The struggle to understand oneself through the beauty of nature!
592400
This collection of poems is beautifully written. Each one masterfully weaves the emotions of a person with the beauty of nature. It reminds me of the Romantic period, where poetry was written from the perspective of nature and the beauty we can find all around us if we simply take the time to look. One of the best poems is titled, "A Piece of Me" where the author expresses self reflection and how they connect with nature as most would a person. Another wonderful poem was, "The Essence of Me" where the author notes a desire to persevere even when things seems the most bleak.  Perhaps, the most appealing aspect of this collection was the author's own struggles, ones many of us can relate too, being masterfully woven between the pages as they try to understand their own feelings while connecting them to the world.
555666
Jacqueline K. Kelsey, a gifted teacher, in "Beneath the Tall Black Door" invites the reader to view the simplest things of life, the wondrous world of the outdoors, with new and luminous significance.  The author, with her beautifully written seven stories, offers reality therapy for the bored or disheartened.  She relates serendipitous, mini-miracle outdoor events that took place beneath a door opening to a new and healing perspective on life.  After a careful reading and a determined effort to follow her instructions, I now know there are hidden secrets in nature, and I resolve today to start looking for them.  No, Jacqueline has convinced me that theyll find me!  James A. Reinhard, Ph. D., Professor Emeritus, Greenville College, Greenville, IL
481992
This is a brilliant book on how to get in touch with nature!  Very in depth.  I'm impressed!
4887168
The journey Gordon Hempton takes us on traveling and recording across country became a journey in frustration, but not hopelessness. He drives home the point of the importance of being able to hear nature sounds vs man made machine noises. I was journeying myself when reading the book and became more acutely aware of just how much intrusion there is in our lives. He logically explains the framework that would allow some preservation of the cleansing, meditative sounds we should all be able to experience in one square inch in our national parks. After reading the book I was moved to write my congressmen to support any legislation to help this to come to fruition. There is a bit of personal drama between Gordon and his daughter that all parents of teenagers can identify with which served to bring some personality to the book. Hempton has some memorable descriptions and his ability to enable the reader to hear with the written word was noteable.  I am not an acoustical engineer so the decibal references mentioned throughout, though educational, where somewhat tedious. After reading it, I found myself shutting off the TV, and radio, and appreciating the sounds of birds, breezes, and even cedar creaking. I hope that his quest to enlighten the powers that be of the great importance to protect the ability to hear nature is heard and acted upon.  I am recommending this book to my book group who will also enjoy the cd with amazing photographs from the journey across America.
4899228
Taking in the landscape around me, Im mesmerized by the colors in the sky. The blues, purples, pinks, and reds look like watercolors, swirling amongst traces of clouds as the sun begins to set. The desert, though the plan life is primarily muted in color and stunted in growth, is still vibrant against the red, sandy dirt. Tall cylinder saguaro cacti reach into the night sky like long fingers escaping the earth, reaching helplessly for the stars.

I had to start off my review of this book with the vivid description of the Arizona dessert that this author brings to life in this book. Most of the book is written in such a colorful and vivid way that you feel as if you are immersing yourself into the world with every word you read. I found that to be a great strength for me in this novel, and a lot of what kept me reading when I was feeling a bit bored. Which unfortunately I did find myself lingering towards that notion of boredom a few times throughout the book, and the only reason for my four-star rating. Otherwise I overall enjoyed the book and characterizations that play around between the pages of Truth.

Truth is the second book in the Alex Conner Chronicles. It is best to read book one, Trust, before you read this or you may find yourself quite confused at portions of the book.

We pick up on Alexs story, and the cliffhanger in book one, finding her unable to deny her obligations to her heritage as an Earthern Protector. She has been focused on her training with her grandmothers friend, The Mistress of Weaponry and Potions, Dana. They are working hard to hone her skills to keep her protected in the search for her long thought dead father. Along the way Alex struggles with knowing her friends are in grave danger and she cant do anything to protect them other than to stay away. She also grapples with her love for two men, and the ability to figure out where her heart truly belongs. Overall, she faces a lot of new adventures and struggles in this installment of her journey. We get the same beautiful journal writings to see things through Alexs eyes herself not just as reading it in the book sense. I enjoyed that part of the way the author brings Alex to life once more in this book.

I will warn this book does end on another cliffhanger and you will want to run and grab the next installment to figure out what is to come next for Alex in her journey through this complicated life she is still getting used to herself. I also wanted to include the opening quotation from the book, because I felt it really hits on a lot of things that are brought up for Alex in this book.

