Nevada Books

Like many major mountain ranges, the Sierra Nevada has a unique flora, and I've found this to be a useful guide in learning about it. It has good descriptions of the plants, but the photos are often not the best--at least in the volume I have--but they're still good enough to work with. Perhaps the plates were just getting old. It is, however, reasonably complete, and compact enough to be portable. It contains a great deal of useful information, such as species lists, some basic ecology of the sierras, and as I said, the species descriptions. Overall, it's a good book for the already fairly competent amateur, but if you're a beginner, you should probably look elsewhere since this book presumes too much previous knowledge.

This is the 1st flora I grab when I'm hiking in the Sierras and I've used them all extensively. I've used it to successfully ID several hundred plants. It requires and average amount of technical skill to use, nothing that a serious amateur could easily master. The flora seems very complete for any plant you find over 4,000 foot elevation--it won't help as much if you're in the foothills. An amateur may want to supplement with a Sierran plant book with photos since the line drawings in this book are simple and only illustrate a single representative genus (every genus is illustrated).

I found this book to be a great help identifying plants in the field. Most can be identified without magnification. Plants are identified using dichotomous keys.

I also use The Jepson Manual, Higher Plants of California and the old Munz's. But both are heavy and difficult to use in the field for many of the genera though I did use them when I got home to check my identifications. The second great feature of this book is that the plants are specific to the area that I was traveling through. I didn't have to separate out plants that only live in the desert or at the coast. Eliminating that many choices made the effort much easier.

I recommend the book heartily, understanding the plants and animals around us greatly enhances the experience of enjoying nature.

Many of the plants that I found can be seen at californiagardens.com

This book is valuable because it's complete and compact enough to carry in a backpack. Unfortunately, it has enough drawbacks that I wish someone else would write a better book to compete with it.
One example of its problems is when I tried to use it to identify a daisy. The index showed no listing for daisy, so I looked through the Aster family section the hard way, and eventually found the genus Erigeron (which turned out to be indexed under "wild daisy"). Unlike most genera, the book only provides a key for this genus, and omits the usual species description that includes things like plant height that I rely on to confirm the guesses that I make from the key.
I've found an unusually large number of anomalies where I suspect the book is simply wrong. For instance, it says Lupinus adsurgens leaflets are 2-5 mm long, whereas Jepsen says they're 20-50 mm long (I suspect Jepsen is right).
Experienced botanists will find this book to be a worthwhile supplement to Jepsen. Amateurs should look elsewhere, and probably settle for something that only tries to cover the most interesting flowers.

This book is great. It is a concise reference on an interesting flora. The botanical keys are easy enough for amateurs to use and for professionals to key plants from memory. The size and weight make it easy to include in a backpack or field press, although I would like a hardback for my reference shelf. This book is valuable to anyone interested in natural history of the region.

Starr Bright. She's a twin. She's a stripper. She's an exotic dancer. She's a grifter. And she is a full blown serial killer in this deep dark novel. Starr Bright a/k/a Sharon is now aging for a future on the jiggle circuit and her exhaustive search for someone who can take care of her leads her to building rage and eventual violence to sooth her feelings of hurt and disappointment she blames on a series of hapless lowlife paramours. Starr begins a journey to take her out of the seedy empty Vegas life to the sanctity of her twin sister Lily and Lily's family in New York while leaving Vegas in the grip of her bloody wake. Lily, the "good" side of Starr's mirror welcomes her sister with open arms but has no idea what Starr has in store for those she believes set her on the road to ruin. Nor does Lily full understand what her own personality could reveal. This book is one of my very favorites, each word has been chosen soley for its effect on the reader and the story ebbs and flows as naturally as the tide. I tore through it the first time. It left such an impression on me I have picked it up a second time, this time to read much more slowly so I can enjoy each detail.

In this, her seventh psycho-thriller, Rosamond Smith (none other than Joyce Carol Oates) takes us on a cross-country ride within the head of a dangerous woman always on the verge of boiling over with hate and fury. As opposed to her is her twin, a well-to-do suburban housewife whose life seems to be perfect. When both their worlds collide, the violent horror will be inavoidable, changing life for both... forever. A must both for JCO fans and admirers of the New American Gothic.

