Montana Books

One of the most touching stories about a girlýs courage during World War II is the book Sky. Sky is a story that always keeps you thinking what is going to happen to Hanneke, the main character, day after day as she helps Jews escape from Holland alive. She changes her identity and makes illegal trips across the border, along with risking her life in order to save others from Nazis. She is then caught and must find a way to survive. I think this is one of the best books I have ever read. Not only do I like autobiographies, I enjoy this story since is shows an example of heroism to many people. Hanneke shows that she had the courage to risk her life and that she had little fear against the Nazis. I canýt really relate this book because I have never really done anything illegal in order to help someone. Like Hanneke, I have never been in jail before. I would recommend this book to someone who enjoys autobiographies, but someone who loves adventurous stories, full of surprises and suspense.

This autobiography is one I have read several times, and have taught for about 6 years now. Every time I read it, I marvel at the depth of literary talent of this author. Her use of extended metaphor, using the sky as a barameter for what is happening in the world, is genius. The use of things blocking out the sky (the Hindenburg, her tears, the darkness, the prison bars, etc) reflects her talent. I've spoken with Hanneke twice, and find her to be a fascinating individual. This novel is an absolute must-read!

The book Sky is a true story of courage during World War II. Hanneke Ippisch is the person telling the story. She is fifteen years old girl who joins the Dutch resistance and gets taken to prison. Sh ehad to figure out her own way to survive. The story is set in Zeppelin, Holland in 1929. It leads you through Hanneke Ippisch's wholee life story during the war.

I would reccomend this book to any middle school student who is interested in learning about World War II. I liked the book Sky because it is an action filled book of courage of Hanneke Ippisch who was in the Dutch resistance. I liked the book and I hope you will as well.

If you haven't read Sky you're missing out, big time.
Sky is a book about a young girl's courage during World War II. Hanneke Ippisch was a young Dutch girl who was born into a wealthy family and always had everything that she needed. Later in her life when the war had begun, she didn't have as much as before. Her family learned to not eat dessert since it was so difficult to get at the time. She joined a resistance group against the Germans who, at the time, were occupying Holland. What had been going well for a while, suddenly became a bad fate when she is arrested by the Germans in Holland in 1945.
Some strengths in this book are that it tells about what was going on in Holland during World War II and that the book was easy to understand and well-written by Hanneke Ippisch herself. It shows the feelings of Hanneke, though not in great detail. The book really "pulls you into the story." You'll find yourself feeling differently all the time, happy, sad, happy, sad, etc, as the story changes throughout the book.
I feel that the story is better and more interesting during the war than before the war. It has much more feeling and action. Before the war, her life wasn't as interesting and I didn't look forward to reading as much earlier in the book than later in the book. When the war was going on, I was left in suspense at the end of every chapter and I was excited to read more.
Sky is full of many pictures taken of Hanneke and Holland taken during her life. It is helpful to have many visuals with captions telling what the pictures are of.
I had many favorite parts in Sky, but some would give away the story. My favorite part was when Hanneke was in the resistance and helping people (victims of the war) find a safe place to live. She had a lot of courage, it was definitely something that I could never do. She helped many people and saved many lives when she was a part of the resistance.
My least favorite part in the story was when Hanneke was arrested by the Germans for working in the resistance. It was very unfortunate that after helping people for so long and she was arrested.
I would feel that the main idea of this book is to teach young readers about Holland in World War II and to give the message to always have courage and hope in hard times. The book is a good example of this because even though Hanneke knew that she could get arrested in the resistance and that it was hard work. One passage in the book tells about when Hanneke joined the resistance. She was told that it was hard and not a romantic or adventurous job. After thinking strongly about it for a long time, Hanneke decided to join the resistance.
In conclusion, Sky is a very good book. It is one that I didn't regret reading, and I do regret reading many books. I feel that Hanneke Ippisch had a good idea to write this book because it is a very good story to write a book about, teaching young readers to have courage through any hard times.
This book is great for any reader in middle school. It is easy to follow and collects much interest. I would definitely recommend this book to any young, middle school reader who wants to know more about Holland during the war, about the resistance toward the Germans, and the punishments that that could lead to.

Last spring Hanneke Ippisch came to our little private school to talk to us about her book. She was elderly, of course, but she was sweet, kind, hopeful and energetic. Hanneke passed around the real letters she had written on toilet paper when she was in jail (there are photos in the book) and then scolded another child for popping her gum (it reminded her of the gunshots duing the war). She gave us a moving speech (I cried) and then signed books. In each book she wrote, "Let Us Remember!". I had read the book before that day and I was so moved by her story that I simply had to talk to her. I told her my name and she told me that her best friend had the same name. I smiled, but she said that her friend had died during the war. I somehow felt connected to that young girl. I reccommend her book immensely, because her heart is so full of hope and she is the bravest woman you could ever meet. LET US REMEMBER!

Rick Bass lives in the Yaak Valley of northwest Montana. He wasn't born there, but he came to love the place and has made it his home. The people of the valley make a small, isolated community, with only weak versions of the infrastructure most Americans expect such as roads, telephone service, and shopping opportunities.

This book is a collection of essays, as short as one page long, talking about the Yaak. They are presented in no particular order that I could determine, but that's OK - - Bass doesn't really write essays, he writes poems that look like essays.

