Wisconsin Books

I really enjoyed this book, particularly since I have a good friend who raises angora goats and I am also a native of Wisconsin. The book made me homesick for Wisconsin and it was also a wonderful story of the range of emotions generated by raising animals.

I am/was interested in raising angora goats. This book provided valuable and informative information on that topic in a wonderful, well written story. I haven't decided if it talked me out of the dream or further embedded the dream but the story was great.

A poetic narrative, this book reflects life on a large scale as it tells Susan's story of raising angora goats on a small Lake Michigan island. I was touched by the depth of feeling Susan expressed in vividly describing everything from learning to know and care for the goats to living in an isolated community which generously offered friendship and support to a new resident and her risky venture.

This is a marvelous first time out for an author who took to heart the adage "Write about what you know." Yet what Susan Basquin came to know was something few women learn. Late in her 40s, after several years as a writer for a weekly newspaper in Santa Fe, New Mexico, she accepted an invitation from her brother to start a goat farm on an island in Lake michigan, off the tip of a peninsula in northeastern Wisconsin. She wanted to do something different--and different this book is.

It is full of life and death and the natural order of things--which, of course, is life and death. Knowing nothing about goats or farming or island life, or anything else that she had chosen, Basquin just did it. Starting with 21 angora goats, whose wool someday was supposed to bring a profit, she set about keeping them alive and growing the flock, which ultimately numbered 100. The emphasis soon centered on keeping them alive.

Disease, accident and injury were her companions, and she learned how to cope with each of them. With the help of the tight-knit island community, she became a farmer equal to anyone. But isolation--and sometimes loneliness--also became familiar to her. For six years she ran the farm. But then her brother decided to shut it down.

Basquin returned to Santa Fe, and now has written this memoir. it sings with a commitment to life, and the new life she found for herself, surrounded by goats on an island. This is not a life that most women, or men, would choose. But for anyone with an imagination, it is a compelling read. It will make you wish you had been there--and glad you were not. It will expand your concept of the possible. What is still waiting for us all?

When Susan Basquin's brother suggested they join forces and develop an Angora goat farm on Lake Michigan's remote Washington Island, she jumped at the offer. The isolation and rural environment would offer her free time for writing and contemplation -- or so she thought. What Susan found out first hand is the sheer physical and mental effort that goes into raising a herd of temperamental goats. For the next six years she struggled, growing founder of her animals, and discovering unknown reserves of strength and energy within herself. Goat Song: My Island Angora Goat Farm is the riveting memoir of Susan's life on Washington Island, a fascinating chronicle of her affection for her animals, her determination to overcome feelings of insecurity, and her reflections on island life. Goat Song is ardently recommended reading for anyone who has ever felt the urge to get away from it all and take the rural life in some isolated Eden.

This is an enjoyable and highly educational contribution to the field of urban history. Milwaukee, Wisconsin, "the Cream City" (the name is derived from the cream color of the bricks used in many of its early buildings -- clay from local quarries was yellow rather than orange or red) tends to be belittled or overlooked with Chicago to its South and Minneapolis and St. Paul to its Northwest.

That's a shame because Milwaukee has a unique and colorful history of its own apart from its more prominent regional neighbors. To the extent that Milwaukee's history has been obscured or neglected, John Gurda's book redresses that oversight.

The author does a thorough job of charting the city's growth from its first settlement by various Indian tribes (Pottawanomi, Chippewa and Menomee) retreating from the hostile Iroquois, visits by explorers such as Father Marquette and Louis Joliet, and its satellite status as a secondary trading post for fur trappers based in the larger city of Green Bay, Wisconsin employed by their parent company in Montreal, Quebec. Following the War of 1812, in which both the Americans and the British claimed victory, an exclusion act was passed and many French Canadians had to leave the territory or apply for American citizenship. With the fur trade in decline, early inhabitants turned their attention to real estate development and exploiting the excellent harbor that made the Port of Milwaukee a major destination for ships on the Great Lakes.

Large scale emigration from Europe coincided with the admission of Wisconsin to the union as a state. Germans fleeing from the Revolution of 1848 made Milwaukee their adopted home and made an indelible impression upon the city. Gurda also relates how the loss of the steamship, "The Lady Elgin," which sank after a collision with a lumber boat near Winnetka, Illinois, devastated Milwaukee's Irish community. Many prominent Irish civic leaders were aboard the ill fated excursion ship.

