Oregon Books

I STIMBLED UPON THIS BOOK BY ACCIDENT. WHAT A PLEASANT SURPRISE.MOLLY GLOSS MAY NOT BE THE MOST POLISHED WRITER BUT SHE CAN TELL A HEARTWARMING STORY.WHEN I FINISHED THE BOOK THE CHARACTERS FELT LIKE OLD FRIENDSTHAT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW EVEN BETTER.

This slowly unwinding, gentle story, carefully and lovingly told, is reminiscent of both Owen Wister's The Virginian and Laura Ingalls Wilder's These Happy Golden Years. It was a pleasure becoming acquainted with the various characters, their thoughts and hopes and dreams. It was a pleasure to witness the budding romance between Henry and Martha, how shy they both were, how tender and sweet. I loved the history of the place and time, and I appreciated the author's ability to draw me into the story one layer at a time. Books that I have read that were written during that era about that era are in that same style, so it was really nice to read a contemporary author who writes about that era in that era's gentle style.

This is a good book for a rainy day, get a piece of cake and a cup of coffee, go wrap yourself in an afghan and get cozy in your favorite armchair, and then savor this story s-l-o-w-l-y.

If you added equal measures of John Steinbeck and Willa Cather, you would have something close to the tone of this affecting novel.It is the author's determined sense of understatement that lends this book its' power and authentic sense of Western history.I found myself thinking about its' characters for weeks after I turned the last page.

This is a truly lovely book about a place and time in the American West, eastern Oregon at the turn of the century and through WWI. Martha Lessen, a girl 'broncbuster', is a character that you enjoy spending time with and the stories that Gloss tells about horses and the people of that time are wonderful. This isn't necessarily the book for a horse crazy girl, but rather one that is thoughtful and considers deeply the role that horses have played in American life. It has a gentle flow and a very satisfying end that makes this an enjoyable read.

I bought this book thinking it would be about working with horses. What a boring, disappointing book. It had very little to do about horses or working with them.

From my 11 y/o daughter:

This delightful book is about Mary Ellen Todd's adventure journeying to Oregon. Along the way she makes new friends, her calf, Daisy drowns in a river, and meets some scary looking Indians. But, her hardest challenge is, trying to become a brave, pioneer girl.

I recommend this book to anyone who likes history, adventure, and the wild west.

A five star book. I couldn't put it down. You see through a 10 year old girls eyes. The tale about a girl whose family goes out to Oregon. They travel through many obsticles. I love it. And I would reccomomend it to any 10 year old.

This was an enjoyable easy read about life on the Oregon Trail, told from the perspective of a 9-year-old girl, Mary Ellen Todd. It's based on the book written by the daughter of the real Mary Ellen Todd, based on her mother's stories over the years.

The reader will come away with a better knowledge of the preparation required to travel the Trail, as well as the difficulties of the journey. They'll read of various battles with illness, encounters with Indians, crossing difficult rivers, wagon train troubles, some wagons turning back, babies born on the trail, etc. The scary moments of life on the Trail are addressed, but it's all presented in an appropriate way for children.

Of course, the author had to fill in some details not covered in the book of Mary Ellen's daughter. One thing that the author decided to add in (which she admits is pure invention) was Mary Ellen's feelings of antagonism toward her stepmother (her mother died when she was little). Though Mary Ellen obeys in her actions, there are several times that she's quite disrespectful in her attitude and thoughts, if not actions. One common struggle with her stepmother is over being ladylike. Mary Ellen once also does have this disrespectful attitude toward her father. In many ways, her attitude is portrayed as "normal," and I don't think children need encouraged in thinking this is normal in the sense of being "okay." But, there are only a few mentions of this, and they're easy enough to explain or edit as a read-aloud. It would have been nice, however, if the author hadn't felt the need to inject this into the book.

