New Hampshire Books

This is THE book that I bring with me on any trip - I first discovered in in highschool in the 00's, I was a cheerleader then and have been re-reading it ever since. Everytime I read it and as I grow older I discover something new and identify with something about it. It truly is a fantastic read IF you ever were a high school girl, I don't imagine that many men would enjoy this novel. It is chick lit, but fantastic. I own several copies, just in case I would ever lose one!

I had never heard of this book when I picked it off the shelf at the library. I am drawn to "coming of age" stories about girls, so I was very interested to read this one.
My reaction: I was touched by this book. I went through high school in the late 90s (graduated in 1999). It never ceases to amaze me how relevant the same topics are ... boys, popularity, friendship, depression, family, expectations... decade after decade.
Why do we want to read about these things we go through? I suppose because it helps you to know you are not alone and the feelings and experiences, good or bad or in between, are universal.
While this novel may be set many decades ago, the author MacDougall did not write a dated story. The writing seems fresh to me and the tone is fairly modern. And rather than being a sentimental story, it is very matter of fact, and that is how life is (at least in my humble opinion). So anyone reading this book will benefit from it.
Lastly, I think the relevancy of Snowy's cheerleader dreams may translate into any dream a teenage girl has ...

I read this book in high school...late 70's/early 80's. I see it's been rereleased. I loved it then and recently came across it while sorting through memorabilia so read it again and still love it. A truly timeless story that any girl who remembers the social and academinc pressures of high school can relate to. A must read!!!

I have read and re-read this book, along with the subsequent ones in the series (Snowy, Henrietta Snow, and recently The Husband's Bench) and never tire of them. I grew up in the 70's, but the town where I went to high school was very much a "small town", and was the town where my mother had grown up, gone to high school and yes, been a cheerleader in the 50's. Like Snowy, my childhood home now houses a business, our high school hangout was demolished, a new high school was built, and on and on. The characters in these books are so real that I always find myself loathe to finish the book and have to leave them. Snowy, Tom, Bev, Puddles, Charl, Darl, Dudley.... I feel like all of them are my friends. I cannot recommend this book, or the rest of the series highly enough.

My aunt lent me a copy of this book when I was about 15 years old. The Cheerleader came out before I was born and 2 of my aunts loved the story, so they felt sharing it with me was appropriate. I in turn passed it on to my friends and a revival of Snowy, Tom, Puddles and Bev began. Imagine the thrill of seeing a sequel 20 years later..Snowy! And then the books that followed "the gang". I haven't enjoyed this author's other stories (outside of the "Snowy") ones nearly as much as this, but once you read The Cheerleader, be sure to follow up with the rest of them!

GREAT quality and nice story. This book is about hope and never giving up. The quality is great.

I've always enjoy Og Mandino's self-development books, both his nonfiction and fiction. The Twelfth Angel is trademark Og Mandino - it is a powerful self-development lesson taught through emotion and by example. It's a story of hope for the future, even when the future appears hopeless.

In my opinion, you don't just read an Og Mandino fiction book, you "feel" an Og Mandino book and The Twelfth Angel is no exception. He is one of my favorite self-development writers, so this review may be a bit partial.

Have you ever been through such a powerful life changing and emotionally devastating experience that you instinctively know life will never be the same again? You begin to realize that you are at an emotional fork in the road, you're either going to learn from the experience or end up wallowing in it. That's exactly what happens to the main character John Harding in The Twelfth Angel - his life is facing that powerful and often frightening life-changing fork in the road.

After the tragic loss of his wife and child in an accident, John Harding believes he is faced with the choices of either to go on living or to end it all. When it seems the bleakest, a friend comes to him asking for help. He's asked to help coach a boys little league baseball team. And slowly but surely John's life has hope and purpose once again.

We can learn so much from children. They have such an unstoppable optimism and enthusiasm. And in The Twelfth Angel, this is just what John needs in his life. This book is also about never, ever giving up. John begins to mentor Timothy Noble who is not the athletic type yet becomes one of the most important players on "The Angels" baseball team. Timothy teaches everyone about the power of possibility and persistence.

What can this well written story teach us? It teaches that life is full of purpose and wonder. You were placed on this earth to make a difference and it's up to you to find that purpose. As John discovered, with purpose you have the willpower to keep going even when the going looks impossible and hopeless.

This book is about courage, belief, hope, persistence and the power of purpose - that's how I'd summarize this powerful little story.