In her late thirties, Sharon Donnor's career as a Vegas exotic dancer seems to be coming to an end. However, her other life as Starr Bright appears to be rising in proportion. Each night Starr Bright seeks a person who loves and cares for her. Invariably, the lowlifes she chooses fail her, forcing her to kill them. The city panics as she leaves on her victims a satanic star painted in the dead person's blood.

When the heat picks up, Sharon returns to her family home in New York. There her twin sister takes her into the heart of her own family, not knowing what festers underneath the surface of her sister. Starr Bright quickly resurfaces as she begins a campaign of vengeance to destroy those who hurt her over two decades ago.

STARR BRIGHT WILL BE WITH YOU SOON is a well-written thriller that adds nothing new to the long history of good and evil twins. The story line appears eerie and psychologically spooky while the twins are interesting mirror images of one another. However, except for the fact Rosamund Smith turns out to be a pseudonym of Joyce Carol Oates, this book feels like deja vu. This is not necessarily bad, it has just been done before and by the same author.

Harriet Klausner 3/6/99

Starr Bright... is one of Joyce Carol Oates' shorter novels. This prolific writer, who penned this thriller under the name of Rosamund Smith, has once again succeeded in keeping the reader in constant suspense, even though we know who the killer is from page one. It is the killer's fate - as opposed to those of her victims - that we are so anxious to learn about. I recently attended a reading and book signing by JCO which was held at Robert Morris College in Chicago. She also spent considerable time in a question and answer session with RMC honors English students who read two of her novels for their class. She is a very fragile looking individual who intrigues everyone with her command of the story, the characters and the direction each piece of work takes. An extremely prolific writer, she has written poetry, plays and critical articles for numerous publications - in addition to over 60 novels and her work as a professor at Princeton University. She did not elaborate about the pseudonym she has frequently used - only that she wishes she had chosen another name. Because Starr Bright... is a shorter work, one does wonder if she has relegated certain efforts to Rosamund to distance them from Joyce Carol Oates. While I was thoroughly engrossed by Starr Bright - and it does utilize one of JCO's favorite underlying themes of twins - I felt I needed more at the end. We are fairly certain of the killer's fate, but what of her twin sister? The far-reaching effects of the murders to her family and community would, no doubt, be devastating. Perhaps it is fodder for another novel or perhaps tying up loose ends into neat little conclusions is not in the JCO style. Also, Oates does not hold back in the gruesome details of each attack - not necessarily a criticism, just a point of fact. Oates has just completed another novel (she writes constantly) and this one is a 1400 page opus titled Blonde, inspired by the life of Marilyn Monroe. She says she was moved to write it when she saw a photo of the pretty, fresh-looking and former Norma Jean - before the blonde hair, sexy clothing and voluptuous attitude she had perfected toward the camera. Seems like an interesting turn for JCO and her fans.

The book was riveting; I couldn't put it down. I couldn't help wondering, though, how "Starr Bright" never met ONE decent man her whole life? She was with dozens, maybe a hundred men, and never once met a good one?

Since I purchased the book in 1995, it is my ultimate guide to the best sierra hikes. I now have #72 planned for next August, the "Buena Vista Loop" at 28 miles and 4 days. Each one that I've completed has my notes scrawled on the pages. I simply photocopy the hike to take on the trail, and then write the notes in the book later. Combined with a topo map of the area, it's the best guide to the best sierra trips.

A sierra hike is sometimes a big event, and the hikes in this book do not disappoint, from the short to the long trails. Everything is laid out very clear and simple, ultra clear and concise without an extraneous word and never lacking the important description.

I only wish I could complete all 100.

I'm sure the authors loved these hikes, but I didn't see that in the hike descriptions. I liked the book, but the books by the Whitehalls were better.

Excellent book with an easy to follow layout. Mostly geared towards moderate to "difficult" hikes with overnight backpacks, or longer dayhikes, the most common. Lists 100 hikes and, in general, they spend 2 pages per hike, with directions to the trail head, max elevation, elevation gain, etc. They also give a sketched map and a photo for each.

This book is geared more towards the serious hiker/BPer, not the 2 mile family dayhike type.

