Idaho Books

One of the best dear america books yet! There was really a special way this beautiful novel touched how I felt, especially the realisticly childish, yet wonderful way, that this author wrote this young Italian girl's diary. When disaster hits Theresa's traveling family, I felt as of this actually happened to me. My other favorite dear america books were: voyage on the great titanic, for a nice, long, and detailed read, one eye laughing, the other weeping is for a nice, sad, story, and dreams in the golden country for lots of info on Jewish culture, and a great read. across the wide and lonesome prarie and the great railroad race are also GRRRReat reads!!!!!
My name is Nykkie, and i am 11 yrs. old, so get out there and read dear america, a FUN way to learn history!

I found the Dear America series when I was in the fifth grade. Although I stopped reading them a long time ago, I still love them and think of them a lot. They are the PERFECT books for young girls, especially if they like history like I do. The journals makes them personal and the characters are relatable even though they lived long before us. My favorite thing about the Dear America series is that it takes famous moments in history (the Titanic, Oregon Trail, Pearl Harbor), but they also do times and events that aren't so well known to young girls like facoty girls or coal mines. I also love the epilogues, they complete the story.

The story of Teresa Angelino Viscardi is no acception. This and Coal Miner's Bride were and are my favorites of the series. It isn't just another "Oregon Trail" story. The charcaters face danger and yet there is happiness as well. I highly recommend this book and the entire Dear America series to any young girl.

Dear America is a great series of historical fiction books. I love historical fiction because you can learn history without even knowing it. All the Dear Americas are good, but some may want to pass this addition up.
Teresa Viscardi and her Italian immigrant family of her father, mother, sister, grandmother, uncle, aunt, and cousin. They previously lived in New York City, but Teresa's father decides they should move out west to Idaho along with many others to found a utopia to be named "Opportunity." Teresa likes New York, and complains about leaving. Teresa also often complains of how much her family agitates her, especially her pesky little sister Netta, who makes corrections and gives her opinion on Teresa's grammar in the diary. But then, tragedy strikes the entire family on the trail, and Teresa realizes how invaluable family really is.
Although some of the book was interesting, the action often lagged and the writing style was droning on and on monotonously. Teresa was likable, yet you sometimes felt distant from her. Plus I hated the epilogue.
West to a Land of Plenty was a passable entry in Dear America, yet I suggest you try two other similar, better books in the Dear America series about westward expansion; Across the Wide and Lonesome Prairie, and All the Stars in the Sky.

Leave behind your possessions, home, friends, and family. Has that ever been asked of you? The reality of her situation is realized by Teresa Viscardi. When her father and uncle decide that it is best for their families to leave their homes in New York's Little Italy, they travel to Idaho to start their new lives. Jim Murphy who wrote West to a Land of Plenty incorporates colorful characters like Teresa's sister, mother, father, and grandmother. They all help each other on the way to their new homes. While on the road to Idaho, Teresa and her family not only meet new people, but also face sickness and death. They learn to cope with loss in many different ways. This book is really interesting because it is in the form of a diary and if you love historical fiction, definitely put this book on your to read list. I highly recommend West to a Land of Plenty.

Very exciting story about a girl and her Italian-American family's train ride to the Idaho Territory. I enjoyed reading about Teresa and her large family. They seemed very realizic especially the nosy little sister.

Wow, I guess I'm in the minority here, because I thought this excerpt was a disaster from beginning to end.

The opening scene at the auction is not exciting enough to capture me with plot, as all they are doing is watching an auction and though the hero and heroine are sitting right next to each other, there's little that draws me into their attraction. The writing is also stilted and repetitive - most of the sentences are neither compound nor complex, and nearly every one begins with a simple subject - often the same one. (A paragraph where Tracy actually does notice James has the following words as its opening sallies: She, She, But, The, She.) Paired with the dull plot, the repetitive, simplistic writing grated on me.

Things picked up for a while when we moved into James' perspective - he's in motion and he has the complications of children. But when I hit this sentence, it was all over: "She's the prettiest filly you ever saw, Jax." Seriously? That's the way he talks?

There's a lack of urgency between Tracy and James that can cause problems in the manuscript. The only connection they have right now is that he's repairing a saddle she bought. This is a pretty low-stakes venture, and given that she's about to head out whitewater rafting (a trip for which she has not yet bought any supplies?), I can't see them being thrown together any more forcefully. This leaves them, essentially, to start dating, a relationship that will easily lead to a dull read. The most successful romances don't have to involve danger, but they do need to give the hero and heroine a situation in which they *must* get to know each other, and this casual acquaintance is unlikely to blossom into that.

When I saw the high ratings attributed to this excerpt, I settled in for an enticing read. Unfortunately, I was disappointed. The characterization, in particular, was weak, and there was nothing unique about either Tracey Goodwin or Jim James. They were static characters falling in love for no reason I could see.

Phrases such as "the man with the ageless face" and "riding like a wild thing" fall flat as far as description, and the italicized paragraph at the beginning of Chapter Two (about James' guilt) was unnecessary. The author should work on showing the characters' personalities in BEST IN THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD, rather than telling the reader what the characters are thinking and feeling.

