Henry Chappell has hunted and fished all over Texas and the American southwest. An accomplished sports writer, his articles, essays and short stories have appeared in a wealth of hunting, fishing, wildlife, and sports magazines. In At Home On The Range With A Texas Hunter, Chappell offers a series of engaging, highly recommended essays on the bonds that exist between hunter, hunting dog, land, and prey. From hunting Bobwhites in the Texas Panhandle, to prairie grouse in the Flint Hills of Kansas, Gambel's quail in New Mexico arroyos, blue quail on the staked plains, or doves and Mearns' quail in Arizona, Chappell evokes a true sense of hunting, complete with its responsibilities and ethics.

I am a native Texan and an avid hunter of over 25 years. I think Henry Chappells book is sublime and I enjoyed the realism and detail associated with it. It is nice to read a hunting book that I can relate to in not only hunting, but in a common love of the great state of Texas and all of it's beauty.

I got this book and expected to see the typical hunting stories and that would be O.K. because I have been an avid hunter/outdoorsman for over 30 years and enjoy anything related to hunting, camping, etc. This book was a surprise! It does contain some hunting stories, and some experiences encountered while camping, but more insightfully, one can share the thoughts and observations of a person very skilled not only in hunting but in observing nature. While it is difficult to accurately describe this book, I would say it is about hunting from the perspective of a conservationist as opposed to a person who is only out to shoot. Additionally, the author's thoughtful insights into hunting ethics are sure to raise some hackles, especially in Texas, and will hopefully provoke some self examination by anyone who hunts. As an aside, the section on Country is worth the price of the book, by itself. This book accomplishes something that is difficult-it stimulates thought.

Dr. Bedell's poetry is what inspires me to be a proud Louisianian and writer. I am a bit biased since I personally know Dr. Bedell, but his poems really do "speak" to me. This book and anything else by Jack Bedell is well worth the buy.

This book is full of engaging, accurate stories that bring to life the culture and landscape of south Louisiana. Bedell knows exactly when to pull back and let the story tell itself; he never forces preconceived or contrived emotions on the reader. Like it says on the book, I'd buy one and send one to a friend...

It is easy to forget the beauty and richness that real life - real people have to offer. Jack brings the reader home with him, offering beauty and reality with the wonderful trip.

Blood and Treasure is a fascinating book about a little know about Civil War campaign. Dr. Frazier is best lecturer I have ever heard, and this book does something to capture his skill on paper. This book is essential for anyone with an interest in Texas, the Civil War, or the American West.

This book is a must for Yankee Historian

Fantastic book about the southern struggle to build an empire!All northern history teachers should read this book.I am a U.S.History teacher who wrote a story about my greatgrandfather who was in prison in Texas during the Civil War and DFrazier contacted me for info,thus I have now read his book and it is superb!

I am very excited about this book and the history,This story is about my family ,, Frances Short Smith is my Great- Great Aunt ,, I recall the stories from my Grandfather ,, and looking at the origanal book was so exciting ,, this is a must for history buffs ,,,,

By pure luck, I ran across this excellent first hand account of the Smith brothers captivity by Comanches in Texas. Written before a revisionist philosophy dominated history writing, their accounts of Indian raids and murders in Texas in the 1870s are the opposite of what is usually written or shown on screen today. My sympathies are with the Texas pioneers who suffered so much. Outstanding reading from such a little book.

Amazing story of a boy who was captured and lived with the Comanche Indians for five years. He actually became a Comanche and identified as an Indian while he was with them. Fought with them against other tribes and the US army, etc. Told in an absolutely matter of fact manner. Written in 1927 so not "politically correct" but gives an amazing view of frontier life and life with the Indians. It is in print.

As an historical writer, I strongly recommend this finely crafted novel. Mr. Johnson has created a Civil War Drama that readers of the Western genre will thoroughly enjoy. It is cleverly constructed with full-dimensional characters and events that will linger long after the last page. A great read!

From the back cover of the novel: "The author knows firsthand the locale of this action-packed and fast-paced story. He owned and operated a cattle and horse ranch in the Texa brushland wilderness,in the land known as la brasada . . . . the ranch bordered the Rio Grande for nine miles . . . During the Civil War, wagons loaded with cotton left deep ruts while traveling across the ranch into Mexico. The tracks are visible to this day."