The chapters provide lyrical accounts of his love of the valley, daily life there, political activism on its behalf, and the friendships he has in the valley. There are encounters with grizzly bears and politicians, the deaths and illnesses of friends, adventures with a fishing guide, and the pleasures of waiting for the mail.

I find it difficult to describe the book further. Like the Yaak, it is, and it is good that it is.

I bought this book after visiting the Yaak. and loved the wonderful prose and the enormous feeling of the wilderness.

I loved the book, and recommend it highly -- it really focuses on the valuable resources we have but often don't appreciate.

I do alot of reading of Conservation related issues and I like the fresh and crisp approach Rick Bass used in waking up the frontier spirit that is in all Americans. Paul Schultz

I first came across Rick Bass in the very readable collection "Big Sky Reader." His essay there about accompanying a friend on a fishing trip with several out-of-state fishermen was an enjoyable glimpse into the lives of folks in the thinly populated woods of the far northwestern corner of Montana. It's a self-sufficient kind of life, where people make do with few amenities in exchange for the beauty and solitude of the mountains and the isolation that comes with many months of snow and cold.

That essay, "This Savage Land," appears in this collection of the author's nonfiction. However, instead of the self-effacing, quiet humor of that essay, the rest of this book is a poignant account of an apparently doomed effort to preserve the Yaak River valley as a wilderness and bring a stop to the clear-cut logging that has been steadily turning it into a vast area of devastation. Chapters describing the author's letter-writing campaigns and his trip to Washington DC to make his case before Montana's congressmen alternate with descriptions of walks on the mountains, sighting bears and other wildlife, discoursing on the delicately interrelated flora and fauna, and admiring what is left of the old growth forests. There's also a chapter on the experience of the winter months and another on a summer of fires in the mountains and the role that fire plays in the regeneration and preservation of forests.

Through it all are the themes of loss and the ruinous harm of the logging industry, which he believes is not simply destroying a wilderness area but removing a critical link connecting regions where grizzlies, wolves, and other forms of wilderness wildlife still survive. When that connection is gone, he believes that these creatures will quickly die out. Meanwhile, the poet in him believes that something also dies within humankind when the wilderness is gone, and he reminds us that once it's gone it will be gone forever.

I recommend this book to anyone interested in the mountainous West, nature writing, and the lives of people in sparsely populated and isolated areas. It's also a book for those whose hearts respond to the call of the wild and who are concerned by the destruction of national forests by the heedless economics of the logging industry and its strangle-hold in government and other seats of power.

Rick Bass has written a plea that is at times elegant and at other times shrill. The best writing in the book are the stories of long-time valley residents (both human and animal) trying to exist in a habitat that is shrinking in the hands of indifferent government and corporate stewards. Every 30-40 pages there is the ripe whiff of the holier-than-thou that usually occurs when a gifted writer transplants himself to the West and somehow comes to believe he is the only one who can truly interpret its significance. But this is possibly a quibble based on the prejudices in my head as a longtime Wyoming rancher. In any case, it's good to know that each member of the Congressional delegation received a copy of this book, although it's doubtful that Conrad Burns or Craig Thomas ever cracked the thing.

This book provides basic introductory information so that you can go out and purchase your rod, reel, lines, waders and all the other equipment. After you've made your purchases you get advise on casting techniques and locations to fish.

I agree with earlier reviews in most particulars, but it should be added that the book - published in 2003 - is a bit dated, a slight matter which relates to some equipment suggestions. For better or worse, close to a quarter of the book is related to catching fish other than trout and salmon - on flies. Still, for raw beginners, reading this book is a very good way to start.

I purchased this book right after I started fly fishing, and found it to be a gentle yet surprisingly complete "starter pack" for somebody wanting an introduction to the sport. Basics of almost all aspects of the sport are covered, along with important terminology and concepts. I would *highly* recommend this to a person considering getting involved with this wonderful and relaxing pastime.

I'm finally retiring back to the NW after many years. My brother, an expert fly fisherman by any criteria (fishes every trophy stream in the U.S. -- his bad day is < 25 fish 16" - 20" or none over 20+ inches w/ pictures to prove it), has talked me into fly fishing after 40 years. My professional pilot discipline drives me to a manual to get all basics and techniques deeply ingrained before taking stick or fly rod in hand. I looked at every book on AMAZON before buying this one and a couple others. I immediately fell in love with this book and have been through it several times. I was impressed with Chris Hansen's mastery of the subject and his ability to communicate its full range from thinking about fly fishing to cleaning your gear after an outing. I asked my brother (other fisherman literally stop fishing to watch him catch fish) to critique it to see if I'd been fooled. He thought the content was as well written and comprehensive as I did. He said it was all anyone needed to become a happy, successful fly fisherman (assuming they fish where the fish are!) to the intermediate level. We both considered the illustrations and pictures superb. It's perfect for me . . . I suspect for you too. Thanks to this book, I'm doing well on my local park lake and looking forward to my first real fishing in Montana next year. I'm ready with the right gear and basics learned. I'm confident and highly motivated . . . now show me the fish. I extend my special thanks to Chris Hansen. Buy this book and you won't be disappointed.