Do the characters have any interesting quirks or idiosyncrasies? What makes them more interesting than every other pair of people in the "WHOLE WIDE WORLD"?

Natalie, I so enjoyed your excerpt of Best in the Whole Wide World--not only because of your obvious skill as a writer--but because I love horses and the outdoors. I love the way James compares Tracy to a shy, but spirited filly. People, who spend a lot of time around horses, training them or working with them, tend to think in `horse terms'. I completely understood where James was coming from with his references.

Your opening chapter drew me in immediately. Your characters are believable and products of their world. James strikes me as a quiet man, a bit unsure of himself being single again. Very realistic inner conflicts and something a reader can identify with in today's world. Many readers, like your characters, are starting over; either due to divorce or death. I like the fact that your main characters aren't 20, but have lived life some. It allows for more inner conflict in both James and Tracy--they are unsure of each other, themselves, and with love in general. I also like the fact you highlight that falling in love is wonderful--and problematic, regardless of age. Tracy is drawn to this sexy, but quiet, old fashion man. A steady man of strength. Of course she is attracted; but then to see him wearing a ring? Hmm, I can see trouble ahead. What fun.

You paint a clear picture of your two main characters. They have layers and are believable. Your secondary characters are also well defined. There's a good blend of dialog and action. You give us a view of how they talk and think. Since we don't think or converse in perfect English, our characters, if they are to be real, must be the same. We use slang, drop our endings, use some clichés, and use the colloquiums of the area we live in. Nice job with that representation with your characters. You have defined both the inner conflicts and external conflicts. Your story has a nice pace and flows smoothly. What I was able to read kept my interest and pulled me forward.

I appreciate that you don't rush them into bed within the first three chapters. That's not romance or even love--it's sex. We find ourselves wanting to see that intimacy happen between them. Why? Because you've built sparks of sexual tension and we as readers feel it.

Honestly? You've done a good job with this. You hooked me. It's a good story. One that I want to read all the way through. So do get it published so I can read the whole thing.

In Best in the Whole Wide, Natalie Neal eases us into a compelling story of Tracy Goodwin, who feels compelled to bid on an antique saddle similar to the one she had as a child. When her purchase draws the attention of a local saddle maker, who offers to do the minor repairs needed, we are immediately drawn into the possibilities of what else might happen. Neal brings both sides of this story to her narrative, and it's a wonderful introduction to what promises to be an adventurous love store.

What a wonderful, romantic story for a cold winter night. I am inspired by the way Natalie Neal has begun her character development in these first two chapters. I am already attached to them and long to follow their story through this novel. James is a perfect character to fall in love with and it is easy to put myself right into the story with Tracy and Celia. The use of visuals in these chapters is outstanding and I am clearly able to see and participate in the auction. This is an extraordinary adventure and I look forward to reading the complete novel when it is published.

Understanding Wall Stret (most recent paperback edition) is an excellent book. Shipment arrived in time as promised and in perfect condition. I am completely satisfied with how this order was handled.

In the late 80's, as a neophyte investor, I picked up more than I imagined I would from Understanding Wall Street.

In the late 90's, as an industry professional, I frequently turned through the pages of my tattered old 3rd edition for a great review from time to time.

Today, as an adjunct professor, I am still amazed at the book's scope and ease of understanding. And, I find myself recommending Understanding Wall Street before, during, and after it's apparent that 50lb text books don't always carry their weight.

If you have the slightest desire to learn about the world of investing, Understanding Wall Street just may be your best initial investment.

I had hoped this would be a clearly written and interesting explanation of the general workings of the stock market for someone who has never really understood it. But it goes into far too much detail, defining every little term and process. Maybe it's just a subject that cannot be made interesting or relatively simple, but in any case, this book does not accomplish those things.

The first time I read this book was 20 years ago and was impressed with its thoroughness and ease in understanding. I teach at a junior college and offered the students an opportunity to learn a little more about investing that was not covered in their text. This book was complete enough to cover most of the topics and condensed enough for them to read considering their limited free time.

Jeffrey Little and Lucien Rhodes' treatise "Understanding Wall Street" is a very valuable guide for the neophyte desiring the critical knowledge of how the financial nerve center of North America operates.

Rich with historical insight, this guide details the origins and subsequent transformation of some of the world's most prominent stock exchanges located on the street synonymous with wealth and power: Wall Street.

To that end the guide is easily readable and understandable. Complete with examples, explanations, and a comprehensive glossary I found the guide to complete and fill a hole in the much needed understanding of the financial facet of comparative government and civic theory studies.

I rate the text at five stars for providing a lot of information at only 300 pages. This review refers to the 2004 Fourth Edition.

new zealand is a beautiful place

The Guide is very informative, but there is a new edition that has come out in October, so wait to buy the new one!!

This book is a lot better than the other Lonely Planet books in that it is the same size as the others but as it is only about one small country, it can fit most (not all there's still work to be done) of the towns and attractions backpackers want to see in New Zealand.

The main difference between this and Let's Go is that this is written for a North American audience whereas Let's Go is more for your British, European, Australian, South African and the like markets. This means those not from North America may find a lot of the information as common knowledge, especially historic things and would prefer to have more further detailed information which is contained in the competitor Let's Go. Since the American education system doesn't teach this stuff American audiences will find it fascinating and will have a need for it maybe.