The railroad and real estate speculators, the industrialists, the brewers and the socialists are all included in the story as well as Milwaukee's working relationship and economic and social rivalry with Chicago. As a flatlander with numerous relatives in the Badger State and in the Beer City, I know some of the details by heart and have the bruises to prove it, but John Gurda taught me some new angles. Profiles of important local nineteenth century leaders such as Juneau, Kilbourn, Mitchell and others are included.

The book is lavishly illustrated with drawings, photographs and detailed maps. Milwaukee's geography played a large role in the city's development and the sectional politics that divided various ethnic groups to the present day.

For anyone who has lived in Milwaukee or has ancestors who have lived there, this book is definitely a "must read". What makes it so interesting and informative, apart from the author's lucid and refreshing style, is the liberal use of photographs of persons, places, things and events representing the era being described, as well as, numerous maps and charts clarifying the subject matter. We found it helpful to have a street map of Milwaukee, which we frequently referred to. By the effective use of illustrations on almost every page to illuminate the text material, author Gurda has succeeded in producing as close to a "living history" as a book can become.

Beginning with the area's first native inhabitants encountered by French fur traders Jacques Vieau and Solomon Juneau near the confluence of the Milwaukee, Menomonee and Kinnickinnic rivers where they empty into Lake Michigan, the author fashions a detailed and colorful mosaic of Milwaukee's history down to the close of the twentieth century. In the second half of the nineteenth century the population of the city grew rapidly as immigrants from Europe sought escape from political persecution and successive crop failures. Most of the new arrivals were from Germany and they were very successful in transferring their customs and culture to their adopted city. Milwaukee reigned as the nation's "Deutsch Athen" until the beginning of World War I. "Gemutlichkeit", a cozy atmosphere for making one's self at home, became Milwaukee's trademark. The city's Teutonic influence was apparent in its beer gardens, choral and gymnastic societies, stage productions and German language newspapers, as well as in the thrift and industry characteristic of its workers.

Political and social scientists are sure to delight in author Gurda's account of Milwaukee's Socialist government and the manner in which successive municipal governments dealt with the social problems of an era. With but few interruptions, Milwaukee's Socialist Mayors ruled from 1910 to 1940. The first was Emil Seidel whose private secretary was Carl Sandburg who went on to win Pulitzer prizes in poetry and history, but the most noteworthy of them was Daniel Hoan who ruled Milwaukee for 19 years. A former city attorney who had parlayed his role as protector of the public weal against The Milwaukee Electric Power Company, he brought honesty and efficiency to the city's government. Time magazine, in its cover article of 1936, wrote: "Daniel Webster Hoan remains one of the nation's ablest public servants, and under him Milwaukee has become perhaps the best governed city in the U.S." It must be noted, however, that Milwaukee's Socialists were pragmatic rather than extremist in practice. Without abandoning their principles, they were able to accomplish many significant things by compromise and example despite the fact that they most often lacked a majority on the city council. The book clearly points out that Milwaukee bcame famous for many things other than beer and Harley Davidson motorcycles. To name but a few: its world famous system of neighborhood parks, its zoo, harbor and dock facilities for ocean going vessels, heavy industries, tanneries, foundries and machine tool manufacturing. It also became famous for the pride with which homeowners maintained their property. The extensive eight page bibliography provides a valuable resource to the reader wishing to further explore a particular historical point, and the twelve page index proved to be an easy route to the book's subject matter.

It is not hyperbole to say that author John Gurda's book seems destined to become one of the most fascinating and easily read accounts of American municipal history ever written. Genealogists, in particular, will appreciate the following wise observation found in the author's Forward: "I am firmly convinced that, as the velocity of change increases, it is increasingly important to rebuild our connections with the past, whether the past involves our families, our home communities, or our entire society. We do so not for comfort but for context, not to feed a misplaced sense of nostalgia but to broaden our understanding of the world around us. History, at its root, is why things are the way they are."

I picked up this book on a whim at a local bookstore, and found it to be a wonderful read. I've always been curious about the history of the area I grew up in, and this book gives a solid introduction to the area. I cannot speak for history buffs of the region, who might quibble with a fact or two, but I'm glad to find such an engaging book on the subject.

Hard to understand the first reviewers remarks.if you buy a book called the making of milwaukee then it better have tedious detail on the subject. this book delivers. the whys and wherefores of milwaukee icons unfold for the reader and visits back to milwaukee become all the more memorable when you know the true history. this is an excellent read not only about milwaukee but about the history of the european melting pot as it grew in the midwest.this book reads like the 'forest gump' narrative of milwaukee...all of the icons come alive in a quick and thorough way.