I was pleasantly surprised at how frequently this book touched on this family's faith. Several times, when rejoicing or sorrowing, the family ends up singing a hymn, or Father referencing a Bible verse. There's mention of Mary Ellen memorizing Scripture (Psalm 23), and Father reads from the Bible to them regularly. They usually rest for at least part of Sunday. Their faith is definitely portrayed as part of their everyday lives.

Overall, I'd recommend this book for reading aloud to children to help them learn about the Oregon Trail. If bothered by Mary Ellen's occasional attitude, you can always edit as you go. I plan to read this aloud to my children (ages 6 ½ on down) sometime in the next year.

Bound for Oregon is the story of Mary Ellen Todd and her journey with her family along the Oregon Trail. Although this book was interesting in the first chapter, I think the author got a little carried away with the monotonus context of the book. All in all, it is a good book if you want to know more about this era in history and the Oregon Trail.

Families needed goodly amounts of common sense, courage and religious faith in order to endure the ordeal of the covered wagon journey to Oregon and/or California--regardless of the route chosen. The Todd family of Arkansas proved flexible and resourceful during the six-month
test of physical and moral endurance in 1852--the year of the terrible cholera epidemic. Based on the diaries of adults and grown children of the Oregon Trail this book faithfully reproduces the challenges and dangers suffered by those seeking new lives in the Pacific northwest.

The oldest of three girls, Mary Ellen is just 9 at the start of the story, but she comes of age by the end when she finally just crack Father's whip. Thought the family hardships she admires her father's quiet strength and dignity, as well as the resroucefulness of her step-mother. It is in times of trial that different family members step go the extra mile, taking their turn to ensure the survival of the group. Despite the hardships Mary Ellen still takes the time to admire the beauties of the Natural landscape. While her body is busy with daily tasks, her heart cherishes fond memories of her Grandmother, whom she realizes she will never see again. But this dear relative's face and words inspire Mary Ellen to discover personal courage in a barren wilderness. The accompanying map at the beginning of the book clarifies the geographic details of the long journey. Excellent westward migration reading for middle-school students.

I met Tom Stienstra at one of his seminars and he suggested we throw away the old editions of this book. I didn't really get it until we got into this book. He signed it! If you like to find new really great places, and like he says, "Never worry about getting stuck for the night again," this new one is The One. A ton better than before, it's true.

Great book, however, it should have been titled-Fire lookouts in the Oregon/Washington region.

This is one of the better camping books as far as usefulness of the information, though it is not quite the best I've seen. The lengthy introductory section was well-written and entertaining. I have been camping and backpacking for decades and I even learned some new things from it.

My only beefs with the book:

1) The introductory section doesn't, in my opinion, distinguish adequately between equipment suited for backbacking vs. for car camping. He appears to use his backpacking equipment even when car camping and doesn't seem to realize that for a lot of people, a $79 sleeping bag from K-Mart will work just fine for car camping in the summer even if you'd be a damned idiot to take it backpacking.

2) The campgrounds listed do not include RV parks, so you'd need a separate book if you're looking for places where you can get full water/electric/sewer/cable hookups.

3) Each campground listed includes a score, ostensibly from 1 to 10, on the scenic beauty of the site, a feature which I really appreciate. However, I did not see a single site rated less than a 3, which means the book really uses a "3 to 10" scale - and a site seems to rate at least a 4 if there are any trees. The book would be more valuable if he expanded his scale to rate the ugliest spots a 1 and be a bit stingier with his 8's and 9's.

4) Finally, the best campground book I've ever seen also included a rating on how crowded the campground was on average, and gave a special symbol for "undiscovered gems", i.e. campgrounds of particular scenic beauty that were little used. I missed that feature in this book.

This book is great because it covers just about every campsite in the NW. The author is a real camper, I on the otherhand need a tent and an air mattress but the sight recommendations are dead-on.

This book just came out (April, 2003) and is a lot better than anything we've seen. The key is the details, way good, both information, directions and maps. We've lived in Springfield for quite a while and have always kept our secret spots to ourselves. This book has all of them, which threw me, but it's got a zillion others. We checked the places we knew to see if everything was correct. The answer: Five Stars!

