Western Books

This romance is a great stand alone story! The characters are well-rounded and the turns of phrase are amazing!

It also introduces you to all of the people who arein the Grea Brain series as well.

Excellent book I will read to my children.

I read the Great Brain series as a kid, and continue to re-read them as an adult. Recently I discovered "Papa Married a Momon" and was not disappointed by Fitzgerald's story telling. But after doing a little online research I was disappointed to find that it is only very loosley based on his life in Utah (i.e. Fitzgerald was born in 1906 and the stories take place in the 1880s-1890s and papa lived until 1937). But I would highly recommend the book, especially if you enjoyed the adventures as told in the great brain series.

This wonderful book is a perfect mix of the Little House on the Prarie and Great Brain books. What I found the most interesting was the equal treatment of Mormons, Catholics, Methodists, and even Agnostics in frontier Utah. In fact, there are both good and bad examples of each. The overall religious message of the book is that "all religions are but windows in the same church letting in the light of God," which stresses the ideas of tolerance, love, and respect for all people irregardless of their religious beliefs. I highly recommend this book for all people who are fans of Laura Ingalls Wilder and John D. Fitzgerald or even pioneer life and Utah history. Although it's out of print, you can probably find a copy in your local library. For 300 pages, it's a quick read. I have to warn you, though, it'll make you cry in the end. Even I teared up a bit, and I very rarely get emotionally involved in books. I also laughed out loud a few times, too. This book is really special.

I have loved every book by John D. Fitzgerald that I was able to get my hands on. All of his books are wonderful but perhaps the best one is Papa Married a Morman. The true story of the Fitzgerald family is uplifting, powerful, and very entertaining. I highly recommend this book to any one who loves history and who loves a good story. The other two books in this serious, Mama's Boarding House, which takes place after Papa Married a Morman, and Uncle Will and the Fitzgerald Curse, which tells the story of Uncle Will from childhood up until the time of the end of silverlode, are also great to read.

I found this book at a swap meet--took it home more from the quirky title then anything...and I discovered my favorite book! The story is an easy & non-demanding read with pictures of the family--your unable to set it down! I once lent this book to my Mom, she in turn lent, and so on. The book was returned to me 2 years later, and had visited over 25 homes!! I know of no other book that has had that wide of an appeal, regardless of religious background...a DEFINATE must have!

I begin with a paraphrase from Rosen's book, "A review should cultivate a certain humility before a really fine pianist and writer." Rosen is both. In fact, the man is so talented as to be somewhat intimidating. Not only is he a world-class pianist, he has written volumes on various musical subjects, holds a doctorate in French literature from Princeton, and has served on the faculty at the University of Chicago. He is one of America's remaining public intellectuals.
Rosen's earlier works, "Sonata Forms," "The Classical Style," and "The Romantic Generation," have all entered the canon of works that are absolutely essential for the well-informed musician and critic. "Piano Notes" takes a lighter approach: it is part memoir, part anecdote, always highly opinionated, with some choice gossip thrown in. Often, his tongue is firmly planted in cheek. In other words, it's great reading.
In relatively few well-chosen words, Rosen offers his considered opinions on topics as diverse as Bach performance, piano tuning and regulation, shenanigans in the recording studio, piano conservatories and competitions, the uses and misuses of concerts and recitals, and the best method of piano practicing for pure technique--reading while practicing, but scrupulously avoiding poetry and "really admirable prose" because these interfere with the rhythm of the music. "The most useful, I have found for myself, are detective stories, sociology and literary criticism. However, any reading matter that distracts the mind without engaging the senses or the emotions too powerfully will work." (p. 40).
Rosen believes the traditional piano recital, complete with grand piano, darkened hall, and the costumed pianist as high priest, is on the way out, largely because of the relative ease of acquiring fine recorded performances of most of the repertoire. I for one hope he's wrong. There is something marvelous, as Rosen points out, in caressing those ivory and ebony keys, and having music come out. The person who has never experienced that will never understand the blissful expression on the faces of so many pianists when they can share music with others. But those of us lucky enough to have felt music flow from our fingers and to have placed themselves and others under its thrall, will completely understand when Rosen when rhapsodizes of the pianist's fetishistic need for physical contact with the ebony and ivory, and of the inexpressible beauty that results.