Milwaukee, how I love thee. Let me count the ways. Those of you who have never been to Milwaukee, or -God forbid- only know what makes the news (kids beating a man to death on a porch, how much the Brewers suck, or Jeffrey Dahmer) ought to invest some time in this midwestern jewel. This is a nice book that helps explain the vibrant background of this metro area of 1.7 million. Famous folks weave through the narrative and we learn about the making of such places as the world famous Milwaukee County Zoo, Milwaukee Art Museum, Miller Brewing, the world reknowned Milwaukee County Museum of Natural History, the Schlitz Audubon Center, and the Mitchell Park Horticultural Domes. John Gurda, resident historian, provides an in-depth view of these places and many other items that have shaped Milwaukee; the settling of the area, bridge wars, the growth of the city and suburbs, annexation battles, public services, neighborhood developent and decline, civil rights, urban blight, changes in industry and service trades, freeway construction etc. etc. The book is also peppered throughout with wonderful archival photographs. A must for any student of urban studies or public administration.

Recommended.

This is a good guide to perennials to grow in Minnesota. My only issue is that it is too predictable. There are many more perennials that are native to the Minnesota/Wisconsin area and are not as well known. A little more research on the part of the authors would have been appreciated. There are many beautiful plants that need to be discovered. I suggest visiting a couple of web site that sell native plants. (My own favorite is Prairie Moon Nursery.)

I got into flower gardening three years ago and got this book. I barely knew the difference between a perennial and an annual at the time. It has been invaluable in helping me choose perennials for certain sites in my yard, as well as suggesting particular cultivars based on color, growth habit, etc. I also appreciate the extra information on continuing to care for the plants I choose, particularly about pruning, dead heading, and dividing.

I liked this book more than several others I have because there are no illustrations--only beautiful, full-color photos. I don't think an illustration is very helpful when trying to picture a new plant in my yard.

One criticism I have is that there are very few pictures that show the entire plant. Usually there is a close up of the leaves or blooms. I would appreciate being able to see what the plant would look like from farther away. I have the same complaint about perennial catalogs and websites, though, too.

My yard looks beautiful and I have gained a lot of confidence as a new flower gardener thanks in large part to this book. I would purchase an updated version should the author write one in the future.

Not as good as Melinda Meyers book, but a good resource for backyard gardeners nonetheless.

I've never written a review before, but I really love this book. Any gardener in Minnesota should have this one. It's full of beautiful color pictures and all the information you need to create your own borders: the height, spread and when to expect the bloom. The information is straight to the point and easy to reference.

This book is very user-friendly and full of helpful information for the amateur gardener, which I am. It is laid out in a very helpful manner and gives much information about each plant discussed, including personal experiences of the author with various perennials. It is filled with lovely color photographs of all the plants, as well as text about each one in alphabetical order. I would recommend it for anyone interested in learning about perennials that work in the climates of Minnesota and Wisconsin.

I read this book, here in Brazil, about 20 years ago.This book was writen by an argetinian and jew, about thirty years ago.This book is against Argetina's government, in late 1970 decade.This book isn't a communist's book, but a book against torture and other bad things.The main problem of this book is that we aren't in 1970 decade.Argentina's processo is over since 1983 and we must remember that in Argentina, there was less than 0.05% of murders that were did in "socialists paradises" such as China or former USSR.

I used this book in my introduction to Latin America course as a supplementary text. The writing is moving and heartfelt while being historically and politically relevant. Most students read this book in one sitting finding it impossible to put down.

One of the most harrowing books I've ever read. An amazing entreaty against violence of both the left and the right, and a heartbreaking analysis of contemporary anti-Semitism. Comparable at some points perhaps to Koestler's Darkness at Noon, except that it deals with torture in a more direct (and horrifying, since it's nonfiction) way. I wish this were requiring reading in schools.

I won't give a synopsis of the book b/c everyone else has already done that for you. What I can say about this book is that it is an impetus. After you read it, you'll most likely be hungry for more information about this brutal time in a seemingly well-developed country. Questions to consider: Why the silence of the press, with the exception of Timerman's newspaper 'La Opinion' and the 'B.A. Herald?' How could someone treated so horribly come out of it okay? Why did this happen after Pinochet's regime and the Nazi regime? This is post WWII, so why? Where was the rest of the world? The book is splendid, the first chapter gut-wrenching and beautiful. You will love it as much as Elie Wiesel's 'Night.'

