No one lived through more extraordinary adventures than Major Robert Rogers. They were bone-chilling, hair-raising. But his writing understates them. His journals should be "ripping yarns," but they are not. Rogers didn't write them that way. Some spine-tingling events historians know-from others who were present-Rogers lived through are left out completely, or interesting details are skipped over. Perhaps Rogers was a genuinely modest man. Perhaps certain "adventures" created repentant memories he didn't wish to revisit. Perhaps it was merely bad judgment mixed with too literal a mind. Low key or not, his journals are standard reading for history buffs of the French and Indian War. Todish and Zaboly imminently enhance Roger's journals without altering them, to the point readers comprehend what an exceptional man Robert Rogers truly was. Todish sets indented annotations down into the narrative at many points that flesh out details of time, place, and significance. His scholarship is first rate: insertions are by others historic present, or are comments from earlier Rogers scholars. His co-author, Zaboly, takes great care to make the accompanying illustrations historically accurate in lieu of setting, clothing, and military accouterments. The drawings are a page or two pages wide, with an accompanying page of explanation of inserted details. These chosen details are themselves footnoted to their museum source. If one decides to read Roger's journals, read them in this edition.

A creation of the two greatest experts on Robert Rogers and his Rangers, this book is a must for all American history buffs. Not only is Rogers' own journal reproduced, but Todish and Zaboly both contribute fascinating and insightful introductions. If there is any more to be learned about Rogers, it will be found in Zaboly's forthcoming full-scale biography. His numerous full page highly detailed illustrations add immeasurably to this work's appeal. For those who are interested in the period, to miss this volume would be a sin.

Very well done book. This book will add alot to the knowledge on the French and Indian War. And one of the most colorful people of that time. If you would like to understand more about the modern army rangers and the past history of this great nation this is the book.

Being the big fan of Beatrox Potter, the woman and not just the author I was overjoyed to get this as a gift recently and the book is a treat for the eyes. While it has pages and pages of stunning photographs as well as her own water colours, it is the text and complete history of her farms that is awesome.

That and reading and seeing photographs of her as well as her farms and reading why she bought each property and the breeds of sheep she raised was of special interest to me. I loved seeing the inside of her farms, although I had seen the inside of a few, via the National Land Trust to whom she left her properties.

I loved the photographs of Beatrix and how she was so eccentric, kind yet firm and a woman ahead of her time. And it was nice to read that she was a true homestead style woman who had the waste not want not mentality, as well as a deep appreciation for quality and hated to see old bridges torn down for modern ones, although she was quick to make sure the stones and plants, wood and other things being discarded by some, didn't end up in some dump area but were recycled into new walls and buildings and plantings on her property.

This is a book a cottage gardener, keeper of sheep. painters, stone masons and anyone who loves working with their hands will love. As well as sincere environmentalists and organic gardeners and farmers.

AT HOME WITH BEATRIX POTTER is a delight to the eye and the spirit for those who love this children's author and her "little books." It is written by Susan Denyer of Britain's National Trust. (Potter's property was left to the National Trust.) The focus of the book is Hilltop Farm, the first farm Beatrix Potter acquired. Although she lived across the road in Castle Cottage, Potter often used Hilltop for its library, guestroom, and workplaces. She also used it to display her "treasures." This book reveals her love of nature, the English Lake District, and of old things--carved dressers, chests, spinning wheels are a few of the "gems" portrayed. Two-page color spreads convey the beauty of the Lake Area, where Potter became a major landowner, sheepfarmer, and a happily married woman. It is wonderful to see the original places, buildings, and objects that she incorporated into her books (examples are shown side by side). The book's layout, photographs, and design are first-rate. Reading this book reminded me of THE PRIVATE WORLD OF TASHA TUDOR and its wonderful photographs by Richard Brown. Like Tudor, Potter drew what she knew and preferred country to city life. (Tudor also was a working farmer in New Hampshire.) Finally, this book presents information about Beatrix Potter and the things and people she loved in an informative and respectful way. This book is not a biography, and Denyer avoids the biographer's temptation to "sum up" or "explain" Beatrix Potter. Rather, we draw our own conclusions after being exposed to the things Potter loved. The select bibliography at the book's end provides a list of works on and by Potter (her journals and letters have been published) that is very helpful to those who want to know more about this author. This is a book to treasure.