Enjoyable and wonderful. Well written, to the point...many anecdotes, but never mean...informative.

A great buy. Makes great present to anyone who is even vaguely interested in piano literature or music in general.

I didn't know Charles Rosen from a hole in the ground before I picked this up; I'm just a piano enthusiast. His personality comes through in his writing as he reflects on past concerts and recordings and travels and the likes. Not a memoir, but I suppose something pretty close to it. He essentially goes on about the different facets of being a pianist and if you eat breathe and sleep piano, you're sure to enjoy this. His writing style is polished and rather dignified, without being pedantic or scholarly. Heck I wanna go out and buy all this guy's books and records now. The only reason I didn't give it five stars is because it took me some getting used to at the first chapter, but once I adjusted to the fact that he's world class material and I'm just a schmuck doing scales, it was all smooth sailing from there.

It's getting so that if Charles Rosen announced a forthcoming book on the collective memories of his summer vacations during his youth kind of thing, I would buy it! Bottom line, and obviously what I'm saying here is that I like the way he writes 'all' of his books, what he has to say and how he says it! A style that both holds and informs if you will. So too, he's "been the road" so the contents of these books draw on the cumulative wealth of his experiences whether it's a discussion of Beethoven's sonatas, the classical era itself and its stand-outs or this present book on the world of the pianist.

Regardless of one's level of experience on the piano, this book is an excellent read from a man who knows what he is talking about. It is NOT a book zeroing in on posture or breathing or "don't bang the keys" recitations or 'lectures' but rather a nitty-gritty practical tome that touches on various areas and what life with the keys is all about. The ups and the downs and all in between.

BTW, if books like these appeal to you written by folks who have "been there, done that" albeit well 'verifiably' so as is the case with Mr. Rosen, and as they equally appeal to me when I can locate such informative tomes, and as a classical oriented player making no excuses for literally loving the classical war-horse pieces, check out "Piano Pieces" by Russell Sherman [New England Conservatory]. Another great read!

Doc Tony

As a pianist I stand in awe of Charles Rosen's phenomenal analysis and exposure of the life, status, mind, intellect and passion of one of our most celebrated pianists. If there were ever any doubt about why one plays the piano, here is the answer. This is another MUST HAVE for any honest and serious pianist, either amateur or professional.

Rick Steves is a total nut job wacko (I met him once in one of his recommended hotels in Paris!), but this is hands down the greatest travel advise I can possibly imagine. The Rick Steves style of travel is not for everyone (my mother-in-law for example) but by using the advise in this book, most people should have a fabulous European vacation.

This book is filled with great advise to successfully plan and enjoy a trip to Europe without the fuss of an organized bus tour. Meet locals, enjoy great food, and stay at charming little hotels on a suprisingly inexpensive budget.

This is a must read for anyone who is even thinking about traveling overseas independently. Going to Europe independently (either solo, as a couple, or small group) is by far the best way to see Europe in all its pretentious, snobbish, dirty, crowded, smokey, rude, elitist, and hyprocritical, yet beautiful, fun, friendly, historic, great-tasting, exciting, and romantic charm.

**NOTE** This not a travel guide with suggested hotels, restaurants, etc. but rather a travel skills handbooks; how to find a hotel room, make your way around a European train station, or order a meal at a "No English spoken" restaurant. His series of guide books dedicated to individual countries are also worth checking out has yet to steer us wrong on three trips around Europe.

I love this book. What else it there to say. I refer to this book ALL THE TIME. I was living in the UK and planned a few trips to the continent, and this book was invaluable. From desitnation suggestions, to places to stay, as well as advice, and little secret tidbits. I love it. Anyone traveling to Europe needs to buy a copy of this book!