"A Winter's Tale" is two romances in a single play. The tragic but open romance of Leontes and Hermione, and the ultimately joyful but initially clandestine romance of Florizel and Perdita. The tale spans more than a decade and can serve as a cautionary tale about mistrust and jealousy.

My favorite character was Autolycos. Rogue, thief, impersonator of nobility, but the linkage that pulled some of the threads together in the end.

This one feels long, even by Shakespearian standards. On the other hand it was easier to follow than other Shakespeare plays. A great story with the capacity to present well on stage or screen. I'm just sorry folks don't hear about this one more.

E.M. Van Court

I'm from England and I'm studying this play for A level (as a mature student - normally taken when aged 17) but although the UK is the home of 'The Bard' this item is not available in the UK! I'm very impressed with Amazon.com who delivered it quickly and cheaply!

The CD itself is great. It really helps to hear the play, as the intonation is correct, which is sometimes difficult to do when reading it yourself.

The actors' voices are clear and suit their parts perfectly. I'd definitely recommend it - and I will look out for more titles in this series when I've finished studying this one!

Although this play is not one of Shakespeare's better known plays, it is one of his very best. It is a tragicomedy suffused by gentle melancholy. Unreasonable and cruel jealousy are also portrayed. We also have two endearing young lovers to liven up the story. These characters are very well-drawn, and the story is quite beautiful.

I have always favoured the Oxford Shakespeare series over others (Folger, etc), and the Winter's Tale is no exception. It's translation notes and lexigraphical assistance makes reading a joy and brings out the true heart and soul of one of Shakespeare's commonly overlooked tragi-comedies.

As usual in Shakespearean plays, the language here is very prettily written. As usual in Shakespearean comedies, there are plot holes that one could easily drive a tank squadron through. But since this is not just a comedy, but a tragicomedy, in which the first part is a tragedy and the second a comedy, not everything comes out well in the end: some worthy characters die. Also, as is usual for Shakespeare, we have a morality play on the evils of jealousy and closed-mindedness. Really, though, other than the pretty Shakespearean turns of phrase, there isn't much to recommend this book.

Gerry Spence has written a book that takes the reader throught a crash course in law school, applied. He is so accurate in his writing but than I would expect as much from such a successful lawyer. Yet his explanations are easy for the lay man to grasp. As a retired lawyer, I often recommend this book to people who have several questions about these kinds of events that they are following in their personal life. It should be recommended reading for all law students the summer prior to beginning their studies.

There was a photo of a young woman holding a smoking gun, and a witness who said the picture was taken right after the woman, Sandy Jones, shot her husband. But was Sandy really guilty of the crime she was accused of?

Enter colorful and brilliant Gerry Spence, who for four years defended Sandy Jones pro-bono, gained her freedom, and later wrote this fascinating book. "The Smoking Gun" is a riveting account of Sandy Jones' trial and an in-depth look at our flawed justice system.

Celebrity trial lawyer Gerry Spence has offered up the 13th in his series of allegedly non-fiction books about his trials and triumphs. The Smoking Gun (Scribner, 448 pages, $30) reaches back more than 15 years to recount Spence's part in two trials in Oregon-first, of 15-year-old Michael Jones Jr. (convicted and then overturned on appeal) and then of his mother, Sandy Jones (acquitted), on murder charges for the death of Wilfred Gertulla.
The prosecutor in Sandy's trial, former Oregon state attorney general James Brown, has described Spence's trial practices as "strip-mining" a jurisdiction. Indeed, Spence rarely returns to the same courthouse (outside of his home state). The Oregonian reporter who covered the second trial felt strongly enough about what he had seen to write an opinion piece entitled "Jones' lawyer sought only victory, not truth." And Spence candidly admits in The Smoking Gun, "If I've learned one thing, it was that trials do not seek the truth, nor are they always intended to deliver justice . . . .Trials are wars."