A fair amount of the hostels in New Zealand actually do appear in this book which is very surprising for a Lonely Planet as they usually miss about 75 per cent of them. Be aware that there are other hostels out there though, so don't completely rely on the book and use the best method word of mouth from other backpackers as well. Of course the price information is out of date as usual.

If only Lonely Planet could achieve as good a book for their other country/continent versions then they might be a worthwhile purchase. I'd say buy this if you're a North American but get Let's Go if you're not. Well actually I'd say don't bother with either as you're just reliving someone else's experiences and it's better to explore for yourself but for hostel listings and background info if you don't know much about New Zealand then this is useful.

If you're going to New Zealand - and want to enjoy the country to the fullest - DO NOT LEAVE WITHOUT THIS GUIDE! I embarked on a 6-week long trip last June with this edition of 'Lonely Planet New Zealand' and fate as my only guides. I was impressed to the max! The only other guide I needed was a road atlas I picked up at the airport in Auckland (and since I was touring some of the Lord of the Rings film locations, Ian Brodie's lovely 'Lord of the Rings: Location Guidebook'). I do recommend renting a vehicle - as someone under 25 years old, Budget was a good bet for rental. Just remember, "Left, left left." It's a cinch! With the US dollar exchange rate favorable, we cheaply rented a top notch 4WD SUV for the entire time based on the recommendation of this book. I love the Lonely Planet series for the sheer fact that it gives you pointers on fantastic locations that may be slightly off the beaten path while at the same time informing you of the best of the best in those tourist meccas. It's a lovely balance. My only regret is that 6-weeks is far too short a time to see everything there is to see in New Zealand!

The top 5 places you shouldn't miss on the North and South Islands:

North Island
1) Take the short ferry ride from Auckland to Rangitoto Island and hike to the summit - otherwordly!
2) Do a touristy bus tour to Cape Reinga out of Paihia - on the bus to Cape Reinga you'll get to: learn a lot about the Maori culture, hug a Kauri tree, stop and surf down sand dunes, wonder in awe at the northern most point of the North Island where untouched white beaches are visible as the Tasman and Pacific Ocean meet and clash (an amazing scene), and to top it all off you'll cruise down 90-mile beach as waves lap the wheels of the bus (yeah, the beach is actually a registered roadway).
3) Drive around the gorgeous Coromandel Peninsula - leave the Thames area just before sunrise and the landscape will just take your breath away! You will come to understand the meaning of Aotearoa/New Zealand: land of the long white cloud.
4) Wander the volcantic parks of Rotorua - Wai-ti-pau was a highlight! Don't forget to sign-up for a traditional Maori concert and haka at the Tamaki Maori Village for a cool cultural experience!
5) Cruise Cuba Street in Wellington for food and shops, and don't forget to visit Te Papa - the national museum of Wellington.

South Island
1) Plan a kayaking trip out of Motueka: the Tonga Island wildlife option is cool - we saw wild Orca and New Zealand Fur Seals up close and personal and then lunched on a secluded beach reached only by kayak!
2) Take a helicopter ride up to Fox Glacier and do an afternoon hike - see where semi-tropical rainforest meets glacier meets the Tasman Sea.
3) Go white water rafting on the Shotover River in Queenstown (be sure you get an option with the Oxenbridge Tunnel)! Then go jet boating, then bungy jumping, you name, it they do it there! Don't miss Deer Park Heights either - say hello to the free roaming buffalo for me!
4) Head to the beautiful city of Kaikoura for whale watching and a dolphin swim.
5) If you love wildlife - head to Dunedin and take a tour out to the Otago Peninsula (you'll see albatross, fur seals, sea lions, yellow-eyed penguins and a variety of bird life up close and personal - by up close I mean walking on the beach less than 10 feet away from a Hooker Seal Lion twice your size). While in Dunedin, visit Baldwin Street, the steepest street in the world, and don't miss the Cadbury Factory! It's well worth the admission price!

There is so much more to see and do that I haven't listed - and this guide helped me find it all and point me in the right direction every step of the way. The only thing the guide failed to mention was the abundance of rainbows in this enchanted country - I don't know about you, but where I come from rainbows are a special once in a great while occurance. In New Zealand you see them on a daily basis. I guarantee that with the help of this guide you will leave New Zealand with enough fantastic memories to last a lifetime. Kia ora.

I looked at and compared this to all the other guides from Frommer's, Eyewitness, Footprint, Rough, Insight, Moon, and Fodor's, and I thought this one was the best.

I used this guide on an intensive, 3-week trip to New Zealand several years ago in which I drove over 6000 kilometers and got to just about every part of the country except Ninety-Mile Beach on the tip of the north island. I visited spots ranging from Stewart Island, Doubtful and Milford Sound, and Queenstown in the south, to the Coromandel Peninsula in the east, to the Franz-Josef glacier and the small western town of Greymouth in the west, to Lake Taupo and the capital city Auckland in the north. I crossed the southern Alps several times, and got to just about every major city and town, and I found the book very useful and accurate and a very valuable resource on my trip.