From these roots comes Brasada by Don Johnson, a western novel that is interwoven with some fascinating Civil War History - in particular, how the South financed the War by smuggling its cotton into Mexico and getting paid in gold.

This is a real page-turner that has everything a fan of Westerns and Civil War Novels could ask for, and then some. Just a great introduction to the Western genre for new readers. I strongly recommend it for anyone who likes to read good fiction.

Jerry Patterson, thebuffalokid@aol.com

In the tradition of great Western writers such as Louis Lamour and Elmer Kelton, Don Johnson brings the old West to life in vivid detail in his new novel Brasada. Johnson's knack for storytelling and colloquial style transports the reader straight to the harsh brushland of Civil War-era Texas. Unlike many modern western authors, Johnson has chosen not to blur the line between good and bad, creating the most dispicable of villains in Santiago and effecting sympathy for the story's hero Lance Morgan. But these characters, while morally black and white through most of the story, still manage to develop throughout. The story's intriguing plot and colorful characters make Brasada hard to put down and a must for fans of classic Western novels.

This was the greatest book ever.
I liked the stories cause they made me laugh and sad too.
I think it was a very good book

Any human that is owned by any kind of city or country critter will really enjoy this book...it is filled with hilarious adventures and heart warming, tear jerking accounts of the daily life of a citified rural veterinarian, just trying to do the work he loves the best he can, and still maintain his sanity. This book has earned a 'keep it and read it again' spot right next to my collection of James Herriot's memoirs.

Heartwarming, heart tugging and funny--it's a perfect book for any animal lover. Think Cleveland Amory meets Baxter Black. More like James Herriot's writing than anything I ever read. A fun and easy-to-read collection of short stories that truly describes the life of a Texas veterinarian. I couldn't put it down!

For readers who enjoy the novels of Joe R. Lansdale-specifically the Hap/Leonard series-let me introduce you to Mr. Lansdale's mentor, Neal Barrett, Jr., a Texas author who's been writing for well over forty years. I've been aware of Barrett as a SF author since the late Sixties, but it was only a few weeks ago that I finally decided to purchase a couple of mysteries by him. I picked up a copy of DEAD DOG BLUES (though it has "Blues" in the title, this isn't a Wiley Moss novel), read a few pages, and found myself hooked line and sinker. I can easily see how Mr. Lansdale was influenced by the work of Neal Barrett, especially with regards to developing one's sense of dark humor and in being able to create a cast of colorful, off-the-wall characters. This is definitely a novel that's filled with both dark humor and an array of colorful characters that leave you wanting more when the last page is finally reached. DEAD DOG BLUES is the story of Jack Track, a native of Pharaoh, Texas, who left town to go to college and disappeared for fourteen years, living a life of crime part of the time and hiding for the rest by riding the rails. When his Uncle Will gets sick, Jack returns to Pharaoh and agrees to take over his uncle's job as town constable on a temporary basis. It's an easy job for Jack. All he has to do is make sure the downtown stores are locked up at night. Things suddenly change, however, when millionaire Max Croomer's dog is murdered in a rather peculiar fashion. Then, Max's maid, Emma, disappears. When Max is murdered and his body is publicly displayed on the local school's football field, Jack realizes that he has a deadly killer on his hands. What makes matters even worse is that Max's wife, Millie, had a brief fling with Jack when they were teenagers, and now she's showing interest in renewing their old relationship. This could cause Jack some serious problems, especially if his girlfriend, Cecily Benet-the yogurt queen of Texas-finds out. The only one Jack can really count on is his close friend, Earl Murphy, both of which shared a childhood of being poor. Now, Earl is a self-made Wall Street millionaire who lives on the lot next to Jack's. There's no house on Earl's property-only stacks of lumber, brick, shingles, pipes, and a shed filled with power tools. Earl cooks on a camp stove and sleeps in his Aston-Martin Lagonda. Being black, Earl still harbors some hard feelings toward the good citizens of Pharaoh, and it doesn't bother him in the least that a few of them have been murdered. Earl, however, has to take a stand when the killer decides to come after Jack. That's why he keeps a .44 Magnum revolver under the seat of his two hundred thousand dollar car. DEAD DOG BLUES is a surprise of the best sort. Mr. Barrett made the town of Pharaoh, Texas come alive with his vivid descriptions and eccentric characters. Though having done things that are against the law, Jack Track is a strong protagonist that tries to do what's right. His relationship with Earl Murphy reminded me a lot of Hap Collins and Leonard Pine in the Joe R. Lansdale series. These are two men who have a bond of friendship between them that can't be broken, and each is ready to come to the other's rescue at a moment's notice. The women in the story (Cecily Benet, Millie & and Smoothy Croomer) are beautiful, smart, sexy, and know how to make a man suffer in ways that only a female can. The supporting characters rang true to the ear and reminded me a lot of people I knew from the small town in North Carolina where I come from. I will say the Mr. Barrett surprised me with who the killer is in the story. I never saw it coming. Few writers are able to catch me like that. I hope the author will eventually bring back Jack Track and Earl Murphy in a future novel. These guys, like Hap and Leonard, are simply a lot of fun to hang out with, and you never know what they're going to get into. Highly recommended.

