Nevada Books

A wonderful introduction to Nevada. Easy to read, very nice photos.

"The Nevada Desert" is another quality read by Sessions S. Wheeler. If you're familiar with Wheeler's other work like "the Desert Lake," you already know that the author likes to inject original sources. After doing a lifetime of research and analysis on the desert experience, the idea behind this title is to publish a book of the most interesting primary documents. Chapter topics include the Forty-Mile Desert, the Black Rock, the Mojave, Gold Mining and Ranching. The initial chapter offers a brief history and overview of the State. The next chapter looks at the Forty-Mile Desert, a difficult wagon road for early emigrants. The actual stretch is east of Reno in the north-western part of Nevada. As one of the most compelling narratives in the book, Sarah Royce retells the chronology of her family's Forty-Mile hardship. The next chapter is a look at the Black Rock. Much of the section looks at the fighting with Native Americans. In terms of brutality and bloodshed, Wheeler believes that the great scale of these conflicts has not been fully appreciated. The Mojave chapter recounts the adventures of John C. Frémont. 'Memories of the Desert's Gold Seekers' offers entertaining stories of desert folk. Claude Laund's story about death and belated justice is a highlight. The ranching chapter focuses on John G. Taylor, a cattle baron. "The Nevada Desert" is generally successful as a Sessions Wheeler book with more primary sources and less interpretation. The Indian Wars section wanders and the John G. section offers too many, similar accounts of the same man. So while the dynamic usually works well, there are cases when Wheeler should have been more assertive as an editor. At the end of the day, I'm not sure that I wouldn't have just preferred to read a conventional book by Sessions Wheeler. Combining quality research, artistry as a writer and passion for his subject, Wheeler inspires faith that when he writes about a topic, it will contain the essential information. The book has something many similarly minded titles lack -a good map with details that connect the reader with the geography. The inclusion of copious black and white photographs help to tell the story of those who lived so long ago. All in all, "the Nevada Desert" offers first hand accounts of what the Silver State was like back in the olden days.

From Hollywood blockbusters to obscure, direct-to-video titles. From obvious, Las Vegas-lensed features such as _Casino_ and _Leaving Las Vegas_, to films shot in lesser-known locales, such as _The Shootist_, John Wayne's last picture, filmed in the area around Carson City, Gary DuVal's _The Nevada Filmography_ does a comprehensive job of profiling films shot in the state between 1897 and 2000. The book covers both films that used Nevada as a primary location, as well as those which shot only briefly in the state for brief sequences.

The book is arranged alphabetically by title, and each entry provides complete information on cast and crew, as well as technical information and production credits. Also included in each entry is information on the locale. There are five appendices that cover locations, chronological listings of the films in the book, awards the films received, an extensive listing of alternative titles, and films available on videocassette. There are also a number of black-and-white photos of behind the scenes moments on some of the films.

This is an interesting book, with a lot of good information and behind-the-scenes anecdotes about the films. For example, the entry for the original _Ocean's Eleven_ (1960) includes mention of the fact that Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack made the film during a two-week engagement at the Sands casino, performing at night and filming during the day: "all the Las Vegas scenes were completed during the Rat Pack's two-week engagement at the Sands, which made for very long days for the stars."

Unfortunately, not all entries are as informative. The careful attention to detail in the cast and crew information, material which could be easily researched using the Internet Movie Database, often overshadows a one-sentence mention of the locations where a film was made. And the extended anecdotes and notes are rather few and far between, reserved only for the highest profile pictures.

It is hard to gauge who the intended audience is for this book. It would most likely be of interest to Nevada libraries, for general or film reference collections. It would also be of use to any library with a comprehensive collection of film books or Western memorabilia. But the cover price probably rules it out for most general collections.

A well written book on Virginia City and the silver mines. A good history of the whole area around Reno and Lake Tahoe.

This map atlas can't compare in appearances to the DeLorme Nevada Atlas, but it contains different information. These maps are compiled by the Nevada Dept. of Transportation and show the status of dirt roads to a far more refined degree than the Delorme atlas, which doesn't distinguish good roads from bad. The maps in this atlas cover 30' of latitude and longitude at a scale of 1" = 4 miles. The map are blank and white and show only roads, water features and land boundaries. When exploring in the Nevada outback, I would carry both atlases.