I have used Rick Steves' books for over 6 years in varying capacities, and if you read them with the idea in mind that he is first and foremost a teacher, you can get more out of these books. They are definitely helpful to those who find travel abroad intimidating at first, and after giving it a go, will follow his travel pedagogy and break out on their own path, looking for their own back doors. While he does 'reveal' some well-known (to Europeans) 'back doors', they are places that do offer a different aspect of Europe than the popular destinations.

I bought this book in preparation for my first trip to Europe last summer. Two of us were going to be traveling around Europe for approximately three weeks.

We're students so we were clearly on a budget but not incredibly limited.

This book was a God send! I used it to structure my budget, itinerary, everything. While I can't discount the help of online resources (particularly http://www.guideforeurope.com) I couldn't have planned the trip without this book.

I recommend this book to people planning a first trip to Europe or a first independent trip to Europe. Now as a caveat I think you should use parts of this book but not treat it like a Bible. It's a starting point and then the rest of up to you - but as a starting point it is fantastic!

In addition to this book I highly recommend Rick Steves Best of Europe book. His entire series is just fantastic -- if you use these books your trip will turn out incredible and you'll be a pro at planning!

I must admit, Rick Steves knows what he's talking about when it comes to travelling through Europe. I backpacked through four countries in Western Europe this summer and I followed much of the advice contained within this book in my preparation and travels. I encountered no problems in my travels, but it still felt good to be better prepared than not. As far as the back door adventures . . . well I didn't get to any of them. I stayed in the large cities and the "touristy" spots of Europe, but the information and advice within this book is beneficial to anyone, regardless of where they're going. The only thing I didn't do that Steves recommended is to leave the book in the hostel for the next traveler. I'm going to keep this book and use it the next time I prepare to fly off to Europe for awhile.

I'm doing research on the hope of writing a romance novel based on a story my ex-husband told me about how his grandfather came to America. I found this book fascinating. It gave me a real feel for the time and the place. And unlike many history books, it wasn't boring.

Fred Morton certainly lived up to his reputation in this novel about the waning days of the "Imperial City of Vienna" and all the different personages inhabiting the Empire [Stalin, Hitler, Trotsky] during these turbulent pre WWI years. Excellent for history buffs such as myself or anyone else for that matter who enjoys a good read about the declining days of Empire and the effect of the Great War on European Aristocracy. Also interesting to note that Franz Ferdinand's three surviving children [daughter and two sons] were taken in by a friend after their parents murder by a Serbian Terrorist [not family as they were morgantic children due to their mother's status] and all eventually found themselves sent to a concentration camp [Therienstadt] when Austria was gobbled up by Germany during the Nazi's rise to power..as they did not possess "Imperial Status" Dont hear too much about this in any books. Eventually they were liberated by the Allies and their property restored to them. Sophie outlived both her younger brothers living to the ripe old age of 91. Her desendents live today in Konopiste; the Palace of Arch Duke Ferdinand and his wife Sophie Chotek.

There is an historical theory, or perhaps it is no more than a bon mot, that empires at the end of their power and political influence spend their last energies on a showy efflorescence, like a century plant. The prime examples would be 18th century Venice and early 20th century Vienna.

In "Thunder at Twilight," Frederic Morton presents a gossipy and apparently frothy portrait of such a bloom, told as a tragic love story. Like a good Mozart opera, there is a subsidiary, comic love story as well.

The tragic lovers are Franz Ferdinand, crown price of Austria-Hungary, and his wife, Sophie Chotek. Because Sophie was not royal, merely a countess, the archduke could not marry her as consort but only as a morganatic wife, and their children would not be in line for succession to the throne,

The comic lovers are Emperor Franz Joseph and the Widow Schratt, who also could not marry but who were so proper that they did not even make out.

The villain is Montenuevo, first court chamberlain, epitomizing the sclerotic empire that after rolling along for 800 years had almost seized its gears.

