Utah Books

ISBN 0373707444 - DJ's father is a dangerous man and a threat to her and her daughter. Unfortunately, DJ isn't prepared for the threat because she thinks her father is another man - and he's dead. When Larry Galloway, her real father, gets out of prison, he's ready to seek revenge against DJ's mother and what better way than through her daughter and granddaughter?

Adam is hired to protect them, but his job is made difficult by his orders to not reveal his reason for being there. Posing as an author friend of DJ's mother, Adam stays in her home and tries to do his job. The two, of course, fall in love, blah blah blah....

Not bad and really the only part I thought WAS bad was the romance - but that's what you get from Harlequin! There were a couple really badly done moments. Near the end, during a fight scene (yes, a physical fight scene), Adam yells at DJ to go call the police and DJ freezes. DJ's sister Laura is there and could just as easily have made the call, but apparently after Laura was pushed by Larry, she disappeared, which was bizarre. Worse, in the same scene, Larry has posed a violent threat to DJ, her sister and her daughter and Adam saved them all... but all whiny little DJ can think of is that Adam lied to her? She's obviously an idiot and Adam should've taken the hint and ditched her.

Nice, easy read, nothing spectacular but above average for a romance novel!

When DJ Woodward learned her father was alive, despite the fact that her mother had always told her otherwise, she was fuming! It didn't occur to her that her mother had been trying to protect her for 30 years. After all, what was so threatening about a long lost father? But why was DJ so reluctant to tell her own 4 year old she had a grandfather?

Adam McAllister was fuming, too. Why hadn't DJ's mother told her the truth about Larry Galloway? Didn't she realize she was putting DJ and her daughter at risk? His hands were tied by his job-as DJ's bodyguard. Worse, he was beginning to care less about the job than he did about the woman herself.

If he couldn't tell her the truth, how could her ever keep her safe?

I saw Mr. Holborn's books on the shelf in a bookstore almost two years ago and I purchased Part III (1840-1945). After I completed that, I immediately went back for the other two, working my way backward. This series has a great deal of valuable information on German social, cultural, economic, political and military history from Roman times through the Reformation, the Thirty Years War, Austro-Prussian rivalry from 1704-1866 for German hegemony, the Napoleonic era and the wars of the French Revolution, the Holy Alliance and the failure of the Frankfurt Assembly, the policies of Bismarck and the forging of the Second Reich in 1871 after victories in wars against Denmark, Austria and France and the constitution of the German Empire. Holborn also delves deeply into the period between 1871 and the outbreak of the First World War in 1914, placing blame squarely on German shoulders where applicable. The postwar era and the Nazi rise to power in 1933 are studied deeply and critically, as is World War II and its immediate outcome. If you only buy one German history series, this is the one to get.

Professor Holborn's masterful trilogy of Germany history begins with the Reformation and ends with Hitler's defeat in 1945. There are no footnotes, endnotes, or even a bibliography as Holborn writes in the style of a nineteenth century historian drawing upon his "life time of learning". Holborn covers every major event in modern Germany history from the Reformation to German unification.

Holborn also gives interesting and detailed descriptions of major political and military figures. The sections on Bismarck, Gustav Stresemann, and General von Schlieffen are particularly fascinating. Holborn's commentary on who caused World War I and the effects of the German railroad system on the national character are excellent as well. Purchasing the series is highly recommended as Holborn makes reference to prior books of the series. If you are looking for a one-volume history of Germany from 1866-1945 Gordon A. Craig's "Germany, 1866-1945" is highly recommended.

Richard Baker's book Los dos mundos: rural Mexican Americans, another America discusses Mexican Americans in Idaho. This group of Mexican Americans is often forgotten; indeed, many people probably do not associate Idaho with having a large Mexican American population. The author has conducted extensive research in the town of Middlewest, Idaho, and his book discusses various factors that affect Mexican Americans' quality of life.

The purpose of Baker's book and study is to show that Mexican Americans in Idaho face many factors that tend to keep them in a lower socioeconomic status than Anglo Americans. Even though most Mexican Americans work very hard, it is unlikely that they will be able to get ahead of the Anglos in education and job status. Baker also showed examples of how Anglos perpetuate the Mexican American poverty situation, but they do not recognize this fact. Instead, many Anglos "blame the victim," by claiming that Mexican Americans cannot get ahead due to their laziness.

Baker organized his book into chapters discussing his field research, the Anglo community, Mexican American culture and daily life, the Anglo working class, permanent working class Mexican Americans, Mexican American migrant workers, institutionalized racism, the education institution and his conclusions and recommendations.