Este libro es un resumen de un pais de tristeza. Anarchia, luchas, gobiernos coruptos, y la militaria- es lo mismo ahora en este pais bella y riqueza. Los maleducados hay un nivel de estupidez - ellos solo quieren el pavo, el dinero - la renta sin pensar de la gente.

Tienes que leer este libro!

All i can say, it is a great book that everyone should read.thanks, chris.

Signorile, Michelangelo, "Queer in America: Sex, the Media and the Closets of Power", University of Wisconsin Press, 1993.

A Very Important Book

Amos Lassen and Literary Pride

When Michelangelo Signorile's "Queer in America" was first published in 1993, it sent clear shock waves through society, both gay and straight. Now the University of Wisconsin Press has issued an updated the classic study that exposed the hypocrisy and prejudices that has become a way of life in America and that is so pervasive in American institutions. This new edition has a new preface and an added chapter that looks at the way American looks at us as well as how we look at ourselves.
Written 17 years ago, it seems like only yesterday when I read it and was shocked to see the state of queer America of the late 1980's and the early 1990's. A lot of change has happened since then but t is still fascinating to read about the effect that the closets of power affected us--especially those closets in Hollywood and Washington, D.C. The closet was what molded our thoughts and brought about behavior that was completely destructive to our community. Signorile, a journalist was once known for outing closeted men and women and in this book he explains why that is justifiable as well as the history of outing. Whether or not we agree with him, he is convincing in his arguments and approach.
"Queer in America" gives you an understanding of how the media and the power structures of America work and Signorile gives this to you in an in your face approach. He has gone to those people--among them directors, writers, actors, politicians and others--who sit silent as we as a GLBT community take the abuse heaped upon us by the larger society. He holds nothing back and in unapologetic confrontation rubs our faces in facts that astound. He writes logically and with reason that it causes even those opposed to the way he does things to rethink their positions. Even though his arguments are convincing they are not always comfortable.
This is a book that should be read my every member of our community and by everyone else in society at large. Straight people may come to better understand why there is such a thing as the closet, how it works and how it destroys creativity and humanity. He gives us a "gay manifesto" by which he challenges all of us to work together to tear down the closet. Reading it today, it seems to be quite dated--so much has happened since 1993 but it is important to know that there was a time when we hid completely.
Signorile argues that no one has the right to be a closet and that it is the media that is guilty for causing people to pretend to be what they are not, Signorile who is best known as the pioneer of outing really gives nothing new but he writes down things we already knew. This in itself is important because once something is written it becomes available to be read. As Signorile matured from a repressed youth to a provocateur, he began to direct his anger against American power structures who, he claims are responsible for our "marginalization". He blames the religious right, the media, the establishment machine in Washington and the movie industry. He claims that the power base in the nation's capital is filled with "queers" using sex to gain power and that this power base has been gradually shifting to Silicon Valley where many gays have found refuge in technology. This is the new place where war between gays and straights will be waged and he issues "a call to arms" which only brings about new issues.
This book is both detailed and powerful and the conclusion drawn is that gay people, if hey want to live moral lives must leave the closet behind them. In this work, Signorile has by himself changed the political landscape of America.

Before I read this book, I was vehemently opposed to the policy of "outing". Signorile wrote both so logically and so well that I was forced to think about this issue in some depth. Moreover, I came to be convinced by his arguments. I'm still not comfortable with this, but I think he's right. The closet destroys far too many people.

This book was written a decade ago, and a final updated chapter was added last year. It is a fascinating look at the state of Queer America in the late 80's and early 1990's. More important, it is a powerful exploration of the devestating effects of the "closet" in the centers of power, especially Washington and Hollywood.

A compelling study of the effect of the closet on people in power and how they are twisted by the closet into actions that are devestating to their own lives and destructive to the GLBT community (can anyone say New Jersey?)

Signorile was instrumental in early Queer journalism, and was, once upon a time, excoriated for "outing" public figures. He explains the history and justification for this approach, and his arguments are more than convincing.

Highly recommended, required reading.

Never before did I have such a strong understanding of how the media and America's major power structures work until I read this book. In his unapoletic confrontational (and even gutsy) style, Signorile has stared down the actors, directors, politicians, writers, etc who'd prefer to sit silent as queers are beaten, taunted,denied housing,equal protection; as queers are denied their right exist. One of the most fascinating sections is the one on the New York power structure (I especially like the chapter explaining how ACT UP was created, from the grassroots up). If theres anything I disliked about this book, it's that too often Signorile contradicts his own beleifs: there are way too many times when instead of exposing gay public figures as gay, he allows them to remain anonymous.

