A beautiful intimate story of a young girl growing up in rugged Idaho.This is not a story full of sweetness, but of the tough life small farmers and their family encoutered in their fight for survival. I loved it from beginning to end

Okay, so she's one of my best friends BUT EVEN SO, I never knew she could write this well. Her memory is sharp, her observations hard and clear, and her insights are not for the polite or faint of heart. Koskela's early life in the harsh world of Idaho farming country is told with wit and clarity. It may not be gracious but it is REAL and you will find yourself laughing, tsk, tsking and looking back with a new vision on your own childhood. I've known Alice for over 20 years--she's incapable of telling even the most innocent of white lies and so understandably she has written a book of truths. This will by MY Christmas gift this year!

I thoroughly enjoyed this graceful, sweet, honest and sometimes heart wrenching memoir. As the illustrator, I was honored to be a part of it.

I bought this book as a gift for my flower girl, who had never been to Idaho and was making her first trip. I read it and liked it, and there aren't many books set in Idaho for kids her age. She was absolutely absorbed--read it at the rehearsal, then at the rehearsal dinner, and there are even pictures of her with it in the pew at the wedding! Clearly it captures the attention.
I think the book has three terrific strengths. First, unlike many kids books that attempt to beat kids over the head with the message of tolerance (and become boring doing it), this book deals with class tensions, gender differences, difficulties with blended families, etc. without any preaching or beating you over the head. This is the best of showing, instead of telling, and it gives a great message to kids: why you shouldn't tease those who are different, etc.
Second, the narrrator's voice is convincing. We can believe that this is a boy telling the story, and his observations are consistent with his age and his understanding of the events around him.
Finally, the book has an unusual setting and therefore gets the attention of kids. Very few children have ever been to a place like Eden, Idaho, which is convincingly portrayed here. Those who have been will recognize it, and many of those who haven't will be interested just by so different a world.

The Garden of Eden Motel...

This is a well-written, well-plotted book about an almost-adolescent boy and his new step-father in the 1950s...

The author--Morse Hamilton--nails it dead-on just how it was to be a kid during the S-L-O-W, innocent, and unenlightened Eisenhower era.

He also put the words down exactly right about what it's like to have a new step-father, what it's like to be a new step-father, and what it's like to suddenly meet the very first girl who makes your stomach feel all funny...

I suppose that some folk with 1990s style short attention spans might the piece slow going, but he's talking about a different time, and a different place.

The dialogue rings true, really true.

So do the characters.

I don't have time or patience with most of the books written for children, or worse, for "Youth Ages 12 & Up". They're usually pretty silly stuff, and nowadays, they always seem to have some sort of MESSAGE that's kinda like the Moment Of Crap on TV, where the sit com writers let you know that AIDS is a "serious problem", or that one shouldn't be hateful, or sexist, or prejudiced.

Thanks so much for tellin' me!

There's none of that heavy-handed moralizing in The Garden of Eden Motel. It's old-fashioned good story telling, the kind that seems to have gone out of style, unfortunately...

Confession: Morse Hamilton--and I went to junior high school together. As I write this, an image from the sandlots has just flashed before me.

We were playing in a championship game, and the real Jimmy Beard (not the one mentioned once or twice in the book) fielded a hard-hit ground ball at shortstop and flipped it to me at second.

I caught the ball, stepped on the bag, pivoted, and then made THE PERFECT THROW to Morse at first, which should have gotten us out of the ball game. I could almost feel my fingers wrapping themselves around the trophy.

I can still see the ball going into his glove.

And now I see it popping out and dribbling behind him.

"Yah booted it, More-Ass," I grumbled to myself later. "And we lost the game, YA JERK!"

I didn't forgive him for three weeks, by which time he was out with his father in Idaho, which provides the back drop for this book.

Now, I wouldn't say the Garden of Eden Motel was a good book if it wasn't, especially since Morse committed the error that cost us the championship forty-something years ago.

But, believe me, he didn't muff this story. The piece is right on, and I'm glad he was able to finish it before he died.

So, sail on, old friend. Sail on.

This book is for anyone who has experienced the dual joy/horror of their favorite place discovered. Idaho like most of the Northwest has becomne a hot spot for both travel and relocation. This funny book chronicles what it is like to be both a homesteader and a newcomer with great satire.

