but take the details about farming with a large grain of salt. There's some pretty screwy stuff in there that is just plain wrong, or else done in ways that no farmer would ever do for labor or economic reasons. For example, a milking machine catches on fire when not being used. There's no way a milking machine (singular, you notice) can catch on fire. That's like saying your electric frying pan can catch on fire when it's not plugged in and is sitting on your kitchen counter waiting to get used. The wiring for the system could catch on fire, but that's more than just one machine. It's mistakes like this that prove the author doesn't quite get it. And yes,I'm a dairy farmer. But it's a nice attempt and I'll probably read others in the series just because it does feature a farmer.

This is the first in the Ruth Willmarth series of mysteries, and it will make you want to read the rest. Nancy Means Wright is exceptionally good at capturing the spirit, dialect and values of rural Vermont. She loves her state but does not paint it out to be all idyllic, as do many other writers. This novel starts out with the shocking murder of an older woman and a dog and goes on to develop her personable characters that will reappear in the subsequent mysteries. Left by her husband to care for a dairy farm and two children, Willmarth is a gutsy, intuitive protagonist. This is a must read for those who love Vermont and for those who admire strong women protagonists.

DeLorme has been establishing a name for themselves, having issued a set of road atlas and gazetteer books for each state, including this one for Vermont. Showing every back road in the state is rather impressive. Couple that with the amount of "gazetteer" information, such as landmarks, points of interest, museums, etc., it can be a very handy trip companion.

While I took a copy of DeLorme's Vermont atlas on a recent trip, I found a much better atlas once I arrived in Vermont. It's Jimapco's "Vermont Road Atlas" and is priced the same as DeLorme's book. However, the Jimapco atlas is smaller (8.5" x 11") and is spiral bound, making it much more convenient to use on the road as it always lies flat. You can also look at just one page -- if you try that with a DeLorme atlas too many times, the book will fall apart. Also, the Jimapco atlas strives to name EVERY single street and road in Vermont, while DeLorme names the more prominent roads only showing the minor roads while leaving them nameless. The only feature lacking from the Jimapco "Vermont Road Atlas" that DeLorme has is 3-D terrain shading. But, when you're in a car trying to find a street or looking for a point of interest, the terrain shading is of little help.

I've been a big fan of the DeLorme atlases for years now, but Jimapco's Vermont atlas will be a constant companion for me on all future Vermont roadtrips.

Armed with DeLorme Publishing's Vermont Atlas & Gazetteer, the appropriate topographical quad maps and this book, the adventurous traveler needs nothing more to explore Vermont's natural wonders. Ric Bourie, Boston Herald, May 6, 1999

Excellent book, I recommend this to anyone. I use this book for canoe trip planning with my family. Detailed information is given here. As usual it is another fine book by AMC.

This book is a wonderful story! All about a girl who is sent to school in a totally foreign country . On the way, she meets a boy and becomes casual friends. When she finds he lives near her boarding school, they become closer and gardually romance blooms! Also on the way you meet a bombshell with an attitude and a handsome hunk of a ski instructor. This book has been a favorite of mine for years.

A good book which largely delivers what it promises. However, it is best used in conjunction with a more comprehensive map and/or guide, if you're visiting a particular region. Give it 4.5 stars.

Good Points: 1) The author points out "kid-friendly" features on hikes and gives good descriptions. 2) Most of the hikes have pretty good thumbnail maps

Drawbacks: 1) Introductory map could be better (more detailed) to help reader find trails 2) Some hikes lack thumbnail maps. Why? 3) Abilities of children vary wildly. We found that a "moderate" hike can be strenuous for an inexperienced or out-of-shape child (or adult, for that matter).

Another great novel by Walker, complete with solid characters and clear descriptions of a place. In its exploration of a long time friendship between two couples, it asks when are we most ourselves and do we change or mearly become more of who we are and can we ever expect others to understand us. If you've ever wondered why you can't quite connect with old friends, read this.

The Cashmere Kid is quite entertaining reminding me of a popular t.v. mystery show. I found this book perfect to curl up with and completely forget about the real world for a while. Don't want to give the story away, but I can recomend this book as something delightful and different.

This was an ok book. If you like freaky thrillers, than you`ll like this book!

I listened to this while driving and was instantly soothed by his detailed storytelling. He gives nice descriptions of events and enough detail to make you feel like you are there. He is reading letters that he has written to his children as they were growing up and capturing moments and slices of life. It made me want to start writing and capturing the moments in my children's lives before the memories that are so vivid now cloud over with time.

I just finished the last half of this book last night. Perrin's book is a droll but always honest take on the country life in his beloved adopted "homeland" of Vermont as he alerts the reader to the realities behind the romantic vision portrayed on various Maple syrup containers. Country life is tough and not for the soft-hearted or timid. Some of the chapters are dated (it was published in 1978), especially the pick-up truck advice. But I did learn a lot from this book as I consider my own move to the hard rural life of Vermont and I was thoroughly entertained the whole way through. It's a really easy read with some great tips if you're thinking of making the move to a more rural life. I'm looking forward to reading Second and Third Person Rural books in the next couple of weeks. I got through this one in 3 days of sporadic reading.