If you are a fan of great writing, you must try out Neal Barrett. This "Blues" series is Barrett in top form. After you've torn through these books, check out Joe Lansdale and Andrew Vachss, and while you're at it, track down a copy of Barrett's out-of-print masterpiece, "The Hereafter Gang."

This mystery is great because you never know for sure who did it until the very end. The characters in the book are delightful as well as comical. It is different from traditional mysteries and very well written.

"City Smart Austin" is an indispensable guide to aculturally-rich and multifaceted city.

Austin natives EleanorS. Morris, Paris Permenter, and John Bigley wisely present the city in six geographic zones. And they cover everything from Austin basics (weather, homes, people, etc) and day trips to recreation areas and where to shop/eat/stay.

Whether they are writing about "BookPeople" (one of the largest bookstores in the U.S.) or the 'Dillo Express (one of the city's laudable forms of public transportation), the authors speak with warmth and home-town credibility.

I was especially pleased with their accessment of Austin's accommodations. Yes, they duly point out the grandeur of the historic Driskill Hotel. But they also note the convenience and affortability of the La Quinta at the Capitol, which not only has a gracious new manager, but renovated "Gold Metal Rooms," which have new decor, 25-inch TVs, and speaker phones!

The book's maps are clear and helpful, with inset-captions for easy referral; and the b&w photos--while a tad too small--are often bright and sharp.

An added treat of "City Smart Austin" are the valuable coupons in the back of the book. Don't miss them!

Like the last reviewer, I too was considering a work-related move to Austin. I wanted a guide book that could give me a quick and easy entry into what Austin had to offer a tourist and potential resident. This guide book gave me a good overview of Austin while I was there -- it wasn't just an index or list of area attractions and businesses: It contained a lot of useful 'tips' interspersed through out the book and the maps were clear and well integrated with the text.

I had some reservations before I bought this because the maps were not in color. However, the maps were clear and concise. Rather than clutter up 1 map with icons for restaurants, attractions, etc., the maps were repeated in each section of the guide, and contained only the relevant data for that section; this made using them very easy. I'd also say that the authors of the book were very generous with the number and variety of maps.

Overall, the design of the book made reading and finding information easy. Good use of bold type made flipping through and finding stuff easy too.

In the end, I got the Austin job and will be moving there soon. As a future Austin resident, I think this will still be the only guide I need.

I am considering a move to Austin and found a lot of useful information in this guidebook. I used it to plan my freetime following a job interview in the city and found it right on target regarding the restaurant reviews. Good buy!

With plenty of stops for chow time (and chow chow) and a policeman whose priority is his pie, this homespun mystery novel (set during the Christmas season) has an accent almost as thick as the gravy covering the body of fricasseed fat man. In Job's Crossing, if the cholesterol doesn't kill you the colloquialisms might. Please note that the term "funeralized" really ISN'T an every day term in Texas, nor do we all talk like this. The charm of grandma/detective Biggie and grandson/detective J.R. almost overcomes the hokey-ness of the time warp they appear to be stuck in. While the local actuarial tables would surely indicate that Job's Crossing could be hazardous to your health, never fear, for Biggie and J.R. will surely sort things out. Gossip, glop, and a spare grandma all garnish this very corny, colloquial cozy mystery.