Having once been an Alaskan traveler myself, I found myself slightly skeptical before plucking this tattered book off the shelf. Everything I'd read of modern Alaska seemed wrong, off-key, and too liberal or too commercialized. But after skimming through a few pages, I was hooked. Never before have I found such wonderful, accurate descriptions of the land, its people, and the emotional tracks it leaves on a person. Somehow, I assumed I was alone in my journeys and my memoirs of Alaska, and unable to share them with people. Here is a man who has weaved together a beautiful adventure, honest and simple. I felt as though I was reading a diary of my own excursions in the North. Reading the River is definitely one of the best books I have ever read. I recommend it to anyone who has ever wondered what draws people away from the city, for those living in the city who craves the wild, and to every dreamer, explorer, and 'old-timer'.

I loved this book and enjoyed every page. I've been reading a lot of Alaskan/Northern frontier books and this is definitely one to put at the top of the list. The different people John met on his trip were fascinating. It's told in such a flowing and easy style, that you don't want to put it down. By the end, I envied not being able to take a trip like this myself.

One of the better books I have read over the summer.

A complete surprise. Much more than a travelogue or river guide. Excellent prose from a gifted writer. One of the best books I've read in years.

This book is the story of a motorized canoe trip down most of the Yukon River in the late 1980's. The author had spent some years in Alaska years before and built a cabin in the bush with his then wife. 10 years later, he returned to the North, recently divorced and went from Whitehorse in the Yukon Territory Canada, west across Alaska to the mouth of the Yukon River in the Bering Sea.

This book is not a mile-by-mile description of landscape and campsites. Rather it mostly concerns the current inhabitants of the area and the history of the area. It is well-written and does not contain any "world's greatest" claims. (You know, the claims in many travel books that a certain place is the prettiest, biggest, greenest, or ugliest place in the world.) Such honesty is refreshing.

Having spent one summer on the upper Yukon in Canada and parts of other years, I can tell you this book catches the ambience of the area perfectly - from the Indians (now called "first nations" in Canada in PC talk) to the miners to the malcontents trying to get away from it all. I found it wonderfully evocative and representative of the people who live up there. If you've ever read Robert Service's "Spell of the Yukon" you will understand when I say this work is a book-length treatment of the same subject - the strange lure of the North.

I'll close with a couple of excerpts from Service that will give you a sense of the place and the book.

"No, There's the land, Have you seen it?
It's the cussedest land that I know,
From the big, dizzy mountains that screen it
To the deep, deathlike valleys below.
Some say God was tired when he made it -
Some say it's a fine land to shun.
Maybe, but there's some as would trade it
For no land on earth, and I'm one.
It grips you like some kinds of sinning,
It twists you from foe to a friend,
It seems it's been since the beginning,
It seems it will be to the end.

There's a land where the mountains are nameless,
And the rivers all run God knows where.
There are lives that are erring and aimless,
And deaths that just hang by a hair.
There are hardships that nobody reckons,
There are valleys unpeopled and still.
There's a land, oh it beckons and beckons.
And I want to go back and I will"

Read this if you've ever felt the urge to go North and you'll get a feel for it.

The book gives glimpses of his personal life, his upbringing, along with his professional life as a journalist for the Daily News, Sun Times, and finally the Tribune. I have read the Tribune for many years but never did read Royko's columns. I read this book to get an idea of why he was such a revered journalist.

I found that the book had some great stories in it and overall it was an enjoyable read, but I did not emerge as impressed with Mike Royko as I thought I would be. A good book for a nice overview for someone trying to figure who Mike Royko was. If you are not interested in learning about Royko this book will bore you out of your mind.

My oldest son,now in his thirties,greatly suprised me earlier this year when he responded to my question of what book had the most impact on him when he was growing up.He said it was more than just a book;it was the columns of Mike Royko,particularly those describing the views of Slats Grubnick."They countered all the dining room table"liberalisms"you and mom always were urging on me".While Slats and his creator,Royko,are no longer with us to directly influence my son's son on a regular basis,they are brilliantly brought back to life in this loving and honest book by Madison newspaper columnist,Doug Moe.I don't recall reading if Moe ever met Royko in person,but in this absolutely enjoyable gem,written with the cooperation of Royko's family and cohorts,Moe writes with an authority and wisdom that The Great Royko himself would love.See for yourself!As for me,I'm planning atrip to The Billy Goat tavern where I plan to hoist a few:to Slats,Royko,and Doug Moe.Thanks for the memories and inspiration.