The Twelfth Angel is an easy read and in fact you can probably read it in a couple of days. Be prepared to read with your mind and emotions. Give yourself some quiet time to absorb the self-discovery lessons and feel the emotions these lessons can invoke.

If you decide to read The Twelfth Angel, please read with an open mind and heart because then you'll truly appreciate Og Mandino's wise lessons about the wonder of living a meaningful life.

This book just makes you want to count your blessings! I absolutely loved it!

I've read every book that Mandino has written. This was the first book that got me hooked on this author. He is a great story teller and a great motivational/inspirational writer! This is a must read for anyone over the age of 12. If all little league coaches read this book, there would be less problems with out of control coaches. This is not about baseball but about how to deal with life and how to treat people.

I have read everyone of Og Mandinos Books and all I can say is that he writes with brilliance, clarity, enthusiasm, and spirit. You can never go wrong with any of his books. He points out the path to success and motivates the spirit within to achieve all that we as human beings are capable. He helped me to tap into my innate genuis and create a life of prosperity and creativity. If you havent raed his books, start now and your journey of the spirit will begin. He was a born writer and even after his passing continues to have a great influence on many people old and young. He truly lived a purposeful and divine life. Go buy all his books and enjoy the growth and enlightenment. After that Buy my Book " Your daily Walk with the Great Minds of the Past and Present". Enjoy and rememeber you are capable of great things in your life.

If ever a book cried out to be re-released in trade paperback format, to be made available for under fifteen dollars, this is it. I browse the shelves of Target all the time (can't help it, my sister works there) and I see so many inferior works. I don't know who picks 'em and I should, as I was sort of raised in the entertainment business, but I suppose the music business and the book business are very different, but maybe they're not, because I've seen some great bands sink into oblivion for reasons that made no sense to me.

In the case of "Trutor" I see that some very reputable reviewers have reviewed it and given it high marks. So why oh why have the powers that be at MacAdam/Cage dropped the ball? I don't get it. I've been to their website, they've got gobs of books on their backlist available in trade paper. This book deserves a second life and let me tell you, if they took a chance on "Trutor", did what I said, re-released it in paper, this delightful story would fly off the shelves with only just a little bit of promotion. Because in the end it's all about the story and this is a story so sublime, so engrossing, with characters quaint and quirky, who will live on in your imagination long after you've put the book on the shelf.

You know, dear reader, this could be a chance for you to cast a positive vote for something with your pocketbook. Put "Trutor and the Balloonist" in your shopping cart and take it to the check out. I know it's expensive for a book that's been around since the last millennium and I know it's not being discounted, but it's worth the price, really it is.

Reviewed by Stephanie Sane

A long time ago, when Johnny Carson, Truman Capote and Jacqueline Susanne were still alive, Truman and Jackie were guests on the Tonight Show. Truman was first, talked about one of his books, I don't remember which one. He did his bit, told a few jokes, they went to commercial, then Jackie came out. She was promoting her new book, THE LOVE MACHINE, but before she got a chance to say anything, Truman piped up with something like:

"When I start to read a good book, I might spend an hour on the first paragraph, longer if it's really good. I can take up to a week on a fair book, a month on a good book and a really good book could take me up to a year, as I savor every word, enjoy every thought." Then he turned to Jackie and said, "I read THE LOVE MACHINE in twenty minutes."

The audience burst out laughing, Johnny too, Jackie as well. She was a good sport. And you know, I liked her book, but Jackie's book isn't the subject of this review, Debbie Lee's is and if she would have been on that show way back then, instead of Jackie, and if she'd've handed a copy of TRUTOR AND THE BALLONIST off to Truman, he wouldn't have had enough time left in his life to finish it.

Mr. Capote graced this planet for many years after that and he'd've spent many a long night savoring and enjoying this book, only to pass away without knowing whether or not Michele Trutor finishes her biography of Caroline. He would've gone to his maker wondering if Debbie Lee's batch of humorous and very real misfits ever come to terms with her, her life, her forgeries. He'd've missed out on Halloween in Derbysville, on Roberta's not so very good meals, on riddles that will tickle any mystery lover, on oh so much that this book has to offer.

They would have shoveled an unfulfilled Truman into the ground with one of Debbie Lee's riddles still pinging around in a brain that would have refused to die. Truman's ghost would have become legendary, haunting the library nearest to where he expired, refusing to cross over to the other side, still wanting to savor each and every sentence in this masterpiece of a novel.