New Zealand is one of the most beautiful and delightful places you can visit, and there is something here for everybody. There is still quite a lot of wildlife, and in the south I saw lots of Tui birds, who are like myna birds in that they can immitate just about any noise, and shellducks, which are larger than any American ducks I've seen. One of them even raced me in my car on a road crossing the Alps for a while, until he surprised me by flying under my car and losing all his feathers. Oh well, I hope he grew back those feathers.

If you're into wildlife, another fun activity is to see the little blue penguins and the yellow-eyed penguins in the southeast coastal town of Oamaru. But watch out for those big shellducks. The big Kea parrots in the southern mountains are surprisingly bold. They come right up to you and you can get great pictures. A famous kea was the one that lived in a park in Sydney, Australia. This might be the only world-famous bird I've ever heard of. He would let the air out of automobile tires while people watched and laughed, which he seemed to do for the fun of it. As the New Zealanders say, they're cheeky little buggers.

Another thing not to miss is the New Zealand Wildlife Refuge on the main road north of Wellington on the way to Auckland. Several of the other things that I enjoyed that I learned about first from the book were (on the south island) the Te Anau glow- worm caves, the big boat tour of Doubtful Sound, the boat tour of Milford Sound (the wettest place on earth at sea level, with 25 feet of rain per year), and (on the north island) the Maori cultural town of Rotorua, which smells like rotten eggs everywhere because of all the volcanic steam vents containing sulfur dioxide. In fact, the steam comes out of the ground just about all over the city.

If you're the adventurous type, don't miss Queenstown in the south, the self-styled (and rightly so) adventure capital of the world. There you can do things like bungee-jump from a helicopter, and fly this interesting plane around which is tethered to a central pole. I don't know how many people do those things, but a popular attraction here is a jet-boat tour up one of the rivers. The aerial tramway in Queenstown up to the top of a local mountain gives you a spectacular view of the entire area. There is a decent restaurant at the top, which makes for a popular dining spot with a great view in the evening.

On the north island, another interesting and fun thing I did in Auckland was to take the Rangitoto Island tour in Auckland Bay on my last day there, which takes you around this small, volcanic island in the middle of the bay. Also Waiheke Island made for an interesting overnight stay in Auckland bay before flying out the next day. Kelly Tarkington's Arctic Experience is worth seeing. And last but not least, Auckland has some surprisingly good restaurants and dining.

Overall, an excellent and well-written guide and worth the price. New Zealand is one of the best and most enjoyable countries I've ever visited, and this guide was an important part of that experience on my trip.

Now that I've read other reviews here I might reconsider and try to finish it, but 1/3 through I am put off by the strained descriptions and the completely unrealistic dialogue that Carlson has squeezed out onto paper.

I never met any regular guys who talked like this: "What's the weather, Ronnie?" (Ronnie is a 20-year old ex-shoplifter) "That wind has quit at least," he said. "I think we're in for a gorgeous spring day here in the world," he said. "Chilly tonight but we can get something done today."

Sorry, it just doesn't do it for me. Maybe I have been reading too much good writing lately to be favorably impressed by this book.

A delicate, engrossing novel of male characters who would sink beneath their own private griefs but are forced to deal with each other in a compassionate way. It is perfectly set in the huge, empty landscape that offers little distraction from their inner turmoil. The details of carpentry and construction I found interesting; they--in their inanimate 'flatness and wooden-ness'-- acted as a good complement to the deep and swirling emotions. Gorgeous prose. This was a very satisfying read.

Five Skies is a simple, understated story in the hands of a masterful writer. Carlson's characters reveal their complexity over the course of the novel. The writing is crisp and economical, but the sense of time and place is wonderfuly tangible.

I don't like to compare writers or stories, but it's hard to escape comparisons to Cormac McCarthy (though without the bleak edge), John Steinbeck, or the wonderful Treasure of the Sierra Madre. If you enjoyed these, you will like Five Skies.

Words not written play big a part in this wonderful novel. Space, silence and setting leave room for the imagination of the reader, and the wonderful prose does the rest.
It is refreshing to find a writer who can write, not just one who churns out the requisite numnber of words necessary to sell a book. You won't forget Ronnie, Arthur, and Darwin five minutes after you've finished reading the book as is so often the case with current best sellers.

Now don't misjudge the title of this review. Women can enjoy this book, book, but, primarily, it is a book about men for men. Women can appreciate the book, but only men can appreciate the emotions the characters endure, the roads they have taken and the uncertain roads their lives have yet to travel.

Essentially it is the story of three men, all at different ages and stages of their lives, all running from something and toward they aren't sure what. They come together to work in the Big Sky Country on an unusual construction project, come to know and appreciate each other and, in turn, help one another find their way toward whatever future lies ahead.

Discriptions are vivid, beautiful and moving. Humanity and expressions thereof are the book's strong suits. A stunning ending. Stunning. You feel it coming, you know its coming, but you aren't sure exactly what is coming. When it comes, it's subtelty is shocking and powerful. It's the kind of ending that stops you in mid-sentence.

This book and these men stay with you a long time after you have turned the last page and close the cover.