Like millions of others, I followed the columns (read: exploits) of Mike Royko when he was in the Chicago newspapers. Doug Moe's biography serves his subject well in lean, workmanlike prose, capturing the flavor of the Chicago streets and neighborhoods as well as the man himself. Moe brings it alive so you can almost feel the ink smudges on newsprint and smell the Old Style in the corner bars in the dim light of winter nights. Photos and anecdotes complement the narrative, which Moe relates with his usual straightforward understated virtuosity (in other words, no sentences like this one), compelling the reader to turn the page to see what is going to happen next. Indispensable reading for anyone who wants to learn more about Royko, the writing life, newspapering, and a certain now-vanished and legendary era in Chicago journalism. The book fills a welcome niche on the bookshelf.

This book is a wonderful look at one of the great journalists of the 20th century. Whether you are a long time fan of Royko or are just curious about who he was and why his writing had such an impact on readers, you are in for a great read. The photos and text work very well together as Doug Moe masterfully takes you from the humble beginnings of Royko's life down through the years to his final days as the most syndicated columnist in America. Royko's story is fascinating. He was not your typical journalism school product since he, in fact, never went to journalism school. He was a self-taught, street-smart genius who learned his craft while on the job. As this book makes clear, he quickly mastered the fundamentals of sound journalism and then went on for decades entertaining and informing us all with his great writing. The book covers the highlights as well as some of the intriguing details of how it all unfolded. I recommend you read it and pass it on to a good friend.

This is far from a comprehensive biography, but still supplies a lot of information that I was always curious about. The pictures alone are priceless. Perhaps some day Studs Terkel or Bill Grainger will write the definitive Royko bio. But for now, those of us who dearly miss Mike's face on Page 3 of The Trib will have to be content with this.

After completing Hippocrene's Beginner's Norwegian and Teach Yourself Norwegian, I was in somewhat of a rut for quite a while. There really aren't any readily available intermediate Norwegian courses out there (that I could find). Listening to Norwegian internet radio, reading Norwegian newspapers, and watching Norwegian TV helps, but can be frustrating because it's a BIG jump from the elementary courses. I had a copy of this book lying around, but I assumed that since I'd completed several other Norwegian courses, I wouldn't get anything out of this text.

Boy, was I wrong. I'm about half way through now, and I can say that it is absolutely excellent. There is no vocabulary overload (a problem with most other language courses I have--and I have lots of them!), concepts are introduced and then constantly reviewed as part of later exercises (most books introduce a topic and you don't see it again... and of course, forget about it), and best of all, there are TONS of exercises (most other courses are pathetically skimpy with exercises).

In fact, the approach that this author takes is to give short dialogs and readings for the reader to analyze (containing new topics) and follows them with many, many helpful exercises. You sort of make connections and deductions as you go through the problems. It's a sort of "learning by discovery" approach--a very "active" learning style. It's written entirely in Norwegian (except occasional footnotes) and forces you to think. And like I said, once something is introduced, you are not allowed to forget it. It just keeps coming up. Of course, this approach burns a lot of paper up! The book is nearly 600 pages--most of it exercises. However... GUARANTEED that you'll remember this stuff with this approach! I think one reason that newer texts don't take this "active," exercise-happy, discovery approach is that they are too cheap! ...cut all the exercises out and save a lot of money in publishing cost... or cut it all out and call it an audio-based course :-)

Granted, I don't think this style of teaching will appeal to everyone. But it sure appeals to me. I wish I could find texts written like this one in other languages that I study. Also, I probably wouldn't recommend this book to a complete beginner. I think it might be a bit intimidating at first. But if you've gone through TY Norwegian or Hippocrene's Beginner's Norwegian, and you learn well visually, analytically, and by example, by all means give this book a try! Also, since the book is quite old, the audio is very hard to find. You should have the sound of the language in your head before starting with this book if you can't find the audio. I don't have it, but it's no disadvantage at all since the other courses I've done have quite a lot of audio.

An added benefit is that once you've completed this book, there is another more advanced text that follows (by the same author). Bottom line: for traditional/analytical style learners, this is THE book. You want this book.