Well you know what, I've read Truman Capote. He was a masterful writer, a dealer in prose extraordinaire, and I'm telling you now and I'm telling you true, Truman would have loved this book as much as I do, as much as you will if you give it a chance.

Debbie Wesselman write another book!

I enjoyed the eccentric New England characters in 'Trutor and the Balloonist' but the real magic existed in the detailed painting of words that described New England. Like a jewel colored painting of autumn leaves New England shines bright in the pages of 'Trutor and the Balloonist'. Filled with wonderful writing that was perfection. Some writers' give an air that is above the reader but Debbie Wesselman invites you into this eccentric world with her words.

At first you think this is just another story of a woman escaping a terrible relationship but then the story turns to the one character that has no direct words in the book: Caroline Wharton. So much of the character development of Caroline Wharton is second hand and that was compelling. What a wonder device to use with a character that is the object of everyone's obsession and she never speaks directly to us.

I could tell you all about the book but since it's a mystery you should read it yourself. Debbie Wesselman takes you on an intriguing journey of theft, fraud, lies, and self-discovery while her characters Trutor and the Balloonist search their own hearts for personal peace. You'll find it all in this book: art, wonderful characters, riddles of life, and a character that you too will be come obsessed.

I got the distinct feeling Caroline Wharton existed in more than Debbie Wesselman's book. Usually that longing need to know more doesn't exist in a lot of fictional characters. Debbie Wesselman tells us just enough to want more.

girldiver:)

I stumbled upon this title and after savoring the final chapters, not wanting it to end, I feel incredibly lucky. This novel has everything I crave: Plot, mystery, well-drawn, eccentric characters, RIDDLES, history, art, lyrical and descriptive prose. I was transported to New England while following the unfolding story of Caroline Wharton as discovered by the somewhat reluctant biographer, Michelle Trutor.

Through her main character, Debbie Lee Wesselmann paints Trutor's subject as an "intellectual enigma" and the owner of souls. As she unravels the "sticky web" left behind by Caroline, a woman who committed suicide and virtually imprisoned her family (the "Balloonist," Arthur, and his twin brother, Proctor, and their niece, Roberta) in a former mortuary, she offers riddles that one can't help but try to solve before reading further. The clever riddles pull you through this fascinating story of complicated relationships.

Because of a convoluted will and a watchful attorney, Trutor was the only one who had access to the clues Caroline had left behind, which included her personal journals. I particularly enjoyed the journal entries, which intimately portray the creative and multifarious soul that was Caroline Wharton. My favorite entry: "I spent hours reading today here in the Botanical Gardens before I felt the need to write myself: the small leap from someone else's words to my own like a garden shading from lavender to deep purple."

Deep purple indeed. This novel deserves the royal treatment and my highest recommendation.

Michele Cozzens, Author of A Line Between Friends and The Things I Wish I'd Said.

Debbie Lee Wesselmann has written a masterful novel. One so full of riddles and subterfuge, you wonder how such an imagination could come to be. This author has it all, intellect, superb mastery of the written page, and a keen insight into the workings of the kind of mind that you or I could not even imagine.

Michelle Trutor comes to New Hampshire to escape a life of physical and mental abuse. She loves "Ted" so, but she knows if she stays with him in their home in Boston she will surely die. The life of an abused woman is brought to life in this novel. We can surely understand what keeps a woman in the throes of such a man. Trutor as she likes to be called is going to be an assistant to help the man she calls the Balloonist and his family reclaim their rightful dues. In the process Trutor brings to life many of he secrets that have been kept hidden by Caroline. Caroline, the wily sister of the Balloonist and Proctor. Into this household come many strange people, some of them relatives, some of them looking for no-good and some of them wanting it all for themselves. All of the charscters in this novel stand alone in the depth of their intellect and surprising insights. Trutor alone, however, begins to grasp what the riddles are really about. The trips to Boston, Portsmouth, Oxford, the Colony all bring to fruition the reality of what Caroline's life has wrought. And, Trutor also delivers the best of people. We find in this strange household and town many loving and helpful strangers. Trutor is the heroine and she must, yes, she must have the Balloonist has her, well, I don't know ,maybe her lover? There are so many twists and turns in this novel I can't and won't betray any of the secrets. They are mine to keep. I helped solve them in my reading, AHA, you must read this also to find out what really happens, what is Caroline really up to? Why was she so strange and unloving?