This book is a balanced combination of biographical information, Beatrix Potter's sketches and paintings, and exceptional scenic photography of the Lake District she helped preserve. It also details the exterior and interior of a house she owned which provided the backgrounds for many of her book illustrations. The side-by-side comparisons were interesting, even though the house seemed to be more of a showpiece than her actual residence. (Thus, the book title is somewhat misleading.) I found this book to be of exceptional quality and, although the text was sometimes overwrought with property, town and house names, the book includes many captioned photos and a map that allow the reader to appreciate the area in which she lived.

The Author is able to capture your full attention and is able to make a book into a real life story as with Johnny and Angela. Written with the heart. A story that will bring out all your feelings and even a heartbreaker. I look forward to his next ballad.

Ballad of Pinewood Lake is a novel that doesn't fit easily into a genre, but I'm going to call it a love story with a style of its own. It is a well written story that gave me a glimpse into a very different world than the one where I live, never-the-less there are parallels to be found in the sturggles of Johnny and Angela, and they are parallels that run alongside all of our lives pushing us to explore the multiplicity surrounding us.

They dreamed of a different life. A life not supported by concrete pillars, decorated by crowds of people, and the sounds of automobile motors and smell of exhaust. Pinewood Lake seemed to have the answers, where writer Johnny Paul could find peace in his work, and where together with his alcoholic wife, Angela, and their toddler son, Colin, they could start anew. THE BALLAD OF PINEWOOD LAKE is a story of a family and how they confront a personal crisis, and also, quite possibly, how they hide from it. Seemingly content with their new surroundings of the lake, with the harmony of tall pines and wildlife, they intertwine with the people of Pinewood Lake, who unexpectedly go against the grain of the Paul's desired change. They too, like the Pauls, have come to a place to bury their past, with the assistance of alcohol, only to find that their problems are still very much alive and indiscreet as ever. But in Pinewood Lake they remain, to follow the seasons and brave the social life, dreaming, and trying not to lose it all in the dark pits of their worst fears. Jory Sherman, notable for a vivid and stylistic prose, comparable only to classics such as Joyce, Fitzgerald or Hemmingway, triumphs again with a story as touching as it is tragic. Undoubtedly a book for all times, and quite possibly Sherman's best work yet.

I live in Texas, and I have so for all of my life, but it is sure is surprising to find out how big Texas exactly is. In this book you get, in detail, a listing of state and national parks and forest for the 4 regions of Texas. Being that Texas is so big, each region tends to have all different types of camp sights compared to some of the other regions. The nice thing about this book is it gives you information about OTHER parts of Texas, perhaps that you haven't visited yet. I love to camp but tend to stick to those areas near me, or that I visited as a child. This book should give you enough information to maybe visiting some new sights.

I operate a year round therapeutic camp for teen boys. The camp goes on many trips, from day trips to extended trips. This book by Mickey Little is an invaluable resource in planning the trips for my staff and 30 boys. Lots of maps, descriptions on campsites and group sites, and of course, activities for the kids once we get there. I would'nt plan a trip without Mickey.

Although it includes many commercial campgrounds also, this book is superb for selecting, contacting, and describing the many state parks in Texas...we have found no better!!

Mrs. Rector has done a wonderful job of capturing life on the farm and the joys of a boy who loves to help. The positive story line shows how learning and helping can be fun. The colorful illustrations and pictures make the story come alive. If our boys could visit a farm, we would hope that they would have similar experiences and adventures. We enjoy reading this book as a family, but the kids like to read it by themselves too. It's a perfect addition to our family's library!