Starts with the simplest sentences, in Norwegian, and then progresses using hardly any English. No vocabulary overload, teaches grammer systematically and at exactly the right time in the student's development--not at all like the high school and college texts in German, etc, from which you got only confusion and stress. I took three courses using this book at age 42 (taught by visiting Norwegian women through The Norwegian Society of Texas, fantastic teachers all!) and within a year spoke Norsk as my second language (did 2-3 hours of homework each week, absolutely essential but requires 'motivation'). My German wife later erased all my answers (I wasn't happy!) and taught herself Norwegian as well over several years during our summer months in Norway. It helped to go there every summer for some months (for research and hiking). The book's weakness: colloquial speech is left out altogether. For that, see Sverre Kloumann's Learn Norwegian. We bought the three tapes for that book and my wife later used them extensively. One has the advantage that many Norwegian words are recognizable from English and/or German, but the grammer is extremely simple, like English (but more systematic), in contrast with Russian, old Norwegian, and German. Like the later three, though, the language is phonetic. Neither text teaches dialect words, a disadvantage, given that there are 28 major dialects and far more local ones, but the situation is not much worse in that respect than with German. For dictionary, buy Einar Haugen's Norsk-Engelsk Ordbok.

My mother bought this book at a major university bookstore. So... it must be well thought of... academically speaking. It teaches you vocabulary concurrently with grammar concepts and provides drills and examples to help you remember. The only way to begin learning norwegian. You will learn norwegian with this book. I recommend doing one chapter every two days. The only fault is that it should have word definitions in the back of each chapter. However, it does provide a glossary in the back of the book. For pronunciation, get some tapes. ....

The information on the web is misleading. This is not a textbook. This is a teacher's manual. I made the same mistake-- ordered it as the textbook.

There are (apparently) three separate books under this title. There is a text book (hardback), a teacher's manual, and a student workbook. I (foolishly) ordered the $25 version thinking it was the paperback version of the textbook - wrong. It was the teacher's manual.

We read outloud the first Caddie Woodlawn book, and were so excited about it, we went online and bought the second one. It, too, has been a delight to read at night as our family time together. The stories are entertaining as well as historically informative. The Woodlawn books are a treasure we will always cherish.

While "Magical Melons" is not as good as its predecessor, it's a charming collection of stories that get into the lives of the other siblings and some friends of the Woodlawns. Although Caddie is still present, Clara, Tom, Warren, Hetty, and others get a little story as well.

The book is interesting to a reader of more modern children's literature in its terminology, especially concerning Native Americans. But its heart is in the right place, and those who express negative opinions about the native people are shown to be wrong. The book is also somewhat religious, but not in a specific sense. Religion is just another part of the Woodlawns' lives, and the morals in the stories don't pound you on the head.

I remember riding my bike 4 miles to another library to check this out when I was younger, and I still enjoy the stories today. Recommended reading for anyone that enjoyed "Caddie Woodlawn."

This is an advisory to anyone thinking of buying this book--it's "Magical Melons" with a new title. It's a wonderful book, so if you've never read "Magical Melons," you will enjoy it. Just be aware it's the same book.

Caddie Woodlawn is a hyper pre-teen, 10, who is a tom-boy and loves to do unlady-like things. The great and unbeilievable thing about this book is true. Normally the girls back then were very proper. This is a great book and i highly encourage people to read it. This book was better than Caddie Woodlawn.

Caddie Woodlawn's Family (originally titled "Magical Melons") was written several years after the award-winning best-selling original "Caddie Woodlawn". This is a more loosely connected selection of stories about Caddie and her family which covers a wider span than the original book and even overlaps a bit. Although it sounds a little funny, it works (and even makes sense) since these are true stories written down by Caddie's granddaughter.

The stories are simple, but delightful. Not only do they give readers a glimpse into a different era (and in a way that isn't overly sanitized or modernized), but the stories are delightful in and of themselves. They are so real in illustrating the way children are and the way life is. And the icing on the cake is that they really happened.

If you liked Caddie Woodlawn even a little, you certainly won't want to miss these gems.

I bought this book to gain information and recipes for lefse, but ended up with a wonderful book with stories and memories that I could laugh, cry and remember with. Though I was a "city kid", I spent a lot of time on my uncle's farm, and grew up with my dad's stories of growing up on a farm, so I could relate to Leann's stories. It was very fun to reminisce along with her. By the way, the lefse turned out fabulous!! It's now the only recipe I use.

This book was truly delightful. I am a Canadian and was raised in a small rural town. Leann's stories reminded me so much of my own childhood in spite of the obvious differences, I really couldn't put the book down! Well done! I will certainly look forward to reading some more of her writings.

This book is delightful! The stories are heartwarming, and ring true. I like how she describes her home life, and there are good authentic recipes in there too. A wonderful, gentle book for anyone you know!

Christmas in Dairyland is a collection of short, true stories about a little girl growing up on a small dairy farm in Wisconsin in the early 1960s. The book tells of life for a young girl and her family-her father, who did the farming; her mother who, despite being disabled by polio, took care of the house and cooking; and a much older brother and sister, both of whom worked and contributed their incomes to the family.