He described how the Anglo and Mexican American communities are separate in the town of Middlewest. In his book, he used separate chapters to discuss the thoughts of the Mexican Americans and the Anglo Americans. For example, by having separate chapters about "the Anglo working class and Anglo farmers" and "Permanent Working class Mexican Americans," Baker illustrates that the Anglos and Mexican Americans are both members of the working class, but their worlds are completely separate.

Another strength of Baker's book and study is the amount of interviews and research that he conducted with individual people. Baker spent fourteen months working on field research. He conducted 335 in-depth interviews during this time. Some research assistants conducted 40 additional interviews. He audiotaped and made extensive notes of his interviews to help him remember details later on when he was analyzing information. By conducting so many, in depth, personal interviews, Baker was able to get a true glimpse of life and the values of the people in the town of Middlewest.

A weakness of this book is that Baker's opinion is evident throughout the entire book. While I personally agree with his opinions, I felt that he should have left his personal feelings to the final chapter, in which he discussed his conclusions and recommendations. Baker commented on the housing conditions of the Mexican American migrant workers by saying, "If it were society's intent to create animals, the living conditions of the typical farm worker would be a perfect spawning ground" (1995). I agree with this statement, but I feel that if the typical Anglo in Middlewest (who does not believe racism to be a problem in his or her town) was reading this book, this person would be more convinced of this idea by simply reading the facts and empirical evidence, instead of constantly reading Baker's opinion.

This book does contribute to our understanding of ethnic groups and intergroup relationships by emphasizing the fact that the Anglo and Mexican American worlds are entirely separate. The book adequately describes how most Mexican Americans see the rampant problems with racism in the town, but many Anglo members of the town simply do not recognize the fact that racism exists in their town. In interviews with Baker, Anglos typically repeat that the Mexican Americans are a lazy bunch. However, with Baker's descriptions of Mexican American life, the reader can see how Mexican Americans work hard much of their lives, only to advance themselves very little or not at all economically. Through Baker's study, the reader can see how Mexican Americans in the town spend much of their time "just trying to survive."

Amazing! I read this book several years ago as part of the author's course requirements. I am a native--born and raised in Caldwell, Idaho, the town that Dr. Baker studied and depicts in "Los Dos Mundos." At the time of my reading, Caldwell was still digesting the "attack" that Dr. Baker's book leveled at the myopic, dominant population of this predominately white community. I say attack because to this day, November 7, 2000, Caldwell residents still harbor ill feelings towards Baker's perspective. The main reason why this book still is a sore point is that Dr. Baker placed a mirror in the faces of many "leaders" of Caldwell; who likes seeing what others know. The book does more than shine light on a social problem it depicts a reality that I lived through. I was blind to the bigotry that encompassed my childhood because I inadvertently maintained the "master/slave" mentality that still lives in the aged souls of this farming community.

This book is a "must read" for anyone who believes that racism does exist, because it will reinforce what you already know. Furthermore, it puts Caldwell, Idaho on the map of institutional segregationism at its worst. Even now in the 21st century folks refuse to understand that if a flawed foundation upon which a structure is built is used in any renovation, the new structure will inherit the problems of the old foundation. Read the book and then visit the town on your way to Seattle or Portland using the book as your guide.

Dundes's understanding of folklore is not only broad in conception, but also internally mixed, involuted in a way like a finely-woven sweater. The involution is not from confusion or lack of command; but rather an intellectual, methodological, and subject matter circuitry which makes for illumination and depth of insight and relevance. This is why Bronner put the time in to collecting, organizing, and writing knowledgeable introductory essays to the 20 articles divided into the two sections of (1) Structure and Analysis and (2) Worldview and Identity.

Dundes's conception of folklore and practice of exploration of it in all its forms obviously is not confined to academia or the study of remote, dying aboriginal societies. This perspective was not only by intention and inclination, but also articulated in his self-conscious theory of folklore and frequent lectures on it. "Dundes did not think of traditions [the central subject of folklore] as relics of the past and often took to the lectern to show that folklore was very much a part of the modern technological world...[he was] the champion of the modern view that folklore was an artistic process rather than a dusty artifact...It is not something that is relegated to primitivized others--historically or socially--but rather a behavioral pattern that everyone exhibits." Dundes not only championed this modern view, but played a major role in expressing it and legitimizing it.