As a person who had never picked up a fly rod in his life, I purchased this book with the hopes that it covered fly fishing at a basic enough level that my appetite would be whetted to learn the sport. I was not disapointed - the book starts at the beginning with the selection of basic equipment, (rods, reels, gear), and progresses logically through fly casting techniques, reading the water, and selection of flies for different types of fish. There is generous use of color photos and diagrams and the chapters are well written and easy to follow. My one criticism is that the section on the selection of clothing, waders, and accessories seems to go a little overboard,(do I really need to go out and purchase a vest with 25 different storage pockets and a floating sleeve to store my flies in?), but that is tempered with the knowledge that as one's skill and passion for the sport evolves, the equipment that will enhance that experience is out there.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who has a curiosity about fly fishing, and the committment to put what the book teaches into practice.

I would just like to say that I did not read the book, but watched the entire series on PBS...that said, it was one of the most interesting and thoughtful programs ever to air on PBS (besides Sesame Street, of course!)

Anyway, I found all three of the families portrayed had their own ways of dealing with life in the late 1800's. Personally, I could not have done it....just the little conveniences that we take for granted each day (running water, heat, toilet paper) were not on hand and they had to make due with the few amenities that they had...if the book is as good as the mini series (I am sure it will be even better) you will find it as insightful as I did...

I didn't think I could love anything more than watching the Frontier House series on PBS. I am pleased to report that I loved this book even more. I don't think it would be a great read for someone who hasn't seen the series, but for those of us who have and loved it this is a must have companion.

The book intertwines facts about and stories of real life settlers on the Frontier with the stories of the Frontier House families, the Clunes, the Brooks, and the Glenns. It gave more indepth information about the selection process these families went through to be chosen for the show, the training they received and some of the questionable behavior they displayed while on the frontier. My absolute favorite parts where where they catalouged all of the clothing Nate Brooks was given to survive the winter as well as what rations of food the Clunes were given to last them the first five weeks of the experiment until they could get to the general store. My only complaint is that I wish they would have included this kind of information on each and every one of the participants. It may seem like minutae to some, but I loved every minute I spent with this book and have to say it was my favorite Christmas present I recieved in 2002.

First of all, I'm not going to lie about why I loved this project. Simply put, I loved seeing how the working class Tennessee family made it without "whining", as did the black family, while the hot-shot California golden-boy executive and his family quickly degenerated into their natural state, namely, whining, lazy, starving, cheating, immoral, whisky-making, white trash. It just shows that without a "stacked-deck" such types cannot compete with real people.

This isn't a nostalgic look back at our own "mythic American roots." This shows the realities of hard-scrabble farming. I can tell that this show has a ring of truth, because my own father was born in a log cabin in Tennessee and plowed with mules. This book and the series jives with his stories and my childhood visits. The chief benefit here is the respect you develop for the people who still live like this (most Mexican families would have had very liitle difficulty doing the same thing- if anything it would have been a step up.)

Of course, I'd recommend this book, or the series, just for California boy saying he "thought it was going to be fun." I must have laughed for five full minutes. I guess he better stick to dude ranches in the future....

Oh yeah, the Indian college professor bringing by an elk to feed the poor, desperate homesteaders was a nice touch. Of course, if they would have murdered him afterward and stolen his land it would have been more accurate. That's how all that "free-land" for homesteading came into being in the first place. Hoka Hey....

I loved this book. It gave a lot more details than the show and tried hard not to pass judgement on the individual families.

It was a hoot that the Brooks and the Clunes would not have anything to do with the petty, hyper-competitive Tennessee family after they got to know them. Even at the post-show get-together, they sat apart. The Tennessee wife, in particular, was much more focused on one-upping the other families than simply curious to see if she could cope with 1880's hardships. She was what my grandmother would have called a "pill."

One of the family members in the book made an interesting observation: he had hoped to get away from the frenetic busy-ness of modern day living, but instead found himself living just an 1880's version of freneticism, working nonstop.

Finally, the book left me feeling that only one person in each family was actually gung-ho about participating in Frontier House. The rest of the groups went along, but not as enthusiastically.

Personally, one day without diet pop, hormone replacement therapy, and microwave ovens, and I'd be ready to kiss suburbia and strip malls on the lips.

I've watched the videos three times through now, in addition to digesting the web site and now the book. I recommend all three.

It was an interesting project, but no one media presents it completely. You have to watch the videos, read the book, and then the web site to get the most complete picture.

Many people seem to have misunderstood the project. The people there were supposed to be 21st century people put into 19th century Montana. They had to use period tools, materials, and methods (mostly) but they'd still be 21st century people doing it.

The people chosen were an interesting study in human behavior. The Clunes came from the most radically different climate and background and frankly would have fared very badly in their first winter. I think in the long run they'd have probably ended up living in town and making out alright. Gordon Clune is a very entrepreneurial spirit. I also think he would have realized what that sort of pioneer life was doing to his family and taken them out of it.

The Glenns were the best prepared to survive a winter - providing they did not murder one another - and would probably have made it through to the next summer in the best condition. Karen Glenn was depicted as a most ungracious woman which is a real character fault, but it does not change the fact they would probably have survived the winter the best. Judge Winter would not have cared much about anything else. Mark Glenn came in as a step-dad into a ready made family which is a tough enough situation. Doing the Frontier House project on top of it seemed to have simply been too much for their relationship.