I have done about 15 of the listed hikes and have found the info accurate.

One note: Some of the kiosks they list to get wilderness permits are no longer in operation. To be safe, plan on getting wilderness permits at the ranger station.

I've used this book extensively over the past 3 years and have hiked over 20 of the routes described here. It is excellently laid out (it uses highways to organize the treks) and features an excellent and varied selection of short and long trips. I own most of the guides to the Sierra and this is the one I use most regularly.

The book is also very durable - mine has fallen in rivers, gotten scrunched against rocks, been boiled and frozen and is still perfectly serviceable.

For anyone who is trying to get their head around the central Sierra and identify some good trips - this is the ideal book.

This book is great for those in the Reno/Tahoe area with dogs. The author has done her research and made it easy for the rest of us. Some information was out of date, but overall you can find good places to take your pet.

This book was great to have as I'm not that familiar with the Tahoe area. I only got to do three hikes listed in the book but they were amazing and I probably wouldn't have known where to go w/o this book.

The only thing really missing from this book is a MAP! Otherwise well worth the money.

A Bark in the Park is a delightful book. Sherril Steele-Carlin covers everything you want to or need to know to walk with your dog in the Reno-Tahoe area, and provides good advice on walking with your dog anywhere. She begins by listing, among other useful items, some tips on physical conditioning, warns of a few hazards you may encounter, covers leash laws, and lists the contents of a first aid kit you should carry.

Detailed descriptions include directions, a brief history of each park, and "Bonus" items, such as a visitor center, historic sites, or an off-leash area for dogs to enjoy. This is a wonderfully comprehensive guide to almost 100 places to hike with your dog.

I love to walk and hike with my dog, Maggie, and I'm always looking for new places to walk her in Reno and Lake Tahoe. This book has been such a great inspiration -- I've found some new trails and rediscovered some old favorites as a result of picking up this book. I'd recommend it to anyone who loves to hike with their dog and is looking for some new trails, along with some old favorites they might have forgotten.

Well there are not many Basque grammars available owing, I assume, mainly to Basque's relative obscurity. In this grammar, however, Alan King has managed to organize the grammar well for those who are just beginning to study the language (i.e. a properly ascending difficulty level), yet also includes a good amount of information for those who want it, from cultural notes to the differences between the different Basque dialects.

The book includes a written conversation in almost every chapter, which is followed by new vocabulary. Next comes a number of grammar points with practice (answers to the questions are found in the back of the book). There are also review chapters which allow the student to review the grammar and vocabulary from previous chapters.

Finally, there is a reference section at the back of the book, which contains anything from an elementary reading section to an explanation of the semi-complicated Basque verb system (it also includes a pronunciation guideline, rules for sentence structure, small dictionary for important words used in the book)

Personally, I thoroughly enjoyed the book and found it helpful for my purposes. It reminded me structurally of Wheelock's Latin. My only complaint would be that I would have liked to have more examples of some of the more complicated grammar points. This, however, is to be expected given that this grammar is only intended as an introduction.

This book is an excellent refence book if one wants to use it in this manner. I have this book and have enjoyed it. The only problem I have is that there isn't any tapes that come with it so that a person can hear what the language sounds like. However, the author has remedied this with a slightly less expensive language learning set called "Colloquial Basque" that contains tapes so you can hear the Basque language spoken. This set happens to cost much less. If you want to find it here, just look up the title and you will be able to see the price for it here at amazon.com

This coursebook is by the same author as Colloquial Basque, but content overlap is minimised and the style of the two books differs somewhat. The present book is a much heftier work, but is also a much drier read. Although I've given it four stars, I would recommend it only for more serious students, who have few alternatives anyway. Colloquial Basque, which comes with tapes and a generally more modern style, would be more suitable for most other people.

The best feature of The Basque Language: A Practical Introduction is the grammar section at the end of the book. This provides a handy summary of all the grammatical points which appear in the book, and includes a general explanation of their use. The book also includes a selection of readings, with various passages about the Basque Country and related topics (some of them by King himself), excerpts from a play and several novels, and a selection of both traditional and more modern songs.