Men plan, God laughs for choices we must bear,
For time does a man make, decisions wear and tear.
Stand tall and straight and face the wind,
Youre built with more than blood and sin,
Youre built with more than bone and skin,
Your lessons learned are built within,
And I will stand with you and face the wind,
Two men made by time and more.
~Son, S.A. Chamovitz, 2015
294245
I thoroughly enjoyed this look into a place most white Americans only know from resort brochures. This novel takes the reader deep inside the culture and environment to show the beauty and devastation that exist side by side. The main character, Flora, is a fascinating and complicated woman who pursues her personal and professional passions with equal gusto. As the novel ended I found myself wanting to know what life would bring her next. Brava, Ms. Figueroa!
2545768
Putting aside a good book, even for a few minutes, is like creating a composite wall hanging from things nature dropped in your path. You want to keep going full speed ahead to the very end, anxious to see the final results . . . yet, absorb and enjoy every sliver of every step through the process. I had trouble working "life" into the past few days; being a granny nanny, shopping, cleaning, laundry, watering the scorched plants in my back yard . . .
Wherever that lilac-laced cover lies, that beautiful little face calls to me . . . come back, come back!
It is difficult to put your story away because I AM THERE when I'm reading . . .
so many things I remember, or imagine through each page.
You did your job!  As I end each part, I have questions of that little girl . . . or want to hear more intimate thoughts and details.  I almost stopped breathing in one scene.  Afraid you were going to fall in the water, or the snow was going to move in with a vengeance, leaving you with frozen fingertips, struggling to get those little white boots through the snow . . . I could feel how you might have felt because I too bounced and stomped through those snowy Mason City streets as a child.
You take me home with every page. Even though I didn't live your life, I lived where your life was, and throughout your book I can clearly see many of those scenes again.
The words flow through the pages; transitioning movements of a musical composition.
Your life always was music, and the notes are heard with each word.  Brava!
1575476
The Nature Fix is the adults' Last Child in the Woods (by Richard Louv). We don't get to just go outside and "play" but maybe we can justify restoring our balance or rejuvenating our senses. People who like books (as I do) that are heavily referenced and describe studies that are well designed and statistically solid may need this type of justification. But don't let the scholarly aspect of the book put you off. If you just want to read about people benefiting by immersing themselves in nature, every chapter has some new, quirky ideas. For example, my favorite chapter described how the beauty of landscapes has something to do with fractals. The bottom line for me is that Williams' writing really got me thinking about what it means to go out in nature and can I get the full benefit if I am listening to a pod-cast or Audible book.
745070
The first thing that anyone will do when they pick up this book is look through all the fantastic pictures. This will soon be followed by the difficult decision of which profile to read first; should it be the one with the photos that take my breath away and intrigue my sense of wonder or should it be the one of my favorite sport to which I can relate most easily? Regardless of the decision or whether or not you are an "outdoorsie" type, the degree to which the reader can feel the passion on all levels (physical, mental emotional and spiritual) of these athletes is, indeed, a form of art in itelf.

The book makes a most amazing gift - either to yourself or someone you know. It's a must have for anyone who fancies themselves an adventurer or lover of nature or even one who admires the focus and determination of the elite athletes written about in this book. Get it!
2422603
I know it was fiction, however it is so reflective our current culture that believes you have to be beautiful to survive.  It was a journey of a woman who became beautiful and then lost that outside beauty but learned it wasn't what was outside that was loved.
381064
Beautiful read!  It is difficult to follow in the beginning, but stay with it. Reminded me of 100 Years of Solitude, but it covers only one summer.
3409034
An amazing perspective on a world deeply connected with nature.
1030990
I have just spent an enchanted couple of hours visiting 'America's Vanishing Landscapes'. Wayne Williams has produced a visual feast and testament to the beauty of Nature. This book contains so many beautiful images, I felt compelled to write and reccomend it to you.
I am lucky enough to live by one of nature's rain forests in the West Indies. Everyday I am filled with awe and wonder by my surroundings. This book makes me feel the same way. What also impressed me too, was his mastery of the craft and it reminded me of Ansel Adams work. They have combined technological mastery of the photographic techniquies available to them; and have produced a vision that not only speaks to the senses, but also to the heart. This is a rare combination and achievement.
3419290
A beautiful and fascinating journey through the history of humanity's struggle to understand geologic time and biologic intricacy.  The challenge to expand our myopic vision of time and change is a continual one every age faces.  The audio version makes a great road trip read, the reader is very good.
4091359
It gives you a chance to delve into aspects of nature that way too many people miss!

Hopefully some of the trapped urban dwellers learn a little about nature and themselves interacting with this volume.

Being a "former" country boy; it was another breath of fresh air to enliven the monotonous urban scene that is my current abode!

M.J. also enables you to put your own thoughts into it for the next reader of your volume; be it next week, or next century!
530265
One of my favorite books!  This book is a fantastic read.  Beautiful but painful look at human nature.
2374462
A great introduction discussing many of nature's patterns is followed by some totally amazing and clear pictures from a wide variety of subjects, some of which are: animals, arcs (aurora and rainbow), butterflies, cacti, cliffs and canyons, fruit, flowers, fossils, reflections, shells etc.

This book is just not for children although it is written at their level but I think everyone will get a "wow" moment at least once (I got way more) as they read this book. We live in an amazing world and as the author says, there is way more to see than in this book but this is a great start!

Happy reading!