An alphabetical presentation of a myriad of posts, camps, and other military sites in Nevada may sound more like a reference book that should be taken off the shelf when needed. This book, though, is much more than that, for author Rathburn has woven fascinating stories into his identifications. The book comprises a comprehensive picture of military action in early Nevada. It is also a guide book for those who choose to see on the ground the many historical sites across the state. For these, the author has provided a number of maps and detailed directions, including whether anything to see remains and whether the site is located on private property.
With long careers in the Nevada National Guard and the Bureau of Land Management, Colonel Rathburn demonstrates clearly his familiarity with Nevada and its military history. His book is a valuable contribution to the history of the American West.

I found a few errors in relation to directions (north, south, east, etc.) and other minor range info inaccuracies

Hart Wegner's collection of short stories, 'Off Paradise' covers familiar ground (exile, loss of identity) with a new twist. These well-crafted stories center around Martin, middle-aged German immigrant to the United States who struggles to come to terms with his past and future. An self-proclaimed 'exile' from the province of Silesia, Martin wanders between worlds: the glitzy and superficial realm of his adopted home, Las Vegas and that of his cherished birthplace, draped in the veil of nostalgia. After WWII, the mixed territory of Silesia was given to Poland; its German inhabitants were forced into exile. Many chose Germany, while others the new world. Martin's parents opted for the later, giving up Europe and its secure walls of tradition and continuity for the boundless horizons of the American West.

Caught between cultures, Martin must walk a delicate tight rope. His dying parents dredge up bittersweet memories of a world they had to escape, a world which Martin longs to recover. Imprisoned amidst the subdivisions, car parks and strip malls of the American city, Martin feels like the odd phantom, alive, but not quite. No longer European, and never to become fully American, Martin finds solace in the company of other strangers, fellow exiles from the old country. Martin's closest companion---never quite clear just how close---is Ala, an elderly friend of the family who keeps Martin's 'Silesian' identity alive with her bitter memories...the advance of the Russians, the panic-ridden escape to the west and Auschwitz, where Ala survived a short tour of hell. The third party to Martin's world is Jozefa, his neighbor both in the old world and in the new. She is Polish and Catholic, Martin, German and Lutheran, silent enemies from the past who support each other in their common alienation.

Wegner's stories flow together like one long journey into a rememberance of things past, together with their painful comparison with things present. Wegner is at his best when he concentrates on the small details: Martin's mother making dishes from the old country that don't taste like they should. Something's missing. Something that Martin strives to recapture, a taste of the past which will provide identity and belonging.

Rare is the writer who can competently master a language not his/her own. Wegner has attainted that mastery. His raw, unadorned prose mirrors both the openness of the new world and the density of the old. Often times a bit heavy, his sentences are melancholy, but never maudlin. The exile's loneliness and confusion is always stark and severe. But Martin's touching memories prevent 'Off Paradise' from being a collection of dreary dirges of isolation. With his sympathetic characters and lyrical style, Wegner repaints Thomas Wolfe's trademark, 'you can't go home again,' with a palette of refreshing colors.

Reviewed by Debra Gaynor for Reader Views (1/07)

Brent Harold and nine of his friends buy a piece of the Sierra Nevada in 1968. The ten friends buy twenty acres of undeveloped land surrounded by national forest high in California's gorgeous Sierra Nevada range. They picture themselves in a gathering for reunions. The land was to be a link that would always bond them together. It was an ideal, a fantasy to keep them youthful. But they each grew up, found jobs, started families and grew apart. The land lay undeveloped four decades later. However, for Brent Harold the land remained a passion. Brent moved to the east coast but still dreamed of yearly journeys to the Sierra.

We all have dreams; we place something on a pedestal and think that if we own it all will be perfect. But the question is what are we willing to sacrifice to possess it? Brent spent his life idolizing a piece of land. This book is about more than owning a land or about a young man's dream. This book is about growing up, moving on in priorities. The land is a look at life and the tragedy of if moving onward.

Brent Harold is a talented author. He retells his story as a memoir. He seems to be looking deep inside himself and sharing retrospect with his readers. The cover is interesting but not bold. I particularly enjoyed the title and subtitle. The plot flows smoothly telling of Brent and his friend's idyllic dream through the heartache his obsession brings him. I recommend "Owning the Sierra Nevada" to those that enjoy reading non-fiction and autobiographies.

What, no reviews for the classic "Pathways in the Sky"?? It's a photo history of the building and use of the John Muir Trail. Most photos are from a trip the author took in the 60s. The trip was done by stock (horses and mules). There's a faint hint that anyone who walks is slightly crazy. But it's a fun book and a reminder that the Sierra doesn't change that much -- the photos from almost 50 years ago look much like the same areas today. Also gives a good appreciation of what it took to build the trail. Worth a few bucks for people interested in the Sierra.