The units themselves mostly consist of a short dialogue followed by grammatical notes and exercises. Unfortunately the grammar sections and exercises are all mixed in together, and there are no fun headings ("Saying what you mean", "Doing things with words") such as appear in Colloquial Basque. Apart from making the chapters less interesting, this can also make it more difficult to find things in preceding chapters. Explanation of the grammar is also often poor or lacking altogether, although thorough explanation is provided at the back of the book.

Serious students of Basque will find this book to be an invaluable reference. Many people, however, will find Colloquial Basque to be a more practical introduction to the language.

There are no other Basque language textbooks to speak of, so this one is necessarily the best, because it is a competent attempt. If you're a serious learner, this book will put you a good ways towards achieving your goal.

I bought Benchmark's California and Nevada Atlases for a geology field trip to Death Valley. Part of the field trip was a tour of Yucca Mountain, Nevada, the national nuclear waste site, on the Nevada Nuclear Test Range. That tour handed out a map of the Test Range but it had quite a bit less detail than the Benchmark map. The Benchmark map showed not only Yucca Mountain, but also Area 51 (and several runways), site of Lockheed's Skunk Works, once supersecret but no longer (Wikipedia for example), and also the sites of a number of well known nuclear tests (I had earlier noticed that the county containing the nuclear test site (Nye County) is mushroom shaped).

The Benchmark atlases contain several sets of maps, starting with a few that give an overview and set the context of the detailed maps. This is a nice feature, sometimes it is hard to see the bigger picture from only the detailed maps. Also the maps have some overlap, so the edges and corners do not get shortchanged. A latitude/longitude grid could also be very useful if lost but you know your coordinates (if you can call that lost). The shaded relied gives a good feel for the terraine, much better (but less quantitative) than a contour map, and I was able to match the map to the visible scenery to get a good idea of our location while traveling to various field trip points. If you like maps you'll probably like Benchmark maps.

This book is good for my intended purpose of seeing what to expect on my planned road trip from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon. However the information on Las Vegas is noticeably dated.

I have lived in Nevada and have traveled extensively throughout its rural areas since the 1980's. Most people don't realize how many "roads" there are in Nevada (1000's) that exist solely as remnants from mining booms, power line access development, ranching, military, and the like. The majority of unpaved roads shown on other atlases are not maintained by the counties they are in.

Now herein lies the magic of a Benchmark atlas. What you see in its pages are the result of extensive, local research and field verification work. The bolded-in-red-dashed routes are indeed well-traveled, and maintained in good condition (albeit a little washboard from time-to-time which is very normal).

Hunting area numbers, phone numbers, and other detailed local information is also provided. The overlaps from section to section are well-buffered, meaning, if you flip a page, there's an above average amount shown from the previous page :)

I love my Benchmark and have used it so much that the cover's stitching staples wore out and the cover came off! I have yet to come across any inaccuracies in the year that I have owned this atlas. KUDOS!!! GREAT JOB!!!

These are the best maps for understanding what you are viewing while you are traveling. If you want to know what you are looking at while you are driving, these are the maps for you. They are kind of a cross between a topo map, a relief map, and a gas station map.

This book, while rich in its coverage of buildings throughout the Sagebrush State, does have its drawbacks. Some of the quotations regarding the architects list incorrect names that were taken from other sources that were incorrect. (Example: There is no John M. Curtis, architect in Nevada. The name is taken from another book that incorrectly quotes his name.) Also, there is a dearth of pictures and coverage of private homes and mansions. (Space may be the issue here). In some cases, the designation for certain architectural buildings such as certain blocks within the towns is unclear: a map would have helped. Overall, the book is worthwhile, but do not trust its content 100%!

The one and only book on this subject, BUILDINGS OF NEVADA is thoroughly researched and wittily opinionated. It ventures far beyond the familiar territory of Hoover Dam and Las Vegas, to explore boom towns and ghost towns, courthouses and whorehouses.

It will be indispensable for anyone interested in understanding the history and psychology of the Old West. Loaded with helpful maps and photos, it's also a great travel companion for anyone who interested in seeing more of Nevada than the view from I-80.