After reading David Roberts other book "In Search Of The Ancient Ones", I had to pick this one up as well. As a native Southwesterner and interested in ancient southwestern Indian history, I was eager to read about his trek across the "The Comb" with two friends. There was some interesting tidbits on how they went about placing their water caches and meetings with some of the locals before and during their trip. It was a fairly interesting read if you are an outdoors person but I as far as the Anasazi ruins, while several are mentioned, it would have been more interesting if more photos were included. Like a few previous reviewers I did find it annoying to read about David's arguments with his fellow companions as they all seemed to be instigated by David himself. I got the impression that he thought he was the "leader" of the group and the others were supposed to listen to him and follow "his" rules. It wouldn't have been too bad except he brings it up about 4 or 5 times throughout the book which I thought was a little excessive. Also, he makes a few remarks about others he has met or traveled with in the back country of the Southwest which, to me anyways, he thinks that we are not worthy of visiting these ancient ruins. Because others have vandalized ruins (which has been going on for about a hundred years now)does not mean that there some of us who are just as interested in the Anasazi and want to experience the thrill and wonder of finding an undiscovered site on our own or visit some of the ruins that are accessible, without looting them or damaging them. He gave me the impression that he is one of the "elite" who is one of the few who is knowledgable and because he's done some extensive backcountry travelling, "qualified" to visit these sites. Overall I thought the book was a good read. Not as good as his earlier one, "In Search Of The Ancient Ones." (Which I highly recommend). You should consider "House Of Rain" by Craig Childs.

I enjoyed reading "The Secret Knowledge of Water" and "House of Rain;" both books written by Craig Childs. So,I bought and read this book because Greg Childs acted as photographer in this traverse of Comb Ridge. And, Indeed, the photos are good. Unfortunatly, David Roberts, the author and traverse participant, comes off as needing total control of his hike companions. The writing seems choppy and more a personal journal than an adventure.

From the moment I saw this book on the shelf, I couldn't wait to get to a computer and order it from Amazon. I neglected to write down the name, but was able to find it with a search. This book is one I had a very hard time putting down. Roberts is a fine writer, however, some terminology will most likely have you pining for a dictionary! Roberts has you feeling the burn of the climb and the heat of the desert, along with the blisters on ones' feet! I am just about done with it, and already ordered "In Search of the Ancient Ones" for my next read.

I particularly enjoyed this book because I've canoed the San Juan River many times. It took me back to strenuous climbs up San Juan Hill, where the layers of rock are turned up, as one geologist states, "like layers of bedding." "Baseball Man" was also an often seen and photographed site. I hope all of the sites that he explored will remain protected from the collectors of artifacts, so that many generations will be able to see them and think on what life might have been like there, more than a thousand years ago.

The photography draws me into 'Living With Wolves' with a yearning to be there. Jim Dutcher and Helen Cherullo uniquely reinforce my beliefs towards the reintroduction efforts of the White Mountain Apache Tribe Sensitive Species Agency and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

One of my all time favorite books.
If you like westerns and outdoor adventure books, you must read Mountain Man. The story and the story telling are riveting.
I have owned a copy of this book since 1972! All of my friends were compelled to read it(by me) and all enjoyed the book.The book stuck a lasting chord for us.
I could call an old friend up today and say "watch your topknot" and he would reply "watch yourn". Back then we all wanted to be mountain men.

I really liked Vardis Fisher's colorful writing style....He paints a picture of the world the Mountain Men lived in so well....This book has A LOT of info on what Mountain Men ate...Vardis pretty much describes every meal the guy ate....This book does have a lot of violence and it is kinda sad at some parts..But then again the life of a Mountain Man was no cake walk...There is some good Bowie knife and tomahawk action too!!!....This is a fiction book but it has alot of REAL Mountain Men "characters"..Jim Bridger..."Old" Bill Williams....Kit Carson..They are all there....The story is pretty good too...A story of love and vengeance would be the best way to describe it....Now I see why so many people regard this as a CLASSIC in Mountain Mnn literature...I fully agree..This is a classic book.

If you happen to be a fan of Bob Redfords 'Jeremiah Johnson'or a lesser known work by Richard Harris called 'A Man in the Wilderness', or of just a good tale of the early, open west then this book by Vardis Fisher is one you must read at least once.This is one of an extremely small number of books that truly transported me into another place and time and made me wish I was right there along side them.Beautifully written it is the story of one, Sam Minnard.An educated man who gave it all up to live little better than a civilized savage on the open ranges and endless plains of the northern midwest territories.It encompasses and incorporates music,art,flora and fauna,survivalist skills and the truly hard but satisfying life these men had.These men did exist and they helped to tame and open the west to others who would follow much to their disgust and saddness of just what that meant to their way of life.Loners who belonged to a very select club mostly knew each other and would come together to aid Sam in one final showdown against the Indian nation.The book focuses on his life but opens up his inner self and emotional makeup and does maintain a rather negative viewpoint toward the redman which was widely held by many mountain men at that time.The encroaching westward movement of civilization and the day to day hardships and joys of living free are examined with subtle yet powerful story telling.The need and enjoyment of no taxes,free food provided by the land itself, no bills,mortgages,laws,police or government control were gladly accepted by these men who lived off the land and knew how to survive in a sometimes hostile but glorious landscape that was the untouched west.The American Indian was there first, lest we forget, and we were trespassing but the number of men were so small that their presence was barely felt. That is until the rest of us came along and mucked up the works for everybody.Sam's happiness is abruptly and violently ended setting him on the path of vengence both sealing his fate and securing his legend.This book is remarkable and will not let you down.If you tire of the crap written today and long for something you can sink your teeth into,something that will stay in your head for a while with its crystal clear clarity and descriptive beauty, then read it.True, it is only a work of fiction but it is based on the lives of real men and women for that matter in real situations during the early to mid 19th century American west.For mountain men, life was probably very much like this, it had to be and Fisher nailed it right on the head.That alone will allow you to safely observe a life story of survival without the benefit of civilization all around you.A situation that could be upon us again if our world turns upside down.Would any one of us today live as good as Sam Minnard did with just a gun, a knife and a horse,I truly doubt it.There is something to be learned from this book. Read and learn.

