If you appreciate vintage black and white photography. If you remember the Oregon of the 40's, 50's and 60's. If you're looking for nostalgia, then this photo essay is for you. The largest percentage of the book covers Portland and northern Oregon, but most of the state is highlighted somewhere in the book.

In my former hometown of Oregon City, John McLoughlin is an unavoidable figure. He virtually founded the city, is buried there, his home is a landmark, streets, schools and businesses are named for him. There every school child knows about Fort Vancouver and the Hudson Bay Company. In the rest of the world I fear he is an obscure personage. Ms. Morrison has done extensive, (colossal?), research on McLoughlin and this is the most comprehensive biography of the man we are ever likely to see.

The book is also an excellent resource for information on the HBC and the lengths to which the company went to attempt to keep the country North of the Columbia River in the British Empire. McLoughlin is a towering figure in the history of the United States and deserves more fame and renown. His likeness even stands in Statuary Hall in the United States capitol. Unfortunately despite Morrison's best efforts he is likely to remain obscure outside of the Pacific Northwest. The story of McLoughlin and his Empire is all here...if you care.

Paddling Oregon -along with Soggy Sneakers- are the two definative guide books about Oregon boating.

Paddling Oregon has a well-organized desciption of multiple runs of 92 different rivers. Included in each overview is information about the character, location, gradient, class and skill level and a list of appropriate craft for the run. Information about potential shuttle sources is also included.

Paddling Oregon is a comfortable format and easy-to-read narrative which provides great details and provides a good feel for the river.

The one criticism I have is the book fails to provide useful maps for use on the river.

I found this book to be interesting when learning that Oregon was attacked during World War II for a project that I did when inhigh school. As someone who has lived in Oregon most of my life, I enjoy learning new things about the history. By visiting Fort Steven's, I was able to learn the original history of the fort as well as how it was involved in WWII. Since reading this book, I have found an interest in wanting to learn more about World War II with a focus more in the Pacific portion of the war.

This guidebook covers the 34 mile section of the Rogue River, between the Grave Creek Boat Ramp and the Foster Bar Takeout. It describes the river mile-by-mile, rapid-by-rapid, including notable features of Class II rapids. All Class III and above are described in detail, and following the flow of the river. Also contains maps including campsites, landmarks and rapids.

Truly the "must have" guide to the areas around Hood River, OR. Known in the region to have the best mountain biking in the area, Hood River is becoming more than the windsurfing capitol of the States. The Single Track Anthology lists rides of different abilities, coded in the familiar symbols of ski areas. (green circles, beginners; blue squares, intermediates; and black diamonds, advanced). The ride descriptions are concise and accurate, and I especially like the elevation profiles provided with each ride. Directions to trailheads are easy to follow, and the maps of the trails are fine with the use of real topog maps available through the forest service. An added benefit to the book is a large number of sponsers and advertisers, some offering coupons or discounts at local businesses in Hood River. If you are heading toward Hood River, or anywhere near "The Gorge", pick up this book for it will undoubtedly aid you in your quest for the best that the area has to offer.

This, her latest in a series of amatuer radio adventures for young adults, is a tense historical story with science fiction overtones. It is probably the best, though Wall's first book, Night Signals shows depth, as well. The two college-age main characters are transported back to the Oregon Trail through a freak accident. They must face the difficulties of that time-period and the hardships of the Trail with 20th-century sensibilities. Interlaced within this story, they are in radio contact with a WWII fighter pilot in 1943 via a mysterious atomospheric condition that is sending radio signals through time. The pilot has crashed on an island in the Pacific and is preparing to die; his story is moving as he writes a letter to his wife.

A Spark to the Past reads like a well written television movie, and has very good imagery and plot. All in all, this is a fine story, and it will likely be appreciated by its readers.

If you like books w/ oddball characters and reluctant wise-cracking heros you'll love Rick Hanson's books. I've read every one I could get my hands on and have never been disappointed.

I picked up this book in Ashland, OR about a year ago to read on the trip back to Portland. I was surprised to find that this book of many little stories held me rapt for that 5 hour ride. These "little stories" were collected over the years by ethnographers, folks who beat the bushes in the early part of this century till now to record stories of natives Americans, immigrant pioneers, outlaws. There are also songs and poems that can be traced to other oral traditions, but what you get is that good ole' Oregon spin of things, as seen through eyes of many different groups of people.

Sure, this book doesn't have a traditional story line, but one thread does run through it all. All people have a story to tell, and this Anthology of Oregon Folk Literature is a way to see how people lived and laughed "back in the day".

Bryan Hiatt Wilsonville, OR

"That Ribbon of Highway" wonderfully captures the memory of those times when travel along "the Main Street of California" was indeed an adventure, before Interstate 5 made travel through the state a matter of speeding from origin to destination with the only experience with the outside world involving, say, a quick stop at the drive-through window at yet another stamped-out McDonald's. As the author points out, of the three major north/south highways in California, Highway 101 may have been more romantic, Highway 395 more mysterious, but it was Highway 99 that truly served as "the peoples' highway," and thus is arguably more important in a historical scope.

I like this book a lot. The author and photographer have wonderfully captured the historical spirit of Highway 99. I give it four stars instead of five only because I don't want to build the expectations of this book too much. It isn't a big, coffee table-sized tome filled with large glossy full-color photos and expansive essays. Rather, it's more a small, "night stand" sized volume, with black and while photos and brief treatments of the various points of interest along the stretch of the highway between the Oregon border and Sacramento. However, the modest format of the book likely compliments memories of those pre-Interstate 5 days more adeptly than would a Time/Life version of the subject; this little book goes gentle on the memories of our hearts by bringing them to the fore rather than revising them with someone else's vision.

For those readers who treasure the memories of a time when travel by road seemed a richer, more colorful experience, I heartily recommend this enjoyable little book. HJ