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Books to read if you're planning a vacation in "Grand", sorted by average review score:

Moon Handbooks Wyoming: Including Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks, Fifth Edition
Published in Paperback by Moon Travel Handbooks (April, 2003)
Author: Don Pitcher
Average review score:

Excellent travel book, excellent value
An outstanding guide to a wonderful state. One book, of course, cannot cover all there is about any area this big, but this book does an outstanding job for Wyoming's history, lodging, attractions, background information, etc.

As for any area, it's good to supplement with other specialized topic and / or area guides, but for a general guide to a large state, this one does a great job.

Logically arranged, well-written, and very readable, you can almost read it straight through; it's one of the better travel guides available.

Wyoming Handbook - Moon Travel Handbooks
I happened on this book in the library and thought it was the best travel book I have ever used. This is nothing missed in this handbook. Great maps and advise.

Yes, the best guide there is to Wyoming
Most of the "name brand" travel guides are for fly-by tourists (though I do appreciate Frommer's guides much more than the rest of the big names). Well, if those books are for tourists, then Moon's handbooks (along with Lonely Planet's guides) are for TRAVELERS. And Moon's Wyoming Handbook is, as others here have said, one of their best. It's thick, it's juicy, it's meaty, it's expansive, it's authoritative and wry. So wherever you are in that great big "empty" terrain, it's got some practical information for and historical and cultural insight into places all around.

Wyoming has fewer people than any other state (yes, fewer than Rhode Island and Alaska). But it's places of interest are many and varied, though scattered far and wide. You need a good guide and a GOOD READ to cover the miles and the days. I admire author Don Pitcher's efforts here.

If you choose one guidebook, make it Moon's Wyoming Handbook. If you'd like to get a second general guide to the region for comparison and cross-reference (including more descriptive listings of selected accommodations), I'd add Frommer's guide to Wyoming, which includes Montana as well.


Stencilling on a Grand Scale : Using Simple Stencils to Create Visual Magic
Published in Hardcover by Firefly Books (October, 1997)
Author: Sandra Buckingham
Average review score:

The Best For Beginners
I came across this book in my local library and loved it so much I bought a copy for myself. Ms. Buckingham manages to create beautiful trompe l'oeil work with simple techniques that are easy for even the absolute beginner. An added bonus is that her stencils are available online...

Stencilling on a Grand Scale
I love this book! It has been great for teaching me to do all kinds of things I didn't know how to do. I have been stencilling for about eight years now, and my stencils looked pretty good, but her ideas makes my stencilling look GREAT! I have many books on how to paint everything you can name in a home. You name it and I have the book on it, but this is the first book that I thought was worth the money I spent on it. I wish I had bought this book eight years ago. I now have no fear in doing a full wall mural in my living room. This book is a have to have if you are into stencilling, or if you would like to start stencilling for the first time. GET IT!

I've seen them all and this is the BEST
The absolutely definititive book on stenciling today. The author has her finger on the pulse of what artisans are looking for today in the quickly expanding field of decorative art. She leads the reader through uncharted territory for most and explains things in a clear and concise manner that allows the beginner to understand and the expert to grow. Her use of step-by-step pictures helps even the most artistically handicapped feel as though they could conqure this fast-growing and changing craft. Ms. Buckingham uses a combination of pre-cut stencils and directions for making your own. One word of caution, however; the pictures should come with the disclaimer, "Yes, this really is a stencil!"


Anastasia's Album
Published in Hardcover by Hyperion Press (October, 1996)
Authors: Shelley Tanaka, Hugh Brewster, and Peter Christopher
Average review score:

Nice
It's a nice book, with excerpts of letters, and many photographs; although geared towards children, I at sixteen found it adorable. Although when you look at it, it's sad--how an innocent girl, caught up in politics, was shot. It's a nice look into the "eyes" of Anastasia, and I bet 'Shvyzbik' would be pleased.

Fascinating, accurate, well-written...and kids love it!
Beautifully and honestly presented, "Anastasia's Album" tells the story of the Grand Duchess Anastasia Nicolaievna Romanova. It offers a delightful glimpse of life in Imperial Russia, before and during its collapse, enhanced by photographs from the Romanov family albums and quotes from the family's letters and diaries. "Anastasia's Album" covers Anastasia's life from birth up to the family's imprisonment. It very tastefully tells of the family's tragic end and also has an epilogue that addresses the Anna Anderson controversy and subsequent films, setting the reader straight on the historical truth.