MOUNTAIN MAN continues to be a classic in American Western literature. The major foundation for the movie, Jeremiah Johnson, MOUNTAIN MAN tells the story of Samuel John Minard, a mountain man known for his physical prowess and for his quick and educated intellect. A renaissance man who has chosen the life of the great American West.

In his adventures Sam meets up with Indians of various tribes, other mountain men and a crazy pilgrim woman. HIs marriage to an Indian maiden leads him into a one-man war with sweeping consequences for himself and for his enemies.

MOUNTAIN MAN, as is the case with most books upon which movies are based, considerably outshines JEREMIAH JOHNSON in its story and characterizations. But, hey, I love the movie as well. I guess that says a lot about what I think of the book.

THE HORSEMAN

I didn't read this book until after I had seen 'Jeremiah Johnson', and was pleased that the movie and book were so different. I enjoyed the movie very much, but with Fisher's story I felt as though I had put on my huntin' clothes, laced up my boots, grabbed my Hawken Rifle, and joined in on the adventure. Coming from a family of outdoorsmen, some of us certainly fantasized about leaving it all behind from time to time, and making our way in the remote wilderness. In fact my two brothers moved to the Pacific Northwest after college and still spend much of their free time wandering the Cascades. Anyone who loves the wild west will find this one to be a real gem, and simply by reading it, will be richly rewarded. It is a diamond in the rough, but not one to be missed, and has inspired much of my own writing. This one comes highly recommended.

James Hart Isley
Author of The Bear Hunter

Following on the heels of his beguiling Felicia's Journey, the incomparable Irish storyteller, William Trevor, brings us a collection of 12 poignant tales that illuminate the human condition.

Acknowledged by many to be the master of his oeuvre, Trevor commands our attention with dignity and subtlety. Amazingly adept at shifting perspectives from male to female in varying locations and scenes, the author's championship form is evident in After Rain.

His initial offering, "The Piano Tuner's Wives" is an incisive rendering of a middle-aged second wife's jealousy. Haunted by the happiness her husband once shared with another, she seeks to establish her place in surprising ways.

A lifelong bond between two women is broken in "A Friendship" when the clever plotting of one backfires. Timothy, the gay protagonist, in "Timothy's Birthday" seems to seek to punish his parents for their perfect marriage. He refuses to visit them for his birthday celebration as he has always done. Instead, he sends a friend with an excuse. The disreputable Eddie delivers his hurtful message, then steals from the older couple.

Trevor's spare prose shimmers in this story's summary paragraph: "They didn't mention their son as they made their rounds of the garden that was now too much for them and was derelict in places. They didn't mention the jealousy their love of each other had bred in him, that had flourished into deviousness and cruelty. The pain the day had brought would not easily pass, both were aware of that. And yet it had to be, since it was part of what there was."

Another story takes place in the fields of Ireland today. Here, Trevor displays his gift for knowing the female heart as a young woman challenges the culture and mores bred into her parents' bones.

Trevor's work is meat compared to the broth of some of today's fiction. He continues to astound as he explores the complexities of family relationships with sympathetic candor. After Rain is one more triumph.

- Gail Cooke

It's a dismal commentary on the state of contemporary readership when this book has not been reviewed on Amazon for almost five years. After Rain is top-shelf literature, an excellent introduction to William Trevor's mastery of the short story. Of particular note are: Timothy's Birthday, Gilbert's Mother, A Day and Marrying Damian. (Curiously, I found the title story somewhat muddled, but I'm convinced I missed something and I'll be re-reading it soon.)

As others here have mentioned, what distinguishes Trevor is his ability to handle a great variety of points of view (frequently within the same story) and his lack of condescension as he subtly presents the failings of his characters. A great eyewitness to the human drama. I seriously believe these stories are the equals of those in Joyce's Dubliners.

Like Grieg in the musical sphere, and Cheever in the literary one, William Trevor seems to be at his best in the smaller forms, where his sharply etched insights and compellingly profound characterization can glitter without the "imposition" of relaxation dictated by the novel. Reading his "Collected Stories" was among my favorite literary "events" of the past 20 years (since reading, of all things, Dreiser's "An American Tragedy" [talk about strange bedfellows!]), and if the present volume seems a bit less well-stocked with masterpieces than the earlier, larger collection, it also shows Trevor polishing his craft to an almost superhuman degree. Every word tells.

