several of the contributions, particularly an essay by Jeanette Armstrong, note how sustainable yield was applied in salmon fishing for thousands of years and how the discarding of this principle in modern times has led to the excessive depletion and near extinction of this species. Since I grew up in the Pacific Northwest, I am more or less familiar with the importance of salmon to the local economies and the Native American cultures of the region, so I found the sections of the book dealing with the Ainu of Japan, the Ulchi of eastern Siberia and the Nyvkhs of Sakhalin particularly informative and enjoyable. It is also a bit depressing to learn that like the U.S. and Canada (although not nearly as brutally), Japan and the USSR/Russia similarly mistreated the local populations by, among other things, limiting or restricting their access to traditional salmon runs and/or trying to force them to adopt non-traditional ways of life (assimilation). "First Fish, First People" may be attractively published, with striking cover art and attractive photos and illustrations, but it is not a coffee-table book - its diverse contributions, taken together, outline a philosophy of respect for and wise use of natural resources, as well as (and just as importantly) respect for different cultures and different ways of life. It is almost a cliche to say that it is high time that such lessons sink in at all levels of our modern globalized and hyper-industrial societies.

Aba book of the Year!!

Buy it especially for the Sherman Alexix poen at the beginning. It's touches the core of the Salmon environmental and cultural dilemna in the Northwest.

This book is a work of art, and provides evidence that the University of Washington Press, through its cooperation with other smaller publishers (such as One Reel) is doing the work that needs to be done in Northwest history and cultural studies.

This book is a collection of perpectives on salmon from representatives of the peoples around the pacific rim whose lives have centered on salmon for thousands of years. The contributors are talented indigenous writers from the United States, Canada, Japan, and Siberia. The engaging text is amply illustrated with historic and contemporary photographs, as well as drawings. The historic photographs are not the same ones that usually appear. For example, nearly every book on salmon in the nortwest has a twentieth century photograph of Indians fishing at Celilo Falls. Most books use the same photo. This book uses one that features in the forground the cable system that was used to get down to the fishing platforms, with the fishing platforms themselves in the background.

Some of the work in this book has been published elsewhere. But the context it is given here accentuates it in useful ways. For example, Sherman Alexie's poem, "The Place Where Ghosts of Salmon Jump," is engraved into a sculpture in Overlook Park behind the Spokane Public Library and is published in _The Summer of Black Widows_. But in this book it appears beside a nice photograph of the falls as it appears today, and a photo of Mr. Alexie standing on the footbridge above a section of the falls pointing downstream.

I am a dislocated Appalachian that took the food bull of Seattle by the horns, but that was before this book. Now I am sure I will be THE Seattle epicure-genius among my circle with this book tucked into my collection. I am amazed by the variety of food resources, from chocolatiers to ethnic markets, where to get the greatest baguettes. I also love the anecdotal sections on the pioneers/owners of some of these purveyors. Oh, and recipes! There is humor, knowledge, pleasure, and respect written here, and a love for Seattle and the food treasures it offers. Buy it.

Yes, I know of no other book guide to Seattle's ethnic food culture. Considering how important a food town this is, it's really a shame this book wasn't written sooner. But, it's here & it's very good. I agree w. almost all of Ms. Calcott's food recommendations.

My quarrels are w. what is left out. What happened to ethnic restaurants?? I know there are many of them & it would've added to the size of the book & the time it took to research it. But a food guide that leaves out restaurants has left out something very important.

Richard

The book is delightful to read. I am not from the Seattle but it makes me want to visit, just to hang out in places like James Cook Ltd for cheese or Gelatiamo for ice cream or Il Fornaio for bread. It provides great inside information on the `in' places to go to. Miss Calcott is a food connoisseur. I can relate when she says she dreams about food. My imagination often takes me to enchanting places like Florence and Paris and thoughts of fabulous food are never far behind. The anecdotes that precede each section are interesting. Well done!

Wow!!! a complete review like the big cities. Very comprehensive by a first rate writer. I had the pleasure to meet Katy at a party ne week and is she knowledgeable. about Seatle. You would think she had lived here all her life.

A food lover's bible!!

This first-time novelist gives readers a thrilling ride through an Alaska landscape he understands. He's done his research. Misko has a good feel for situations and action and keeps the action moving. And how can you beat the Iditerod for setting up a fine climax?

Sally Petersen
Portland,Oregon

This was one of those rare and special books that I found
I simply could not put down. A wonderful story full of
surprises and exciting to the very end!

I am anxiously waiting for the next novel to be published.

Joyce Delgado

Jime Misko is a master at getting one involved in the life of a native Alaskan youth. Having known Jim for over 50 years, I was impressed by the fact that he himself possesses many of the qualities his main character, Bill Williams displayed. Fiction does not usually capture my attention, but "For What He Could Become" was one of the most exciting books I have read in my lifetime. The Iditarod ride was so realistic that I thought I was there. Bill Nelson

My name is George Lee, I am 12 years old and I'm in the 6th grade. I have read your book that you sent to me with my father. I think it was truly wonderful. I loved how you used so much detail in your book. I think it was one of the best books I have read so far. The thing I liked the most was the story. I don't know hou you could think of such a good story like that. First he had to work as a horseboy. After that he had to go to the army, then he became an alcoholic and finally he joined in a dog sled race. Overall, I think you are a great author and I look forward to reading your books. George Lee

This is by far the best cookbook I have ever used. I received this as a gift from a friend who lived in Spokane (as I collect Junior League cookbooks) and it's been one of my favorites ever since. My friend also bought one for my cousin as a gift and she and I enjoy sharing our enthusiasm about this cookbook. The quality of the printing is excellent as well, with thorough instructions, nice thick pages and perfect organization. This is a great gift to anyone that enjoys cooking, from the novice to the professional chef!