Gerry Spence, self-described Wyoming "Country Lawyer," has a lot to teach - his book on OJ's criminal trial, "O.J. The Last Word: the Death of Justice" is the definitive work on that Circus, and his fictional Half-Moon and Empty Stars is Dead On.

In Smoking Gun, his day by day play by play memoir of a murder trial, Gerry has set forth a sometimes brilliant bible on How to (or in the case of the State/prosecution - how Not to) Try a Case, Voir Dire (jury pickin') etc - but at times it is laborious wading through the chaff to get to the kernels at the heart of the wheat here. In the end, Truth and Justice are one and won, justice prevails, truth triumphs, and everyone lives happily ever after - or not. /TundraVision, Amazon Reviewer

Gerry Spence has succeeded Robert Traver (John Voelker), Louis Nizer, Jake Ehrlich, and Francis Wellman as the popular author of real life legal battles. Spence writes his own stuff - unlike Vincent Bugliosi who's had collaborators - and Spence is as candid as Pepys was to his diary. If you're not put off by Spence telling, in every other book, the anguish and ecstacy of his personal life, or how good he is, no legal work, fiction, non-fiction, and certainly not the case reports, can match Gerry's writings. Despite what you star givers write, "The Making of a Country Lawyer," Spence's autobiography, is his best book. Only Reginald Hine's "Confessions of an Uncommon Atorney" can compete. Read Spence's story and, if you've ever gone into business for yourself or tried to bang a buck out of the law while maintaining those "hostages to fortune" at home and yet still struggled to get ahead, see if you don't agree. With the "The Smoking Gun" Spence got it all right again. This one's not as well-known as "Helter Skelter" was nor as riveting but I can't think of an "ordinary" murder case that's been so absorbing story as "The Smoking Gun." Not "An American Tragedy," not "Compulsion," not any of Bugliosi's minor books and certainly nothing by Ann Rule or any of those Texas murder trial accounts. For one, "A Smoking Gun" is a story about a fear that slithers though everyone's subconsciousness and sometimes surfaces in nightmares: being charged with a serious crime one didn't commit and being prosecuted by over zealous DAs who seem to want a conviction more than justice. In addition there's the uncooperative defendant, the courageous judge (Harl Haas of Portland, Oregon), and, of course, Superman to the rescue. But Superman does write masterfully, it's a great story, and I highly recommend it.

This novel about aging, life, and death is strangely compelling, a book I could hardly bear to put down when other matters interfered with my reading.

The story is told in alternating chapters by George Castor and Clara Paulson, both mentally active eighty-somethings. George is an Oregon farmer who can do anything and fix anything, or so he believes. Clara is a wheelchair-bound stroke victim confined to a nursing home. She is a former singer and pianist who misses her music, her cigarettes, and her drinks; she can no longer speak, let alone sing.

Both George and Clara are haunted by their pasts: George by memories of his wife's and only son's deaths and his youthful tendencies to flee difficult situations and Clara by sad memories of abandoning her only child, Amy, to be adopted at birth. She never married.

George and Clara meet at the Silver Gardens Nursing Home, where George's dear friend, Ralph, another stroke victim, lies in silence. George promises Ralph that he'll not die alone at Silver Gardens, and visits him often. However, he returns from a short fishing trip to find that Ralph has died and been buried during George's absence.

That unfilled promise fills George with guilt and regret. He decides to atone. George's fantastic scheme to abolish nursing homes in favor of communal living for old folks provokes derisive laughter, but with the help of money he inherited from his dead lawyer son, he follows his dream in a big house, painted bright red with yellow trim to the dismay of his small town neighbors.

Assisted by Grace, an elderly mystic, perhaps a witch, with a fondness for candles, George assembles a motley crew of old people, essentially by raiding Silver Gardens.

The group's adventures and ways of coping defy belief, yet when George develops a baseball field and forms a team of his housemates, when he saws through three floors with a giant power saw to install a primitive elevator for the wheelchair-bound, when he crafts beautiful caskets for everyone, including himself, when he plans and holds his own elaborate wake while he's still alive but fading, the reader laughs in disbelief and cheers him on. Meanwhile, Clara provides a voice of reason about the situation, gradually accepting it and supporting George, her rescuer.