I really liked the Brooks, but a careful reading reveals that Nate and Rudy were somewhat of a ringer. Both had very applicable life experiences to surviving in such circumstances that the others families did not. They didn't have to make as much of an adjustment as the other families did, nor did they have children to consider and cope with. Kristen, on the other hand, had a background more similar to the other families and found the frontier life a hard road to travel.

It was too bad that the project ended only five months in. They were just beginning to really develop a community and that was a very important survival consideration. Much of the isolation and loneliness the women of the three families felt could have been alleviated somewhat as the families interacted with each other more as a community. A few more months and things might have looked much different. Providing the Clunes and Brooks managed to stay there through the winter.

Go to the web site and read the expert's reports as they are very revealing. Read the book too as it explains much as well.

.....Alan.

GIRAFFE OF MONTANA is a collection of four short stories featuring a group of mostly displaced animals. The book is primarily set in the state of Montana and introduces readers to Giraffe, the only one of his kind in the state, and his friends which include a family of opossum, a gorilla, a hippo, and a crocodile. Each story teaches important lessons about life and friendship, all in the course of brief but adventurous tales. In "Friends" Giraffe travels all the way to the Florida Zoo in hopes of helping both his lonely crocodile friend and an albino alligator who lacks self-confidence. The story not only relates the adventure, but it also emphasizes the importance of accepting one's uniqueness and accepting one another. The other stories are written in a similar fashion, each modeling positive morals and character traits.

GIRAFFE OF MONTANA introduces children to a wide range of animals while examining issues that are inherently human. William Bowman-Piper manages to do all this through stories that are humorous, entertaining and engaging. While this is a collection of short stories, younger readers may have a difficult time completing an entire story in one sitting because of their length. In my opinion however, this is the kind of book that begs to be read aloud and I believe it would be most enjoyed when shared between parent and child. It is sure to be so much fun, children will hardly realize they are learning.

Reviewed by Stacey Seay
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

A Witty and Interesting Piece of Children's Fiction



The colorful cover displaying the diverse human and animal characters that make up the four stories in "Giraffe of Montana" was the first indication that this was going to be an enjoyable book. Reading these stories reminded me of the stories read to my class in elementary school by visiting authors. It brought back warm memories that I eagerly shared with my 7 year old.



It is a difficult task to filter out the negative images and stories that inundate our children on a daily basis. I felt safe as I read Piper's stories and I felt that not only was I reading a fun selection of stories, but an educational selection as well. The first story was entitled "Friends." It was about Giraffe traveling to a zoo in Florida to "pick-up" Allison the alligator to keep his friend, a lonely crocodile, company. This story sets the pace for the book as we see that Giraffe is a loyal friend determined to keep his friends happy.



The remaining stories are equally warm and inviting with a lesson to be learned on each page. We are touched by many "lessons to live by" but there are three that stand out to most. The first being that it is possible for people, or animals - as the case may be - to live together in harmony regardless of their differences. The second lesson is that it is honorable and a reward within itself to do a good deed for others. The final lesson that I've learned from this book is that you can resolve any conflict in a peaceful manner when you take everyone's emotions and opinions into account before making a decision. You may take other lessons away after reading this book but the point is - it is a piece of fiction suitable for every audience and a colorful addition to your library.



"Giraffe of Montana" is a well written book penned by William Bowman Piper. He is a retired teacher of English Literature (he taught writing and 18th century literature in Houston, Texas at Rice University.) He is also a published poet and author of several books about English poetry and novels. (This information was taken from his exciting website named after his book.) This book is the first volume and I am certain that the continuation of the "Giraffe of Montana" series will be equally entertaining and educational.

Tyrone V. Banks

This is a charming tale with a strong narrative voice that reminds me of Rudyard Kipling's use of "O Best Beloved" in his Just So Stories. I remember that comfortable feeling as a child, the warmth and security I felt as the listener of such storytelling. I look forward to sharing this book with my own daughter as a read-aloud. Aspects of it seem particularly appealing to a child's perspective of the world. It provides contrast with some of the more heartbreaking children's fiction of recent acclaim as well. I'm looking forward to the rest of the series.

Reviewed by Kim Peterson for Reader Views 6/06

Giraffe of Montana lives in a cave near his friends--beavers, kangaroos, raccoons, zebras, lions, opossums, an elephant, a crocodile and more. This out-of-the-ordinary assortment of animals dwell in a kingdom ruled by a king and queen and two princesses named Isabel. Volume one relates four short stories about these diverse animals that get along together despite their dramatic differences.

In the first story, "Friends," the animals help Giraffe prepare for a trip to Florida to invite Allison the albino alligator to move to Montana. Using his special talents, Billy the beaver builds a special railroad car to transport Allison back to their kingdom. Casper crocodile, who prides himself on his elegant tapered nose, learns to share his pond with the beautiful snub-nosed gator and both reptiles learn to accept the bodies they have.

In "Olympics" the animals tell Allison about Casper's success in the Montana Olympics. The newly-settled gator likes her new home and enjoys the thrilling tale of the race that rain nearly ruined.

In "Finding a Tree" the animals, led by Giraffe, hunt for a more spacious meeting place and the perfect tree for Christmas. Feeling a little crowded at their recent gatherings, the animals search until they find a place where they can celebrate the holiday together.

In "Christmas" the animals make the most of their time together because the winter weather usually limits their fellowship. They create a festive atmosphere as they decorate with lights and their own unique treasures. Again, the animals work together and use their differences to enhance their holiday and their friendships.

