Utah Books

Thoughtful and engaging - this is a smart book that examines our relationship with the natural world -- and it takes on the question of how to find solace in times that can seem bleak - how to feel ALIVE in an age of extinction. This is a searching, seeking sort of book -- and it's a pleasure to embark on such a journey with the author.

After seeing a special on the Donner Expedition, and an occasional relic collected in the 19th Century show up on Ebay, I thought this book might be an interesting read. It was, and I wasn't disappointed, with the photographs making it a bonus.

Rarely have I seen better photography, full size photos, of the artifacts in the Fenn cache, with details of size, weight, etc. Wonderful line drawings, discussion of the exotic stone the points are made from as well as the artisans who were able to craft such points. Wide beautiful flaking, extremely thin, but ultilitarian! If you are interested even slightly in Clovis culture, you will love this book.

Collaboratively compiled and edited by Peggy O'Neill (Communication Department, Loyola College, Maryland), Angela Crow (Assistant Professor, Georgia Southern University), and Larry W. Burton (Chair of the Department of Writing and Linguistics, Georgia Southern University), A Field Of Dreams: Independent Writing Programs And The Future Of Composition Studies is an impressive selection of seventeen scholarly essays studying the existence and future of independent writing programs and composition studies in American colleges today. From the unique challenges of such courses, to their implications on national literacy and debating challenges against these programs, A Field Of Dreams is a thoughtful and highly recommended compilation examining critically important facets of the present and future of higher education.

This is a great book... I'm hoping she writes a sequal! The characters are well written and loveable. I'm going to read it again!

Finding The People Who Flaked The Stone At English Camp: San Juan Island by Angela E. Close (Professor of Anthropology, University of Washington) is a seminal and scholarly study of American approaches to lithic analysis - that is, attempts to learn more about natural history through the study of the stones of the earth. Especially focusing upon the excavation of English Camp on San Juan island, Finding The People Who Flaked The Stone At English Camp applies an approach based on attempts to trace the life-histories of all excavated artifacts, from raw material procurement to discard and entry into archaeological record, and concludes that women did a great deal of the tool manufacture at the English Camp site. A highly precise and technical scientific study and persuasive discourse.

First Time Up: An Insider's Guide For Composition Teachers by Brock Dethier (Coordinator of Advanced Composition at Utah State University) is an in-depth and instructive presentation reflecting the values which may be placed on effectively teaching composition in the classroom for first-time writing instructors. Tactfully written in an encouraging, humorous, yet appropriately informative manner, First Time Up documents the often difficult experience of teaching contemporary college students and recommends what processes would be most appropriate in dealing with student maturity and academic preparedness issues. As a truly well written, experienced based, and "user friendly" guide First Time Up is to be given high praise and is very strongly recommended reading -- especially for novice English teachers and professors of college level students.

This is a real find! For all of us that love fishing and Utah, this book has it all. I found Brett's descriptions to be on target, and his advice valuable. He obviously loves and knows his subject. I heartily recommend this book to all the anglers looking to Utah as a fishing paradise.

The Flowering Thorn attempts to illustrate the broad range of topics within the field of ballad studies. These topics are multidisciplinary in nature using folklore, history, literary, and ethnological sources as well as a variety of different methodologies based upon various theoretical backgrounds. In order to connect all of these topics, a very broad definition of a ballad has been adopted, simply a narrative song. These narrative songs may appear fragmented or may be quite complex. They may also contain symbolic imagery pertaining to culture specific norms and ideology.

This book is organized into five sections or themes: interpreting narrative song; structure and motif; context, version, and transmission; regions, reprints, and repertoires; and the mediating collector. Each section contains from one to seven short articles. Each article is written by a researcher who discusses their personal research or their research methodologies. Most of the articles contain various ballad fragments (in English or the native language). Many of the authors compare ballads or versions of the same ballad to better illustrate their points.

It is of note that the book is strongly biased towards European authors. This is somewhat expected for two reasons. Firstly, ballads are a distinct European song form. Secondly, narrative songs have been commonly studied in Europe, specifically in the British Isles, since the turn of the last century.

The first section, Now She's Fairly Altered Her Meaning, contains various articles looking specifically at the culture specific symbolic and social inferences embedded in ballads. Most noticeably the research in this section focuses on one's place in society and the reinforcement of this proper place and behavior.

The second section, Malign Forces that Can Punish and Pardon, discusses the structure and motif of ballads. The first two articles focus on the variable structure and nature of ballads; while the last two articles examine cross-cultural themes of proper conduct in narrative songs.

The third section, Recapturing the Journey, uses historical methods to examine how ballads change over time and absorbed by other cultures. In each article, versions of the same or similar ballads are explored for similarity and differences.

The fourth section, Regions, Reprints, and Repertoires, furthers this work; however, these articles focus on the methods with which ballads are transmitted across time and space.

Purement Scientifique et Archeoloique, the final section, looks to extend ballad studies beyond its current range. The articles in this section applaud the accomplishments of amateur scholars and call for further professional examination in these new areas.In this way, McKean illustrates the range and multidisciplinary nature of modern ballad studies. This creates a good general text for students and beginner researchers. Furthermore, many of the articles provide some very good references for further reading.

Nonetheless, this book will also be of use to those already undertaking their own ballad research. The researcher will be drawn to specific sections or articles that match his or her interests; however, he or she will also undoubtedly uncover new lines of thought and methodologies to use in his or her own studies within the rest of the volume.

I used this book on a trip a couple of years ago and it was very valuable. The paper is a light grade so while the book is thick it is not heavy. If you are in a town of any decent size then there is info on what to eat, see, and where to stay. The maps are good and suggestions are too. I've read quite a few travel guides over the years and this series may be the best all around and best laid out of any of them. You might want to read more details before you leave but this is the one to carry along on the trip. I have not seen any new editions but I hope Foder's continues with this series.