While George's vision of putting nursing homes out of business, replacing them with "farmhouses and apartment buildings, old barns and converted warehouses, all of them painted bright red, all full of people just like us, living together. Living it up" seems fantastic and unattainable, this book and its amazing characters remind us that life is a circle, from birth to death, from river to sky. These are elders to listen to and things to think about.

This book presents a wonderfully nonconventional view of retirement and death. The crusty, self-reliant, octagenarian, Oregon farmer who is the main character is delightfully nonconventional -- and the fantasy amount of money he has to indulge his nonconventionality makes for an excellent story. Wonderful detailing like how he designs a home-made elevator for his "retirement home" gives great character to the story.

I've reread only 1 or 2 books in my life, but this is one book I think I can read many times. Our library doesn't own a copy of it anymore, so I was glad to be able to get a good used book from Amazon.
As an average boomer, I think about aging and how to do it gracefully, and without being a burden, but in a way where I can still enjoy my life even if it's limited. This book explores these issues in an entertaining and most important, memorable, way. I keep looking for another book by this author.

This book is incredible - I laughed, I cried and will continue to think about this story and it's characters for a long time. Mr. Kleiner should be busy writing more novels - he has a genuine talent for making his characters come alive. I hated to see this wonderful book come to an end. If only more people would think like the people in this story about life, old age and death, society would be a lot better off. An incredible story about unforgettable people who came alive off the pages. This truly is one of the best books I have ever read and that is really saying something! This portrays the circle of life better than any other book out there! This is a very deep and sensitive book - one to not be forgotten!

I really wanted to like this book and it sounded sooo promising.
I love books about unusual people who don't do what is expected and strike out on their own for answers. But, there was never any satisfaction for the characters and me as the reader. I kept wanting George to find some peace, even if it was just the peace that comes from doing what's right for oneself. The book left me feeling like I had just enjoyed half a good meal and the rest of the meal was taken away. Satisfaction from completing the meal never set in.

If you like dogs, then The Summer of Riley by Eve Bunting is the book for you! This book is about a boy named William and his best friend Grace. William's grandfather had just past away, his parents are divorced, and he is the only child in his house. William starts to get lonely so his mother says that he could get a dog. They finally go to the pound and they find a dog named Riley. Later in the book, Riley attacks one of William's neighbor's horses and almost kills it! This was very bad because the horse was an award winning, horse racing, champion! Animal Control later came to William's house and said he must die! Will Riley be saved or will he die? Read the book to find out!
This was one of my favorite books I've ever read in my whole life! It is interesting and breathtaking because you will never know what will happen to Riley until the end of the book. I would recommend this book to every one of all ages! This is a must read book! Get The Summer of Riley off your local library shelf and read it TODAY!

The Summer of Riley takes place in Wyoming. William's grandfather recently died. His mom decided to adopt a dog from the pound. They adopt a dog named Riley. Riley will change William's life forever. Their neighbor Peachie has a horse. Riley gets out and tries to play with him. He knocks him down and Peachie gets very mad. Peachie puts up a lawsuit. The government is giving Riley 30 days to live. William and his best friend Grace do every thing they can. Buy can they save Riley?
I really liked how the story was so touching. Eve Bunting really expressed how William felt and how much he loved Riley. You can tell because William tried so hard and he was so determined to try to save Riley. His determination made me really enjoy the story. I thought that Eve Bunting wrote an amazing story with a surprising ending.

The summer of riley is a great book for the ages 10-13.
william will do anything to save his dog rileys life. william became friends with riley after his grandfathers death and his parents separated. williams dad called the animal- coltrol place to come get riley because he was chasing a hores.

This is a really sad book but I love it so I highly recommend it.