Despite the author "borrowing" characters like Kanga, Roo and Rudolph from other authors, "Giraffe of Montana" provides children with a likeable chapter book. Although the animals talk, Piper keeps them true to their real-life natures exposing children to the lifestyles of these unique animals, including their dwellings and eating habits. The book repeatedly emphasizes how differences can be accepted and treasured as well as the value of friendship. These great lessons for kids are delivered in story form without overt lectures or moralizing. Children will want to visit Montana again as well as access the related Web site at www.GiraffeofMontana.com.

English literature professor, William Bowman Piper, has penned a sweet-natured book, Giraffe of Montana, Vol.1. The book revolves around a Utopian fairy tale of an unlikely friendship between different animal species- a giraffe and a crocodile, a possum and a zebra, a hippo and a bear, etc. To make things even more interesting, they all gather together in the cold wilderness of Montana!

The clever narrative is divided into four chapters, wherein the feeling conveyed is that of the splendor of comradeship among all species, as well as the significance of getting along with everyone, notwithstanding our differences.

The first chapter introduces us to Giraffe living in a cave in a friendly kingdom and is friends with different kinds of animals. Giraffe is the important chief peacemaker for all of his buddies. One of his friends, the croc, is lonely, thus provoking Giraffe to travel to Florida in order to seek out a companion for him. Then there is Allison the alligator, who is self-conscious about her snub nose. When all the friends in Montana embrace her with "open arms", she forgets about her snub-nose and regains her self-confidence. The second chapter takes us back to the friends' "Olympics," where conflicts are resolved in a friendly way. In the third chapter, the friends argue as to where to hold Christmas and what kind of tree they will have. Of course, all of their differences are resolved. The fourth chapter brings us to the celebration of a very special Christmas in Montana.

One of the shortcomings of the book and one that prevents the book from becoming entirely engrossing and kid-friendly is the non-stop chatter between the friends. This tends to become a bit exhausting, and in addition, retaining the names of all the friends is a taxing exercise for anyone's memory, let alone children from 6 to 10.

The black and white illustrations and colored book cover by Bill Megenhardt enhance Giraffe in Montana. The cartoonish characters that are adorable and in synchronization with the text, as well as the vibrant colors result in a triumph of achievement and production. It is a harmonious concerto of peace among all species. Perhaps, we should all move to this peace loving place in the world, Montana. Are they still going to be friends in the forthcoming Vol. 2, or are they going to succumb to the real world's frenzy?

Lily Azerad-Goldman, Artist and book reviewer for bookpleasures

I had read this book several years ago. Since then I have become a widow. Looking for anything to lift my spirits I stumbled across this book at the library. After re-reading it, I knew I had to have my own copy. It made me laugh. Frances Weaver gives you permission to laugh at life. She shows you how to find a way through the sadness. I highly recommend it.

Having heard Frances Weaver on the TODAY show, I was anxious to read her book, and what a pleasure it was! I have since given copies to many of my friends, and they also enjoy her wit and wisdom! I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in living life to the fullest -- Frances Weaver is an inspiration, and her attitude toward life is refreshing! She concentrates on "why not?" instead of "how to"-- and does it very well.

I actually was loaned a copy of this book and loved it so much I bought my own. I've now loaned it to my mother who may buy one for herself and some of her friends. This is an inspiring book for any one over 50. I loved it!!!

I just turned 60, and my best friend gave "grandmother faces" to me for a b.d. present. It's hard to categorize this book because it covers a variety of isssues; however, the basic philosophy is wonderful (live life to its fullest at a mature age). It would be an excellent book for many older women, but especially widows past the first couple of years. What a role model Frances is. There are lots of practical suggestions, too. Although my husband is with me (thank goodness), I can understand that widowhood is not the end of the world; it does have some pluses. I'm planning to send this book to my grandchildren's other grandmother, who is a widow.

This book is good for widowed women over 55, but just didn't help deal with the greatest challenges facing a divorced woman who has been in the work force her entire live, is able to make decisions and choices on her own and faces a different set of challenges than someone who is widowed (surgeon's wife) with financial security and a supportive extended family.

One day I was rummaging through a used book store (more a warehouse, actually), when I came across a neat-looking little paperback staring out at me from between the creased and dust-caked spines of other unknown novels. It was called "Montana Gothic," and the cover depicted a skeleton wearing a cowboy's hat. I was sold then and there.

This is a strange novel for sure, and unlike anything I've ever read. Essentially, this tells of four separate generations of Montana folk and the bizarre situations they encounter on the plains. The first tells the story of a young mortician who comes to an early 20th-Century frontier town to set up shop, and the hostility he encounters from the locals. The second tells of a young wrangler and the old cowboy he works for and their experience together one cold night in the dead of winter. The third story details a crime committed by the daughter of a wealthy patriarch, and the final story is about a gunslinger in modern-day Butte.

It's a compelling read overall. Van Sickle's writing is atmospheric--if not necessarily stunning--and the characters, especially, are well-drawn. I admit I was expecting more horror than what I got, but that's the point--"Montana Gothic" subverts expectations. It's completely unique. Other complaints? Well, the final story was a bit weak, but other than that...nada.

Highly recommended for adventurous readers willing to go the extra mile to find a rare and overlooked gem.

