Northwest Books

Written by John C. Putman (associate professor of history, San Diego State University), Class and Gender Politics in Progressive-Era Seattle is a scholarly look at he changing social order in early twentieth century Seattle. Examining the intersection of radical-labor movements, feminist movements, suffrage campaigns, Class and Gender Politics in Progressive-Era Seattle reveals how the alliances and conflicts between these movements contributed to Seattle's regional identity. "Unlike most eastern labor struggles, class conflict out west was more localized. The lack of large-scale national industrial firms meant that Seattle workers had to battle locally entrenched economic and political elites rather than national corporate leaders." An astute socio-historical analysis, particularly recommended for college library collections.

This is a great book for anyone who climbs in the Northwest or is interested in Northwest climbing history. The book gives a unique view into Kearney's life long love affair with the high, wild, and often remote summits. Kearney has been climbing, seemingly non-stop, since the early seventies and his passion for the sport leaps off the pages. In addition to the "normal" pictures and route descriptions(excellent), Kearney includes information regarding the history of the route and the individuals involved.(these are often fascinating stories - in a number of cases the first accents were done by the author) The historical overview is followed by an account of the accent that involved the author.(Kearney has climbed every route - 4 in British Columbia, 43 in Washington, 2 in Oregon and 2 in Idaho) This is a great addition to any climber's library. You should buy this book even if you own the other guides to the region.

Finally a book specifically for novice coastal gardeners! How I wish I had had this book BEFORE I planted my coastal garden--I could have saved much time, money and sweat learning the what, which, where, how and when of northwest coastal planting. This is a comprehensive yet detailed book all those gardening in zones 7-9 should keep close at hand. Carla's suggestions on site analysis and planning, soil preparation and plant choices are valuable. Being a fellow Master Gardener, I appreciate and applaud her approach to sustainable gardening practices and her emphasis on gardening with few chemicals. Her writing is clear, concise and pleasant to read.

This is a great book for the novice botanist. As a person who just recently started trying to identify wildflowers in the Monterey area, I found this book a great guide. I already have a couple of other books, including the ones from the Audubon Society and from the California Native Plant Society, but this one is so simple and covers most of the flowers you commonly see. It's easy to flip through, the pictures are clear and in color, and it certainly doesn't overwhelm you with technical jargon. I was only sorry it doesn't include some of the smaller/tinier flowers I see around. Maybe in the next edition. A great gift!

I first read about northern frontiersman Jack Hornby in McKay Jenkins's excellent "Bloody Falls of the Coppermine." Hornby was a guide to two missionaries who would later be killed in the far north by two Inuits. Hornby had vast knowledge of survival in the far north and even spoke the native language of the Inuit people. Alas, he was unreliable, irresponsible, and had the tendency to go off on his own. "Cold Burial" covers Hornby's final adventure where many of his personality flaws that made him not the best of guides led to his death. The saddest part is that he took two young men with him--including his 19-year old cousin.

Hornby's cousin, Edgar Christian, had just recently finished schooling at Dover College with little distinction save for a swimming tournament (19). Edgar had a taste for adventure that was probably, in large part, inspired by tales of England's heroes like Robert Falcon Scott where tragedies created a "composite account of what made a man" and that "frozen lands [were] ideal theatres for trial and courage" (22). He worshiped his legendary cousin, Jack Hornby. Edgar having limited prospects, his parents consented in having Hornby take their son to the barren lands of the Northwest Territories.

Edgar had high expectations of Jack and of the trip. Jack prided himself on his self-sufficiency and his young cousin believed he would acquire the same independence and "never be in need of a job if I want one" (92). Jack, however, was self-sufficient to the extreme. He never believed in taking much on a trip save for the barest of essentials and survived his many treks not through planning and organization but through stamina, intuition, and luck. During his 1926-7 trip to the Thelon River--though he was warned many times along the way against taking two young, inexperienced men with him with such limited supplies (Hornby also invited 27-year old Harold Adlard who, sadly, is often forgotten in the Hornby/Edgar saga)--his luck ran out.

Clive Powell-Williams relies mostly on primary sources to tell this sad story: Harold's few letters home, Edgar's letters and diary entries, notes left on the trail, observations of those who met up with the three men on their way to the Barrens, and post-death writings of those who knew Hornby. He uses conjecture to fill in the gaps but he demonstrates plenty of knowledge on the types of conditions and animals they encountered and their techniques for survival.

The last several chapters are the most intriguing, as well as heart-rending, as the men had to survive largely on animal skin and bone marrow while they slowly died from starvation. Then there is the final diary entry and letters of Edgar--the last survivor--left all alone in the cold, empty land knowing his death was imminent. The book continues with the discovery of the bodies and aftermath and ends with the unfortunate fate of former Hornby traveling partner Capt. James Critchell-Bullock. Included is a section of photos, photo of Edgar's last letters, and maps. I didn't find the maps useful as they did not include places with which I was familiar (i.e. Canada) to give the areas mapped a point of reference.