The Review of the Summer of Riley by Eve Bunting

Do you love story's that talk about a child that a dog is one of his best friends? Well if you do this book is right for you. Riley is the dog and Will is the boy and in this book they have a very strong bond that turns to the worse. Where did Riley go? Will we find him?
The characters in this book would be Will, Grace, Ellis, The Sultan, and Riley. Will is the main character and is a very out going kind of guy. Grace is Will's best friend and is always there when will needs her. Ellis is a bully to Will and try's to make Will's life even worse than it was before. Sultan is the famous, But retired, race horse and with the Sultan Riley try's to chase the Sultan and Mrs. Peachie Thinks its all Will's fault because Will didn't keep track of Riley and that the fact that riley wasn't on a leash. Also we can't forget Riley, He's Will's dog and at some point of time Riley seems as if he were a human friend.
This book has 3 main themes to it, friendship, hate, and confusion to it. When Will hears his mom and dad fighting down stares he doesn't know what to do. Should he go back to bead and forget about it or should he go down stairs to see what's going on. Also when Will finds Riley after his grandpa's death Will feels that there is some kind of hope that may have been in the corner all that time. Also every time Will runs into Ellis no matter when he is once again Ellis try's to do something that Will hates but Ellis doesn't care.
The setting in this book includes Will's room, outside, and the dog shelter.
The dog shelter plays some what of a big role because that is where found Riley and sad his hair looks as if he were a lion. When Will is in his room he try's to think of the things he did wrong and what he could of done to fix is mistakes. He also thinks of his friends and family like Grace and his grandpa .When Will is outside he's mostly playing with Riley, and Grace. The three buds.
When you read this book you will know exactly how the charter feels and what their personality's are like with all the charters. So if you like a good book that you know where in the book the charter is and how he or she feels like this is the right book to read. Also while your reading this book you can tell the themes is this book because they talk about it a lot and show it really well. I would truly recommend this book to someone who likes to read a book that keeps you on your toes but yet isn't a mystery book. So remember when you're looking for a good book that you can read chose, The Summer of Riley by Eve Bunting.

Amanda has grown up wealthy and spoiled in Boston with Joseph as a suitor she expects to marry. However, her life changes dramatically when she is forced to leave the life she knows in Boston for the difficult journey to Oregon on the Oregon Trail. Faced with the harsh realities of trail life, she becomes matures to become a strong, hardworking woman who finds new love in an unsettled land.

Amanda a book by Candice F. ransom, it's a book that has a lot of love in it. This book you would love to read it when you're sad, girls would love to read it when they just broke up with his boyfriend or something. It's a very interesting book that talks about love and engagement and how just a woman can make the difference and manage many tasks that life puts in the way.
Amanda Bentley, I 18 year old, women that lives in Boston with his father, she is the pretty popular girl, she is in loved with Joseph and they are engaged.
One day everything changed for Amanda they had to leave Boston as fast as they could because his father was having problems in there. So they did.
Amanda left Joseph and held to Oregon.
In the way to Oregon she meets new friends in which there was Ben Compton which Amanda loved secretly. She meets with Indians she fights with them. She had to suffer losses and she survives them all. She and Ben get engaged. She thought she hated him father because he was so stubborn until things get harder and harder that she couldn't handle any more and she had to make many things by her own and she wasn't strong enough. She starts thinking that she is weak and she is just a woman but then Ben makes her understand.
I loved it this book is the best book ever I didn't though a book could be that interesting .even if you don't like love storys you can learn a lot about it.

I read this book years ago and have been looking for it ever since. I remember it being a very adventerous story. Well, I have finally found it and I look forward to reading it again.

I would suggest this to anyone. Even if they don't like romantic books, it has a good message. When I first started the book I was excited because I'd read the reviews and everything and it sounded really good. But in the beginning, I found, it was a little slow moving, I was kind of disappointed. She did a lot of reminiscing, and stuff like that. But I stuck with it, and I found it was well worth the wait! Toward the end she is a spirited girl, who could pull her own weight. It was interesting to see how her strength matured throughout her journey. I would suggest this, or any other sunfire book, to anyone.