Dundes (d. 2005) was ahead of his time in his understanding and promulgation of folklore. His conception and activity dovetailed with the present-day interest among scholars, social observers, those in the relatively new field of cultural studies, and such in popular culture with its fetishes, tribalism, rites (e. g., shopping), and other features. Modern culture--postmodern culture--does not make any sense without applying principles, terms, etc., from folklore to it. Dundes instinctively realized this with respect to any culture. For him, folklore was not simply the subject matter of a discipline, but an approach to the world; in fact, a necessary means of gaining a meaningful, pertinent understanding of it.

"The body of material Dundes worked on was, broadly stated, culture...Folklore is prime evidence of culture, indeed of humanity." Folklore is central to individual and group identity, behavior, manner of development, and other elements found in any individual, group, or culture. Dundes uniquely and exceptionally embodied and manifest folklore as a prime contemporary field of the humanities.

"The Meaning Of Folklore: The Analytical Essays Of Alan Dundes" is edited by Simon J. Bronner is represents a compilation of commentaries by the late academician and folklorist Alan Dundes who passed away in 2005. A memorial tribute to the work of one of America's premiere folklore experts, this collection of representative essays (some of them anthologized here for the first time) are exceptional examples of insight and scholarship that will prove as informed and informative as they are articulate and insightful. Organized into two major sections: Structure and Analysis; Woldview and Identity), "The Meaning Of Folklore" is a substantial body of seminal scholarship and should be a core part of university and other academic library Folklore Studies reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

Bishop Tuttle consecrated my parish church and was a lively and enthusiastic man who loved his fellow man

This book, written by the Right Reverend Daniel S. Tuttle gives not only a solid account of his twenty years as the Missionary Bishop of Idaho. Tuttle's work took him to Utah, which is and was predominantly Mormon. In his book Tuttle remembers his work building St. Marks Cathedral, St. Mark's School, St. Mark's Hospital, and his experiences with the Mormons. His writing style is extremely old fashioned, which adds to its relevance. This autobiography adds historical prospective regarding a time and place who's history had been rewritten by those who are in power. If you are looking for an entertaining read, then avoid this book like the plague. If you want to learn about the life of a fascinating man and the world he lived in, then I would strongly recommend it.

Prior to reading this book, I did not realize that Basques have been such an important ethnic group in America's West. Thursby's book provides a fine overview of Basque settlement in the United States, and she uses this historical context to provide understanding of important forms of folklore in present day Basque cultural expressions. The major portion of the book is an overview of genres and forms of folk culture from areas with large populations of Basques. She provides special attention to the importance of women's contributions to the preservation and adaptation of this ethnic group's folklore, and she concludes her study with a thought-provoking and well presented analysis of the group's traditional culture. Many of her insights are useful for comparing and contrasting Basque traditional culture with the folklore of other ethnic groups in other regions, and Thursby's writing style is accessible and interesting.

Basque Americans are one of the least known ethnic groups in the United States despite a long residence in the western part of the country. _Mother's Table, Father's Chair_ is one of the first studies to discuss Basque American women and their cultural roles within the American Basque culture. Basque sheepherders and others found ethnic communion and support in Basque boarding houses and hotels that were usually run by women. These Basque men who stayed in America often brought over their families, or married women from the old country who then migrated. Many Basque women migrated on their own. As new generations of native Basque Americans were born, women often became the principle carriers and preservers of cultural traditions, as well as primary agents of Americanization, as they sought and encouraged their children to seek the educational and material benefits of the United States. Jacqueline Thursby interviewed Basque American women across the West, observed and participated in cultural activities and events, and did supplemental research in the Basque country of Spain and France in preparation for this seminal overview of the culture of Basque American woemn. Thursby admirably clarifies the role of women in the transformation of Basques into Basque Americans. _Mother's Table, Father's Chair_ will be of immense interest to students of ethnography, basque culture, women's studies, and Western American studies.

This short 30 page account of the D-Day invasion with first hand
narrative is unique in that it contains reproductions of various items associated with the invasion. There are personal items such as notebooks and Bibles and operational items such as orders
and after-action reports. All in all this is an interesting look into the history of D-Day made more so by the inclusion of historical artifacts. I recommend it to you, inspite of its brevity and price.

Despite its brevity, this book is both informative and revealing. Bowden gives a good overview of what preceded and led up to D-Day. He describes Operation Overlord and the German defenses on the French coast, as well as the air and land assault plans.

Especially interesting are the authentic photos and artifacts from the collection of the D-Day Museum in New Orleans, founded by the late Stephen Ambrose. These artifacts include a soldiers' diary, the front page of the New York Times, a letter from Roosevelt, and an inspirational message from Eisenhower. All are able to be pulled out and looked at by the reader.