There is a huge supporting cast: Trotsky, Lenin and Stalin; Freud and Jung; the mad general Conrad von Hotzendorf and the crazed Serb Apis, etc. etc.

With an eye on the weather and the changes of seasons and in a flurry of adjectives, Morton leads them all toward a doom. This is one of the few reviews of the period that treats Franz Ferdinand as anything more than a stage prop.

In fact, in Morton's interpretation, the archduke is practically the only sensible man in the empire, full of fierce words masking a desperate attempt to keep Austria out of war with Russia. Sophie plays the calming influence who steadies her hotheaded lover.

Morton rightly calls Franz Ferdinand's policy appeasement of Serbia. It could never have worked. As we know from a further century of bitter experience, the South Slavs can neither govern themselves nor be governed

Conrad, though incompetent, was right. Serbia needed to be crushed. The problem was, Austria could not do it unless Russia stood aside; and Russia, another dying empire, was as full of aristocratic nitwits as Vienna, and had its own ungovernable Slavs (and Germans, like Lenin).

As hardcore history, "Thunder at Twilight" is too light, too consciously melodramatic. But it is great fun to read and seems to get the big picture more exactly right than more ponderous tomes.

A college professor recommended this to me so I read it in about a day. It is very interesting how Morton weaves history into some sort of a novel that's very easy to read. Inspired by the death of his uncle in World War I, Morton writes about the history and the climax leading up to the very moment when the Crown Prince Francis Ferdinand and his wife Sophie were assassinated by a Serbian terrorist youth.

Morton explains the nasty relationship with the Hapsburg Empire (that includes Austria) and the lower Slavic nations and the growing animosity between them. This is a great book for history buffs. My only complaints are that there aren't any citations in the book and that the friendship between Carl Jung and Sigmund Freud don't seem to have anything to do with the story itself.

This is a favorite of mine, all the info about the Fin du siecle, Rudolph, and why we went into World War 1, and why some young people don't make it somehow!

Amazing and amazingly entertaining book, very very higly recommended. I dont have anything to add to the info of the book itself, go for the editorial reviews.

I purchased a copy of "Tough Trip Through Paradise." Simply stated - it was delivered on time with no problems in shipping or the quality of the book.

This is a fantastic book. It was interesting from beginning to end. It tells in realistic detail the life of Andrew Garcia in the wilderness, his life with Indians, and his life with his beloved In-who-lise. I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in learning about life in the wild, about life with Indians, and about the other side of the story of the tragedy of the American Indian. The episodes about a bear invading his camp and about the murder of John Hays were remarkable. This is one book I was sorry to see end.

an excellent book for history and western america buffs, as well as pure entertainment. garcia's linguistic ability is not perfect, so don't take the translations of Indian names/words as truth, but an excellent, entertaining read. I couldn't put it down and wished it was longer when I was finished.

I was hooked on this autobiography from the moment I opened it to see if I might like it. The first page has the following: "Montana, 1878 - Andrew Garcia left the army at 23 and went out with a party of traders to make a living among the indians in the Montana wilderness. Soon he acquired the name "Squaw Man" and an indian wife - the first of three. Indians, frontiersmen, traders, trappers and the "Boys in Blue' - all were part of his "paradise" between two worlds and two eras of History in the old West. This is his story, discovered in a dynamite box in the cabin where he died at the age of 88."

And after the first paragraph of the introduction I was hooked: "In 1948 I found the manuscript from which this book was written. It was stored in dynamite boxes, packed solid in the heavy waxed paper that powder comes in - several thousand pages of legal-sized paper, both hand writtena and typed. Also in the collection were newspaper clippings showing Andrew Garcia at meetings of the Society of Montana Pioneers through the 1930's........"

Magnificently edited. A wonderful adventure story, wonderfully written and very readable, about one man's unusual life, which, in retrospect, in many ways was very priveliged... a way of living which could never be duplicated..