What a cool book. I've never read anything like it.
"Montana Gothic" consists of four sections, all set in Montana, from the early-1900s to the late-1970s.
In the first, a man moves to Nowheresville, Montana, to become an undertaker and discovers that no one wants anything to do with him because the previous undertaker molested a large number of female corpses and the townsfolk assume he's the same way.
In the second, an old cowboy (who was once a young minor character in the first part) spends a long winter alone in a cabin with a young complainer. The old cowboy's words are some of the best writing I've ever read on the subject of A Sense of Place. He talks about Montana, but he could be talking about New Mexico, or about anywhere where the land becomes the people and the people become the land.
In the third, a minor character (the young complainer from the second part) takes advantage of a slightly retarded young girl, the girl murders him, and the family tries to cover up the crime.
And in the fourth, an Old West style gunslinger (carrying the same gun the young girl killed the misguided rapist with) tries to exist in late-1970s big city Montana.
All of the stories end in very dark, Shakespearian ways, but all of the book's characters are easy to empathize with and to root for. As a result of their likeability, the grim fates of many of the characters feels especially sad. The stories are intricate and fascinating in the way they connect with one another, and the overall structure of the book is unique and enticing.
And the writing is very good--like Cormac McCarthy Lite, I'd say--and some of the author's natural descriptions are among the best I've ever read.
"Winter sky in northeastern Montana is just another kind of mud; thinner and grayer, but so deep that if you ever fell into it, you'd never get out."
Then there's the ending. The book's ending packs an emotional and symbolic wallop that I'm still reeling from, days after reading it. "Montana Gothic" is a forgotten treasure, and deserves all the word of mouth it can get. I can see it being an awesome movie someday, and I always plan on keeping a copy around. It's spooky, thoughtful, deep, and beautiful. It's often funny too, and it's ALWAYS original. I can't see why this author isn't more popular--I'd way rather read him than Norm McLean.

This twisted tale starts in the early 20th Century and its style is so appropriate that the ending comes as a real blow although expected and inevitable. The tale goes on from there, through the decades and inevitable is the keynote. This book should be taught in colleges as it is the perfect use of prose to wring our minds with truly profound horror. Not ghosts or goblins, but the real horror of mortality and fate. And yet we want to read it again, or talk about it -- like Poe, like Faulkner, it brings us into areas we hadn't considered, but which are surely there for all of us. I'll never forget this book, but it may not be for everyone. I read that the author died last year; what a tombstone to leave behind! Truly an overlooked masterpiece in our literature.

The 4 parts of this story are like 4 bullets hitting you in each corner, but something about them makes for a 5th bullet that gets you in the middle. How does it work? Friends I've turned on to it can't say, but they agree it is psycologically perfect in terms of doing it to you! If you love Horror/Weird, see how this one does it subtley in "subtext" as well as overtly. Why didn't it win some kind of prize? Maybe there's a bias against such truly dark writing -- but not here! I looked for other works by this author and found only a prescient and out of print ECOLOGICAL CIIZEN (non-fiction) but nothing since M.Gothic. One can see why! It's all in this one strange novel.

We think horror is the supernatural, as with so many cheap stories. But in all of us, our true horror starts in our mind, and Van Sickle knows this in this very horrifying book. In a way, it is healing, insofar as the mental terror here is a way out of our own. I assume the cowboy and western elements are such that men would enjoy, but the inner terror that permeates this substantial work is what I feed upon. A first class job of fusing the West with the Nightmare. Unlike the other reviewer, I don't want to meet the author--especially on one of my dark nights. But I have reread this book three times and it makes me stronger each time. The best, and strangest, book I own. Olivia Lemon RN, NYC

T.D. Jakes is a wonderfully blessed man. In reading this book you know that he is touched by God and highly favored. This book was AMAZING. I looking forward to reading more by him. This book is well worth the five stars I gave it and I highly recommened it. I was touched, moved and motivated to get myself in order (Faith, Family, and Finances!!!!).

T. D. Jakes describes life as a journey in which some people pack more than is necessary for the most productive trip. He wisely advises carry three bags, faith, family, and finances. I think it is no accident that he arranges them in that order either. Faith is needed for this life and preparation for the next. Family is something you can take with you, provided they share the faith and finances encompasses effective stewardship principles that reveal what you have to show for your existence.

Although each of these subjects is familiar, Bishop Jakes sheds new insight in each of the three arenas. He builds to a climax in his teaching on Romans 8:28-30. It is worth the price of the book just to read what he says in the few pages devoted to that topic alone! He will build your faith because he speaks from the perspective of a credible source, i.e., it's lived it.

This book is comprehensive in that he covers both Old and New Testament teachings on the topics. He includes personal experiences. Bishop Jakes is even confident enough to be vulnerable in places, not one who claims in a phoney way to have all the answers. His advice is practical, doable, workable. I highly recommend this book.

TD Jakes is deceived by wealth... see Jesus' parable of the sower. He is right to say that we should avoid both extreme's (poverty and wealth), but then he goes into how we can get a 100-fold financial blessing.

I'm very happy to see him expose the false teaching of the prosperity teachers. But how can TD Jakes live in mansions and have luxury cars when he knows his brothers/sisters in Africa (for one example) are dying of starvation? Truly, his conscience has been seared as with a hot iron:

1 Timothy 4:2
Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron.

Example, pg. 69:
"Money is to serve you, and you should serve God by using it according to His plan."