One of the greatest things about "Anastasia's Album" is how children absolutely love it! I teach elementary school, and the book has been a favorite among my students every year. It has turned several of my students on to history, and many of them did their own Russian history research after starting with "Anastasia's Album."

In all, this is a fantastic book, and Shelley Tanaka did the world a great service in writing it! "Anastasia's Album" should be in every school library and is a must-read for history buffs of all ages.

Very Sweet
I loved this book. I did wish it was longer, with more pictures.
Also more quotes from Anastasia herself, not just the author's
words.


Gold Buckle: The Grand Obsession of Rodeo Bull Riders
Published in Hardcover by Harper SanFrancisco (December, 1995)
Authors: Jeff Coplon and Jeff Coplou
Average review score:

You're on the bull & traveling with riders in this book.
Best nonfiction book about professional bull riders you'll find. Coplon weaves through a bull riders world both in and out of the arena. Be ready to shake the dust off your back when you finish this book--you'll feel like you've been on the back of Bodacious. Coplon makes you feel like you're partners with the top bull riders--Tuff Hedeman, Ty Murray, Cody Lambert, Jim Sharp, and legend Lane Frost. Read how the Professional Bull Riders Assoc. began and will continue to grow for decades. Best rodeo book I've ever read-again and again and again.

Great sequence, very well-written
The sequence in which the book is written adds variety and develops a love for the top riders, such as Tuff Hedeman and Ty Murray. I closed the book with a great feeling of satisfaction and felt a yearning to read and learn more. I would recommend this book to anyone with even the slightest interest in bull riding.

Finally, a great book about the world's greatest sport
This is a very good and captivating book and something every rodeo fan should read. If you want to learn more about bull riding legends like Don Gay, Myrtis Dightman, Wacey Cathey, Tuff Hedeman, Lane Frost, Jim Sharp and Ty Murray, this is probably the only place you can find it told so colorfully and honestly. It is also nice to read about the days when the world's top bull riders were cowboys and actually competed at rodeos, and not the pretentious PBR events. It also takes a look at how bull riding's popularity surged in the 90s. I just hope a similar book on bronc riders comes out soon.


Autocourse: The World's Leading Grand Prix Annual (Autocourse, 1999-2000)
Published in Hardcover by Hazelton (February, 1900)
Authors: Alan Henry and Hazelton Publishing
Average review score:

A Must-Have Book for any F1 Fan!
Quite simply, Autocourse is the best Formula 1 review there is. I own a complete set of CART Autocourse annuals as well as a nearly complete set of the F1 annuals from 1961 forward. During the race-less down time of the winter, I always look forward to receiving my new copy of Autocourse to review the previous season. These annuals are great for deciding bets among fellow enthusiasts and for filling in gaps in memory from seasons past. No motorsport library is complete without a complete set of these annuals. Period.

My only complaint with recent annuals is that there seems to be somewhat less information than in the past-- but, by no means, is the information lacking or incomplete. The pictures, which have taken some of the space of the writing, are as usual fantastic and worth the price of the book by themselves. Note well that this complaint does not have any effect on my rating of a full five stars. If you have any enthusiasm for the sport, you must get a copy of this book!

The Definitive Review
I have a number of autocourses and I still feel that they are getting better with every passing year. If you have an interest in Formula 1 then you should have this book. It gives an overview of each team in the championship and really gets a great insight as to how their performances stacked up and what their expectations really were or should have been. The race guides are an indespensible piece of information for the serious fan, although they do occasionally miss outstanding performances from the middle or rear of the field, due to the majority of the focus being on the battle at the front, however most details are covered and in very good detail. The summary of the other racing series (F3000, F3, CART, NASCAR, etc) is a very worthwhile addition as it gives a good reference point without having to purchase other literature. Then there is the top 10 driver lists, they may not always be the rankings you expect, or agree with!, but they certainly are a good talking point, and quite well justified in most cases.
Overall the most complete annual book about Formula 1 and a complete necessity to any real fan.

Autocourse, 1999-2000
Autocourse is the ultimate annual of the just completed Formula One season. My first volume covered the 1976 season and I own all but two since then. The only reason I missed those two was because they sold out before I could place my order. Each edition continually improves on the previous years with outstanding statistics for each race including lap charts, the absolute best photographs from the world's best photographers and an always intriguing editor's top ten drivers list. The race reports don't miss a beat from first to last place. The technical breakdown gives every detail of each car down to what brake pads and spark plugs they use. You are not a Formula One fan if you do not own Autocourse.