A novel to bring you to laughter and to tears. Yes, Elvis Has Not Left The Building!
Heartily recommended. prisrb

It took them 30 years but they are back together again, all grown up, married, widowed, divorced and grown children. They find their way back together again. A must have it you have read The Cheerleader and Snowy.

A real keeper. You won't want to let anyone borrow your copy! I couldn't wait to read this and it was totally enjoyable. Snowy is as real as your best girlfriend in high school. I feel like I know every one of these people. The descriptions of ordinary day to day events is Ruth Doan Macdougall's forte. Make sure you read the other tow books of the trilogy first and you won't want to put any of them down. I read each of them again and again.

I have been a long-time lover of The Cheerleader and Snowy and have been waiting for this third book of the series. When I clicked on Amazon this morning to find a new book to read and saw that this was available, I just about flipped, lol. I didn't hesitate to order and now cannot WAIT until it arrives to see what Snowy, Bev, Puddles and the rest of the gang are up to next!!

Like all Ruth Doan MacDougall's other books, HENRIETTA SNOW is a delicious page turner. It would not be fair to readers to give away any of the plot twists and turns of the third book in MacDougall's trilogy (HENRIETTA SNOW follows SNOWY, which in turn follows THE CHEERLEADER), but as MacDougall's heroine Snowy and the people in her life advance all too quickly toward late-middle age, we are impressed once again by MacDougall's strong and abiding sense of place, her meticulous writer's craft, her evocative descriptions, and her encyclopedic attention to detail. MacDougall has been compared to Jane Austen. The comparison is sound; for both, it's all in the gossipy details of what makes people tick.

I am a huge fan of THE CHEERLEADER, so I naturally approach its sequels with a combination of excitement and trepidation -- and I was astounded by how much I loved HENRIETTA SNOW. It is an *amazing* book! We get to spend lots of time with the characters we fell in love with in THE CHEERLEADER: Bev, Tom, Dudley, Puddles -- they're all here, in great and glorious detail, as well as the Twins, Rita, Joanne . . . everyone! (Diane Morrissette! Norm Noyes!) Oh! And Harriet, too! This is a CHEERLEADER fan's dream book, answering almost every "What if...?" and "What ever happened to...?" question we could have had. But more than just an extended reunion with characters I adore, the story itself is fabulous -- I laughed, I sobbed, I was on the edge of my seat, and, at about 1:00 a.m., when it became clear that I was not going to be able to put this book down until I'd read every word, I cursed Ruth Doan MacDougall for being so darned addictive!!! It is simply a marvelous book, and I can't wait to forget it a little bit so that I can read it all over again (and probably stay up all night this time as well -- darn you, Mrs. MacDougall!). What a great and wonderful treat for people like me, who've loved Snowy for decades now. I can't praise this book highly enough.

I had to laugh during the authors' intro when he gave a story in regard to the man that was doing a bio on Col.Cross. Suddenly this author realized that in fact Cross represented about everything this prospective author despised. As if Col. Cross(devil blast him),had just destroyed this particular authors' Civil War Fantasy Camp.Boys in blue,freeing the slaves to overjoyous, tearful,thankful mobs of blacks and white abolitionists.A smiling Lincoln with a "Go Union" pennant.Mom.God and apple pie for the the North!!
This book greatly lets down candy cotton unionists. Cross comes across as a very unadimirable yet real person. Some of his antics in regard to troop discipline would make Patton blush?As you read the book you have to wonder if maybe Cross wasn't taken down by fragging and the heroic tale of his death in the Wheatfield made up to appease someones'conscience. The 5th New Hampshire comes across in the book as "Hard Core" Army and they couldn't have cared less if they met the superficial standards for the "Billy Yank" action figure of a certain political persuasion of which I'm unsure of. Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition for these type soldiers.The author gives alot of human interest stories in regard to some of the individual soldiers of the fifth.
These men fought primarily because they believed in the "union" of the states and they saw the southern states as in rebellion.Once again the slavery issue takes a back seat(or even no seat) although the fighting fifth was in no way in sympathy with the "peculiar institution".The book reminds me of a "nuts and bolts" version of the Red Badge of Courage.Mechanics,farmers,students,old and young with a love for family and country all changed by the experience of war,willing to do all that's necessary to end it.

