The Valley Where They Danced, a must read!!
359754
I have just read The Valley Where
I have just read The Valley Where They Danced for the second time.  The first time was before I visited the Hardman Farm, the second after.  The book and the house go hand in hand. (One does not necessarily need to visit the house to enjoy the book). The book is full of historical facts written in such a way that I didn't want to put it down!  Mr. Jones has written a novel, that not only gives historical facts, but  incorporates a poignant love story as well. The ending was not at all what I expected!! I am looking forward to Mr. Jones next novel....maybe it will be about the brother, Ray.

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4878292
This was a great book that I thoroughly enjoyed. There are mysteries in this world that we can't begin to fathom and being from Western PA myself, I was fascinated to read stories of real, documented cases in my own backyard so to speak. Although these instances took place in the 70's and I was born in 1980, I remembered my parents talking about some of these cases when I was young, and to read the actual police reports and Mr. Gordon's investigation report from the time of the occurrence was flat out entertaining. I highly recommend this book to anybody, but if you grew up in the rolling hills of Western PA like me, this is a must read!
2097983
I visited Tonopah, NV and learned about the rich mining history as well as its connection with Death Valley History. Robert McCracken has done extensive research of the area along US 95 from Pahrump to Tonopah and through photos and his historical research illustrates a tough and often difficult place to live, yet the people who made it their home were filled with dreams and determination. They believed that success was in their reach. Being a Death Valley enthusiast, Mr. McCracken's books of this part of western Nevada has been a valuable source in making historical connections. He does a wonderful job in making the book easy pace reading and full of historical information. I think this is the only book about the human history of Tonopah from it's early existence to present and it is a excellent one.
959714
If your a hiker or a backpacker, you will enjoy this story greatly! Dennis paints a wonderfully informative picture of life on the AT as a thru hiker! I've read many journals and accounts of thru hikes on the Pacific Crest Trail here in the west, but knew little about the AT on the east coast. This book was a real eye opener for me,I have a new insight and respect for AT thru hikers now, thanks to Dennis! Once I started the book, I could hardly put it down! K1's story is an inspiration and encouragement for all of us not so young in body, but still young at heart! I just wish the book had been longer, before I knew it, I was done reading and wanted more! I highly reccomend this book, Dennis is a wonderful writer, and hope to see more from him in the future!
2894996
Oh how I love the graphic descriptions of the Arizona high desert!  You truly feel like you are there.  I lived in the lower desert and visited the high desert and it helps me remember the 'vermilion cliff's, cottonwood, purple sage and so much more.  The story will not disappoint either.  I could hardly put it down ( my Kindle that is!)  There is danger, true pioneers of the desert, Navajo's, (one really good one to the main character).  They become true brothers.  Good Mormons and bad.  Sorrow, sadness, love and more with the backdrop of the Painted Desert, Rainbow Bridge and all in the times before civilization encroached.  I loved it and could read it again just to hear those beautiful adjectives and prose describing the high Arizona desert .
4616450
I felt so connected to "the valley" while reading this book.  I grew up in Sunnyvale and surrounding towns and knew exactly where the author was when he described the area.  What for me seemed like "Anywhere, USA" became unique in my eyes for the first time.  It has been an experience watching the area explode with change thoughout my life.
Goodell does a great job of describing the pain in ordinary lives, and I could feel his honest emotion shine through without any gushiness or corniness: the experience of being human in our modern times.  Thanks, Mr. Goodell for a great, meaningful book!
4251228
Informative, beautiful, and lyrical guide to those lucky enough to live in or visit the Willamette Valley.  From the cover to the essays to the great descriptions of the Valley's wild places, this book is fantastic all the way through.  Most highly recommended!
3647450
I lived and breathed this book in my waking hours.  I am a fairly slow reader but I could not put this book down!
I loved and admired all these women for different reasons.  Some of their lives paralleled in being in unhappy relationships and I believe the mountains and their challenges provided refuge. Others were groundbreakers and pioneers, breaking into the world of a "man only" sport.  They had something to prove and were so determined to do it, they sacrified their very lives.  I could write a ton on this book but I encourage all to read it, both men and women.  It gives a bittersweet piece of history that I for one am proud of.

