Idaho Books

This is a hefty 450 pages full of both Psalms and Hymns.

The Psalms are divided into: musical style-metrical (for beginners), chant (Gregorian and Anglican), and through-composed (actual Psalm text rather than a metrical version).

The hymns have five categories: Sacraments, Festivals, Adoration, Supplication, and Evening Hymns.

But wait, there's more! Louis Shuler gives an excellent overview on musical style, Douglas Wilson writes an essay on why we need to be singing good solid Psalms and hymns and not repetitive trite songs.

At the back of the book are all sorts of ways to find the song you are looking for: Alphabetical by Title and First Line, Alphabetical by Tunes, Metrical Index of Tunes, Index of Authors, Composers, and Sources, Chronological Index of Hymn Tunes. In other words, if you can't find it, you don't know what you're looking for.

There is a nice mix of old familiar, but sound and then there is the really old. If you are looking to improve your singing and improve your choice of songs, this is a great hymnal.

Great book shows the life and times of early Idaho residents and the improvements that have been made in their life. I fell in love with these people.

Children of Grace is one of those books that tells a story to which most of us have never been exposed. Certainly, we learn early and often about our conflicts with the Souix and Cheyenne, but not the Nez Perce. These are the people that helped Lewis and Clark. How then did we end up fighting them?

Bruce Hampton clearly shows the circumstances and humiliations that ultimately lead the Nez Perce to hit the warpath. One of the most revealing aspects of the ensuing conflict is that the U.S. Army's defeat by the Nez Perce as White Bird Canyon was as devastating as the Little Bighorn or the Fetterman Massacre. And yet how many of us, outside of Idaho, have heard of the battle fought at White Bird Canyon?? Sounds like a great script for a John Ford classic.(Maybe other reviewers can point out if this conflict has been made it onto film.)

Bruce Hampton brings to life an incredible journey undertaken by the Nez Perce as they pass through a huge area pursued by three separate U.S. Army commands. It's an incredible American story and one that is well worth the knowing.

You may have heard of Chief Joseph's famous quote, "...I will fight no more forever." Read this excellent volume to find out why this legendary figure of the American West said these words.

Although this book was written in 1872 is is full of very practical gardening ideas. Its focus is the style of gardening known as the Cottage Garden. and informal planting of all manner of plants, not formal beds. In addition it is a pleasure to listen to the voice of long ago.

A fascinating view of how a culture evolves when it bumps head-on with a far different, "more advanced" culture. In my journey into the Nez Perce culture, I've come to greatly appreciate Deward Walker's interest in the Nez Perce. He's an easy writer to understand and I like the way he grounds the reader by giving them a view of the aboriginal culture. I like the level of detail he uses because it makes the culture real to me, a layman. I'm going to be looking for more of his studies.

I have read this book and it is a diary of a woman who discovers herself while also becoming the first woman to complete this trek. She is an amazing spirit and everyone who meets her falls completely in love with that spirit. She is an inspiration to all who ever doubt themselves, to let go of the bad thoughts and go with the good in you and you shall succeed. Long story short ----- Worth the read.

When you finish this book I believe you will feel a link to Dave Lewis. A great tribute to one of the last real mountian men. Makes you wish you could have met him

A little mystery, a little fantasy, and a moral.Any little girl that likes horses, will love these sweet stories. Ages 8-11

I first read the "Crystal Blake" series in fifth grade, when they were available in our school's monthly book club order. I ended up getting the whole series through that and probably the Christian bookstore, except for number 2 which I bought here. I'm really glad it was available, allowing me to complete my set after 13 years! This series will appeal to girls who love horses. The characters are convincing, funny, and the stories are entertaining. They are quick reads but the stories stick with you. At least they did for me. They are some of my favorite reading memories. If your daughters like to read something with a little romance, these have it, but it is very age appropriate, and not the whiny, melodramatic stuff so prevalent on teen shows. These teen characters don't try to be adults, but they aren't immature either -- they make mistakes in realistic ways, but know when to rely on adults for help. I highly recommend this entire series.

How was Hugo as a murder mystery writer? Excellent, in my view. While teaching at Montana, Hugo served with excellent mystery writer James Crumley, and the latter may have provided some impetus and inspiration to Hugo. 'Death and the Good Life' is a quick-paced read, one filled with the veridical wisdom we have come to appreciate so much in Hugo's poetry. While weaving an intriguing mystery, Hugo's characters leave us with several memorable, if not haunting, lines: "As long as we can keep the working classes under surveillance, we will survive" (74); or, "... and it was like a lot of other American towns -- junky. The usual monuments of something that may, given the peculiarity of history, come to be called civilization" (128); while lines like "We sat and looked at the ocean spilling all its secrets to a world that didn't care" (134) remind us of his poems, 'Beachthieves' and 'Alki Beach.' In sum, Hugo's only novel is full of enough action and surprizes that grip the reader's attention right through to the surprizing end.