It seems to me that this book does not /quite/ reach the level of a great regimental history (what about the "reborn" fifth regimental history?). It seems to be much closer to a biography of Cross primarily, and a regimental history second. I have a copy of Child's 1893 regimental history, and it has far more detailed information about the regiment, and a pretty good overview about Cross as well.

My Brave Boys is readable, and seems quite solidly based, but reading the other reviews left me a bit befuddled - I didn't come away thinking it was as great a book as others seem to find. Your mileage may vary...

With "My Brave Boys," authors Mike Pride and Mark Travis have set a new standard for throwing compelling illumination on a slice of the American Civil War. There've been sweeping works on the subject, military analyses, biographies and all the rest But the real untold story has been the war's impact on small communities, states and the men from them. Until now. Pride and Travis have turned their considerable journalistic skills -- both work at the Concord(NH) Monitor -- toward history, putting what amounts to a local news story in broader context. The result is highly readable, meticulously reported book. "My Brave Boys" should appeal to historical researchers, students of the Civil War and those with a more casual interest who just like a good yarn well-told. The media impact on the war and the men fighting it as told through New Hampshire newspaper editorials and accounts is an intriguing sidelight. We who grew up with Vietnam coming into our living rooms each night may appreciate more the ways in which war is brought home. For Americans, the Civil War was the first conflict to be so graphically displayed in word and picture to the general audience -- via newspapers and magazines such as Harper's Weekly. The authors have not ducked tough issues, such as the rampant racism and ethnic bias of the times. No sugar-coating of history here. The story of the 5th New Hampshire is haunting and so very human. It is a story of tragedy and triumph. And strikes a chord that continues to echo in our collective memory yet today.

I've read what seems like a ton of books on the Civil War. It seems that there must be nothing left to learn, but of course that's not true, there's more. Two newspapermen from Concord, New Hampshire, are the latest entrants in the Civil War history competition, and their book, My Brave Boys: To War with Colonel Cross & the Fighting Fifth, is one of the best Civil War regimental histories ever written. It's amazingly well researched, wonderfully authentic, and well-enough written I was sorry it ended.

The Colonel Cross of the title was Edward E. Cross, a newspaperman from New Hampshire who had worked on newspapers in Ohio and Arizona before the war started. He was an American party member (the "Know-Nothings") and something of a bigot, but very strong-minded on the subject of the preservation of the Union. When the Civil War began, he immediately returned to New Hampshire, and through political connections was given command of the state's Fifth regiment. He immediately recruited as many experienced soldiers as he could, turned them into drillmasters, and began to transform his crowd of farmers and townsmen into soldiers.

The training paid off. In its first fight, the regiment acted as if it were composed of veterans, and the authors make it clear that it didn't lose this composure until long after Cross' death at Gettysburg, when it was weakened by draftees (from other states even!) who didn't want to fight, and weren't properly trained. The heart of the book follows the regiment through its baptism of fire in the Seven Days, the Second Bull Run campaign, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, and Gettysburg, where as I said, Cross was killed. The narrative keeps you apprised of the course of the battle well enough that you understand the context of the regiment's actions and the opinions of the participants, without bogging down, and the battles themselves are recreated here as well as it's ever been done. The authors have, through contacts they have in the state, found several people who have collections of letters from participants to relatives back home. These give the narrative an immediacy and authenticity that might otherwise have been lacking.

Lastly, the maps are gorgeous. This is the sort of thing that's difficult to do in a book like this, and often you're presented with a blurry recreation of something from the era, overburdened with detail and almost illegible. The authors made a happy choice in allowing Charlotte Thibault, who's apparently the newsroom illustrator at the paper they both work at, to draw the maps. She's done a marvelous job: they convey the situation in the battles, and the Fifth's position and actions in the fighting, while being clear and easy to understand.

Pride and Travis have produced one of the best books on the Civil War in a good while. It'll be interesting to see if they have anything else up their sleeves.