A couple of the stories in "After Rain" struck me as surprisingly weak: "The Piano Tuner's Wives," in which an elderly man's second wife contrives to distort his happy memories of his first, seemed architecturally imbalanced: the second wife was drawn with less fecundity than the first and as a result the cutting insights of the story's end seemed like the proverbial "too little, too late." The other relative disappointment for me was "A Day," in which a married woman meditates on her husband's infidelity. Maybe it was that the central character seemed annoyingly passive, but to my mind Trevor added little to a situation that has been visited many times before.

The bulk of the remainder of the stories was exceptionally fine, though, particularly "A Friendship," which limns the dissolving of a lifelong relationship between two women at one of their husband's instigation.

However, the real gems of the collection, in my opinion, were "Child's Play" and "Lost Ground," which may be among the finest short stories written. The first is spare and knife-edged, the second weighty and full of tragedy. In "Child's Play," two children of divorce play act, with uncanny accuracy, their parents' sordid affairs, but when something happens to threaten the children's own relationship, their sudden reversion to reality proves more poignant and devastating than any play they can put on. "Lost Ground," the longest and perhaps greatest story in the collection, tells the tale of a Protestant family, one of whose sons is visited by, and asked to carry the word of, a Catholic saint. By encapsulating the religious conflicts in Northern Ireland in the guise of a single family, Trevor manages to comment on the intolerance of humankind while presenting a family drama of piercing sorrow.

I read recently that some people find Trevor's works offputtingly depressing. Maybe so; there are no happy endings here and virtually no happy people. Perhaps his truths are just too painful for a few to face. But then, sometimes, life is that way too.

"After Rain" is a stellar proof that William Trevor is one of the most respected Irish short story writers. As a literary artist, Trevor is known for his elegant and hushed rendering of the psychic state of his characters. In addition, Trevor is also a humanist of great empathy, allowing him to uncover hidden or neglected angles of seemingly pedestrian situations. One story in this collection, "Gilbert's Mother," amply demonstrates Trevor's empathy. The story opens with a crime scene, told from an objective, clinical tone akin to a newspaper report. Just when you expect the next scene to develop the mystery further, Trevor switches the lens to a bystander, a woman, who, for the remainder of the story, contemplates whether her troubled son would be capable of committing such a crime. Trevor developed her skillfully, weaving with ease strained dealings between mother and son, as well as painful details of her past. The true crime to be solved here is how external circumstances beyond our control irrevocably sever our emotional ties from our loved ones, preventing us from ever knowing them fully.

A few pieces in this collection seem less inspired and not as well-executed. Some authorial comments that serve to wrap up stories seem forced. And as much as I admire Trevor the stylist, the elegance of language may border on the self-righteous when situations described do not warrant such treatment--minor quibbles in an otherwise fine collection.

Highly Readable, Highly Enjoyable. Just what you would expect from Trevor. In a clear and simple style he writes about ordinary lives, and when you finish you realize there is nothing ordinary about them.

a hybrid between "a history of the world according to coffee" (subtitle) and stewart lee allen's research travelogue, the book follows allen who follows coffee's historical and geographical paths of adoption

the early history of coffee is largely unknown, so the first half of the story primarily narrates allen's travel snags in unsuccessful research; border problems, boat breakdowns, getting ripped off by faux art-smugglers, etc

the 2nd half of the book is content-rich and much more interesting - covering the fascinating rise and role of coffee since the ottoman empire (primarily europe, india and the americas). allen provides a lot of speculation (his and others) with his facts - for a subject as nebulous as coffee's impact on civilization, speculation feels appropriate to me

the format would work better for me if 1) his travel tales worked together to form an interesting narrative of their own and/or 2) they had anything to do with coffee. unfortunately they fail on both these counts, and become filler

overall, allen's caffeinated and irreverent writing style makes the book easy to read and i found it reliably funny. for example on page 126 he writes ->

"the main nonalcoholic source of nutrition, bread is now believed to have been plagued with the hallucinogenic fungus ergot, the base ingredient for lsd. drunk doctors, tipsy politicians, hungover generals: the plague, famine, and war. add a pope on acid, and medieval christianity starts to make a whole lot of sense"

if you're interested in the history of coffee and you're okay with some travelogue-genre fluff, you'll probably enjoy this book. i would give it 3 and half stars if i could

This is a must read for Barista's. A rollicking adventure/travel/history book. Makes your everyday cup of Joe an event. This could be on Coast-to-coast radio.

Stewart Allen's "The Devil's Cup" is one of those books that appear to suffer somewhat from a case of multiple personality syndrome. It's gonzo food journalism with a healthy dose of history and cultural anthropology carefully disguised as a travelogue.

The focus of the book is coffee, and Allen treats his subject with Hunter S. Thompsonesque flair as he traces the history of the divine bean from it's African origins all the way to the Texas Panhandle. I'm still a little skeptical as to how much of the text was real experience as opposed to caffiene-induced delusion, but in the end it really doesn't matter much. It's an entertaining and informative read, and that's what really counts. You certainly can't fault the author on his research and sources. Allen has good footnotes and his stories hold up well under the scrutiny of a good many Google searches.

