I have not been able to stop thinking about this book for the past three years, since I read it in a Latino Literature class in college.

The story is of a "white trash" boy who grew up moving around Texas with a dead-beat dad, and an under-protective mother. The plot goes through many twists and turns as the main character (a boy of 8 or so and ending in adulthood)experiences hard times at an early age. This book takes you through the pains of a boy who is abused, through the embarrassment of puberty, though the sadness of losing innocence, and through the hardships of sibling relationships and death.

I have read and loved stories such as Their Eyes were Watching God, the Awakening, Snow Falling on Cedars, etc., and I find Hardscrub to be a piece of literary art along those same lines. The reasons I find Hardscrub to be just as good, if not better, are that the plot is amazing, the characters are fully developed, and even though Garcia is not white, he portrays the hardships of a "white trash" family very well.

I loved this book, and I am sure you will too. It gave me a completely new understanding of those with less money and opportunities than myself and was entertaining at the same time.

I liked the book because Hattie is sort of like me because she goes through problems everyday like I go through.

I have a brother named Sam and Hattie has a brother named Sam.

Hattie is also involved in adventure and mystery and I like that too.

I bought this cookbook in 1986 when the Junior League of Waco first released it. I loaned it to a friend -- and never got it back. I wasn't mad at her...I totally understood! I'd have kept it, too!

I have made many of the recipes in this book, and I can attest to the fact that none of them have ever turned out poorly. I can highly recommend the sour cream chicken enchiladas and the sangria. My family requests those every holiday instead of turkey. I was so happy to purchase another of these books because they were never released again after the first printing. If you can find a copy don't think -- just buy! You'll be glad you have this in your cookbook library. I am so glad it's back in mine.

I must have read this wonderful book three or four times, and each time I discovered something new and compelling, thought-provoking. This author writes mystery and romance with God centerstage, where He belongs. I can tell that Ms. Kok is a passionate believer.

Since I've had the pleasure of meeting the author, I was impressed with her vivid descriptions of life on wheels. Her handicap of cerebral palsy presented her with many challenges, but not obstacles ... her faithful determination continually rises to the occasion ... yes, an inspiration to be your best ... yet keep a sense of humor.

Wonderfully delightful book about spring in the Lone Star state. The 50 chapters discuss indicators of spring from a personal perspective by the author and numerous friends and colleagues, from naturalists to housewives, and from the Rio Grande Valley to the northern plains, including the first dueting of chachalacas in the Valley; greening mesquites; returning vultures in the Big Bend; night skies and black-hawks in the Davis Mts.; butterflies and violets in the pineywoods; mt.laurel, anemones, Texas bluebonnets, and golden-cheeked warblers in the Hill Country; to singing meadowlarks on the northern plains. This book is truly a fresh view of spring, and filled with neat stuff about nature in Texas. Well worth the read!

I've been an herb enthusiast for 15 years. With my personal home library of herb books reaching over 90 volumes, I've read many approaches to this topic. This particular book is large, full of quality color photos, and contains useful information for Texas herb growers (what I used to be). Latin names of herbs are given (along with proper pronunciation). Mr. Garrett includes pertinent information on planting, height and spread of plants, problems, harvest and storage, and culinary, medicinal, and landscape uses. One of my favorite portions of this book is the "insight" paragraph of each herb's profile. Did you know that there is evidence that alfalfa may trigger lupus in sensitive individuals? Also, did you know that although you can use angelica in salads, the juice of the plant should never come in contact with the eyes? I'd recommend this book for those new to herb growing or as an addition to an already diverse herb library. Mr. Garrett includes information that makes this book worth owning. My paperback copy has been a valuable resource.

This is Karen Gerhardt's second book for the Images of America series. The photos and text take you back to the early days of Hidalgo County history. It illustrates early South Texas history with old maps, the arrival of the first train, teams of oxen, and photos of early pioneer families staring stiffly at the camera. It is divided into chapters; "Into the Brush Country", "Coyote Nights", "Laying Track", "The Great River", "Border Troubles", and "The Longest Main Street".

In the Southwest, water rights are a war zone; the film "Chinatown" (with Jack Nicholson), of course, showed that the fight could even be the background for fictional excitement. This work of legal and social history is hardly a whodunit, yet the real-life battle it surveys possesses a vivid life nevertheless, in the author's highly readable prose. Hall is a law professor, so it's not surprising that he's done plenty of homework, and has mastered the facts of the story he tells. But he also writes with a humorous touch--appropriately dry (what else?)--and knows how to keep things personal too; he weaves his own experiences (as lawyer, writer, and also gardener and weekend farmer) into the story. As I write (spring, 2002), water shortages may be turning from a regional into a national phenomenon. Even if that danger abates soon, though, we can't take any environmental issues for granted any more, so a book like this has cautionary value too. Water: Gotta have it. Maybe optimists can happily relax if a glass is half-full, but we all need to apply higher standards of worry, when it's a matter of reservoirs. And the book's a wonderful read, too.

Laurence Parent is a talented and prolific Texas nature photographer whose hiking and camping guides are a staple both on my bookshelf and in my backpack.

In Hiking Big Bend, Parent's keen eye is turned towards one of Texas' largest and most rugged parks, ensuring even the smallest of details, if worthy of note, is shared with readers. A borrowed copy of Hiking Big Bend came with me on a week-long camping trip to the park in October 2001, and upon my return home I purchased my own copy. Though lacking photos, the text serves dual roles as a trail by trail hiking guide and written "memory book", chock full of details about the parks history, geology, wildlife and natural phenomena.

Couple this text with the National Park Service's three-booklet guide to the park's hiking trails, paved roadways and unpaved/offroad trails and you will be set to plan and enjoy your travels in Big Bend National Park.