"From the beginning, the story of the Fifth was not merely a war story, but mainly a human story," write Mike Pride and Mark Travis in their superb new book about the exploits of New Hampshire's legendary "Fighting Fifth" Regiment in the Civil War. In fact, it is the humsn dimension of their narrative that so distingishes it among Civil War accounts. Their extensive research into town and state archives, period news accounts, memoirs, and little-known letters takes them well beyond a catalogue of dates and skirmishes. Piecing together their sources to construct the unfolding events of the Fifth's experience, the authors give us rich insights into the personalities and thoughts of Colonel Cross and his men, showing us what war actually felt like to its participants from battle to battle, and from day to day. Not that war-making is this book's only subject. Some of its most affecting passages are from the letters written by soldiers to the wives and families they have left behind. In one striking chapter, the authors relate the surprising pronouncements the men of the Fifth made against the very blacks they were fighting to emancipate. While there is plenty to satisfy the student of the Civil War in the Fifth's story, told here for the first time, you don't have to be a Civil War buff to enjoy this volume. I'm not one myself; yet the fully developed characters and dramatic descriptions of events on the battlefield had me turning pages entranced. It's a wonderful book.

Allen Schoen has written a Gem---This book is packed full of interesting and usable material. I have it on my List of Recommended reading for my students!

I read this book years ago. My husband purchased this book for me, when my elderly dog was nearing the end of her journey. You can not imagine the $$ I spent on my Dog. This book taught me more about life and love then any I have ever read. I have given this book as a gift many times.

Allen Schoen and Pam Proctor bring us a rich, detailed spectrum of ways in which love, intuition and complementary/ alternative therapies can help animals small and large. This book is rich in anecdotes and reports of healings on physical, psychological and spiritual levels for animals with these approaches after conventional veterinary care had exhausted its potentials to help. Schoen integrates acupuncture, homeopathy and herbal remedies in his practice.

This is a truly wholistic book, addressing body, emotions, mind, relationships and spirit - both of the animals who were helped and of their owners.

Schoen illustrates his work with many heartwarming stories of his challenges and adventures with animals and their owners.

A typical example is Schoen's description of how he nursed a wild hawk who was paralyzed from the neck down following injuries from a power line. Schoen found ways to tame and heal this wary creature so that it could recover, eventually returning to his wilderness home. As with many of his animal patients, Schoen found himself learning and growing in the process of his ministrations.

" ...no creature can remain forever closed to the healing power of love. I knew that if I could establish an intimate relationship with a bird of prey, I could communicate with any animal, no matter how distant or fearsome it might appear to be. All I would need was a sensitivity of spirit, a willingness to open myself nonjudgmentally to a dimension of reality where feathers, fur, skin, scales, or hair are stripped away - and where the only language is love.

"Hawkeye had his freedom, and now I had mine. He had given me my wings, and I was ready to soar." (p. 71)

This is an excellent book for anyone interested in learning about ways of healing that extend beyond conventional veterinary care.

I am twelve years old, and have great dreams of being a vet some day. I always like to read vet books, and when I found this one at the library I was amazed, it look awsome. I read it, and thought it was even better. I am now looking to purchase a copy, one for me, and one for Nina,(a friend of mine) and one for Kendra(another friend). I think that this is an awsome book, and if you haven't read it you should.
Allan tells wonderful tales of his life as a vet, and the absured treatments that he used. Nothing was too absured, he even untwisted the cow when he couldn't untwist the uterous! He also uses acupuncture and Chinese medicine.
I don't have a pet:(, but if I did I would want a vet like Allan to take care of it for me.

A mixture of tender stories and practical advice. I've read the book many times and with each reading, I'm always moved to try a little harder to communicate with my pets. Great book. Wish I had a vet like this.

This book is about the author's first home purchase in Nelson, N.H. May Sarton does an excellent job telling about her first home purchase by herself, living alone in a small town, the joys and therapies of gardening. If you have never read May Sarton and you are a lover of reading, writing and solitude, you must read this author.

This was the first May Sarton book I read. I admit I had never heard of her and am not sure where I picked the book up. I now own a few of her works and will be buying more. This is a wonderful look at the life of a writer, a woman, who buys an older home in an isolated area, and starts a new chapter in her life. She immerses herself in the solitude in order to write, and to bring together different aspects of her life. The title is very appropriate as she talks a lot about gardening and plants AND dreams and hopes. I have passed this on to a friend to enjoy.