Sunk Without a Sound : The Tragic Colorado River Honeymoon of Glen and Bessie Hyde
Published in Hardcover by Fretwater Press (February, 2001)
Author: Brad Dimock
Average review score:

an exceptionally good read
It's obvious that Dimock has done his homework in researching and writing this superbly crafted book detailing the disappearance of Glenn and Bessie Hyde, the 'honeymoon couple' who attempted a run through Grand Canyon in their sweep scow--Rain-in-the-Face--during 1928. Here we find three great stories packed concisely into one exceptionally good book. It is part mystery novel, part an historical account replete with colorful and obscure Grand Canyon characters, and part the telling of Dimock's own run down the Colorado River in the sweep scow he built to recreate the Hyde's histroic trip. SUNK WITHOUT A SOUND is also, and more importantly, a thorough biography of the life and times of Glen and Bessie Hyde. Their family members appear in startling detail, their history is laid out in a colorfully woven chronology, and their ultimate end is surmised in vivid fashion. Beyond that, the many folk tales surrounding their disappearance are debunked and kindly dismissed with considerable research. Illustrated with maps, diagrams, and an interesting variety of historic Grand Canyon and Hyde family photos, Dimock ultimely takes the reader on a whitewater trip not to be forgotten. Dimock's first book, THE DOING OF THE THING, a biography of riverman Buzz Holmstrom, won the National Outdoor Book Award in 1998. However impressive that my be, SUNK WITHOUT A SOUND is, obviously, destined for much higher accolades.

Debunking the myths...
Outrageous adventures that capture the imagination, like Lindberg's trans-Atlantic flight, often personify the American spirit, especially in the youth of a new century. But the 1928 honeymoon excursion down the rapids of the Grand Canyon by Glen and Bessie Hyde ended in tragedy, their bodies never recovered, the whole trip shrouded in mystery. This book sets out to tell their story with as many facts as are available, recount the rescue efforts and determine some answers after all these years of speculation.

After reading Grand Ambition, a novel by Lisa Michael's, about the couple's fateful honeymoon, I was curious to know more of the details and explore the lore surrounding the disappearance of Bessie and Glen. Author Dimock gathers what few pertinent facts are available and reconstructs the Hyde's journey, physically experiencing parts of it himself. He even builds a replica of their craft, hoping to ascertain what happened as they moved from one dangerous whitewater course to another. Literally, only speculation remains, because their flat-bottomed scow was found drifting, intact and packed with provisions with no evidence of the bodies. Did they die, or escape? The author also carefully goes over each step of the rescue party's unsuccessful search. As an extra service to the reader, he spends some time debunking the many urban legends that have sprung up over the years, passed from campfire to campfire, further clouding the truth.

The most satisfying part of this book is Dimock's exacting concentration on each phase of the journey given the modernization of river rafting techniques and experience. Easy answers are simply not acceptable to Dimock, and he unfailingly covers every possible situation in the attempt to arrive at a feasible conclusion. In his conscientious writing, this author postulates some scenarios that set my mind at rest. When he fits the pieces of the puzzle together, it's as likely a fit as will be found at this time. And I was relieved to put aside those rumors and innuendoes told with a broad wink, because I would like to think of this couple in peace after such a short and harrowing twist of fate.

An Amazing Book With Sweepage!
I'm no expert about the Grand Canyon or whitewater rafting - I've visited the canyon about 5 times over the last 30 years, spending 6 days on a spring break backcountry hike on one of the trips, and I've been on one float trip down the San Juan River [Bluff to 'Lake Foul'] on the spring break before or after the canyon hike - so I'm reviewing Sunk Without A Sound by Brad Dimock as an interested and knowledgable layperson. This book is an amazing adventure story, a gripping mystery, a brave piece of experimental historical investigation, the end product of extensive research, and an extremely rational and fair reading of the available evidence.

The book is a tapestry of stories sewn together with several strong threads. The main thread is the story of the failed [?] honeymoon Colorado River trip of Glen and Bessie Hyde in 1928 and the subsequent attempts to find a solution to their disappearance. It is the story of RC Hyde, Glen's father, and his obsessive, but loving, attempts to find his son and his daughter-in-law. It is the story of author Brad Dimock and his wife, Jeri Ledbetter, and their enlightening version of the original Hyde trip [they recreated the original journey in a version of the original sweep scow]. Dimock ties all these pieces together in one seamless piece of non-fiction.