The author is accompanied on his quest for javalightenment by a revolving door of unusual and interesting characters, all helping to drive the narrative forward with lightning speed as Allen travels from one locale and adventure to another. Allen begins his quest in Ethiopia, where coffee was first cultivated. He moves quickly along the traditional trade routes to trace how the bean migrated through Arab and Muslim lands to Europe, the New World, and beyond.

"The Devil's Cup" is too short to provide a holistic picture of the sacred bean, and I'd recommend pairing it up with one of the more traditionally written histories on the subject such as "Uncommon Grounds". That said, this is a great compliment to other coffee-related books and it should sit on your shelf if you have even a passing interest in learning more about the magic grounds.

Grab a good cup of joe, get this book, and start reading already!

I received this book as a gift and was hoping for a more informative book about coffee, its history, and its intricacies. Instead, I found a collection of miscellaneous chapters that were, at best, loosely connected. The anecdotes provoked laughter, but I don't think I would call it hilarious. "The Devil's Cup" is a light read and worthwhile so long as you don't open the book hoping for an academic read.

I came across this book by accident and bought it out of my sheer love for coffee. But the book not only has the great tale of how coffee came from Africa and made it's way all over the earth to the daily drink we know today, it also is a first rate travelogue. The author follows coffee's migration from Africa to Europe. Mr. Allen has quite a knack for finding and reporting his adventures and misadventures with a fun easy to read style.

If you like non-fiction travelogues, then do yourself a favor and buy this book.

Remember "A Million Little Pieces"?

James Frey may or may not have set out to con the literary world, or Oprah. But he did. And he did it not by writing, but by passing off his writing as truth.

Kim Barnes clearly does the same thing here. No, she doesn't make up arrests, jail time, or drug use. Instead, she takes liberty in the details of what she thought, felt, and experienced when she was a pre-teen and a teenager.

However, she does it beautifully, connecting place and person.

Kim Barnes was the daughter of a logging family. She moved easily in the woods, but when her father became a religious zealot, normality was acceptance of The Word. And when she became a rebellious teen, she did not accept The Word. When she was banished from home, she reaccepted The Word. And when she was banished from the banishment, well, she reallocated her faith and life to parts of The Word. And she remembers with crystal clarity the thoughts of the teen suffering this angst:

"What I cannot do is image the girl I was at twelve becoming the girl I was at fourteen. I remember the emotions vividly -- at twelve, adolescent confusion tempered by the security of family, a sense of trust, openness, innocence, I guess. By the time I was fourteen, I felt only anger, loathing, a need to escape from the restrictions imposed by my parents and the church. Even now it scares me to understand how easily a soul may pass from one dimension of itself into another, as though the boundaries separating what we are and what we might become, given an infinite set of motivations and conditions, are little more than the line between waking and sleep, between story, memory dream" (p. 170).

Barnes describes growing up in a atmosphere of fixed roles:

"This was my mother's lesson, and my own, a lesson I have not yet unlearned: be still, be invisible. Do not draw attention to yourself, for in doing so you will become a target. I would learn that unholy men will rape you. Men of God will leave their meditations and good wives to lust after you. Satan himself will see you flashing, drawn like fish to a vulgar lure, and take your soul for his own... We were weak, unpredictable, no more capable of controlling our whims and desires than Eve, whose very nature casued the fall of Man, was able to control her gross appetite" (p. 91).

This memoir is a treatise on why parents, and churches, should be charged with abuse for tainting innocent childhood memories:

"I had seen hippies only on Nan's TV, and their wondrous hair, bright colors and dangling beads amazed me. Even so, I could hardly connect them to the monsters the townspeople spoke of over coffee at the cafe. If we weren't careful to run them off the minute they set their sandaled feet inside the village, they said, the hippies would poison our water tower with LSD" (p. 120).

Beautiful prose. I simply can't believe the detail of the memories.

In the past I have read memoirs about girls growing up 'in the country' and what a challenge it was for them (and their family) This book is a good book to read that covers that theme very well.

This book is beautifully written, with her early years happening in a kind of Idaho Eden, but what impressed me most was the author's fairness. She presents such a kind, loving, balanced view of the church, her family, their larger church family. She illuminates the glory of charismatic faith and accepts the presence of faith-based miracles. But when she explores what is lacking for her, what was missing as she tried to imagine taking her place as a wife in a Pentecostal family, the reader's heart breaks. Her questioning mind will not let this simple faith stand. As someone with no personal experience with this kind of religion, I was astonished by the rigidity of the church, appalled at how unforgiving a faith supposedly born of forgiveness could be.

Highly recommended.

I loved this book! Being an avid outdoorsman I ordered it by the title because I expected to learn something of living in the wilderness. In that regard, the book did not disappoint, but there was much more. Kim Barnes also shares an astonishingly honest story of another kind of wilderness - Pentecostal fundamentalism. Having grown up in a very similar religious tradition, I can vouch that her story does not exaggerate. Barnes pulls no punches in revealing human foilables, but without passing judgment on the sincerely held beliefs of others.

Those who enjoy "In the Wilderness," will definitely also want to read "Growing Up Pentecostal" by J. Stephen Conn. Conn's book has a very different setting but also gives a disarmingly honest view of classical Pentecostalism.

Incredibly moving and beautifully written.One of the best books I've read recently.