On finishing Rachel Calof's autobiography, the reader should spontaneously count his blessings, regardless of current circumstance. Virtually forced to enter a marriage arranged in her Russian homeland, Calof survives a brutal pioneer existence on the featureless prairie near Devils Lake, North Dakota while bearing child after child.

The brief memoir could easily be assigned to high school or college students. A short afterward by the translator, Calof's youngest son, completes her story, and an essay by the editor, J. Sanford Rikoon, sets the experience of Jewish pioneers in North Dakota in historical perspective. The other academic essay included is of no value.

This book has several parts, the most important of which is "My Story," by Rachel Bella Calof. This remarkable memoir was written in 1936, by a 60-year-old woman who was recalling her early life, particularly her years as a homesteader in North Dakota at the turn of the century. She was not rich or famous and would probably be the first to say she was just an ordinary person. But her story strikes one as extraordinary, indeed.

This is followed by an epilogue by her youngest son, Jacob Calof; and two essays from historians placing her story in context of the time it took place.

The best past is unquestionably Rachel Bella's own story.

The tale of one tragedy after another is punctuated by moments of beauty, joy, and tenderness. This is a woman whose hard life was a triumph over circumstances. It was constant source of amazement to this reader that she survived at all-let alone that her nine children, born and raised in primitive circumstances-also survived. It is a testimony to superior genetics and incredible strength of will.

It is also fascinating to read. The author's style is straightforward and unpretentious, but also shows evidence of the true storyteller: suspense, humor, romance, and wit. Personal relationships come alive as Calof describes herself, her family, and the people they met along the way. There are some times when we know that Calof is going to some lengths to soft-pedal the less than noble aspects of human nature, but we get the point.

The two sections written by scholars are academically dry and are simply as not interesting to read. However, they do contain some helpful background information.

My family lived close to the Calof family as well as to the other Jewish settlers in this area. I remember my Father speaking about the settlement in nothing but the fondest terms, but he also discussed with us the hardships these people lived. Their cemetary was built on land that is owned by my uncles family.I read this book ,therefore, with knowledge of the history of the settlement..I can only say, talk about history becoming alive. this is one of the rare true stories of courage,love, faith and determination that we as lovers of our nations heritage will have the priviledge of reading. It is completely absorbing and I feel that it would make a wonderful production for a movie or theatical event. Read this story, It by passes any fictional story for reading ,this is how the west was settled. Some people had great success but many, many, had to strive to keep hope and life alive.

If you are looking for a fresh, new look at "The Troubles," this is the book. I found the book to be disturbing because all three of the stories centered on children and their peripheral involvement in the North. In each of the stories the adults were too caught-up in the day-to-day difficulties they encountered due to the circumstances. None of the children written about were understood nor were their feelings and concerns acknowledged. It is heart-breaking to watch how these children suffer without the parental-figures in their lives even realizing the impact the war is having on the children.

McCann's work is filled with subtlety and original crisp images that are culled with attention to detail. The novella and two short stories here feature experiences of youth affected by political turmoil in Northern Ireland. Yet the stories are not heavyhanded about the politics; they explore the lives of three adolescents while integrating the colonial frustrations into the narrative. This ie easily one of my favorite reads from the past year. The stories read quickly, but they have a density to them and a richness in language and emotion. While the tone seems brooding, there is still something to celebrate about the well written characters and insights that McCann offers in this work

Northern Ireland, with its troubled history and its extreme enviroment, is an easy subject for second-rate writers, and actually you can find a lot of would-be thrillers, unlikely to get a second edition.

For the same reason, Northern Ireland is a difficoult subject for good writers. That's why you can find many interesting non-fiction books, but really few good novels.

With "Everything in this country must" Colum McCann proves once again to be a great writer. While reading it, I was nearly overwhelmed by emotions. And I was amazed by both the simplicity and the effectivness of his writing.