If you think it's all just casinos and tacky wedding chapels, read this book. Who would have thought Nevada, of all places, had such a rich architectural heritage? Nicoletta covers the history of Nevada, from wickiups to atomic test sites to the latest reinvention of the Las Vegas Strip, and everything in between, with clarity, conciseness, and keen observation. Her descriptions, precise without being dry or overly technical, bring to life not only the buildings but the individuals and communities that built them. I can open this book to any random page and be hooked by a fascinating, unexpected tidbit. The book also contains a helpful glossary of architectural terms, a thorough bibliography, and index. My only complaint is I would have liked even more of Bret Morgan's excellent photographs.

The one and only book on this subject, BUILDINGS OF NEVADA is thoroughly researched and wittily opinionated. It ventures far beyond the familiar territory of Hoover Dam and Las Vegas, to explore boom towns and ghost towns, courthouses and whorehouses.

It will be indispensable for anyone interested in understanding the history and psychology of the Old West. Loaded with helpful maps and photos, it's also a great travel companion for anyone who interested in seeing more of Nevada than the view from I-80.

The character development and writing in this novel is outstanding. Dallas and Deck are unlikable individuals with limited, selfish personalities. As portrayed, they are also very understandable and they too suffer, hence they are almost sympathetic. Logan and Keris, are very likeable, complex people.

I thought the interplay between Logan and Dallas as he plays blackjack in the first chapter was remarkable, almost a tour de force. As an example of the type of writing Legendre is capable of, I offer this: " Sometimes it happened like this. Sometimes she accidentally bit into the kernel of an emotion with some trivial comment and she needed an extra minute to absorb its flavor". Later Keris, in explaining her one night stand with someone like Deck talks of biting into a piece of chocolate, only to find goo inside.

Aspects of the plot bothered me. The fact is that economics as a science, like all science, is value neutral (its practitioners are something else). I would recommend the "Underground Economist" as an exceptional book, which among other things shows how economic principles can be applied to fight global warming and pollution efficiently - no new paradigm is needed. I also found the win streak that benefits Dallas at the end, and the subsequent scene in which she gets half the money (including half the man's original stake), contrived.

Legendre is particularly acute in his description of urban life in the modern desert southwest. Las Vegas has been characterized many times but seldom better; Legendre strips Vegas down to its bleak essence, a Disneyland of nihilism and insincerity. Of course if you actually like Las Vegas you might not agree with Legendre, but then if you like Vegas this may not be the book for you on several different levels.

His description of life in the Valley of the Sun, as metropolitan Phoenix is called by the Chamber of Commerce in something of an understatement, particularly in summertime, is brilliantly accurate. The glare, the heat, the trackless urban sprawl, the shimmering asphalt subtly influence the characters and the action of the novel until the reader feels a sudden need for sunglasses and air conditioning without really knowing why.

Anyone who has lived in or passed through these two desert cities will appreciate Legendre's clear-eyed vision and spare prose.

Reviewed by Cathy Yanda for Reader Views (07/06)


In Thomas Legendre's first novel, The Burning, is satisfying yet predictable. Logan, a newly graduated economist joins two semi-friends for a long weekend in Las Vegas. Trying to avoid his friends and get out of going to a strip joint, he plays blackjack and immediately falls for the dealer, Dallas Cole and ends up going home with her..."You're not really going to sleep on the couch. You know that, right?"...He felt a smile rise to his face. "Fair warning," she said. "I'm trouble." He shrugged. "Who isn't?" If he only knew the extent to which she would become trouble, he might have crashed on the floor of the hotel room with his friends.

Months later after their first meeting, two lonely people, Dallas and Logan are married and move to Arizona where Logan has a job as a professor at Arizona State. While Logan's career is floundering, the school taking a different approach to economics than he would prefer, Dallas, resents every moment her husband is working, and decides to make slot machines and video poker her best friends and runs up a large amounts of debt gambling and buying a new car that they cannot afford.

In walks Keris, the beautiful and accomplished colleague, Logan begins to have doubts about his marriage..."Here she was, sheathed in sweat, wearing a spandex bodysuit with her hair coiled and clipped at the back of her head. This was yoga class. It was Tuesday afternoon and Keris was supposed to be holding office hours right now but a teacher should be allowed to play hooky ever once in a while, correct?...Even the most rigid schedule should be able to accommodate some quantum movement here and there."