***** (1) THE BOOK: In COME THE DAWN, Christopher Martinez sets the story in the Panhandle of Northern Florida. It is the story of a "family," not of the same blood, but a family of people with the same purpose, to survive. For various reasons each family member has been branded by society as non-productive and with this "non-prod" label comes a death sentence. The Department of Services, the state-run organization which enforces the genocidal policy, has zero tolerance for non-prods. Good Neighborhood Committees have been established to be on a lookout for non-prods and it is their civil duty to report them imediately. The family, headed by the central character Babs, is subjected to a dehumanizing, nocturnal exixtence as it struggles to avoid detection by the Florida Department of Services. **As the book begins, the family unknowingly places itself in danger by taking in a new member, Natalie, a pregnant teenager on the run from Services agents. "Nat" and her fight to stay alive and have her child is the catalyst of the story. Her well-publicized escape from the state shelter was an embarrassment to the Director of Services, Midge Creancer. Thus warranting the immediate attention of the director's head henchman, Frank Carpa. The story follows Carpa, the local law enforcement, and the network of Good Neighborhood Committees in their pursuit of finding Natalie and the Non-prods who might have taken her in. ***** (2) THE PURPOSE: The Purpose of the book is to help readers understand how delicate modern society is and how a society that promotes and preserves life should not be taken for granted. Martinez takes today's society, removes the value of human life, and gives his readers a look at how the world would be without. The result is state directed euthanasia. ** ***** (3) THE AUTHOR: Martinez graduated from the University of South Florida in 1984 with a degree in Journalism. While he was a student, his first job was working part time as a reporter for a hometown newspaper and as news director for a local radio station. After graduation he was hired as an Associate Editor for the Florida Catholic, a state newspaper published by the Catholic diocese of Pensacola/Tallahassee. In his nine years working on this newspaper, Martnez earned many awards from the National Catholic Press Association. Some of the most prestigious were "Best Weekly Newspaper in 1991", and "Best Feature Story in 1992". Martinez is mentioned as one of the foremost Catholic writers in "Whose Who" and in "Cambridge International Biography." Martinez is now a Free Lance Reporter/Author who resides in Land O' Lakes, Florida with his cat and seven birds. He is a self taught expert in Catholic Doctrine and strongly opposes any type of Euthanasia. ***** (4) THE STYLE: "Nat kicked a faded Budweiser can that was more pink than red. It made a light tink, then bopped on the beach and rolled gratingly away across the sand. The other cans just lay around in apparent expectation of being kicked. Nat ignored them. She never kicked anything that wanted to be kicked." This paragraph is of the homesick Nat wandering down the shore of a lake; she is searching for some sense to her world, and she is torn between the love she feels for her parents and the pain of their betrayal. Martinez's characters often keep the moral fiber alive throughout the book by their self questioning. The author's writing style is best characterized by his use of descriptive mnetaphors, which are well thought out and interesting; he uses the right amount of colloquialism and formality to paint a vivid picture for his readers. **The Author writes in an overall moderate style. His sentences are almost all standard structure, averaging between 15 and 25 words. The paragraph mentioned above with Nat at the lake, shows how he establishes an informal and familiar tone. The diction and pace of the sentences are formed from elaborately descriptive metaphors and from informal, colloquial conversations. Martinez enjoys playing metaphoric games, especially through the eyes of the central character, "Babs". ***** (5) THE VALUE: COME THE DAWN offers the universal theme of the importance of the preservation of life. This central theme is of great value to all of society. The moral of the book, as the title alludes to, is hope. Martinez's character, "Babs", carries this torch of hope throughout the plot. No matter how difficult things get, she is her family's only hope for survival. This underlining moral is the ray of light through many of the Author's scenes. **Martinez addresses the ethical significance of the plot through the elderly volunteer, Bill Torquemada. Mr. Torquemada, of the Good Neighborhood Committe, is endlessly self-tormented by the gravity of turning-in non-prods. Ironically he is forced to betray is conscience in order to maintain his own productivity status, as his sponsor, Midge Creancer, reminds him. The story line is a constant battle between what is lawful and what is moral; and between what is ethical and what is just necessary to survive. ** ***** (6) ANALYTICAL LOOK: Martinez writes in the third person-omniscient, he uses this tool effectively as he explores each character's point of view. This gives an interesting perspective of the characters as well as keeping the book's subplots clear and easy to follow. The characterizations are excellent and are based on individuals whom the reader readily relates with. **The book's strengths lie in its ability to draw-in the reader. Through the author's development of descriptive settings, the reader becomes part of the character's surroundings and thinking. The author paces the book effectively with the rise in action, the climax and the denouement of the plot. At times he slows the story down in order to present to the reader a new perspective. ***** ***** (7) RECOMMENDATION: The book is written for the adult reader, though there are moral benefits to the child above the age of reasoning. Martinez's writing takes a conservative approach to social issues. Though one gets the feeling the author has directed the book toward individuals with a more liberal view of human rights, it is recommended for a more conservative audience. COME THE DAWN, by Christopher Martinez is an excellent book. Its depth and courage are wrapped into an entertaining plot. This book challenges the reader to come to grips with one's own basic values and leaves one grateful for a society that preserves the fragile "right to life."

This book is the 2nd in a larger series called "The Frontier People of America". These people did the rough work of creating a civilization, and for their reward were cheated by eastern land companies and now renounced by the modern culture of our nation. It's the Indians who are now the "good guys" as if such an easy distinction could be made. Van Every is an excellent author and lays out the facts about atrocities and achievements of both sides of the frontier struggle. The hardships the pioneers face should give us pause when we complain about our alleged "problems".

This a book for every generartion.

The Seniors can relive parts of the life they lived earlier in their lives.

The Boomers can find verification for the tales their granparents told of early hard times and inconveniences.

The Young Ones can marvel at how real people lived without a car or TV.

A fascinating view of how a culture evolves when it bumps head-on with a far different, "more advanced" culture. In my journey into the Nez Perce culture, I've come to greatly appreciate Deward Walker's interest in the Nez Perce. He's an easy writer to understand and I like the way he grounds the reader by giving them a view of the aboriginal culture. I like the level of detail he uses because it makes the culture real to me, a layman. I'm going to be looking for more of his studies.

This book offers a wonderful visual survey of myriad printmaking styles. In clear, unfussy, thoughtful text, the author shows us the hows and whys behind this special artform. A gem of a book for anyone with an eye for art.