Reading this book had a deep effect on my life. When it was first given to me I only had a vague idea about Montana. It was somewhere up there. I started reading it and it shocked me. The writing was not quite proper grammatically correct english you see, it irritated me so much that I stopped and put it away. But I had been hooked and I went back to it. This second time around I just could'nt put it down and wish it did'nt end. The dream of Montana became stuck in me.

In 1980 I had the good fortune to find my way to Bozeman and by an unimaginable stroke of luck I even met Ben Stein the editor of what had become my favorite book. Tough Trip Through Paradise is very much also the work of Ben Stein. Ben had gone through the original found writings to form the book. Andrew Garcia and Ben Stein are now gone. But the remains of the story are still here with us. The site of Fort Ellis just east of Bozeman has been excavated and located. The building where Walter Cooper outfitted Garcia is still here on Main Street.The Musselshell still flows.If you take a trip to the Big Hole Battlefield monument you'll see the markings of the battle. A photo of In-Who-Lise hangs in the museum but there's no connection made with the book.

Somehow Andrew Garcia and Ben Stein were able to conserve the essence of the 1870's and take us to that time. Not by telling us how it was but by making us feel it. This was their genius. It just seeps into you. Sit, read and just let yourself experience those times. The west as it was, the indians, and others who played their part will be changed forever in your mind because you will have been there.

AN UNTAMED LAND by Lauraine Snelling is interesting, authentic, and informative. With relatives in the Red River of the North country in North Dakota near Snelling's fictional community, I have travelled in this area many times and have listened to many stories of the old days and its emergence into the rich agricultural region it is today. It is a worthwhile experience to recall some of the travails of those who settled and developed the land at any time and especially when one is driving through the region on good highways in modern vehicles with heaters in the cold months and air-conditioning in the summer and with timely weather forecasts to help ensure our safety.

Not having read much in the genre of Christian fiction, one of my first impressions from this book was the importance of religious concern by many of the characters. In time I decided that this too was probably good as it helped balance the view we have generally synthesized from the writings of secular authors. It also meshed well with those stories I have heard from oldtimers who lived during some of these formative years and shared their memories and those of their parents and grandparents. I believe that enhancing our perspective is a valuable part of life.

Enjoy the book and the sequels. I did.

This is one of the best series that I have ever read. It is a must see but beware, once you pick it up you will not want to put it down.

This was a great book with lots of reality in it. As someone who lives in this area, it makes it so real that you almost think you can go find their desendents (you can find close enough ones anyway!). Ingeborg and Kaaren face so much and come through all the more human and enjoyable as they face the prairie's hardships.

An entertaining read, and the author has done her homework on the life and times of people in the late 1800's. This descriptive story is about Norwegian emigrants/pioneers on their way to farm land in the the Red River Valley of North Dokota. The details of life back then are so vivid and I have fallen in love with the characters. Couldn't pick up he sequel fast enough... Enjoy!

Two young couples, each with a small child, migrate to America from Norway around 1880. They have no end of hardship and heartache. Their journey to homestead land is filled with pain. Even after they arrive, they have absolutely no idea the misery and heartbreak they will face their first full year there. It is a wonder they survive with their sanity - or do they?

This is Snelling's first book in the series Red River of the North. I am well into book two already.

This is the book, in this format, my mother read to me 50-plus years ago, and it is still as good. I recently purchased four copies. One each for two adult friends who are very ill. Both responded with uplifted spirits. One each for two young women who will be welcoming new "Young" ones soon.
Please note "Disbobedience" was set to music in the '60s by, I believe, the Chad Mitchell Trio, and James James Morrison Morrison Weatherby George Dupree is still warning his mother "not to go down to the end of town unless you go down with me ..."
"Vespers", at the very end, not only brings back memories of your own and your children's innocent childhoods, but also contains a very important message, "Oh, I quite forgot/God bless me."
And God bless you and those with whom you share this book.