I enjoyed the book immensely, especially the fact that Dimock told the most reasonable story that the research and the evidence supported. I recommend you take a ride throught the twists, the turns, and the rapids of this excellent book.


Icon: A Retrospective by the Grand Master of Fantastic Art
Published in Hardcover by Underwood Books (October, 1998)
Authors: Frank Frazetta, Cathy Fenner, Arnie Fenner, and James E. Bama
Average review score:

Beautiful Reproductions of Paintings + insightful text!
This is "Icon," which is book one of three, all of which are now available. Even though all three discuss all eras of his life and career, this Icon book is probably the best one to start with, since it shows many of the works that made him famous.

This book has a bunch of the Edgar Rice Burroughs paperback cover paintings, (Tarzan, John Carter of Mars, etc.), and Conan the Barbarian covers, too. The text explains how the Frazetta paintings on the paperback book covers were responsible for outrageously high sales of these paperback books. This is probably what Frazetta is most famous for, these paperback covers that started a trend of sci-fi fantasy paintings that were as brutally dangerous as they are beautifully painted.

This book discusses Frank Frazetta's early childhood art, how he got into illustrating and comic books, comic strip work ghosting Lil' Abner for Al Capp, being wooed by Hollywood stars, doing movie posters during different decades, etc.

All three books discuss the same eras, but with different details and commentary from different friends and associates. There are also plenty of insightful quotes from Frank in all three books, which explain his outlook concerning his artwork and doing business with his artwork over 5 decades.

I remember Frazetta best for his Molly Hatchet album covers, which are both in this "Icon" book, but they are credited to the original paperback covers that they were first commisioned for, so Molly Hatchet is not mentioned.

To me, a kid in the 1970's, Frazetta was recognized as an expert in his own category, but his work was not common to come across. So I am very pleased with all three books in this trilogy, that finally brings most of his career together in three nicely made art books.

All three of these books are very informative and nice additions to any fans personal library. If you like Frazetta at all, then you should be quite pleased with "Icon," "Legacy," and "Testament."

Fantasy Art that is absolutely stunning!
I am a collector of SiFi-Fantasy art. I will state categorically, Frank Frazetta is the finest Fantasy/SiFi illustrator that has ever lived, bar none! Unlike modern artists, who work with air brush, Frazetta's best work is done in oils. The quality of his oil paintings are on a par with the great masters and deserve to be hung next to the likes Rembrandt van Rijn. His compositions are always emotionally stimulating, intriguing, and beautiful. Frazetta has the unique talent to tell a fantastic story with a paint brush. This wonderful book has reproduced some of Frazetta's finest work with meticulous care. The color plates are crisp and vibrant. They will captivate your imagination with their incredible beauty. This is one of those Frazetta collections that will soar in value once it is out of print. Take my advice. Buy it now!

A fabulous collection with never before published work!
Frank Frazetta is by far the greatest fantasy illustrator of the last 50 years. His paintings are fit for the walls of any fine art museum. Icon is a wonderful book containing many of Franks finest and most famous works along with some never before seen art work from the master. This book is a must have for any fan of fantasy art. It contains interviews and information on many of Frazettas paintings with a wonderful insight to Franks life and legendary carear. Well printed and bound Icon will make a great addition to your coffee table. BUY THIS BOOK!


Hit a Grand Slam
Published in Hardcover by Taylor Pub (June, 1998)
Authors: Alex Rodriguez, Greg Brown, and Doug Keith
Average review score:

Alex Rodrieguez hits a grand slam for education!
Alex Rodrieguez takes readers on a grand slam through his life and his struggle to the top. He gives children the tools to keep striving for their goals telling them how important education is in their lives. The illustrations and color photographs went hand in hand with the story and although the layout is a bit abstract, I felt the book came together in one great package. I am a librarian at an elementary school in Oregon and bought the book for the ever growing fan club of Alex Rodriguez, however my family thoroughly enjoyed it too! I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading sports biographies or those who like to read about those famous people who make a difference in the world of education.

A home run for all ages!
Truly a book all can enjoy! It is touching, inspiring, and positive. Alex shows us that anything can be achieved, no matter what obstacles face you, if you work hard. I liked that he shared a true story of his childhood, not some candy-coated, "My life has always been great" thing. This is the kind of book that inspires children to do their best and motivates adults to keep working to reach their goals!