It is a typical day on a farm. Very easy for a child to read and understand. The pictures are very nice and the colors are bright. A MUST for a childs' library.

A grandmother with a camera followed her young grandson, Carl, around their Whidbey Island, Washington farm and wrote a nice book about it. Colorful, hardbound picture book - good for reading aloud to other young children. I recommend it!

The timing of this latest Em Hansen mystery makes the novel already dated but no less enjoyable for that. When a moderate 5.2 earthquake hits Salt Lake City weeks before this year's Winter Olympic Games, the local geologists, including Hansen, get excited. But when the Utah State geologist is murdered, the FBI recruits Hansen to look into the geological state of things. Coping with chronic underemployment and a rocky romance with her Mormon cop boyfriend, Hansen jumps at the chance.

Reviewing maps and tramping the terrain, Hansen discovers that her newly adopted city is riddled with faults, which the city fathers have virtually ignored. Between complacency and corruption, numerous public venues - from housing developments and malls to the spanking new stadium where the Olympics' opening ceremonies are scheduled - sit precariously on fault lines.

The murder investigation parallels Andrews' dire exploration of earthquake inevitability and its devastating effects on an unprepared populace. Greed, politics and religion wrestle with science in a story as much exposé as mystery. An engaging and forthright protagonist, Hansen's narration is interspersed with other viewpoints - a corporate villain, his trained construction geologist and an ambitious newspaper reporter among others - which heightens the suspense and the novel's scope.

What's more exciting than an earthquake that shakes you out of bed first thing in the morning? Sarah Andrews' newest Em Hanson mystery - Fault Line - which kept me up until 2am this morning! Fault Line finds Em Hanson, out-of-work petroleum geologist and fledgling forensic geologist, living in Salt Lake City, sorting out her life. A 5.2 M earthquake on a branch of the Wasatch Fault wakes everybody up and the death of the head of the Utah Geological Survey really gets things rolling. Earthquakes aren't Em's specialty, so we join her as she learns more about the fault lines that run under Salt Lake City and through relationships and families. Cracks appear in the brand new stadium that is to be featured in the opening ceremonies of the Winter Olympics and in Em's relationship with her boyfriend Ray, Salt Lake City cop and devout Mormon. Shaky ground is found at the site of a brand new shopping mall and in the relationship of Faye, Em's best friend, and Tom Latimer, Zen FBI agent and Em's mentor in detecting. As always, Em the geologist teases out the big picture from a mess of details. Be prepared to learn a lot about seismology and engineering geology. Trips to the ski slopes in Alta, the [Flying] Pie Pizzeria, and the [beautiful] retrofitted City and County Building fill out the local color. In my opinion, this is the best Em Hanson mystery yet. On the Modified Mercalli Scale of Earthquake Intensity, XII means total destruction. On the open-ended [Gutenberg]-Richter Scale of Earthquake Magnitude, a 9.5 is the largest earthquake ever recorded. I can only give Fault Line by Sarah Andrews 5 stars, but if I could give it more, I would!

Everyone expects earthquakes to hit the California coastline, but no one was ready for the 5.2 quake to hit Salt Lake City just weeks before the Olympic Games commence. The Utah State geologist Dr. Sidney Smeeth provides an interview that warns of damage to key structures, but the local TV stations without explanation cut off her talk.

Not long afterward, Sidney is found dead apparently a victim of a fall from the patio of her home. Though a local police matter, FBI agent Tom Latimer wants to insure that the death was not murder to cover up a geological problem that could endanger the upcoming visitors. He asks his friend Em Hansen, perhaps the only current unemployed geologist in the Salt Lake area, to evaluate and give an opinion on several Smeeth reports. However, he does not want this amateur to get involved in the actual investigation. Still Em cannot help but find the political FAULT LINES that shake the core of the city and state leaving her at the epicenter of the inquiry.