I admit, I don't usually read this type of book, but this time, I needed a really, really! light read. I almost didn't read the whole thing, because Amanda was quite annoying in the beginning, but she got better as the trip to Oregon progressed. Of course, Amanda is the sort of cliche book that I usually scorn, but hey! go ahead and read it; there's a nice, happy ending.

After spending their whole live on the move, the McNair family has finally settled down in an Oregon cabin and life is good--until both parents die. Afraid of being split apart in foster care, the four McNair children try to hold their family together themselves, but they are haunted by the memory of their mother. The Good Children has an intriguing, if cliché, premise, and it's easy to consume, but the writing is unremarkable and the book is entirely immemorable. There's no harm in reading it but don't go out of your way. Not recommended.

The premise of a family of orphaned children opens the door to guilty-pleasure tropes: us against the world, the desert island paradise. The Good Children delves immediately into both, and the children's struggles to remain safely isolated and rebuild their family create an interesting narrative. They run into enough difficulties to keep the reader engaged, and there's enough sentimentality--at least at the beginning--to make the story seem meaningful. Wilhelm is not a gifted or artistic writer (in this book, at least), but she is experienced; her prose moves swiftly and the book is a quick, simple read.

Unfortunately, while premise is interesting and the prose moves swiftly, neither is particularly good. Wilhelm never takes her premise to an extreme, and so it never becomes realistically difficult or, like other examples of similar premises (such as Flowers in the Attic), enjoyable enough to be a guilty pleasure. The characters become increasingly distant and unsympathetic, and the emotional appeal of the novel all but disappears. The bland prose convey the story well enough, but it's entirely unremarkable; the book reads so quickly that it feels insubstantial. The mother's lingering presence is an interesting twist, but it's never fully developed. All told, the premise is interesting and the story is readable, but The Good Children is unremarkable and forgettable. It's not bad for a weekend of mindless reading, but don't go out of your way to get it. There are more interesting and more worthwhile books out there.

So many novels today have the same plots. This was entirely different and extremely well done. A great piece of writing !!!

I liked this book, not loved, liked. Its a good lesson to those who think that secrets should stay in families and letting them out will ruin you.

I had read and enjoyed several of Kate Wilhelm's excellent science fiction stories before I picked up "The Good Children," a novel that is not science-fiction. I won't attempt to summarize the plot of this book, because that would destroy the reader's anticipation of what lies around the next corner. Let's just say that this is the story of a highly unusual family, with the focus on the four children and the staggering problems that are unexpectedly thrust on them. I found it impossible to predict the outcome of any of the page-turner crises. This first-rate novel is an easy, fast, and thoroughly engrossing read.

A family with four children, and not exactly well-to-do, buys a house. Soon thereafter, tragedy strikes with the death of the father and later the mother, leaving the children to survive by themselves. The children actually live a lie out of necessity until more misfortune occurs with one of them. The family bond proves to be the strength of the family.
This book contains language that might be offensive, and is for mature readers only.

A bit out there, I enjoy fantasy more then SF and the basis of this series is a bit difficult for me to believe, but the writer is so good, that I have read the entire series and found I could not put any of these books down... A Great Read..!

Tainted Trail is the second Ukiah Oregon story after Alien Taste. It picks up not to long after the first one. I like the charactors in the book and the way they relate to each other. During the course of the book Ukiah learns more about his heritage and who he is. In order to enjoy this series you have to be able to suspend your disbelief. Not the best fantasy I have read, but I did like it.

I enjoyed finally being able to finish all the offerings in this series! Wen Spencer is one of my new favorite authors and I eagerly await her latest offering.

This is the second book in Spencer's series about Ukiah Oregon, and like the first it's a fun scifi/mystery/adventure. Overall the pacing's good, but the ending seemed a little rushed to me. It was still a very good read though, and if you liked the first book you'll like this one too I think.

This is a vital story in the Ukiah Oregon series. I completely agree with the advertisements that say you cannot put down a Wen Spencer novel. Without the information in this book on Ukiah's history the series would be a lot duller.