It's a little book, just 150 pages. You could read it in two hours. But because it's a great book I would suggest you to read it very, very slowly, enjoying every word, every line, every emotion. And in so doing, may be you happen to realize that McCann is deceiving all of us: he writes poems disguised as short stories.

I have not read much hunting literature, but was quite impressed with this book. I found that De La Valdene made a good case for hunting, and I found his conservation-minded views to be very enlightening. The book covers as many aspects of the sport as possible, including De La Valdene's love for dogs and even a certain love for other predators of quail. The writing is not the best that I have read, but his passion for the sport is such that it transcends any writing difficulties. A beautiful book.

I belive that Guy de la Valdene book was written very well. In his book he wrote numerous facts on the Bob White Quial and the management of the species. He wrote on the quial,s habitat, feeding, and average of how many quail would reach maturity. I found that in his book he didn't have harsh feelings against the birds predators. Also that he felt that killing the predators wasn't the answer to the conservation of the Bob White Quail. Although he is a hunter, I belive that he is more of a conservationist. His book would help anyone with the understanding of the Bob White Quail.

Hemingway proved that few subjects are better topics then hunting and the outdoors.

Guy De La Valdene does a wonderful job writing about the types of things that make life worthwhile and fullfilling: birds and dogs.

Additionally, he makes the point that much of our wildlife and habitat would not exist if not for the devotion of true outdoorsmen and outdoorswomen.

Brett

Holland deserves credit for writing a book that makes the Troubles accessible to readers who really don't know much about it, but I have to say, having read other books on the subject (Coogan, Bell, Moloney) and having followed events in NI for years, I found his analysis too often simplistic and facile, particularly as relates to the recent Peace Process. Read Ed Moloney's "Secret History of the IRA" and you'll know what I'm talking about.

This history of the Troubles is chocked full of people and places involved with the Northern Ireland Struggle. The volume of names shows the depth of research conducted by the author. Hope Against History gives a good basis to begin in dpeth reading on the various actors involved. This book clarifies the divisions in the military and political struggle.

Hope against History is an accessible, fascinating account and could easily be used as a textbook on the "troubles" of Northern Ireland. Holland provides all the gritty details of life in the war torn ghettoes of Belfast and Derry and does a great job of bringing the conflict to life for the reader. Not only is it a fine history of the conflict but a very engaging portrayal of Northern Ireland culture, both protestant and catholic. A must read for anyone with even a passing interest in Irish or British history and a wonderfully quick read for those well acquainted with all the violence and horror of the Troubles.

This is an amazing resource book for exploring the most spectacular wilderness areas in Northern California. It is easy to use with accurate and detailed maps and inspiring pictures that make you want to get out there and start hiking. Heid has chosen some of the most remote parks, preserves, and national forests in Northern California to explore, making 101 Hikes the best book off the beaten hiking path.

This is the best hiking guide for Northern California that I've ever used. The great selection of hikes covers more area than most books about the region. I've found a lot of places I never new about. I love the descriptions of the hikes-a great easy style, really clear, and full of interesting information about the plants, geology, and history that adds a lot to the hike. A helpful locator map, good topo maps, and great photos too. A nice addition is the comprehensive list of hikes by theme that help choose where to hike based on what you want to do-lakes, waterfalls, wildflowers, etc. I recommend this book to anyone who is looking for the best Northern California hiking guide-for both dayhikes and backpacks.

I love this book. The author has put a lot of effort into finding a large number of hikes well off the beaten track. To date, I have done nearly a dozen of the hikes and seldom encountered anybody else. If you like beating the crowds while enjoying some of Northern California's most scenic backcountry, the majority of the hikes more than satisfy. Several popular hikes are included as well (Half Dome in Yosemite National Park, for example) but these are much fewer in number and seem to be limited to those truly spectacular destinations which more than merit the crowds. Directions are good, the topographic maps are very usable, and lots of natural history information is included for trail-side reading. The book also covers a much greater area than other Northern California guidebooks and includes areas in the southern Sierra Nevada and Central Coast neglected in similar titles. About the only bad thing about the book is the index, which is sparse in places and can make finding a particular park difficult

My husband and I have tried the tortilla, menudo, and pico de gallo recipes and they were tasty.
Some ingredients are hard to find, depending on where you live.
Worth having if you love Mexican food.