This is Idaho! Rick Just nails it. We want to grab everything for ourselves, and then keep out the next grabber. Just empathizes with ranchers, miners, lumberjacks, farmers and travel promoters, even while poking fun at each of them. A fun read!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

If you've ever lost someone you loved, you know that you treasure the things they loved. Stan Johnson's stepfather worked for the Milwaukee Railroad for 53 years. Johnson felt compelled, a few years ago, to see the old places and right-of-way of the abandoned Milwaukee finding, everywhere he went in Montana, Idaho and Washington, a flood of memories of his youth, railroading, electric locomotives, people, stories, history and a rich tapestry of lives and events that the Milwaukee Road represented through Johnson's beloved stepfather. As Johnson retraces the physical route and structures of the Milwaukee, his memories come alive, and you will read each word with a lump in your throat as Johnson returns to find his stepfather and his railroad.

Johnson has an uncanny way of putting his readers on the Milwaukee Railroad durring its prime. A must read for people who cherish the Milwaukee railroads history on a first hand basis.

"This Bloody Deed" is a well researched look at Idaho's first murder trial. Hamilton relates the known facts with a novelist's license for imagined dialouge and motivation. While historians may shudder, this makes the book highly readable.

Three thugs from Sheriff Henry Plummer's gang befriend and then murder packer Lloyd Magruder and party as they are crossing the Bitterroot Mountains from Bannack( now western Montana,then Idaho Territory) to Lewiston Idaho. Magruder's true friend Hill Beachy tracks the killers to San Francisco and returns them to Lewiston to face Idaho's first murder trial, if he can keep them from being lynched.

I grew up with this story as a folktale and as good as the narrative is the best parts of the book are Hamilton's asides into everyday life on the Idaho frontier, boom-bust economics of mining and territorial politics.

My only historical quibble is that my family always accepted that the prosecution's chief witness was also a Plummer gang intimate.

A solid picture of the frontier as it probably was.

Ladd Hamilton puts to paper one of the most compelling stories of the old west. His writing keeps you glued to the pages by vividly describing how life was 130 years ago. This murder mystery that takes you from the Bitterroot Mountains of the Idaho territory to the city of San Francisco and back is a must read for all.

Found this to be a very interesting paperback book for anyone dreaming of treasure hunting/finds. But, I wish it was updated. I'm sure there are more interesting things about Florida. Not all of Fla. treasure finds are in the sea as this book notes. Worth reading.Open anywhere and begin reading.

Being an enthusiastic amateur treasure hunter myself, in years past, I diligently read each and every volume of Mr. Terry's exhaustively researched works. Although I found some the information erroneous or far from exact - for instance many locations cited as "ghost towns" are FAR from being one - there are so many intriguing stories of legends, factual evidence & stories of past recoveries that any true TH'r will be enthralled. Treasure hunting is supposedly America's fastest growing hobby: it's uniquely enjoyable for the adventure, historical aspects & healthy outdoor recreation. And when you really find something decent...Boy Howdy!! Not as easy as it sounds, though. To be a professional TH'r, one has to have patience, applying oneself with the perseverance of a detective: because that's what it takes to be successful. Exhaustive research is the key: going where people gathered long ago (old picnic grounds & abandoned schoolyards, for instance) will be beneficial for coin shooters who are after more than modern coins....for me, finding modern coins was a complete waste of time & energy. Going for the gold? Go where it is KNOWN to be & be creative: the better your equipment - i.e. a decent detector which finds gold & common sense makes this a most fascinating hobby. For some, it's a life's career. Good luck!!

Mostly unknown by the general public and historians, the story of the ill-fated Utter and Van Ornum parties in 1860 ranks high on the list of most moving struggles of the westward-bound emigrants along the Oregon Trail. This story, inaccurately recorded until now, rates as a must-read by any afficianado of Oregon Trail history. Mr. Shannon spent several years researching this book, and the quality of that reasearch shines through on almost every page. The names of all the players in the tragedy are there. Details of every conceivable facet of the story is included. There are many very rare photos and drawings included, and well-drawn maps of each part of the tale grace the pages of this invaluable resource. The story itself is compelling beyond measaure. There is heroism, cowardice, death, destruction, and intrigue at every turn. If only the story of 13 year-old Emmeline Trimble and her 10 year-old brother Christopher were included in this book, I would still recommend it highly. This slim volume, however, is easily read in one sitting and yet covers the subject of the "massacre" completely. The writing is energetic and entirely factual. This is easily one of the best books on Oregon Trail matters written in the last ten years. I recommend it highly. Anyone interested in how the west was REALLY won and lost should consider Donald Shannon's book an absolute must-have.