One of the artifacts, "A Pocket Guide to France" was given to the military and is included in this book as a pull out. It was simple and patriotic as it explained the military mission in France, the history of the conflict, and told the soldiers how to behave while in France.

Bowden also writes of the possible pitfalls in the plan, including dropping soldiers at night and the unpredictability of the weather. He concisely relates the events of D-Day, the airborne efforts, the invasion of Utah Beach, and the action of the armada, all interspersed with the words of those who were there.

Following this is a section about the Allied advance through France and into Germany...and less than a year later, the Reich was in ruins and Hitler was dead.

I liked this book most of all for its simplicity and authenticity.

Faith Shearin's debut book of poems tells a compelling story. The speaker in these poems begins as a child, becomes a childless wife and ,in a final transformation, finds herself a mother. The book is full of humor and wise observation. She describes her yearning for a child this way: "I hold nothing in my arms. The nothing feels light and heavy at the same time.." The stories these poems weave together are both particular and individual (a mother's untidy kitchen, a father's eccentric love for his dog) and wonderfully universal.

Winner of the May Swenson poetry award, The Owl Question by Faith Shearin is a unique collection of brief yet evocative verse, featuring a foreword by Mark Doty (an international poet and the appointed judge for the 2002 May Swenson Award). Examining adolescence, nature, femininity, parenthood, daily life, and more, these inspirational and deftly written verses often carry a down-to-earth, narrative-event tone. My father, in middle age, falls in love with a dog./He who kicked dogs in anger when I was a child,/who liked his comb always on the same shelf,/who drank martinis to make his mind quiet./He who worked and worked/- his shirts/wrapped in plastic, his heart ironed/like a collar./He who - like many men -/ loved his children but thought the money/he made for them was more important/than the rough tweed of his presence.

Environment. Controversial issues for decades, and for decades to come. Ranchers, farmers, oil and gas industries, conservationists, endangered species act, economy, etc. all play major roles in how we should (or to some should not) safeguard our outside world.
Being an advocate of protecting our natural areas, I was greatly informed through these 18 essays on the different modes of thinking and how to reach conformity among such a divisive group of people and customs.
Although a few of the articles were overly academic, the majority of the essays were insightful on management, recreating, preservation, restoration and sustaining landscapes.
As Francis Parkman, author of "The Oregon Trail" said in the 1800's, "The buffalo are gone, and all his millions, nothing is left but bones". The same could be said of our western wild areas if some sort of accordance is not established.
If we continue treating the earth with disrespect for generation after generation, no longer will there be wild places to comfort the soul and spirit in all of us. Flora, fauna, uncommon landforms, historical trails, air, water, sacred Native American sites, etc., too much is at risk here.

Reclaiming the Native Home of Hope delivers a top-notch set of essays and case studies on western ecosystems, species re-introduction, land management, and conservation. The majority of the setting is focused on the Utah wilderness with other stories spiraling out to the Great Basin and Colorado Plateau areas.

The essays challenge the traditional thinking about the best uses for these remote and relatively unpopulated areas (e.g., mining and ranching) and bring the natural qualities to the top of the list. The book's arguments to preserve ecosystems of the west are balanced with constructive thoughts on ways to preserve jobs and private land.

Stephen Trimble sums up the motivation for spending time in open, natural spaces in an essay called "Letting Go of the Rim." The kind of story that would have left Wallace Stegner smiling.

This is a great overview of the Salt Lake Olympics and Salt Lake Valley. If you want one handy reference book with information all in one place, this is your move.

This coffee table book has some absolutely beautiful pictures of Salt Lake City, the Wasatch Mountains and surrounding areas. The photographers did a fantastic job capturing light, and the pictures are extremely well printed. This would be a great book to have on hand while watching the olympics.

It is also a good book for people who want to have a coffee table book about Utah.

The book itself starts with a brief overview of the Salt Lake Bid, and the resulting Olympic bidding scandal. It then takes us on a tour of the geology of Utah and the mountain west. The book includes pictures of both the mountains in Northern Utah, and the Colorado plateau in Southern Utah. It provides a summary of historical and cultural information about the Salt Lake Valley.

In the last quarter of the book, we get into sports photography, and we can see some high quality shoots of skiers and other athletes.

All in all, it is a well made and designed coffee table book. The main reason to buy it is the high quality photography. You will definitely enjoy having it on hand while you watch the Olympics. The book covers a great deal of information, mainly at a summary level; so it really would not serve as a reference book.

Finally, having been written before the Olympics, there are no actual pictures of 2002 Olympic events. My guess is the book was written before 9/11/2001, and there is no mention of the international tensions which will be in everyone's mind during the events.