This book is more comprehensive than any I've ever come across. Moving from Boston a few months back-- my partner has already exclaimed, "You cook like you've lived here all your life!" Good, solid recipes, no hype. Bene!

Excellent, interesting recipes that work. I'm not a big southwestern cuisine fan, but I cook from this book regularly, and I consider it one of the all-time great additions to my cookbook library. MUST MAKE: salsas, roast chicken, elemental arrechares, and the best chili you've ever eaten (Dora's Carne con Chile). Throw out that Old El Paso box that is languishing in your pantry, and get cooking!

Every family has secrets. When Taylor Greene learns about his, he contacts a Federal Reserve officer. On the night they are scheduled to meet, however, the agent is gunned down in his hotel room. Days later, the reportedly despondent Taylor is also found dead.

Months later, Dane Rudd shows up at a memorial service for Taylor, ostensibly to express his gratitude upon receiving the deceased's corneas. But Dane's easygoing manner conceals a more complex persona and agenda. Dane has come to town to discover the truth behind Taylor's demise. The classic "outsider", he expertly maneuvers through the deadly labyrinth that is Rio Vista, California, creating fierce enemies as easily as he inspires warm friendship.

Known and admired for his excesses, Teran has delivered a surprisingly low key piece of work, a California gothic that focuses on the complex relationships that exist between the members of his large and colorful cast of characters, expertly delving into their motivations, loves and hates. Doing so, he examines the powerful pull of family ties, and of loyalties forged under extreme conditions. This tension forms the core of this cornucopia of tragedies. .

Although Teran's prose has matured, he is still given to lapses where he lets his wordplay get in the way of his storytelling. To witness: "We are mere pauses, and like the windmill wheel moving across the eye of the sun in a blink we are there then gone, there then gone, there then gone." Misfires like this and the repetitive nature of the dialogue between Dane and love interest Essie are what the late John D. MacDonald once labeled as "author intrusions", a way for the author to call attention to how nice he's writing. Still, these lapses are forgivable, ultimately inflicting little damage to this agreeable, tightly paced novel.

Boston Teran's third novel, "The Prince of Deadly Weapons", is a complex and at times confusing tale of redemption and revenge. Six months following the assumed suicide of Taylor Greene, the son of a wealthy developer, an enigmatic Dane Rudd shows up to attend a memorial service for Greene. Taylor Greene was an organ donor, and Rudd, as it turns out, is the recipient of Taylor's corneas. The mysterious Rudd sticks around, endearing himself to the dead boy's father, and entangling himself in an unofficial investigation of Greene's death.

Unlike the parched and barren southern California wasteland in which Teran set his first two blockbuster mystery-thrillers ("God is a Bullet" and Never Count Out the Dead"), "Deadly Weapons" is set in the more-lush, but none-the-less barren, California Sacramento River delta. The delta is an overlooked region of the west, full of contradictions and extremes - a land virtually lost in time within the shadow of San Francisco and Silicon Valley. Teran is true to his literary accolades in painting a vivid picture of the people and geography of the delta. But unlike the his first two efforts, in which the brutality of the characters, deeds, and settings literally grab the reader by the throat refusing to let go, "Deadly Weapons" tends to meander into too much a somber study of lost lives and missed opportunities. One can't help feeling that Teran tried to hard to make this novel "important", and in the process blunted the edge of what should have been another creative, dark, and compelling tale.

All things considered, though, this is a book worth reading. Teran still demonstrates a unique literary talent, spinning the most simple phase or event in an engaging cross between prose and poetry. Despite its shortcomings, Boston Teran can write, and I'll look forward to his next installment.