In the end, there are affairs, lessons in economics, un-wed pregnancy, gambling, sex, careers that get in the way of life and more. Legendre spins a good first novel that will be enjoyed by many looking for something less run of the mill.

His friends Deck and Prentis persuade economist Logan Smith to join them for some fun in Las Vegas. Needing to escape the world of academia having just completed his graduate degree, Logan agrees. At a casino, Logan meets blackjack dealer Dallas Cole. He falls for her while she needs male attention and protection.

Logan becomes an economics professor at Arizona State University while his new wife Dallas feels out of place in the Tempe area especially in the academia setting. Meanwhile as their relationship turns shaky, Logan works on a neo-Marxist economic theory, which begins to look promising and could shake up the world order. However, he has problems; at home his spouse's clinging needs are driving him crazy; at the university his proposals including an advanced course are being rejected without a second thought; and finally there is this supportive female peer who turns on his body, mind and soul.

This is a terrific character study that star protagonists, especially Logan, who seem as human as they wish and yearn for something they do not have; the grass even in the desert is greener on the other side. Interestingly the macro economic theories are obviously complex yet easy to understand as Thomas Legendre does not dumb down but instead brings up his audience. Fans of a powerful intelligent drama will enjoy THE BURNING for something more in life.

Harriet Klausner

The geology information was very well done and interesting. I found the book very similar to Nevada Barr's books. The main character is in the wilderness on her own, encounters physical dangers, is badly injured but is able to persevere and is successful in solving the crime and recovering. Too many villians.

Susan Cummins Miller clearly draws upon her expertise and background as a field geologist with the U.S. Geological Survey in writing Death Assemblage, a superbly crafted murder mystery set in the mountains west of Pair-a-Dice, Nevada. When a geologist in the final week of her dissertation fieldwork tries to unravel the secrets of the earth's stones, she becomes involved in a deadly cat-and-mouse game of kidnappings, blackmail, and rampant greed. A gripping thriller, exciting and eager to lure the reader into a labyrinth of human deceit, Death Assemblage is enthusiastically recommended reading for dedicated mystery buffs! Attention Hollywood -- this is the stuff from which blockbuster movies can be made!

Susan Cummins Miller brought me hours of pleasure with her anthology of Women writers, "A Sweet Separate Intimacy". Now she has branched into a new field of adventure fiction with a gutsy geologist named Frankie who stirs up a hot desert town. Thanks Ms. Miller for a great read!

Susan Cummins Miller has scored a hit with this one. Frankie MacFarlane, a graduate geologist, is intertwined with the people of Pair-A-Dice, several murders, and the geology of Nevada. This one kept me spellbound for hours and the ending caught me totally by surprise. For a change, this is a totally challenging murder mystery fraught with suspense. Certainly not your run-of-the-mill butler-did-it suspense tale. If you are looking for a great mystery read, try this one. You won't be disappointed.

This book is really a kick. The authors are well known among us interested in Death Valley lore. The editing of the book is excellent and the tips on checking out these old camps are very useful. This book was being sold all over Death Valley, so I suspect it's popularity indicates a lot of people agree with me!

As an officianado of Death Valley and the surrounding area, I found this book a really great read, and in fact I couldn't put it down! Lots of fascinating true history and tales packed into a nice package. Highly recommended!

This book puts together two of the most comprehensive writings on southern California ghost towns under one cover. Both L. Burr Belden and Mary DeDecker retell the stories that many of which were told to them by first hand citizens of mining towns of the late 19th century and early 20th century. The book is historically informative and holds the interest of this reader. I highly recommend the work, but due to its early publication,(both authors originally released their books in the 60's.) I do not recommend it as a guide to the modern day ghost town visitor. Nonetheless a great and interesting read.

This book is great in presenting many fascinating and sometimes humorous facts about the old mining days of California and Nevada. The lengths both writers went to to confirm their stories is to be admired. However, is quite frustrating to read for the book flows awkwardly. Misplaced commas, typos, and a constant jumping from past to present in the same paragraph can slow down the reader's understanding. Some chapters have titles about certain characters, but do not offer a complete story or even center on that person. I would go on, but the rarity of the content makes the book worthwhile on its own.