A nice positive outlook on life
I enjoyed this book very much. It showed us another side of Alex we'd never really seen, the youger Alex, his struggles, his achievements and everything his mother did for him and his family. I like how Alex openly talked about their financial problems and his father, it lets you know that he's human too. He sounded very confident, yet humble enough to leave a good impression. A nice one to add to your collection, the pictures are nice too.


Grand Finales : The Art of the Plated Dessert
Published in Hardcover by John Wiley & Sons (08 October, 1996)
Authors: Tish Boyle and Timothy Moriarty
Average review score:

Excellent
I'm a pastry student in Peru and I just can tell all the people that love pastry that this the best book I ever seen and I recommend a lot

tough, but fun
A very, very awesome book. You have to be hard core to want this book. It took about 5 hours for me and some friends to make one of the desserts, but we had a blast. It measures everything out with wait, so you don't have to worry if you bought the jumbo eggs when the recipee assumes you are using large. If you like cooking, buy this book. If you don't like cooking, I still say buy this book.

The sorbets alone are worth the price of the book

Grand Finales is a Grand book
The book "Grand Finales" is a book for all people who are interested in pastry and cooking. It is very discriptive and has many recipies with fondations so you can make mank differnet dishes.


The Grand Sophy
Published in Audio Cassette by Isis Audio (December, 1999)
Authors: Georgette Heyer and John Westbrook
Average review score:

if only there were more novels like this out there...
The very first romance novel I ever read (and I'm not including Jane Austen in this category) was "Black Sheep" by Georgette Heyer. I enjoyed the book so much that I immediately began haunting used book stores, hunting for as many of her novels as I could get at a time. That was more than two decades ago, and Georgette Heyer has remained a firm favourite ever since (in spite of her rather dated opinions about the merchant middle class, etc). "The Grand Sophy" ranks up there with other of my all time favourite Heyer novels (the ones that I rate about 10 stars) like "Sylvester," "Sprig Muslin," "The Foundling" & "These Old Shades," -- they're all excellent reads that every Regency-era romance novel addict should read at least once!

Other reviewers have done excellent jobs in giving plot synopsis, so I'll leave off doing the same except to note that the novel deals with the humourous and outrageous efforts of a visiting cousin, Sophy Stanton-Lacy, to sort out the myriad of problems that all those around her have (mainly her Rivenhall cousins like Herbert and Cecilia) become entangled in. What makes this novel 'work' is not only the clever plotting and the numerous escapades that Heyer has Sophy pull, but also the brilliant manner in which Heyer draws her characters. In Sophy Stanton-Lacy, for example, Heyer has created a young heroine who while incredibly managing, bossy, independent and very determined, and yet who is so utterly charming that you cannot help but root for her to come out on top -- this in spite of the fact that your sympathies may lie elsewhere. And I did have sympathies elsewhere! The first time I read the book, I felt quite sympathetic towards stuffy cousin Charles. Here was a young man, the only sensible person in a rather flighty family, who had had to contend with some crisis or another for goodness knows how long, all he gets for his efforts is abuse from his family! Yes, he is stuffy and easily angered, but his family was enough to give even me the megrims (and all I was doing was reading about them!)

"The Grand Sophy" is a riot of a read. Heyer sketches Sophy's escapades in such a humourous and entertaining manner that we cannot help but be charmed. Cleverly plotted, possessing elegant prose and characters that are just so alive and real "The Grand Sophy" proved to be the kind of book I wish I could find and read everyday.

By all that's wonderful, it's the Grand Sophy!
This was my first introduction to the world of Georgette Heyer and what an introduction it was. I still laugh to this day at Sophy's delightful unconventionality and at the way her poor bewildered cousins learn to deal with her. A wonderful, wonderful book with great period detail and a light-hearted touch that makes it refreshing and non-sentimental at the same time. Read it. I'll not spoil the enchantment for you but beware...Sophy (and in consequence Heyer herself) is very addictive. You might just find yourself craving more.

Georgette Heyer does it again!
I grew up on Georgette Heyer romances and I am so sorry to find that so many of them are out of print. My mother, sister and I have literally read two copies of "The Grand Sophy" to pieces!

She's a positive role model that transcends 19th century England and contradicts the waifish pseudo-sex goddesses of the 90's. I wish more young women would read this marvelous book and not feel so ashamed of who they are or what they look like!


Related Vacation Book Subjects: Colorado
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