Though not quite as good as his previous two books, THE PRICE OF DEADLY WEAPONS is one of the better crime fiction books of the year. The intersecting cast of characters can get confusing, but the payoff is worth the trip. It seems that Boston Teran is trying something new here but is staying within the "world" that we have come to expect from him. I would recommend reading his previous books in order (God is a Bullet & Never Count out the Dead) before taking on this one -- you'll see why. Boston Teran is someone to watch and read.

Brook does an excellent job in broaching this topic that many have attempted before him, and I'm sure many will attempt after. Considering how little is known about Khazaria, how much history has been either censored or re-written by the former Soviet Union, and the relatively sparse amount of archaelogical work that has been conducted in the region, Brook brings much information to light, detailing the tribal and linguistic origins of the Khazars. In comparison with Koestler's "The Thirteenth Tribe," Brook's work is more about presenting facts than coming to conclusions.

I would encourage everyone interested in this book, this subject and in modern Judaism in general to remember that 'conclusions' are based on current and past knowledge, not on future discoveries. Sarkel is still under water and will continue to be for the foreseeable future -- who knows what information it holds? People have been twisting the ideas and findings discussed in "The Thirteenth Tribe" and "The Jews of Khazaria" to promote hatred for Jews for quite some time. That's not the purpose of these works, as Arthur Koestler himself addressed at the end of "The Thirteenth Tribe."

I've also used the bibliography to further my own knowledge, although I have found that many of the sources are out-of-print.

I look forward to learning more about the Khazars, who they were and who they became -- for today, I highly recommend Brook's "The Jews of Khazaria." It is excellently written, a fascinating work and will open it's readers eyes to some lesser known history.

Savor it, but don't rush to judgement!

The Jews of Khazaria recounts the history of the kingdom of Khazaria,
located in Eastern Europe, examining its status as a world power from
650-1016. Students of early Jewish history will appreciate this college-level survey, which considers not only the Khazaria state but the rise of Jewish communities in the eastern European region.

The book not only traces the history of the people of Khazaria, brings the latest archeological data and links between Khazars and East European peoples it highlights every detail of their conversion to Judaism, their political and religious influence, their military might. Indeed everything is supported by a comprehensive set of documents and articles. Very rich bibliography although it'd be good to see more visual material (maps, etc.). Great effort to deliver an exciting aspect of our history.

In a departure from her Sharon McCone series, Marcia Muller takes us on a journey into fictional Soledad Country. Matt Linstrom, a college instructor and part-time photographer, was leading a pretty idyllic life or he thought. One day his wife announces she wants a divorce and the next day she is gone without a trace. He is implicated in her disappearance. After being alienated from family and friends, losing his business, his job, and most of his possessions, he starts a new life in a new place. After fourteen years, he gets a call telling where his ex-wife is. Matt starts a journey to Soldad County and to self-discovery. A gripping mystery ensues in Soledad County. I don't want to give anything away, so I will leave it at that.

One of the strengths of CYANIDE WELLS is that Muller swaps viewpoints of two characters. At first, neither seemed to be a totally sympathetic character, but after allowing us into their thoughts, we get to know them and sympathize with their plights. I liked the more rural, isolated setting of the story. It lent a lot of atmosphere to the story. If I had any quibble about the book is that the ending was a little too evident, but the page-turning aspect to the story countered any problems I had with the ending.

Marcia Muller can always be counted on for a well-plotted story with compelling characters. I appreciate the need for series authors to take a break and write an occasional stand-alone book. CYNIIDE WELLS is a nice effort from Marcia Muller.

Fourteen years before, photographer Matthew Lindstrom was accused of killing his wife, Gwen. The body was never been found.

Matt stood accused, but never convicted. The media crucified him. His professional life died.

When he could no longer stand the pressure he moved to Port Regis, British Columbia. He began a new life. He found peace from his past.

And then an anonymous phone call... Gwen was alive and living in Soledad County, CA.