How is living in luxury, when our brothers and sisters are dying, spending money according to God's plan? That's what TD Jakes does; live in luxury.

Please, learn the truth from our Lord Jesus. He taught what stewardship is, in the "Parable of the Talents." Ten percent doesn't belong to God, as TD Jakes says,,, 100% does! We are to manage all of God's money for the kingdom, and only live on what we need (not want). That's the lifestyle of Jesus and His disciples.

TD Jakes is teaching people to be deceived by wealth. Those who are deceived don't know it, or else they'd refuse to be decieved. TD Jakes is deceived... just look at his lifestyle and seared conscience. What will he say when he meets his brothers and sisters in heaven, the ones who have died from starvation because TD bought a new luxury vehicle or another vacation home?

What a wonderful book. I bought this book when I neeed it the most. As a woman, I am my worst critic, and at times I feel I am not worthy of the wonderful things in life because of my past. T.D.Jakes words describe how God loves us regardless of our color, our pasts, the shape of our body, or our hair color. Its the size of our heart and the beauty within that is the most important to God. I learned through his words to accept myself as I am. I am truly grateful I have found T.D.Jakes! I realize now that I am a masterpiece to God. What a wonderful thought that brings !!

Thank you, Karen Michelle

Another masterpiece by Bishop Jakes! I was particularly impressed by his practical teachings related to financial matters. He takes a look at the two extremes - poverty and abundance. Rather than teaching 'pie in the sky', he shares the importance of financial responsibility by maintaining a budget and using credit wisely. He goes on further to discuss saving, investing and sowing into good ground. It's very inspirational to hear messages from the clergy that go beyond `naming it and claiming it', but rather teaches that there is a part that we must play in setting our financial affairs in order. Kudos to Bishop Jakes!!

Rating: I've been having a hard time deciding if i should give this book four stars, or five. but i think in truth this book deserves 4 1/2
Length: this book is 176 pages total (plus a little glossary of horse terms in the back).
Overall Review: when 13 year old Hilary Thompson hears that her parents are planning on moving from the city to the countryside of Tennessee, she isnt exactly pleased. Hilary knows NOTHING about horses, but when she arrives at her new home, she finds that her house borders a horse farm.
Then Hilary meets Satan, a beautiful black mustang with a fiery temperment. No one can train or ride him. Hilary's parents set her up for a job at the horse stable, and there she meets Susan (owner of stable) and her son Jeremy--who turns out to be the owner of the black horse. She also meets Elise, a snobbish girl with a wonderful horse and the best rider there (and Jeremy's girlfriend).
Hilary's relationship with Satan begins to grow, and pretty soon he learns to trust her. and before long, she's on his back secretly riding him. But to do this, Hilary has to sneak out. She doesnt want anyone finding out about her little visits with Satan.
And then one day Jeremy catches her out with Satan. He bargains with her, and she promises to help him win the trust of Satan. Can she do it?
My (Personal) Review: I loved this book. I really did. It was an easy ready for any horse lover--and i liked the fact that the author put in a glossary of horse terms so that even if you're not an expert with horses, you can still understand. The book has no long, boring parts in it. it's nonstop twist and turn after another. i only had two problems with it, though: 1, i think it was too short for the plot or storyline. i love a book that lasts, and this one was just too short for me personally. 2, its a little unrealistic when it comes to Hilary training Satan. The horse is supposed to be vicous and wild, but really it takes Hilary no time at all practically to win his trust. I thought that was a little strange.
But overall, this was a GREAT book with a little romance sprinkled in. you should read it. i hope the author comes out with a sequel. As for the ending, it was bittersweet and yet perfect i think.

To be gifted with the chance to work with and ride horses is the dream of many. To be gifted with the chance to "join-up" with a horse like Satan is a once in a lifetime experience.

Juliana Hutchings has been around horses all her life and at the age of 14 crafted this amazing story of a young girl and the mustang that she befriends. When Hilary makes a move to a new town leaving her old friends behind, she's feeling lonely very much like the little mustang that has been dropped off at the stable nearby because no one can handle him. A summer job is the beginning of a friendship between the two.

Hutchings is aware that for some readers the terms used to describe what happens at the stables will be new to them. So as Hilary learns these terms so can we via the glossary added at the back of the book. And also like Hilary, we become initiated into the world of horses and riders and how they can work to become a team.

Twists and turns, ups and downs, and a far bit of growing up are all experienced in this nicely paced book of courage and hope. Strong female characters and good family values help to round out this story of what can be done when one sets their mind to a goal and follows thru even if it involves a few tears along the way.

This book will capture any young person who loves horses, and who doesn't! It has all of the elements of a teenager going through those tough years, but also finding something that helps them reach for the stars. I would highly recommend this book to all young people who want to curl up in a chair and get away to their dreams of owning a horse.

This is a heart-warming story of love, acceptance and angst. The teenage heroine has been uprooted and moves to an environment that is foreign to her. At the same time a new horse arrives at the Stables next door...you guessed it...they become friends. The ease and flow of the words on these pages make it an enjoyable read. While this story has been told before I feel that the author's story plays heavily in to the very real - not patronizing - teenage feelings, because she is a teenager herself! Juliana Hutchings is "An Author To Remember"!

