Oregon Books

I stumbled across this book years ago in a Border's remainder bin, and on a whim decided to see what other people thought of it. I was surprised to see that not even one person had reviewed it yet! Overall, this book is a strong collection of short stories, each one containing completely believable, if not always sympathetic characters. If you have read and liked The Mermaid's Singing, you'll probably like this one, since it shares a lot of similar themes, though Mary Morrissy's writing is stronger.

I believe my friend and fellow woodlot manager Wally Skyrman first introduced me to an earlier edition of this book, co-authored by Alan Campbell III, Oregon State University Extension Forester for Jackson County, now retired. The book has been revised a couple of times, first in July 2003 and now April 2005. This revision now includes beautiful color photographs, contributed by Edward C. Jenson.
I like the organization of the book for its inclusion of forest types within the state. There are eleven forest types in Oregon, described beginning on page 122. The eleven types are Douglas Fir Forests, Sitka Spruce/Western Hemlock Forests, Siskiyou Mixed-conifer Forests, Coast Redwood Forests, Urban Forests, Hardwood Forests, Ponderosa Pine Forests, Lodgepole Pine Forests, Subalpine Forests, Western Juniper Forests, Western Larch Forests.
Another delightful feature of the book is its usefulness for tree species identification. Using a system taught at Oregon State University, dichotomous branching (pun intended) is as simple as the childhood game of Animal, Vegetable or Mineral, yet effective enough to assist the woodland manager or weekend forest traveler in narrowing down a certain genus-species for any Oregon tree of interest.
At $12.00 list price, it is cheap by today's standards for any text of value.
Limitations: This is a book dealing with Oregon's trees, yet any visitor to Oregon who is interested in trees would be greatly benefited by having such a book for reference. The technique of "dichotomous branching" (see note above) alone makes this book a practical and wonderful science text for the casual forest tree enthusiast and woodlands manager alike.

In "An Editor for Oregon," Floyd McKay provides a thoroughly-researched, eminently readable account of Sprague's life and times. McKay, a journalism professor at Western Washington University, brings unquestioned qualifications to this work. Before entering the academic world, he spent many years as a working journalist, both in broadcast and print. His first job was on the Oregon Statesman, working under Sprague, its owner and publisher. But though his admiration for his subject is clear, it's also a straightforward and honest account.

McKay traces Sprague's birth and youth in Kansas, his migration to Washington state and the influence the Progressive movement had on shaping his political outlook, his entry into the newspaper business, and his arrival in Oregon in 1925. A few years later he acquired the Statesman, a newspaper from the state's pioneer era that had fallen on difficult times. Sprague grew quickly in stature and influence, yet his nomination and election to the governorship over incumbent Charles Martin in 1938, only 13 years after he had come to the state, was something of a surprise.

His single term as governor was dominated by the state's response to the outbreak of World War II. In 1942, the same voters who had embraced Sprague only four years earlier turned their backs on him, ousting him in the Republican primary. Although a competent governor, Sprague's time in office turned out to be only a prelude to his greatest service to the state. For the next 25 years, with his front page column "It Seems To Me" and on the Statesman's editorial page, Sprague evolved into the most widely-read and respected opinion-maker in the state. Yet his active public service was not at an end; he served for a time as an alternate delegate to the United Nations.

"An Editor for Oregon" provides not only a compressive look at Sprague's life and career, but a history of the state's political evolution from the Depression through the sixties. It's a first-rate work.--William C. Hall

One of the best espionage novels I have ever read. I wish this author would write another novel of any kind. I would definately read it.

I really enjoyed this book. The story of McCullough's life is very interesting, and his legacy is profound. He has built so many bridges around the state, and they are all beautiful! I highly recommend this book if you are at all interested in bridges or just a little Oregon history.

Great little item from Ms Salmonson, with some fine illustrations by Thomas Wiloch. Limited to 250 copies, a reasonably uncommon item, guaranteed to send a chill...

This was an easy read for an adult, however, the environmental undertones made the reviewer have to remember that her best friend is a logger's wife. She had a definite urge to root for Eli as he tried so hard to save "his trees." The reader is caught up in Eli's journey from hip big-city cool guy, to be considered a "wierdo," one of the nicer things he is called as he attempts to adapt to life in the small Oregon community where his Uncle Danny and Aunt Maud live. His father, Rick, has sent him to live there while he takes a shot at big-time entertaining with his band. Eli's strange looks (long hair, earrings, surfer clothes) do not make for an easy adjustment. The writer has captured what one would think a boy would feel when he is uprooted and plopped into a different world. My only regret is that music did not accompany the songs he wrote to accompany the story. Perhaps he should write a screenplay and include melodies to go with the lyrics.

This book has some of the nicest pictures I've seen of the waters below the surface in and near Puget Sound, and up into British Colombia.

The book was sent in excellent condition and I am satisfied with my book.

For small business owners or people new to managing a smallstaff who need a fast, easy to read, and very clear guideline tohiring, paying, managing and firing employees this book is ideal. Employement law is a scary business, and ignorance can be painfully expensive. The book is well organized, comes with tabbed dividers, and spells out what to do, what NOT TO SAY OR DO, and gives a few cases to clarify meaning. No wasted words or opinions are presented, so you can find out what you need to know quickly.