I am not a great cook, and I don't have time to cook extravagant meals, but whenever I cook something from this book, people always ask for the recipe. They never guess that dishes with such gourmet flair are so simple to prepare.

This is a great cookbook! Recipes are easy to follow and unique. It provides a great combination of creative family fare to fantastic dinner party ideas.Will appeal to people from all over the country not just the Northwest!

This is the cookbook I reach for when someone says, "please bring an appetizer. . . or dessert. . .or a vegetable dish. A true representation of northwest cuisine written in an easy to follow manner and presented beautifully! You will treasure this Junior League cookbook.

My dad gave this to me for Christmas because I have been interested in the history of mushing since I started about 8 years ago. I am extremely happy to see Togo in here! I really don't like how Balto has gotten all of the glory, I mean, he only did the last 40 miles!
This is a great read for any dog nut or anyone interested in the gold rush.

Dog lovers and history buffs alike will relish Gold Rush Dogs, a celebration of notable dogs of the Gold Rush era, from John Muir's Stikeen to Baldy of Nome. Black and white photos from Gold Rush days depict dog and man alike in this excellent blend of history and animal insights.

It's time people recognize the "true heroes" of the lifesaving Diphtheria Run to Nome which began on January 27, 1925 in Nenana, Alaska. The true heroes were not Balto and Gunnar Kaasen. The true heroes were members of twenty dog teams. Wild Bill Shannon left Nenana with 300,000 units of serum to be relayed a distance of 674 miles by twenty dog teams, before finally reaching Nome. On January 28, 1925, Leonhard Seppala and his dog team led by Togo, left Nome to collect the serum 254 miles away at Nulato for the final run into Nome.

Togo was a small gray dog eager to be a sled dog. It was by chance that Leonhard Seppala discovered the leadership Togo displayed when first harnessed in the wheel position. Because of Togo's determination, he was moved in stages to the front of the line, soon becoming a once in a lifetime leader. Seppala entered and won every major race in Alaska, many of them several times, with Togo in lead position.

Late in the serum run, Seppala was unaware that Nome had made the decision to send three additional dog teams to relieve Seppala. The teams were to space themselves every 20 miles outside of Nome. Rohn, Olson, and Kaasen...whose team was led by Balto...drove the three additional teams. Kaasen hit a blizzard at Solomon and was instructed not to go forward. Kaason alleged there had been little wind that night in Solomon, visibility was good, and the Safety Roadhouse displayed the proper signal light acknowledging the waiting dog team. Kaasen continued on, bypassing Safety where the serum was to be turned over to Rohn, who in turn was to take the serum into Nome.

Kaasen reached Nome on February 2, 1925 with the serum. Kaasen had been accused of bypassing Safety in order to claim the honor of bringing the serum into Nome. The men of the "Great Race of Mercy" were awarded $25.00 each from the Territory of Alaska along with citations of bravery and inscribed medals. Kaasen received an additional $1,000.00 along with an offer to star with Balto in a Hollywood film. Kaasen traveled Outside to the lower 48 states giving lectures about the serum run. Balto not only received recognition as the "wonder dog" but was recognized for Togo's racing achievements as well. The city of New York erected a bronze statue of Balto in Central Park. The other nineteen dog teams and their vital part in the serum run were soon forgotten.

Kaasen and Balto had carried the serum 106 miles. Seppala and Togo covered 260 miles in 40-degree below temperature through a raging storm, a distance longer than any team on the trail. Togo received permanent injuries during the serum run and would never race again.

After the serum run, Seppala continued touring on the Outside. He later moved to Seattle where he died in 1967 at age 90...never forgiving the events that followed the serum run. Togo's remains are displayed at the Iditarod Headquarters in Wasilla, Alaska. The Leonhard Seppala Humanitarian Award is presented each year to the Alaska Iditarod musher displaying the highest care and concern for his or her team. Balto's bronze statue still stands in Central Park. Balto's remains are displayed at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History.

Togo and Leonhard Seppala were the heroes of the serum run...along with the other eighteen dog teams that were soon forgotten amongst all the negative controversy.

Please note: It is not my intent to take away the achievements of Balto; nor was it Balto's intent to dishonor the nineteen great dog teams. The one that finishes the race first is not always the winner. In this case it was the nineteen teams that brought Balto to the finish in Nome along with his fame and glory.

Gold Rush Dogs is a great book that shows just how loyal dogs can be. Not only that she tells about the history and shows the important role that dogs played in developing Alaska. Besides this, she tells nine amazing stories of dogs that are famous in the region of the state that they stayed at.

Sure, you probably know about Balto in the Dipheria run, but you may not know about Togo, who was equally vital in the relay. Then there is Patsy Ann, the friendly stray who's ability to always know when and where the ships were coming in earned her the titile of "Official Greeter of Juneau.

Whether your a dog lover, or just love stories about Alaska, this book is full of amazing stories that capture the grandure of Alaska and the heart of dogs.