I don't know who reads May Sarton nowadays (hopefully at least students are still imbibing) for hers is a chosen art beholden to stillness and its plenitude, and we know the short shrift given to reflection in an oversized disposable culture. I do know that everything she's written holds magical lessons for every writer - her poems and journals are steeped in subtle lessons of patience, fearlessness and conscience. Plant Dreaming Deep (a title intended both as admonition and hopeful reflection) is a masterpiece. Part memoir, journal, survival guide, it's a kind of holy book for seekers searching the scrub of rocks and weeds. Sarton's intrepid gift has always been to secure for us the infinite contained in the small and unnoticed, to plant within the careful reader a kind of loving understanding to bloom unexpectedly farther on down the road, easing the load even as it deepens the search. Above all else, hers is an enlightening art that cannot lead astray. Quietly artful black and white photographs (of house and garden and friends - most by Lotte Jacobi and Eleanor Blair) are among the treasure found in the 1983 Norton paperback edition I own. Sarton's voice never fails; it's always rich and reasonable and true. It's easy to surmise that she's a overlooked writer, but if you really want what you're looking for, read May Sarton. Once born inside you, she's faithful to the end.

When you need to take a deep breath and destress, pick up this book. Sarton has a rich understanding of the rhythm of nature and lives often in harmony with it...and she will inspire you to do the same.

This is the first May Sarton book I ever read.

In this journal Sarton describes buying and moving into an 18th century broken-down house on thirty-six acres in a small New Hampshire village.

She chronicles for us the many varied emotions and pressures involved with getting the house repaired and renovated to her liking.

She describes moving in and then adapting (both as a writer and as a human being) to the solitude of living there alone.

She describes her relationships with many of the people (some of whom are unusual characters) that she comes to know living in Nelson.

She does very well in communicating all the sensory impressions that she experienced living right in the heart of nature and the outdoors.

I read it a chapter a day so that I could allow it to sink in slowly.

All chapters seemed well-paced (and not too long nor too short) and I didn't get bored anywhere along the way.

As a writer Sarton seems to have a nice gentle natural writing style.

I liked this (my first Sarton book) so much that I intend to read much more of her work.

I recommend this journal to you.

I have three books in my cabin. The Holy Bible, The Complete Walker, and The White Mountain Guide. They are all you need.

You may rail against some of the trail descriptions after finishing a bruising hike that had not been described as such in the Guide.Many breathtaking views are described matter-of-factly. Still, no serious New England hiker, beginner or fanatic, should be without the AMC's White Mountain Guide. It is unmatched for thoroughness and save for a few gaffes, accuracy. Moreover, unlike the also fine "50 Hikes" series by Backcountry Publications or "New England Hiking" by Michael Lanza, the AMC Guide leaves enough unsaid to allow for the best kind of discovery - your own on the trail. There is more than adequate information, though, for planning and safety. I have only two complaints stemming from unfortunate changes made in the most recent addition: (1) the book is larger and no longer fits neatly into a backpack - an odd choice for a hiking book; (2) southern New Hampshire hikes, many fine half day choices, are now covered in a separate book, the "Southern New Hampshire Trail Guide." Despite the AMC's tinkering with what wasn't broken, the AMC Guide still serves the N.H. White Mountain hiker better than any other book.

I just returned from my first trip to the White Mountains, and this book was the best thing I took with me. I stuck to day-hikes only, and found the information in the book to be the most helpful guide I had. The beginning gives an overview of the region, and tips for anyone planning to hike in the White Mountains. I'm glad I bought the book before I arrived, so I was able to make sure I had the necessary equipment to keep me safe and comfortable on my hikes. Experienced hikers may not need the advice, but novice hikers and those not accustomed to the perils of hiking above the treeline will appreciate it.

The rest of the book is devoted to trail descriptions. Lots of them. Although I carried the book and the maps with me on every hike, I found the information was most useful when I was planning my hikes. Once I found the trails (with the help of the guide), they were so well marked that I didn't need to consult the maps. I also used the maps throughout my trip, even when I wasn't hiking. I didn't need to purchase a road map since everything I needed was included.

After I had hiked a trail or two, I learned to "interpret" the descriptions, and figure out what would be the challenging sections of trails. The description of the first hike I choose didn't sound too tough, but I found myself hanging onto a boulder with only one hand and calling my husband back to help me. The description of this section is simply: "leaving the trees, it climbs over open rocks.." There are a few trails that come with serious cautions, such as the paragraph devoted to the Huntington Ravine Trail on the side of Mt. Washington.

The one odd thing lacking from the book is the fact that AMC operates shuttles that can take hikers down from the summit of Mt. Washington (for a fee, and providing the summit isn't closed to auto traffic). I descended on foot, but it seems strange that an AMC book overlooks an AMC service, especially since all of the other AMC operations are mentioned.