Nancy Bell has whipped up some wonderful characters residing in Job's Crossing, Texas. There is the wonderfully big hearted, but minute Biggie, and her resident 12 year old grandson J.R. and a cast of other fun characters.

Biggie and J.R. go out for a big night on the town, the opening of the town's brand new, all chicken restaurant. The proprietor is nowhere to be found in all of the hustle and bustle, until he is found, served up dead with gravy on top! Biggie takes it upon herself to help her cousin, the local sheriff solve this crime.

During this Christmas holiday season, J.R.'s other grandparents arrive, with intentions of taking J.R. back home with them. The boy is forced to learn about love and loyalty v.s. the value of a dollar. What choice will he make? Is Biggie to busy for him anymore? What would it be like to spend Christmas, or to live with his rich grandparents?

As I detest spoilers I won't give any more plot elements. The sub-plots were all woven together very well. The gore factor was very light. (I will say that it was a murder tastefully done, with a flourish and garnish at that!) I don't recall any strong language or adult situations in the book. With the story taking place in the holiday season, while this book can be read at any time during the year, it may be a nice addition to the holiday reading pile.

This is the third in the series bringing readers smack-dab into the grits and gravy lives of Biggie Weatherford and those close to her in Joe's Crossing, Texas. The grand opening of the Fresh-as-a-Daisy Chicken Restaurant and take-out (featuring sweet-and-sour to southern fried chicken) is the unlikely setting of a murder. The body of the owner, Firman Birdsonis found under a table covered in gravy and garnished with tomato and parsley. Biggie, the grandmother we've all wished for, rounds up her posse-Willie May, the best cook south of the Mason-Dixon. Rosebud the handy man-driver-raconteur, Paul and Siles the one man (yes, one man) police department and Jr. Biggies ten your old grandson and they unite to uncover this tasteless killer. To add to the chicken-pot-pie, JR's other grandmother and her ersatz cowboy husband Skinny crash into town to take JR to live with them at their ranch. The reader will eagerly await the next glimpse into Jobs Crossing and the southern-fried charmers Nancy Bill's stories evoke.

The remarkable thing about this book is the beautiful close-up colour pictures of almost every species. Not all the pictures are flawless--anyone who's ever photographed birds knows how hard it is to get a good, detailed, well-lit close-up shot--but they are very high quality and make this both a gorgeous coffee table book and a valuable identification aid.

The coverage is not as complete as, say, Peterson's Field Guide to the Birds of Texas, which I also own. The Peterson has, for example, many more of the confusing fall warblers; the Tveten explicitly says that detailed coverage of the warblers is outside its scope. But the differences in coverage are generally of the rarer birds; anything a casual bird-watcher is likely to see will be in the Tveten; and the Peterson has few good colour plates.

This is a larger book than is really convenient out in the field, though. Plus the descriptive sections, while well-written and interesting, aren't organized in a way that makes it easy to quickly find important field marks or check the range. If you want to get just one book I'd recommend this one; get another for completeness or for use in the field.

This book has beautiful photographs of Texas birds. It describes their songs, how they eat, mate, nest, care for offspring, and all in an interesting manner. The way the author describes birds, you know he has a great love for these winged creatures. Cedar Wax-wings are "courteous", Loggerhead Shrikes have "the inclinations of a hawk", Grackles are "bullies", Carolina Chickadees are "acrobatic", Horned Larks have a "rakish, devilish air", etc.. Believe it or not, these descriptions actually help me remember what the birds look like and what they are called. Highly recommended.

This colorful book thoroughly covers the wide range of birds in Texas. The close-up photography is stunning and provides for easy identification of birds encountered in the wild. Every aspect of each bird is described in depth in lively and interesting prose. The excellent organization of this book allows the reader to find the bird they are looking for quickly and efficiently. I highly recommend "The Birds of Texas". I only wish I had bought the hardcover edition instead of the softcover.