Nevada Books

This is such a great little travelling companion. Take it with you in your bag as you do shopping in a different city. If you are already familiar with Vegas like I am, then you know most of the great places to shop, but this will open your eyes to 'new' stores you may not have known existed. With opening hours, phone numbers and obviously addresses, this will keep you shopping for hours at all ends of the expense spectrum - from cheap to expensive. I will always buy these books.

A wonderful collection of short stories with a common character - a liar who is searching for his way in the world. You can't help but feel incredible compassion and hope.

I am getting ready to spend a month in the Sierra Nevada mountain range and was looking for a good source for wild edibles in the area. This was the only book that I could find, and it's a gem! It's the perfect size for my pack and includes color photographs of each of the plants. The author includes all of the relevant information on the subject: plant habitat and range, physical description, food uses, medicinal uses, and cautionary guidelines. I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in learning how to live in harmony with the natural environment. In addition, the distributer/author/publisher was prompt in his delivery and personal in his response to my e-mail, a far stretch from the impersonal nature of internet commerce.

Will James, in two dozen self-illustrated books and scores of articles, created one of the most popular and probably last cowboy legends of the American West. James was
an expert at taking fact and fantasy, legend and lore, and combining them to create a cowboy story people could lose themselves in.

Sadly though, James's success in creating a happy, literary fantasy for children and adults couldn't extend to himself. A victim of the very articles, books, and drawings that
made him famous, James's immense pop ularity threatened to topple the greatest James story of all-the story of his life.

Author Anthony Amaral, a great admirer of James and the cowboy way of life, takes a literary journey to explain the great rise and even greater fall of Joseph-Ernest
Dufault-the man who created and lived the life of Will James

This book is a must have if you were ever a part of this great little airline. If you are someone who just loves airline history then this book covers the entire history of Reno Air from inception to it's take over by American Airlines.

Sherman E. Easttom, the camp committee chairman at the Weedpatch Camp in the era around the first half of 1936, was introduced to John Steinbeck at The Arvin Sanitary Camp by Tom Collins.Numerous biographers have said Steinbeck used the family of Sherman E. Easttom as the model for the Joad Family as portrayed in the Steinbeck Novel THE GRAPES OF WRATH, 1939. What Ms.Loftis misrepresented in her book was that Sherman E. Easttom wrote a letter to Paul Taylor, in regards to the democratic camper goverment which was set up by either the Farm Security Administration or its predecessor agency which planned and built the first two Sanitary Units in 1935 the first in Marysville, CA and the second in Arvin, CA. Ms. Loftis, erroneously claims to have referenced a source she found somewhere in the National Archives, to the effect that Sherman E. Easttom wrote a letter to Paul Taylor, a higher up at the Farm Security Administration headquarters in San Fancisco,CA. Being the grandson of Sherman E. Easttom, it is common knowledge in the Easttom Family that Sherman E. Easttom could not read or write and was color blind.I do not slight Anne Loftis for using my grandfather's name, however I do mind the misinformation that is being disseminated by writers who have the occasion to run across Sherman E. Easttom's role in the writing by Steinbeck of THE GRAPES OF WRATH,1939. Ms. Loftis corroborated with the well known Steinbeck biographer, Jackson J. Benson in 1980 on a piece JOHN STEINBECK AND FARM LABOR UNIONIZATION; THE BACKGROUND OF IN DUIOUS BATTLE, by Benson and Anne Loftis, American Literature, 52 (May 1980): 194-223. Mr Benson also published his well reviewed book, THE TRUE ADVENTURES OF JOHN STEINBECK, WRITER (New York: Viking, 1984; London: Heinemann, 1984).In this book which which has been heralded as the definitive "authorized biography" of John Steinbeck as it was indeed cleared by the Steinbeck Family and thus offered Benson an entree into the secretive life of Steinbeck and his friends. Benson disseminated misinformation about Sherman E. Easttom and went further to name Easttom's son, namely, Sammie F. Eastton, (note there was variation in the family as to the exact spelling of the surname) as a "...fugitve from the law and hiding out in Lamont." Benson and Anne Loftis engaged in the same type of name dropping in the writing of ,THE BACKGROUND OF "IN DUBIOUS BATTLE". I would remind one that the use of the word "fugitive" connotes a fleeing from or flight from justice. My Uncle whom Benson claimed was the model for Tom Joad was only 17 years old in the summer of 1936 when the talks between Sherman E. Easttom and John Steinbeck took place. My Uncle could not have been a "fugitive" in any common understanding of the use of the word , because he was a juvenile at the time Benson claims he was a "...fugitive from the law". Again I bear no ill will to any of the Steinbeck researchers, but only wish to bring forward the factual account according to the Easttom Family.