Jennifer Jordan is an incredible storyteller and gives a great background on each of the climbers.  I didn't agree with some of their ways but I cannot sit in judgement, all I know is that they were not of this world and they all broke ground in their unique and heartbreaking way.

Cynthia M. Andersen - Golden, CO
2542688
What an excellent read! I loved this book. Linda's style of writing and her gift for storytelling had me turning page after page way into the wee morning hours. This book gives an excellent account of the people & their struggles who settled a tough part of Texas. I especially like the chapter on the pigs and I learned a lot of history from this book. You must read this book, especially if you go to that part of the Hill Country annually as many people do to float the Frio or drive the scenic back roads. See how it really was back in the beginning.
1345446
Valley of The Moon: The Diary of Maria Rosalia De Milagros is a wonderful book and very interesting.  It is a Dear America Book written by Sherry Garland, who also wrote A Line in the Sand: The Alamo Diary of Lucinda Lawrence.  Valley of the Moon is the 1840's diary of a half-Mexican, half-Indian girl who is a servant on a rich Mexican rancho in California.  She writes about her daily life and the people in it in her diary.  She doesn't worry about holding back her feelings when she writes about her chores, the people she knows, and the Americans taking over California during the Mexican-American War.  It was very neat to get the perspective of a Mexican girl - something that is very hard to find.
Rosy is 14 years old, growing up in northern California as a servant on the Medina's Rancho.  In her diary she writes about the Medina daughters and what she thinks about them (especially the oldest), and about the cattle branding and bull fights which were interesting to watch.  In addition, since all Mexicans were Catholic at that time, Rosy tells of how they celebrated the holidays, Christmas and Easter, in Mexican California.  She writes about her new best friend, Nelly, and how her own mother died of smallpox in the woods when she was very young.  After she died, Padre Ygnaco found Rosy and her younger brother and brought them to the mission, where she learned how to read and write.  Later in this book, Rosy sets off to find out the past of her mother and father.
This book has 222 pages and 185 of them are the actual diary.  The other 37 pages consist of the epilogue, a glossary of Spanish words used in this book, and a historical note.  The historical note gives a brief history on how Alta (upper) California became a home for Mexican rancheros and later American settlers.  It describes how the Americans took over California during the Mexican-American War, and how the Mexican way of life changed after the gold rush, which started in 1848.  In addition, there are pictures in the back of the book showing chores, a bullfight, words to a love song, and the recipe for pastelitos de boda- wedding cookies!  Also, there is a green ribbon attached to the book to mark your place when you are finished reading.
I would recommend this book for girls ages 12 and up, and for anyone who loves the Dear America Books.  This one is very well written and interesting to read.  I have read a lot of the Dear America and My America books and this one is one of my favorites!
1323447
If you enjoy reading, may I recommend Cynthia's A Modlin's well-written and well-paced first novel, Born of The Valley. The author has been a close friend of mine for many years. I know she sweat blood and shed tears in the writing of this wonderful novel, and laughed out loud as well.

The telling of this story awakens the memories and emotions of our youth we have perhaps forgotten. The main character, Annie Stockwell, comes of age during the turbulent 50's and 60's, and her insights on how she views life are at times hilarious, at times tragic or outrageous. The other characters in the book are forever changed from knowing Annie, as will be the reader along her wonderful and entertaining journey.

I will say this: Born of The Valley is not for the faint of heart. The book deals with adult themes and adult language and at times the writing is so honest, and raw, you will simply stop reading to think about what you have read.
4504633
Dale Lovins waltzing with an Echo is a wonderful read. Hes descriptions at times is poetry, you can taste the water and feel the air around you. The descriptions of the New Mexico are so vivid that you have the sensation of being there. Beside being a great story Mr. Lovin is one hell of a great writer. Read it, youll thank yourself.
298370
I loved this book, and I loved it for many reasons.  In the interest of full disclosure, I do live in the San Gabriel mountains, so of course I'm a bit biased because I love the area.  I think anyone who lives locally or has had family who lived in the area will love this book.  I was expecting a history of the area, which the book offers, but there is much more, including personal anecdotes from various individuals and great old photos, all of which make the book a definite page turner.  When I finished it, I passed it on to my neighbors, who have lived in the San Gabriel mountains for fifty years and knew many of the people mentioned in the book.  They loved it as well.  This is a must-have for the shelves of local historians and a fascinating read for those who live in the area.
195928
Just east of Death Valley and ninety miles north of Las Vegas, Amargosa Valley is one of those dusty little desert towns. Located between Death Valley Junction and US 95, Amargosa Valley isn't even a blink-and-you-miss-it town since most travelers take more direct routes to and from the driest National Park. Those who aren't connected to the mining industry typically make their way out to the area to explore Ash Springs and Big Dune, one of the few 'singing sand dunes' in the world. "A History of Amargosa Valley, Nevada" is an examination of this place. This book is a result of the Nye County Town History Project. In addition to appreciating existing research, a focal point of the NCTHP is to conduct extensive interviews with residents who can add light to the area's story. Robert D. McCracken is uniquely qualified to document this project having experience in local mining and a degree in Cultural Anthropology. This title first looks at how Indians originally used the area. The key feature to the parched landscape is Ash Meadows. Great detail is given to how the Paiute and Shoshone were the first to use this oasis. Afterwards, the author examines the period of exploration, including a summary of the Forty-Niners' ordeal. Included are actual accounts by the brave men who traveled through this challenging land. Farmers and ranchers eventually worked the land with varying degrees of success. The reader meets such laborers, outlaws, homesteaders and miners. Included are pieces on Jack Longstreet and Dad Fairbanks. The railroads played an important part in connecting residents with the outside world. While agriculture and ranching has struggled in light of water issues, mining has been (and is) the area's primary money maker. Used to process petroleum based oils, clay has been one of the most profitable finds. McCracken looks at life in a small isolated town. The author describes how people lived in such a hot environment prior to electricity, local schools and good roads. The Amargosa Valley Improvement Association eventually led to the area's evolution as an unincorporated town. "A History of Amargosa Valley" looks at the roots of contemporary situations. Various sides are looked at with regards to the ban on large scale development in the hopes of protecting the endangered pupfish. Also, Amargosa Valley is about 30 miles from the Nevada Test Site. It seems that there was as little controversy then as there is now for the impending Yucca Mountain nuclear waste deposititory. At 110 pages, "A History of Amargosa Valley" is an enjoyable read on the area, especially when considering the larger, broader and more academically inclined "<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Death-Valley-and-the-Amargosa-A-Land-of-Illusion/dp/0520063562/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Death Valley and the Amargosa: A Land of Illusion</a>." The only significant drawback to this book is the total absence of maps and images that would have been helpful in making connections between places and showing people. It seems that there is an alternate version of this book entitled "<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/The-Modern-Pioneers-of-the-Amargosa-Valley/dp/1878138588/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">The Modern Pioneers of the Amargosa Valley</a>" which includes all of this title's text and 70 photographs. While I haven't seen that book, it must be preferential to this abbreviation. All in all, "A History of Amargosa Valley" is a enjoyable read about this dusty yet vibrant town.
3885768
This book gave me so much information about the culture and natural circumstances of this area, that at the end I felt like I was there! After visiting Glacier National Park, I was so glad that I had read the book before going, so I could more fully appreciate the experience. Joe Novak captures the essence of living in this area in a very readable way, and I recommend this book to anyone who wants to visit or feel the experience of living in this remote section of Montana.
4942948
We found this enchanting book in our apt. when we arrived for a 3 1/2 month stay in a small town 10 K's from Montalcino in Sept., 2002.  My husband was completely mesmerized and suggested that I also read it.  I was immediately caught up in the life in our neighboring town.  When visiting one day, we stopped in at the pharmacy (Salvioni's) and met Maurelia, the pharmacist's wife.  She was one of the main persons is the story.  After a half an hour conversation, she invited us to view the upcoming Festa del Tordo from their balcony (directly overlooking the parade route) and to meet the author, Isabella Dusi.  The entire day only clarified our feelings about the warmth and truly embracing, friendly nature of the Italian people.  A MUST READ!
1805823
I read this book in a day and a half! It was THAT good!! Growing up in San Diego myself, and being of similar age to the author, I found myself smiling and nodding at the recounts of our similar youth and markings of the erra.
The way Vera has woven together the letters from her cousins with her detailed memories is incredibly moving. This book will make you cry laugh and ponder! A must, MUST read!