Matt puts his affairs in order and begins the trip to unravel his past. He's anxious to confront this woman who allowed his life to be destroyed with her supposed murder. Why had she never come forward? Why had she left him?

"He was years in the past, comforting his wife. He was here in the present, a voyeur. He was about to step into a future he wasn't sure he cared to visit."

Matt finds Gwen posing as Ardis and living with Carly, her lesbian partner. They have a child. Gwen is now a writer, currently working on a book about a murder in the area.

Matt's curiosity and desire to clear his reputation lead him to Gwen's home for a confrontation. He instead finds evidence of a murder.

Once again, Gwen has disappeared. Carly and Matt team up to find out what happened to her and discover they never really knew her at all.

Though the characters are somewhat simplified, the plot carries them through the story and provides the depth necessary to allow the reader to get to know them. "Cyanide Wells" is not what you expect to read, but that's what makes it hard to put down.

Award winning author Muller takes readers on a journey filled with deception, secrets, and murder. Matt Lindstrom is owner and operator of an excursion boat in Port Regis, B.C. when an anonymous phone call informs him that his wife, Gwen, who disappeared fourteen years prior, is alive and well in Cyanide Wells, California. This news brings back painful memories for Matt, who was implicated in his wife's disappearance, resulting in his estrangement from friends and family.

Matt's trip to California takes him to the newspaper office of the SOLEDAD SPECTRUM, where he acquires a job as a photographer, under the assumed name of John Crowe. Through research, Matt discovers that Gwen, known in Cyanide Wells as Ardis Coleman, wrote a Pulitzer Prize-winning article in the SPECTRUM, on the murder of a local couple. Through his new employment, Matt sees Ardis from a distance and becomes friendly with her partner, SPECTRUM owner and editor Carly McGuire.

When Ardis suddenly disappears, taking her daughter Natalie with her, Carly soon learns of Matt's true identity, and an unlikely alliance forms between the two, as together, they attempt to solve the mystery of Ardis, who has led all those who love her on a road filled with lies and deception. Ms. Muller's ability to write fully dimensional characters amidst a very suspenseful read with complex twists and turns creates a first rate fast-paced mystery.

De Wolk and Swain put together a very helpful book; but I think Swain decided to take on a bit more artistic license. Some of his photographs are of locations far from the campgrounds (but still within the defined area). For example, the photos of Yosemite Valley were taken about 23 miles away from the campground mentioned in the book. Other photos are of the more "select" campsites like at Samuel Taylor State Park. What you'll see is not necessarily what you'll get.

There's also a debate going on about this book on whether toilets are mentioned or not. A cross-check with Stienstra's "California Camping" book on a sample of 10 camps, plus De Wolks own preface, shows that they recommend camps that have toilets unless mentioned otherwise in the text. What isn't mentioned with consistency is whether or not the camps have hot showers.

The contact information and fees for the parks need to be updated as well. Some of the telephone numbers don't work and there's no forwarding service.

Still, this is a good book if only because it provides a bit more detailed information on these 50 campgrounds than any of the camping bibles. It's NOT the only book I use when choosing a campground for my family but it is a good starting place to get ideas. If you're into family car-camping, you can start with this book and cross-reference the data with books by Foghorn Outdoors (author Tom Stienstra), Menasha Ridge (author Bill Mai), and Frommers guide books.

BTW, some of the campsites mentioned in this book have grown crowded since its publication date. A revised edition is definitely called for.

If all the pictures were of just the campgrounds, they would all look alike after a while! Instead, it's obvious as can be that the brilliant photography helps one visualize what you can experience if you spend time in these carefully chosen places. The highly readable text describes much more in detail.

Careful readers have noted that no campground gets in the book unless it has clean, accessible bathrooms. The author notes right from the beginning how important that is to many, especially families.

An update would be great. And a version for Southern California, too! This is a great book!

Roland De Wolk makes a big point that every campground he puts in his book has clean, working and accessible bathrooms -- otherwise they wouldn't be suitable for inclusion!