The stories recall preparations for Christmas at home, school, and church, how LeAnn learned about her Norwegian heritage and, most important, the love that pervaded this close-knit mid-20th century American family. As a bonus, Christmas in Dairyland includes tried and true recipes for many of the Norwegian heritage foods featured in the stories, including lefse (wafer-thin potato bread), Julekake (a rich Christmas bread), fattigman (a deep-fried sweet cookie), and a variety of traditional Christmas cookies. For the more adventurous, there is a recipe for lutefisk (cod that has been preserved in lye). Finally, the book includes instructions for making colorful candles using old crayons, paraffin, ice cubes, and milk cartons.

About the Book
This is a heartwarming book about a vanishing way of life. Small dairy farms, with around 30 milking cows, were plentiful when the author was growing up and they provided a warm and loving home for hundreds of thousands of families back then. There are few left today, as small farms have been abandoned, sold for development, or gobbled up by industrial-scale farming operations. Small dairy farms can no longer provide for a family's financial needs. Even then it was a real struggle. But, though such families were often well below the poverty level in strictly financial terms, they were usually wealthy in love and family relationships, as these stories show.

One or more members of the family-the wife, a son, or daughter-usually had an outside job that contributed to the family income. And the farm usually provided sustenance-milk, beef, pork, chicken, corn, tomatoes, potatoes, and other produce, while mothers and daughters sewed and knitted to supplement clothing needs.. Most important, farm life developed close-knit, loving families that were strong on self-reliance, responsibility, and respect for hard work. My own wife grew up on such a farm and I have often heard her stories about the joys and difficulties-mostly joys-of growing up that way.

LeAnn R. Ralph's stories tell of the excitement of making ornaments and decorating the Christmas tree in her school room each year (another bygone era) and at home. The annual expedition with her father to select the "just right" tree from the stand of red pine on their farm was one of many experiences that built a strong bond between father and daughter. Then there was the year that she and her older sister climbed a large pine to cut off the very top for their tree because all the other pines had grown so much.

LeAnn learned to make lefse from her mother and tells of the mouth-watering aroma of the freshly made, thin Norwegian bread as she came home from school. "By itself, lefse didn't really taste like much, but once it was spread with butter, sprinkled with sugar and rolled into a log, I would have happily eaten nothing but lefse for breakfast, dinner and supper." It made my mouth water just to read about it and I was happy to find LeAnn's recipe for lefse (and other goodies) at the end of the book.
This is a good book for all ages, from pre-teens through octogenarian. The writing is clear, simple, and direct, easily read by young children, but not so simple as to put off adult readers. Children will connect with

LeAnn's description of a young girl's life on the farm, helping Dad with the chores, helping Mom wrap Christmas presents, yearning for a toboggan, and being surprised by her brother's purchase of a saddle for her pony, Dusty. They'll understand her attempts to get out of wearing boots, heavy coats, and mittens on warm winter days, "just because it might get cold." And some will relate to LeAnn's stark fear of having to stand up in front of all the people at church to sing a solo-memorized in Norwegian-of an old-country Christmas carol. Older folks will feast on the nostalgia, and may get tears in their eyes as they learn how that Norwegian carol affected one old woman in the congregation. People from all generations will enjoy the depiction of a close, loving family as it prepares for and enjoys Christmas in Dairyland.

About the reviewer: Boyd Sutton is president of Northwest Regional Writers and a member of the Yarnspinners critique group. He served for 11 years in the U.S. Army Infantry and Intelligence and wrote professionally as an analyst and manager with CIA for 27 years. He enjoys writing essays, fiction, and humor and has been published in local papers and magazines. Boyd won the Wisconsin Regional Writers' Assoc. Florence Lindemann Humor Contest in 2003. He is working on a spy novel and a nonfiction book addressing how Christian denominational doctrine ("Churchianity") sometimes interferes with Christianity.

Christmas In Dairyland: True Stories From A Wisconsin Farm by LeAnn R. Ralph is a heartwarming anthology of true anecdotes of rural life on a Wisconsin dairy farm. Even though Wisconsin is still known as America's Dairyland, life on a family homestead is fast being replaced by corporate agribusiness, and the memories treasured in Christmas In Dairyland are quickly becoming unique milestones of an era needing to be preserved in thought and print for the sake of future generations. Christmas In Dairyland is simply wonderful reading and is a "must" for all Wisconsin public library collections.