This is a great read for anyone. It flows easily giving depth to a realistic and moral story that is an honest delight. It will warm your heart and last long after the book has been read. Bravo!

Booklist says "McMahon might be ready to take his place alongside such writers as James Crumley and C. J. Box." I.ve never read Crumley but McMahon is whole lot better than C.J. Box any day!

Nice read. There were only a couple over-the-top instances that marred it.

Hugh Davoren is what in most people eyes would seem to be your average guy. He's a day laborer and carpenter for a local Helena, Montana construction firm, currently working on renovatiing an old ranch homestead south of the city.

One afternoon, while driving a load of scrap material to the ranche's dump, he has a chance encounter with the new ranch owner's wife. It's cordial, but out of character. He's never actually met her and feels she has gone out of her way to avoid him. Her resemblance to a girl he once knew brings back haunting memories of a summer he spent working the same ranch-and the two shadowy deaths that took place there long ago.

At the dumpsite, while dumping the material from his truck, he notices a horse hoof protruding from a pile of garbage. Upon investigating further, he finds not one but two horses that have been murdered, grossly mutilated and surreptitiously hidden. Davoren, a native Montanan and former investigative columnist for a California newspaper with a love for horses, decides to poke around the ranch to see if he can figure out what caused the questionable deaths of the two equines.

Before he asks his first questions, he is confronted by the ranch foreman and held at gunpoint by drug addict youngest son of the ranch's former owner Kirk Pettyjohn. Then the ranch's new owner, a sly Easterner, Wesley Balcomb comes to interrogate him.

From the moment Balcomb arrives, Davoren's life is thrown into a tailspin from which he may not recover. He is arrested on trumped-up charges, jailed, freed, and terrorized by Balcomb's henchman to the breaking point. With the help of Madbird, a Native American Blackfoot, Davoren evades Balcomb's ever-tightening net and unravels the mystery around the dead horses.

The Big Sky country of Montana is so perfect for Lone Creek that you find yourself visualizing every descriptive scene the McMahon writes. This is a terrific story, full of likable characters, vivid personalities, and just enough intrigue to keep those pages turning.

Armchair Interviews says: Going out West for a summer excursion? Take this one with, you will not be sorry.

Hugh Davoren's life went from bad to worse throughout most of this book. I was exhausted trying to keep the faith with him all the way. Hugh finds two mutilated horses badly buried out in nowhere, and the the bad luck begins. If he didnt have any bad luck, he would have no luck at all.

Fascinating study of man's will to keep his sanity and ethical standards. You want to slap him upside the head when he falls for the boss's wife. I saw that coming waaaay before he did.

This was a book of Hugh's baptism by fire. Without his friend Madbird, he would have been a total disaster. People like Balcomb and Kirk needed killin' and you sense Hugh's frustration at trying to live up to his own morals. Character descriptions were very interesting.

The author's descriptions of everything were so poignant and wistful. My first read of this author. Not my last.

A great book in a setting and with plot unlike anything McMahon has written before with an attention to detail that makes the book come alive. (Few people know that when on a motorcycle your knuckles get cold very fast or that Timothy is a type of grass used to make hay.) I hope for many more books from McMahon set in the "Big Sky Country".

Neil McMahon, author of the Dr. Carroll Monks series, has established a reputation as a competent if under-appreciated journeyman writer. His latest novel meets and exceeds any and all expectations raised by his previous work.

LONE CREEK is a world removed from the Monks books, trading the hospital environs of San Francisco for McMahon's home turf of Montana, and Monks's surgical scrubs for the carpentry tools of one Hugh Davoren. I suspect that McMahon has much more in common with Davoren than he does with Monks --- McMahon lives in Montana and, like Davoren, is a carpenter --- and the apparent similarities between the two men infuses LONE CREEK with a reality and an immediacy that is a rarity in works of fiction.

The book begins with Davoren doing carpentry work for Wesley Balcomb, the new owner of the Pettyjohn Ranch near Helena, Montana. The ranch holds a mixed bag of memories for Davoren that is all but swept away when he makes a grisly if accidental discovery on the ranch property while working. He is then fired and arrested on the same day, in what appears to be a setup.

Davoren's job termination is the least of his worries, though, as it quickly becomes clear that Balcomb isn't satisfied with simply ruining him --- Balcomb wants him dead. Davoren's allies are few, but one --- Madbird, an Indian carpenter who easily walks away with the book --- helps Davoren to even the odds, despite being outnumbered by lawyers, guns and money. Ultimately, however, as Davoren slowly uncovers the secrets of Balcomb and the Pettyjohn ranch, he inadvertently unleashes a maelstrom of explosive violence that can only end one way.

As compelling as Davoren and Madbird are, the real protagonist of LONE CREEK is Montana itself, brought to vivid, thundering life by McMahon's prose. Writers, both veteran and fledgling, will often hold up --- and rightfully so --- the opening paragraph of THE LAST GOOD KISS by James Crumley as an example of all that good writing should be. I suspect that the first page of LONE CREEK will be held in similar high esteem. Read it, and then try to put the book down, even for a few minutes. The momentum of its words sweeps you along, as Davoren's first-person account slices in and out of his life, past and present, and we learn not only of his rough edges but also how they got there.

LONE CREEK is most assuredly a keeper --- as intriguing a work of fiction as you'll read all year.

--- Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub