Utah Books

I am proud to be part of a book that documents the Yemeni experience of immigrating to the USA. The documentary puts the reader in the very shoes of the newcomer. I felt like it was 1977 all over again as I looked at the pics and read along. I was born in the USA but my father came to the states in the 40's, California first.
Our family was featured in several pictures my Milton Rogovin, Lackawanna, NY. I didn't know at the time that these pics were part of a documentary. I just smiled for the camera.
People all over the world follow the American dream. Yemenis are no different. If you are interested in reading about this culture's experiences and get an understanding of what ALL KINDS OF IMMIGRANTS feel, get this book.

I thought this was a lovely book, an intriguing story of two kinds of Mormon faith (one devout, the other not so devout), and the struggles that the characters face in making their way as a family and as individuals in both their small Mormon community and in the greater world. It is an inside view into Mormonism, the people, and a time when Mormonism was just about to emerge on to the larger scene. (It is a look back in time to when the Mormon Church had not yet made worldwide impact, back when it was more of just a regional force in the Intermountain West.) It chronicles the life of Harriet, a young widow and committed member of the church, who marries Hank, a young widower who is not a true believer and who was never quite comfortable in the formal religion. Even so, Harriet and Hank work together to raise their three sons who face their own unique challenges. For those outside the faith, this is a nice introduction to real figures in Mormonism. For those who are in the faith, this book will feel "real," an account of everyday people. I felt as if I had met people just like the characters in this book. I highly recommend this book.

Robert Black does something unusual in this book; he edits and annotates the life history of a Hopi/Tewa Indian who was not a traditionalist, nor an especially warm or amusing man. Standing Flower - the traditional name of Irving Pabanale - was a Hopi policeman, judge, and negotiator with the white government early in this century. Black sat with him for many summers, recording his story. In this book, he does an outstanding job of writing comprehensive explanations and history to anchor this man's tale. I've studied many life histories, and always find them to be the best way to learn about other cultures. This book offers both the narrative and a scholarly - but readable - education about the Hopi and Tewa of Arizona. Well done!

This book is perfect for the novice, explaining the myths behind common sandpainting designs.

The greatest story ever, on the greatest players ever

Beyond the amazing places and the incredible events that seem to have shaped Ona in this book, there lies her ornate and sensitive use of the English language. Her words envelope you in their comfort and uplift you with their hopeful spirit. A book for anyone who knows what it is to live, weep, love, and laugh.

Lost in the scorching Sonora Desert, young Kent Wingfield makes an oath to a dying prospector that plunges him into a perilous adventure. At a remote box canyon in Utah, Kent must fulfill his vow and save a young woman by defeating a man called Bonesteel--the new leader of the notorious Hole-in-the-Wall Gang.

This book is a can't-put-it-down, riveting read. Paced like a whodunit mystery, the reader is whisked from one shocking chapter to the next. Though the book is written from the author's female perspective, it is also very mindful of and compassionate toward the intense pressures Mormonism puts on men and families. If you are a spiritual explorer and interested in "the rest of the story" about Mormonism, buy this book. Today.

Sundance is such a cool festival, but has changed radically over the last 10 years (and is still changing). The festival has also taken on a kind of mythical status, and as a result it can sometimes be difficult to separate the reality from the hype. Thankfully this book cuts to the chase and provides a load of info on both the festival and the city of Park City itself. If you're a filmmaker (or wanna-be), then the business section provides a useful insight into how buying and selling operates in a festival context (although I'd love to see more on this topic). The city and festival guides are certainly comprehensive, but the I think the most valuable part of the book is the collection of interviews with different people from across the industry talking about their Sundance experiences and how the festival works for them. This provides a wonderful insight into the inner workings of the festival which isn't available in any of the official literature. A great little book which will definitely make your visit to Park City a breeze!

Shery St. Germain here skillfully combines melancholy and ecstasy, hard environmental science & frank emotional discovery. "Swamp Songs" amounts to creative non-fiction as *bildungsroman* -- a portrait of the artist as a Louisiana woman. In a style enriched by poetic hooks to all manner of sensory intensity, these essays detail how Germain has escaped a family addled by drugs and argument, and the many dangerous temptations of an upbringing in and around New Orleans. Yet at the same time she dramatizes her ineradicable connections to that world, even to the fragile bayou lands and their denizens, animal, vegetable, and mineral; she neglects none of the delights her moss-scarred roots have left her with. These pieces are songs indeed, full of thought to be sure but also, more powerfully, rising and keening straight out of the blood-drenched and ever-endangered swamp-stuff within our ribs.