The latest Em Hansen geological mystery is the best tale to date of a marvelous series that provides the audience with strong sleuthing and interesting geological information intertwined into the story line. The plot engages the audience as Em gets involved in another mystery. The support cast provides a local flavor that enhances the lead protagonist. FAULT LINE is an amateur sleuth tale worth reading while Sarah Andrews' previous novels are worth digging up at the used bookstores.

Harriet Klausner

Mike Croft has done an exceptional job of concisely explaining Stillwater fishing in a way that even a dummy like me can understand. His use of humor and his own drawings is a welcome change from the usual droll tomes on fly-fishing that are generally published today. Some may call it a comic book and I suppose that in some ways it is. But, it is the most informative comic book you'll ever read. Buy the book and I'm sure you'll see what I mean.

Imagine that classic, fully-illustrated, introduction-to-flyfishing of the Disco Era, The Curtis Creek Manifesto, all grown up and gone to grad school. Way more sophisticated in its approach to the subject matter and its style of art, Mike Croft has created a seriously fun, illustrated reference for unrepentant, stillwater bigtrout-o-holics. It sports more usable, hardwon information for the frogwater flyfisher than can be found in an armload of current how-tos. This book rocks!

I found this book to be a very informative "must read" for the beginner as well as intermediate fly fishers. It's fun to read and the amount of tips will definitely enhance one's enjoyment on the water as well as increase your catch rate.

This is a fabulous book. It covers:

- history of the great lakes tribs that gets steelie runs
- stocking programs which were and are used on these rivers
- behavioural information (if there is such a thing as static behavioural patterns in steelhead..)
- fly fishing gear recommendations
- fly fishing techniques for steelhead
- wet, dry, spey patterns for steelies

All around great resource. This is the first book I've read on the subject, although I have spent some time on some great rivers around the great lakes. Fabulous book congrats to the authors.

This book is the "bible of Great Lakes steelhead fly fishing." The book covers the history and biology of Great Lakes steelhead, and provides the reader with a wealth of information on angling techniques.

This is a brilliant masterpiece by two of the premier steelhead experts in the great lakes region. The book is a wonderful mix of history and technical details presented in a manner that exudes their love for the sport and their reverence for the quarry and it's natural environment.

If you love fly fishing for steelhead, you'll love this book. Put it on your christmans list...

Received this as a gift and am very pleased with its contents. Growing up in Menominee, Michigan during the 50's and 60's gave me plenty of opportunity to watch the 'lakers' come and go. With two coal docks, a limestone dock, paper mill, and daily Ann Arbor car ferry service, there was always a ship or two in port. Now this book helps me relive those days with memories, data, and history of many of the ships, or ship types I saw. This book is packed with great photos, and interesting accounts of the ships presented. I enjoyed it enough to put volume 2 on my Christmas wish list, and will probably purchase volume 3 to complete the set. It maked me wish that I still lived on a Great Lake port to watch the ship movements.

This a great book for many of the ships that have sailed the Great Lakes. A positive is all of the photographs included in it. A must have.

If you have an interest in the cargo carriers of the Great Lakes - this is one book you must have. This first book contains all the major carries (Fitzgerald, Eastland, etc) as well as less well known ones. Worth the money.

Being an experienced sea kayaker I often review books to evaluate the competence of the authors. This book is written by kayakers who really love the sport and want to share it but who have chosen not to guide new kayakers' every stroke. So many guide books do the entire trip for you leaving you with little to learn about your personal skill and no adventure whatsoever. They give you the basics and then leave it to you to discover yourself and adventure. Great guidebook!

Good directions to put-ins and landmarks visible on the water

We referred to this book time and time again and found accurate, precise information regarding Lake Michigan and Superior paddle trips. Guided us to many accesible sites that represents the true nature of both lakes, from sandy beaches to rocky shores. An accurate guidance of what skill level should attempt each trip. Great book to use as a guide to map a vacation. Also good information regarding restuarants and camping spots.