One day, I found one of these poems running around in my head 40 years after I first began reading them to my boys when they were very young. As my older son took possession of that copy some time back, I had to order a new one for my 67-year old self just to get the lines absolutely right. It was worth it. My only regret is that I have no grandchildren to drum them into. Charming, literate and comforting.

This is one very good book and can be enjoyed by people from 2 to 92. I've read it to senior citizens as well as my grandchildren. The subjects are universal. The rhyme and rhythm are delightful.

My copy of this book is 51 years old and has my grandmother's autograph. Talk about a lasting gift! I love books as gifts, and this is my all-time favorite.

I had to read this for a little while before I got to a poem I really liked. The first 10 or so poems just seemed incomplete to me. "Independence" caught my eye first. In very few words it pretty much tells us adults that our kids are going to do what they want, despite all the things we say. It's followed by the wonderful poem "Nursery Chairs" where a child pretends the chairs in his house are different things. Then after "Nursery Chairs" is another strong poem, "Market Square" where we learn that there are things all around us in nature that we don't need to get from the market.

"Disobedience" is another interesting poem. It's kind of a role-reversal story about a kid whose mother disobeys his orders to stay away from the end of town, and she gets lost as the result of her disobedience.

"Spring Morning" emphasizes the beauty of nature to us, saying, "It's awful fun to be born at all." Next is "The Island" which has a wonderful closing message that screams, "God made it all - FOR US!" to me.

And there are so many other joyous poems in this quick read too. There's "Jonathan Jo," "Rice Pudding," "The Wrong House," "The Dormouse and the Doctor" (which has some terrific rhythm), a very touching "Little Bo-Peep and Little Boy Blue," "The Invaders," "If I Were King," etc., etc.

But perhaps my favorite poem in the collection is "Halfway Down" which is about nothing more than sitting on stairs. Man, if someone can take such a simple act and make it so astoundingly wondrous, then that person truly must be one of the greatest writers ever.

My initial reason for ordering this book was to learn more about mediation. From front to back, it was like a blossoming lotus. Not only did I learn about meditation, I learned that it is a staple of the Buddhist Faith and why it is just that. The concept of cleansing ones mind sounds like a good intention that actually unfolds into a replenishing and rebirth of our mind and body. It is a message of hope and love with instructions.
Meditation is not just merely sitting on a pillow and chanting, it is a skill that is learned and brought forward to our thinking and speaking. She so eloquently words this process of how it flows into our daily lives as mindfulness of everything around us. We so often look at a landfill of details that really are of no consequence to the quality of our lives whatsoever. We can learn to be the inertia of wholesomeness and peace that will automatically radiate to all living things around us with skill!!
I would recommend this book to the most enlightened of people, to those in a recovery process, and also to those who are balancing life in and out of a mental (depressive)condition. Seriously, I believe not only what she was teaching, but how she taught it could actually alleviate the need for all of these medication that are being prescribed because of our run-away, chaotic world and in turn our seemingly unmanageable, stressful lives.
I DO not like the term "New Age" here. The teachings of Buddha are anything but.

I used to always recommend Walpola Rahula's "What the Buddha Taught" as the best first read for someone looking to get started with Buddhism but now I think I'd recommend this instead. Rahula's book seems better for those with just an intellectual interest in Buddhism, but this book seems better for those who are ready to start changing their life. An absolute gem.

A book that transcends the page and leaves the reader with insight long after putting it down. It is written in a style that is easy for Western Bhuddist readers to comprehend. Well worth the time and money to read.

Ayya Khema's book is a summary of lessons at a Bhuddist retreat in Sri Lanka, but it reads like an overview of the most important Bhuddist teachings in one volume.

I've read many books about meditation, but for me this is the best. I highly recommend it for both beginning and experienced meditators.

There are thousands of books out there for people interested in Buddhism, but few of them get to the core of what it's all about and why it's so important to practice, practice, practice. This is undoubtedly the best. Just the first chapter alone is perhaps the best summary I've ever read of what Buddhism really is.