A compassionate and realistic look(very real) of life on the mean streets of Las Vegas. Detailed information on about every component that has created this situation, from city policy to drug abuse. Precise statistical figures give an accurate account of this blight. Definitely a rich resource on the topic. The author shares his experience with you, making this an easy book to read, albeit disturbing.

Written by American West studies specialist Kristen M. McAndrews (Prof. of English, University of Hawai'i at Manoa), Wrangling Women: Humor and Gender in the American West is a unique look at a mountain community of women in Winthrop, Washington who run a western-theme town and work as ranchers, trail guides, horse trainers and packers. Caught in an unusual crux where they have to keep alive gender stereotypes for the sake of a tourist-based economy yet apply the same levels of authority and expertise as their male counterparts, these resourceful "wrangling women" apply humor and language as useful tools for accomplishing the precarious balancing act. A delightful exploration of gender studies, stereotypes, and human resourcefulness, Wrangling Women frequently quotes the women it studies, allowing the reader to partake in both scholarly observation and the visceral feel of being there. A lively and entertaining treatise.

This book went to Las Vegas with six people that ranged in age from 21 to 57. Everyone used it. The resturant reviews were concise yet comprehenive, giving information about the very best in fine dining to the best donut shop in town. The night life section was a big plus. Everyone in our group found the this book useful and easy to use.

There are few authors who continue to provide strong plots and great, long lasting characters after their first few novels. Fortunately for fans, Janet Evanovich knows how to deliver. Stephanie Plum, Jersey's wild and outrageous bounty hunter returns in the ninth novel of the series strong as ever. Once again Stephanie partners with Ranger, the secretive and sexual bounty hunter superstar to find Samuel Singh. Singh has disappeared and the chase to find him lands Stephanie in the middle of a dangerous and sinister game. With bodies piling up and startling e-mails appearing on her computer, Stephanie is caught between two protective men in her life. Ranger sends his mysteriously, muscle clad men to protect her while she seeks refuge in the home of Trenton cop Joe Morelli, also her current boyfriend. On top of everything crazy that makes up her life, her sister Valerie is ready to deliver a baby and Stephanie can not get her own biological clock to stop ticking. To the Nines take Stephanie, LuLu and Connie from Jersey to Vegas and back again in this spectacular book. Janet Evanovich's writing will leave your stomach muscles tightened from laughing out loud and you will find yourself panting and flushed from the sensual encounters between the two leading men. On top of that, you will enjoy a suspenseful mystery that will keep the pages turning and the night-light on. High praises for To the Nines.
Valerie Jones
mrsvaljones@netzero.net

This was another great book in the series. I read 1-10 in about 2 weeks. There are a great read w/action, mystery, comedy and a little romance. A great book.

I must first explain that this is my first Evanovich novel, so I had no expectations! I did like the fact that the book was a quick and easy read, and I didn't really have to think. The story was interesting and evolved into more than I initially anticipated. And there were frankly parts of the story where I laughed out loud (hint: dinner scene and conversation between future brother-in-law and grandmother).

Stepahnie Plum is a sassy bounty hunter who is trying desperately to locate Samuel Singh, a computer nerd who has skipped bail for her Boss, who fears that he will lose everything if he doesn't get him back. Following several clues and having many misadventures, a seemingly simple case has evolved into one that involved serial killings and a game, where Stephanie may be the ultimate prize. There are a host of very interesting characters, from Stephanie's pregnant sister Valarie (who refuses to marry the father of her baby); her elderly grandmother (who is overly concerned with her hair); her present boyfriend (Joe Morelli, who is a cop and who swears she will be the death of him); her partners, Ranger (ex-special forces/scary guy/hot ex-lover), and Lula (overweight ex-prostitute whose ultimate goal is to have the body of a supermodel by eating only meat); Vinnie (her cousin and Boss); and a very unstable killer.

Overall, I enjoyed this novel and probably would read another installment so that I could find out what ever becomes of the love triangle between Plum, Morelli and Ranger.

I listened to Loralei King narrate the audio version of this story. I thought CJ Critt was the best narrator for the Plum stories, but King does an amazing job with the voices and accents too. Great story that moves along quickly. Some very funny scenes, especially with Lula on her diet. Also some good scenes with yummy Morelli and Ranger. You can't go wrong with this series - very entertaining!

another fantastic stephanie adventure. these books get funnier and funnier. i am totally in love with Ranger and this book doesn't damper the feeling