This book, which incorporates autobiographical writings, provides a good overview of the life of Walter M. Pierce, a governor of Oregon and Congressman from that same state. Because of the use of the autobiographical writings, there is extremely detailed information about some aspects of Pierce's life that otherwise likely wouldn't have been covered, such as some of the close votes of his early political life. Unfortunately, the author is unable to explain why Pierce moved to Oregon in the first place or why a progressive like Pierce was also such a racist. Still, this is a good overview of the life of an important political figure in Oregon history and provides insight into life in Oregon in the early 20th century. There is also detailed information about the rise of the KKK in the state.

I am planning a trip to the Oregon coast this summer and greatly anticipated the arrival of this book. It seemed a perfect fit for my needs. My initial reaction to the book is disappointing.

The book is organized by photographic subject such as waterallfs, shorelines, valleys, sunset, etc. It gives advice o the lens selection, camera placement, and exposure for photographing each subject. At the end of each topic is a list of Oregon specific locations for photographing these subjects.

I can find plenty of books on how to photograph waterfalls or sunsets. What I was hoping for was advice on specific beaches or locations in Oregon. This book will not give you that. Look for places on the web for "Photograph America" and "Phototraveler" for location specific advice.

While doing research for a quilt project to be done with 35 4th graders in California, this magnificent book lends inspiration, and adds to any quilt project. The stories about women on the Oregon Trail and how and what they did and the magnificent quilts they constructed is - simply - awesome. The author certainly did her research and shares it in a way that will entice both adult and young children to explore the world of quilts today. - WOW!

As a professional, I found the book to be somewhat illuminating. For example, I understood why a colleague in another part of the state insisted that I prescribe certain drugs to a patient who needed them, rathen then him, himself. However, at most parts, the details are far too discrete. This leads to speculation, which is unfair to both the professional and the public. To say that the professional is required to have psychiatric care while practicing medicine without details, opens up all sorts of speculation that could harm the doctor - patient relationship unnecessarily.

The primary accomplishment of this book is its 500+ page discussion of the Washington Cascades without mention of The Mountaineers club! The first 140 pages deal with indians, immigrant trails and the Hudson's Bay Company. Nothing new here, a lot of references to Winthrop's Canoe and Saddle and a discription of Ross' trip over Cascade Pass. The next seventy pages are about the first boundry survey fron 1857 - 1862. This is the guts of the book and it is really good - vintage Beckey. It's researched from original sources and well footnoted. The next sixty or seventy pages are basically about the railroads. These stories have been told before in more detai but the recounting is interesting with an attention to the geography that is usually overlooked. (Yakima Pass?) The third part of the book is a superficial presentation of mining in the Northwest, early mountaineering on the volcanoes and the beginnings of the forest service. None of these are done particularly well and none of them have enough detail to complement the first part of the book. This section does have a thirty page section on the USGS topographers and the second boundry survey in 1901 - 1908. It was during this era that many of the first ascents in the cascades were done but the discussion is brief and clearly omits the majority of what Beckey wrote about these efforts in the CAG series. Overall I have to say that I was disappointed. I understand that the Oregon Historical Society lacked the funds to publish and held it up for a long time but I started hearing about this book in the early '90s and saw a mock-up of it's cover at their booth at bookfest in about 1995. I got very excited reading the first part of the book but ended up feeling like Fred got tired about halfway through, or that he lost interest and just glossed over everything after the boundry survey. Read Woodhouse about mining. Read Molenar and Haines or Rusk on mountaineering. Read Beckey's own Challenge of the North Cascades and the introductions and footnotes in the Cascade Alpine Guide series. Read Bates Three Fingers to get a flavor of the early forest service era - and there are probably better sources for people interested in that topic (Even Beckey's CAG intros and notes have more information that this book does.) Read Tabor & Crowder Routes and Rocks about the geology. Read Roe and Praether about the railroads (again, also covered in CAG). Read Miles Kolma Kulshan about Mt. Baker. Finally, read Carlos Schwantes. His railroad discussion and his regional history are a lot better than Beckey's. But read Beckey about the boundry survey. There's nothing else like it.

This book has 120 plates of wildflowers and includes a paragraph for each one describing common as well as scientific names. It highlights regions and specific habitats where the flowers can be found. It is organized by plant families and includes space for readers to put their observations and sightings.

Sisters Sarah McIntosh and Julie Armstrong only recently found one another before being tragically separated again by a catastrophic act of fate. They share a dream of renovating an abandoned theater called The Nevermore, hoping to create a mini-mall where they can display their artistic creations. They invite contractor Nick Nordahl to make a bid for the renovations. Their new found friendship leads to unexpected consequences, however, when a moment in time brings tragedy.

Julie falls asleep in the backseat of the car and Sarah gently covers her, leaving the car running while she runs into a convenience store for milk. Meanwhile, a masked man robs the store, killing the owner, before using Sarah's running car for his get away. He does not see the sleeping woman in the backseat, which profoundly escalates his situation. Subsequently, Sarah struggles with profound issues of grief, guilt and terror. While she believes in God, Sarah lacks the assurance of faith that sustains Nick, creating a terrible wall between them.

Once again author Lorena McCourtney pens a powerful romantic suspense. Profound questions of a spiritual nature lend the novel an emotional and psychological intensity, landing both Sarah and Nick in a riptide of feeling. Unfortunately, the nature of the Christian genre precludes the edgy suspense readers expect when the characters are analyzed from a perspective of good verses evil on a scale of spirituality. Nevertheless, the Nick's determination to save Sarah's life, even if he cannot save her soul, makes him a marvelous hero readers will treasure. With a skillful blend of romantic suspense and realistic spiritual challenges, RIPTIDE comes recommended.

Cusi an Inca boy wants to learn about his past. The old Indian who raised him will only tell him when the time comes. Later on Cusi must go on a journey by himself to the holy city of the Incas. On his way he will find what his heart desires. A family.

This book relays the Story of Susan B. Anthony with great detail. I was amazed with the history of Susan B. Anthony and her battle. The author includes actual newspaper quotes from the time of Susan B. Anthony. I would recommend this book as a research tool for the life of Susan B. Anthony.

This novel won the 1954 Spur Award for best western novel of the year. The story focuses on the eighteen-year-old Dan Nathans who is traveling with his parents and young brother to settle in a region of southeastern Oregon. Dan, who is alienated with his father, goes to work for a local, and powerful, cattleman. He soon finds himself caught in a feud between the cattleman and the settlers. He is also caught between his affections for a young woman, who is believed to be of ill repute, and his own upbringing. The reader sees him mature through the novel.