I grew up near the scenes in this book and I have received considerable information from local folks. I summarized the tragedy in a Malheur newsletter several years ago, but Don Shannon's book far exceeds my work. He has done a beautiful job of spicing his narrative with letters and quotes from survivors and pioneers of the time. Don's book is so moving I sort of wept at some passages. It has heroes, a particularly savage Indian group of renegades, and some blundering ordinary people. And it is all true!

A fascinating study of how land molds people and forges alliances between groups who should be enemies. My sisters and I grew up in the Weiser Valley, never knowing of the existence of this group. When we studied Idaho history, we never learned about this hardy band who walked where our parents settled dozens of years later. The steep, formidable mountains which rise from the Weiser Valley still provide remote shelter to hardy souls who can survive in a non-electronic world. It pleased me to read this story and know that the white settlers in the upper mountains made their own alliances with the Weiser Indians and helped them keep their whereabouts unknown for many years.

I was raised in Southwestern Idaho with an interest in the history of the Native Americans of my area. Finally, I have encountered all of the information that I always wanted but had never found: IN THIS BOOK. This book is not limited to the "Weiser" Indians, but includes all of the cultures that traded or traveled through this area. It tells of a gathering area where an annual regional rendezvous allowed peaceful cultural and material exchange from the West Coast to the Great Plains. And it tells of a band of Shoshoni who had the foresight to quietly embrace the forces of change and thus avoid the genocide that destroyed so many others. It brings together historical accounts which are carefully annotated, and it includes the lives of numerous important historical persons. Thank you, Hank Corless, for providing this delightful book. It is good, readable storytelling, organized by timelines. This book combines readability with academic research, and it avoids romanticizing. I hope it gets reprinted. At the time of this review, it is out of print and only available used, but still well worth buying.

The eight was an overhyped success. This one though takes the cake of unsuccesful followthroughs!Maybe too late to go back to modeling but why keep pretending to be a writer?

I don't object so much Neville's abuse of history as her condesending attitude, as if her readers will shallow everything.She not only exhaustes her ingeniouty on family-tree .."twists", she manages to realy get on your nerves having to resort to outdated sacrosanct ideas about the training of Jesus by ...druids!! Where did you do your research Cathy, Asterix village?

Pass.

I picked up this book because I had loved Neville's 'The Eight' so much. Sheesh, I wish I had not bothered. What a silly mishmash of loose ends that never get tied together. You keep *thinking* it's going to all come together in the end somehow, but it never does. A complete waste of time.

I normally enjoy the work of an author who is able to reinterpret established facts of history and combine it with intrigue, suspense and drama into the one novel. Based purely on the strength of the synopsis on the back cover this is what I expected with the Magic Circle, however I was very disappointed.

The Magic Circle offers much but delivers little. I was expecting a novel which would keep me riveted page to page, however I found myself at times struggling to comprehend the complex web of characters not only in the Roman and bibilical periods of the novel but the present day charcters of the Behn family. I have to agree with the reader who tired of hearing of a new shocking family secret every time Ariel spoke with a new family member. This aspect of the novel was badly overdone. At one stage I looked in the back of the book to see if the author had included a family tree diagram to aid the reader in trying to comprehend the intricate relationships of the Behn family.

Whilst reading I was looking forward to finishing the book to uncover " the chilling truth of the ne millenium", to me this never happened, I felt as though there was something missing. Maybe I was looking forward to an ending like the ones I encountered in The Day After Tomorrow or The Genesis Code.

Reading this at times I felt I was in a history lesson, lots of names and lots of dates. Don't get me wrong the authors research for this novel is second to none. I haven't yet encountered a novel which covers so many historical events and characters from so many different time periods. Neville's shortcoming is that she has overloaded the reader with this information, combine this with the complex Behn family and you have a novel which is simply too long and has too much information.

Putting those critcisms aside, Neville has a wonderful descriptive writing style, places such as Vienna come right off the page. Her main characters come alive, rescuing the book from below average status.

In summary the book i! s still worth a read but be prepared to take notes.