Being a huge Big & Rich fan I had to get this book. When I got the book it was even better then I could have expected. There are detailed biographies on the entire Muzik Mafia as well as candid and personal photos that have never been seen before. This is a great way to get connected even deeper to a great band. Also I think that even if you aren't a fan you will enjoy this book and possibly become a fan.

Tells a great story about how Kenny Alphin and John Rich became Big and Rich. Not only does the book tell about Kenny and John, it also talks about other members of the Muzik Mafia. Even if you are not a fan it's a great book and it makes you feel real good inside. As a fan of Big and Rich I knew I would not be disappointed and if you are a fan neither will you. Besides the great story the pictures are really awesome from younger photos to candid shots with their families. And who can resist Kenny's son Lincoln...cute as can be!!! A must have for all fans of Big and Rich be huge fans or passer by fans.

very good good reading about the two singers, not sure why they added the dvd with just clips , they should have had earlyer music of them, but the book was really good

I expected this book to be just a chronology of what I already knew about this duo - and I was pleasantly surprised that there was much I didn't know. Their diverse personalities and backgrounds certainly come out and makes the beautiful blend they do in music even that much better. I was unaware that the book existed until I opened the newest CD which was also great, and have really enjoyed reading it. Great pictures, not ones I had just seen over and over on websites. It was interesting to "meek" those who supported the union, those in the background and others in the Musik Mafia. Gread read!!

I just love this book, and it's not just all about the great pictures (which there are many of, including some exclusive private ones), but it's the stories behind the pictures, told by Big Kenny and John Rich from their hearts.

I feel like a very uneducated fan, having never had the experience of seeing them on stage. My only dealings with Big & Rich have been through their CDs, videos and TV appearances and from my fellow Mafia Soldiers. This book really gives you alot of insight into who these guys really are and how they got to this point in their lives.

You really have to read it to understand it. And I hope, in say, 10 years, there is another book to share the next decade of their lives with us as they get even bigger and better.

Blackbelly is a novel of unexpected depth from an author who understands how to tell a morality story without beating a dead horse--or sheep, in this case. Heather Sharfeddin's prose is straightforward, non-judgmental and honest from first word to last. And her characters, Chas McPherson, the proud loner who wants to do right by his dying father, and Mattie Holden, an unassuming nurse looking for a chance to start fresh, ring as true as any I've encountered--on or off the page--in recent memory. Blackbelly is a story of loneliness, repressed needs, and bigotry in a small town. Sprinkled with a hint of the supernatural, a few bible quotes and a layer of underlying tension, it resonates like a clanging cow bell. We haven't heard the last from this outstanding wordsmith. Salmon Run

I read Sharfeddin's book between Hemingway and Terry Kay. She more than held her own against these two great writers. From the first chapters I was drawn in and felt like I was a part of the story. I was impressed with Sharfeddin's ability to capture the lead male character so well. How did she get into the mind of a male so well? Maybe I don't want an answer.
This is an enjoyable book that reaches deep to capture emotions we all face but often hide from. Through this book we can learn a little more about ourselves, our society, and others. I recommend this novel.

I know Heather Sharfeddin personally. I raise Blackbelly Sheep. I grew up in rural Idaho just a few miles from where Heather grew up. With all that being said, I loved this book. I read it in one day just days after it was released. I didn't want it to end. I still think of the characters and wonder how they are and what they are doing. As I was reading the first few pages, I kept thinking how amazing it was that Heather was the writer and that I knew her. It was not long before she took me away from that and led me into the lives of her characters. I am buying this book for almost everyone on my Christmas list. One of the best reads ever--and I read a lot!!

Have you ever hit a dry spell with the books you read? When everything you pick up is missing that special something that hooks you in and holds you until the last word?
I was in just such a dry spell when I picked this book up after having seen in reviewed in the Idaho Statesman. I am so glad I did!
I will wait as patiently as possible for this author to write another novel.

This book is a real page turner that is masterfully written. I am eagerly awaiting a second novel from this author.