The book has a few suggested hikes for each area of the White Mountains, broken down into easy, moderate, and hard. Since this was my first visit, I stuck to these trails. I found them all to be enjoyable.

I can't wait to return, for more hiking. This book makes it possible. Anyone going to the area should purchase it prior to arriving, and keep it handy at all times.

i actually read this book for fun. my copy is extremely dogeared and annotated. it is my guide to life.

This is indeed the bible of White Mountains hiking, and is particularly recommended for anyone attempting a multi-day hike and/or a hike above treeline. Not much I can add to what others have said, except that for casual hikes and dayhikes you should really check out White Mountains Map Book of New Hampshire and Maine (Hiking Maps and Guides) by Steve Bushey, Angela Faeth (Illustrator), Steve Smith (Editor), which has a superb map and brief descriptions of the most popular day trails.

We bought this map to replace one that is many, many years old. Retired now, it's a must for exploring all the fishing holes located in the area. We live off the "beaten path" and know there's so much more to explore and look forward to it every day. This atlas is a definate must have for anyone looking for "real living" outside of the cities.

Great Atlas. A must for those who still like to know where they are going the old fashioned way - maps.

I have one for every state I have lived in or visit on a regular basis. They are a must for anyone traveling off the beaten path.

I highly recommend this atlas book. It has large maps, easy to use symbols, it loaded with colors and highly useful and interesting information. This atlas depicts all roads both big and small and tons of other useful information. It's nice to to look at different areas and discover new routes and attractions. I'm going leave this one in the car for all around reference and driving assistance when in a pinch.

I always buy a Gazatteer when going hiking in a new state. The New Hampshire version is as helpful as the other states that I have. I like the trail detail and the elevation markings.

This was probably one of the most suspenseful books I've ever read, and once I got into it, I couldn't put it down. Despite the fact that I figured out Colin's partner early on, and how creepy the book was thanks to Colin, this one's a definite don't miss!

This is my first book by Wainscott and it won't be my last. This book just gave me the creeps; I can't imagine what it would be like to be stalked by someone as crazy as Colin Masters and not be able to prove it. I was surprised in the end about who his partner was; I had guessed wrong. Well worth reading, I couldn't put it down. Oh, and make sure your doors are locked before you start reading!

Excellent book, suspenseful, a definite page turner. This book is among the many well written books by Tina Wainscott. I have read several books by her, and absolutely loved each one. Tina Wainscott has become one of my favorite authors. I cannot get enough of her books. Her stories are filled with mystery, and the twists and turns keep you guessing. Highly recommend "Until The Day You Die," and all of her other books. Received in perfect condition, and quick and easy transaction.

Maggie believes she had a normal life. Her relationship with County Attorney, Marcus Antonelli was made even better as he understood and had a good relationship with her son, Lucas. Then her sister Dana confides to Maggie that she is being stalked and fears for her life. After brutal physical and emotional assaults, Dana's misery ends. When her case came to trial and it appeared Colin will escape justice, Maggie 'stretched the truth' and positively identifies Colin as the man she saw leaving her sister's home. But as the saying goes, lies come back to haunt.

Dana wasn't the first 'pet' Colin Masters had stalked and she wouldn't be the last as he was proud of his skills. But first, Dana's sister Maggie must pay for interfering. Having Aidan nearby for protection would not save her.

I hesitated on reading the story as the blurb expressed such a dark plot. By chapter 3 I was pulled into the story trusting that Ms Wainscott would not leave me crying in the end. Using a predictable criminal profile with some unexpected plot twists, this story continues to intrigue until the end. Wringing a wide range of emotions viewing various relationships from Maggie's perspective, the author pulls it all together in the end, showing the true meaning of ROMANTIC suspense. In a style that Alfred Hitchcock would approve, this psychological thriller introduces believable characters in horrific circumstances and still concludes with positive elements of justice and Happily-Ever-After.

Reviewed by Cy Korte
For eBOOKISLE

I had not read any books by Tina Wainscott. I grabbed this just from the back cover writing. It was scary and creepy. I tried to read it at night but had to stop because I was getting the creeps.

Maggie's sister is being stalked. No one believes it and Maggie isnt sure she does either. When her sister is brutally attacked....she becomes a believer. Maggie gets involved...too involved and the stalker begin to bite away slowly at Maggies life. First her mother, her job, her friends and finally her son.

I dont want to spoil any surprises but if you are a single women living alone...read it in the day time!